Nine Dead. Hundreds Broken. Streets Bleed While Albany Stalls.

Adams stalled safety. Duggan calls for action. Streets wait for bus lanes, bike lanes, open space. The next mayor holds the key. Lives depend on leadership.

"The frontrunner correctly noted in the clip that making buses faster 'isn't complicated, it doesn't cost much, you don't need Albany. All the tools are in the power of City Hall.'" -- Zohran Mamdani

On July 21, 2025, Kevin Duggan published a policy analysis in Streetsblog NYC. The article, 'The Next Mayor Can Unlock Easy Transportation Wins … If He Wants,' criticizes Mayor Eric Adams for neglecting bus and bike projects, stalling open streets, and failing on pedestrian safety. Duggan urges the next mayor to revive stalled projects and expand busways, bike lanes, and public space. The piece features support from advocates and candidates. No council bill or vote is attached. As no specific policy is enacted, there is no direct safety impact to assess for pedestrians or cyclists.

• The Next Mayor Can Unlock Easy Transportation Wins … If He Wants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-21

City halts 34th Street busway. Mayor Adams caves to loud minority. Streets stay ruled by cars. Pedestrians and cyclists left exposed. No relief. No progress. Danger lingers. Lives at risk.

On July 7, 2025, David Meyer of Streetsblog NYC condemned the city’s decision to stall the 34th Street busway. The article, titled 'The 34th Street busway is the latest casualty of the mayor's lack of a spine on transportation issues,' highlights how Mayor Adams ignored broad support and bowed to a vocal few. Meyer supports the busway and criticizes the mayor’s retreat. No council bill number or committee is tied to this action. The delay blocks safer, more equitable streets. As the safety analyst notes, canceling or delaying the busway keeps car dominance and denies protection to pedestrians and cyclists.

• Monday’s Headlines: Run This Town Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-07

Zohran Mamdani pledges bold action for safer streets. He backs protected lanes, busways, and Vision Zero. His words promise change, but this is talk, not law.

On July 4, 2025, Streetsblog NYC published mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s answers to its survey. The event, titled 'Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey,' features Mamdani’s support for pedestrianization, protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and Vision Zero. He calls for moving traffic enforcement from NYPD to DOT and ending parking mandates. Mamdani’s stance is clear: prioritize vulnerable road users. This is an informational statement, not a policy change. As noted by safety analysts, this event does not directly affect conditions for pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-04

Mamdani fights for fast, free buses. He builds coalitions. He wins a pilot. More buses, fewer cars. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

This review, published July 2, 2025 by Streetsblog NYC, examines Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s record on MTA policy. There is no formal bill number or committee, but the focus is his push for 'fast and free buses,' fare freezes, and bus lane enforcement. Mamdani led efforts in Albany for a fare-free bus pilot and more frequent service. Sen. Mike Gianaris credits Mamdani for getting free buses done. Safety analysts note: 'Policies promoting fast and free buses encourage mode shift from private vehicles to public transit, reducing traffic volumes and improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists through lower exposure to motor vehicle risk.'

• How Will Mamdani Govern? His Earlier MTA Advocacy Gives Some Hints, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02

Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Albany lawmakers killed a bill to make apps insure delivery workers. DoorDash lobbied hard. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. No coverage. Profits protected. Safety denied.

Bill to require app companies to provide $50,000 insurance for delivery workers, pedestrians, and cyclists was introduced by Assembly Member Robert Carroll. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly on June 30, 2025, after DoorDash called it 'costly.' Amy Sohn reported the defeat. The bill aimed to cover injuries from crashes and bar retaliation against workers filing claims. DoorDash lobbied against it, backing a weaker bill. The safety analyst notes this defeat reduces accountability and weakens protections for pedestrians and cyclists. Corporate pressure won. Vulnerable road users lost.

• DoorDash Lobbying Sunk Bill to Require Apps to Insure Delivery Workers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-30

Zohran Mamdani beat Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic mayoral nod. He vows faster buses, more bike lanes, and car-free space. Streets remain deadly. Change hinges on action.

Bill number not assigned. On June 26, 2025, Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. The matter, as reported by Sophia Lebowitz, states Mamdani's platform: 'make buses fast and free, add more protected bike lanes, and increase car-free public space.' Mamdani promises political will for proven safety measures. No specific legislation or committee action yet. The safety analyst notes: 'The event describes a political nomination outcome without reference to any specific transportation policy or legislation, so it has no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.'

• Here’s What Mamdani Can Steal From Other Candidates To Strengthen His Livable Streets Platform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-26

Voters chose candidates who back bike lanes, open streets, and transit. Opponents lost. The message is clear: New Yorkers want safer roads. No new laws yet, but the council’s direction is set. Vulnerable road users watch and wait.

