Internet Survey of Volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs
Lakewood, CO Volunteer Mountain Bike Patrol
The volunteer bike patrol program is intended to encourage more community involvement in Lakewood’s open
space parks. The volunteers are a uniformed extension of the park rangers and provide a patrol presence at
William Frederick Hayden Park, Bear Creek Lake Park and the Bear Creek Greenbelt. Patrollers provide the
following:
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Extra “eyes and ears” for park staff on trails
Education to users violating park rules, particularly multi-use issues and leash law violations
Education to users about park facilities, trails and resources
User assistance, including first aid and minor bike repairs
Bike Patrollers
Bike patrollers are recruited and trained in the spring as needed. The basic requirements are:
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Complete a volunteer application, criminal background check and an interview with park staff
Be at least 18 years old and provide your own mountain bike, helmet and cell phone
Complete required training, including first aid and CPR
Commit to a minimum of two patrols per month from April-September
Be a positive and accurate representative of the City and the Regional Parks division
Document patrol activities and turn in records as required
The City will provide a uniform jersey, “number plate,” training and other patrol supplies
http://www.lakewood.org/Community_Resources/Parks,_Forestry_and_Open_Space/William_F__Hayden_Par
k_on_Green_Mountain/Volunteer_Mountain_Bike_Patrol.aspx
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Internet Survey of Volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs
Oakland, CA Bike Patrol
BTCEB/Oakland Bike Patrol
If You Like…
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Riding your bike
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Helping other people
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Being involved in the management of your local trails
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Learning and sharpening skills such as outdoor first aid, trailside bike repair, offroad riding, and communication
…then the Oakland Bike Patrol is for you!!
The BTCEB/Oakland Bike Patrol is part of IMBA's National Mountain
Bike Patrol program and consists of volunteers partnering with land managers and
Oakland PD, to assist, educate and inform trail users in order to enhance their
recreational experience. Best of all you get to ride on great trails, serve our community,
meet great people, and keep the singletrack open!
Mission & Purpose
The Oakland Bike Patrol (of the Oakland Police Department) partners with local cyclists
of the BTCEB to to improve the quality and safety of the parks and promote park and
recreation facility usage. Bike Patrol volunteers provide the Ranger Section with specially
trained volunteers who will educate the community on safety rules and regulations
making the parks more safe and enjoyable of all users.
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Internet Survey of Volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs
Volunteer Duties:
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Ride through designated parks and trails monitoring user activities.
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Provide information to park visitors concerning trail conditions, directions, general
park information, and rules.
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Provide first aid, search and rescue functions as needed.
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Log your hours on the BTCEB Bike Patrol database
Requirements
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Be 18 years of age or older
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Complete a 5 step background check with Oakland Police Department that
includes:
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In person interview with Oakland Police Department
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Background check – includes application submission
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Life Scan – Finger Prints
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Photo ID
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Police radio training and Oakland City Parks rules training
Complete First aid and CPR Training.
The American Red Cross conducts weekly training!. Go to their website to
schedule a class.
Be familiar with local bike trails (training is available too).
Be a law abiding and safe rider. Trail courtesy towards all users is a must.
Current BTCEB member. We also strongly encourage patrollers to join
IMBA's National Moutain Bike Patrol program
Contact bikepatrol@btceb.org to set up a ride or for more information.
http://www.btceb.org/bikepatrol.php
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Internet Survey of Volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs
Lincoln, NE Lincoln Police Department’s Citizen on Patrol Program
The Lincoln Police Department’s Citizen on Patrol Program is looking for more volunteers to be the
department’s “eyes and ears” on the street. On July 14, the program celebrated its ninth year of
providing volunteer bike and vehicle patrol, as well as staffing for the department’s front counter,
according to volunteer coordinator Rich Ragan. On Wednesday, nine new volunteers were added to
the team during a “swearing-in and pinning ceremony” at City Hall, according to Ragan. That brings
the total number of volunteers to 36. “This means an additional presence on our city streets and
help in the police department’s front office,” Ragan said. “We are actively pursuing more people.”
