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Providence PD testing Vectrix motorcycles

post #1 of 7
7/30/08 at 10:45am
Thread Starter 

Via Treehugger

 

Following the lead of the NY and Sacramento PDs, the Providence PD is testing 4 Vectrixes.

 

Last month four police officers in Providence, Rhode Island began a "a three-month trial of the all-electric Vectrix Maxi scooter" which has a range of 60 miles, a 3-5 hour charge time, and a top speed of just over 60 miles per hour. Vectrix is providing the scooters for free, and the city is very interested in their ability to reduce air and noise pollution. According to the Providence Police Department, the scooters will be used to enhance foot and bicycle patrols, giving officers enhanced mobility without sacrificing their ability to engage with people. Providence " is the third city in the United States to host a pilot program featuring the battery-powered vehicles," (Sacramento was the first) although UK police have also been testing the scooter. The hope is that, combined with the foot and bicycle patrols, the Police Department will be able to save money on fuel costs, lower emissions and enhance its ability to patrol the city.

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post #2 of 7
7/30/08 at 11:21am

Ha...I actually had an article about that (I think from the Providence Journal, lovingly called the Pro-Jo) bookmarked a month ago.  Kept meaning to post about it...and then clearly I forgot. 

 

Anyway, way to go Providence!  I guess I may just have to go back and visit my alma mater with the hopes of catching a glimpse of one of the 4 Vectrix-riding cops.

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post #3 of 7
9/23/08 at 8:30am

Along with the Providence Police Department, the Penn State University Park PD are getting some new rides too. They're the first university police department and the first department in Pennsylvania to sport e-bikes of some kind. So far, they've only added two (only 4 officers have their motorcycle licenses). Watch out troublemakers at PSU - those Vectrix riding cops can be real stealthy.

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post #4 of 7
9/23/08 at 3:54pm

 nice!!!  aren't some cops -- errrr at least mall cops? -- riding those segways these days, too?  also all electric...

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post #5 of 7
9/24/08 at 10:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lola:

 nice!!!  aren't some cops -- errrr at least mall cops? -- riding those segways these days, too?  also all electric...

 

Yeah, I've seen some security folk at Stanford Shopping Center riding those...I don't recall seeing any in SF but I have seen guys commuting to work on them.  I can't decide if I like them or if I just think it's just lazy.  Although I guess they DO go pretty fast and could be a good alternative to a scooter or some other individual mode of transportation....

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post #6 of 7
9/24/08 at 10:46am
Thread Starter 

I don't know, the Segway can only go 12.5 mph, whereas people can run significantly faster than that.  Seems like an odd choice for cops to me.

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post #7 of 7
9/24/08 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dana1981:

I don't know, the Segway can only go 12.5 mph, whereas people can run significantly faster than that.  Seems like an odd choice for cops to me.

 

Okay, well..."pretty fast" was relative to me walking on the other side of the street.

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