No More Names on Asphalt: Demand Safe Streets Now

Councilmember Robert Carroll blasted the proposed congestion pricing fees for taxis and Ubers. He called the charges a joke. Experts warn the low surcharges could flood Lower Manhattan with more cars. The plan risks more danger for people on foot and bike.

On October 25, 2023, Councilmember Robert Carroll (District 44) criticized the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s congestion pricing proposal. The plan recommends a $1.50 per-ride fee for taxis and $2.75 for Uber and Lyft in Lower Manhattan. Carroll tweeted, 'TMRB's recommendation to charge passengers of @Uber/@lyft an additional $1/$2 to be ferried around the congestion zone is a joke.' He argued these low fees would not curb for-hire vehicle trips, saying, 'We can't stop congestion if we don't limit FHV trips.' The matter, titled 'Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders,' highlights a split: some experts want higher surcharges to push riders to transit, while others want yellow cabs exempted. The debate centers on how pricing shapes traffic and, by extension, the safety of vulnerable road users in crowded city streets.

• Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-10-25

The Traffic Mobility Review Board wants low per-ride fees for taxis and Ubers in Lower Manhattan. Critics say the charges are too weak. Cheap surcharges could push more cars into crowded streets, squeezing out walkers and cyclists. The city risks more danger, not less.

This policy debate centers on congestion pricing surcharges for taxis and for-hire vehicles (FHVs) in New York City. The Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) proposed per-ride fees—$1.50 for taxis, $2.75 for Uber/Lyft—far below the full congestion toll. Assemblymember Robert Carroll called the charges 'a joke,' arguing, 'We can't stop congestion if we don't limit FHV trips. Taxis shld be exempt & FHVs shld pay more.' Bruce Schaller, a former DOT official, warned, 'If you have a low fee for the taxis and the for-hires, people just switch modes.' Charles Komanoff and Sam Schwartz both support exempting yellow cabs, citing economic hardship and market imbalance. The TMRB's focus on keeping tolls low may undermine efforts to reduce traffic and protect vulnerable road users. No board member addressed the impact on street safety or congestion.

• Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-25

A speeding electric sedan hit a parked Jeep on Flatbush. The unbelted driver flew out. A helmeted woman in back was torn at the leg. Both bled on the street, awake and broken. Driver inexperience marked the crash.

An electric sedan struck a parked Jeep near 450 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations. A woman in the rear seat, wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and suffered severe leg wounds. Both victims were conscious but badly injured. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The woman in back wore a helmet, but the crash's force left both bleeding and still. No pedestrians or bystanders were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666944, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly bill A 7979 would force drivers with a record of reckless speeding or red-light running to install speed-limiting tech. The bill targets those who rack up points or camera tickets. It aims to keep the most dangerous drivers in check.

Assembly Bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, was introduced on August 19, 2023. The bill sits in the Assembly, awaiting committee action. Its summary reads: 'Requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' The primary sponsor is Emily Gallagher (District 50), joined by co-sponsors Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, Patricia Fahy, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, MaryJane Shimsky, Yudelka Tapia, Steven Raga, Anna Kelles, Robert C. Carroll, and Sarahana Shrestha. The bill cracks down on repeat offenders, forcing them to install technology that blocks speeding. No safety analyst note is available, but the bill’s intent is clear: rein in drivers who endanger others again and again.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-19

A Nissan SUV struck a northbound moped from behind on Washington Avenue. The moped rider, helmeted and unlicensed, suffered a shattered pelvis. The SUV’s bumper split. The street fell silent. Driver inattention marked the crash.

A Nissan SUV rear-ended a northbound moped on Washington Avenue. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was helmeted but unlicensed. He sustained severe crush injuries to his pelvis and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'A Nissan SUV crushed into the rear of a northbound moped. The rider, 50, unlicensed but helmeted, lay conscious with a shattered pelvis.' The SUV’s bumper split from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider’s helmet use is noted, but the primary cause remains the SUV driver’s inattention. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

New York stands firm on congestion pricing. New Jersey sues. Assemblymember Carroll calls the suit a stunt. Officials defend the plan’s review. The fight is sharp. Streets remain dangerous. Vulnerable road users wait for real change.

On July 21, 2023, Assemblymember Robert Carroll (District 44) responded to New Jersey’s lawsuit against New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, titled “New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues,” saw Carroll label the suit a 'stunt' and accuse Governor Murphy of ignoring environmental and quality-of-life concerns. State Senator Andrew Gounardes called the lawsuit a cynical move to control New York’s roads. MTA officials, including John McCarthy, defended the environmental review, citing extensive outreach and public hearings. The bill’s status is an official response to legal challenge, not a council vote or committee action. No direct safety impact assessment for vulnerable road users was provided. The debate underscores the ongoing struggle to make streets safer for those outside cars.

