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

Astoria residents packed a hall. They demanded safer streets after a child died. Online groups drove turnout. Cyclists and pedestrians led the call. The community board pushed for daylighting. Most locals walk, bike, or ride transit. The fight is urgent. The danger is real.

"Astorians showed up last night for pedestrian + bike safety: over 150 neighbors packed the room at Variety Boys & Girls Club to talk about how we make our streets safer." -- Zohran Mamdani

On October 3, 2023, Astoria activists mobilized for street safety after a fatal crash killed a 7-year-old girl. No formal council bill number is listed, but the Transportation Committee of Community Board 1 passed a resolution urging DOT to daylight all intersections. The matter, described as 'community advocacy for street safety and bike infrastructure,' drew over 150 residents to a public workshop. Council Member Zohran Kwame Mamdani attended, stating, 'Astorians showed up last night for pedestrian + bike safety.' Online organizing, especially on the MicromobilityNYC subreddit, brought new voices to the table and pressured NYPD to take traffic enforcement seriously. The area lacks protected bike lanes—only 3 percent of streets have them—while most residents do not own cars and rely on walking, biking, or transit. The activism is diverse, persistent, and focused on ending traffic violence.

• Astoria Organizers Lead the Way on Street Safety with a Reddit Strategy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-03

MTA rolls out free bus routes in all five boroughs. Digital signs mark the buses. Riders board without paying. The pilot covers 44,000 daily trips. Lawmakers say this is a step toward greener, fairer transit. The agency will study the results.

On September 24, 2023, the MTA launched a free bus pilot in every New York City borough. The pilot, part of a state budget deal, makes one route per borough fare-free for up to a year. The official summary states: 'One MTA bus route will be free in each New York City borough starting Sunday.' Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, mentioned in the coverage, said, 'Getting more New Yorkers on to public transit must be at the forefront of our plan for a greener NY.' The pilot covers the B60 in Brooklyn, M116 in Manhattan, Q4 in Queens, S46/S96 in Staten Island, and BX18 in the Bronx. About 44,000 weekday riders are affected. The MTA will monitor ridership and study the impact. Progressive lawmakers back the move to help low-income New Yorkers. No direct safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• Every NYC borough gets a free MTA bus route starting Sunday, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-24

Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

A BMW SUV tore down 34th Avenue before dawn. Metal screamed. The front end crumpled. The 24-year-old driver died alone in the wreck. No passengers. No bystanders. Only twisted steel and silence remained.

A 2021 BMW SUV crashed on 34th Avenue at 3:30 a.m. The sole occupant, a 24-year-old male driver, was killed. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was the contributing factor. The SUV’s front end was demolished. No other vehicles or people were involved. The driver was licensed and traveling west. The report lists no other errors or factors. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash left only wreckage and one life lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a bike struck the roof of a parked sedan. Blood spilled from his head onto Astoria Boulevard. He lay silent in the summer heat. Shock and injury marked the scene. No moving vehicles involved.

A 50-year-old cyclist suffered a severe head injury after colliding with the roof of a parked Acura sedan on Astoria Boulevard near 35th Street. According to the police report, blood spilled from his head onto the pavement as he lay silent, eyes wide, in shock. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or moving vehicle violations are recorded in the data. The cyclist’s use of safety equipment is unknown. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647264 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Night on Vernon Boulevard. A woman on a bike hits an SUV’s side. She flies off, head bleeding, still conscious. Her wheel twists. The SUV’s door buckles. Darkness and confusion fill the street. The crash leaves scars and questions.

A 32-year-old woman riding north on Vernon Boulevard collided with the side of a station wagon/SUV near midnight. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected from her bike and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. She remained conscious at the scene. The report notes, 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The SUV’s left side doors were crumpled by the impact, and the cyclist’s front wheel was twisted. The report also states the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the listed contributing factors. The crash unfolded in darkness, with limited visibility and confusion playing a role.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642535 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck and an e-bike turned right on rain-slick Northern Boulevard. The cyclist went down. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. The truck kept moving. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp, asphalt wet.

