Police looking to be wheely fast on electric bikes
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Police won’t be working up a sweat while chasing criminals this summer — they will be on e-bikes.
The Winnipeg Police Service has issued a tender to buy 16 electric bikes in time for spring.
Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Stephen Spencer said the bikes will be divided equally across the city in the service’s four districts for its foot patrol and community support units.
“Bicycle patrols allow officers to respond more rapidly, engage easily with the public, get place to place with speed and operate in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible using traditional modes of transportation,” Spencer said Wednesday.
“Similar police e-bike programs in other major Canadian cities have proven successful and have been welcomed by the community. It is another tool available to officers to better meet and enhance community expectations.”
Marc Cohoe, of Bike Winnipeg, said officers will quickly realize the benefits of cycling instead of driving.
“I think it’s a nice idea. Having police on bikes, as opposed to a car, it gives you that personal touch and a more live interaction,” Cohoe said.
“It humanizes officers.”
E-bikes, compared to the pedal-driven bicycles used in the past by police officers, will give them the ability to go further and faster to respond to calls or take action, Cohoe said.
“The e-bike gives you a lot more range. You’re not as restricted as you are on foot,” he said.
St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard, who regularly walks or cycles from his ward to city hall, said police will see several benefits when going through areas of the city on two wheels.
“I walked from Provencher to city hall (on Wednesday) and I saw things I would never have seen if I was in a car,” Allard said.
“When you think about boots on the ground, I think the bicycle is jut the right speed, especially for riding the beat. They’ll be able to see a lot, plus they will be faster than on foot. I see this as a good step.”
Deadline for the tender is Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
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Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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