Ambulance Reversing on Danjiang Bridge Sparks Debate; Fire Dept Explains Maneuver for U-Turn
An ambulance was filmed reversing on the shared pedestrian and bicycle path of the newly opened Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei, sparking public debate. The New Taipei City Fire Department explained on the 19th that bollards at the Bali end of the bridge blocked passage, forcing the ambulance to reverse to a wider area to make a U-turn and transport a patient to the hospital. The department stated it will continuously review its response procedures.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 20:14
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 20:32 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 19, 2026 at 20:39 (7 min after Collected)
(CNA reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 19th) An ambulance reversing on a shared pedestrian and bicycle path on the Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei City to carry out a rescue mission has recently sparked heated discussion. The New Taipei City Fire Department said today that considering the ambulance could not pass at the tail end of the Bali side, it had to reverse to a wider section of the shared path to turn around for hospital transport.
One week after its opening on the 12th, the Fire Department told a CNA reporter in the evening that a total of two ambulance missions have been carried out to date, including one car accident and one case of a person collapsing on the road. The department will continuously review its routes and response mechanisms for related disaster relief and rescue cases.
Today, a netizen posted a video on a social media platform showing an ambulance reversing while many people were walking and cycling on the bridge during a rescue operation, raising concerns about pedestrian safety and potential delays in saving lives.
Many netizens commented, "First time seeing an ambulance reverse like that," while others believed that road users should automatically yield to ambulances, prioritizing saving lives. In response, the Fire Department said that on the afternoon of the 17th, a woman was injured in a collision with a bicycle on the Danjiang Bridge in the Bali to Tamsui direction. She was treated on-site by the Tamsui Fire Branch and sent to Tamsui Mackay Memorial Hospital.
The Fire Department explained that because the pedestrian and bicycle path is separated and blocked by bollards at the tail end on the Bali side, the ambulance could not pass. Considering the principle of taking the shortest route for medical transport, it was necessary to reverse to a wider section of the shared path to turn around and head to the hospital. In the future, police support on motorcycles could be requested for guidance and to clear the way, improving driving safety and ambulance efficiency.
With the issue of the narrow motorcycle lane continuing to be a hot topic, a reporter asked about future rescue methods for motorcycle accidents. The Fire Department stated they would first confirm the location and direction of the accident and dispatch the nearest fire branch to the scene, aiming to arrive within 5 minutes.
For the motorcycle access ramp from Tamsui to Bali, the shared bicycle and pedestrian path can be used as an "emergency rescue corridor." Rescue vehicles would enter from the Tamsui end of the shared path to reach the accident site and perform the rescue. For the motorcycle ramp from Bali to Tamsui, if it is adjacent to the car lane, vehicles can enter directly from the Bali end. For sections not adjacent to the car lane, vehicles can approach by entering the Tamsui-end sidewalk against traffic, or personnel can approach on foot to carry the injured.
The Fire Department emphasized that it has already recommended to the Northern Region Maintenance Engineering Branch of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Highway Bureau to create an emergency opening connecting the car lane and the rescue route, which could shorten response times for disaster relief and rescue. Drills for motorcycle accident rescues and motorcycle fire suppression have already been conducted to pre-validate the disaster relief and rescue response mechanisms for the special bridge environment. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150519
One week after its opening on the 12th, the Fire Department told a CNA reporter in the evening that a total of two ambulance missions have been carried out to date, including one car accident and one case of a person collapsing on the road. The department will continuously review its routes and response mechanisms for related disaster relief and rescue cases.
Today, a netizen posted a video on a social media platform showing an ambulance reversing while many people were walking and cycling on the bridge during a rescue operation, raising concerns about pedestrian safety and potential delays in saving lives.
Many netizens commented, "First time seeing an ambulance reverse like that," while others believed that road users should automatically yield to ambulances, prioritizing saving lives. In response, the Fire Department said that on the afternoon of the 17th, a woman was injured in a collision with a bicycle on the Danjiang Bridge in the Bali to Tamsui direction. She was treated on-site by the Tamsui Fire Branch and sent to Tamsui Mackay Memorial Hospital.
The Fire Department explained that because the pedestrian and bicycle path is separated and blocked by bollards at the tail end on the Bali side, the ambulance could not pass. Considering the principle of taking the shortest route for medical transport, it was necessary to reverse to a wider section of the shared path to turn around and head to the hospital. In the future, police support on motorcycles could be requested for guidance and to clear the way, improving driving safety and ambulance efficiency.
With the issue of the narrow motorcycle lane continuing to be a hot topic, a reporter asked about future rescue methods for motorcycle accidents. The Fire Department stated they would first confirm the location and direction of the accident and dispatch the nearest fire branch to the scene, aiming to arrive within 5 minutes.
For the motorcycle access ramp from Tamsui to Bali, the shared bicycle and pedestrian path can be used as an "emergency rescue corridor." Rescue vehicles would enter from the Tamsui end of the shared path to reach the accident site and perform the rescue. For the motorcycle ramp from Bali to Tamsui, if it is adjacent to the car lane, vehicles can enter directly from the Bali end. For sections not adjacent to the car lane, vehicles can approach by entering the Tamsui-end sidewalk against traffic, or personnel can approach on foot to carry the injured.
The Fire Department emphasized that it has already recommended to the Northern Region Maintenance Engineering Branch of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Highway Bureau to create an emergency opening connecting the car lane and the rescue route, which could shorten response times for disaster relief and rescue. Drills for motorcycle accident rescues and motorcycle fire suppression have already been conducted to pre-validate the disaster relief and rescue response mechanisms for the special bridge environment. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150519