No More Excuses: Barriers Now, Lives Saved Tomorrow

A Kia SUV slammed into a 47-year-old cyclist near Avenue O. The man flew from his bike, head striking pavement. Blood pooled. The SUV’s bumper cracked. He died there, the street claiming another life.

A fatal collision occurred near 1608 Avenue O in Brooklyn when a westbound Kia SUV struck a 47-year-old man riding his bike eastbound, according to the police report. The narrative states, 'A westbound Kia struck him head-on. He flew from the bike. No helmet. Head trauma. Blood on the pavement. The SUV’s bumper cracked. He died where he fell.' The police report lists the contributing factors for both parties as 'Unspecified.' The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries. The SUV’s point of impact was the left front bumper, consistent with a direct, forceful collision. The report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor before listing helmet use. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers and vulnerable road users collide on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709603 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A sedan driver suffered facial abrasions after a multi-vehicle crash on Beverley Road in Brooklyn. The driver was conscious and not ejected. Police cited prescription medication as a contributing factor, highlighting systemic risks in urban traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Beverley Road in Brooklyn at 4:25 AM. The injured party was a 40-year-old male sedan driver who sustained abrasions to his face but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Prescription Medication' as a contributing factor to the collision, indicating impaired driver condition. Multiple vehicles were involved, all parked except the injured driver's sedan, which was traveling south and overturned on impact. The driver's vehicle sustained severe damage, described as 'Overturned,' while other parked vehicles had damage to their left rear or front quarter panels. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. This incident underscores the dangers posed by impaired driving and the systemic vulnerabilities in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709060 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A dump truck turned right on Bedford and Tilden. The woman crossed with the light. The front of the truck crushed her. She died in the street. The truck did not stop. Metal untouched. She was 58. The city kept moving.

A 58-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn when a dump truck making a right turn struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the truck's front right quarter panel crushed the pedestrian, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The woman was crossing with the light at the intersection, as documented in the report. The truck did not stop after the collision. The vehicle, a 2014 KW-TRUCK/BUS registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage. The report centers on the truck driver's failure to yield and the dangers posed by oversized vehicles at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707890 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Council bill demands DOT fix NYCHA sidewalks first. Seniors come before all. Broken walks trip, injure, kill. Law forces city to show its work. No more hiding behind red tape.

Bill Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. It orders the DOT to prioritize sidewalk repairs at NYCHA sites, with senior housing first. The bill summary reads: 'establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Shaun Abreu, Shahana K. Hanif, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Sandy Nurse, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Lincoln Restler, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., and Farah N. Louis. The law also requires public reporting of repairs and timelines. Sidewalk neglect endangers NYCHA residents—this bill aims to force action and transparency.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

