Brooklyn’s Streets Bleed—How Many More Must Die Before City Hall Acts?

• Brooklyn police pursuit ends with pedestrian struck, alleged teenage car thief caught, amny, Published 2025-09-14

Sep 5 - On 94 St at Ridge Blvd, a bus driver going west hit a 67-year-old man in a marked crosswalk. He fell with arm and hand abrasions. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A bus driver going straight west on 94 St hit a 67-year-old man who was crossing at Ridge Blvd in a marked crosswalk. The man suffered arm and hand abrasions and was conscious. According to the police report, the pedestrian was "Crossing, No Signal, Marked Crosswalk," and the bus was "Going Straight Ahead" westbound. Police listed contributing factors as "Unspecified." No driver errors were recorded in the report. This crash happened in Brooklyn at 7:10 a.m., near 94 St and Ridge Blvd. The impact sent a pedestrian to the ground in a place that should be safe.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840080 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 5 - Eastbound on Belt Parkway, a driver in a 2018 Ford SUV crashed on slick pavement. Police recorded pavement slippery. The 27-year-old driver was injured. A front passenger was listed with unspecified injury.

Police documented a crash on Belt Parkway at 1:12 a.m. A 27-year-old woman driving a 2018 Ford SUV eastbound crashed; damage was recorded to the left front bumper. The driver suffered an arm abrasion. A 38-year-old front passenger was listed with unspecified injury. According to the police report, contributing factors included "Pavement Slippery" and "Unspecified." Police recorded pavement slippery as a factor; no specific driver violations were recorded in the data. The report lists one vehicle involved and two occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - The driver of a northbound SUV hit the center rear of a stopped SUV on Fort Hamilton Parkway at 74th. The stopped SUV's 35-year-old female driver suffered a back contusion and bruising. Police recorded Alcohol Involvement.

Two SUVs were northbound on Fort Hamilton Parkway at 74th Street. The driver of a northbound SUV went straight and hit the center rear of a stopped northbound SUV. The stopped SUV carried two occupants. The 35-year-old female driver of the stopped SUV was injured; police recorded a back contusion and a complaint of bruising. She wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The striking vehicle showed center front-end damage and was driven by a male. According to the police report, "Alcohol Involvement" was the contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839058 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 23 - The driver of a pickup truck backed into a 50-year-old man at a Bay Ridge intersection. The pedestrian was injured and in shock. Police recorded driver inattention and unsafe backing.

According to the police report, the driver of a 2024 Toyota pickup was backing westbound when he hit a 50-year-old man at an intersection in Bay Ridge. The impact struck the pickup's center back end. The pedestrian suffered whole-body injury, complained of pain, and was in shock. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Backing Unsafely." Police recorded those driver errors. The report also notes the pedestrian's location as an intersection and his action as "Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk," mentioned after the driver failures. The driver was the sole occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 23 - Two sedans met hard at 65th and Fourth. One went straight. One turned left. Metal buckled. A woman passenger bruised her leg. A man driver felt arm pain. Doors crushed. Sirens cut through Brooklyn heat.

Two sedans crashed at 65 St and 4 Ave in Brooklyn. One was heading east, going straight. The other was turning left, traveling south. A female rear passenger suffered a leg contusion. A male driver reported arm pain. According to the police report, vehicle impacts were to the center front end of the eastbound car and the right side of the turning car. The report lists contributing factors as “Unspecified.” The turning driver held only a permit; the other driver was licensed. The data show no listed driver errors such as Failure to Yield, but the left-turn-versus-through movement and impact points frame a classic conflict. No pedestrian or cyclist injuries were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 18 - An unlicensed 25-year-old man crashed a Honda sedan westbound on 78th Street at Ridge Boulevard. He suffered a head contusion. Police recorded driver inattention and unsafe speed. The sedan sustained center front end damage.

The driver of a Honda sedan, a 25-year-old man, was injured when his vehicle crashed westbound on 78th Street at Ridge Boulevard. He suffered a head contusion and remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Unsafe Speed." The sedan sustained center-front impact and damage. Police records list the driver as unlicensed and note the vehicle was going straight ahead. Multiple occupants are listed in the report, with one injured driver specified. The record attributes the crash to driver errors: distraction and excessive speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - On 92nd and Seventh, a northbound sedan struck a stopped car. A bad accelerator. Metal to metal. Three passengers hurt, including a child. Doors crumpled. Brooklyn heard it. Streets bear the bruise.

