Flatbush and Fulton don’t forgive

Feb 6 - A sedan making a right turn struck a northbound bicyclist on Ashland Place in Brooklyn. The cyclist was ejected and suffered neck injuries, including whiplash. Police cited the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 8:35 AM on Ashland Place near De Kalb Avenue in Brooklyn, a sedan traveling east made a right turn and collided with a bicyclist traveling north. The point of impact was the sedan’s right side doors and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and sustained neck injuries, including whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly lists the sedan driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The driver was licensed and operating a 2020 Nissan sedan. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted in the report. The collision caused damage to the sedan’s right rear quarter panel and the bike’s front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 6 - Senator Gounardes pushes a bill to slash car trips statewide. Advocates demand less driving, more transit. Highway funds feed car dominance. The law would force state projects to cut vehicle miles. Vulnerable road users stand to gain. Albany stalls. Streets stay deadly.

Bill to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent by 2050, introduced by State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26), is backed by advocates and the New Yorkers for Transportation Equity coalition. Announced February 6, 2024, the bill would require transportation officials to align projects with the goal of fewer car trips. Gounardes said, "We fundamentally want to be shifting how we think about transportation infrastructure." The measure responds to data showing over 90 percent of infrastructure funds go to roads, not transit. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance called for an "about-face," noting highway projects have torn apart poor communities and endangered pedestrians and cyclists. The bill sits before the state legislature. No direct safety analyst assessment, but advocates stress the law would shift funding from car-centric projects to transit and greenways, reducing systemic danger for vulnerable road users.

• State Must Cut Car Trips by 20%: Advocates, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 6 - State Sen. Gounardes pushes a bill to slash car trips by a fifth by 2050. Advocates say New York spends billions on roads while traffic deaths climb. The law would force highway projects to prove they cut driving, not fuel it.

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill requiring New York to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent by 2050. The bill, modeled after Minnesota law, is not yet passed or assigned to a committee. It would amend the state’s climate law, forcing transportation officials to align highway projects with the goal of fewer car trips. Gounardes warns, 'If we’re just going to use that money to double down on the transportation of the past, on just purely automobile usage, we’re making a great mistake.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance says the bill is about shifting priorities to climate and equity. Advocates note that over 90 percent of recent infrastructure funds went to roads, not transit. The measure would require revisions or offsets for projects that don’t cut driving. Gov. Hochul’s office declined comment. The bill aims to halt the cycle of road expansion, rising traffic, and mounting deaths.

• State Must Cut Car Trips by 20%: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 5 - Three new mid-block crossings now cut across Atlantic Avenue. Signals, ramps, and paint force drivers to slow. Pedestrians gain a fighting chance on Brooklyn’s deadliest stretch. Local leaders push for more. The city’s hand finally moves after years of blood.

On February 5, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler announced new mid-block pedestrian crossings on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn’s so-called 'Boulevard of Death.' The crossings, between Nevins and Bond, Bond and Hoyt, and Hoyt and Smith streets, add crosswalks, traffic lights, and ramps. Restler said, 'These new mid-block crossings will create a greater sense of safety and community for Boerum Hill.' The Department of Transportation acted after Restler and others demanded change following the death of Katherine Harris, killed by a speeding driver. DOT’s study found hundreds of people crossing mid-block every weekend. Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called the project a way to 'enhance safety by better managing traffic.' Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon called the improvements 'a great step forward.' The city has finished installing signals and is completing ramps and crosswalks. Leaders want more: curb extensions, redesigned crossings, and further traffic calming. Atlantic Avenue remains a battleground for the city’s most vulnerable.

• New mid-block crossings on Atlantic Avenue aim to slow cars, increase pedestrian safety on ‘Boulevard of Death’, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-02-05

Feb 4 - A driver turned wrong on Vanderbilt. The car’s front struck a man in the crosswalk. He suffered back injuries and shock. The crash left him hurt and shaken. Driver error marked the scene.

