Saanich Police Mountain Bike Police Squad
Wheel Life column - August 12, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Like law enforcement agencies throughout the world, the Saanich Police Department has found that bicycles are the most effective way to patrol many areas. Cycling allows officers to travel routes that are inaccessible by car, and gives officers better opportunities interact face-to-face with members of their community.

The Saanich Mountain Bike Squad has two teams consisting of two constables each (Cory Volk with Julie Byrne and Berle Zwaan with Blaire Stearn). Much of their travel is on the 44 kilometres of trails that crisscross their Saanich beat, which include the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails, and the forested trails of Mount Douglas Park, the Colquitz River and Elk Lake.

"Saanich has an unbelievable trail system," Volk said. "We can ride from the Saanich police station to the Gorge and get there faster than by motor vehicle. We never ride more than a half mile on roads."

Since the squad got started more than a year ago, they have averaged 50 kilometres each day, totaling 5,000 kms a year. The community based squad is non-reactive (they don't respond to calls) yet has made more than 200 drug arrests. By maintaining a presence in parking lots, they have also been successful in responding to auto theft problems.

Cycling helps police stay in touch with their community, especially children. "Kids never get to speak with police men or women when we are confined to cars," said Volk. Cycling, on the other hand, "lets kids know we are there and increases their sense of safety."

The teams trained initially with Can Bike safety instructor, Ray Hall. They now teach Can Bike II to Grade 5 students. The squad piloted their three-part program last year in several Saanich schools. Students received in-class training, followed by proper road riding skills in the school yard, and then they head out on the road in small groups. They wear bright safety vests for the on-road portion provided by the RoadSense Team (Autoplan Brokers and ICBC).

The squad also assists school liaison officers, Constables Ron Huck and Linda Cunningham, with the 26 Bike Rodeos they provide to Saanich schools each year. The rodeos are popular with primary students and include safety checks, obstacle courses, quizzes, and prizes. Sponsors include Pacific Coast Savings and Riders Cycle.

Police departments and other emergency response professionals throughout the world are rediscovering bicycles. More than 2,000 police departments in North America have bike patrols, and bicycles are also widely used by private security companies, campus and military facility patrols, parks departments and emergency medical professionals. The International Police Mountain Bike Association (http://www.ipmba.org) is an organization of cycling police officers that provides information and training.

The IPMBA identifies the following benefits of policing by bike:

• Bike officers can travel faster and farther than foot officers, and they are able to patrol areas unreachable by car.
• Bikes give officers the "stealth" advantage - because they are silent, cops on bikes can ride right up to the scene of a crime before they are noticed.
• Bicycles are a great public relations tool - an officer on a bike is much more approachable than one in a patrol car.
• Bike patrols are cost effective - 10 to 15 bike officers can be fully outfitted for the cost of one patrol car.
• Officer morale and fitness is improved.