A Toyota sedan traveling north on 7 Ave hit a Honda sedan that was stopped in traffic at 92 St. Three passengers were injured: a 13-year-old boy with arm bruising, a 49-year-old woman with back pain, and a 59-year-old woman with body pain. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Accelerator Defective.” The moving driver’s car struck the left front bumper; the stopped car took damage to its left side doors. Driver errors and conditions cited in the data point to equipment failure. Only after that, safety equipment notes show lap belts and harnesses for several occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - The driver of an SUV made a U-turn on southbound 4 Avenue at 68 Street and struck a 25-year-old male cyclist. The rider suffered an elbow and forearm contusion. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver.

The driver of an SUV made a U-turn on southbound 4 Avenue at 68 Street and struck a southbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old man, suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm and was listed as injured. The SUV driver was uninjured. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver. Impact was at the SUV's left front quarter panel and the bike's center front end. The report lists no contributing actions for the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835178 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 12 - City pushes Lyft to demand ID for Citi Bike e-bikes. No license, no ride. Kids blocked. Officials claim safety. But new barriers rise. Fewer riders. Streets lose strength in numbers. Risk shifts. Equity suffers.

"Brannan warned that the current self-reported age system is 'a disaster waiting to happen,' especially amid a surge in e-bike crashes involving minors." -- Justin L. Brannan

On August 12, 2025, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro sent a letter to Lyft CEO David Risher, demanding 'appropriate age verification steps' for Citi Bike e-bike riders, like requiring a driver's license or permit. Council Member Justin Brannan also pressed Lyft to block under-16 users, calling the current system 'a disaster waiting to happen.' The request follows a recent speed cap on Citi Bike e-bikes. But safety analysts warn: license-based checks block youth and those without licenses, cut mode shift, and weaken street equity. Fewer riders mean less safety in numbers for all vulnerable road users.

• NYC asks Lyft to require ID for Citi Bike e-bikes to curb underage riders, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - Summer Streets grows, but cars still rule. Pedestrians and cyclists get scraps. Asphalt wins. The city drags its feet. People lose. Safety rises where cars vanish, but the reach is small.

"The subway belongs to all New Yorker, and it should be accessible to all New Yorkers." -- Andrew Gounardes

On August 11, 2025, David Meyer issued a statement on the expansion of Summer Streets, covered by Streetsblog NYC. He said, 'Summer Streets is bigger and better than ever—and New Yorkers are begging for more.' Meyer supports car-free events but criticizes their limited scale. No council bill or committee action is attached. A safety analyst notes: expanding Summer Streets increases car-free space, encourages walking and cycling, and improves safety by reducing vehicle conflicts and promoting mode shift. But the limited reach means citywide benefits remain out of grasp.

• Monday’s Headlines: All Hail Summer Streets Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 11 - Smith-9th Streets, city’s highest subway stop, will get elevators. The climb ends. State officials promise relief for riders. No more 90-foot ascent. Gowanus waits for access.

"With elevators coming to the Smith-9th Street station, that’s finally going to change." -- Andrew Gounardes

On August 11, 2025, state officials announced elevators for Smith-9th Streets station in Gowanus, the city’s tallest subway stop. The MTA’s $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025-2029 funds the project. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said, “With elevators coming to the Smith-9th Street station, that’s finally going to change.” Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon praised the MTA for prioritizing accessibility. The upgrades follow a court settlement requiring 95% ADA-accessible stations by 2055. Safety analysts note: elevator installation boosts access for people with mobility challenges but does not directly impact street safety for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Tall order: Smith-9th Streets subway station, city’s highest, to get elevators, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 11 - MTA will install an elevator at Smith-9th Street, the city’s tallest subway station. Riders now face steep climbs. Soon, F and G lines open to all. Barriers fall. Access rises. Fewer forced to drive.

"Every day, New Yorkers hike the stairs up this station like they're climbing Mount Everest, struggling to catch the train on time... With elevators coming to the Smith-9th Street station, that's finally going to change. It's simple: The subway belongs to every New Yorker, and it should be accessible to every New Yorker." -- Andrew Gounardes

On August 11, 2025, the MTA announced an elevator for Smith-9th Street station, Brooklyn’s highest subway stop. BKReader reported: 'The MTA will install an elevator at the Smith-9th Street station.' No council bill or committee is listed. State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and NYCHA leaders backed the move. MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo called Smith-9th the clearest case for access. Installing an elevator helps pedestrians, especially those with mobility impairments. It makes transit a real option, shifting trips away from cars and reducing street danger for all.

