The Ames Police Department has some new wheels to ride around town.

Michael’s Cyclery Ski & Fitness, 320 Main St., presented Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine with one of three Trek police bicycles Wednesday. The new bikes are to be used by officers on bike patrol this summer.

Police will receive the second bike within several weeks and the third one, which will be kept in storage, will be used as a back-up unit, said Ron Ritz, manager of Michael’s Cyclery Ski & Fitness.

The bike patrol started riding in Ames last week, said police officer John Nordyke, a bike patrol officer.

“The primary purpose is to enforce the bike code and have law enforcement in the interiors of the parks,” he said. “We also patrol in the Campustown area since that’s where most bicyclists are.”

Patrolling on a bike will not restrict Nordyke because he is higher in the air and there is no glass and steel in his way.

“On a bicycle we can quietly ride up on a problem,” he said.

Seven officers have been trained for the bike patrol. Funding for the officers’ uniforms and salaries was provided by a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau to increase traffic safety and enforcement of bicyclists.

Ballantine said the funding will help the bike patrol in working with crimes such as vandalism. He also expressed his gratefulness for the gift.

“We support Michael’s Cyclery doing business with us,” Ballantine said.

Ritz and the store’s owner, Michael Fatka, were involved in the decision to donate the bike to the Police Department.

“We felt the need to give back to community in some fashion,” Ritz said. “Ames is a great town to live in. Michael and I went to school at Iowa State and have been living in Ames for 25 years.”

Ritz said the bike was designed specifically for police use. Some of these specially designed parts include the handlebar, the saddle and a police rack pack.

The structure, which was light-weight and durable, was selected by a manufacturer. The equipment that is placed on the bike is chosen by the police.

“It’s not only neat, it’s fun to ride,” Nordyke said.

Ritz said the store got the bike for a reduced price, but a similar model would be worth $900.