FDNY Says “No Thanks” to Eight Free Harleys for EMS Use
Jan 29th, 2008 by admin
After spending 6 months to study the ramifications of putting emergency medical services personnel on two wheels, the New York City Fire Department has turned down eight free Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
One source in a New York Post story cites a safety concern with cycles, but for Kent Aarosen, who proposed the idea, the benefits are clear: “What we have in this program is reduced response times, increased patient survivability and increased access to early defibrillation [during heart attacks].”
The Post story credits motorcycles with a 60% improvement in the response time of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue services, and doesn’t come to any definitive conclusions as to why the FDNY is reluctant to accept the gifts. And while the door doesn’t seem entirely shut on the case, it does mention that the NYPD is about to plunk down $1 million on a fleet of Hogs.
Do you think the FDNY is staying away from bikes for safety reasons, or are there other forces at play? Comment with your thoughts.