Complaints about parked cars and blocking fire hydrants have more than doubled since the start of the pandemic. Critics have denounced the surge in bike lanes, and even show a shortage of police officers.
The number of 311 calls to blocked fire hydrants has skyrocketed for years, with 11,886 reports in 2014 reaching 64,346 to 64,346 in 2020, and more than 100,000 per year, according to an analysis of urban data by the Post. It's expanding to the point.
In 2021, a whopping 105,155 calls were made, an increase of 63.4% from the previous year, continuing to increase to 127,751 in 2022 and 134,377 in 2023.
Last year, a total of 134,026 calls were totally seen in the complaint with a modest dip. Since January 1st, we have already received nearly 18,000 calls this year.
A staggering number comes after denounced the fire hydrant last week for delayed response times to two fatal flames in the Big Apple.
“Last week we saw two fires that caused deaths that caused firefighters to not have access to the hydrant that was closest to that fire,” said Joanne Ariola, a member of Queens City Council. To block fire hydrants.
“It counts every second when people's lives are at stake. Laws that give citizens a greater deterrent to their ability to report people who refuse to follow the laws and to report to citizens who refuse to follow the laws. I believe it,” the councillor added.
One planned bill would increase the fine to block the fire hydrant from $115 to $1,000, she said. Another invoice will allow users to provide an automatic summons for the vehicle owner by submitting 311 videos of the vehicle blocking the fire hydrant, she added.
In a letter to city hall last week, a group of residents (Ozone Park Resident Block Association) denounced “serious citywide issues” regarding the shortage of NYPD officers “slow enforcement of parking violations.” did.
“In some cases, by the time the officer arrives, the problem vehicle is already left,” reads the letter. “This is unacceptable and now it brings potential losses of life.”
Census data shows that few New York City residents and fewer people drive, with 43.8% of households in 2023 having access to one or more vehicles, compared to 45.6% in 2013.
Ariola's office pointed to transport department projects such as bicycle racks and protected bicycle lanes.
“People are eager to park,” a spokesman for Ariola's office told the Post. “It's a huge increase [in complaints] …All the parking lots have been taken away. ”
The spokesman added that it was recently introduced Intro 104DOT needs to consult with local fire stations before approving open streets and some bike lane projects, and after discussion with FDNY, it is difficult to reach apartments with ladders. “They are now in two more lanes than two lanes. It's because of the bike lanes.”
Dot pushed that rating back, and officials said there are around 3 million on-street parking spaces in the city. Dot's Open Street does not require you to delete existing spaces.
“A protected bike lane is a proven life-saving tool that makes our roads safe for everyone in order to reorganize a small portion of our collective street space, and Neither of the two recent fires in Brooklyn occurred on the streets with protected bike lanes. Areas with many protected bike lanes,” the repository told the post.
FDNY members also told Ariola's office that special hoses would need to be used when the vehicle blocks a fire hydrant.
Sentiment was reflected in the announcement of new public services announced by FDNY following the fatal February 9 fire at Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. This saw a “delay” in fire service after two vehicles blacked the two closest fire hydrants into flames. It's difficult to deal with the flames firefighters shoot from the roof.
“It is illegal to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant,” FDNY said. “Several seconds are important in emergencies, and blocking a fire hydrant can cause firefighters to be delayed when responding.”
A few days after the Brooklyn fire, firefighters ran into the same problem Wednesday while fighting the flames at a Buddhist temple in the Bronx. The fire alleged two individuals, the post was reported previously.
“I'm pleading with New Yorkers in five boroughs. You shouldn't leave your car on a fire hydrant,” FDNY commissioner Robert S. Tucker said Bayridge Fire, who claimed to be a 37-year-old Navy veteran. It was stated in a statement later.
“This was a fatal fire and there is no doubt that the cars parked in the fire hydrant slowed our members from engaging in fire tactics,” Tucker added.
