Kermit says...

The Police Department continues to expand its green footprint.  While we have already been using a 2-wheeled Segway for at least a couple of years, and have employed bicycle patrols since the early 1990s, the Department continues the move to be more efficient and "green" this past month by the trial acquisition of an electric motorcycle.

Officers will soon be patrolling the parks and greenway as they test the use of this electric motorcycle, built by an Oregon manufacturing company called, "BRAMMO".  

The motorcycle runs on battery power, and is as quiet as a golf cart.   It can travel for more than 60 miles on a single charge, and can be driven on roadways the same as any other motorcycle.  It has a top end speed of more than 60 mph, which is more than sufficient for patrolling in the City.  

Police officers who use this electric motorcycle for Greenway patrol will be required to have a NC Motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license.   

For the time being, this is just a loaner model that is being used for evaluation.  But, who knows, if this proves to be effective and cost efficient, maybe we'll see more of the electric motorcycle...

Maybe Kermit was wrong.  Maybe it is easy to be green, after all.

GPD's Electric Motorcycle:   This is a test model on loan to the GPD.  It will be used to patrol the  Greenway, along with bicycles and Segway, in the background.