""A life of dignity should not be reserved for a fortunate few," said Mamdani, who has called for pedestrianizing streets in the congestion relief zone, expanding protected bike infrastructure, and cracking down on NYPD parking abuse." -- Zohran Mamdani

On June 25, 2025, New York City held local elections with major implications for street safety. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, saw candidates who championed 'the importance of bike lanes, public transit, and open streets' win across the city. Council members Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, Shekar Krishnan, Chi Oss, Crystal Hudson, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams all prevailed on platforms supporting safer streets. Mark Levine, who called for bold highway changes, won the Comptroller race. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text is a vague statement of support for livable streets but does not describe a specific policy action or legislative change, so its direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists cannot be determined.' The victories signal a mandate for people-first streets, but concrete safety gains depend on future action.

• Down-Ballot Recap: A Great Night for the Livable Streets Movement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Andrew Cuomo’s car got two more speed-camera tickets. That makes four in three months. Each violation happened near Brooklyn schools. Cuomo’s team paid the fines. Leaders who speed endanger walkers and riders. Streets stay deadly when the powerful ignore the law.

On June 16, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported that former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s car received two new speed-camera tickets, bringing the total to four in three months. The article states: "The car is driven by multiple people, all of whom have been reminded to obey the speed limit, and there are no outstanding tickets." Cuomo’s spokesperson, Esther Jensen, noted his past support for speed cameras. Mayoral rival Brad Lander and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani criticized Cuomo’s record, calling his driving 'reckless and unlawful.' Zellnor Myrie’s spokesperson, Julia Rose, said Cuomo acts above the law. The safety analyst notes: this event describes an individual's driving and parking behavior but does not constitute a policy change or legislation affecting population-level safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

• No Mo, Cuomo! Scofflaw Ex-Gov. Caught Speeding Two More Times, Bringing Total to 4 Tix in 3 Months, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-16

Mayor Adams will rip out the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city put it in last year to tame a deadly stretch. Now, cyclists and pedestrians lose their shield. The street grows more dangerous. Safety for Brooklyn’s most vulnerable is stripped away.

On June 13, 2025, Mayor Adams announced the removal of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn. The lane, installed in 2024, calmed a corridor once plagued by crashes and deaths. Streetsblog NYC reported: 'A protected bike lane that was installed last year to calm a notoriously dangerous Brooklyn corridor will be removed by the Adams administration, making the roadway less safe.' Council Members Lincoln Restler and Chi Ossé condemned the move, calling it reckless and political. Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani joined in opposition. No council bill or committee review occurred; this was a unilateral mayoral action. Removing the lane eliminates a proven safety intervention, increasing risk for cyclists and pedestrians and discouraging active transportation, which undermines safety in numbers and equitable street access.

• BREAKING: Mayor Adams to Remove Bedford Avenue Protected Bike Lane Citing, Bizarrely, Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

A sedan struck a motorcycle during a bad turn on 21st Street. The motorcyclist suffered crush injuries to his leg. Police cite improper turning as the cause. The street stayed open. Danger lingered.

A sedan and a motorcycle collided at 21st Street and 40th Avenue in Queens. The crash left the 26-year-old motorcycle driver with crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' The sedan was going straight, while the motorcycle was making a U-turn. The report lists no other contributing factors before noting the motorcyclist wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the risk of improper turns on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

Riders and politicians gathered at Prospect Park. They called out slow buses, broken promises, and city inaction. Mamdani and Lander demanded real change. Riders want bus lanes, not excuses. The city’s lifeblood crawls. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Danger grows with every delay.

On May 18, 2025, Council Member Zohran Mamdani joined a transit advocacy rally outside Prospect Park, Brooklyn. The event, organized by Riders Alliance, demanded better bus service and more bus lanes on Flatbush Avenue. Mamdani declared, 'We are going to make the slowest buses in the country fast and free.' City Comptroller Brad Lander echoed the urgency, calling mass transit 'the lifeblood of NYC.' The rally criticized Mayor Adams and former Governor Cuomo for failing bus riders and not meeting the NYC Streets Plan’s promise of 10 to 15 new bus lanes each year. Betsy Plum of Riders Alliance said, 'He was meant to be implementing the NYC Streets Plan... He has woefully failed at that.' The rally spotlighted the daily risks and delays faced by bus riders, who remain among the city’s most vulnerable road users.

• NYC commuters, mayoral candidates, rally outside Prospect Park for better bus service, amny.com, Published 2025-05-18

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani pledges free bus rides and faster service. He promises more bus lanes, better signals, and locked funding. He wants to transform streets for riders, not cars. His plan aims to boost ridership and cut assaults.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani announced a sweeping proposal on May 12, 2025, to make all New York City buses fare-free. The plan, detailed in his mayoral campaign, calls for fully staffing the Department of Transportation's bus unit, painting at least 30 miles of new bus lanes each year, and expanding transit signal priority. Mamdani says, 'There is a portion of that 'fast' that comes from the fact that if you make it free [you get] a faster ride.' He also pledges to lockbox dedicated funding for free service, citing his past work on MTA rescue packages. Mamdani and his allies point to a recent free bus pilot that increased ridership and reduced assaults. The proposal, if enacted, would shift street space from cars to buses, aiming to make public transit safer and more reliable for all riders.

