Downtown/Midtown Sacramento is awash with bicycle activity, and why not? Bicycles are the quickest and most efficient way to maneuver this metropolitan area.

The Sacramento Police Department realized this as well, and in 1989 established a four-person bike unit in the Downtown area to patrol the streets during business hours. Today this unit consists of 10 officers and a sergeant who patrol from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m., seven days per week. They cover an area of the city from Old Sacramento to 19th Street between H and N Streets.

Sergeant David Valdez spoke with Sacramento Press to shed some light on the role of the bicycle police in Sacramento. He has been a part of the bike unit for seven years, two as an officer and the last five as sergeant. He said of the bike unit, "We can sense and approach things better than an officer driving by in a car at 30 mph."

His sentiment is supported by the statistics. Sacramento's bicycle police boast the second quickest response time in the department, second only to the helicopter unit. He attributes this to the mobility of bicycles, especially their ability to get through and around heavy traffic that would otherwise slow a patrol car. Patrol bicycles are official police vehicles and are equipped with lights and sirens, just like a patrol car. They share the traffic exemptions that other officers utilize in responding to disturbances, such as traveling the wrong way down a street, running red lights as needed, and riding on sidewalks.

They work in tandems, patrolling downtown through rain or shine, or even hail. "Our only disadvantage is the lack of technology," said Valdez, citing the lack of computers and other gadgets that patrol cars are equipped with. Otherwise, the bike units have the full authority and abilities of any other police officer, including making traffic stops. They keep a vehicle parked at the K Street Mall in the event that a perpetrator must be transported, and are in full contact with car units in cases that require additional vehicles or backup of any kind.

A large concern for the bike unit lately has been the rise in popularity of fixed-gear bikes, said Valdez. Many of these bikes do not have brakes, which is an issue when approaching a red light. Valdez voiced his concern, saying, "They either skid and make a sharp turn, or they just blow right through the red light." He mentioned that brakes are required on bicycles, and that the bike unit is working to educate riders on the necessity for proper safety equipment.

Critical Mass, a bicycle proponent group that organizes rides though Downtown Sacramento, once posed an issue for Sacramento police and traffic safety. Initially the group would incur a large number of traffic tickets for infractions, but through education and cooperative efforts by the bike unit, Valdez said, "things are now good." The bike unit is managed by Central Patrol, which looks over other Sacramento metro units such as the equestrian, footbeat (officers without a vehicle), and marine police. While these units are currently sun separately, Sacramento PD is looking to combine them and is working toward cross-training between these departments.

While there is sometimes a general stigma against police, Valdez stated that these bicycle officers are "approachable, friendly, helpful, and accessible." He emphasized that they are here to help the community, and feels that being on a bicycle, rather than in a patrol car, allows them to interact more intimately with the people.

Next time you see officers on bike patrol, give them a wave and let them
know that we appreciate their presence in the city.

And for those who were wondering, bicycles require a white headlight that can be seen for at least 100 feet, reflectors on the wheels, pedals and back of the bike, and at least one handbrake that can bring the bike to a skidded stop on dry pavement.