Patrol officers often use bicycles to patrol parks, green belts, schools, and special events. Officers can be deployed with the bikes directly from the police station or they can mount the bikes on the back of patrol vehicles with bike racks to transport them to areas where they may be needed.

Bicycles are extremely valuable when an officer needs to respond to an incident where the use of a patrol car is not possible. Bicycles can also be used for directed patrol in an area with an identified crime pattern since they provide an officer with the opportunity to make a silent approach not possible in a patrol car.