SUBWAY ESCORTS FOR LATE-NIGHT TRAVELERS

After watching a TV news segment six years ago about sexual assaults committed against women in Brooklyn, Brooklynite Jay Ruiz felt a calling to help safeguard women against this epidemic of attacks. Jay founded Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BPP) in September 2011, walking women home from subway stations late at night.

That was the start of Brooklyn Bike Patrol--one man who rode his bike to a handful of subway stations and made himself available to walk home one woman at a time. BPP since has grown from a one-person operation to an all-volunteer organization with dozens of members who feel the same way as Jay, its founder and president.

BPP describes itself:

The Brooklyn Bike Patrol is dedicated to making the people of Brooklyn feel safe as they travel from train stations to their homes in the evening hours. Just call us ahead of time before you board your train and one of our volunteers will be waiting to meet and escort you home safely.

We service various train stops in Brooklyn, including Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Sunset Park, Kensington,Windsor Terrace and Carroll Gardens, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Borough Park, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bushwick, Williamsburg, Bay Ridge, Greenpoint, Ditmas Park, Bensonhurst, and Red Hook.

All of our volunteers have been background checked by the 72nd Precinct and their pictures can be found on our Facebook page. Please check our Facebook page for service updates.

When you want someone to accompany you home, call Brooklyn Bike Patrol at (929) 475-3313.

THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER TO ESCORT US HOME NEED NEW T-SHIRTS

Brooklyn Bike Patrol, the volunteers who have been escorting people home safely from subway stations and other places at night since 2011, needs help in purchasing new t-shirts for its members.

Riders need thirty long-sleeve t-shirts at a cost of $270 and thirty short-sleeve t-shirts at a cost of $180.

The practice of putting the name of the t-shirt donor--an individual or a business--on the shirt's left sleeve will continue.

Anyone who can donate money to buy the t-shirts is asked to contact BBP by e-mail at email @ Brooklynbikepatrol@gmail.com.

Mail your donation to
Upper Deck
6302 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230 

Jay Ruiz founded Brooklyn Bike Patrol in September 2011 after hearing about the sexual assaults being committed against women in Brooklyn. He felt a calling to fight back against the crime wave.  BBP has grown from a one-person operation to dozens of members who feel the same way that Jay does.

BBP is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BROOKLYNBIKEPATROL.

GOAL MET FOR HELPING JAY RUIZ PAY HIS INITIAL MEDICAL BILLS

Clients, friends, and admirers of Jay "Rocket" Ruiz have met the $3,000 fund raising goal set up on gofundme.com to help him pay his medical bills. Jay is the president of Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP), the all-volunteer organization he founded two years ago to safeguard the women of Brooklyn against an epidemic of sexual assaults by providing them with a safe walk home.

Jay survived a heart attack this summer on June 8th and a second one on June 10th. A few days later, he unhappily announced the end of BBP. On July 2nd, he had recuperated enough to announce that BBP would return. And on August 2nd, he and his loyal agents were back on track.

But last week, on August 9th, Jay passed out on the subway. He had to have a defibrillator implanted. Our uninsured Brooklyn hero will have more medical bills to pay, so another fund raiser may be needed. We'll let you know if Jay, the helper, needs help.

Jay Ruiz founded Brooklyn Bike Patrol on September 14, 2011, because he saw a TV news segment about the sexual assaults being committed against women in Brooklyn and knew he had to help prevent the continuation of this crime wave. He started walking women home from subway stations late at night.

That's how Brooklyn Bike Patrol started out--one man riding one bike to a handful of subway stations and making himself available to walk one woman home at a time. Now Jay and his agents service all of these neighborhoods: 

• Bedford Stuyvesant,
• Bensonhurst,
• Borough Park,
• Brooklyn Heights,
• Bushwick,
• Carroll Garden,
• Clinton Hill,
• Ditnas Park,
• Dumbo,
• Dyker Heights,
• Ft. Greene,
• Greenpoint,
• Kensington,
• Park Slope,
• Propect Heights,
• Red Hook,
• Sunset Park,
• Williamsburg, and
• Windsor Terrace.

