Queens Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall, Families Pay

Riders and politicians gathered at Prospect Park. They called out slow buses, broken promises, and city inaction. Mamdani and Lander demanded real change. Riders want bus lanes, not excuses. The city’s lifeblood crawls. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Danger grows with every delay.

On May 18, 2025, Council Member Zohran Mamdani joined a transit advocacy rally outside Prospect Park, Brooklyn. The event, organized by Riders Alliance, demanded better bus service and more bus lanes on Flatbush Avenue. Mamdani declared, 'We are going to make the slowest buses in the country fast and free.' City Comptroller Brad Lander echoed the urgency, calling mass transit 'the lifeblood of NYC.' The rally criticized Mayor Adams and former Governor Cuomo for failing bus riders and not meeting the NYC Streets Plan’s promise of 10 to 15 new bus lanes each year. Betsy Plum of Riders Alliance said, 'He was meant to be implementing the NYC Streets Plan... He has woefully failed at that.' The rally spotlighted the daily risks and delays faced by bus riders, who remain among the city’s most vulnerable road users.

• NYC commuters, mayoral candidates, rally outside Prospect Park for better bus service, amny.com, Published 2025-05-18

Sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway. Unsafe lane change. Three people hurt. Neck and arm injuries. Metal and bodies slammed. System failed to protect.

Two sedans crashed on Grand Central Parkway in Queens. Three occupants suffered injuries, including neck and shoulder trauma. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was the listed contributing factor. No other driver errors were cited. All injured were inside vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal twisted and passengers hurt, exposing the danger of reckless maneuvers on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a man crossing Hazen Street with the signal. The impact hit his hip and upper leg. He was left in shock and pain. Police cite failure to yield right-of-way.

A pedestrian, age 34, was hit by a sedan while crossing Hazen Street at 19th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his hip and upper leg and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors are cited. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. No further details on the extent of injuries were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815510 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

Queensboro Bridge now splits bikes and walkers. Years of shared chaos end. Cyclists get the north lane. Pedestrians get the south. Advocates fought for this. Delays angered many. Michael Gianaris welcomes the change. Safety for vulnerable users finally comes to the bridge.

On May 13, 2025, New York City completed a long-stalled plan to separate cyclists and pedestrians on the Queensboro Bridge. The project, first announced under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, faced delays after Mayor Eric Adams took office. The north outer roadway is now for cyclists, the south for pedestrians. State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, District 12, praised the completion, saying, 'After years of advocacy, many of us were excited to see [the city's Department of Transportation] complete the work to open new, dedicated pedestrian paths on the Queensboro Bridge.' Gianaris also criticized the unexplained delays. The plan ends years of conflict and danger for vulnerable road users forced to share a narrow lane. The change follows similar improvements on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2021.

• NYC completes long-stalled plan to separate bikes and pedestrians on Queensboro Bridge, gothamist.com, Published 2025-05-13

An SUV hit an 8-year-old girl in Queens. She crossed from behind a parked car. The driver failed to yield. The child suffered a leg injury. Streets remain dangerous for the young.

An 8-year-old girl was struck by a station wagon/SUV on 31st Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the child was crossing the street, emerging from behind a parked vehicle, when the SUV hit her. She suffered an abrasion and injury to her lower leg but was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as driver errors. The driver and two other occupants were not seriously hurt. The crash highlights the risk faced by children on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani pledges free bus rides and faster service. He promises more bus lanes, better signals, and locked funding. He wants to transform streets for riders, not cars. His plan aims to boost ridership and cut assaults.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani announced a sweeping proposal on May 12, 2025, to make all New York City buses fare-free. The plan, detailed in his mayoral campaign, calls for fully staffing the Department of Transportation's bus unit, painting at least 30 miles of new bus lanes each year, and expanding transit signal priority. Mamdani says, 'There is a portion of that 'fast' that comes from the fact that if you make it free [you get] a faster ride.' He also pledges to lockbox dedicated funding for free service, citing his past work on MTA rescue packages. Mamdani and his allies point to a recent free bus pilot that increased ridership and reduced assaults. The proposal, if enacted, would shift street space from cars to buses, aiming to make public transit safer and more reliable for all riders.

