Brooklyn Bleeds While City Stalls: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

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

Two drivers collided on Park Avenue in Brooklyn. One man suffered a back injury. Police cited driver inattention and blocked views. Metal twisted. The street stayed busy. The system failed to protect.

A crash involving a station wagon/SUV and a box truck occurred on Park Avenue at Warsoff Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling east when they collided. One driver, a 45-year-old man, was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers cannot see and lose focus. The system left a man hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819437, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped slammed into another vehicle at Nostrand and Putnam. The driver flew from the seat. He hit the ground hard. His shoulder and arm scraped raw. Police say traffic control was ignored. The street stayed busy. The city moved on.

A crash on Nostrand Avenue at Putnam Avenue in Brooklyn left a 45-year-old moped driver injured. According to the police report, the moped struck another vehicle while both were traveling straight. The driver was ejected and suffered abrasions to his shoulder and upper arm. Police cite 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report lists no injuries for the other vehicle's occupants. The moped driver was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the risks when traffic controls are ignored and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped struck a cyclist from behind on Broadway near Flushing Avenue. The cyclist, a 27-year-old man, suffered a fractured arm. Police cite following too closely as the cause. The crash left the cyclist conscious but hurt.

A crash occurred late at night on Broadway near Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a moped rear-ended a bicycle, injuring the 27-year-old male cyclist. The cyclist was partially ejected and suffered a fractured arm. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The moped was passing when it struck the bike's left rear, damaging the center back end of the bicycle. No helmet or signaling issues were cited. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. The data highlights driver error—following too closely—as the primary cause of this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818847, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a cyclist at Lafayette and Tompkins. The cyclist, 25, took the blow in the shoulder and arm. He bled, stunned. Police blamed driver inattention and failure to yield. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A crash on Lafayette Avenue at Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn left a 25-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, a sedan traveling east struck the cyclist, causing abrasions and shoulder injuries. The cyclist was in shock after the impact. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any helmet use or signaling as factors. The driver of the sedan, a 63-year-old man, was not reported injured. The crash highlights the risks faced by cyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or yield, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818373, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV turned right on Atlantic Avenue. A moped went straight. The SUV struck the moped. The moped rider suffered a leg injury. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely. The crash left one hurt and others shaken.

A collision occurred at 1545 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn involving a station wagon/SUV and a moped. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when the SUV made a right turn and struck the moped, which was going straight. The 31-year-old male moped rider was injured, sustaining abrasions and a leg injury. Three other occupants, including a 70-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, were listed as involved but not seriously hurt. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for both drivers. The moped rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The crash highlights the dangers of driver inattention and close following in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818293, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two motorcycles collided at Nostrand and DeKalb. One rider suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. One driver was unlicensed. The crash left metal and pain on Brooklyn asphalt.

Two motorcycles crashed at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the collision. One rider, age 27, was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot, and was wearing a helmet. Another driver was operating without a license. The crash involved one motorcycle making a right turn and another going straight. The police report lists no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left one rider with abrasions and pain, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving and unlicensed operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817263, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An e-bike and SUV collided on Atlantic Avenue. The rider, eighteen, was thrown and hurt. Police cite driver distraction and improper lane use. The crash left the cyclist with leg injuries. Metal, speed, and inattention met on Brooklyn pavement.

An eighteen-year-old e-bike rider was injured in a crash with an SUV at 1545 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when they collided. The e-bike rider was partially ejected and suffered abrasions to the knee, lower leg, and foot. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any safety equipment used by the rider. The impact struck the left front of the e-bike and the right front of the SUV. No injuries to the SUV occupant were reported. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus and fail to maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817177, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped and SUV crashed on Broadway near Vernon Avenue. The moped driver suffered leg injuries. Police cite unsafe speed and driver distraction. The crash left one hurt and others shaken. Metal met metal. Danger lingered in the street.

A moped and a station wagon/SUV collided on Broadway at Vernon Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction. The 21-year-old moped driver was injured, suffering pain and trauma to his leg. Two occupants of the SUV, including the 25-year-old driver and a 29-year-old front passenger, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report states, 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for both drivers. The moped driver was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are driver errors. The impact left one person hurt and exposed the persistent risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816232, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A boy slipped between moving subway cars in Brooklyn. His leg caught. Firefighters and police freed him. Blood on steel. He left for the hospital, stable. The train rolled on. The gap remains.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-26), a 12-year-old boy was hospitalized after slipping while crossing between cars on a moving M train near Myrtle Ave.-Broadway station. The article states, "His right leg got stuck and he needed to be freed by FDNY personnel and members of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit." The boy suffered a leg injury and was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. No driver error is involved, but the incident highlights ongoing risks in subway design and enforcement. Crossing between cars remains a hazardous gap in transit safety, especially for young passengers.

• Boy Injured Crossing Between Subway Cars, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

A woman walking outside the intersection was struck and killed by an SUV late at night on Marcus Garvey Boulevard. The crash left her with fatal crush injuries. No driver errors were specified in the police report. The street stayed deadly and silent.

