Wichita ? Eastborough police soon will use bicycles to help patrol the town’s popular park and save on fuel costs. “It’s one of those win-win kinds of things,” said Thom Rosenberg, Eastborough’s mayor.

“It’s good for the community. It makes (officers) more personable. : They’ll be able to patrol the park more easily, and save us some money.”

The Eastborough City Council voted unanimously this week to spend $1,395 for two police bicycles, along with special bike patrol helmets and uniforms.

Transferring two officers from patrol cars to bicycles for at least part of the year – as weather permits – is expected to save the city at least $1,400 a year on fuel, Rosenberg said.

Police Chief David Bridgewater said officers will begin bike patrols during today’s Komen Wichita Race for the Cure. Participants will start at Towne East Square and run through Eastborough, just west of the mall.

Bridgewater, who proposed the bike patrols, said bicycles will allow officers to more closely and regularly patrol Eastborough Park.

The city employs seven full-time police officers. Bike officers will work only during daylight and will be backed up by an officer in a patrol car, Bridgewater said.