Ocean City Police patrol downtown Asbury Avenue on one of two new Segways on Friday morning, Aug. 22.
Pedestrians in downtown Ocean City, on the boardwalk and on the shared-use path of the Route 52 causeway may notice a different sort of police patrol these days.
The Ocean City Police Department acquired two Segways about two weeks ago, and officers are now training on the two-wheeled, electric vehicles.
With a maximum speed of 12 mph, the Segways allow officers to cover more ground than they can on foot patrols. But the highly maneuverable vehicles can operate in places where patrol cars cannot.
The Segways are a conversation piece and officers on patrols in the community are easily approachable, Ocean City Police Capt. Steve Ang said.
He said many cities have used the vehicles successfully, and the department sees them as an ideal tool to create a presence on the increasingly popular pedestrian/bicycle path on the causeway.
The Segway patrols will continue year-round, weather permitting, he said.
