WASHINGTON – Starting Monday, August 10, people who use bike paths and walking trails in Howard County will notice an increased police presence.

The new Pathway Patrol Section of the Howard County Police Department will include seven officers who will patrol the paths and trails on bikes and electric motorcycles.

“The idea is try to create a strong sense of safety and security for the many people who use those trails,” says Sherry Llewellyn, spokesperson for Howard County Police.

The new segment of the department is not being created in response to any particular incident, but rather to help deter crime, address quality-of-life concerns, and interact more directly with the community.

The Pathway Patrols will take place seven days a week, year round, even during the cold winter months.  “We know that there are people who continue to use the trails for jogging or for walking their dogs and we want them to know that when they are out there, we are out there,”  Llewellyn tells WTOP.

Columbia has more than 90 miles of bike paths and there are an additional 100 miles of paths throughout the rest of Howard County.