Campus safety chief John Ojeisekhoba speaks to Dr. Corey during the November 29, 2011 training the new bike patrol team. They will begin patrolling campus in January. | Courtesy of Biola Campus Safety

Campus Safety began training on Nov. 29 and 30 for a new bike patrol program scheduled to officially launch with nine bikes in January. In addition to the carts on campus, the bikes will help ensure crime prevention John Ojeisekhoba, chief of Campus Safety, said.

“Our campus is a safe place but we believe in being proactive,” Ojeisekhoba said.

With bicycle patrol thrown into the mix, it mentally messes with the criminal’s mind and helps officers respond promptly and ride through areas that vehicles are not able to enter, Ojeisekhoba stated. He went on to say that the bikes will be ridden in the areas that are designated for bicycles but may enter restricted areas in case of emergency.

The main concern about safety is not about the speed of the carts and bicycles but the safety of students, Ojeisekhoba explained. The cadets typically drive the carts 3 to 5 MPH and the bicycles in comparison are expected to be driven at a slow speed. He further explained in an emergency they are authorized to ride between 10 to 15 MPH.

Campus Safety trains to learn bike patrol techniques

Bicycle training was conducted by an outside instructor. Ojeisekhoba explained that they will learn new skills, bicycle safety and they will have to go through a scenario to pass the program.

Precautions have been taken to ensure that the bike patrol program meets the insurance standards to have a bike patrol program. James Yoon, Biola risk and insurance specialist, property manager, ARM, CCRM contacted John Watson from Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services to ensure they meet the requirements to start up the program. The Campus Safety seemed to meet the requirements needed but he recommended contacting local police on appropriate training said, Watson.

The bike patrol program will have a different set of uniforms that are specifically designed for patrolling. The uniforms will be lighter in weight and slightly different in appearance. The program is being funded by Campus Safety and Auxiliary Services, according to Ojeisekhoba.

Bikes help with crime prevention

Bicycles are not replacing the carts but they are an additional resource for Campus Safety to utilize, Ojeisekhoba said. The carts are mainly to provide safety escorts and will not be changed. Criminals that come on campus can easily see the carts versus the cyclists, he observed.

Campus Safety will always have the mindset that they need to improve and this may mean to invent new programs, Ojeisekhoba said. He explained that having a bicycle patrol team gives the bad guys another thing to worry about.

Anytime that you can change your patrol patterns and methods, Ojeisekhoba said it is “a good edge over the bad guys.”