Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
FDNY EMTs Find Perfect Place to Nap (Yep, a Bike Lane)
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 19, 2010
Modified Nov 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 3
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 19, 2010
Modified Nov 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[UPDATE BELOW] Soho resident Ian D. was biking along MacDougal Street last night when he came upon this stunning sight: An FDNY EMT ambulance parking it in the green bike lane. Never to be outdone by the NYPD, it seems the FDNY is putting these newfangled bike lanes to good use, too! But before we rush to judgment, isn't it possible the EMTs were, you know, responding to an emergency? That's what our man Ian thought, too. But what he found in the front seat may not shock you. He writes:
I took these photos last night of an FDNY EMT crew parked in the bike lane on MacDougal St. just below W. 3rd St. in Greenwich Village at 6:02 p.m. I assumed that they must have been responding to someone's dire medical condition—until I got to the front of the ambulance, where I saw both EMTs were fast asleep. At least I give them credit for already being in position should one of the cyclists they forced into the traffic be squished under a cab. But what is most frustrating is that the opposite curb was totally empty. If they had cared enough to have pulled to the other side they wouldn't have been jeopardizing anyone's safety.
Because the photo is a little dark, we had our boys down in the Gothamist photo lab zoom in on the front seats. As you can see, the evidence could be interpreted to suggest that the driver's really sawing wood. Of course, the more plausible explanation is that he's just breathing through his mouth as they both blink simultaneously right at the very moment that some whiny cyclist took their photo.
UPDATE: In response to an inquiry, an FDNY spokesman tell us, "We are looking into this incident. Routinely EMS units will be parked at intersections and other areas around the city waiting to respond to emergency calls as needed. Last year, FDNY EMS responded to over 1.2 million of these emergency calls."
Tagged
bike lanes
emt
fdny
scofflaws
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
All of Staten Island and the Bronx will be eligible for seats.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Modified Oct 19, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .