Segway to patrol on James St North

[SteelTown]

City cops eye bold new trail -- on a Segway


Hamilton police may be using this vehicle to patrol streets.

Paul Morse
SPECIAL TO The Hamilton Spectator
(Nov 21, 2007)

Hamilton police are getting a new patrol vehicle, one they're sure will cause jaws to drop throughout downtown.

The Hamilton Police Services Board has authorized a three-month pilot project to deploy a Segway to patrol primarily on James Street North. If all goes to plan -- and there are a few niggly details like a city bylaw that currently bans them -- then Hamilton police will be the first force in Ontario to use one.

What's a Segway? It's a two-wheeled "human transporter," the brainchild of American inventor Dean Kamen. Need more? Well, it's basically a high-tech electric scooter -- you stand on it, grab the handlebar and lean forward to make it go. Keep leaning forward, grit your teeth and you'll go 20 kilometres an hour. Want to go left? Lean left. The same to go right.

Police Chief Brian Mullan told the board the Segway will be used on James Street North to combat fear of crime in a neighbourhood rocked by the shooting death of Xavier Miles outside CD Martini Bar last month. It will also allow the force to deploy officers who may have problems walking long distances or riding a bicycle, Mullan told the board Monday.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who sits on the police board, has seen Segways used by Chicago police and supports the project.

Segway makes a Canadian police model, complete with beefed-up snow tires able to handle snowbanks and rugged terrain, sirens, lights and cargo carriers.

But Councillor Terry Whitehead told the board he would rather see officers on mountain bikes, which are cheaper and less costly to maintain.

[DC83]

Those are super neat, for sure.
But I'm not sure how effective they would be if they would have to chase someone down?

But aslong as there's more (police) street pressence on James N, then it's still a good thing.

[matt602]

I don't really think that's an issue since the normal walking cops wouldn't be able to easily chase someone down either, they would just call it in to a mobile unit nearby and keep an eye on the suspect.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[raisethehammer]

I think bikes work better.... I mean, eventually these guys would need to get off this thing and chase someone down. Are there cops really in that bad of shape that they can't ride a bike or run?? And if so, shouldn't they be doing road/highway patrols or office stuff??

[the dude]

ummmmm, that's lame. why not just give them scooters? that way they wouldn't have to exert themselves and they'd blend in better, too.

[HAMRetrofit]

I think its cool. These will give the officers more street presence. It will be easier for them to look to their sides and back to watch for crime. The officer will be able to chase down perps easier because it will be easier to transition between the segway and running. Transitioning between bike and running has a higher risk of injury and is a slower process.

[LikeHamilton]

I was away for 10 days down south and on the large complex I was in, security traveled around on Segways. They where quick and quite and they where small enough to get into everywhere.

[coalminecanary]

lame

this is a motorized vehicle on the sidewalks. bad idea. why can't they ride bikes? it can't be because the streets are way too car centric... could it? hmmmm i guess the cops are scared of being hit by cars just as much as the rest of us!

[raisethehammer]

that's what I really hate about this...instead of using the roads for their bikes, now they'll be hogging sidewalk space.
I'm sorry, but if someone can't "walk long distances or ride a bike" he/she shouldn't be a cop (remember, police CATCH criminals).
I've always loved seeing the bike cops around because drivers really treat them good....they go slow, give them lots of room. I've always hoped that more bike cops might help people start driving properly around all other cyclists too.
I've also thought of buying an outfit that looks similar to a cop uniform for when I ride my bike!

[SteelTown]

New tool for Hamilton police

Hamilton Police have unveiled a new way to patrol the downtown core, especially on James Street North.

It's called a segway personal transporter and it'll be in use over the next three months.

Police point out that the officer stands eight inches taller on the segway, which means they can see over crowds and autos.

The officer can move 2-3 times faster than on foot, and it can be used in all weather.

After three months, a determination will be made about long-term use.

[SteelTown]

[raisethehammer]

wow....lame.
"cool factor"??? these guys are on a different planet.

[HAMRetrofit]

I don't think that they are lame at all. I hope that they send a strong signal to criminals to forget about it.

[highwater]

Never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Councillor Whitehead!

[Goldfinger]

^Ditto

[FairHamilton]

Segway stumbles into police service
April 04, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton police have unveiled their latest crime-fighting tool - a two-wheeled Segway scooter.
But not before the officer who was supposed to demonstrate it crashed in training.
Police say the officer who will use it to patrol the downtown was training Thursday when he collided with something. There was apparently little damage done and he escaped with a twisted knee.
The Segway was on display for the media today, though with a different rider.
The Segway will roll down James Street North sidewalks and alleyways over the next three months as police decide if the high-tech vehicle is worth adding to its fleet.

Yeah, how can this be safe to the public when it's not even safe for the operator. I'm guessing it will be out fitted with a bell to alert pedestrians of it's approach.

I'm sure it will be very beneficial, but whatever happened to "walking the beat"

[raisethehammer]

Lol....I've never heard of a cop twisting his knee while walking down the street. I can just see one of these things chasing someone in a motorized scooter like the great Seinfeld scene where George is chased by the old folks in their scooters. haha.

[FairHamilton]

The Seinfeld image is a great one.

Any Arrested Development fans on the board? All I can picture in my mind is a pompas ass like Gob (Will Arnett) riding around on the thing.

[the dude]

^lol, that's exactly what it makes me think of. there's a reason they gave 'gob' a segway to cruise around in...'cause it's looks absolutely ridiculous.

i can also see these things being a sidewalk hazard. just wait 'til the first pedestrian gets rammed and knocked to the ground. the bottom line is that cops don't like walking the beat or riding the bikes, so this is some sort of strange compromise. it's definitely not superior to those other methods of patrol.

[realcity]

the city banned them from city streets. It blows me away how fast the City can act when it wants to -- like banning Segways from public use within a month them being invented -- but take years to enact an anti-idling or pesticide bylaw that doesn't change anything anyway. Or take a decade for bike racks to appear on busses.

If it's cool, new or European the City hates it. But if it involves changing status quo or regulating automobiles the City drags it feet into the future.

RE: cops using them. I'm in favour of cops being more visible whatever it takes, horses, rickshas, bikes or segways. But I think these should be allowed on City streets like other vehicles. Automobiles have to get used to other forms of transportation SHARING THE PUBLIC space, paid and built for everyone to use.

I have a picture in my mind of a new form of 'cop chase'. a criminal on a segway as the getaway vehicle and one of Hamilton's finest chasing him.... down narrow alleys, jumps, stairs all coming down to the better skilled Segway driver.