Jay had recently been screening potential volunteers. He'd like to interview some more. To volunteer for BBP, send an e-mail to brooklynbikepatrol [at] gmail [dot] com.

Before Jay's initial hospitalization, Brooklyn Bike Patrol operated its free service Sundays through Thursdays from 8:00 p.m. to midnight and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Since their return on August 2nd, BBP agents have been escorting people home on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. In September, they'll resume their 7-days-per-week schedule.

Call (718) 744-7592 to pre-arrange for an agent to meet you at a subway station or elsewhere. Call BBP 45 minutes before you expect to arrive at the station.

E-mail: BrooklynBikePatrol [at] gmail [dot] com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BKBikePatrol
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BROOKLYNBIKEPATROL

BIKE RIDERS NEEDED

Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP) is looking to the future when Jay Ruiz, its founder and president, will be "back in the saddle." Jay is recuperating from the two heart attacks he had just about a month ago, and he's eager to get BBP on the road again to escort people home.

More volunteers will be needed to "pick up" people at subway stations and walk them home as the patrol continues to expand. Volunteers must

• live in Brooklyn,
• have their own bike to ride to the subway stations,
• have no police record, and
• be willing to volunteer at least one weekend night every other week.

To volunteer and to learn more about how Brooklyn Bike Patrol functions, call Jay at (718) 744-7592 anytime after 6:00 p.m. 

Brooklyn Bike Patrol
https://www.facebook.com/BROOKLYNBIKEPATROL
https://twitter.com/BKBikePatrol

BROOKLYN BIKE PATROL WILL RIDE AGAIN

                                                                  Posted on YouTube by Ahmed Hussein

Wonderful news for Brooklyn: Jay Ruiz is recovering from the heart attacks he had in early June, his doctor is allowing him to do light exercise, and soon the Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP) will escort Brooklynites home again every night--at no cost. 

When BBP rolls back into action, its agents will meet people at any of the seventy-five subway stations it services. Agents will also meet people anywhere in Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, Red Hook, Ditmas Park, Carrol Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Lefferts Gardens, and Greenpoint.

Call BBP forty-five minutes before you get on the subway to tell them which station you're getting out at. We'll provide you with the phone number when we get word that BBP is on the road again.

The 72nd and 90th precincts have done background checks on every BBP agent. A photo of every agent is on BBP's Facebook page.

BBP works Sundays through Thursdays, from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays, from  8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for a group that does Brooklyn proud can send BBP an e-mail at brooklynbikepatrol @ gmail.com.

BROOKLYN BIKE PATROL ENDS

Jay "Rocket" Ruiz, Brooklyn Bike Patrol President and Founder

Jay "Rocket" Ruiz is a good person with a big heart. He cares about other people. He's willing to help strangers. He turns them into friends. Brooklyn is a better place because Jay lives here.

When Jay saw the video on TV of one of the first of many sexual assaults on the women of Brooklyn, he leaped into action. He created, organized, and nurtured Brooklyn Bike Patrol.

Sadly, Jay wrote on his Facebook page yesterday

Attention Brooklyn!! This is Jay Ruiz President and Founder. This is the most difficult post I'm ever going to make. This pass Saturday & Monday I had a heart attack. I ride 150-200 miles a week and do 100 pushups a day. I thought it was heartburn! Finally made it to the hospital yesterday after 3 days of vomiting. I was shocked to learn what my heart been through. But I have to say that we going to shut down this service. I'm so sorry to all the women that depends on our service. Remember that I love doing this and I'm very proud of what the BBP has become and and all the people we helped. I ask for you to give me and my family privacy during this time. God bless and i love you all. And remember ladies watch your surroundings and stay alert.

Jay is a hero who created an opportunity for other Brooklynites to be heroes. The members of Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP) were volunteers whose consciences led them to devote time to protecting people they didn't know. They provided the free service because they cared. They walked women home from fifty-eight (!) subway stations and from anywhere in their neighborhoods, like a friend's house, a restaurant, or a bus stop.