• New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-07-21

New York leaders stand firm on congestion pricing. They dismiss New Jersey’s lawsuit as political theater. Officials say the environmental review was thorough. The MTA promises mitigation for affected communities. The fight centers on who controls city streets and who pays the price.

On July 21, 2023, New York officials responded to a lawsuit from New Jersey over congestion pricing. The matter, titled 'New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues,' saw Governor Kathy Hochul, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assemblymember Robert Carroll defend the plan. Gounardes called the suit 'a cynical attempt' by New Jersey to interfere. Carroll labeled it 'a stunt.' MTA spokesperson John McCarthy said the environmental assessment 'covered every conceivable potential traffic, air quality, social and economic effect.' The MTA also pledged mitigation for environmental justice communities. The bill’s status is active, with strong support from New York’s leadership and ongoing opposition from New Jersey.

• New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-21

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A man on a motorcycle hit an SUV on Caton Avenue. He flew from the bike and struck the pavement head-first. He died at the scene. The SUV driver was not hurt. The crash left the street scarred and silent.

A 35-year-old man riding a motorcycle slammed into the side of an SUV on Caton Avenue near Dahill Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the motorcyclist was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet. He was ejected from the motorcycle, struck his head, and died on the street. The SUV driver was unharmed. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data also notes the motorcyclist disregarded traffic control. The crash involved a motorcycle and an SUV, both traveling straight. The impact was severe, with the motorcycle hitting the SUV's right side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643200, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring Sammy's Law to a vote. The bill would let New York City lower speed limits. Advocates fasted. Lawmakers argued. The Senate passed it. The Assembly did not. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

Sammy's Law, a bill to grant New York City 'home rule' over its speed limits, failed in the Assembly on June 29, 2023. The Senate passed it, but Speaker Carl Heastie did not bring it to a vote in the Assembly, despite 60 co-sponsors and strong support from city lawmakers, Governor Hochul, and Mayor Adams. The bill, named for 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a speeding driver, would have allowed the city to lower most speed limits from 25 to 20 mph. Heastie cited concerns over e-bikes and speed bumps, saying, 'I'm not a dictator.' Advocates, including Sammy's mother Amy Cohen, condemned the move as 'Albany backroom politics at its worst.' The Department of Transportation called the bill vital for targeted street safety. Vulnerable road users remain exposed as the Assembly stalls action.

• 'I'm not a dictator': Assembly speaker reveals why NYC speed limit bill failed, gothamist.com, Published 2023-06-29

Assembly Member Robert Carroll wants Uber and Lyft passengers to pay congestion fees, not drivers. He argues riders are wealthier. The MTA’s plan faces pushback. Advocates warn exempting cabs could shift traffic, undermining safety and policy goals.

On June 21, 2023, Assembly Member Robert Carroll (District 44) weighed in on congestion pricing for taxis and for-hire vehicles (FHVs). The Traffic Mobility Review Board and MTA are debating whether to charge drivers or passengers. Carroll, joined by advocate Alex Matthiessen, proposed replacing the $2.75 FHV surcharge with a two-tiered fee on Uber/Lyft passengers, exempting drivers and yellow cabs. Carroll said, "We think that this will go to the passengers who are disproportionately wealthier than the average New Yorker and significantly wealthier than the driver." The MTA has not considered this per-trip customer fee, and it is unclear if it can be implemented. Taxi advocates support exempting drivers, but experts warn that exempting yellow cabs could shift congestion, undermining the policy’s intent. The debate continues in committee, with no final decision.

• Will Congestion Pricing Properly Toll Taxis and Ubers?, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-21

Lawmakers debate who pays Manhattan’s congestion tolls—drivers or passengers. Some want to exempt yellow cabs and drivers, shifting costs to wealthier riders. Critics warn loopholes could push more cars onto crowded streets, risking more crashes for people on foot and bike.

This policy debate centers on congestion pricing in Manhattan, with proposals aired on June 21, 2023. The Traffic Mobility Review Board must decide if yellow cab and Uber/Lyft drivers will be tolled, or if only passengers will pay. Assembly Member Robert Carroll and advocate Alex Matthiessen back a higher passenger surcharge for Uber/Lyft rides, exempting drivers and yellow cabs. Carroll argues, 'passengers are disproportionately wealthier than the average New Yorker and significantly wealthier than the driver.' Taxi advocate Bhairavi Desai supports exempting drivers to protect jobs. Economist Charles Komanoff and analyst Bruce Schaller warn that exempting yellow cabs could shift congestion, undermining safety and policy goals. The matter’s outcome will shape who pays—and who faces the danger—on Manhattan’s streets.

• Will Congestion Pricing Properly Toll Taxis and Ubers?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-21

A sedan cut across Flatbush. The scooter hit hard. The rider flew, smashed down, leg torn and bleeding. He lay conscious, broken on the street. Driver errors stacked up. The city kept moving. Blood marked the morning.

