Brooklyn Streets Bleed—Who Will Stop the Killing?

A child steps from a bus. A cyclist strikes. Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane will vanish. City listens to complaints, not data. Streets stay dangerous. Cyclists and children caught in the crossfire. Policy shifts, safety left behind.

CBS New York reported on June 14, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams will remove three blocks of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn after several crashes, including one involving a child exiting a school bus. The mayor cited 'community concerns' and stated, 'After several incidents—including some involving children...we decided to adjust the current design.' City Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the move, calling it 'pure politics' and warning, 'He is going to make this area less safe for pedestrians, for cyclists.' The article highlights tension between local complaints and street safety policy. No driver error is cited; the crash involved a cyclist and a child. The decision raises questions about how New York responds to vulnerable road users and whether removing infrastructure addresses underlying dangers.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removed After Crashes, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-14

City strips protection from Bedford Avenue bike lane. Cyclists lose shield. Children dart from double-parked cars. Community complaints drive policy. Streets stay chaotic. Power struggles linger. Riders and walkers face new risk. Steel yields to politics.

Gothamist reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams ordered the removal of protective barriers from a stretch of Brooklyn’s Bedford Avenue bike lane. The move follows complaints from local residents, especially after a viral video showed a child running into the lane from a double-parked car and colliding with an e-bike. Adams stated, 'we listened to community concerns and decided to adjust the current design to better reflect community feedback.' The Department of Transportation will revert the protected lane to its previous unprotected state between Willoughby and Flushing avenues. The article highlights ongoing political battles over street design and notes that double-parking and chaotic traffic remain unaddressed. Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro cited 'lack of action' on e-bike safety as a barrier to safer infrastructure. The decision removes a key safety measure for vulnerable road users.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Barriers, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-13

A woman, 55, died on Fulton Street. An SUV hit her as she crossed outside the crosswalk. The impact crushed her body. She died at the scene. The crash happened late at night in Brooklyn. The driver’s actions remain unclear.

A 55-year-old woman was killed when a Ford SUV struck her on Fulton Street at Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing the street, not at an intersection or marked crosswalk, when the vehicle’s right front bumper hit her. She suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813415, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle slammed into a sedan’s rear on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The rider died. Four others survived. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely. Metal twisted. One life ended. The road stayed open. The danger remains.

A deadly crash unfolded on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway when a motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan. According to the police report, the motorcyclist, a 27-year-old man, was killed from internal chest injuries. Four other occupants, including the sedan’s driver and passenger, suffered unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were traveling west. The motorcycle was demolished. The sedan’s rear was crushed. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan’s driver was unlicensed. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The report does not blame the victim. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose focus and crowd the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812048, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

NYPD targets cyclists with harsh enforcement. Riders face tickets and criminal charges for routine acts. Streetsblog exposes the crackdown. Outrage erupts. Critics warn of racial targeting and danger. The policy punishes the vulnerable. Safety for cyclists erodes.

On May 5, 2025, Streetsblog NYC, led by reporter David Meyer, exposed a new NYPD enforcement policy criminalizing common cycling violations. The article, 'Monday’s Headlines: NYPD Bike Crackdown Edition,' revealed that the crackdown would sweep 14 corridors across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the policy 'incredibly misguided' and 'unacceptable.' MSNBC’s Chris Hayes called it 'outrageous' and warned it targets immigrant delivery cyclists. The New York Civil Liberties Union warned of amplified racially targeted policing. The safety analyst notes: 'Criminalizing common cycling violations places undue burdens on cyclists, discourages cycling, and may reduce mode shift, ultimately undermining safety in numbers and street equity for vulnerable road users.' No council bill or committee action is involved, but the crackdown stands as a systemic threat to cyclists and street safety.

• Monday’s Headlines: NYPD Bike Crackdown Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-05

A van rolled through Park and Franklin. A young cyclist struck metal, headfirst. Blood pooled on the street. The van’s driver walked away. The cyclist drifted, semiconscious, lacerated, left behind by a driver who disregarded the rules.

