Pedal power part of energy initiative

Capitol Spokesmen

 Thursday, July 10, 2008

BY KARI ANDREN, For The Patriot-News

Keith Wagner has had his share of work-related inju ries: broken wrist, frac tured toe, torn rotator cuff.

He’s not a stunt man or a daredevil. He’s a Capitol Police bicycle patrolman.

Wagner, who has been a bike officer since 1995, said the broken bones from bicycle mishaps and being hit by a car are worth it.

Patrolling on bicycle is easier, he said. People are often “looking for cars to be chasing them, not someone on a bike.”

Plus, he said it allows him to take a more direct route and get to incidents faster, and it makes officers more approachable by the public.

The bike-patrolling force is not new, but bike patrols have more than doubled as part of Gov. Ed Rendell’s energy-saving initiative.

Rendell’s plan calls for investing in alternative energy supplies and encouraging energy conservation within state government as well as outside it. The governor signed the energy initiative into law on Wednesday.

Part of his plan for energy savings within state government includes reducing fuel use by 367,000 gallons annually through stricter travel policies that encourage employees to carpool or use conference calling instead of in-person meetings, among other initiatives.

The bike force has 15 officers who ride, weather permitting, as many months of the year as they can.

They saved more than 2,600 miles of wear and tear on vehicles last month compared with June 2007, Sgt. Kevin Brown, a spokesman for the Capitol Police, said. Patrol cars average about 10 miles per gallon. With gas costs around $4 per gallon, that means the state has saved more than $1,000 in fuel costs.

Wagner rides a 24-speed Cannondale police bike equipped with a light system and a 115-decibel siren. He estimated he rides 10 to 20 miles per patrol shift.

To become a bike officer, Wagner had to attend a four-day training course at Harrisburg Area Community College through the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The course taught him how to ride up and down stairs, jump curbs, stop quickly without skidding and use his bike for self-defense.

Wagner likes the social and health aspects of the switch from four wheels to two. Plus, he said staying physically fit on the job is a bonus.

Some officers applied for bike patrol for that reason, and it’s paying off.

“Our guys are getting in shape and losing weight,” Brown said.

KARI ANDREN: 783-5196 or plcaintern@patriot-news.com