Brooklyn Bleeds: Slow Down or Count More Bodies

Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a trap. The driver tried to break through, nearly hitting an officer. A shot rang out. The car crashed. The driver died. The passenger survived. The street bore the cost.

According to the New York Post (April 30, 2025), police shot and killed the driver of a stolen Porsche after he "nearly struck an NYPD officer" while attempting to evade a roadblock near the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Officers first noticed the vehicle due to stolen plates and tried to pull it over on Cropsey Avenue. The driver fled, leading police to set up a blockade. As the car tried to pass, an officer fired one round, striking the driver. The wounded man crashed into a police car and was later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. The passenger was unharmed and taken into custody. The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases and roadblocks in dense urban areas, where bystanders and officers face sudden danger.

• Police Shoot Driver At Brooklyn Roadblock, New York Post, Published 2025-04-30

A speeding SUV and pickup collided on Pennsylvania Avenue. One driver died. Passengers hurt. Police cite distraction and unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

A deadly crash on Pennsylvania Avenue at Seaview Avenue in Brooklyn involved a pickup truck and an SUV. According to the police report, the SUV driver, a 28-year-old man, was killed. Several passengers in both vehicles suffered unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was unlicensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the SUV's front end and the pickup's right side mangled. No helmet or signal use was noted as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-04-29

A sedan hit a cyclist on Georgia Ave at Fulton St. The cyclist suffered neck injuries. Police cite traffic control disregarded. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A sedan traveling east on Georgia Ave struck a northbound cyclist at Fulton St. The cyclist, a 33-year-old man, was injured in the neck and suffered abrasions. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The sedan showed no damage, but the cyclist was left hurt. The report does not mention any helmet use as a factor. The crash highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808064 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders NYPD to check temp plates and VINs. Cops must publish parking enforcement reports. Bill sits in Public Safety. Streets stay risky while data hides in shadows.

Int 1252-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced April 24, 2025. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to police department parking enforcement.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Oswald Feliz, Justin L. Brannan, Lincoln Restler, Robert F. Holden, and Chris Banks sponsor the measure. It forces NYPD to verify license plates and VINs on vehicles with temp tags or those ticketed for violations. NYPD must also publish quarterly parking enforcement reports. No safety analyst has assessed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1252-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

A taxi hit a cyclist at Pennsylvania and Stanley. The cyclist, ejected and bruised, suffered a head injury. No driver errors listed. The street left the rider exposed.

A taxi and a cyclist collided at Pennsylvania Avenue and Stanley Avenue in Brooklyn. The 33-year-old male cyclist was ejected and suffered a head injury, according to the police report. He was conscious but bruised. The taxi’s front end struck the bike. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver fault. The crash left the cyclist injured and exposed, while the taxi driver and passenger were unhurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807733 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Jamaica Avenue at Highland Place. One driver suffered a shoulder injury. Both vehicles damaged. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

Two sedans collided on Jamaica Avenue at Highland Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, age 55, was injured in the shoulder and reported whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling east; one was making a right turn, the other going straight. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both cars damaged at the bumpers. No further details on driver actions or safety equipment were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808066 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Pennsylvania Avenue. One driver suffered a head injury. Police cite distraction and unsafe speed. Streets remain dangerous for all.

Two sedans collided at 1340 Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three people were involved. A 31-year-old male driver suffered a head injury. The other two occupants, a 60-year-old woman and an infant, had unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807719 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pick-up truck making a U-turn on Van Siclen Ave struck cars. Three passengers suffered neck and abdominal injuries. Metal and glass scattered. No driver errors listed. Systemic risk remains.

A pick-up truck making a U-turn on Van Siclen Ave at Stanley Ave in Brooklyn collided with multiple vehicles. According to the police report, three passengers—a 24-year-old woman, a 23-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old woman—were injured, suffering neck contusions and abdominal pain. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Several drivers and occupants were involved, but only passengers sustained reported injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured. The crash underscores the danger of vehicle maneuvers in dense city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

E-bike and sedan collided on Fulton Street. Two young occupants injured, one with back pain. Police cite driver inexperience. Shock and pain followed. Streets stayed dangerous.

An e-bike and two sedans collided on Fulton Street near Chestnut Street in Brooklyn. Two people, a 19-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, suffered injuries. The woman reported back pain and shock. The man, a driver, was also in shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' was listed as the main contributing factor. Both injured persons wore lap belts. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured. The crash left pain and fear in its wake, underscoring the risks on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV blew past traffic control on Pitkin. Sedan struck hard. Three hurt, one child. Unsafe lane change listed. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A crash on Pitkin Avenue at Sheffield Avenue in Brooklyn left three people injured, including a 7-year-old passenger. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV and a sedan collided after the SUV disregarded traffic control and made an unsafe lane change. The driver suffered injuries to his entire body. Two other occupants, including the child, were also hurt. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals and change lanes recklessly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi slammed into a cyclist from behind on Pitkin Avenue. The cab’s bumper struck hard. The 46-year-old bled from the head. Two men in the taxi were unhurt. Police cite following too closely.

A 46-year-old cyclist suffered a severe head injury when a taxi struck him from behind on Pitkin Avenue near New Jersey Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cab’s front bumper hit the cyclist, causing heavy bleeding. Two 80-year-old men in the taxi were not injured. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver’s failure to maintain distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806928 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding driver tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk. Three lives ended. One child clings to life. The car never slowed. The street became a grave. Metal and flesh collided. The city mourns. Justice waits in a courtroom.

According to NY Daily News (April 16, 2025), Miriam Yarimi drove 68 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a Brooklyn crosswalk, striking Natasha Saada and her three children. Prosecutors say Yarimi never braked, ran a red light, and crashed into another car before hitting the family. Saada and two daughters died; her son remains in a coma. Yarimi had a suspended license and $11,000 in unpaid violations, including 21 speed camera and five red light tickets. Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez called it 'one of the worst collisions I've ever seen on a New York City street.' Yarimi faces manslaughter and assault charges. The case highlights persistent enforcement gaps and the deadly consequences of unchecked reckless driving.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-16

E-bike rider crashed into parked cars. His head struck hard. He lay stunned, pain in his skull. Two women sat silent in the sedans. Streets stayed still. Distraction led to injury.

An e-bike rider traveling north on Williams Ave struck two parked sedans near Riverdale Ave. According to the police report, the man on the TAIZHOU e-bike hit the cars, suffering a head injury and shock. Two women sat inside the sedans but were not reported injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider wore no helmet, as noted in the narrative, but the primary cause was distraction. The parked cars did not move. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805717 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided head-on before dawn in Brooklyn. One driver fell asleep. A woman passenger lay crushed but conscious. Two men groaned in pain. Metal twisted. The street fell silent.

Two sedans crashed head-on on Highland Blvd near Jamaica Ave in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver fell asleep, causing the collision. Three people were injured: a 37-year-old woman suffered crush injuries as a front passenger, and two male drivers, ages 42 and 45, were also hurt. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors are noted. The crash left metal crumpled and victims in pain.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809097 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04