Blood in the Crosswalk: No More Excuses, No More Delays

Councilmember Restler and Brooklyn leaders want DOT to flip Bond Street’s traffic northbound after Schermerhorn’s redesign. Locals face gridlock. Community Board 2 backs the move. They demand DOT protect the Bond Street bike lane with a physical barrier.

On October 21, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and Brooklyn Community Board 2 requested the Department of Transportation (DOT) extend Bond Street’s northbound direction to Livingston Street. The request follows complaints after Schermerhorn Street’s redesign, which added a protected bike lane but made all crossings one-way southbound, causing gridlock and blocking access for services. The Community Board’s Transportation and Public Safety Committee, chaired by Sid Meyer, voted to support the change and insisted DOT maintain and protect the Bond Street bike lane with a physical barrier. Restler said, 'We believe that this proposal will improve traffic flow and enhance the public’s access to essential services, deliveries, and residences.' DOT is reviewing the proposal. The matter centers on the impact of traffic changes on residents and the need to safeguard vulnerable road users.

• Street relief: Downtown Brooklynites ask DOT to flip traffic on Bond Street after Schermerhorn redesign, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-10-21

City officials cut the ribbon on a new two-way protected bike lane on Schermerhorn Street. Cyclists now ride behind parked cars, shielded from traffic. Councilmember Lincoln Restler pushed for the overhaul after years of crashes and blocked lanes. Safety comes first.

On October 12, 2022, the Department of Transportation opened a fortified, two-way protected bike lane on Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn’s District 33. The project, championed by Councilmember Lincoln Restler, followed years of complaints about blocked, unprotected lanes and frequent crashes. The matter, described as a 'complete transformation of the look and feel of the corridor,' converted Schermerhorn from a chaotic two-way street to a one-way with parking-protected bike lanes. Restler, who once failed to ride the stretch without leaving the lane due to illegal parking, called the redesign 'real safety in downtown Brooklyn.' DOT data shows 29 cyclists injured and one killed on this stretch since 2012. The overhaul separates cyclists from moving vehicles, reducing risk for Brooklyn’s most vulnerable road users.

• DOT cuts ribbon on newly fortified Schermerhorn Street bike lane, amny.com, Published 2022-10-12

Officials cut the ribbon on a fortified, two-way bike lane on Schermerhorn Street. Cyclists now ride behind parked cars, shielded from traffic. The old, chaotic street saw 29 cyclist injuries and one death. Councilmember Restler pushed for this change.

On October 12, 2022, the Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting for the new protected bike lane on Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn's District 33. The overhaul converted the street to one-way eastbound and installed a two-way, parking-protected bike lane. The matter summary reads: 'DOT cuts ribbon on newly fortified Schermerhorn Street bike lane.' Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who championed the redesign, attended the event and called it 'a great friggin day for Brooklyn.' The old lanes were unprotected and blocked by double-parked cars, forcing cyclists into traffic. Since 2012, 29 cyclists have been injured and one killed along this stretch. The new design separates cyclists from vehicles, aiming to end the danger that plagued this busy corridor.

• DOT cuts ribbon on newly fortified Schermerhorn Street bike lane, amny.com, Published 2022-10-12

A sedan hit a northbound cyclist on State Street near Smith. The rider flew from his bike. His hip shattered on the pavement. Blood pooled. The car kept moving. The street fell silent. One man injured. Metal and flesh collided.

A sedan traveling east on State Street struck a northbound cyclist near Smith Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 29-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered crush injuries to his hip and upper leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan's right front quarter panel hit the cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet. The driver, a 59-year-old woman, remained uninjured. No other contributing driver errors were listed in the report. The impact left the cyclist injured and the street stained with blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566854, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Brooklyn leaders stood outside Borough Hall. They demanded congestion pricing. They want fewer cars, cleaner air, safer streets. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it sweeping. He pushed for limited exemptions. The rally came as public comment closed. Pressure mounts for federal approval.

On September 22, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined Brooklyn officials at a rally supporting New York State's congestion pricing plan. The event came as the public comment period for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Central Business District Tolling Program ended. The plan would toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, aiming to cut traffic and pollution. Restler said, “This is a tangible, major, sweeping policy that will dramatically reduce the number of cars and trucks on the street in New York City.” He supported limited exemptions, especially for taxis and for-hire vehicles, but stressed the need to keep cars off the road. The rally urged the Federal Highway Administration to approve the plan, which is expected to shift commuters to mass transit and modernize city infrastructure. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon also backed a taxi carveout.

• Brooklyn pols rally for congestion pricing on eve of public comment period ending, amny.com, Published 2022-09-22

A sedan crashed into a parked diesel truck on Third Avenue. Metal buckled. The driver’s back broke. He died at the scene. Alcohol played a role. The street was quiet, but the impact was final.

A sedan traveling south on Third Avenue in Brooklyn struck the rear of a parked diesel truck near 383rd Street. According to the police report, the sedan 'slammed into the back' of the truck. Three people were involved. The 35-year-old male occupant suffered fatal back injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other occupants, a 31-year-old man and a female registrant, were listed with unspecified injuries. The police report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor for all involved. The sedan sustained heavy front-end damage. The parked truck was hit at the left rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the lethal risk when alcohol and driving mix.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567647, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Cadillac SUV tore north on Cadman Plaza West. The driver lost control. Steel slammed forward. The driver, 60, trapped and incoherent. In the back, a 76-year-old woman crushed. No belts. No warning. One dead, one broken. Silence followed.

