The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Police Department is simultaneously going green and creating a path for better officer engagement with the campus community.

VCU recently expanded its fleet of e-bikes, allowing officers to more effectively patrol its campuses and better engage with students, faculty, staff and members of the Richmond community, according to a news release from the university.

Creating Opportunities for Better Connections and a Safer Campus

Roughly a year ago, VCU Police acquired two e-bikes and began testing them on patrols. They proved successful, so the department acquired seven more heading into the fall semester.

The e-bikes are part of VCU Police’s Division of Patrol Operations, which is staffed by more than 60 sworn officers and 12 supervisors who patrol the Monroe Park and Medical College of Virginia campuses in marked and unmarked cars, on bicycles, and by foot.

The bikes reduce officer fatigue with pedal assist and enable officers to maneuver around campus more easily than in a car, VCU Police Lt. Edgar Greer said.

They have proven particularly helpful in the patrols of parking decks and lots, an area students noted in a recent survey that they'd like to see patrolled more.

John Venuti, VCU associate vice president for public safety and chief of police, said the community has reported feeling safer when seeing officers on bike or on foot versus other methods of deployment.

More About VCU's Bicycle Program

VCU Police currently has 25 officers who have completed both a 40-hour, International Police Mountain Bike Association basic training in addition to specific e-bike familiarization training. More officers are slated to complete the e-bike training soon.

VCU noted research from Roger Williams University that revealed that police on bicycles have more engagement with the community, with an average 7.3 contacts with the public via bicycle patrol versus 3.3 contacts in motor vehicles.

Greer believes that in urban areas like VCU's campuses, that engagement is likely to be even higher, creating opportunities for more engagement with the community.

VCU police officer and crime prevention specialist Luke Shrader said e-bikes also allow officers to be more aware of what’s happening around them and make it easier for members of the public to flag them down when needed.