How Port Huron Police will use e-bikes to patrol beaches, parks and special events

Residents soaking up the sun at the city of Port Huron's beaches might notice members of the Port Huron Police Department on new wheels. 

The city recently purchased four new electric bikes for the department. City Manager James Freed said the bikes were purchased from Alpine Cycles as another way for the department to connect with the public by being visible in the city's neighborhoods. 

"This is another component of community policing," he said. "Like the old school beat cops walking down the sidewalk, we want to get back to that, where you physically can see an officer in your neighborhood."

The bikes will be used by the cadets to patrol Lakeside and Lighthouse beaches, the city's parks and Thomas Edison Parkway, and at special events such as Boat Week and the unsanctioned event known as Float Down, Port Huron Police Chief Joe Platzer said. 

Assistant Chief Marcy Kuehn said the cadets have an aging fleet, which is comprised of hand-me-down bikes from the officers. 

Platzer and Kuehn likened the bikes to people approaching their Segways during Boat Night, giving them the chance to interact with residents. 

"The (assistant chief) and I went out on the Segways during Boat Night, the amount of people that come up to us and say, 'that's so cool, glad you're out here,'" Platzer said. 

"We would stop non-stop and talk to people," Kuehn added. "Any time you can get a cop out of a police car and in the community on a bike or a Segway or walking it's a win-win."

Freed said the bikes cost between $1,500 and $1,600 each, and were paid for from the general fund. Alpine Cycles agreed to service the bikes. They should last about 10 years, he said. 

John Eppley, Alpine Cycles general manager, said the business and police department have a longstanding relationship. Cadets can pick up helmets there and the business helps the department with any bike issues they have.

He said they started talking about the department using electric bicycles back in 2018 when the department got Segways. After the conversation was brought up again recently, the city greenlit the purchase.

Alpine Cycles has supplied the department with two e-bikes and ordered two more that are on the way. They trained the cadets and the two e-bikes are already in the fleet.

Platzer said he hopes to get all e-bikes operational and cadets trained on the bikes by Sept. 1. 

Eppley said the difference between e-bikes and other bikes is the amount of assistance people get with pedaling.

There are two types of assist, one is a throttle where people can push a button and let the motor do the work while the other lets people choose a level of assistance to make pedaling easier.

With that type of assistance, Eppley said people are still pedaling, but with the bike assistance they are 20 to 40% faster with the same effort.

“It’s kind of like you wake up and you’re in Lance Armstrong’s body,” he said.

Police will be able to cover more ground than a regular bicycle and will be quieter and more stealthy while patrolling than if they were in a car. They can also get around parades and events quicker and if it rains the bikes can manage the rough terrain, Eppley said. 

Platzer echoed Eppley's comments, stating the bikes will be useful for covering terrain such as sand, grass or piers. 

"You can cover more terrain with less work, where you're not going to be spent," Platzer said. 

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com. Contact Bryce Airgood at (810) 989-6202 or bairgood@gannett.com.