Pet Peeve

WHY WHY WHY do people act like sirens and lights are no big deal? Is it that important that they get through the intersection or another 30 yards down the road before they're absolutely forced to pull over for emergency vehicles (and slowing the emergency people down in the process)?

Today, a fire truck came down 3rd Avenue, siren blaring, lights flashing. It had to wait for people who were trying to beat it through the intersection. It finally got across and not 10 feet behind it was some numbnuts on a recumbent bike! Of course, this is the street that is the major bus/transit route. Bikes are allowed but, for pete's sake, shouldn't he have been smart enough to wait?? A few seconds later an ambulance came up behind him and the cops had to hustle him out of the way of all the buses, the fire truck, etc. WTH?