Feb 28 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. Resolution adopted. Streets may breathe easier. Danger may shrink.

Resolution 0079-2024, adopted June 6, 2024 by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The matter title reads: 'authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The Council's action follows rising traffic deaths and growing use of Open Streets. The bill targets streets where people walk, bike, and gather, aiming to cut speed and risk for all vulnerable users.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 26 - Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge remains a hazard. Activists want a road diet and protected bike lanes. The city has stalled. Council Member Brannan stays quiet. State Senator Gounardes backs the push. Advocates press on. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 26, 2024, activists renewed calls for the Department of Transportation to extend the Fourth Avenue redesign into Bay Ridge. The campaign, led by Bike South Brooklyn, the Bay Ridge Environmental Group, and Transportation Alternatives, demands a 'better, safer Fourth Avenue' with a road diet and protected bike lanes. Council Member Justin Brannan, who represents Bay Ridge, has a mixed record—once supportive, now silent as his term ends. State Senator Andrew Gounardes supports the redesign, citing risks to pedestrians and cyclists: 'the design of the street puts your safety at risk.' The DOT has not proposed changes south of Sunset Park, leaving Bay Ridge exposed. Advocates vow to keep fighting for safety, regardless of political will.

• Activists Renew Push For Redesign of Fourth Ave. in Bay Ridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-26

Feb 23 - Lawsuits stall congestion pricing. Disabled riders lose. Elevators and upgrades freeze. Streets choke. Politicians demand action. Money for accessibility dries up. The city’s most vulnerable wait. Wheelchair users, seniors, parents, all stuck. The system fails those who need it most.

On February 23, 2024, at a press conference, Brooklyn State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon condemned lawsuits blocking the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, titled 'Congestion Pricing Opponents Are Blocking Disabled Access to Mass Transit, Politicians Charge,' highlights how legal challenges from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the United Federation of Teachers, and others have forced the MTA to halt critical accessibility upgrades. Gounardes declared, 'That’s not gonna happen if the money’s not there.' The MTA earmarked $6 billion for accessibility, aiming to make 70 stations ADA accessible and modernize 78 elevators. Disability advocates like Elizabeth Valdez and Joe Rappaport stressed that most disabled New Yorkers rely on subways and buses, not private cars. Christopher Schuyler noted congestion pricing would speed up paratransit and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Without funding, the city’s most vulnerable remain stranded.

• Congestion Pricing Opponents Are Blocking Disabled Access to Mass Transit, Politicians Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-23

Feb 23 - A truck hit a woman crossing Sutton Street in Greenpoint. She lies in critical condition. The driver, with a long record of violations, faces charges. Council Member Restler and others demand safer streets, calling out reckless driving and deadly intersections.

On February 23, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined other officials in a public statement after a truck struck a pedestrian at Sutton Street and Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. The incident left a 49-year-old woman in critical condition. The driver, Stanley Manel, was arrested and charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The officials' statement read: 'We’re deeply saddened and outraged at the news of yet another pedestrian being struck by an unsafe driver in Greenpoint.' Restler and colleagues highlighted the intersection's dangers and the driver's history—35 tickets since 2019, including 26 speed camera violations. They urged support for bills requiring speed control devices for repeat offenders and for Sammy’s Law, which would let NYC set its own speed limits. The group called on the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting to protect pedestrians.

• Driver arrested after crash that left Greenpoint pedestrian in critical condition, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-02-23

Feb 23 - Lawsuits stall congestion pricing. Disabled riders lose. Elevators and upgrades freeze. Streets choke. Politicians demand action. Money for accessibility dries up. The city’s most vulnerable wait. Wheelchair users, seniors, parents, all stuck. The system fails those who need it most.

On February 23, 2024, at a press conference, Brooklyn State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon condemned lawsuits blocking the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, titled 'Congestion Pricing Opponents Are Blocking Disabled Access to Mass Transit, Politicians Charge,' highlights how legal challenges from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the United Federation of Teachers, and others have forced the MTA to halt critical accessibility upgrades. Gounardes declared, 'That’s not gonna happen if the money’s not there.' The MTA earmarked $6 billion for accessibility, aiming to make 70 stations ADA accessible and modernize 78 elevators. Disability advocates like Elizabeth Valdez and Joe Rappaport stressed that most disabled New Yorkers rely on subways and buses, not private cars. Christopher Schuyler noted congestion pricing would speed up paratransit and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Without funding, the city’s most vulnerable remain stranded.

• Congestion Pricing Opponents Are Blocking Disabled Access to Mass Transit, Politicians Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-23

Feb 22 - A bill from Sen. Gounardes orders New York to cut driving by 20 percent by 2050. Fewer cars, fewer deaths. The plan would save nearly 600 lives a year from crashes. Active travel rises. Streets grow safer. Pollution drops. Wallets breathe easier.

