Santa Barbara Police Roll Out E-Bikes to Their Fleet
By the Santa Barbara Police Department
In addition to the installation of the new Hi-Lo siren on police vehicles, the Santa Barbara Police Department is utilizing another intuitive way of policing.
Before Old Spanish Days Fiesta 2022, Police added e-bikes to their fleet.
Interim Chief Marylinda Arroyo and Commander Charles Kasapis saw the bikes in action at a recent conference and felt like they would be a great fit for the City and it's policing needs. Three electric bikes were purchased thanks to grant funding.
Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Sergeant Ethan Ragsdale has first-hand experience with the Police Department’s additional way of patrolling.
"I've been able to ride the e-bikes and they’re a great addition to the department,” said Sgt. Ragsdale, "I can see why the officers love riding them. They're a more modern and effective tool in our inventory and that helps officers cut down response times and get to calls quicker."
Residents are likely to see these bikes in action, patrolling State Street, the Waterfront and even on the Mesa and Milpas Street.
Officers ride in partners and are able to patrol a larger geographical area. The electric bikes last longer than a pedal-only bike, traveling at speeds up to 28 miles per hour.
The Police Department would like to highlight the special touches and added lights provided by Bicycle Bob’s in Goleta.
With three e-bikes currently in rotation, officials hope they are able to add additional wheels to the fleet soon.
10 Comments
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Aug 13, 2022 09:17 PME bikes are a great idea for our police force throughout downtown SB.
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Aug 13, 2022 12:24 PMThose Trek E bikes are a nice,mid-drive piece of art.
$$$$$.
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Aug 13, 2022 10:07 AMFor those of you making "Last longer" questions. Try riding an E-Bike. I own one. They really allow you to move around quicker and to travel farther. They have the additional benefit of flattening the earth!
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Aug 13, 2022 06:42 PM10:07: No, pick me. The idea that such devices "last longer" is without merit. Maybe what the salesperson told the city purchasing agent is that they "go further" than people propelled vehicles in the course of their life time. This may be true (though I doubt it) but they cost a lot more and we know that "planned obsolescence" will cause the city to replace these bikes with new "improved" models long before they actually wear out.
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Aug 13, 2022 11:34 AM10:07 - pick me! The "Claim" that it last longer, makes no sense whatsoever... An E-bike is a bicycle WITH a motor;battery;connectors for controlling motor, this statement says somehow adding more things to go wrong MAGICALLY make it LAST LONGER? Come on? really
I know a lot of things that go "Expired" on a bicycle, none of those go away on an E-bike.
even if you "own one"?
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Aug 13, 2022 08:47 AMHard to believe that e-bikes last longer than pedal driven bikes considering the more complex nature of motor driven things. Why make that claim?
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Aug 12, 2022 09:28 PMI hope the track down the swarms of e-biking juveniles on State St downtown and educate them.
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Aug 12, 2022 03:41 PMI think this is great. Something about foot patrol and bike cops make them seem much more approachable. Good call on this purchase (the siren is still silly).
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Aug 12, 2022 03:31 PMThis says "Bicycle Bob's" applied "Special touches", I should hope so! My concern is that it also states they now have three (3) ebikes and yet: "Officers ride in partners and are able to patrol a larger geographical area. The electric bikes last longer than a pedal-only bike, " so how does the third man out ride? ...and how do they "Know" that they (ebikes) "last longer", or was that part just humor?
Should be exciting times, now they can chase those "rowdy kids"! (until the battery goes out)
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Aug 12, 2022 02:40 PMI hope they have lights and sirens to warn all the pedestrians who walk in the bike lanes.