A box truck and a Citibike rider both turned right at Northern Boulevard and 37th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the pavement was slippery from rain. The cyclist, a 32-year-old man, lost control and crashed. His leg suffered a severe, bleeding injury. The truck was not damaged and did not stop. The police report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited for the truck. The cyclist was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The man remained conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUVs kill. Their bulk crushes bodies and streets. Lawmakers want heavier vehicles to pay more. Revenue would fund safer roads. The bill follows a grim rise in deaths, especially among children. The city bleeds. The council moves. The fight is on.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill to increase registration fees for heavy vehicles and SUVs in New York. The proposal, announced June 23, 2023, aims to direct new revenue toward street safety projects. The report behind the bill states: 'Injuries from crashes involving large vehicles increased by 91 percent and fatalities by 75 percent between 2016 and 2019.' Mamdani said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes called out the public cost of 'mini-tanks.' The bill responds to data showing nearly half of children killed on city streets were struck by drivers of large vehicles, rising to 80 percent in 2022. Lawmakers call this common-sense action to address the deadly toll of oversized cars.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani pushes a bill to raise registration fees for heavy vehicles. The move comes as injuries and deaths from SUVs surge. Lawmakers say the fees will fund safer streets. The city’s children pay the price for oversized cars.

Assembly Bill (no number cited) was introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes on June 23, 2023. The bill, now under consideration, would 'raise the existing by-weight registration fees to make them more likely to disincentivize the purchase of larger cars.' The proposal responds to a Transportation Alternatives report showing a 91% jump in injuries and a 75% rise in fatalities from large vehicle crashes between 2016 and 2019. Mamdani, at a press conference, said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes added, 'We the public has had to bear the cost of people's decisions to drive these mini-tanks.' The bill earmarks new revenue for street safety projects, aiming to protect vulnerable road users from the growing threat of oversized vehicles.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-23

State budget expands MTA bus cameras. Now, they target drivers blocking bus stops, loading zones, bike lanes, intersections, and crosswalks. Fines start at $50. More buses get cameras. Lawmakers and advocates say this will speed up buses and protect the vulnerable.

The 2023 state budget, agreed on May 1, expands the MTA's automated bus lane enforcement camera system. The bill, backed by Governor Hochul and legislative leaders, broadens enforcement to drivers blocking bus stops, truck loading zones, bike lanes, intersections, and crosswalks. Fines start at $50, escalating for repeat offenses. The MTA will increase buses with cameras from 450 to 1,000 by year's end. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and advocate Sara Lind support the move, calling it vital for bus reliability and street safety. Lind says, 'Camera-based enforcement is such a powerful tool for making our streets safer.' The budget also addresses MTA funding, but some, like Mamdani, criticize the city's increased financial burden. The bill aims to clear the way for buses and vulnerable road users, reducing dangerous blockages.

• Say Cheese! State Budget Lets MTA Bus Cameras Zap Bus, Loading Zone and Bike Lane Blockers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

A taxi and sedan crashed head-on on Northern Boulevard. Steel tore steel. A young woman in the back seat bled from the face. The sedan driver had no license. Lane misuse and failure to yield fueled the wreck. Three people left hurt.

A taxi and a sedan collided head-on on Northern Boulevard. According to the police report, 'A taxi and a southbound sedan slammed head-on. A 25-year-old woman in the back seat bled from the face. She wore a harness. The sedan driver had no license.' Three people were injured: the 25-year-old rear passenger suffered severe facial bleeding, the sedan driver had minor eye bleeding, and the taxi driver complained of neck pain. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The sedan driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Five bus lines will run free in each borough. The MTA’s pilot aims to boost ridership and keep fares down. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani pushed for this. The plan avoids service cuts. Riders get relief. Streets may see fewer cars.

On April 30, 2023, the MTA announced a two-year pilot for free bus service on five lines, one in each borough, as part of a state budget deal. The pilot is a key piece of the 'Fix the MTA' package. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a main sponsor, celebrated the inclusion of free buses, stating, 'I’m excited that the vision of free buses from our Fix the MTA package has been included in this year’s budget.' The pilot aims to increase bus ridership and keep fares low, while new funding measures—like a payroll mobility tax and increased city contributions—shore up the MTA’s finances. The plan also promises more frequent subway service and avoids steep fare hikes or service cuts. The official cost of the pilot is not yet clear, but advocates and officials say it will keep the MTA stable for four years.

