FDNY has a limited number of tillers, based exclusively in locations where narrow streets inhibit the use of their 135 straight stick aerial ladders and tower ladders. Chinatown is one such area, and is often very congested. At the last count I believe there were only eight, but this might have changed.
Most recently fourteen, as I understand, but still only around seven percent of the FDNY aerial ladder plus ladder tower fleet. The increase is presumably due to the added traffic congestion in some parts of the city - as the numbers of vehicles on the streets has grown so much.
Added by Rob Johnson on 22 October 2023.