According to the police report, a vehicle traveling north on Vanderbilt Avenue made an improper right turn and struck a 40-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection. The report lists "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error as the cause. The car’s center front end hit the pedestrian, causing back injuries and shock. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. No helmet or signal use is mentioned. The incident underscores the risk posed by improper turning at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700365 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 3 - A distracted driver fell asleep and crashed a sedan into the rear of an SUV on Kent Avenue. The sedan driver suffered whiplash and full-body injuries but was not ejected. Both vehicles were traveling northwest at impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:40 on Kent Avenue involving a 2013 sedan and a 2023 SUV, both traveling northwest. The sedan driver, a 44-year-old male occupant, was injured with whiplash and entire body trauma but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Fell Asleep' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The sedan struck the center back end of the SUV with its center front end, damaging the sedan's right front bumper and the SUV's center back end. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction and fatigue leading to rear-end crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - A 64-year-old male driver suffered knee and lower leg fractures after his parked convertible was struck on the left side. The collision caused significant damage to the vehicle's left front quarter panel. The driver remained conscious but injured.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old male driver was injured when his 2010 Chevrolet convertible, parked facing north, was struck on the left side doors. The impact caused fractures and dislocations to the driver's knee, lower leg, and foot. The vehicle sustained damage to the left front quarter panel. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors or victim behaviors. The crash occurred near 78 Monument Walk in Brooklyn at 4:36 AM. The driver held a valid New York license. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699617 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 31 - A 24-year-old female driver struck a parked SUV on Gates Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact trapped her inside the vehicle and caused upper arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention and inexperience as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female driver traveling west on Gates Avenue collided with a parked SUV. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the moving vehicle against the left rear quarter panel of the parked SUV. The driver was trapped inside her vehicle and suffered an upper arm injury, classified as injury severity level 3, and was in shock. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused damage to both vehicles, with the moving SUV sustaining damage to its right front bumper and the parked SUV to its left rear quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A 25-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury after being hit by a northbound sedan on Boerum Place. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the vehicle’s left front bumper struck her, leaving her unconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Boerum Place and Fulton Street in Brooklyn around 11:34 PM. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when a northbound 2024 Honda sedan struck her with its left front bumper. The impact caused a severe head injury, rendering the pedestrian unconscious. The vehicle was traveling straight ahead and was operated by a licensed male driver. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the driver’s behavior, but the pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal is noted. The collision resulted in significant injury to the pedestrian, highlighting the dangers present at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698059 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A sedan collided with a bicyclist traveling west on Ashland Place in Brooklyn. The 53-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered head abrasions. Police cited driver inattention and improper lane usage as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:32 on Ashland Place near Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan traveling north struck a westbound bicyclist on the left side doors, causing the cyclist to be ejected and sustain head abrasions. The bicyclist, a 53-year-old male, was conscious but injured. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. The sedan's left front bumper and the bike's left side doors were damaged. The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report focuses on the driver's failure to maintain proper attention and lane discipline, which led to the collision and serious injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698653 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - A sedan making a left turn collided with a southbound motorbike on Navy Street in Brooklyn. The motorbike driver, a 23-year-old man wearing a helmet, suffered lower leg injuries. Unsafe speed by the sedan contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:25 on Navy Street, Brooklyn. A sedan was making a left turn when it struck a motorbike traveling straight south. The motorbike driver, a 23-year-old male occupant wearing a helmet, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The sedan's driver was licensed and female. The motorbike driver was unlicensed. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to control speed appropriately during the turn. The point of impact was the sedan's center front end and the motorbike's left front quarter panel. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing behaviors by the motorbike rider in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697792 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - A 24-year-old male e-bike rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries plus a concussion after colliding with a tow truck on Jay Street. The crash involved disregarded traffic control and defective brakes, according to the police report.

At approximately 3:30 AM, a 24-year-old male e-bike rider traveling north on Jay Street collided with a northbound tow truck, according to the police report. The e-bike struck the left front bumper of the tow truck, which sustained damage to its left side doors. The rider was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot and suffered a concussion but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Brakes Defective' as contributing factors, indicating driver errors related to ignoring traffic signals and mechanical failure. The tow truck driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The police report does not indicate any victim fault or contributing behavior by the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697546 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - Albany weighs bills A5259 and S2812 to keep and expand red-light cameras past December. Assembly Member Dinowitz and Senator Gounardes push for more cameras. DOT data shows fewer violations and crashes. Advocates demand action. The cap leaves neighborhoods exposed. Lives hang in the balance.

