A look at past September blog stories shows how Trikke patrol vehicles have changed over the years.
Today, we call it Built to Patrol. It’s a simple way to describe the Trikke Positron and the job it was designed to do. But a trip through the Trikke Mobility Chronicle archives shows just how much went into getting there.
Mark Westman, then director of operations at Allied, called the Trikke “the perfect security patrol tool.” He said officers had “a better view of the area” from the Trikke and could “cover much more ground, much faster than on foot or in a cart or car.” As for the public, Westman reported “nothing but 110% positive feedback,” with some customers even wanting selfies with security personnel on Trikkes.
September 2021:The Trikke Cargo System: A game-changer for last-mile deliveries and more introduced modular cargo boxes and detachable trailers that allow Trikkes to carry equipment, supplies and other materials, with configurations for transporting everything from refrigerated items and hot food to rescue equipment and medical supplies.
September 2023:The airless tires are coming! The airless tires are coming! announced the arrival of solid, airless tires, meaning no leaks, no flats and fewer maintenance headaches for fleets operating primarily on smoother surfaces at airports, hospitals, malls and other large facilities.
September 2025: Patrol redefined: Trikke gives your team superpowers featured a video showcasing the Positron in action, with an emphasis on greater coverage, faster response, elevated visibility and stronger engagement with the people officers and security professionals serve.
Built to patrol
Which brings us to September 2026. Trikke patrol vehicles continue to evolve, but their purpose has become increasingly clear: build the vehicle around the realities of patrol, not the other way around.
Leading law enforcement publication awards its “Tested – Field Rated” seal following hands-on evaluation.
For more than 50 years, Officer Media Group has provided law enforcement professionals with information on equipment, technology, training and operations. Its Officer Labs program takes that coverage into the field, putting products through hands-on evaluation before awarding its “Tested – Field Rated” seal.
For the Trikke Positron 72V XL, the evaluation began with the limitations officers have encountered with earlier stand-up electric patrol vehicles, including limited battery life, fixed suspension, terrain restrictions and balance issues.
What the evaluators found was something different. The review described the Positron as “a new type of electric patrol vehicle that has none of the challenges of the older tools.”
The Officer Labs team first encountered the Positron at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference, where the Trikke’s unconventional design immediately stood out. Compared with previous patrol mobility products that appeared bulky and heavy, the review said the Positron “looked almost skeletonized and moved like nothing our team had previously experienced.”
Then came the question that matters with any new patrol vehicle: How does it ride?
One member of the evaluation team was riding the Positron within three minutes. According to the review, “the learning curve is not steep for operation.”
The rider was initially stiff and cautious. But as he became accustomed to the vehicle, its independent suspension, ergonomic handlebars and controls, and smooth acceleration and deceleration allowed him to move more naturally.
His assessment of the experience was simpler. He “commented how much fun it was to ride the Trikke Positron.”
Built for patrol. Tested in the field.
The evaluation also examined the Positron 72V XL’s practical capabilities. The model features independent suspension and all-terrain tires, a top speed of up to 44 mph and a range of up to 35 miles. Its Quick-Swap Lithium-Ion battery is designed to support use across a full patrol shift and quick handoff from one shift to the next.
The 72V XL also serves as the foundation for the Positron Police Spec model, developed with direct input from former law enforcement officers. It adds a headlight, three-tone siren, seven-panel emergency lighting and a segmented gear bag for patrol equipment.
But Officer Labs’ conclusion went beyond specifications.
The review described the Positron 72V XL as “immediately deployable upon receipt by your agency” after appropriate safety training and practice time.
It also pointed to what the Positron could accomplish on duty, encouraging agencies to put trained officers on the vehicle and “watch the patrol efficiency and community engagement that can occur in parallel through the use of such tools.”
In other words, the Positron can help agencies patrol more efficiently while better serving and protecting their communities.
From campuses to airports to retail and EMS, Trikkes help professionals cover more ground and stay visible.
It’s a question we get asked a lot: who’s actually riding these things? The answer is a wide range of professionals who all share the same problem: too much ground to cover, not enough personnel or visibility to cover it well. Over the past year, we’ve profiled four of the biggest groups putting Trikke patrol vehicles to work every day. Here’s a quick look at each one, with the full story linked below.
