Ambulance?
 

So I'm riding with the club the other day on a road that has two lanes in our direction. Our group is about 10 or so and two abreast. I'm at the back when an ambulance is about half a mile away. I call out ambulance passing pull over to the right. I stop and pull over but most everyone in the group keeps going taking the whole lane. I know the ambulance has a lane to itself but arent we suppose to stop?


Lights and sirens were on.

IMO, Yes. Absolutely.

Yes, you are - at least in any jurisdiction of which I am aware.

Yep, we're all are suppose to pull over and stop for ALL emergency vehicles.

Did you ask them why they didn't stop?

There are so many drivers that don't pull over or slow down (never mind stop) for emergency vehicles - the bikers are probably just carrying over their bad behavior. It is pretty pathetic. I've worked closely with responders in the past, and it is a serious problem. Sometimes there is a cop trailing these vehicles, picking off motorists (and yes, even cyclists) who don't get the heck out of the way. So, don't think there are no consequences. Not to mention, you are putting yourself at increased risk - the responders have a lot to keep track of while riding code.

Yes. Surprisingly, as aggressive as drivers are here, everybody in L.A. moves out of the way for emergency vehicles. My friend visiting from another town actually made a comment about that once.. hah..

I'm ashamed to say no. I clearly said to the group "pull over to the right". I can only imagine what the ambulance drivers thought of us.

I've often thought that they should have cattle catchers on the front of their vehicles to push non-compliant vehicles out of their way.

If there's an emergency vehicle on your road, absolutely, you're required to pull as far off the road as you can get and stop, regardless of what kind of vehicle you're driving. Illegal not to.

:lol: While your idea is MUCH more entertaining, what they really need is video cameras recording every dang license plate # that doesn't pull over. That will clear the road like (well, don't want to inject religion) ... you get the idea. Heck, most police cars already have the cameras. The fines would more than pay off the equipment. It wouldn't surprise me if the police already (on occasion) use their video to fine the most egregious violators.

I've often wondered what ambulance drivers/fire fighters think when the person on the bicycle is the only one who pulls over.

I am assuming the lights/siren was on?

UD

Here's a good question. You're traveling on "B" Street, one block over on "C" Street there is an ambulance/fire truck/cop car with it's siren's blaring. You can hear it, but not see it. Are you still obligated to pull over?

I would say if the siren level is *increasing* and sufficiently loud, you should start to pull over. The most dangerous spot, by far, is an intersection.

Yes

Give firefighters/ambulance drivers laptops to record those license plate numbers with and have an e-ticket filed on their behalf.

IMO, the responders have way too much to pay attention to already ... but it could all be done after-the-fact by a secondary agency - much like red-light-running cameras. A little software and a little human inspection = ticket. You would obviously allow emergency responders to log a violation (from memory) so the video technician would diligently find/fine the violator. You could even allow them to push a button on the steering wheel at the instant they see one of these morons - there is your time stamp for future inspection.

Another option, A BIG LED SIGN on the front of vehicle saying "GET the F OUT of the WAY!!!" Maybe combined with your cattle catcher. :lol:

Given that there are usually two people in the firetruck/rescue vehicle. The "passenger" could work the laptop.

They could also have a video camera mounted somewhere in the emergency vehicle that sends it feed to a laptop. That laptop/camera setup could photograph the car/license plate in a database then issue the ticket.

I remember a show on the Discovery channel called "Beyond 2000" on one show they talked about how emergency vehicles could transmit a signal that would activate an LED on the dash to alert drivers that they were in the area. I don't know whatever happened to that system. But it sounds like a good thing. They could/should also be able to do that with GPS receivers and/or radar detectors.

True, but in the case of emergency response vehicles, seconds count and can and often does mean the difference between life or death.

Even though I was an volunteer medic for a busy service, I do not know for a fact that bikes are legally obligated to stop in every state but failure to do so is at least stupid.

It was a rare emergency run when at least one car or truck driver failed to yield right-of-way, but I do not remember any issues with cyclists.

There were a few times when we did get and transmit license numbers, but were rather tightly focused on main issues of patient care and transport.

The most ridiculous thing I ever saw was here in my hometown... EMS was coming, lights and sirens going...people were stopping for them...IN THEIR OWN LANES! The ambulance had to slalom around them!!

Those of you with EMT/ride-along experience, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the 2nd EMT in the ambulance have to keep an eye out for cross traffic, help the driver? Kinda puts the kibosh on the laptop thing. Maybe put some high-school-age geek in there for minimum wage to just do that on calls; pull a 4-hour shift, go home and play WOW.

I never pull over. I'm 3ft wide. How much room am I really taking? He has more than enough skills to negotiate around me whenever he catches up.

That often happens in urban areas, especially near intersections where right lane room is short. If everyone moves right there's usually a smooth ride down the center line. In any event, emergency drivers still appreciate drivers coming to a stop and staying there unless the way is completely blocked.

This is a troll, so don't reply unless you want to play the game.