Fire departments rightly get high praise for fighting fires, rescuing people, and saving lives. But North American fire departments have been resistant to change when it comes to the vehicles they use and street design. As a consequence, they’re getting people killed, Jason Slaughter at Not Just Bikes shows. Slaughter dives into how North American fire departments overuse fire trucks that slow response times, have unnecessarily bloated fire trucks that lack maneuverability, and commonly oppose safer streets.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.