Security guards employed by Belgian security company Protection UNIT will patrol Liège Airport on electric bicycles, a move the company says will improve efficiency and "ensuring a stronger presence and an immediate response when needed."
“Airport security agents will be able to easily access larger areas of the airport,” Protection UNIT stated in a press release. “The electric bikes will give them better visibility and greater mobility to quickly detect situations, deter malicious acts, and ensure travellers’ peace of mind.”
The quiet but powerful bikes will allow guards to move around discreetly, without adding to noise or air pollution. The company has now replaced all its combustion engine vehicles at the site with hybrid cars or electric bikes. The new bikes will replace quad bikes once used by the agents.
Credit: Protection UNIT
“Cycle patrols provide real added value in terms of safety, in particular through the different perspectives that they provide. They also provide a motivating working environment for our staff,” said Pierre Vanbellingen, airport security manager at Liège Airport.
Electric bikes will soon replace all quad bike patrols at festivals and sporting events secured by Protection UNIT, such as the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix. “It’s more ecological and ultimately more practical most of the time,” concluded Frédéric Leidgens, director of communication at the company.
