by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Captain Manuel Curreri, commander of the Carabinieri Company of Aurisina
The provincial command of the Carabinieri in Trieste has expanded its coastal patrol operations with the introduction of electric bicycles, part of a broader effort to improve mobility, increase police visibility in busy public areas and reduce environmental impact.
The new fleet was presented Tuesday at the park of Miramare Castle before being deployed to patrol the city’s waterfront, parks and pedestrian areas, where visitor numbers typically rise during the summer tourist season.
The pedal-assist bicycles, already in use by Carabinieri units in several tourist destinations across Italy, are designed to allow officers to navigate crowded spaces and areas inaccessible to conventional patrol vehicles. Equipped with electric motors that provide assistance only while pedaling, the bicycles enable officers to cover longer distances and negotiate hills with less physical effort while producing no direct emissions.
Local officials said the bicycles are intended to make patrols more agile and responsive, particularly along Trieste’s seafront promenades and cycling paths. Their quiet operation is also expected to help officers approach crowded areas more discreetly during routine monitoring and public safety checks.
Authorities said the initiative aims to strengthen the Carabinieri’s presence in public spaces while encouraging greater interaction with residents, tourists and local businesses. Officers on bicycles will also be able to respond more quickly to incidents in areas where vehicle access is limited.
The deployment forms part of a nationwide modernization program within the Carabinieri that seeks to combine new technologies with more sustainable policing practices. Officials described the introduction of electric bicycles as one element of a broader strategy to improve operational efficiency while reducing the environmental footprint of daily patrol activities.
The new patrols are expected to remain active throughout the summer season, with officers monitoring coastal areas, assisting the public and helping prevent unsafe behavior in some of Trieste’s busiest outdoor locations.
