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The Zurich City Police are re-equipping e-bikes with blue lights and sirens. Will other police corps soon follow this model?
At first it sounded like a joke: on April 1 last year, the Zurich city police announced an experiment in the hunt for criminals. Two e-bikes were equipped with flashing lights and sirens. It was not a joke, the police assured at the time.
A year later, it turns out that the attempt was worth it. The police will now equip all 20 e-bikes with sirens and blue lights. According to media spokesman Michael Walker, this model has proven its worth. “You could arrest pickpockets or perpetrators after burglaries who fled on foot.”
Will the Zurich model remain an exception?
In the past, Zurich police officers only responded to fights or accidents in cars. According to Walker, the e-bikes with alarm should be an addition in the future. “Because with the e-bikes you can turn faster and ride on paths on which a car would have to turn.”
Legend:
Future e-bikes will also be equipped with flashing lights and sirens right from the start.
ZVG City Police Zurich
In total, the Zurich City Police evaluated more than 70 operations with the two e-bikes in the test year. The experiences have been consistently positive, says Michael Walker. “The police officers reported to us that their signals were well perceived in traffic.”
Will other Swiss police corps now catch up? According to a survey, it doesn’t look like it. The cantonal police in Basel-Stadt have been using e-bikes for several years – but without sirens or flashing lights.
“We have had good experiences with it,” says media spokesman Stefan Schmitt on request. “So far, there hasn’t been any need to expand.” A conversion is currently not an issue.
Legend:
E-bikes with sirens and flashing lights: The Zurich model is likely to remain an exception.
ZVG City Police Zurich
The Lucerne police will also not provide their e-bikes with flashing lights and sirens. “Because we don’t use the bikes for patrols,” says media spokesman Urs Wigger when asked.
The e-bikes would be used in non-motorised traffic, for example. Blue lights and sirens are not necessary. The Zurich city police model is therefore unlikely to become a new trend.