The volunteers worked every day. Sundays to Thursdays, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Fridays and Saturdays, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Jay, thank you for caring, for your kind deeds, and for inspiring others. We're so glad you're alive. We send you love and wish you a quick recovery.

NEW BROOKLYN BIKE PATROL LOGO

The members of Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP) are volunteers who have chosen to devote their free time to protecting women. They provide this free service because they care. They walk women home from subway stations and also from anywhere in their neighborhoods, such as from a bar, a friend's house, a restaurant, or a bus stop.

The 45 subway stations BBP services are in Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, and Crown Heights.

Their hours of operation are Sundays to Thursdays, from 8 p.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Don't even try to tip them because they don't accept money!

e-mail: rocket55j  @  aol.com OR brooklynbikepatrol  @  gmail.com
phone: (718) 744-7592
https://www.facebook.com/BROOKLYNBIKEPATROL
https://twitter.com/BKBikePatrol

BROOKLYN BIKE PATROL AND OUR BYPASSED STATIONS

Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BPP) is going to escort women from the F train stop at 7th Avenue to their homes in Windsor Terrace. Volunteers will meet them at both exits--7th Avenue and 8th Avenue. 

The members of BPP walk women home from subway stations in the evening (Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.). Call ahead to arrange for someone to meet you at a station. (718) 744-7592. See a picture here of the shirts they wear.

Call them first to arrange for an escort. (718) 744-7592.

UPDATE ON BROOKLYN BIKE PATROL CONTACT INFORMATION

Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP) escorts women home from two more subway stations now (they're up to twenty stations).

They offer their free service Sundays through Thursdays from 8:00 p.m. to midnight and Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (previously to 2:00 a.m.).

BBP has a new e-mail address: BrooklynBikePatrol [at] gmail [dot] com.

They've opened a Twitter account: https://twitter.com/BKBikePatrol.

Their Facebook page is still at https://www.facebook.com/BROOKLYNBIKEPATROL.

Their phone number is still (718) 744-7592. Call ahead to arrange for an escort.

BROOKLYN BIKE PATROL ESCORTS WOMEN HOME

The volunteers of Brooklyn Bike Patrol (BBP) escort women home from subway stations in the late evening hours, seven nights a week. The group is dedicated to making the women of Brooklyn feel safer. These are Brooklynites helping Brooklynites.

Call BBP before you get on a train. When you get off at your stop, one or more volunteers will meet you and escort you home. Volunteers carry ID cards with them and wear "Brooklyn Bike Patrol" t-shirts with a special patch on the sleeve. Each volunteer has submitted his or her personal information to the 72nd Precinct, and their photos are on BBP's Facebook page.

Eighteen subway stops in Park Slope,Prospect Heights, Sunset Park, Kensington, and Carroll Gardens are serviced by BBP on Sunday to Thursday, from 8:00 p.m. to midnight; and on Friday and Saturday, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

• F line: Bergen Street, Carroll Street, 4th Avenue, 7th Avenue, 15th Street/Prospect Park West, Fort Hamilton Parkway
• R line: Pacific Street, Union Street, 4th Avenue, Prospect Avenue, 25th Street, 36th Street, 45th Street, 50th Street, 53rd Street, 59th Street
• 2 and 3 lines: Atlantic Avenue, Bergen Street, Grand Army Plaza
• B and Q lines: Atlantic Avenue, 7th Avenue

Escorts are willing to meet you other places too--for instance, at a restaurant, a bar, or at your friend's house--to walk you home. If you need an escort at other times, call BBP early, and they'll try to accommodate you. They try to be as flexible as possible.

Call Brooklyn Bike Patrol to be walked home at (718) 744-7592 or send an e-mail to rocket55j [at] aol.com. But a phone call is better. You'll be talking to Jay Ruiz, the founder of Brooklyn Bike Patrol. If Jay isn't going to meet you himself, he'll tell you who is.

Jay Ruiz founded Brooklyn Bike Patrol on September 14, 2011.