When Law Enforcement Meets eBikes

For those who doubt the power of ebikes, just ask the Monrovia Park Rangers.

The park rangers recently bought 2 IZIP Express bicycles from Brio Electric Bikes to help them patrol Canyon Park. Why the Express? Because it has the power to easily climb steep hills plus offers a greener alternative.

As Hector Inunza, Monrovia park supervisor explains, “me and my staff, we’re fascinated about electric bikes. There’s obviously a low impact to the environment and there’s also the clinical/fitness component to it. But ultimately, it was basically [about] ‘going green.’ We can definitely use these bikes at a reduced cost than purchasing a new vehicle.”

Brio Electric Bikes customized the ebikes by outfitting it with road knobby tires, racks, bags, and computers (speedometer/odometer) for the safety and convenience of the officers using it.

“We have them for a few days now and my staff seemed to really enjoy using them. As a supervisor, for me, the other impact is that I’m saving money compared to using the vehicle, whereby I can use those resources elsewhere,” says Inunza.

According to Brio Electric Bikes, the two IZIP Express Police Edition electric bikes were designed specifically for the LAPD five years ago, and many police and ranger agencies across the country use the model for patrols.

With a powerful 750 watt (1hp) motor, and a unique drive system, the bikes are powerful enough to climb the steep hills of parks with riders barely breaking a sweat.

“It definitely is more comfortable than using a regular mountain bike. We won’t be as winded going up the steep hills. That’s a benefit. It just feels good,” says Inunza.

Another advantage the use of ebikes has during patrol, Inunza says, is that it helps the rangers do their job more effectively. “It’s good to be out of a vehicle and on a bike because you could see a lot more as well,” says Inunza. “You could come across some community activity, compared to a vehicle, they don’t hear you’re around the corner. It has a benefit as we do patrols and enforce city ordinances.”

The park rangers mainly use the ebikes to patrol Canyon Park, which Inunza says is “the longest area and that’s where we’re using it, on our dirt roads. Also, we have the lower Crenshaw, the trip trail of that we patrol. So we’re utilizing those bikes for the dirt roads.”

If you’re on the fence about getting an ebike, look at it this way: if it’s good enough for park rangers on rugged trails, it’s good enough for you on city streets.

To learn more about Brio Electric Bikes you can like its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BrioElectricBikes. If you’d like to check out the bikes for yourself, you can visit Brio Electric Bikes at 113 E. Olive Ave., Monrovia.

For more information, visit http://www.brioelectricbikes.com/ or call (626) 657-2251. You can also email sales@brioebikes.com for more details.