Ragan said he’d like to see at least “45 to 50” resident volunteers, who are asked to give at least
four hours of their time a week. “We do low-profile, non-enforcement activity. We do tasks that
don’t need to be done by a police officer,” Ragan said. “We don’t do enforcement. We are the eyes
and ears of the department and our safety is critical.” Volunteers can serve in there areas: bike
patrol, vehicle patrol and staffing the police department’s front counter. By bike, volunteers travel
Lincoln’s 11 miles of bike and nature trails, 15 parks and also Lincoln’s schools to both interact with
the public and report “suspicious activity.” If suspicious activity or an emergency is spotted, Ragan
said the volunteers don’t get involved but either radio police dispatch or call dispatch by phone,
depending on the situation. Vehicle patrol also provides a variety of services, according to Ragan,
including transporting official documents to the District Attorney’s office and picking up mail from
City Hall and delivering it to the police and fire stations. The volunteers also provide traffic control
and patrol perimeters during incidents such as vehicle collisions and fires, and events such as
parades, Ragan said. Vacation checks are done by Citizens on Patrol volunteers. They check windows
and doors and move newspapers out of driveways for residents who request the checks, Ragan said.
“If there is an unlocked window or door, we call an officer,” Ragan said. “We avoid unsafe
conditions.” Having regular volunteers to staff the department’s front counter would mean residents
can walk in and receive help with filing police reports and getting information, said Lincoln Police
Chief Paul Shelgren. Starting next week, Shelgren said, the front office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Mondays through Fridays. “They can take property crime reports where there are no suspects
and help people with online reports,” Shelgren said. “It gives citizens better access. They can see a
person, talk one-on-one and have their needs addressed.” Parking enforcement will start happening
again once “we get more volunteers trained,” Shelgren said. “They will help with limited time parking
enforcement,” Shelgren said. “They can write tickets.” Having the Citizens on Patrol program “helps
keep our limited resources on the street, doing priority calls,” according to Shelgren. What Ragan
likes about volunteering is “giving back to the community, making a professional contribution and
working with a lot of great people.” “We are the eyes and ears, increasing the police department’s
presence. On the streets of Lincoln or in the cars, we are seen as police enforcement,” Ragan said.
“Our presence is an additional enforcement activity.”
http://www.lincolnnewsmessenger.com/article/additional-volunteers-sought-citizens-patrol
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Internet Survey of Volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs
Grand Rapids, WI Police Auxiliary Bicycle Patrol
GRAND RAPIDS — When Police Chief Dave Lewandowski needed to find a way to reduce
vandalism in the community, he decided to put two department bicycles to use.
This summer, using the Grand Rapids Police Auxiliary, Lewandowski started a town bicycle patrol. In
pairs, the auxiliary officers ride around Lake Wazeecha and through some of the subdivisions where
problems have been reported, Lewandowski said. If the officers, who are not armed, see something
out of the ordinary, they contact the Wood County Dispatch center.
“We want to get the best coverage we can get for what we have,” Lewandowski said.
The auxiliary officers, mostly made up of police science students at Mid-State Technical College,
volunteer their time to get experience and help the community.
A former police chief purchased the bicycles several years ago with grant money, Lewandowski said.
Officers used them a few times to patrol the area around Lake Wazeecha or during special events,
but the bikes had been sitting unused in the town’s garage for five or six years. Lewandowski and
Sgt. Dave Drinkwine had the bikes refurbished for a small amount of money, Lewandowski said.
Through fundraisers, the Grand Rapids Police Auxiliary generates its own money for equipment,
Lewandowski said. The police science students have a lot of their own gear, which they have
purchased for classes.
The auxiliary’s bicycle patrol is the eyes and ears for the Grand Rapids Police Department, said
Auxiliary Sgt. Trevin Szukzewski.
“I think it’s good for the Police Department Auxiliary to provide a presence in places normally police
don’t reach,” Szukzewski said.
There has been a lot of positive feedback from the community, said Szukzewski, a Nekoosa resident
who also works part time for the Pittsville Police Department. The bicycle officers patrol about three
times a week in the evenings or at other times requested by Police Department officials.
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Internet Survey of Volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs
Szukzewski said he volunteered for the auxiliary after learning about the program at Mid-State
Technical College. It has given him valuable law enforcement experience, he said. The bicycle patrol
gives him the chance to volunteer more hours and it also helps keep him in shape, he said.
Should the need arise, the bicycle patrols can be used to help search for missing people, Auxiliary
Police Lt. Lori Edwards said. The officers on bicycles can get to places where officers in squad cars
can’t, she said.
Since they were implemented, the bike patrols helped provide assistance to injured walkers or
bicyclists, Lewandowski said. They also have given friendly reminders to people walking dogs without
a leash.
The auxiliary officers do not have the authority to write tickets or make arrests, Lewandowski said.
Instead, they politely remind people about town ordinances and, if necessary, call in a Grand Rapids
officer for assistance.
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20130727/WRT01/307270230/Bicycle-riding-auxiliaryofficers-help-patrol-Grand-Rapids
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