Blood on the Asphalt, Silence in Albany

Delivery workers get safe battery swaps. No more charging in cramped apartments. Fire risk drops. The city acts. Workers breathe easier. Streets grow safer for all.

""I am proud to be here as a resident... We had a fire that blew out an apartment and brought a lot of fear to the building. For far too long families have lived in fear because they're not charging safely."" -- Phara Souffrant Forrest

On July 22, 2025, a new e-bike battery swap hub opened at Ebbets Field Apartments in Brooklyn. The project, supported by Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and Council Member Crystal Hudson, brings seven PopWheels cabinets to the complex. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'Delivery workers who live in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field Apartments can now swap their dead e-bike batteries for charged ones without leaving their apartment complex.' Con Edison funded fire-safe infrastructure. The safety analyst notes this move cuts unsafe charging, supports delivery workers, and boosts safety for vulnerable road users. No council bill number or committee details apply.

• E-Bike Battery Swap Hub Backed by Con Edison Opens At Ebbets Field Apartments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-22

A judge stopped the city from tearing out Bedford Avenue’s only protected bike lane. The fight over safety and street space continues. Cyclists and pedestrians wait as legal battles stall change.

Streetsblog NYC reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge halted Mayor Adams’s plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. Judge Ventura issued a restraining order after Transportation Alternatives and Baruch Herzfeld appealed the city’s move. The city had planned to start demolition after complaints from local leaders, but the court’s order blocks any changes until further review. Streetsblog quotes Ben Furnas: 'The Adams administration is going to have to spend their night preparing their legal case, not ripping out a critical safety project.' The article highlights weak enforcement of parking rules and the city’s reversal against its own DOT’s safety plan. The case underscores how political pressure and lax enforcement can threaten vulnerable road users.

• Court Blocks Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-15

SUV hit motorcycle at Fulton and Lafayette. Three on motorcycle burned and hurt. Police cite improper turn. System failed to protect riders.

An SUV struck a motorcycle at Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. Three people on the motorcycle suffered burns and injuries to their legs and arms. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Turning Improperly.' The SUV was going straight while the motorcycle was making a left turn. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. Helmets were used by the motorcycle occupants, as noted in the report. The system allowed a dangerous turn and left riders exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830061 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A judge let the city move a protected bike lane off Bedford Avenue. Cyclists lose curbside safety. Adams pushed the change after local protests. Advocates warn the street grows more dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-09) reports a state judge allowed Mayor Adams to remove curbside bike lane protections on Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue. The city will shift the lane to the street's center, ending the barrier of parked cars. The move follows protests from local Orthodox Jewish communities and a recent e-bike crash. Advocates sued, arguing Adams bypassed environmental review. The judge ruled the change was not a major project. Transportation Alternatives warns, 'If the Bedford Avenue safety improvements are destroyed, this all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams' hands.' The decision highlights Adams' pattern of scaling back street safety redesigns.

• Judge Allows Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Change, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-09

A sedan hit a cyclist on Vanderbilt Avenue. The cyclist suffered severe shoulder cuts. Both drivers were injured. Police cite improper lane use and driver distraction.

A crash on Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn left a 28-year-old cyclist with severe lacerations to his upper arm and a 76-year-old sedan driver injured. According to the police report, the collision involved a bike and a sedan, with contributing factors listed as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet. Both drivers were hurt. The report highlights driver distraction and improper lane usage as key causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan driver hit a cyclist on Bedford Ave. The cyclist suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed dangerous. The night stayed loud.

A sedan struck a 26-year-old cyclist on Bedford Ave near Myrtle Ave in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the sedan occupants. The collision highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826168 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A 55-year-old motorcyclist died on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. He was ejected. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The rider wore a helmet. The crash left one dead, no others hurt.

A 55-year-old man driving a motorcycle west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway was killed after being ejected from his bike. According to the police report, the crash involved driver inattention and unsafe speed. The rider was unlicensed and wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The crash left the motorcyclist dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

SUV hit a woman crossing at Flatbush and Lafayette. Head injury. Blood on the street. Police cite blocked view. Driver kept straight. Shock followed.

A Ford SUV traveling north on Flatbush Avenue struck a 29-year-old woman crossing at Lafayette Avenue. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 71-year-old man, was licensed and going straight ahead. No other injuries were reported. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the primary factor remains the obstructed view.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822862 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A judge stopped the city from tearing out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane stays for now. A toddler was struck by an e-bike. City Hall acted without consulting locals. The fight over street safety continues.

The New York Post reported on June 18, 2025, that Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo blocked Mayor Adams' plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The ruling followed a lawsuit by Transportation Alternatives, who argued that removing the lane would endanger road users. The judge found City Hall 'acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally' by failing to consult local officials or the community. The city cited 'several dangerous incidents—many of which involved children getting seriously hurt' as the reason for the proposed removal, after a 3-year-old was struck by an e-bike in May. The protected lane will remain until a court hearing in August. The case highlights the tension between rapid policy changes and the need for community input on street safety.

• Judge Halts Removal Of Brooklyn Bike Lane, New York Post, Published 2025-06-18

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 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

SUV hit a woman crossing Fulton Street at Washington Avenue. She died from crush injuries. The impact was on the right front bumper. No driver errors listed. Brooklyn night, life lost.

A woman, age 55, was killed when a Ford SUV struck her as she crossed Fulton Street at Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the impact occurred at the right front bumper of the vehicle. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to her entire body. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. The woman was not at an intersection or marked crosswalk when the crash occurred. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813415 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A motorcycle slammed into a sedan’s rear on the BQE. The rider died. Police cite driver inattention and tailgating. Metal twisted. One life ended. Others walked away.

A deadly crash unfolded on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan. The 27-year-old male motorcyclist was killed, suffering chest injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' contributed to the collision. The sedan’s driver, a 44-year-old woman, was unlicensed but survived, as did her passenger. The motorcycle was demolished. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one dead and several shaken, with police citing clear driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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 blew past traffic control on Park Ave. A 19-year-old cyclist struck metal, head first. Blood pooled. The rider lay semiconscious. The van driver walked away untouched.

A panel van and a bike collided at Park Ave and Franklin Ave in Brooklyn. The 19-year-old cyclist hit the van’s rear, suffering severe head lacerations and partial ejection. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The van’s driver was unhurt. The data lists no errors for the cyclist. The only listed contributing factor is the van driver’s failure to obey traffic control. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806577 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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

BMW rear-ends Tesla near midnight on Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal folds. Four men bleed and reel from whiplash and cuts. Police cite following too closely and unsafe speed. Pain lingers. The road stays cold.

According to the police report, a BMW sedan struck a Tesla sedan from behind on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway just before midnight. The BMW driver was cited for 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed.' Both cars were traveling straight. The impact crushed the Tesla’s rear, injuring four male passengers and drivers. One young man suffered severe facial lacerations; others sustained whiplash, concussion, and shock. All wore seat belts. No contributing factors were attributed to the victims. The crash highlights the danger of driver errors—following too closely and speeding—on New York highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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 - 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