On July 4, the Strathcona County RCMP's Bike Patrol Unit returned to the streets after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bike Patrol Unit has been a fixture in Strathcona County for over 10 years. These officers monitor parks, bike trails, parking lots and other places that cruisers may not have access to.
"[The unit] will do any areas in Sherwood Park and Strathcona County within reason. We've had bike patrol members go all the way from Sherwood Park to Ardrossan," said constable Chantelle Kelly with the Strathcona County RCMP detachment.
The unit carries all of its necessary safety equipment on safety belts, including a vest and a helmet, and will respond to all nearby calls they are equipped to deal with. They will typically stop to speak to cyclists about bike safety or children on skateboards and scooters who may be riding erratically.
However, the Bike Patrol Unit does hand out "Positive Tickets" when they see people following safety rules, doing positive deeds and following the rules of the road.
"We do have positive tickets to give out. That allows admission for one for a child or youth aged two to 17 into any of the Strathcona County recreation facilities."
If weather conditions are unsafe, the Bike Patrol Unit just returns to the detachment and completes the rest of its duties in a vehicle.
There are approximately 10 members part of the unit this year.