A crash unfolded near 450 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan made an improper turn across the lane. A motorscooter, heading straight, struck the car. The scooter rider, a 46-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg. According to the police report, 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' were listed as contributing factors. The scooter rider wore no helmet or protective gear, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634151, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An e-bike hit a woman in the head near 4th Avenue and 6th Street. She was not in the road. Blood ran from deep cuts. She stayed conscious. The e-bike kept going. The street stayed raw and loud.

A 38-year-old woman was struck in the head by an e-bike near 4th Avenue and 6th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The impact left her with severe lacerations, but she remained conscious. The e-bike showed no damage and continued south. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The data also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the woman was not in the road. The crash underscores the risk when drivers fail to yield, even off the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624826, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly Member Carroll rejects letting suburbs dodge the MTA payroll tax hike. He says all regions use transit, all must pay. Exempting suburbs would gut MTA funding. Carroll demands shared cost, warns against service cuts, and calls for real revenue.

Assembly Member Robert Carroll issued a legislative statement on April 28, 2023, urging equal cost-sharing for the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT) increase. The proposal, discussed in the Assembly, faces suburban resistance. Carroll’s statement, titled "When It Comes to Transit, Everyone Must Pay Their Fair Share," argues that exempting suburbs would cost the MTA $325 million and undermine regional transit. Carroll and NYC Assembly colleagues wrote to Speaker Heastie, demanding the PMT hike apply to both city and suburbs or, failing that, that new revenue go only to NYC Transit. Carroll said, "It is unwise and bad policy to abandon the principle of an integrated regional transportation system funded through cost sharing across the jurisdictions that benefit most from the MTA." He warns that letting only city businesses pay would be unfair and would threaten transit service. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the statement centers on funding the transit system that protects vulnerable road users.

• Assembly Member Carroll: When It Comes to Transit, Everyone Must Pay Their Fair Share, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-28

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a turning Ford SUV on Atlantic Avenue. The rider, 24, wore a helmet. He was thrown, crushed, broken under the SUV’s front. Seven in the SUV, including children, were unhurt. The street swallowed another body.

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into the rear of a Ford SUV making a left turn at Atlantic Avenue and Grand Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the 24-year-old motorcyclist, who wore a helmet, was thrown from his bike and crushed under the SUV’s front, suffering injuries to his entire body. The Ford carried seven occupants, including five children and two adults, none of whom were reported injured. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for either vehicle. The motorcyclist’s helmet is noted in the data, but the impact proved fatal. The crash shows the deadly force of turning vehicles and the vulnerability of those on two wheels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618565, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Senator Gounardes wants a 25-cent fee on every online package. The money would fund city infrastructure. Trucks crowd streets. Packages pile up. The bill aims to slow the flood. City Hall will review. Delivery giants face new rules. Streets stay dangerous.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill on March 23, 2023, proposing a 25-cent surcharge on every online delivery package in New York City. The bill, now under review, aims to raise $226 million yearly for city infrastructure. Gounardes said, "We're proposing an infrastructure fund to help pay for some of the capital costs to mitigate some of the consequences of last-mile trucking, and freight growth." The bill responds to a surge in daily package deliveries, now at 2.3 million, and forecasts of 200,000 trucks a day by 2045. Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, wants the city—not the MTA—to control the funds. City Hall has not taken a position but said it welcomes ideas to limit emissions and advance infrastructure. The bill joins other efforts to regulate last-mile delivery and warehouse placement. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• State Senator Seeks Online Delivery Charge to Fund City Infrastructure, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-23

A Toyota’s brakes failed on Coney Island Avenue. The car slammed into two stopped sedans. Metal twisted. A 51-year-old man’s face was crushed. Children and adults hurt. Sirens cut the night. The street echoed with pain and steel.

On Coney Island Avenue near Avenue C in Brooklyn, a Toyota sedan’s brakes failed and it crashed into two sedans stopped in traffic. According to the police report, 'A Toyota’s brakes failed. It plowed into two stopped sedans. Metal crumpled. A 51-year-old man sat belted, his face crushed. Six others waited in silence, the night split by sirens and bent steel.' The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the contributing factor. Injuries included a 51-year-old man with facial crush injuries, a 79-year-old woman with a fractured leg, and several children and adults with pain to the head, back, and legs. The crash left at least seven people injured. No driver or passenger actions contributed except for the mechanical failure noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606313, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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

Steel crushed flesh on Vanderbilt Avenue. An Audi SUV hit hard. The driver died, buckled in. His passenger, trapped, survived with crush wounds. Distraction ruled the wheel. The street fell silent. Metal and blood marked the spot.

A 2021 Audi SUV traveling west on Vanderbilt Avenue near Pacific Street crashed front-first. The 70-year-old male driver died at the scene, restrained by a lap belt and harness. His 60-year-old female passenger, also buckled in, suffered crush injuries but survived. According to the police report, 'Distraction at the wheel' was a contributing factor. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The SUV was demolished. The crash left one dead, one injured, and a street marked by silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594304, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14