By Adrienne Gavula
Officers in the Bike Patrol Program know just how important it is to receive specialized training before hitting the street on bicycles. The Ohio University Bike Patrol Program has been training University police officers and other officers around the state since 1996.
Riding a bike may seem simple, but imagine adding an extra 25 or more pounds of clothing and equipment and still successfully keep your balance. In addition to learning to maneuver terrain where cars can't go.
"This program has been very active," said Michael Trout, Ohio University Police Department officer. "After receiving training from the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA), we decided to teach the IPMBA program through the Ohio University Police Department (OUPD)."
The OUPD Bike School has trained some of Circleville's police officers, some Fairfield County's Sheriff's deputies and Lancaster Police Department's police cyclists.
With more than 3,000 members and 600 instructors, the IPMBA hosts an annual conference where officers can become trained as police cyclists, certified instructors or take courses to refresh their skills. The conference also provides an opportunity for officers to network amongst themselves as well as with different bicycle manufacturers and police equipment providers.
"Going to the conference allows officers to receive training from instructors throughout the world," Trout added. "This benefits the officers by gaining a different perspective on situations and allows them to see how different departments handle similar situations."
In order to become a certified police cyclist, the officers must go through a grueling week-long process. There is a written test that covers bike safety and traffic laws; a pass/fail-riding test where officers must go through courses and around obstacles; and training on fitness, health and wellness and riding at night.
Instructors must go though the same process, but added to the course are key techniques, and each officer must demonstrate exactly how he or she would conduct the training.
"They have a very strict weeding out process," Trout said.
That is for a good reason. Departments with officers who are not certified may find themselves at a greater risk of liabibility if police cyclists are involved in an accident involving the bicycle.
"These departments risk liability concerns on different levels by not receiving training. If the officer has not been trained to use the bicycle properly, the person(s) involved in the incident could likely sue the department.The officer could also sue the department for a lack of training," Trout said.
All the Ohio University Police department's eight officers that ride bicycles are certified IPMBA cyclists. The Ohio University Police Department currently has 19 officers and four lieutenants.
Officers who become certified instructors can travel and teach wherever an instructor is needed. Some instructors have traveled overseas, and some have traveled to train the military.
In addition to providing training, OUPD's Bike Patrol Program continuously interacts with the Athens community. They have a bike donation program where officers campaign for community members to donate bicycles or money for bikes. The officers clean up the bikes and give them to community members who cannot afford their own. Also, the officers properly fit a helmet for each recipient.
"The bicycle is a conversation piece that breaks down some of the barriers that prevents the community from approaching officers," Trout said. "With officer's being more approachable, the community is more likely to speak to officers for many different reasons rather than when someone needs help or has a questions."
The Bike Patrol Program also places a cruiser, along with a bike officer at the Convocation Center for KidsFest, and they participate in the yearly bike rodeo at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital. The bike rodeo is like a safety town for kids to learn riding safety and how to ride bicycles around obstacles. The bike officers lead the parade at homecoming and are currently trying to work with the bike shops in Athens to provide a course to community members who would like to learn more about bicycle riding and safety.
"Bike officers are good for the economy because for the cost of putting one cruiser on the road, seven bike officers can be placed," Trout said. "Also, it is good for the health and morale of the officers because they are out there exercising and interacting with the community."
Adrienne Gavula is a student writer for University Communications and Marketing.
