Asheville News

Asheville Police Department to start motorcycle patrols on Harleys

Jason Sandford May 6, 2010

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Press release here:

ASHEVILLE – The APD will soon expand its community and traffic policing abilities with the introduction of two motorcycle patrols to the vehicle fleet.

At 4 p.m. Friday, police will receive two motorcycles from Parkway Harley-Davidson in Swannanoa. The department is leasing the vehicles for $1 each, annually, from the dealer.

Labor and equipment to outfit the motorcycles for police work – such as blue lights and sirens – was paid for with $9,792 from the department’s drug seizures funds.

Asheville police have not used motorcycle patrols since the late 1950s to early 1960s.

Motorcycles allow officers to maneuver more easily on congested roadways than they can in cruisers. Their compact size allows police to reach a scene more quickly when traffic accidents slow down access for more traditional units. Motorcycles also tend to consume less fuel than police cars.

The current APD fleet includes three Segways, three electric GEM cars, 221 cars (three hybrids) and more than 30 bicycles.

Parkway Harley-Davidson is located at 20 Patton Cove Road at I-40 and Exit 59.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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3 Comments

Been There May 7, 2010

Too bad they didn’t go for BMWs… or Moto Guzzi, that the LAPD used for years.

Harleys? Most scooter riders can out maneuver ’em.

But what do I know? I have only ridden 300,000+ miles and 5 countries.

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Um May 7, 2010

The whole downtown unit is on bikes. Not in town much?

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Bicycles? May 6, 2010

I think I have only seen one in five years.. If they have 30, others must have seen them. Maybe they are used for personal use…?

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