No More Bodies for Broken Promises: Make AD44 Streets Safe Now

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

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 The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions.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

Senate passes bill forcing delivery apps to insure workers and crash victims. Lawmakers tout support for the injured. But insurance comes after the hit. Speeders keep driving. Danger stays on the street. Prevention takes a back seat.

On June 13, 2025, the New York State Senate passed a bill requiring food delivery apps to provide insurance for delivery workers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The bill, sponsored by Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger, mandates up to $50,000 per person for basic economic loss, regardless of citizenship or employment status. Assembly Member Robert Carroll authored the original Assembly version, stating, 'It is time we require delivery apps to take responsibility for keeping delivery workers and pedestrians safe.' Sen. Andrew Gounardes defended a related speed-limiting bill, but it was weakened. Safety analysts warn: 'Focusing on insurance rather than speed limits shifts responsibility away from prevention and system design, failing to reduce crash risk and potentially discouraging mode shift by not addressing the root causes of danger for pedestrians and cyclists.' Lawmakers back insurance, but leave the streets risky.

• Senate Votes to Require Delivery Apps to Provide Insurance for Workers, 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 71-year-old cyclist lost consciousness and died while riding north on Center Drive. No other vehicles involved. The street stayed quiet. The crash left one dead.

A 71-year-old man riding a bike north on Center Drive died after losing consciousness. According to the police report, the only contributing factor was 'Lost Consciousness.' No other vehicles or people were involved. The cyclist was found unconscious and not ejected from the bike. The report lists no vehicle damage and no other errors. The crash ended with the rider's death and no further injuries reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A woman died behind the wheel of an SUV on Ditmas Avenue. Another occupant was hurt. Police cite driver inattention. The SUV’s front left bumper took the hit. The crash left one dead, one injured, and a street marked by impact.

A crash on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn involved a 2021 Mercedes SUV registered in Florida. According to the police report, the SUV was parked and then struck, with the point of impact at the left front bumper. The driver, a 38-year-old woman, was killed. Another 38-year-old female occupant suffered unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other vehicles are clearly identified in the report. The driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash. The report does not mention any actions by the injured occupant. The facts show a deadly collision, with inattention behind the wheel called out by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan hit an e-bike on McDonald Ave. The cyclist, ejected and bleeding from the face, lay hurt. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and flesh met in Brooklyn’s morning light.

A sedan collided with an e-bike on McDonald Ave near Greenwood Ave in Brooklyn. The 60-year-old male cyclist was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The cyclist was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, but the police report lists driver distraction as the primary factor. No injuries were reported for the sedan occupant. The crash underscores the danger faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811100 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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

Six dead in a Jersey City helicopter crash. The noise never stops. Assembly Member Carroll’s bill, A2583, would tax non-essential flights. The aim: cut flights, cut noise, cut harm. Governor Hochul stays silent. The city waits. The damage mounts.

Assembly Bill A2583, sponsored by Brooklyn Assembly Member Robert Carroll, seeks to impose hefty fees on non-essential helicopter flights over New York City. The bill remains pending, with no endorsement yet from Governor Hochul. The Streetsblog article, 'Helicopter Deaths, Fast and Slow,' highlights the recent fatal crash near Jersey City that killed six and draws a stark comparison to the ongoing economic and human toll of helicopter noise. Carroll’s bill is described as the 'gold-standard' for taxing helicopter noise, with estimates that it could reduce flights by 30 to 50 percent. Carroll urges action, calling on the public to pressure Hochul to support the measure. The article underscores that the distress over crash deaths should extend to the daily suffering caused by helicopter noise, which inflicts millions in damages and degrades quality of life for city residents.

• Helicopter Deaths, Fast and Slow, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-17

A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning Mack truck on Washington Avenue. The rider, helmeted and conscious, was half-flung from the bike, his leg shattered. Both vehicles moved south. The crash left the motorcyclist with crushing injuries.

According to the police report, a motorcycle collided with the rear of a Mack tractor truck making a right turn on Washington Avenue near Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The crash occurred as both vehicles traveled south. The report states the motorcycle 'slammed into the rear' of the turning truck, resulting in the 34-year-old rider being 'crushed,' his leg shattered, and partially ejected from the bike. The rider was helmeted and conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The impact left the motorcyclist with severe lower leg injuries, underscoring the dangers posed by close following and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Assembly bill A 6225 drops the speed for owner liability to seven miles over the limit. Drivers face penalties sooner. Carroll and Simone sponsor. Aimed at curbing reckless speed. Streets may get safer. No safety analyst note yet.

Assembly bill A 6225 was introduced on February 27, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to reducing the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits,' lowers the threshold for owner liability to more than seven miles per hour over the posted limit. Assembly Members Robert C. Carroll (primary sponsor, District 44) and Tony Simone (co-sponsor, District 75) back the measure. The bill seeks to hold drivers accountable at lower speeds. No safety analyst note is available yet.

• File A 6225, Open States, Published 2025-02-27

A Ford SUV slams its front bumper into a three-year-old girl stepping from a parked car. Blood spills on Coney Island Avenue. She survives, conscious, head gashed. The driver was distracted. Alcohol was involved. The city’s danger is plain.

According to the police report, a three-year-old girl was struck by a Ford SUV near 948 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. The incident occurred as she stepped down from a parked SUV. The report states, 'A Ford strikes her head with its front bumper. Blood pools on the curb. She is conscious.' The child suffered severe lacerations to her head and was listed as injured but conscious. The police report explicitly notes that 'the driver was distracted' and that 'alcohol was involved.' These driver errors—distraction and alcohol use—are central to the crash. The report does not cite any contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior. The impact and aftermath underscore the ongoing systemic danger faced by the city’s most vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

A Toyota surged off Eastern Parkway. The 88-year-old driver, semiconscious, lost control. Metal shrieked. A 58-year-old man, standing clear of the road, was crushed. Both bodies broken. The car lay wrecked, silent under the streetlight.