According to the police report, a panel van traveling south on Park Avenue at Franklin Avenue disregarded traffic control. The van’s driver continued straight ahead, while a 19-year-old cyclist rode east. The report states, 'A van rolled south. A bike came east. Metal struck flesh.' The cyclist collided headfirst with the van’s rear quarter panel, suffering severe head lacerations and partial ejection, and was found semiconscious with blood on the street. The van’s driver was uninjured. The only contributing factor cited in the report is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the van driver’s failure to obey traffic signals or signs. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers ignore traffic controls, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806577, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Brooklyn’s Ashland Place stays deadly. DOT delays a promised bike lane. Elected officials and residents demand action. Private interests block progress. Cyclists face crashes and fear. The city shrugs. The gap remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On April 3, 2025, a coalition of Brooklyn officials—including Council Members Crystal Hudson, Shahana Hanif, Lincoln Restler, Assembly Members Andrew Gounardes, Jo Anne Simon, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso—sent a letter urging DOT to finish the protected bike lane on Ashland Place. The letter called the block a 'missing link in Brooklyn’s protected bike lane network.' Brooklyn Community Board 2 backed the demand. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Borough Commissioner Keith Bray offered only vague replies. The block’s exclusion traces to a mayoral advisor’s intervention for developer Two Trees. Advocates like Kathy Park Price slammed the city: 'Private interests are able to redesign our streets, prioritizing vehicles over safety at a critical corridor.' Despite unanimous support, DOT keeps the street dangerous. The city’s inaction leaves cyclists exposed and the community frustrated.

• ‘Crashland’: As Demand Grows, DOT Still Won’t Finish Bike Lane on Dangerous Brooklyn Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-03

On the Brooklyn Queens Expressway near midnight, a BMW slammed into the rear of a Tesla. Both vehicles traveled straight. The impact crushed metal and injured occupants, including a young man bleeding from his face. Driver error of following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, a BMW sedan struck a Tesla sedan from behind on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway near midnight. The BMW driver was cited for 'Following Too Closely,' a critical driver error that led directly to the collision. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The Tesla's center back end was crushed, causing injuries to multiple occupants. A 22-year-old male passenger in the rear seat suffered facial lacerations and remained conscious; he was wearing a lap belt and harness. Other occupants, including the Tesla driver and rear passengers, sustained whiplash and concussion injuries. No contributing factors were attributed to the victims. The crash underscores the dangers of tailgating and driver inattention on New York highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799341, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan turned left on Washington Avenue and hit a woman on an e-scooter head-on. She crashed to the pavement, blood running from her scalp. She stayed conscious, 29, staring skyward in Brooklyn’s night.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Washington Avenue near Myrtle Avenue made a left turn and struck an eastbound e-scooter head-on. The report states, 'The car struck her head-on. She hit the pavement hard. No helmet. Blood ran from her scalp.' The e-scooter rider, a 29-year-old woman, suffered a severe head injury and remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The sedan’s driver’s actions—turning left across the path of the oncoming e-scooter—are central to the collision. The victim was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver errors cited by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798536, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Chrysler sedan slammed into the rear quarter of an oversized vehicle at St Johns Place and Franklin Avenue. The young driver, alone and belted, suffered crushing neck injuries as the front of his car crumpled. He remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 2007 Chrysler sedan traveling south on Franklin Avenue struck the left rear quarter panel of an oversized vehicle at the corner of St Johns Place. The 24-year-old male driver, who was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness, was crushed at the neck but stayed conscious. The report states the front of the sedan folded on impact. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The collision resulted in severe crush injuries to the driver. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by oversized vehicles and driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796372, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A parked sedan lunged from the curb on Myrtle Avenue. Its front quarter caught a 32-year-old cyclist. Flesh tore. Blood spilled. The man flew, conscious, his arm mangled. The bike stood untouched. The street fell silent. Metal met bone.