• Brooklyn’s Steepest Subway Stop to Get a Lift, BKReader, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 10 - Smith-9th Street stands 90 feet high. No elevators. State officials promise lifts. The climb ends. Access rises. Vulnerable riders—elderly, disabled, parents—gain ground. Transit grows safer. Streets may see fewer cars.

""With elevators coming to the Smith-9th Street station, that’s finally going to change."" -- Andrew Gounardes

On August 10, 2025, state officials announced elevators for Smith-9th Street station in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The station, nearly 90 feet above ground, is the city’s tallest and lacks elevators. The matter: 'New York City's tallest subway station will soon have elevators, ending the difficult climb to the platform.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes led the announcement. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon praised the move. MTA chief accessibility officer Quemuel Arroyo backed the upgrade. Adding elevators boosts access for people with mobility challenges. It makes transit a real option, shifting trips away from cars and easing danger for vulnerable road users.

• Tall order: NYC’s tallest subway station to get elevators, putting accessibility on the ascent, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-10

Aug 9 - Coney Island casino plan means thousands more cars. Roads will clog. Parking will vanish. Environmental review shows danger for anyone not behind the wheel.

On August 9, 2025, an environmental impact assessment flagged the proposed Coney Island casino as a threat to street safety. The report, filed with the casino’s license bid, warns: 'The proposed Coney Island casino would likely clog local roads with heavy traffic and overwhelm public parking.' Reporter Kirstyn Brendlen covered the findings. No council members sponsored or voted, but the review shows the casino could bring thousands of cars daily. The safety analyst notes: increased car traffic and parking demand will heighten risks for pedestrians and cyclists, discourage active transportation, and undermine street safety and equity. The system tips toward drivers. The vulnerable pay the price.

• Proposed Coney Island casino could bring heavy traffic, overwhelm parking, according to environmental impact study, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 8 - A northbound cyclist went down on 5th Avenue at 73rd. He was thrown from the bike. Knee and lower leg hurt. Shock. No other vehicles listed. No contributing factors recorded.

A 37-year-old man rode north on 5th Avenue at 73rd Street in Brooklyn at 4 p.m. He crashed and was hurt. According to the police report, he was partially ejected. He suffered a knee and lower leg injury and was in shock. The bike showed center-front damage. No other vehicles were listed. Police recorded no contributing factors. The record notes he was going straight before the crash. With no driver cited, the report gives no cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 4 - A driver in an SUV turned right at 64th St and hit a 15-year-old riding north on 7th Ave. The boy was ejected and bruised. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.

A driver in a 2024 Honda SUV with Pennsylvania plates, traveling east on 64th St, made a right turn and hit a 15-year-old riding north on 7th Ave in Brooklyn at about 9:20 p.m. at 7th Ave and 64th St, in the 68th Precinct. The boy was ejected and suffered a contusion to his lower arm. The SUV driver was not reported injured. According to the police report, police recorded failure to yield right-of-way by the driver. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833569 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 4 - A driver in a sedan turned right on 76th and hit a man on an e-scooter going straight at Third Avenue. The rider suffered an arm bruise. Police recorded following too closely and driver inattention.

A right-turning sedan driver hit a man on an e-scooter on 76th Street at Third Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider, 25, suffered a contusion to his arm. He was conscious. The sedan driver, 85, and her passenger were not seriously hurt. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Following Too Closely" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The data lists the e-scooter traveling straight. The sedan was making a right turn. Impact was to the sedan’s center front. Records list one scooter rider injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832776 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 30 - A left-turning driver in a 2021 Honda sedan hit a 28-year-old woman on 65th Street in Brooklyn. She suffered a hip contusion and was semiconscious. Police recorded driver inattention and failure to yield.

A driver in a 2021 Honda sedan, traveling east on 65th Street, was making a left turn when he hit a 28-year-old woman on the roadway. She suffered a hip contusion and was semiconscious at the scene. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The driver, a 26-year-old man, was licensed. The point of impact and damage were at the center front end. No other injuries were reported. The location is 65th Street near Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

""Here we are, once again gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets. But it doesn't have to be this way,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24