Officers on patrol at a central Philippines police station have abandoned automobiles to patrol communities on bicycles to save gasoline and avoid rising fuel prices. While on duty, police will ride custom-built bicycles and outfitted with protective gear.

Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr., of Lucena City in central Philippines said the 10 police officers will initially be involved. They will be given bicycles to ride while patrolling the community to watch for crimes.

Talaga said the move was to meet the challenge to maintain peace and order in the city and at the same time to lower the patrol costs.

The mayor said more policemen will be assigned to patrol on bikes as the funds become available.

Lucena is home to key government agencies in the southern Tagalog region in the Philippines. Based on the 2005 census, it has 220,834 people in 44,952 households.