Officers on South Street, in University City, Center City and Southwest Philadelphia also begin using the new toys this week.

Try not to cringe at how ridiculous the two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered vehicles may seem, because its role in law enforcement has been growing for years and doesn’t appear it will stop. More than 1,000 municipalities are using them for patrolling, according to the company.

Now, after a 10-day trial in April 2008, the Philadelphia Police Department is joining in.

The department announced yesterday that it received a donation of more than $60,000 toward the purchase of ten Segway PTs, according to a press release [PDF]. The funds came from the Philadelphia Police Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds to purchase technology and other police equipment that are deemed outside the city’s budget. Yes, our police department takes charity.

“Segways are an extension of foot patrol, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said in the release. They are another valuable tool for our officers in helping to make Philly safer, particularly in commercial corridors. Segways are highly visible, cover a lot of ground quickly, and put our officers out there interacting with the community every day.

Read the company’s pitch to police departments.

What Gob from Arrested Development didn’t tell you is that police rave about Segway patrols, which put cops on the street to interact like they do on walking beats but also give them an edge in a chase and can increase their coverage area, as the Inquirer reported.

Read about their patrol-specific limitations here. The company boasts their green aptitude, too.

“Everyone has a vested interest in making Philadelphia the safest city possible,” Robert Ciaruffoli, current president of the Philadelphia Police Foundation, said in the release. “Our priority is to mobilize the business and professional communities to join with the PPD in bringing this goal to fruition.”

If you want your own Segway adventure, don’t rob a cop, just take a tour on one around the Art Museum.

TicketLeap saved bicycle racing in Philadelphia.

Or at least the Center City-based event-planning ticketing service provider was one of many partners that helped make sure the 25th annual Philadelphia Cycling Championship was possible, even after a city budget hole left the international race short $500,000.

The company doubled their ticketing of VIP seating with merchandising and donation soliciting to help bring cash to the June 7th race, famed for its chase of the “Manayunk Wall”

While they were saving racing, TicketLeap was also introducing Anywhere, which just might be the first product allowing users to create a virtual box office out of an Internet-enabled computer.

The product is aimed at event organizers of any size, helping them handle online ticket sales on the phone, at a venue door or otherwise.

Watch a demo below

The cloud-based software includes bar code scanning, priority seating and other venue customization. The company, whose services are used by more than 8,000 venues and organizers nationwide, charges a fee for each ticket sold. No software, hardware or contracts are required, and setup is free and available online.

“It’s only a matter of time before every ticket you buy comes from web-based ticketing software like this,” TicketLeap CEO Chris Stanchak said in a press release. “There’s really no comparison when it comes to cost, convenience and flexibility.”

And who wouldn’t use a ticketing service that supports athelticism and your right to scream at competitive bicyclists with a beer in your hand at nine a.m.?

TicketLeap has other regional users, including the city’s annual video game expo and the Philadelphia Force — yes, that’s right, your hometown professional women’s softball team, says company spokesman Blake Jennelle.

Get your tickets while you can.