• MTA will pilot free buses on five lines as part of state budget deal, amny.com, Published 2023-04-30

Mayor Adams backs free buses on ten city routes. Assembly Member Mamdani hails the move for working-class riders. But promised bus lanes and service upgrades lag. Only 11.95 miles built last year. Political fights stall progress. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On April 19, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams endorsed a pilot to make two bus routes free in each borough, totaling ten free buses. The plan is part of the 'Fix the MTA' package, originally championed by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and progressive allies. Adams said, 'I strongly support the thought of having 10 buses being free on lines in the city. I think it would make a major impact.' Mamdani called free buses 'transformative' for working-class New Yorkers. Despite this, other bus improvements lag. Adams pledged 150 miles of new bus lanes in four years, but only 11.95 miles were built last year. Some projects stalled amid political opposition. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber stressed the need for city commitment to bus lanes and warned of fare hikes and service cuts if funding gaps persist. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• Mayor Adams Backs Free Buses As Other Bus Commitments Fall By the Wayside, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-19

A Honda SUV backed south on Astoria Boulevard. Steel met flesh. A 29-year-old woman walking was crushed in the leg. She stayed conscious. The driver backed unsafely. The street did not give.

A 29-year-old woman walking near 1-05 Astoria Boulevard in Queens was struck by a Honda SUV reversing southbound. According to the police report, the SUV backed unsafely, crushing her leg. The report states, “Backing Unsafely” was the contributing factor. The woman suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The driver, a licensed 54-year-old man, was uninjured. The data lists no error or action by the pedestrian. This crash shows the danger when drivers reverse into shared space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617608 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and allies rallied for more MTA funding. They want faster trains, better buses, and no fare hikes. They demand the state tax the rich to pay for it. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Service cuts loom. The fight is on.

On February 22, 2023, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani (District 36) joined advocates and labor at a rally urging Governor Hochul and state legislators to increase MTA funding and expand service in the state budget. The event, covered by amny.com, called for a $300 million boost to the governor's plan, aiming to cut subway headways to six minutes, make buses free, and avoid fare hikes. The coalition, including the Riders Alliance and TWU Local 100, argued that current service leaves riders waiting over ten minutes and crawling on slow buses. Mamdani, prime sponsor of the Fix the MTA package, said, 'They are at risk of being priced out of one of their most basic human rights, the right to go around their city.' He pushed for higher corporate taxes to fund these improvements. TWU Local 100 president Richard Davis and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also spoke out against service cuts. The governor's office did not endorse Mamdani's tax proposal. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Advocates, labor urge Hochul to bulk up MTA budget, expand service, amny.com, Published 2023-02-22

Lawmakers and advocates climbed the city’s highest subway station. They demanded more from Governor Hochul’s MTA budget. They want six-minute off-peak trains. They reject fare hikes. They call for taxing the wealthy to fund better, faster service. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On February 5, 2023, legislators and advocates rallied for increased MTA funding and more frequent subway service. The event, led by Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Robert Carroll, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Riders Alliance’s Betsy Plum, responded to Governor Hochul’s budget proposal. The matter: 'Advocates and legislators raced up the stairs...to press their case for Gov. Hochul to do more to fill the MTA's fiscal gap.' Hochul’s plan stabilizes finances but does not boost service or halt fare hikes. Mamdani and Gounardes called for six-minute off-peak trains and new taxes on the wealthy. Gounardes said, 'We all know that we need better service and we need more service.' The proposal remains under negotiation. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but frequent, reliable transit is vital for their safety.

• ON THEIR MARKS: Legislators Demand More from Hochul’s MTA Budget Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-05

Nineteen council members demand Mayor Adams back state bills for six-minute transit and free buses. They urge Albany to fund the MTA, calling transit a public good. Fast, frequent service means safer, fuller streets. The council stands united. Riders wait.

On January 27, 2023, nineteen New York City Council members, led by Tiffany Cabán, sent a letter urging Mayor Adams to support the Fix the MTA package in Albany. The package, introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Mike Gianaris, includes eight bills: funding for six-minute off-peak subway and bus service, four years of free bus rides, and closing the MTA's fiscal gap. Council Member Amanda Farías introduced a resolution backing six-minute service. The letter states, 'Just as fund libraries and schools, we must fund transit—a public good that creates access to opportunities in life.' Cabán called the push a 'critical public safety initiative,' linking frequent, reliable transit to safer streets. The council's action signals a unified demand for robust, equitable transit funding.

• Council Members Join Push For Six-Minute Transit Service And Free Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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