Five Dead in a Year. Still No Action.

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

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

A 26-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by a sedan on Hart Street near Evergreen Avenue. Thrown, crushed against a parked car. Head trauma. He died there. The driver disregarded traffic control, according to the police report.

A 26-year-old e-bike rider was killed on Hart Street near Evergreen Avenue in Brooklyn when a sedan struck him, according to the police report. The report states the collision occurred at 2:48 a.m. The e-bike rider was thrown and crushed against a parked car, suffering fatal head trauma. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was cited as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The sedan's driver failed to obey traffic controls, leading directly to the deadly impact. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The e-bike rider was ejected and died at the scene. The crash involved two sedans—one moving, one parked—and an e-bike. The focus remains on the sedan driver's disregard for traffic control, which proved fatal for the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757577 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A motorcycle driver suffered full-body contusions after a collision on Bushwick Avenue. Both vehicles showed no damage. Limited visibility contributed to the crash, highlighting dangers of obstructed views in busy Brooklyn streets.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old female motorcycle driver was injured while making a left turn on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn at 14:05. The motorcycle and a northbound sedan collided, though neither vehicle sustained damage. The rider, wearing a helmet, suffered contusions across her entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles, indicating that limited visibility played a critical role in the crash. There is no mention of pedestrian involvement or victim fault. The incident underscores the systemic danger posed by obstructed sight lines and driver errors related to limited visibility on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Taxi turned from parked, struck e-bike rider on Stockholm Street. Rider thrown, suffered leg injuries. Driver’s improper turn and passenger distraction caused the crash. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a taxi on Stockholm Street near Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn turned improperly from a parked position at 9:38 AM, striking a northbound e-bike rider. The 41-year-old cyclist was partially ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passenger Distraction' as contributing factors on the driver’s part. The taxi’s right side doors were damaged by the impact with the e-bike’s front end. The bicyclist wore pads, but the primary causes were the driver’s errors. The crash left the cyclist moderately injured but conscious. The report centers driver mistakes and distraction as key dangers in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751242 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Lawmakers say Hochul broke the law. They filed a brief. They argue the governor has no right to halt congestion pricing. The MTA Board, not Albany, holds the power. The pause sows confusion. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On August 23, 2024, a group of New York State legislators—Assembly Members Phil Steck and Andrew Hevesi, State Senator Julia Salazar, and former Assembly Member Dick Gottfried—filed a legal brief against Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing. The matter, as described: “the legislature never gave her or any governor the power to do away with the traffic toll.” The brief cites the 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, arguing only the Traffic Mobility Review Board and the MTA can make such decisions. The lawmakers warn that letting the governor override the MTA would “make impossibly opaque the actual responsibility for MTA decisions.” Their action supports the MTA Board’s independence and opposes executive interference. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the legislators’ stance highlights the risk of political meddling in life-and-death street policy.

• State Legislators Say They Never Gave Hochul the Power to Pause Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-23

A 20-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered head injuries after an SUV struck him on Cornelia Street in Brooklyn. The crash caused significant trauma and shock, with the driver failing to yield and distracted at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:20 on Cornelia Street near Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn. A 20-year-old male bicyclist was riding eastbound when a 2018 Honda SUV, also traveling east, was entering a parked position. The SUV struck the bicyclist on its left front quarter panel, causing the bicyclist to be ejected and sustain head injuries. The bicyclist was reported in shock and complained of pain or nausea. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors on the part of the SUV driver. The bicyclist was wearing a harness but no other victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to both vehicles' front quarter panels, underscoring the impact severity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749929 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A distracted SUV driver struck another car’s rear in Brooklyn. A 1-year-old boy, riding on a lap, suffered a head contusion. The crash left the infant conscious but hurt. Impact and inattention marked the night.

According to the police report, a 2023 Tesla SUV traveling west on Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn struck the center back end of another vehicle at 22:40. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. A 1-year-old male passenger, seated on another person's lap without safety equipment, suffered a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The infant was not ejected but sustained an injury rated as severity 3. No other contributing factors related to the infant’s actions were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749928 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A box truck barreled through Flushing Avenue, disregarding traffic control. A 29-year-old motorcyclist struck its front, was crushed, thrown, and died on the street. His helmet offered no shield against the violence of steel and neglect.

