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Thessaloniki's police main directorate launched a new program in which the policemen on shift are patrolling on bicycles. This way is considered more effective for keeping an eye on beaches, bicycle alleys and pedestrian zones at the same time, than patrolling in police cars.

Statistics speak in favor of the bicycle-patrols. From May 1 to July 31 over 9000 people were stopped for a check-up at specific downtown locations. 4294 policemen participated in the 1479 shifts that have been checking-up 100 people per day for three months. 60.53% are Greek citizens and the rest 3638 are foreigners. 349 violations have been registered, 171, or almost the half of which are violations of the law for foreigners residence in Greece and another 26 are custom-regulations violation.

404 people were arrested for this period of time, or 4.4% from those checked-up by the police. 67% or 273 are foreigners, i.e. two out of every five checked-up and two out of every three arrested are foreigners. The main directorate of the Thessaloniki police considers the bicycle patrols really effective and plans on continuing this practice.