Brooklyn Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now

Mar 15 - A Brooklyn subway shooting jolted lawmakers. Jo Anne Simon called the National Guard’s presence unwarranted, stoking fear instead of safety. Calls for more policing, mental health funding, and gun control echoed. Riders remain wary. No clear path to safer commutes.

On March 15, 2024, following a deadly subway shooting, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (District 52) and other lawmakers responded with urgency. The incident came days after Governor Hochul’s National Guard deployment in the transit system. Simon stated, 'The Governor's recent deployment of the National Guard was unwarranted and caused fear rather than a sense of safety.' Other officials, including Brian Cunningham and Lester Chang, debated the effectiveness of increased policing and called for more investment in mental health and gun safety. The matter, titled 'NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’,' underscores deep divides on how to protect riders. Simon’s stance highlights the risk of heavy-handed security measures fueling anxiety, not safety, for vulnerable New Yorkers.

• NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’ — coming on heels of NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s National Guard safety plan: lawmakers, nypost.com, Published 2024-03-15

Mar 14 - A taxi driver suffered back injuries and bruises after a collision during a left turn on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash caused center back-end damage to the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old male taxi driver was injured in a crash on Bay Parkway near 85 Street in Brooklyn at 7:30 a.m. The taxi, traveling south, was making a left turn when it collided, sustaining center back-end damage. The driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, suffered a back injury and contusions but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported involved or injured. The focus remains on the taxi driver's injury and the vehicle damage resulting from the left turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710212 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 12 - Steel met bone on 86th Street. An SUV barreled north, disregarding traffic control. A 68-year-old man pedaled west. Metal crashed into flesh. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. The bike crumpled. He stayed conscious, battered and bleeding.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was riding his bike westbound on 86th Street when a northbound SUV collided with him. The report states the SUV driver disregarded traffic control, directly contributing to the crash. The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. The narrative details, 'Metal struck flesh. His head hit hard. Blood pooled. The bike folded at the doors. The bumper cracked.' The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, both attributed to driver error. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the clear failures by the SUV driver. The crash unfolded near Council District 47, underscoring the persistent danger vulnerable road users face from drivers who ignore basic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709485 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 10 - E-bike slammed into a 66-year-old man crossing 20 Avenue with the signal. The man took a blow to the head. Police cite traffic control ignored and driver inattention. System failed to protect the walker.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling north on 20 Avenue struck a 66-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian suffered a head abrasion and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike, which showed no damage. No safety equipment or victim fault is noted. This crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and lose focus, leaving pedestrians exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 9 - A 73-year-old man crossing Stillwell Avenue with the signal was struck by a left-turning vehicle. The impact injured his knee and lower leg, causing abrasions. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, according to the police report.

At 11:00 on Stillwell Avenue, a 73-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a vehicle making a left turn struck him. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The vehicle's point of impact was the left front bumper, damaging the left front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the driver. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver’s failure to yield during the left turn created a hazardous situation, resulting in the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708173 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 8 - A 16-year-old male occupant was ejected from a sedan in Brooklyn, suffering a serious head injury and abrasions. The crash occurred mid-afternoon, with impact centered on the vehicle's front end. The victim was conscious but severely hurt.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west in Brooklyn struck an object or surface with its center front end around 16:15. The vehicle had one occupant, a 16-year-old male, who was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. The occupant sustained a head injury classified as severity level 3 and abrasions. The victim was conscious at the scene. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The occupant was not in the roadway as a pedestrian or cyclist, and no safety equipment use was recorded. The crash highlights the dangers of ejection and severe injury in vehicle collisions even without noted driver violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 3 - A 23-year-old man pushing a car on Bay Parkway was struck by a sedan. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inexperience as the cause. The crash left the victim bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at 10:45. A 23-year-old male pedestrian was injured while pushing a car off the intersection. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The report identifies 'Driver Inexperience' as the contributing factor to the crash. The driver of the sedan was traveling east and struck the pedestrian, who was not at an intersection. There is no mention of pedestrian fault or contributing factors related to the victim. The report focuses on the driver's error, highlighting the systemic danger posed by inexperienced drivers in the city.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707098 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 29 - Two SUVs crashed on Mc Donald Avenue. A woman suffered neck injuries and shock. Broken traffic signals failed both drivers. Metal twisted. No one else was hurt.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided at 12:04 PM on Mc Donald Avenue near Avenue S in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were going straight when they struck each other at the front. The report lists 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' as the main contributing factor for both drivers. The 42-year-old woman driving the Honda suffered neck injuries and shock. She was properly restrained. No other driver errors or victim actions are noted. The crash highlights the danger of failed traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 29 - A 27-year-old man crossing 78 Street in a marked crosswalk was hit by an unspecified vehicle. He suffered arm abrasions but stayed conscious. No driver errors or contributing factors reported.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing 78 Street in a marked crosswalk without a signal. He sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The vehicle involved is unspecified. No driver errors or contributing factors, such as failure to yield or speeding, were reported. The incident occurred at 10:00 AM. The report does not list any driver actions or pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. No further details about the vehicle or crash dynamics were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706118 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 27 - A motorscooter driver suffered a severe fracture after losing control on defective, slippery pavement. The crash caused injury to the entire body, with no vehicle damage reported. The driver remained conscious but was severely hurt in the incident.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male motorscooter driver traveling south on New Utrecht Avenue was injured due to defective and slippery pavement conditions. The report lists 'Pavement Defective' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The driver was going straight ahead when the crash occurred, sustaining a fracture, distortion, and dislocation affecting the entire body. Despite the severity of the injuries, the driver was not ejected and remained conscious. The vehicle, a 2023 Fly Wing motorscooter, showed no damage or point of impact. The report does not cite any driver error such as failure to yield or speeding, focusing instead on hazardous road conditions as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705651 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 26 - A 35-year-old woman suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm after a collision with a bike on Bay Parkway. The pedestrian was conscious and injured outside an intersection. The bike showed no damage, and contributing factors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:46 on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. A 35-year-old female pedestrian was injured with abrasions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and located outside an intersection at the time of impact. The vehicle involved was a bike traveling east, moving straight ahead, which struck the pedestrian at the center front end. The bike sustained no damage. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors explicitly cited. The pedestrian was not in the roadway, and no additional factors such as helmet use or crossing signals were noted as contributing. The incident highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians even outside intersections and the unclear role of driver or rider error in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728226 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 26 - An 18-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal was struck on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, traveling south, failed to pay attention, hitting the pedestrian’s face and causing bruising. The victim remained conscious despite the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:10 AM on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. An 18-year-old male pedestrian was crossing at an intersection with the signal when a vehicle traveling south struck him on the right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruising to the face and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the driver failed to maintain focus on the road. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were specified. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705292 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 25 - Two SUVs collided on Bay Parkway. Both women behind the wheel suffered abdomen and pelvis injuries. Shock set in. The crash came from failure to yield and tailgating. Metal twisted. No one walked away unscathed.

