Five Dead in a Year. Still No Action.

A moped tore through Bushwick Ave. Distraction ruled. The driver, helmetless, flew headfirst and bled. The passenger, helmeted, struck hard and bled from the face. Both ejected. Both broken. Night swallowed their cries.

Two people suffered serious injuries when a moped crashed on Bushwick Ave near Halsey St, according to the police report. The report states both the driver, a 30-year-old man, and the passenger, a 25-year-old woman, were ejected from the moped. The driver, who wore no helmet, sustained severe head lacerations. The passenger, who wore a helmet, suffered severe bleeding from facial injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was cited as the primary contributing factor for both individuals. The narrative notes, 'Distraction rode with them through the dark.' No other vehicles were involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors beyond the mention of helmet use after driver distraction. The crash underscores the danger when attention lapses on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Private trash trucks still maim and kill. Five years after reform, chaos rules. Only one waste zone runs. No citywide plan. Streets stay dangerous. Lawmakers and survivors demand action. The city stalls. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

""If done right, CWZs can eliminate millions of truck miles traveled from our streets, keep workers and pedestrians safe, and ensure quality service for all customers. The city's goal right now should be to prevent bad implementation from undermining a good bill."" -- Antonio Reynoso

The 2019 commercial waste zone reform aimed to cut truck carnage by dividing New York City into 20 zones, each served by specific haulers. As of October 30, 2024, only one zone is active. No timeline exists for citywide rollout. The Department of Sanitation claims caution is needed to avoid price hikes and ensure effective change, but offers no clear metrics or deadlines. Lauren Pine, a crash survivor, pleads, 'We can't wait another day to enforce truck safety requirements.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso warns, 'The city's goal right now should be to prevent bad implementation from undermining a good bill.' Delays keep streets deadly for workers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The law’s promise remains unfulfilled. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

• Private Trash Haulers Are Still Killing and Injuring New Yorkers As Long-Awaited Reforms Lag, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-30

A car making a left turn struck a bicyclist traveling straight on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The 25-year-old female cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The crash exposed failure to yield right-of-way by the driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:00 PM on Knickerbocker Avenue near Madison Street in Brooklyn. A 2003 Honda SUV was making a left turn when it collided with a bicyclist traveling northbound straight ahead. The point of impact was the car's left front bumper and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old female wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The police report cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor attributed to the vehicle driver. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted. The collision highlights the danger posed by drivers failing to yield during left turns, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767145 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan, northbound on Bushwick Avenue, struck a 28-year-old man crossing outside the crosswalk. The left front bumper hit his head. He lay unconscious, blood pooling on the quiet street. Driver inattention and unsafe speed marked the morning.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Bushwick Avenue near DeKalb Avenue struck a 28-year-old man who was crossing outside the crosswalk in the early morning. The report states, 'the left front bumper hit his head,' leaving the pedestrian unconscious and bleeding on the street. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver’s distraction and excessive speed directly preceded the impact. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain attention and control, which led to severe injury for the man crossing Bushwick Avenue.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver heading west on Gates Avenue struck a parked SUV on its left side. The impact caused neck injuries and whiplash to the driver, who was restrained and conscious. The collision exposed dangers of driver inattention in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:37 AM on Gates Avenue in Brooklyn. A 53-year-old male driver, operating a 2024 Cadillac SUV traveling westbound, collided with a parked 2005 Chevrolet SUV, impacting its left side doors. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor to the crash. The driver sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash but remained conscious. The collision caused front-end damage to the moving vehicle and left-side damage to the parked SUV. No other occupants or pedestrians were involved. This incident highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction, leading to serious injury even without interaction with other moving vehicles or vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan slammed into a motorcycle on Bushwick Avenue. Both drivers were distracted. The motorcyclist, helmeted, took a blow to the head but stayed conscious. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and a sedan collided on Bushwick Avenue at 1:47 AM. The sedan struck the motorcycle's left side. The 41-year-old motorcycle driver, wearing a helmet, suffered head abrasions but remained conscious. Both drivers were cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan's front end took the brunt of the impact. No victim behavior contributed to the crash. The report lists distraction by both drivers as the cause. The motorcyclist was not ejected. This crash shows the risk when drivers lose focus on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767367 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered abrasions in a collision with an SUV on Evergreen Avenue. The SUV struck the motorcycle’s right front bumper, causing serious injury. The driver of the SUV failed to yield right-of-way, according to police.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:57 PM on Evergreen Avenue in Brooklyn. A 48-year-old male motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained abrasions to his entire body. The collision involved a 2024 Audi SUV traveling east and a 2013 Yamaha motorcycle traveling north. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV, which struck the motorcycle. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, placing responsibility on the SUV driver. The motorcyclist was conscious but injured. No other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766820 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided on Cooper Street. Both drivers were distracted. A 37-year-old woman suffered shoulder and whiplash injuries. Impact tore metal. Streets stayed dangerous. Distraction ruled the morning.

