City of Orlando

Pedal Power To Join Downtown Public Safety Programs
For Immediate Release

Mayor Glenda E. Hood made an announcement tonight to make the Orlando Fire Department's bicycle paramedics a permanent part of the downtown public safety team after a temporary test proved successful. The bike team response times significantly reduced the time it usually takes a rescue unit to respond in heavy traffic.

MaryAlicia Johnson, spokeswoman for Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood says, "During events, it's a great way to get through crowds to reach people quickly.

The bike medics, who are equipped with advanced life support medical equipment, have proven their ability to reduce response times by almost half during peak heavy traffic times in downtown. Mayor Hood confirmed that she asked Fire Chief Charlie Walker to permanently assign the Orlando Fire Department bike team, to cover medical emergencies in the downtown area every Friday, Saturday and holiday night from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am.

Each Friday and Saturday night since June 9th, two bike medics have patrolled downtown covering more than 2/3 of the calls by themselves, increasing the availability and efficiency of emergency equipment for downtown visitors and citizens. The bike team also provides assistance during festivals, sporting events, and road races.