Now we know what happened to the NYPD's 2003 pilot program to have some of its officers use Segways: The batteries (which were eventually recalled) would make the entire Segway stop when they were dead, so officers were fall off. Now, the NYPD has decided the newer models are up to snuff and will make like it's 2003 by having 10 Segways patrol various parts of the city starting today.
The NYPD officers aboard Segways will be at Central Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Coney Island, Orchard Beach, the Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium; Police Commissioner Ray Kelly explained, "We're assigning them to the parks and beaches because they're suitable for the pathways and boardwalks there. You can cover a lot more ground than when you are walking."
Twenty-five cops were trained for Segway patrolling, and the NY Times reports that many officers were interested in volunteering to test out the Segway driver training course. We'd love to know what's on the course - potholes, curb cuts, empty soda cans and strollers?
And you have to wonder, will these cops-on-Segways make it a point to ticket people riding Segways since they are technically illegal in NYC? Watch out, Jonathan Gleich!
