The Framingham State College Police Department owns 3 police mountain bikes. We use the bike patrol unit as part of our ongoing community policing program. Bicycles allow us to be more visible and more accessible to members of our community. Patrolling on bicycles also allow us to prevent crime by giving us access to certain areas we would not have access to with regular cruiser patrol. We use our bike patrol unit as part of our regular patrol and during special events hosted by the College. Each member of the unit attends a 3-day 24-hour mountain bike training program called COBWEB (Cops on Bikes With Education for Bicyclists.) This program is specially designed to train police officers to safely and effectively patrol. The program trains officers in bicycle safety, bicycle maintenance and injury prevention, along with tactical patrol procedures and crime prevention. Upon completion of the course each officer must pass a written examination and a practical obstacle course. If you would like any further information please contact one of our bike patrol unit members at 508-626-4911
Lieutenant Pam Curtis Sergeant William Kelley
Sergeant Robert Barrette Patrolman Peter Trachtenberg
Patrolman Edward Kaminski Patrolman Christopher Renehan
Patrolman Ryan Caneen
- Make sure you know your bicycle before you
ride. Know the different gears and how to use them. It's a good idea to
take some sort of bicycle safety course before you ride.
- Make sure your bicycle is in good condition.
Perform a safety check of the air pressure in the tires and the chain.
Make sure all reflectors and lights are in working condition.
- Always dress appropriately for the seasons
while riding, make sure you have all proper equipment like a helmet,
gloves and eye protection. Wear bright colored clothing.
- Obey all traffic laws, ride a bicycle as you
would drive a car. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Make sure to use
hand signals when turning or slowing down.
- Never ride against traffic, Always be weary
of what's behind you; it's a good idea to learn to look over your
shoulder.
- Never pass a motor vehicle on the right
side. The driver of the vehicle may not look for you on the right.
- Always be on the lookout for potential
hazards in the roadway, such as potholes, sewer grates and railroad
tracks. Be careful during bad weather; watch out for ice, snow, and
standing water.
According to FBI statistics, bicycle theft is on the rise. It is estimated that over 1.5 million bicycles are stolen every year. A study done by Integrated Cycle Systems (ICS) showed that a four year college student has a 53% chance of having his or her bicycle stolen. The Framingham State College Police Department offers a bicycle registration program that will help both curb a potential thief and identify your bicycle if it happens to be stolen or lost. The department will keep the registration form on file with your own personal registration number. If you would like more information or would like to register your bicycle contact a member of our bike patrol unit at (508) 626-4911, or email Sergeant Robert Barrette.