VCU Police has recently expanded its fleet of e-bikes, allowing officers to more effectively patrol Virginia Commonwealth University campuses and better engage with students, faculty, staff and members of the Richmond community.
“The e-bikes allow the officers to have more connection with the public, they reduce officer fatigue because of the pedal assist, and they [enable officers to] maneuver around campus more easily than in a car,” said VCU Police Lt. Edgar Greer, Ed.D. “They also allow us to get to areas faster that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to travel to by car throughout campus.”
Roughly a year ago, VCU Police acquired two e-bikes and began testing them on patrols. They proved successful, so the department acquired seven more heading into the fall semester. The e-bikes are part of VCU Police’s Division of Patrol Operations, which is staffed by more than 60 sworn officers and 12 supervisors who patrol the Monroe Park and MCV campuses in marked and unmarked cars, on bicycles and by foot.
“The e-bikes have been a great addition to our safety/security portfolio. Our community reports feeling safer when seeing officers on bike or on foot – more so than any other methods of deployment,” said John Venuti, VCU’s associate vice president for public safety and chief of police.
The e-bikes are being used on both campuses, and Greer said they have proven particularly helpful in police patrols of parking decks and lots. In VCU’s annual perception of safety survey of more than 1,000 students, faculty and staff, respondents […]
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