Stop the Bloodshed: Streets Are for Kids, Not Cars

Governor Hochul promised new transit lines and speed limit control. She pushed the Brooklyn-Queens light rail but skipped a plan to save the MTA. Assemblymember Mamdani warned of fare hikes and cuts. Riders face uncertainty. The city waits for real answers.

On January 10, 2023, Governor Hochul announced major transit proposals in her State of the State address. The centerpiece: advancing the Brooklyn-to-Queens Interborough Express light rail, described as 'better access to jobs, education and economic opportunities for some 900,000 New Yorkers.' Hochul also backed city control of speed limits, expanded CityTicket, and transit-oriented development. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, representing District 36, criticized Hochul for omitting a concrete plan to address the MTA’s financial crisis, warning 'fare hikes and service cuts remain possible.' The speech left the MTA’s future in limbo. No safety analyst assessment was provided for vulnerable road users. The bill’s fate and impact on street safety remain uncertain.

• Hochul promises Brooklyn-Queens light rail, other major transit initiatives, but omits concrete plan to save cash-strapped MTA, amny.com, Published 2023-01-10

A concrete mixer turned right on 24th Avenue. Its bumper struck a 62-year-old woman on her bike. She flew from the saddle. She died on the cold street. Heavy steel met flesh. The city’s streets took another life.

A 62-year-old woman riding a bicycle east on 24th Avenue in Queens was killed when a concrete mixer truck turned right and struck her with its front bumper. According to the police report, 'A concrete mixer turned right. A 62-year-old woman pedaled east. The truck’s bumper struck her head. She flew from the bike. No helmet. No chance. She died alone on the cold street.' The crash data lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the truck’s right turn. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail appears only after the sequence of impact. The collision underscores the deadly risk for cyclists sharing space with massive trucks on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595961, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cement truck driver turned right and struck a woman on a Citi Bike in Astoria. She died at the scene, less than a mile from home. This marks the fourth cyclist killed in the area in under three years. Streets remain deadly.

On January 5, 2023, a cement truck driver fatally struck 62-year-old Tamara Chuchi Kao as she rode a Citi Bike in Astoria, Queens. The driver turned right from 24th Avenue onto 29th Street, hitting Kao and killing her instantly. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani called the crash 'absolutely heartbreaking,' noting Kao was the fourth cyclist killed in Astoria in 2.5 years. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez blamed 'poorly designed streets,' saying, 'traffic violence is the outcome of poorly designed streets and is a solvable problem.' The area has almost no protected bike lanes. In 2022, Community Board 1 saw 1,979 crashes, injuring 120 cyclists and 163 pedestrians. Politicians and residents demand safer streets, better enforcement, and an end to car dominance. The deadly toll continues.

• BREAKING: Cement Truck Driver Fatally Strikes Woman on Citi Bike in Astoria, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-05

A van turned right on Steinway Street. Its rear struck a sixteen-year-old girl crossing. She hit the cold asphalt. Broken pelvis. She stayed conscious. The street held her. The van kept moving. The city did not stop.

A van making a right turn on Steinway Street near 35th Avenue struck a sixteen-year-old girl as she crossed the intersection. According to the police report, 'the right rear struck her pelvis. She fell hard. Cold asphalt. Broken bones. Eyes open. Breathing.' The girl suffered crush injuries to her abdomen and pelvis but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash. No injuries were reported among the van's occupants. The data shows the driver was licensed and making a right turn when the impact occurred. The report does not list any helmet or signal issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591323, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

State lawmakers Mamdani and Gianaris unveiled a four-year plan to fund free MTA buses. The proposal boosts bus service, freezes fares, and expands camera enforcement. They call it urgent. The plan aims to make transit faster, cheaper, and safer for all riders.

On December 14, 2022, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris introduced the Formula Three Act, a legislative proposal to overhaul MTA funding and fare policy. The plan, part of the larger Fix The MTA Package, would phase in free local and Select Bus Service, increase bus frequency by 20%, freeze fares, and expand permanent bus lane camera enforcement. Funding would rise from $200 million in 2023 to $638 million in 2026, with $488 million yearly for more buses and $300 million annually for frequent subways. Mamdani called the proposal 'urgent and necessary,' stressing that 'seniors, working class New Yorkers, people who use the bus the most are able to do so without fear of being priced out.' Gianaris said, 'incrementalism...is not working.' The lawmakers urge bold action to ensure public transit is accessible, affordable, and excellent.