A 32-year-old man riding a bike was struck by a parked sedan pulling out near 449 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn at 2:00 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the collision occurred when the sedan’s left front quarter panel hit the cyclist, resulting in a severe arm injury described as an amputation. The cyclist was ejected from his bike but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors, both attributed to the sedan driver’s actions. The bike itself was left undamaged. No contributing factors were attributed to the cyclist. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by vehicles reentering traffic without regard for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773340, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 64-year-old man on a bike was struck and crushed by an SUV on Vanderbilt Avenue. The driver fell asleep. The cyclist’s head hit hard. He lay unconscious, his bicycle shattered in the gutter. The street fell silent, danger unmasked.

A 64-year-old male bicyclist suffered severe head injuries and was rendered unconscious after being struck by a Station Wagon/SUV on Vanderbilt Avenue near Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'One driver asleep. His head struck. He lay unconscious. The bicycle lay broken in the gutter.' The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver lost control due to fatigue. The crash involved two SUVs, with the Honda SUV moving straight ahead when it struck the cyclist. The police report details the cyclist was ejected and suffered crush injuries. No evidence in the report points to any cyclist error; the only cited cause is the driver’s failure to remain alert. The narrative underscores the systemic danger posed by inattentive or impaired drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768220, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man, 49, crossed Bedford at Lafayette before dawn. A northbound car hit him head-on. His head struck hard. He died there, beneath cold streetlights. No name, no reason. Just silence and broken glass in the dark.

A 49-year-old man was killed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 3:07 a.m., when a northbound car struck the pedestrian head-on as he crossed the intersection. The report states the victim suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The narrative describes, 'A man, 49, crossing alone before dawn. A northbound car crushed him head-on. His head struck. He died there, beneath cold streetlights.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further detail on the cause. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a direct collision. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the vehicle and the unresolved danger at this Brooklyn intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762323, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young man on a ZHILONG e-scooter was hurled mid-turn at Lafayette and Carlton. His face split open, blood pooled on the street. Disoriented, he spoke in fragments. The city’s traffic pressed on, indifferent to the violence.

A 24-year-old man suffered severe facial injuries after being thrown from his ZHILONG e-scooter while making a left turn at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 13:14. The report describes the rider as 'incoherent,' with 'severe bleeding' and no helmet. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative states the man was 'thrown from his ZHILONG e-scooter mid-turn,' resulting in his 'face split open' and 'blood on the pavement.' No other vehicles were involved. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the key error leading to the crash. The absence of safety equipment is noted only after the driver’s inattention. The street remained active as the injured rider struggled to speak, underscoring the relentless pace of city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757306, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

E-bike and e-scooter slammed together on Flushing Avenue, metal tangled, debris scattered. A 28-year-old man bled onto the street, flesh torn below the knee. The machines lay crumpled. Silence pressed down, broken only by pain.

According to the police report, an e-bike and an e-scooter collided near 429 Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:30 p.m. The crash occurred amid scattered debris, which the report lists as 'Obstruction/Debris' under contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling straight—one southbound, one westbound—when they struck each other. The impact left a 28-year-old man, identified as an e-bike driver, with severe lacerations to his lower leg and knee. The narrative describes blood pooling from his wounds as he lay conscious on the street, machines crumpled around him. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, but notes the absence of a helmet after driver errors and environmental hazards. The collision underscores the danger posed by roadway obstructions and debris, which directly contributed to the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756953, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council Member Chi Ossé joined activists at Nostrand Avenue station. They blasted Governor Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing. The delay halts elevator upgrades, trapping seniors, parents, and disabled riders. The street outside roars with traffic. The subway stays out of reach.