• Zohran Mamdani Wants to Take a Free Bus … Straight to Gracie Mansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-12

Four mayoral candidates vow to expand open streets and outdoor dining. They slam city red tape and call for year-round access. They promise to cut barriers for restaurants and keep sidewalks clear. Each frames the issue as vital for city life.

"Yes. Firstly, I support making outdoor dining a year-round program. Outdoor dining not only brought liveliness and joy to New York City’s streets, it fueled our economy and boosted small businesses—the heart of this city." -- Zohran Mamdani

This policy statement, aired May 12, 2025, is not a formal bill but a public commitment from leading mayoral candidates. Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, and Zohran Mamdani all support expanding open streets and outdoor dining. Stringer pledges to 'loosen unnecessary design requirements' and simplify permits. Myrie promises a 'year-round outdoor dining program' and restoration of open streets, citing safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists. Ramos calls the current scheme 'unworkable' and urges consensus. Lander faults City Hall for 'over-regulating' and vows to speed up applications while 'respecting pedestrian traffic.' Mamdani highlights the economic and social benefits. All criticize current restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles. The candidates frame these programs as essential for small businesses, public space, and safer streets, but no formal safety analysis is attached.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss the Death of Outdoor Dining, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-12

Mayoral candidates clashed over e-bike safety and street design. They called for more protected bike lanes, tighter rules on heavy e-bikes, and better delivery worker protections. Each pledged to cut car use and boost cycling. No one blamed riders. Streets remain dangerous.

"Subsidizing e-bike purchases is a policy my administration would support. This must be done in tandem with ensuring safety." -- Zohran Mamdani

On May 9, 2025, leading mayoral candidates aired their plans for e-bike safety and street reform. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, featured Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, and Whitney Tilson. Stringer demanded 'massive expansion of protected bike lanes.' Myrie backed S1047, a bill for 50-percent e-bike rebates. Ramos called for safe bike lanes and clear signage for all riders. Lander pushed for stricter rules on heavy e-bikes and a crackdown on illegal sales, saying, 'I support stricter regulations for the heaviest e-bikes, which can travel at higher speeds and are more likely to injure both riders and pedestrians.' Mamdani supported e-bike subsidies with safety checks. Tilson urged a 20 mph cap and mandatory registration for delivery e-bikes. All agreed: safer streets need better design, strong enforcement, and real protections for workers and vulnerable road users.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss E-Bikes … With Joy and Concern, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-09

Mayoral hopefuls clashed over parking and street space. Most backed cutting parking minimums and repurposing curb space for people, not cars. Only one vowed to keep free parking. The rest called for safer streets, more transit, and fewer cars.

At a May 8, 2025 forum, candidates for New York City mayor faced off on the future of parking and street space. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, featured Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, and Whitney Tilson. Stringer pledged to move the city away from car dependence and build infrastructure for biking and transit. Myrie called for removing parking mandates to boost housing and speed up buses. Ramos supported repurposing parking for safer streets and green space. Lander pushed for eliminating parking minimums citywide and dynamic curbside management. Mamdani criticized the vast space given to cars. Only Tilson promised to preserve free street parking. The candidates’ stances show a clear divide: most want to reclaim streets for people, not vehicles. The debate signals a shift toward policies that could reduce car dominance and improve safety for vulnerable road users.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss the High Cost of ‘Free’ Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-08

Albany lawmakers push Assembly Bill 590 to force 16- and 17-year-olds on Citi Bike e-bikes to wear helmets. Critics warn helmet laws slash ridership and invite biased policing. The bill moves forward despite evidence of harm to vulnerable road users.

Assembly Bill 590, sponsored by Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), advanced in a Transportation Committee hearing on May 7, 2025. The bill would require 16- and 17-year-olds riding Class 1 or 2 e-bikes, including Citi Bikes, to wear helmets. Committee Chair William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) defended the bill, stating, "My only concern is the safety of the people riding the bike." The bill summary notes, 'studies have shown [helmet mandates] can dramatically reduce ridership of the city’s bike share system.' Experts warn such laws lead to fewer cyclists and open the door to discriminatory enforcement, especially against youth of color. Seattle dropped its helmet law in 2022 for these reasons. Despite evidence that helmet laws hurt vulnerable road users, the committee advanced the bill without addressing these harms.

• Teen Helmet Mandate for E-Citi Bikes? Albany Lawmakers are Up to No Good Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07