South Bruce OPP using e-bikes [Video]

Const. Jason Essery wasn’t sure he was going to like patrolling Kincardine on an electric bicycle, or e-bike, instead of a regular bike or cruiser, but the newest patrol vehicle in Bruce County has won him over.

“At first, I wasn’t an e-bike fan, and I thought that maybe it might not turn out as well as a regular bike, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by their progress and their efficiency,” said Essery.

E-bikes joined the South Bruce OPP patrol pool in June as part of a select group of OPP detachments trying out the new transportation tool for a pilot project.

E-bikes can go places cruisers can’t, and run on a rechargeable battery, not gas. The advantages over a regular bike are that officers can go where they want to go faster, and with less effort.

“When an officer responds to a call or a situation, we prefer them …