According to the police report, an 88-year-old man driving a 1998 Toyota sedan veered west off Eastern Parkway near 85th Street. The driver was described as 'semiconscious' and 'trapped in metal,' suffering crush injuries to his entire body. The report states that 'illness' was the sole contributing factor, listed twice for both the driver and the pedestrian. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a 58-year-old man who was 'not in roadway,' standing off the road. The pedestrian was also left with crush injuries to his entire body. The police narrative describes the car as demolished, its shell silent under the streetlight. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian; the focus remains on the driver's medical condition and loss of control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773784 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A box truck turned right on Ditmas Avenue, crushing a 16-year-old riding a Hurley e-bike beneath its front. His chest collapsed. He was thrown and died at the scene. The truck rolled on, untouched. The street swallowed another life.

According to the police report, a box truck was making a right turn on Ditmas Avenue near Coney Island Avenue when it struck a 16-year-old riding a Hurley e-bike. The report states the teen was crushed beneath the truck’s right front quarter panel, suffering fatal chest injuries. The victim was ejected and died at the scene. The truck sustained no damage and continued on, according to the narrative. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and does not cite any driver error, but the sequence of events centers on the truck’s right turn and the resulting impact. The report notes the e-bike rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, but these details are listed only after the fatal collision caused by the truck’s maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749410 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan turned left on Beverley Road. An e-bike rider went straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist, thirty, hit the ground headfirst, helmetless. Blood pooled. Lacerations deep. He lay conscious, half-thrown from his bike, pain sharp, Brooklyn afternoon.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn collided with an e-bike traveling straight along Beverley Road near Rugby Road in Brooklyn at 14:10. The report states, 'A sedan turned left. An e-bike went straight. Metal met flesh.' The 30-year-old e-bike rider was partially ejected and struck the ground headfirst, sustaining severe lacerations and head injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors in the crash. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor—driver error remains central. The collision left the cyclist conscious but badly hurt, underscoring the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield or pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738383 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

Assembly Members Emily Gallagher and Robert Carroll denounce the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. Their words cut through: New York’s streets belong to people, not cars.

On June 7, 2024, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher (District 50) joined Robert Carroll in a public statement opposing Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of congestion pricing. The op-ed, titled 'Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It,' argues the governor’s action is 'effectively a cancellation.' Gallagher and Carroll stress that congestion pricing is essential for funding the MTA and improving public transit. They write, 'Congestion pricing does both and there is no fair or viable alternative way to fund the MTA’s capital needs at this juncture.' The statement warns that the delay will shelve critical projects and worsen conditions for all who rely on safe, accessible streets. Gallagher’s stance is clear: the city’s future depends on prioritizing transit and public space over traffic and private cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-07

Two Assembly members slam the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. They say New York needs fewer cars, more trains, and streets for people, not traffic. The fight continues.

Assembly Members Robert Carroll and Emily Gallagher issued a public statement on June 7, 2024, supporting congestion pricing and condemning Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of the program. The statement, published as an op-ed, argues, 'the Governor’s announcement to indefinitely delay implementation is effectively a cancellation of congestion pricing.' Carroll and Gallagher, both long-time supporters, stress that congestion pricing is vital for funding the MTA’s capital needs and for reducing traffic and pollution. They warn that the governor’s move will stall key transit projects and harm New Yorkers who rely on public transportation. The members urge Democrats to embrace the policy, stating, 'It is past time for New York to join such cities as London, Milan, Stockholm, and Singapore and implement congestion pricing without further delay.' The statement does not mince words: the city’s future depends on streets for people, not cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-07

Governor Hochul yanked support for congestion pricing weeks before launch. Senator Liz Krueger called it reckless. The move leaves a $15 billion hole in MTA funding. No clear replacement plan. Riders and streets hang in the balance. Gridlock wins.

On June 6, 2024, Senator Liz Krueger (District 28) condemned Governor Hochul’s last-minute reversal on congestion pricing. The policy, approved by the MTA Board and set for June 30, now faces indefinite delay. Krueger called the decision 'a staggering error' that creates a financial crisis for the MTA. The matter at hand: 'Gov. Hochul revoked her support for congestion pricing less than a month before it was supposed to start.' Assembly Member Robert Carroll also criticized the governor, rejecting her proposal to hike the payroll mobility tax on city businesses. The MTA’s capital plan now faces a $15 billion shortfall, with no replacement funding in sight. The delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as congestion pricing aimed to cut traffic and fund safer transit. The council’s response is clear: the city needs congestion pricing, now.

• Two Huge Questions About 'Gridlock Gov.' Hochul's Congestion Pricing Delay, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-06

Governor Hochul pulled the plug on congestion pricing just weeks before rollout. The move leaves the MTA’s future in limbo. Board members and city officials push back. Billions for transit hang in the balance. No clear plan replaces lost funds.

On June 6, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul revoked her support for congestion pricing, a policy set to start June 30. The delay, announced without legislative action, sparked backlash. MTA Board member Midori Valdivia vowed, 'I'm going to vote yes to congestion pricing, and that it should start as soon as possible.' Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi echoed, 'It needs to happen now.' Senator Liz Krueger called Hochul's move 'a staggering error.' Assembly Member Robert Carroll and business leader Kathy Wylde criticized the governor’s floated payroll tax hike as unfair to city businesses. The MTA faces a $15 billion shortfall, with no replacement funding in sight. The delay keeps streets clogged and transit underfunded, risking more danger for those outside cars.

• Two Huge Questions About ‘Gridlock Gov.’ Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Delay, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-06