York College Campus Safety adds Segway to patrol fleet
Posted August 7, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
York College of Pennsylvania's Department of Campus Safety has a new mode of transportation that will make it easier for officers to patrol some hard-to-access areas of campus.
The Department has added a Segway Personal Transporter - a two-wheeled, self-balancing, electric transportation device - to its fleet of vehicles and bicycles. "This isn’t just for sidewalks and driveways," said Director of Campus Safety Edward Bruder. "It's even good for crossing our creek."
Unlike a bicycle, which also allows officers to go "off-road," the Segway is powered by electricity, not muscles. And it can travel at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour. That's tough for officers pedaling a bicycle to match. "Our officers would have a difficult time sustaining that rate for any length of time on a bicycle," Bruder said. "Particularly when they’re carrying heavy equipment."
With the price of gas steadily rising, traveling on the electric-powered Segway is also more economical than traveling by car. "We’re all looking for alternative means of transportation now, and the Segway is a great option," Bruder said.
Throughout the upcoming academic year, Bruder and his officers will test out the Segway, then he'll work with others on campus to determine whether to purchase additional devices, which cost about $6,000 each.
In addition to the advantages already mentioned, there's one that Bruder finds particularly enticing. "This vehicle is a great community relations tool," he said. "Everybody who sees you on it takes a second look, and many ask questions. Officers will stop and interact with curious students and residents who see this thing traveling across campus. It’s a great way to get conversations started."
Located in southcentral Pennsylvania, York College is among Pennsylvania's largest comprehensive colleges, offering more than 70 majors to its 4,600 undergraduate students. With a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and distinctive mentoring programs, York provides an environment that emphasizes close personal attention to students from 30 states and 38 countries.
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