What to do if driving Garden Street and Fire Truck behind me? Open

34-42 Garden St Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA • Show on Map Hide Map

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Reporter

JoelTPatterson

Issue ID:

15132134

Submitted To:

Cambridge, MA

Category:

Other

Viewed:

337 times

Neighborhood:

Neighborhood 9

Reported:

on 08/21/2023

Description

A few days ago I drove down Garden Street when a fire truck appeared behind me, lights flashing, siren blaring. Garden Street had full parking spaces and the poles on the right and I had trouble finding a spot to move my car to the right, partly because a cyclist was close behind to my right. What do police/firefighters advise drivers do in these situations?

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City of Cambridge (Verified Official)

City of Cambridge assigned this issue to City Hall - FG

08/21/2023 · Flag Flagged
freddy (Registered User)

Law requires all traffic and bikes are traffic, to pull over for emergency vehicles full stop. Non-negotiable. Ergo, bikes should stop and and non-emergency vehicles should override flex posts. Can the city confirm that glex post channelizers do no damage to cars please?

08/22/2023 · Flag Flagged
freddy (Registered User)

This is a great question. I also would be hesitant to obey state law as I am uncertain if driving over flex posts is safe for my car and not considered vandalism and I’m not trained to speed down narrow streets like first responders.

They are “flex posts” after all, but what does that imply? The product Cambridge bought doesn’t seem to flex back very well.

08/22/2023 · Flag Flagged
City Hall - FG (Verified Official)

City Hall - FG assigned this issue to Police - FC

08/22/2023 · Flag Flagged
smc (Registered User)

Great question, can we hear from first responders about their experience on Brattle St? When there is heavier traffic not every driver will be able to pull over in the few spaces where there are no "curbs" or posts. I've seen ambulances needing to drive over the "curbs" to get through.

08/22/2023 · Flag Flagged
Concerned NC Neighbor (Registered User)

After they’re notified that no cyclists were inconvenienced by the emergency response, I’m sure the families of the deceased will be crying tears of joy.

08/22/2023 · Flag Flagged
Patty Orland (Registered User)

Pulling over, non-negotiable, does not include crashing into fixed objects. It's a bad road design to have one narrow lane on a through street that gets long red light queues.

09/06/2023 · Flag Flagged

Neighborhood 9, Cambridge, MA [Change location]

What to do if driving Garden Street and Fire Truck behind me? Open

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City of Cambridge (Verified Official)

freddy (Registered User)

freddy (Registered User)

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smc (Registered User)

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City of Cambridge (Verified Official)

freddy (Registered User)

freddy (Registered User)

City Hall - FG (Verified Official)

smc (Registered User)

Concerned NC Neighbor (Registered User)

Patty Orland (Registered User)

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