A 32-year-old woman was killed while walking on Marcus Garvey Boulevard near Van Buren Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was not at an intersection when an SUV struck her, causing fatal crush injuries to her entire body. The crash involved a 2024 Jeep SUV traveling east and two parked vehicles. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian's death is recorded as 'Apparent Death' with 'Crush Injuries.' No mention of helmet or signaling is included in the report. The data shows the persistent danger for pedestrians on city streets, even late at night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815727, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans crashed on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. Drivers and a child passenger were hurt. Police cite distraction and cell phone use. Metal twisted. Shock and pain followed. The street stayed silent after the impact.

Two sedans collided at 1090 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both drivers and a child passenger suffered injuries. One driver, a 55-year-old man, sustained leg injuries. The other, a 24-year-old woman, suffered a head injury. A young child riding as a passenger was also hurt. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Cell Phone (hand-Held)' as contributing factors. The report notes that both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before the crash. The force of the impact left metal bent and people in shock. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815376, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a cyclist at Classon Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a leg injury and was partially ejected. The crash left bruises and confusion. Both vehicles were moving straight. Streets stayed dangerous. No one died.

A crash occurred at the intersection of Classon Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan and a bicycle collided while both were traveling straight. The cyclist, a 34-year-old man, was injured with a contusion and a lower leg wound. He was partially ejected but remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were listed in the data. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged. No fatalities were reported. The police report did not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816134, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans met in Brooklyn. Metal struck metal. A woman, driving, took the worst of it. Her back and insides hurt. The street stayed busy. The system failed to protect. No clear cause named. The danger remains.

Two sedans collided at 1545 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 49-year-old woman driving one sedan was injured, suffering back and internal injuries. Other occupants, including a 56-year-old front passenger and additional registrants, were listed but not reported as injured. Both vehicles were traveling east and going straight ahead when the crash happened. The report does not specify any contributing factors or driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The impact left one driver hurt, while the system’s silence on cause leaves the risk unaddressed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815089, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle and SUV collided on Nostrand Avenue. The crash threw the motorcyclist from his bike. He suffered injuries to his leg. Police cited driver distraction. The street ran dark and fast. Metal hit flesh. Sirens followed.

A crash on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn involved a Ford SUV and a Honda motorcycle. According to the police report, the SUV was going straight while the motorcycle changed lanes. The impact ejected the 21-year-old male motorcyclist, who sustained injuries to his knee and lower leg. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The SUV’s front end struck the motorcycle’s back. The motorcyclist was unlicensed. No helmet use was noted as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814509, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A U-turn gone wrong on Park Avenue. Sedans collide. Metal twists. An eight-year-old boy suffers abdominal injuries. Three drivers hurt. Failure to yield and debris mark the scene. Brooklyn’s streets claim more pain.

According to the police report, a crash involving multiple sedans occurred near 583 Park Avenue in Brooklyn. One sedan was making a U-turn when it collided with other vehicles. An eight-year-old boy, riding as a rear passenger, sustained abdominal injuries. Three drivers, aged 29, 35, and 38, were also injured, suffering pain in their legs and backs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Obstruction/Debris' as contributing factors. The child was restrained in a child seat. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield and obstacles clutter city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814496, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle slammed into SUVs on Park Avenue. The rider, a 27-year-old man, suffered a fractured leg. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. Metal and bone broke. The street stayed open. The danger did not end.

A crash at 857 Park Avenue in Brooklyn left a 27-year-old motorcycle driver injured. According to the police report, the collision involved a motorcycle and multiple SUVs. The rider sustained a fractured leg with dislocation. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The motorcycle struck the left front quarter panel of a parked SUV, damaging the center front end. The injured rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the risks faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield and speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813370, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi struck trouble on Franklin Avenue. Three young passengers suffered whiplash and bruises. The crash left heads, arms, and legs aching. Police blamed driver distraction. Metal twisted. The city’s streets claimed more victims.

Three passengers, aged 18, 19, and 22, were injured in a taxi crash on Franklin Avenue at Monroe Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the incident involved a southbound taxi with four occupants. The crash caused head, shoulder, and leg injuries, all described as whiplash. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was not reported injured. No other vehicles or road users were listed as involved. The data shows none of the injured passengers were using safety equipment, but this is noted only after the driver’s error. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by passengers when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812946, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two cars collided at Patchen and Hancock. Metal twisted. Three adults hurt. Children shaken. Police say traffic control was ignored. The street fell silent as sirens wailed. Pain and shock followed. Another day, another crash in Brooklyn.

A sedan and an SUV crashed at Patchen Avenue and Hancock Street in Brooklyn. Three adults were injured: a 28-year-old male driver, a 24-year-old female driver, and a 33-year-old female passenger. Several children were passengers but were not reported injured. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The SUV struck the sedan's front end. The report does not mention any helmet or signal violations. The crash left pain, shock, and damage. No blame is placed on those hurt. The data shows a clear driver error: ignoring traffic control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812801, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14