Colleges & Universities
From Yale to Georgia Tech to community colleges across the country, campus police and security teams use Trikke patrol vehicles to move through quads, hallways, and athletic venues, covering more ground with less energy while staying approachable to students and staff.
“With a Trikke, you’re just cruising right through the environment and covering a lot more area with a lot less energy.” — Captain James Smith Jr., Dallas College Police Department
Sprawling terminals, multilevel parking garages, and heavy foot traffic make airports one of the toughest patrol environments out there. Airports from Dallas/Fort Worth to Denver to Riyadh rely on Trikkes to keep officers visible and mobile across it all.
“The Trikke is a favorite among officers due to its ease of use and effectiveness in maintaining a strong officer presence in terminals and parking garages.” — Sergeant Michael Schreacke, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
From small municipalities to major metro agencies — and international deployments from Dubai to Ecuador — police and sheriff departments use Trikke patrol vehicles to expand coverage, increase visibility, and support officer readiness without adding staff.
“Riding the Trikkes has completely transformed our community interactions. I’ve talked to far more people on one of these than I ever did from a squad car.” — Officer Lacey Bunkelman, Fargo Police Department
Corporate campuses, downtown improvement districts, convention centers, and private properties all deploy Trikkes to help security teams cover more territory and respond faster.
“The Trikke Defender has expanded our range of operation in addition to allowing us to mobilize more of our workforce to accomplish our mission.” — Albert Jackson, Atlanta Downtown Ambassador Force
Those are the four categories with dedicated deep dives, but they’re not the whole story. Trikke patrol vehicles are also at work at some of the largest retail properties in the country and with emergency medical response teams:
Malls & retail. Simon Property Group has deployed more than 120 Trikke Positrons across roughly 80 of its shopping centers, while grocery chain H-E-B’s security partner Allied Universal has purchased more than 160 Trikkes and currently deploys them at more than 100 stores across Texas. Read about Simon Malls and the H-E-B/Allied Universal story.
EMS. Emergency responders are also putting Trikkes to work, from Seattle’s Emergency Services Unit patrolling Waterfront Park to Denver Health paramedics navigating one of the country’s largest airports. Read about Seattle ESU and Denver Health Paramedics.
Wherever the environment — campus, terminal, downtown, mall, or medical emergency — the same need keeps coming up: cover more ground, respond faster, and stay visible while doing it. That’s the job Trikke patrol vehicles were built for.
Schedule a demo to see how a Trikke patrol vehicle fits your team.
From local news coverage to community reaction, Trikke patrol vehicles become more than a new patrol tool. They become a conversation starter.
Every police department wants equipment that helps officers do their jobs. But every now and then, a piece of equipment does something more: it gets people talking.
That’s becoming a recurring pattern wherever Trikkes appear.
Their design sparks curiosity, creating opportunities for officers to engage with their communities and for departments to receive positive media exposure.
In Wheeling, West Virginia, local television and print media both covered the department’s new Trikke Positrons. The buzz reflected exactly what Lieutenant Josh Sanders experienced once the vehicles hit the streets:
“Everybody wants to know what they are. So community engagement is almost instant by just having the ability to stop, have a conversation and have a positive interaction.”
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia also emphasized the connection the vehicles helped create between deputies and the public:
“Deputies are enjoying patrolling on their new Trikkes. They provide a great opportunity to stop and talk with people in the community.”
At Hollywood Burbank Airport, cameras captured officers training with a new fleet of Trikke patrol vehicles. The setting was different, but the visibility was unmistakable: officers learning to use a distinctive patrol vehicle in a busy public environment.
The stories come from different departments and different settings, but they share a common thread.
Trikke patrol vehicles naturally invite conversation. What begins as curiosity often becomes an opportunity for a positive interaction.
That is something difficult to measure on a specification sheet, but easy to recognize in the field.
