Mountain Bike Patrol
In an effort to help police officers patrol portions of campus not easily accessible by a motor vehicle, UTPD started one of the region’s first mountain bike units in 1991. The bicycles afford officers the ability to approach a scene in a much more discrete manner than if they were in a patrol vehicle.
Officers on bicycle have also proven to be more approachable than their counterparts
in vehicles. In addition to daily routine patrol, the mountain bike unit is also used
during special events such as football games. During such cases the bicycles offer
the option of a rapid police response when the size of the crowds would usually prohibit
use of a motor vehicle.