A dedicated bike patrol built on community engagement is exactly what we need to reverse the distrust between cyclists and Boston PD. Right now 64% of riders fear police interactions—that's a failure we can fix with visible, trained officers on bikes in neighborhoods like JP and Allston.

DC’s Community Focused Patrol Unit reduced bike crashes by 23% in two years. But that success came with strict civilian oversight and quarterly public data—this proposal includes that. Portland’s 20-year data shows bike patrol units sustain reductions only if they survive budget cycles, so the federal grant bridge is smart.

Twenty-seven officers pulled from an already understaffed department means someone else loses coverage. What guarantee do we have that this unit won’t just divert resources from other urgent calls or get used to ticket cyclists instead of protecting them?

This unlocks a safer, more bike-friendly Boston that can finally hit its Vision Zero targets. With ridership up 43%, a visible patrol will build confidence and attract even more people to commute by bike, reducing traffic and pollution citywide.

The tension here is real: cyclists need enforcement against dangerous drivers, but many riders distrust the police. A unit with 80 hours of specialized training and a community advisory board can bridge that gap—if we also commit to transparent data sharing and independent oversight from day one.