Ten of the two-wheeled Segways are to be deployed today as patrol vehicles on pathways and boardwalks in parks, at beaches and at stadiums, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said at a news conference yesterday.
Twenty-five officers have completed training as Segway drivers, he said, enabling them to maneuver the devices safely for up to eight continuous hours.
“Their obvious advantages are visibility and mobility,” Mr. Kelly said. He was referring to the battery-charged agility of a Segway, which can roll up to 12.5 miles per hour, and to the imposing stature the devices tend to give officers, who are eight inches off the ground and ride standing up.
-- The New York Times, May 17, 2007
Mr. Kelly diplomatically avoided mentioning any connection to gas prices, but that must have been a factor too. Something about helmeted police officers riding Segways reminds me of Robocop, but I like the idea of using alternative vehicles for police and other government functions.
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