According to the police report, two SUVs crashed at 8655 Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at 17:10. Both drivers, women aged 33 and 44, were injured in the abdomen and pelvis and were in shock. The 2024 BMW SUV was changing lanes while the 2015 BMW SUV went straight. The vehicles struck at their front quarter panels. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way and following too closely as driver errors. Both drivers were licensed and used lap belts and harnesses. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 23 - A 29-year-old woman crossing Benson Avenue with the signal was hit. She suffered knee and leg injuries. No driver errors listed. The street remains dangerous for those on foot.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Benson Avenue at Bay 34 Street in Brooklyn at 7:30 p.m. She was in the intersection and crossing with the signal when she was struck. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report does not specify the vehicle type or any driver actions. No contributing factors or driver errors are listed in the data. No mention of safety equipment is made. The incident highlights the risks pedestrians face, even when following traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 22 - A 74-year-old bicyclist suffered a hip and upper leg injury after a sedan hit him on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist was partially ejected and bruised. Police cite the sedan driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:30 AM on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. A 74-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained a hip and upper leg injury, described as contusions and bruises. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver traveling north, struck the bicyclist on the right front quarter panel, causing damage to the sedan's right front bumper and the bike's center front end. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, identifying the sedan driver’s error. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were noted. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to yield, which led to the collision and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704422 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 17 - A sedan and SUV slammed together on Avenue P. Both drivers hurt. Police blame failed traffic control. Metal twisted. Shock set in. System failed. No victim at fault.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided on Avenue P in Brooklyn. Both male drivers, ages 35 and 65, were injured. The 35-year-old suffered whiplash and neck pain. The 65-year-old had injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and complained of pain and nausea. Both drivers wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' as the main contributing factor for both drivers. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The impact points were the sedan's right front and the SUV's center front. The crash highlights a failure in traffic management, not driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 9 - A 25-year-old male motorcyclist suffered a head injury and partial ejection after colliding with a parked SUV on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash at 8:35 p.m. was caused by driver inattention, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:35 on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn when a 2023 motorcycle traveling east struck the left rear bumper of a parked 2017 SUV. The motorcycle driver, a 25-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained a head injury with complaint of pain or nausea. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The motorcyclist was unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and stationary at the time. The impact was centered on the motorcycle's front end and the SUV's left rear bumper. The report highlights driver error on the motorcycle as the cause, with no fault attributed to the parked vehicle or victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701653 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 7 - An 11-year-old boy was injured crossing 62 Street at 16 Avenue in Brooklyn. A pick-up truck struck him with its left front bumper. The driver failed to yield and was distracted, causing serious lower leg injuries to the pedestrian.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:08 AM on 62 Street near 16 Avenue in Brooklyn. The victim, an 11-year-old male pedestrian, was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal when he was struck by a 2017 Nissan pick-up truck traveling east. The point of impact was the truck's left front bumper, causing abrasions and injuries to the victim's knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and driving straight ahead at the time. The pedestrian was conscious but injured, with no contributing factors attributed to his actions. Vehicle damage was centered on the front end, confirming the collision impact location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700904 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19