8
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2009
CAMPUS
Campus police utilize Segways for patrols
BY DYLAN SANDS
dsands@kansan.com
The KU Public Safety Office has been rolling steadily along on Segway scooters for nearly a year in an effort to improve its visibility and make students feel safer.
Captain Schuyler Bailey said the scooters had been a hit among officers on campus.
"They love them," he said. "They're something different; we're utilizing new technology and it's a great conversation starter."
Bailey said the three Segways cost $6,000 each and were funded by the Campus Safety Advisory Board last year. He said the office was still compiling data to see what cost benefit the Segways had created.
"We are definitely using less gas, but we're paying more for it," Bailey said. "We need some more long-term data."
May Davis, student body vice president, said the environment played a major role in the CSAB's decision to
push for the Segways.
"With Segways, not only are they quicker but they're more sustainable," Davis said.
Matt Troffholz, Chicago senior, said he was confused when he first saw officers riding Segways on campus.
"I thought it was weird," he said. "I don't know how they think they'll be able to catch criminals on those things."
Bailey said that the Segways required training from the manufacturer before they could be ridden, but that certain officers "excelled" at riding the scooters and had begun training other officers.
Assistant Chief Chris Keary said the Segways took some getting used to.
"They are not something you can just jump on and ride," Keary said. "You have to get used to shifting your weight on your toes and heels to make the Segway go and stop."
Although reducing the office's emissions was a motive for using the Segways on patrol, both Bailey and
Keary said the greatest benefit of the scooters was the flexibility in interacting with people on campus.
"Officers on Segways are easy to spot and are waved down by people on campus who want to talk about the Segway or who need some other assistance," Keary said.
He added that some people who flagged down the Segways had ulterior motives.
"The officers have received many positive comments about the Segways and many requests to ride them — sorry, that is not allowed." Keary said.
Keary admitted that the hilly campus proved challenging at times while riding the Segways.
"I have never fallen from a Segway. We have had a few officers who have," he said. "Like when riding anything with wheels, you need to keep an eye out for bumps or other problems in the path ahead of you and avoid them or prepare to ride over them."
Edited by Ross Stewart
WASTE (CONTINUED FROM 5)
paint for his house and disposed of his old car fluids in the same trip.
Tammy Parris, waste reduction and recycling specialist, said she had seen more people using the program since the recession.
Parris said she hadn't seen many students use the program and thought one reason was because many landlords won't let renters paint. She said another reason could be that renters didn't usually do the repairs on their houses.
Parris said she would like to see more students donate when moving out of houses or apartments.
"But they might not know about donating cleaning supplies and they don't accumulate as much in only four or five years here."
Richardson said the reuse program was a good way for citizens and the city to save money and recycle. She said the city saved because it had less waste to dispose of through its contractor.
"It's win-win for everybody," Richardson said. "We don't have leftovers to take care of"
— Edited by Hannah DeClerk
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