Read what the association is all about
AboutSoCalPOBA
The Southern California Police Officer Bicycle Association, Inc. (SoCalPOBA) is a non-profit organization that promotes "Best Practices" between police officers who share the desire to ride bicycles. These practices promote safe cycling (both on and off-duty), with a common goal to encourage positive police bicycle training, officer safety, and physical fitness. The association was formed by Los Angeles Police Officers to promote multi-agency training, camaraderie and family fun.
Most Southern California Police Agencies have deployed police on bicycles, either full time or seasonal. The use of bicycle patrols has become a proven crime fighting tool and has been received by communities as a community policing tool. The public approaches and interacts more frequently with police on bicycles than in cars. Though bicycles will never replace police cars, we have found that bicycle deployment is an under-utilized resource in Southern California.
SoCalPOBA will bring together Southern California Police Agencies to serve as a venue to exchange ideas, train and share experiences. We intend to organize “Forums” and bicycle patrol riding events/competitions, thus allowing officers to work together from agencies throughout the region. As part of these forums, our organization will evaluate police and bicycle equipment that is currently available and being used by bicycle patrol officers. We hope to encourage some product development that will make a bike patrol officer’s job easier and safer.
Our membership has found a void in law enforcement cycling organizations in bringing our families together. Many more of our membership ride bicycles off- duty than on-duty. We intend to encourage and organize rides throughout Southern California. We will have both road bike and mountain bike rides and to increase riding awareness and also provide maintenance tips. They will be open for all membership, families and our partners. With all levels of riding skills in our membership, there should be a ride organized for everyone. There are some great places to ride in Southern California; our membership will hope to explore your favorite ride route or location.
The Association will also promote positive role models to youth through youth programs, and encourage safe cycling in the community. We look forward to organizing, promoting and bringing together local schools, police and business sponsors to provide youth with bicycle safety programs. These programs would provide an opportunity for youth to learn safe cycling techniques, the rules of the road, how to be a responsible cyclist in our community. Our organization intends to use bicycle demonstrations, classes or bicycle rodeos, allowing children a chance to ride, learn and practice safe cycling. These sessions will be a great opportunity for bicycle safety gear such as helmets and even some bicycles to be distributed to the children.
We look forward to bringing the law enforcement family closer together with positive training, cycling events, and family fun. If you are a law enforcement officer or fire/EMS personnel and enjoy cycling, whether it is on or off-duty, we hope that you would join our association.
Our association is newly formed and moving forward. We are building positive relationships with all cycling clubs and associations, police and fire agencies and our local business sponsors. We look forward to many great cycling events and educational sessions for our youth.
Ride safe and have fun.
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