A Cadillac SUV sped north on Cadman Plaza West near Furman Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling at unsafe speed when it crashed. The 60-year-old male driver was trapped and incoherent, suffering crush injuries. In the right rear seat, a 76-year-old woman was also trapped and killed, her body crushed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. Neither occupant wore safety equipment, as noted after the driver errors. The crash left one dead and one injured. The scene was steel, silence, and loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557775, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a cyclist head-on on Kent Avenue. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head first. Blood pooled. He was conscious, barely. Traffic control was ignored. The street was quiet. The man bled in the sun.

A sedan collided head-on with a cyclist on Kent Avenue. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was ejected and landed head first, suffering severe bleeding and a head injury. According to the police report, 'Traffic control was ignored.' The sedan's driver and another occupant were not reported injured. The crash data lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver's failure to obey traffic controls. The impact left the cyclist conscious but gravely hurt, bleeding on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556016, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan door swung open on Flatbush. The e-bike rider slammed into steel. Her helmet stayed on. Her leg split open. Blood ran on the street. She stayed conscious. The city kept moving.

A 31-year-old woman riding an e-bike southbound on Flatbush Avenue collided with the left-side door of a parked sedan. According to the police report, 'A sedan door swung open. Metal met flesh. Her helmet held. Her leg split. Blood pooled on the pavement. She stayed awake.' The crash left her with severe lacerations to her lower leg and foot. No driver errors were listed in the data. The report notes she wore a helmet, which remained on during the impact. The street did not stop for her pain. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542615, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left at Tillary and Adams. The driver failed to yield. The car’s bumper struck a 72-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled. She lay semiconscious, head bleeding, beneath the car. The street did not forgive.

A 72-year-old woman was struck while crossing Tillary Street at Adams Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn failed to yield the right-of-way and hit her as she crossed with the signal. The impact was to her head, causing severe bleeding and leaving her semiconscious beneath the vehicle. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was licensed and remained at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman’s injuries were serious. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540149, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on 5th Street. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck flesh. The man flew, face-first to the pavement. Blood pooled. He was 58. He stayed conscious. The driver failed to yield. Distraction played its part.

A crash at the corner of 5th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn left a 58-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight. The impact ejected the cyclist, causing severe bleeding from the face. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan's driver was licensed and uninjured. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. No helmet use or signaling is cited as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537823, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi with bad brakes hit an e-scooter on Union Street. The rider flew off, bleeding hard from his arm. He lay on the pavement, conscious, staring at the sky. The crash left the street stained and silent. System failed him.

A taxi collided with an eastbound e-scooter on Union Street near Clinton in Brooklyn. The 40-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his arm. According to the police report, 'A taxi struck an eastbound e-scooter. The rider, 40, flew off. No helmet. Blood streamed from his arm. The brakes had failed.' The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No helmet was worn by the e-scooter rider, but this is noted only after the mechanical failure. Three taxi occupants were involved but reported no injuries. The crash highlights the danger when vehicle systems fail on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524747, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

DOT says new sensors to catch overweight trucks on the BQE will not arrive until year’s end. Council Member Restler calls the daily truck hazard urgent. Lawmakers demand swift action. The city and state must coordinate. Vulnerable road users wait.

On January 31, 2022, DOT confirmed that weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) will take a year to install. The pilot program, enabled by a state bill signed December 22, aims to fine illegally overweight trucks. The bill was introduced by State lawmakers Brian Kavanagh and Jo Anne Simon. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing District 33, pressed for rapid installation, warning, "There are extremely overweight trucks barreling down the triple cantilever every single day that are a hazard to the health and safety of our community." The matter title states: "Tonnage sensors on the BQE will take a year to set up: DOT." The project is complex, requiring city and state DOT coordination and a 90-day grace period once operational. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while the system is delayed.

• Tonnage sensors on the BQE will take a year to set up: DOT, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-01-31

DOT drags its feet. Overweight trucks pound the BQE. Council Member Restler calls it a daily hazard. Lawmakers push for weigh-in-motion sensors. The city says setup takes a year. Vulnerable road users wait while trucks threaten collapse.

On January 30, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) pressed for urgent action on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) weigh-in-motion (WIM) pilot. The bill, sponsored in the state legislature by Brian Kavanagh and Jo Anne Simon, was signed into law on December 22. The measure, described as a 'critical project' by DOT, aims to catch and fine overweight trucks using new sensors. Restler said, 'There are extremely overweight trucks barreling down the triple cantilever every single day that are a hazard to the health and safety of our community.' DOT claims the system will be operational by year’s end, citing technical complexity. The Brooklyn Heights Association and local officials demand faster action. The pilot is the first of its kind in the nation. Until sensors are live, the BQE remains a danger zone for everyone not behind the wheel.

• Weight' for it: BQE automatic truck tonnage sensors will take a year to set up, DOT says, amny.com, Published 2022-01-30