Bills A5259 and S2812 face debate in the New York State legislature. If lawmakers fail to act, the city’s red-light cameras—now capped at 150 intersections—will shut off December 1, 2024. The matter, described as 'reauthorize and expand the city's red-light camera program,' is championed by Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senate co-sponsor Andrew Gounardes. Dinowitz, the sponsor, urges expansion, stating, 'We should have red-light cameras on every intersection.' Gounardes expects a review and expansion. DOT data backs them: violations and rear-end crashes have dropped at camera sites. Residents like Amy Bettys call the cap dangerous. Advocacy groups support the bills, though they are not a top priority. Dinowitz stresses automated enforcement is vital with limited police. The bills await committee action. Vulnerable road users face risk if the program lapses.

• Better Red Than Dead: Albany Takes Up Camera Reauthorization, Expansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-25

Jan 23 - A northbound SUV collided with a bicyclist on Adams Street in Brooklyn. The rider, partially ejected and wearing a helmet, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited improper lane usage by the SUV driver as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:53 AM on Adams Street in Brooklyn. A 2022 Honda SUV traveling north struck a 55-year-old male bicyclist, also heading north. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper. The bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, but no contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The SUV driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. This collision highlights the dangers posed by improper lane usage in shared road spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Every day, 9,000 trucks thunder through Sunset Park and Red Hook. Warehouses choke streets. Black and Latino residents breathe the fumes and dodge danger. Lawmakers push the Clean Deliveries Act to curb the chaos. The burden falls hard. The fight is on.

The Clean Deliveries Act, now under consideration in Albany, aims to regulate last-mile warehouse traffic and emissions across New York State. The bill responds to a new report showing Sunset Park and Red Hook face the city's highest truck volumes—over 9,000 daily trips—linked to sprawling Amazon, FedEx, and UPS facilities. The report states, 'a quarter of residents across the Empire State live within half a mile of a distribution center that’s at least 50,000 square feet, disproportionately harming Black and Latino communities.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, representing the affected Brooklyn neighborhoods, calls for urgent action 'for the sake of our climate and the safety of our streets.' Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, whose district sees the most daily truck traffic, urges colleagues to pass the Act. Advocates like Kevin Garcia say the bill is 'key legislation to protect frontline communities from increased vehicular traffic and tailpipe emissions.' The Act would require emissions reviews, pollution minimization, and studies of low-emission zones in hotspots.

• Poorer Brooklynites Bear the Brunt of Online Delivery Boom: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

Jan 18 - A 47-year-old female bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a sedan passed too closely on Clark Street in Brooklyn. The driver, heading north, struck her with the vehicle’s right front bumper. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Clark Street in Brooklyn at 4 p.m. A 2008 Honda sedan, traveling north with one male licensed driver from Pennsylvania, passed too closely to a northbound female bicyclist, age 47. The sedan's right front bumper made contact with the bicyclist, causing abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The bicyclist was not ejected and sustained injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites "Passing Too Closely" as the contributing factor. No damage was recorded on either vehicle. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver’s failure to maintain safe passing distance directly caused the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696540 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 18 - A 13-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and injured after a collision with a sedan on Remsen Street. The scooter driver suffered chest injuries and shock. Police cite unsafe speed and driver inexperience as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:41 on Remsen Street in Brooklyn. The 13-year-old male e-scooter driver was traveling north when the collision happened with a sedan stopped in traffic traveling east. The e-scooter driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained chest injuries, resulting in a complaint of pain and nausea and emotional shock. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the e-scooter driver. The sedan, a 2016 Nissan, was damaged at the right front bumper, while the e-scooter sustained damage to its center front end. The police report highlights the e-scooter driver’s unsafe speed as a critical driver error leading to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696535 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - E-scooter rider, 32, thrown from his scooter in Brooklyn. The crash crushed his chest. No other vehicles or people listed. Unspecified driver factors. The street left him broken.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male e-scooter driver was ejected and suffered a fractured, dislocated chest near 320 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:30. The e-scooter was traveling north, going straight, when its center front end took the impact. The rider was conscious but badly hurt. The report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor for the driver. No other vehicles or pedestrians are named in the crash. The driver wore a helmet, but the report does not list this as a factor. No explicit driver errors like failure to yield are noted. The case shows the severe harm e-scooter riders face in crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696051 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17

Jan 17 - Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17