Altona Police encouraging safe biking
Cyclists in Altona and Plum Coulee could be in for a cool treat this summer—but only if they’re riding responsibly.
The Altona Police Service has brought back a popular community initiative that rewards both kids and adults for safe biking. Officers are handing out free treat cards, redeemable for a slushie or ice cream cone, to those spotted following the rules of the road.
“It’s the opposite of writing tickets,” said Chief Dan Defer. “If officers see someone biking safely, they’ll stop and hand them a treat card. It’s a way to reward positive behaviour instead of punishing negative behaviour.”
Officers keep the cards with them while out on patrol and are encouraged to interact with cyclists when they observe safe habits, such as obeying stop signs, wearing helmets, or using proper hand signals.
The initiative covers both the Town of Altona and the LUD of Plum Coulee.
Defer said the goal is twofold: to promote bicycle safety and create more positive interactions between officers and the community.
“We’ve noticed an increase in cyclists maybe not operating as safely as they could—running stop signs, just dangerously riding bikes,” said Defer. “We’re just trying to get ahead of that, because unfortunately, the longer it goes, something will happen, and it won’t be good.”
But the program also reflects a broader goal of building trust and familiarity between officers and residents.
“We don’t want to be seen as just the people driving around in police cars,” Defer said. “We want to be out in the community, talking to people. This is a small town, and this is what we should be doing.”
While the initiative has only been running a short time, Defer said it’s a return to a program that was previously successful in past years. The department plans to evaluate its impact at the end of August.
“We haven’t crunched the numbers yet,” he said. “But we’re hoping it has the same kind of positive results it did last time.”
The treat cards were purchased by the police service from a local establishment and serve as a lighthearted way to encourage good habits while reinforcing safety and community connection.
With summer in full swing and more people out on bicycles and scooters, Defer said the timing couldn’t be better.
“It’s the perfect season for this—and a good reminder that safety can go hand-in-hand with fun.”
By Pam Fedack
