Riding with Purpose: The LAFD Bike Team

The 1984 Olympics brought upwards of 5.7 million people together in Los Angeles for one of the most-watched events in the world. As with any major event in the city, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) ensured they had the available resources necessary to address the needs for this type of large-scale incident with significant crowds.  

But something was missing. While responding to medical calls at events throughout the city, typical LAFD apparatus, like Medical Carts (MedCarts) and rescue ambulances, experienced challenges navigating the throngs of people to access patients in need.  

Upon debriefing the Olympics, the LAFD realized that a smaller, faster, and more nimble means of accessing medical emergencies was critical for major events.

Conversations began about employing a team of bike medics who could move through large crowds while carrying necessary medical equipment to treat patients quickly and ensure more rapid access if transport to the hospital or a nearby medical tent were required.  

These conversations led to the creation of the LAFD’s first bike team in the early 2000s.  

Captain Robert Dunivin was just a year into his firefighting career with the LAFD when he joined the first Bike Team class of 2003. He always enjoyed riding bikes and saw an opportunity to connect his love for mountain biking and desire to explore this unique way to serve his community.  

He recalled the funeral of fallen firefighter Jamie Foster in 2004 as the first official Bike Team deployment. It marked a pivotal moment in the fire department and the first time that the Team was present at a major event.

From early days at various street fairs and community events to today’s large-scale events like CicLAvia, Fleet Week, and the Los Angeles Marathon, Captain Dunivin has watched the Bike Team grow into an essential aspect of the LAFD’s mission to keep Los Angeles safe.  

The firefighters and paramedics who comprise the LAFD’s Bike Team serve this role in addition to their regular firefighting duties. Captain Dunivin shared that LAFD bikers could wrap a concert or event around 1:00 or 2:00 am, and report to their fire station for their shift at 6:00 am the same morning. Members undergo comprehensive, specialized training through the International Police Mountain Bike Association, ensuring that they are mission-ready before hitting the streets.

Dedicated bike teams patrol the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), present for the more than 200,000 individuals who pass through each day, and Venice Beach during the summer months.  

The passion runs deep, reflected in the fact that more than 90 firefighters applied for just 20 available bike team positions in the most recent round of recruitment.  

“We really enjoy it,” Captain Dunivin said of the approximately 120 currently active LAFD Bike Team members. “We take pride in serving the citizens of Los Angeles and the communities within it.”  

When the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, the LAFD Bike Team was embedded in the parade. For Captain Dunivin, that juxtaposition of being personally excited about the Dodgers’ win and the responsibility of ensuring the safety of fellow fans reinforced why he chose this unique path.  

“Getting a paramedic to a patient quickly is our main mission,” Captain Dunivin emphasized. And while rapid emergency response is the team’s primary purpose, he added that another significant benefit is community connection.  

“Wearing shorts and a polo shirt on a bike, it makes us more approachable,” he said. “We end up answering questions, helping tourists, taking pictures with families. People like to see the LAFD on bikes out in their communities.”

As the team has grown, so has the need for more modern, durable equipment. Captain Dunivin recalled the early days of heavy, low-quality bikes that left riders exhausted at the end of a long event. Today’s e-bikes and uniforms, made possible by donor support through the LAFD Foundation, have transformed the program.  

“The Foundation has helped us take big steps forward,” Captain Dunivin emphasized.  

The LAFD Foundation’s investment in high-quality equipment backed by community support helped ensure a new wave of growth for the LAFD’s Bike Team. With the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, this special team will once again have the opportunity to show Los Angeles the strength, significance, and necessity of emergency response on two wheels.  

“Bikes aren’t just a good idea,” Captain Dunivin shared. “They’re essential.”