A bike patrol to monitor the Depot Trail, the Waldo Trail and the connector to the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail is being organized. Sponsored by the Gainesville Police Department Crime Prevention office, Patrol members will receive cellular telephones to use on patrol, vests to identify them as Trail Patrols and free mechanical maintenance provided by a mechanic named Chandler.
The Trail Patrol is the brainchild of Linda Crider. Crime does not seem to be a problem on the trails, however the public may need reassurance that someone is out there keeping an eye on things, especially when the connector is built from downtown Gainesville to Boulware Springs. The Trail Patrol will help promote trail usage, by being a visible reminder that paved bike trails connect much of urban Gainesville.
Based on experiences on the Gainesville Hawthorne Rail Trail, trail patrols spend most of their time enjoying riding the trail, and occasionally have to remove tree limbs and other debris from the trail. The most serious problems we have encountered on the trail are riders who have crashed.
Trail Patrol members will receive patrol training similar to the Citizens on Patrol training, which emphasizes observing and reporting (via cell phone) any unusual or suspicious activity. The training class, organized by GPD Crime Prevention Officer Joby Wise, will also include first aid training, since the biggest problem seems to be riders injured in bike crashes. Patrol members who complete the class will also be eligible for bike tune-ups by the mechanic formerly known as Chandler.
The Training Class will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fire Station on the corner of Waldo Road and NE 8th Avenue. For more information, please call Chandler Otis at 377-1728.