Cops patrol on e-bikes

Auckland police patrolled the downtown area on electric bikes during Queen’s Birthday weekend.

The aim was to bust those using cell phones while driving and people not wearing seatbelts.

Police have previously used conventional push-bikes, but the electric bikes make the job easier, road policing’s Simon Welsh says.

“Because of the amount of equipment that police have to wear, they’re very loaded down; so If they have to ride from Quay St to K-Rd – an e-bike will make it easier for them.,” Welsh told Stuff prior to the e-bike patrol.

Welsh says he believes it’s the first time New Zealand police have used e-bikes on patrol.

The NZ Transport Agency supplied the e-bikes for the long-weekend.

They are not designed for police pursuit but to give officers greater mobility, Welsh says.

The road policing team familiarised themselves with the e-bikes prior to the patrol.

Pedal assist provides greater power from the battery in response to pedalling, depending on mode selection. That’s able to boost speeds and make hills easier to ride up.

Welsh says another advantage is the bike’s height allows police to look down into a vehicle.

Whether e-bikes become a permanent police transport mode hasn’t yet been decided.