• State Pols Reveal ‘Urgent And Necessary’ Plan To Fund Free MTA Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-14

Lawmakers and advocates rallied in Manhattan. They demanded more money for the MTA. They want six-minute bus and subway service. They warned against service cuts and fare hikes. They called for gas tax revenue to fund transit. Riders need safe, frequent service.

On November 17, 2022, state legislators and transit advocates pressed for increased MTA funding and six-minute off-peak service. The push comes ahead of the next budget cycle. Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Amanda Septimo, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher led the call. Mamdani said, 'If we implement six-minute service, the consequences would be felt for riders across all aspects of their life.' Septimo called transit an economic and racial justice issue. Gounardes urged the governor to include MTA funding in the initial budget. Gallagher criticized the gas tax holiday, urging funds go to transit. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber warned that cuts or fare hikes would devastate working- and middle-class New Yorkers. The group demanded action to protect and improve transit for all riders.

• Legislators and Advocates Press Case For MTA Rescue And Six-Minute Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-17

A sedan struck a motorcycle head-on at 40th Avenue and 12th Street. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was thrown from his bike and died on the pavement. The crash left a mark under the gray Queens sky.

A sedan collided head-on with a motorcycle at the corner of 40th Avenue and 12th Street in Queens. The 37-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a motorcycle head-on. The unlicensed rider, 37, wore no helmet. He flew from the bike, landed headfirst on the pavement, and died beneath a gray Queens sky.' The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling north; the motorcycle was heading east. The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause cited is the sedan driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572051, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford turned left on Northern Boulevard. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider flew, hit pavement, leg torn open. Blood pooled. He stayed awake, helmet on, pain sharp in the night.

A crash at Northern Boulevard and Steinway Street in Queens left a 31-year-old cyclist badly injured. According to the police report, a Ford car made a left turn while the cyclist traveled straight. The impact threw the cyclist to the ground, causing severe lacerations to his leg. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was ejected from his bike but remained conscious, helmet on, as blood pooled on the street. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s actions created a deadly risk at the intersection, exposing the cyclist to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565916, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Porsche SUV hit a man on a Ninebot scooter at Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was ejected. His skull shattered. He died at 30. The scooter lay wrecked. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive in Queens. According to the police report, a Porsche SUV collided with a Ninebot e-scooter. The scooter rider, a 30-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore no helmet. He was ejected on impact, suffered fatal head injuries, and died at the scene. The SUV’s right front bumper struck the scooter’s right side. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The scooter was demolished. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The police report offers no further details on driver actions or errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549374, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Assemblyman Mamdani and Senator Hoylman push for cameras in 50 protected bike lanes. Drivers who block lanes face $50 fines. DOT backs the plan. Lawmakers say enforcement is needed. Cyclists face danger daily. Cameras promise real consequences for reckless drivers.

Assembly Bill, proposed June 2, 2022, by Zohran Mamdani (District 36) and co-sponsored by Brad Hoylman, seeks to deploy automated enforcement cameras at 50 protected bike lanes. The bill aims to fine drivers $50 for each infraction, targeting those who block or drive in bike lanes. The matter summary states: 'NYC pols propose traffic cameras to deter drivers from using bike lanes.' Mamdani and Hoylman argue that enforcement is critical, with Mamdani stating, 'You consistently see cars driving in the bike lane. We know that these cameras work to deter drivers from breaking the law.' DOT supports the measure, calling it 'life-saving automated enforcement technology.' The bill awaits City Council approval, with Mamdani pledging to advance it through the summer and fall.

• NYC pols propose traffic cameras to deter drivers from using bike lanes, nypost.com, Published 2022-06-02

A Honda sedan sat parked on 34th Avenue. Its front left was crushed. Inside, a 37-year-old woman lay dead. No other car. No skid marks. Just a body, a wrecked shell, and the silence of late morning in Queens.

A 37-year-old woman was found dead inside a parked Honda sedan near 12-20 34th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the car’s front left was crushed. No other vehicles were involved. The report states, 'No skid marks. No other car. Just a body, a crumpled shell.' The woman was the only occupant and driver. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or external causes are identified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4517566, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15