This has been released by the Christiansburg Police Department:
Beginning March 1st, 2009 the Christiansburg Police Department will be
doing bicycle registrations. This registration includes placing a
serial number somewhere on the bicycle, and filling out a registration
form. Citizens may bring their bicycles by the Christiansburg Police
Department to have the serial numbers placed on them, or they can stop
in the Department and pick up the form and serial number and return the
form at their convenience. The Department is also offering free bicycle
helmets for children and teenagers Also in March the Christiansburg
Police Department will be conducting a traffic safety initiative to
focus on traffic enforcement in heavily traveled residential
neighborhoods. The initiative, “Biking the Backstreets”, will be
utilized primarily by officers that are part of the agency’s bike
patrol program (weather permitting).
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If the weather is too cold officers will be in patrol cars and regular
shifts will be giving extra patrol to these neighborhoods when they can
also. "
I can verify that this has been in process for a while now and has been carefully thought out and developed by the Police Department. In particular, Lt. Randy Bonds has been instrumental in bringing this process online. Careful consideration was given to establishing systems that promote citizen safety, positive interactions between public and law enforcement, and making sure that the programs provided the biggest possible benefit at the lowest possible price. The support of Chief Sisson, Councilman Stipes and Councilman Barber made this become a reality and I thank them for it.
Keep your eyes open for further developments. I'll do my best to keep you posted here and I'll be setting up a special page for these types of community based activities on my website and hope to get some photos and video coverage as well.
And, by the way, if you're one of those few individuals who have been using the back streets of Christiansburg as your own private racetrack.......beware....those Police Officers on bikes will be out there watching:) When you see one in your neighborhood take the time to say hello and thank you! The simple presence of these officers has been shown to reduce crime in other areas and I hope will do the same here.
Thank you Police Department!