South Bruce OPP launch E-bike pilot program

The South Bruce OPP has added two new E-bikes to its fleet, officially launching the pedal-assisted bike pilot program, Wednesday morning, at the Kincardine detachment.

Inspector Keegan Wilcox, detachment commander, acknowledged the former Kincardine Police Services Board and the Municipality of Kincardine for their assistance in this new and exciting venture for the South Bruce OPP.

"The acquisition of these E-bikes will significantly improve our officers' abilities in patrolling trails, beach-fronts, neighborhoods and the downtown core,” said Wilcox. “The increased visibility of these patrols will coincide with the influx of the population from tourism that our detachment area encounters during the summer months. This is a great opportunity for our officers to connect with our communities."
 

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South Bruce OPP constables John Hardy (left) and Hailey Allen with the new E-bikes
 

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Wilcox said the detachment has seven officers trained in the use of the E-bikes. The OPP has bicycle patrols with officers training for three days on the mountain bikes. There is an additional day of training for the E-bikes.

He thanked Martin Weatherall of Marlo Cycle, formerly of the Point Clark area, for donating the mountain bikes back in 1993. And he thanked Kincardine Home Hardware for assisting with the purchase of the new E-bikes.

Sandy Donald of the former Kincardine Police Services Board said the E-bikes are a great advantage for officers, as they can be attached by a hitch to the cruisers. Then, if the officer is chasing a person of interest who heads off into Inverhuron Provincial Park, for example, the officer can grab the bike and continue the chase.

Donald said the bikes plus the hitch, cost about $10,000 and were sourced locally through Kincardine Home Hardware.

Constable Josh Cunningham, who was filling in for community safety officer constable Matt Thorpe, said the E-bikes can reach a speed of 30 km/h when the battery is fully charged, and they can run 196 kilometres on a battery, depending on the speed they are running. For example, if the bike is touring, it can run 168 kilometres on a battery, but at faster speeds and with full battery assist, it would max out at 86 kilometres.

The E-bike has a headlight, tail light, reflectors and an audible signal. The officers must use hand-signals when turning left or right, and stopping, and they must wear helmets when riding the E-bike.

The two officers who were demonstrating the E-bikes Wednesday morning, constables Hailey Alley and John Hardy, said they look forward to being able to cruise around the municipality, and stop in at various events and festivals during the summer.

“The E-bikes are more efficient,” said Allen. “They’re like having something in between the foot patrol and the cruiser.”

“They’re much better than the bicycle,” said Hardy. “You can cover a lot of miles with one of these.”

The officers carry provincial offence notices on the E-bike, providing a level of enforcement while they are touring around town.

The E-bikes will be deployed at selected detachment areas, and the pilot project runs from June to December.



Standing with the new E-bikes (left) and the patrol bicycles (right), are South Bruce OPP constables Hailey Allen (left) and John Hardy, sergeant Shawn Nash of West Region OPP, detachment commander inspector Keegan Wilcox, Sandy Donald of the former Kincardine Police Services Board, Kincardine councillor Rory Cavanagh, Stellina Williams of the former Kincardine Police Services Board, staff-sergeant Deb McClure and Martin Weatherall of Marlo Cycle



South Bruce OPP constables Hailey Allen and John Hardy showcase the new E-bikes that have been added to the fleet, at the Kincardine detachment, Wednesday morning