On July 11, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) stood with Riders Alliance and other advocates outside the Nostrand Avenue subway station. They protested Governor Kathy Hochul’s June 5 decision to suspend congestion pricing, a move that froze $16.5 billion in MTA upgrades, including elevators for Bed-Stuy’s busy station. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the urgent need for accessibility: 'We want our elevators, we want our service, and we want it now,' said State Sen. Jabari Brisport. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the delay a denial of basic rights. Ossé called Hochul’s move 'an attack on our most vulnerable constituents.' Only a quarter of city stations are wheelchair-accessible. The hold traps thousands—seniors, parents, disabled riders—forcing them to risk dangerous streets or skip transit altogether.

• Activists rail against Hochul’s congestion pricing delay, call for accessibility upgrades to Bed-Stuy subway station, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-07-11

A 39-year-old man died beneath the streetlights of Atlantic Avenue. First struck by a box truck, then an SUV, his head shattered, bones crushed. Alone, far from the crosswalk, he became another casualty of unchecked steel and speed.

A deadly crash unfolded midblock on Atlantic Avenue when a 39-year-old man stepped into the roadway and was struck by two vehicles, according to the police report. The report states, 'The box truck hit him first. The SUV followed. Head shattered. Bones crushed. He died there, beneath the streetlights, far from the crosswalk, alone on the asphalt.' Both vehicles—a box truck and a sport utility vehicle—were traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, offering no further detail on specific driver errors. The pedestrian was crossing the street at a location not marked by a signal or crosswalk, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact of large vehicles moving unchecked through city streets, leaving a man dead and unanswered questions in their wake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727579, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on a bike slammed into a parked SUV’s door on Fulton Street. He flew forward, blood pooling, arm torn. The SUV stood still. The street did not. The cyclist wore no helmet. Metal and flesh collided. The city kept moving.

A 57-year-old man riding a bicycle was severely injured on Fulton Street near Rockwell Place in Brooklyn after striking the door of a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the cyclist 'hit a parked SUV’s door,' was 'ejected,' and landed hard, sustaining 'severe lacerations' to his arm. Blood pooled at the scene. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash, with the point of impact listed as the 'left side doors.' The police report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor, offering no further detail on driver actions or dooring. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is mentioned only after the account of the crash. The SUV sustained no damage. The incident underscores the persistent danger for cyclists navigating streets lined with parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724820, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Evening light on York Street. A head-on crash between an SUV and a motorcycle. The rider’s lower leg crushed, helmet intact. SUV’s front left mangled. Both vehicles eastbound. Steel and flesh meet, the city absorbs the pain.

A head-on collision between a motorcycle and an SUV unfolded near 181 York Street in Brooklyn at 6:55 p.m., according to the police report. The report states both vehicles were traveling east when they collided. The motorcycle rider, a 40-year-old man, remained conscious but suffered a crushed lower leg. His helmet stayed on. The SUV’s front left quarter panel was severely damaged. Police cite 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor, highlighting a systemic hazard where sudden, unpredictable roadway events can trigger violent impacts. No driver errors beyond this are listed in the report. The focus remains on the chain reaction that left a vulnerable rider injured, underscoring the persistent danger for those outside steel cages on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721474, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A FLY WING, driven by an unlicensed man, crashed face-first into a slowing SUV on South Portland Avenue. Blood streaked the pavement. Speed and distraction ruled. No passengers. Only the sound of metal and skin in Brooklyn’s daylight.

According to the police report, a FLY WING vehicle operated by an unlicensed 31-year-old man crashed into the rear of a slowing SUV near 160 South Portland Avenue in Brooklyn at 13:57. The report states the driver struck the SUV 'face-first,' suffering severe facial bleeding. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The unlicensed status of the driver is explicitly noted. The SUV was slowing or stopping when it was hit, and the impact was to the center back end of the SUV. No passengers were involved. The narrative describes 'blood trailing down his chin,' underscoring the violence of the collision. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s unsafe speed and inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716120, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14