A deadly collision unfolded on Flushing Avenue near Scott Avenue in Brooklyn when a 1987 BMW motorcycle collided with the front quarter of a box truck, according to the police report. The 29-year-old motorcycle rider, who was wearing a helmet, was crushed and partially ejected from his bike. He died at the scene from severe injuries to his entire body. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, drawing attention to the failure of at least one driver to obey traffic signals or signs. Both vehicles were reported as going straight ahead at the time of impact. The truck's left front quarter panel was struck, and the motorcycle overturned. The report makes no mention of any victim error or behavior contributing to the crash. The violence of the impact and the disregard for traffic control proved fatal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City pushes ahead with a scaled-back McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Protected bike lanes come, but dangerous elements stay. Councilmember Restler slams the compromise. Advocates and officials say safety is sacrificed for politics. DOT claims improvements, but critics remain unsatisfied.

On August 20, 2024, the city announced it will proceed with a controversial redesign of McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The plan, not a council bill but a Department of Transportation decision, extends parking-protected bike lanes from Calyer Street to Meeker Avenue. Councilmember Lincoln Restler, representing District 33, criticized the move, saying, 'The mayor has put forward a compromise that nobody likes.' A coalition of elected officials—including Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Comptroller Brad Lander, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso—called for a more thorough redesign, arguing the current plan preserves dangerous elements. DOT spokesperson Vincent Barone claimed the redesign will make the corridor safer for all users, with new bike lanes and sidewalk extensions. Despite these claims, advocates and local leaders argue the plan fails to address core dangers and puts vulnerable road users at continued risk.

• City proceeds with controversial McGuinness Boulevard redesign despite opposition, gothamist.com, Published 2024-08-20

A 24-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and injured with neck trauma after a vehicle made an improper U-turn on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash caused front-end damage to both vehicles and left the rider with whiplash and serious injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:40 on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. A vehicle was making an improper U-turn when it collided with a southbound motorcycle. The motorcycle driver, a 24-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained neck injuries, including whiplash. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor to the crash, highlighting driver error in executing the U-turn. The motorcycle suffered damage to its left front quarter panel, while the other vehicle had front-end damage. The rider was conscious but seriously injured, with no mention of helmet use or other victim behaviors contributing to the crash. This incident underscores the dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749910 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A Jeep struck a northbound moped on Bushwick Avenue. The 65-year-old rider was thrown headfirst to the pavement. Blood pooled. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The man died in the street. The driver was unlicensed, according to police.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling west on Bushwick Avenue near Putnam Avenue collided with a northbound moped. The impact was severe: 'A Jeep slammed into a northbound moped. The 65-year-old rider flew from the seat, struck the pavement headfirst. Blood pooled in the street. The SUV’s front end folded. He died there.' The moped rider, a 65-year-old man, was killed instantly, suffering fatal head injuries after being ejected from his vehicle. The police report notes the SUV driver was unlicensed, with a license from Georgia that was not valid in New York. No driver errors beyond 'unspecified' are listed, but the unlicensed status is a critical systemic failure. Helmet use is mentioned only to note its absence, after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when unlicensed drivers operate vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

SUV driver lost focus on Troutman Street. The vehicle struck a parked sedan. Both driver and front passenger suffered bruises to head and shoulder. Impact was hard. Stationary car took the blow.

According to the police report, a 2019 Ford SUV traveling west on Troutman Street in Brooklyn struck a parked 2011 Nissan sedan at 13:45. The SUV's right front bumper hit the sedan's left rear bumper. The crash injured the 28-year-old female driver and a 27-year-old male front-seat passenger. Both sustained contusions and bruises to the head and shoulder. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted. Both injured occupants were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The sedan was unoccupied at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A late-night crash on Cypress Avenue sent a 19-year-old front passenger to the hospital with leg injuries. Two sedans collided head-on and rear-end, with alcohol involvement cited as a contributing factor in the police report.

According to the police report, the collision occurred at 2:27 AM on Cypress Avenue near Himrod Street in Brooklyn. Two sedans, a 2020 BMW and a 2022 Jeep, traveling east, collided with impact to the center back end of the BMW and the center front end of the Jeep. The report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver impairment. A 19-year-old male front passenger in one of the vehicles sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious at the scene. The BMW was initially parked before the crash, while the Jeep was moving straight ahead. No ejections occurred. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior or safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two sedans collided on Cooper Street in Brooklyn. The rear vehicle struck the front one’s center back end. A 55-year-old front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. No ejections occurred.

According to the police report, at 22:50 on Cooper Street in Brooklyn, a sedan traveling west stopped in traffic when another sedan rear-ended it at the center back end. The collision involved two sedans, one a 2022 Mercedes with two occupants, the other a 2014 Chevrolet with one occupant. The front passenger, a 55-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash, wearing a lap belt and not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver of the rear vehicle failed to maintain attention, causing the impact and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05