Senate Bill S1981A, proposed by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, demands a 20-percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled statewide by 2050. The bill, backed by New Yorkers for Transportation Equity, was introduced last year and is under consideration. The measure’s summary promises to 'improve air quality and reduce fatal crashes.' Gounardes, representing Brooklyn’s western edge, champions the shift: 'A new approach will not only protect our climate, but also make New York a safer, more affordable place to live.' Analysis from the Rocky Mountain Institute projects 593 fewer traffic deaths each year, with thousands more lives saved through active transportation. The bill’s focus is clear: less driving, more safety, cleaner air, and real savings for families.

• Bill to Cut Vehicle Miles in New York Would Also Reduce Traffic Deaths, Costs and Pollution, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-22

Feb 20 - A 38-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn on Saint Marks Place. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Saint Marks Place in Brooklyn at 10:23 AM. A 38-year-old male pedestrian, crossing with the signal at the intersection, was hit by a 2011 Chevrolet SUV making a right turn. The report cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the driver did not yield to the pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained a head injury classified as a contusion and was conscious after the impact. The SUV showed no damage despite the collision. The driver was licensed and traveling eastbound. This incident highlights the systemic danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - A sedan struck a 31-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike on Butler Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his lower leg and foot. Driver inattention was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:29 PM on Butler Street in Brooklyn. A 2017 sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, was parked before the collision. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old man riding an e-bike westbound, was struck by the sedan's right front bumper. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted. The sedan sustained damage to its right front bumper, and the e-bike was damaged at its center back end. The focus remains on the driver's failure to maintain attention, which led to this serious collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703855 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 16 - A 19-year-old bicyclist was ejected and injured after a pick-up truck struck his e-bike in Brooklyn. The collision caused bruising and elbow injuries. The truck driver’s improper lane usage led to the crash, with no damage reported to either vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:49 in Brooklyn near 458 5 Avenue. A pick-up truck traveling south struck a southbound e-bike driven by a 19-year-old male bicyclist. The point of impact was the truck’s left front quarter panel and the e-bike’s right front bumper. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the truck operator. Both vehicles reportedly sustained no damage. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene and wore unspecified safety equipment. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The licensed truck driver was going straight ahead at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703246 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - A tractor truck made an improper right turn on Union Street in Brooklyn, colliding with a northbound motorscooter. The scooter overturned, injuring its 53-year-old male driver, who suffered contusions and bruises but remained conscious and helmeted.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:43 PM on Union Street near Hoyt Street in Brooklyn. The tractor truck was making a right turn when it struck the motorscooter traveling straight ahead northbound. The point of impact was the truck's right rear quarter panel hitting the left side doors of the motorscooter, causing it to overturn. The motorscooter driver, a 53-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and bruises over his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites the truck driver's errors as 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' along with 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' These driver errors directly contributed to the collision and the rider's injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 9 - A sedan struck the rear of a slowing box truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The impact injured a right rear passenger, causing head trauma and whiplash. The crash exposed risks from following too closely on high-speed roadways.

According to the police report, at 15:41 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, a sedan traveling east collided with the center back end of a slowing or stopping box truck. The contributing factor cited was "Following Too Closely," indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The box truck sustained no damage, while the sedan's front end was damaged. A 44-year-old female occupant seated in the right rear passenger position of the sedan suffered head injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger's behavior or safety equipment. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors such as tailgating on busy expressways, which can result in serious injuries to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701457 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

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 - Two sedans slammed together on 7 Avenue. Metal tore. Two passengers hurt—shoulder, arm, back bruised. Both stayed conscious. No driver errors listed. Brooklyn streets, hard and unforgiving.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 18:14 on 7 Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were heading north when they struck each other. The Ford sedan was hit on its left rear quarter panel, damaging its left side doors. The Toyota sedan took damage to its right front quarter panel. Two Ford passengers, a 33-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman, suffered contusions and bruises to the shoulder, upper arm, and back. Both were conscious and not ejected. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 3 - Steel met flesh on Union Street. An 83-year-old man, crossing with the light, was struck by a turning taxi. Blood pooled. His head split. The cab did not stop. The street did not forgive.

An 83-year-old man was seriously injured at the intersection of Union Street and 6th Avenue in Brooklyn when a taxi making a right turn struck him as he crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'Steel meets flesh. He falls. Blood pools on the pavement. Head split. Eyes open. The cab did not stop.' The victim suffered a severe head injury and was conscious at the scene. The police report makes clear the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian lawfully crossing, underscoring the persistent danger faced by New York City’s most vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19