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

SUV swung a bad U-turn. Motorcycle hit head-on. Both drivers hurt. Fractures, whiplash. Metal twisted. Brooklyn street left scarred by reckless turn.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV made an improper U-turn on Avenue I near Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:15 a.m. The SUV struck a southbound motorcycle head-on. The 18-year-old motorcyclist suffered fractures and dislocations across his body. The 50-year-old SUV driver sustained neck whiplash. Both were conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the main contributing factor. The SUV's left front bumper hit the motorcycle's center front. The motorcyclist wore a helmet; the SUV driver used a lap belt. The crash resulted from the SUV driver's improper maneuver, not victim fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 63-year-old bicyclist was ejected and injured after colliding with the side of a parked sedan on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact damaged both vehicles’ side doors. The rider wore a helmet but suffered abrasions and leg injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:11 on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. A 63-year-old male bicyclist riding an E-Bike traveling north collided with the left side doors of a parked 2017 Toyota sedan also facing north. The collision caused damage to the right side doors of the E-Bike and the left side doors of the sedan. The bicyclist was ejected from his vehicle and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious at the scene and was wearing a helmet. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not identify any driver errors or violations by the sedan driver, who was parked at the time. The crash highlights the dangers posed by parked vehicles obstructing travel lanes and the vulnerability of bicyclists to side impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707158 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 29-year-old e-bike rider suffered a severe knee injury when a Nissan SUV struck him from behind on Parkside Avenue. The crash happened at 2:07 a.m. The police report cites the SUV driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, at 2:07 a.m. on Parkside Avenue, a Nissan SUV rear-ended a 2024 Taizhou Qianxin e-bike. The e-bike rider, a 29-year-old male, was injured with a fractured and dislocated knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies the SUV driver's error as "Following Too Closely," a failure to maintain a safe distance behind the e-bike. The e-bike rider was wearing a helmet and was conscious after the crash. Both vehicles were traveling west and were reportedly parked before the collision. The impact occurred at the center back end of both vehicles. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior, focusing solely on the driver’s error that led to the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 45-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making a left turn on Farragut Road. The unlicensed driver hit the pedestrian center front, causing a fractured shoulder and dislocation. Confusion contributed to the pedestrian’s injury.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Farragut Road was making a left turn when it struck a 45-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal but not at an intersection. The pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder, classified as injury severity 3. The driver, a male operating the vehicle alone, was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan, which sustained damage in the same area. The report lists the contributing factors as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" and "Unspecified," but the critical driver error was operating the vehicle without a valid license while making a left turn. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A sedan slammed into a man working in the street, pinning him against a parked truck. His legs shattered. He stayed awake. Driver never saw him. Steel and flesh met on Brooklyn asphalt.

A man working in the roadway on Coney Island Avenue near Avenue H was struck by a southbound sedan and pinned against a parked box truck. According to the police report, the victim suffered severe crush injuries to his lower legs but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. The sedan's driver failed to notice the worker in the street, driving the car's front end into him and forcing him against the stationary truck. No victim actions are cited as contributing factors. This crash shows the deadly risk faced by people working on city streets when drivers are distracted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706193 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Council moves to create a parking permit enforcement unit. The bill targets city-issued permit misuse. Streets clogged by illegal parking put walkers and riders at risk. Action now sits with the transportation committee.

Int 0173-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a parking permit enforcement unit within the department of transportation," would require DOT to form a unit dedicated to enforcing laws against misuse of city-issued parking permits. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Erik D. Bottcher, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, and Farah N. Louis. The bill aims to curb illegal parking that endangers pedestrians and cyclists. It awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0173-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. Cyclists need steel and concrete, not paint. The bill sits in committee. Streets could change. Lives hang in the balance.

Int 0271-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Rivera, Louis, Hanif, Ossé, Brewer, Cabán, Nurse, Hudson, Salaam, Bottcher, Gutiérrez, Feliz, Won, and Joseph. The bill demands the Department of Transportation install 100 miles of protected bike lanes per year for six years. The aim: real protection for cyclists and a safer city grid.

• File Int 0271-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to create a DOT parking squad. The bill targets illegal parking. Sponsors say it will enforce rules. Streets choke on blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

Bill Int 0264-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it would require the Department of Transportation to form a unit focused on parking violations. The matter title reads: 'Establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, and others. The bill aims to crack down on illegal parking, a known threat to people on foot and bike. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but blocked lanes endanger all who travel outside a car.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on roads beside parks over one acre. DOT can skip spots if safety or rules demand. Law aims to slow cars where families walk, run, and play.

Int 0262-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: “requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by eighteen co-sponsors. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps unless the commissioner finds a risk to safety or a conflict with DOT guidelines. The law would take effect 180 days after passage. The measure targets streets where parks meet traffic, aiming to slow cars and shield people outside vehicles.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill would pay up to $1,000 for tips that help catch hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill. Police and city workers are barred from rewards. The measure targets unsolved crashes that leave victims behind.

Int 0143-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'establishing a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, Louis, Bottcher, Hudson, Gennaro, and Williams. The bill excludes law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The aim is to mobilize the public to help solve hit-and-run cases, many of which remain unsolved, and bring justice for victims.

• File Int 0143-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

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

Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28