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AMERICAN RIVER BIKE PATROL

FOR THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY, SACRAMENTO CA

Big Day Of Giving

The national day of giving to local non-profit organizations fast-approaches, on May 1, 2025. The American River Bike Patrol (ARBP) is an all-volunteer team that provides emergency medical and mechanical assistance to walkers, cyclists, equestrians and other users of the 32-mile American River Parkway's Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail (Old Sacramento to Folsom Lake), one of the most heavily-used recreation trails in North America (8 million users), the City of Stockton’s trail network, the 37-mile El Dorado Trail (Folsom to Camino) and City of Roseville Bike Trail. ARBP is a unit of the National Ski Patrol (NSP) and its National Bike Patrol (NBP).  To be certified by the NSP/NBP, all ARBP bike patrollers undergo rigorous and ongoing training in first aid, CPR, bike repair and trail etiquette.    Unlike ski patrols, the ARBP has no ski area to underwrite the cost of first aid supplies, equipment and training and receives no funding from the County of Sacramento, California State Parks, the County of El Dorado, City of Placerville or City of Roseville, which manage the trails on which it patrols.  Since the ARBP began patrolling in 2020, its bike patrollers have conducted 7,687 patrols, ridden over 19,524 hours (avg. 2.54 hours per patrol) and 128,881 miles.  During those patrols, they assisted 19,720 parkway users, repaired 1,192 bicycles and provided emergency first aid to 1,677 cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians.  And they did this all as volunteers without anyone being paid or the patrol receiving any subsidy. In partnership with UC Davis Trauma Prevention and Outreach, the ARBP has given 366 bike helmets to kids whose families are otherwise unable to afford them.  This program seeks to prevent and reduce the #1 cause of death and disability among children - traumatic brain injuries from riding a bicycle while not wearing a helmet.   In 2023, the ARBP initiated a Junior Patroller program which trained 17 at-risk teenagers in cycling, leadership, first aid and community service, awarding each graduate a brand-new Trek bike and related equipment. In 2024 Patrol mentors coached 29 Cordova High School students to complete a final ride down the entire length of the American River Trail and a public graduation ceremony on November 9th. In 2025, two other high schools are considering starting a similar program with the ARBP.

The bike patrol serves as good will ambassadors along the trail, positively and gently informing trail users of trail etiquette, providing directions, safe riding and walking tips, adding a public safety presence and actively looking for people who need medical or mechanical assistance. For more on the ARBP, go To donate, go to www.bigdayofgiving.org/donate/American-River-Bike-Patrol.

                           In Memory of Carl Dahl

Always a twinkle in the eye, a smile on the lips, ever a patroller.

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About

BIKE PATROL STORY

The Bike Patrollers of the all-volunteer American River Bike Patrol provide emergency bike repair, first aid and trail safety along the 32-mile Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail within the American River Parkway in Sacramento County and the 37-mile El Dorado Trail in El Dorado County.

 

They pride themselves in serving as trail ambassadors, helping trail users find their way and enjoy their trail experience safely. All  have been certified in first aid, emergency bike repair and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

 

Since its establishment in 2020, the Bike Patrol has received many national, state, regional and local honors including being named the finest bike patrol in the nation, having the finest patrol director and the finest bike patroller in the nation. It is an elite group that takes pride in excellence of service to all trail users.

 

To join the Bike Patrol, click "Join Patrol" above.

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FREE KIDS BIKE HELMETS

Free helmets are given to children who need them at patrol gatherings held on the First Saturday of each month. In July, this will occur on July 13 at Wm Pond Rec Area (Call Box #13). To reserve helmets, email americanriverbikepatrol@gmail.com. The helmets are provided as a public service by UC Davis Health, Injury and Violence Prevention and the American River Bike Patrol.

CALENDAR

This calendar has patrol hours of its members as well as training days and other events. If the calendar events do not show in your browser, click here.

                                      2023 Bike Patrol Statistics

Following each patrol, Bike Patrollers submit shift reports. Here are 2023 highlights of those reports.

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Count
Description
34414
Miles Patrolled
5212
Hours Patrolled
46
911 Calls (medical/safety emergency)
145
311 Calls (trail maintenance)

Medical Related Statistics

Count
Description
955
Medical Assists, including
400
Cold Exposure
247
Dehydration
155
Blister
80
Lower Extremity Injury
11
Upper Extremity Injury
2
Cardiac
5
Bug Bite/Sting
5
Contusion
2
Heat Exposure/Stroke

Mechanical Related Statistics

Count
Description
134
Mechanical Assists, including
63
Flat Tires
28
Chain
27
Air
15
Derailleur
13
Brake Adjustments
4
Seat Adjustments
8
Pedals
4
Wheels
2
Handlebars

Other Trail Statistics

Count
Description
621
Walking/Riding on wrong side of trail
109
Welfare check
64
Provide directions
39
No Helmet
43
Speeding
35
Dogs off leash
18
Assist Police/Fire
18
Unsafe behavior
9
Trash/litter
9
Blocked trail
8
Lifevest pickup
8
Mental Illness
7
Water/electrolytes
7
Trail maintenance
3
Callbox issue
2
Rattlesnake
1
Hostile park user
1
Wildfire
1
Skateboard
1
Lost bike
PARTNERS

PARKWAY PARTNERS

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ARBP IN THE NEWS

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Contact

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