JSID: James Street Improvement District

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	About the Bike Squad Overview In June 2003, the James Street Improvement District initiated a bike squad which patrols the District's one-square mile seven days a week. The JSID's squad members provide a secure, welcoming presence for Lancaster residents, workers, students, and visitors. Uniformed in red and black, squad members are unarmed officers equipped with twoway radios who patrol the streets in the northwest part of Lancaster City on bicycles and periodically on foot. They serve as a visible deterrent to crime, provide directions and pedestrian assistance, and can call for help in emergency situations. Each Ambassador undergoes training in public safety and crime prevention, interpersonal relations and customer service. Ambassadors also track a wide range of public hazards such as potholes, problem street signs, downed utility lines, and excessive trash. Zones The JSID is divided in to three zones each of which are covered by one ambassador per shift. Squad members generally serve in only one zone so that over time they can get to know residents and employees and have good familiarity with the streets, sidewalks and private property. The zones are based generally around the locations of the District's three public schools: Wharton and Ross Elementary and Reynolds Middle schools. During the school year, one squad member is stationed at each school when students and parents come in the morning and in the afternoon when they leave. During other hours of operation, squad members travel various routes through each zone. Squad Activities While the main role for the bike squad is to patrol the zones and greet residents, employees and visitors, squad members also can respond to a wide variety of community needs. Generally, these needs involve contact with City or other municipal agencies, including the police, parks, public works and housing departments. Specific areas of interest include identifying: properties with excessive trash; abandoned vehicles; incidences of graffiti/vandalism; downed utility lines; and, broken playground or other public space equipment/furniture. Squad members also can convey residents' concerns about properties or specific activities to the proper local authorities. In cases of emergency, members are trained to contact police, fire and ambulance via their radios. Positive Role Models Squad members take great pride in interacting with the children and young people in the District. Beyond the visible presence at the public schools, the squad has been involved in a number of special events involving youth, including activities teaching bicycle safety and providing photo identification cards.

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