Mamdani's FDNY Spews Anti-Street Safety Talking Points at Bizarre Council Hearing - Streetsblog New York City

"The Fire Department is not against bike lanes. We're against the protected bike lanes. It reduces the real estate in that street. When you have curb, eight feet of bike lane, three-foot bumper, nine-foot travel lane, parked cars, drivers can't pull over to the right, and we can't go around that traffic to go into oncoming traffic because they can't pull over to the right, either."

"FDNY's Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods, a 36-year veteran of the department, told lawmakers that the agency opposes protected cycle lanes - before walking back the comments - and contradicted Department of Transportation officials sitting right next to him, claiming that separated cycling paths force ladder crews to deploy further away from the building."

FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods testified before the City Council opposing protected bike lanes, claiming they reduce street space and force emergency vehicles to deploy further from buildings. Woods argued that bike lane configurations prevent drivers from pulling over, creating obstacles for fire trucks. His statements contradicted both Department of Transportation officials and Mayor Mamdani's support for protected bike lanes as proven traffic violence reduction strategies. Woods initially stated the Fire Department opposes protected bike lanes before partially walking back the comments, claiming opposition only to protected versions while supporting standard bike lanes.

Read at Streetsblog