Plans underway for Lowellville bike-trail patrols

By SARAH LEHR

slehr@vindy.com

LOWELLVILLE

The seclusion of the Stavich bike trail can be pleasant, but it also raises safety concerns.

“We’ve been getting a lot of complaints lately about people being harassed on the bike trail,” village Police Chief Ryan Bonacci said. “Patrons of the trail can’t be seen from the roads when we’re in police cruisers, and it’s too slow to monitor the trail on foot.”

A campaign is underway to raise funds for a Lowellville police bike patrol, which will monitor the Lowellville portion of the trail. The entire trail spans 10.5 miles along a former trolley route from Struthers to New Castle, Pa.

The department hopes to raise $2,000 to purchase one bike and the headlights and decals necessary to comply with state regulations for emergency vehicles.

The department’s training budget will pay for mandatory bike-patrol training under the Ohio Peace Officer Training Association.

Bonacci estimates the campaign has raised roughly half its goal, thanks to a raffle, the support of local businesses and other donations.

The department also is considering a pancake breakfast and a bike-safety day in partnership with local schools.

The chief hopes to raise the necessary funds by the end of the summer and implement the patrol by next spring.

“What I’m really excited about is how many people from the community have already come forward to help us out,” Bonacci said.