NCJ Number
203368
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 78,80,82
Date Published
November 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the use of electric bicycles by law enforcement officials.
Abstract
Non-motorized bicycles are valuable tools to police departments and security agencies across the country, and adding an electric motor to bicycles renders them even more effective and useful. Police departments in New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, Louisiana, Utah, Arkansas, and Washington DC, as well as the United States Park Service and security teams at the White House, are already using electric bicycles to add power, speed, and stealth to an officer’s movement. Electric bicycles are also a cost effective complement to police cars, costing $3,000 as compared to $55,000 for a well-equipped police cruiser. The most important indicator of performance for an electric bicycle is not its motor’ power but its torque. Police departments purchasing electric bicycles should look for a motor that offers high torque at both high and low speeds to ensure robust hill-climbing ability and rapid acceleration. Further suggestions for police departments considering the purchase of an electric bicycle include selecting a silent motor for undercover, plain-clothes, or covert operations and selecting a bicycle with a battery that lasts for at least 15 miles before needing re-charging. High performance electric bicycles are force multipliers that will save police departments money while expanding their resources and increasing their productivity.