According to the police report, two SUVs crashed at 8:00 a.m. on Cooper Street in Brooklyn. Both drivers were distracted. The 37-year-old female driver, heading north and going straight, was struck on her right front bumper by a male driver making a left turn in a Ford SUV. The impact hit the right side doors of her vehicle. She suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and complained of whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No pedestrians were involved. The police report does not mention any fault by the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765674 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 34-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and injured in Brooklyn. The crash involved a disregard for traffic control. The rider suffered abrasions to the face and remained conscious after impact. The collision caused no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn was partially ejected and sustained abrasions to his face. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a driver error related to ignoring traffic signals or signs. The bicyclist was the sole occupant of his bike, which struck the right side doors of an unspecified vehicle traveling west. The vehicle involved showed no damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist’s behavior or safety equipment. This incident highlights the dangers posed by failure to obey traffic controls, resulting in injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel swept through the crosswalk at De Kalb and Wyckoff. A van turned right, head-on into a man with the light. No screech, no skid, no mercy. The man died where he stood, body broken by the van’s front end.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the intersection of De Kalb Avenue and Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn when a van making a right turn struck him head-on. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal' in the crosswalk when the van, registered in Michigan and operated by a licensed New York driver, failed to yield the right-of-way. The report states, 'A van turned right. A man, 59, walked with the light. Steel struck him head-on.' The impact was so severe that the victim suffered injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The police report notes there were 'no skid marks' and 'no damage to the van.' The contributing factor listed is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The pedestrian’s lawful crossing is mentioned only after the driver’s error, underscoring the systemic danger posed by vehicles failing to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764527 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 46-year-old woman crossing Gates Avenue with the signal was struck by a sedan making a right turn. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, injuring the pedestrian with bruises across her body. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Gates Avenue made a right turn and struck a 46-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises over her entire body but remained conscious. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and operating a 2016 Hyundai sedan with two occupants. This collision highlights the danger posed by distracted driving, even when pedestrians follow crossing signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 24-year-old woman crossing Flushing Avenue with the signal was struck by a garbage truck making a left turn. She suffered knee and lower leg abrasions and was left in shock. The crash exposed critical driver errors in yielding at intersections.

According to the police report, a garbage truck traveling northeast on Flushing Avenue was making a left turn when it struck a 24-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection near Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in injury severity level 3 and emotional shock. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck. The report identifies the contributing factor as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion," but the data shows no vehicle damage and the driver was licensed and operating the truck legally. The truck driver's failure to yield while making the left turn created the conditions for this collision, highlighting systemic dangers at intersections involving large vehicles and vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pick-up truck turned left on Bushwick Avenue and hit a 30-year-old bicyclist. The cyclist was ejected and suffered facial abrasions. Police cite driver inexperience as the cause.

A pick-up truck making a left turn on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a bicyclist traveling southwest. According to the police report, the truck struck the right rear quarter panel of the bike, ejecting the 30-year-old male cyclist and causing facial abrasions. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' twice as the contributing factor. The cyclist’s safety equipment status is unknown. No cyclist actions contributed to the crash. The truck was driven by a licensed woman from Virginia. Only driver error is cited in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762920 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders DOT to build 35 e-bike battery stations yearly. A quarter will sit curbside, letting riders lock up. Sponsors: Rivera, Nurse, Hanif. Streets may shift. City must post locations.

Int 1084-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced October 10, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to install e-bicycle battery stations.' Council Members Carlina Rivera (primary sponsor), Sandy Nurse, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. It mandates DOT to install at least 35 e-bike battery stations each year for five years, with at least 25% curbside for secure parking. DOT must report on station rollout and post locations online. The bill aims to reshape curb space and infrastructure for e-bike riders, but offers no direct safety analysis for vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1084-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

A 29-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by an eastbound SUV making a left turn. The pedestrian suffered bruises and arm injuries. Driver inattention and limited view contributed to the collision at a Brooklyn intersection.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Palmetto Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2022 SUV, traveling east and making a left turn, struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle without occupants. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and limited visibility during turning maneuvers, resulting in serious harm to a lawful pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762240 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan making a left turn collided with a moped traveling straight on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The moped driver suffered neck contusions but was conscious and not ejected. The crash was caused by unsafe lane changing by the sedan driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:20 AM on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2013 BMW sedan, traveling north and making a left turn, struck a 2024 ZNEN moped also traveling north straight ahead. The point of impact was the sedan's left rear quarter panel, damaging its left side doors, while the moped sustained no damage. The moped driver, a 58-year-old male, was injured with neck contusions and remained conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to execute a safe lane maneuver. The moped driver wore a helmet, but no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The evidence highlights driver error in lane changing as the cause of this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761439 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped’s bumper slammed into a young man working in the street. Blood streaked his face under the streetlights. He stood conscious, wounded, while the driver’s inattention left him bleeding in the dark Brooklyn night.

A 21-year-old man was injured when a westbound moped struck him as he worked in the roadway at Myrtle Avenue and Bleecker Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the moped’s left front bumper hit the pedestrian’s head, leaving him bleeding but conscious at the scene. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was performing work in the road at the time of the collision. No other contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior are listed in the police report. This incident underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving to people working or moving in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City reverses its own reversal. DOT will cut a traffic lane and add parking-protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard’s southern half. Local officials and advocates forced the city’s hand. The northern half stays unchanged. Vulnerable road users get a win.

On October 2, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a policy reversal on McGuinness Boulevard. The original lane reduction and protected bike lane plan, previously scrapped, will now move forward for the southern half of the street, between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The matter, described as a return to 'the road diet it had previously finalized and then rejected,' follows months of community outcry and advocacy. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and other local officials celebrated the move, crediting the Make McGuinness Safe coalition for relentless pressure. Restler stated, 'this is a decision that enhances safety in our community, and that's what matters.' The northern half of the boulevard remains unchanged, with two traffic lanes and barrier-protected bike lanes. The city’s action signals a renewed commitment to street safety after repeated delays and political interference.

• Another U-turn on McGuinness Boulevard as city returns to original lane reduction plan, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-10-02

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26