Riverfront crowds, parks, parades, and traffic congestion make mobility a priority across the Queen City
Since March 2025, the Cincinnati Police Department has deployed three 72V Trikke Positron XL patrol vehicles as part of its downtown and event policing strategy, giving officers a faster and more agile way to move through crowded streets, parks, sidewalks, and large public gatherings.
Located along the Ohio River and widely known as the Queen City, Cincinnati is home to more than 309,000 residents and anchors a metropolitan region of more than 2.3 million people. The downtown core includes major sports venues, riverfront destinations, public parks, festivals, parades, and dense pedestrian traffic that can quickly challenge traditional patrol methods.
The department serves 52 neighborhoods across the city and maintains approximately 1,000 sworn officers. For those working in crowded public spaces, the Positron XL fills an important gap between foot patrol, bicycles, ATVs, and larger vehicles.
“We mainly patrol in a downtown environment, which has several large parks as well,” says Officer Brent Eve of the Central Business Section Neighborhood Liaison Unit. “We also use the Trikkes for our many events and parades.”
“This makes getting around a breeze!”
Officer Brent Eve, CINCINNATI PD
Officers have experience using multiple patrol platforms, including Segways dating back to 2008. But according to Eve, the Trikke Positron XL has already delivered several operational advantages:
“The Trikkes are a good resource to have — the battery life is much better than the Segway, usually lasting at least a whole shift. The batteries also charge quickly, so for officers working extra before or after their shift, they can quickly recharge and continue with their duties.”
In an environment shaped by traffic congestion, crowds, riverfront activity, and constant movement between event zones, mobility matters.
“The speed also assists in getting officers around quickly when needed,” Eve says. “Trikkes are ideal for use in crowded situations. The elevation of them makes it easier for the crowds to see you, along with the lights/siren/horn/bell.”
That elevated visibility is one reason Trikke patrol vehicles continue gaining traction among law enforcement and security agencies operating in high-density public environments. Officers maintain a strong visual presence while still remaining approachable and connected to the community around them.
Maneuverability has become another major advantage.
“The ability to get around our area with quickness and ease,” Eve says when asked what officers like most about using the vehicles.
“We often have several large scale events occurring at the same time, which causes traffic congestion. The Trikkes can easily navigate this by going around traffic, on sidewalks, or through alleys or buildings. This makes getting around a breeze!”
The department also praised the onboarding process and hands-on instruction provided during deployment.
“The Trikke Tech training was phenomenal!” Eve says. “All of the staff at Trikke were extremely friendly and made us feel like we were at home. I would HIGHLY recommend this training to any agency that purchases the Trikkes.”
As cities continue searching for ways to improve patrol mobility, visibility, and operational flexibility without relying exclusively on larger vehicles, agencies like Cincinnati PD are showing how electric patrol platforms can help officers cover more ground in the environments where traditional patrol methods face limitations.
Former police officers explain why modern agencies benefit from greater mobility, visibility, and rapid response capabilities.
“In my previous life as a police officer, I would have loved to have had an entire fleet of these things.”
That’s the conclusion Brian Mahone, Director of Safety and Security for INDYCAR Racing, reached after nearly three years of riding the Trikke Positron as part of the company’s security operations.
Mahone, along with Mike Bates, Senior Director of Safety and Security for INDYCAR, spent years in law enforcement before moving into race-day security operations.
“Brian and I are both former police officers and motorcycle officers,” Bates says. “We’ve trained on Harley-Davidsons and all kinds of two-wheeled vehicles.”
For Bates, the vehicle’s handling stands out.
“It feels so natural now. It’s almost part of your body,” he says.
Mahone also addressed one of the concerns often raised by first-time riders.
“People can be a little intimidated at first,” he says. “What they don’t realize is that the three-wheel design provides incredible stability. Once you get on it, the vehicle responds naturally to your body weight and movements. They’re awesome.”
The endorsement comes from a security team responsible for protecting one of the fastest and most demanding environments in professional sports, where mobility, visibility, and rapid response matter every day.
“It’s especially useful for large departments that have a lot of ground to cover,” Bates says. “For police departments, parks departments, and other agencies responsible for large but contained areas, it’s a perfect tool. I would absolutely recommend it.”
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