The sight of security guards riding bicycles on the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus made Maragret Albano feel more secure yesterday, the first day for a new two-wheeled patrol force.

"It's great," said Albano, a 21-year-old nursing student walking past Hawai'i Hall shortly before noon.

The four-person bicycle patrol is the latest security step being taken by officials at the 300-acre campus in the wake of the Virginia Tech University shootings. Other measures include a new online system that allows for mass messaging of more than 100 emergency managers in the event of an emergency.

Security guards and their five supervisors don't carry weapons but have radios for calling police.

A recent audit of security at UH-Manoa and 12 similar-sized universities showed that UH is the only campus with more than 25,000 students, faculty and staff that does not have armed officers with police powers.

Manoa officials are considering three proposals to better secure the campus, including an armed police force trained by police but based on campus. The other proposals being discussed among students, faculty and staff are possible service contracts with the state sheriffs and a shared-service agreement with the Honolulu Police Department.

The campus has also extended job offers to eight new security officers.

"I feel like our campus is a really safe campus," said interim UH-Manoa Chancellor Denise Konan. "We are in the process of putting a package together, in regard to emergency preparedness, to take to the board (of regents) and the campus community."

Before the launch of the bike program, 10 of the 41 campus security officers completed a nationally certified training program, which included a 75-mile bike ride.

The bikes cost the university between $650 and $750 each and are built to the same specifications as the bicycles used by the Honolulu Police Department.

"We'll be able to travel to areas where our vehicles won't be able to," said Reuben Danao, a 53-year-old bike patrolman who has been a security officer at the university for 13 years.

"It's going to be easier to take the bike everywhere."

Campus officials say the bikes will allow officers to move among the students with greater ease, improving communication. The lightweight bikes can reach difficult-to-access areas of campus.

"Our response to situations will be quicker, and we'll be out there among the students more," said UH-Manoa director of security Neal Sakamoto.

The move to implement bicycle patrols had been in the planning stage for some time, Sakamoto said.

The campus does not have much violent crime, although thefts are a problem, officials said.

Seventeen sexual assaults occurred from 2002 to 2005, prompting campus rallies for more security, according to the Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.