CRANBERRY TWP — Starting with Community Days festival, several members of the township police will be getting around on two wheels instead of four.

The department recently bought three bicycles and four of its officers went through a training and certification program.

One of the biggest advantages of patrolling on a bicycle is that it makes it easier for the officers to interact with residents, Sgt. Bill Ahlgren told the township supervisors Thursday night.

“You’re a little bit more approachable on a bicycle than you are in a car going 25 mph through a plan and just waving to somebody as you go past,” he said.

The officers went through a four-day course and were certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The training included taking the bikes through obstacle courses and learning to safely maneuver around people.

The bikes will be handy for navigating crowds of people during events such as Community Days and for patrolling sidewalks where cars can’t go.

The bikes can also allow the officers to be “stealthy,” Ahlgren said.

For example, the department has had reports of vandalism at night in Graham Park.

“When an officer drives in on patrol, that’s a long ride in. Anybody that’s in there can see your headlights coming from a long distance away and they can hide or leave,” he said.

However, on a bicycle it would be easier to approach the suspects undetected.

The bikes, which are specially made to endure more strenuous use than an ordinary bike, cost about $1,500 each, which included lights, sirens and other equipment, said Jeff Schueler, township director of public safety.

The department will get racks so that the officers can take the bikes with them when they are patrolling in their cars.

The officers also will have special bicycle uniforms, which will include yellow polo shirts with embroidered badges, helmets and shorts.

The township EMS also has two bikes, which it used at Community Days last year. Several EMS employees later this year will do a similar training to what the police did, Schueler said.

Supervisor Mike Manipole said the new bike patrols is a good idea.

“This complements the new bike routes throughout the township, which is excellent,” he said.