• Zohran Mamdani Wants to Take a Free Bus … Straight to Gracie Mansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-12

Four mayoral candidates vow to expand open streets and outdoor dining. They slam city red tape and call for year-round access. They promise to cut barriers for restaurants and keep sidewalks clear. Each frames the issue as vital for city life.

"Yes. Firstly, I support making outdoor dining a year-round program. Outdoor dining not only brought liveliness and joy to New York City’s streets, it fueled our economy and boosted small businesses—the heart of this city." -- Zohran Mamdani

This policy statement, aired May 12, 2025, is not a formal bill but a public commitment from leading mayoral candidates. Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, and Zohran Mamdani all support expanding open streets and outdoor dining. Stringer pledges to 'loosen unnecessary design requirements' and simplify permits. Myrie promises a 'year-round outdoor dining program' and restoration of open streets, citing safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists. Ramos calls the current scheme 'unworkable' and urges consensus. Lander faults City Hall for 'over-regulating' and vows to speed up applications while 'respecting pedestrian traffic.' Mamdani highlights the economic and social benefits. All criticize current restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles. The candidates frame these programs as essential for small businesses, public space, and safer streets, but no formal safety analysis is attached.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss the Death of Outdoor Dining, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-12

A cyclist took a hit on 28 Ave. An SUV passed too close. The rider, helmeted, suffered a shoulder injury. Police cite driver inattention and tight passing. The street stayed cold and hard.

A 49-year-old male bicyclist was injured on 28 Ave at 36 St in Queens when a station wagon/SUV passed too closely. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet, suffered an upper arm and shoulder injury but remained conscious. The SUV was traveling west and struck the cyclist at the center front end of the bike. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The report highlights driver error as the main cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811686 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist riding west on Broadway struck by turning vehicle. Arm scraped. Police cite failure to yield. No helmet listed. System failed to protect.

A 23-year-old male bicyclist was injured at Broadway and 30th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the crash involved a westbound cyclist and a vehicle making a right turn. The cyclist suffered an abrasion to his arm. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No helmet use was listed as a factor. The report does not specify the type of turning vehicle. The system allowed a driver error to harm a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Lawmakers stripped Hochul’s safety plans from the state budget. No daylighting near schools. No lower bike lane speed limits. No new e-bike rules. City and state leaders bickered. Streets stay dangerous. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. The system failed them again.

On May 9, 2025, during New York State’s $254-million budget negotiations, lawmakers rejected Governor Hochul’s proposed street safety measures. The legislature dropped a mandate for daylighting—banning parking at corners near elementary schools—deferring instead to New York City, where Council Member Julie Won’s universal daylighting bill faces opposition from the Department of Transportation. Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, herself a crash survivor, vowed to keep fighting for daylighting, saying, 'I think daylighting would have helped me.' Hochul’s proposals to let the city set lower bike lane speed limits and to reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds were also cut. Critics argued these would not address core safety issues. The Adams administration opposes a City Council bill for e-bike registration and plates, while State Sen. Jenifer Rajkumar’s state version would shift licensing to the DMV. As Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives put it, 'A daylighting requirement would have made intersections safer around elementary schools, and it’s disappointing that this provision was cut from the New York State budget.'

• Live from Albany: Hochul’s ‘Safety’ Measures Stripped from Budget, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-09

Mayoral candidates clashed over e-bike safety and street design. They called for more protected bike lanes, tighter rules on heavy e-bikes, and better delivery worker protections. Each pledged to cut car use and boost cycling. No one blamed riders. Streets remain dangerous.

"Subsidizing e-bike purchases is a policy my administration would support. This must be done in tandem with ensuring safety." -- Zohran Mamdani

On May 9, 2025, leading mayoral candidates aired their plans for e-bike safety and street reform. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, featured Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, and Whitney Tilson. Stringer demanded 'massive expansion of protected bike lanes.' Myrie backed S1047, a bill for 50-percent e-bike rebates. Ramos called for safe bike lanes and clear signage for all riders. Lander pushed for stricter rules on heavy e-bikes and a crackdown on illegal sales, saying, 'I support stricter regulations for the heaviest e-bikes, which can travel at higher speeds and are more likely to injure both riders and pedestrians.' Mamdani supported e-bike subsidies with safety checks. Tilson urged a 20 mph cap and mandatory registration for delivery e-bikes. All agreed: safer streets need better design, strong enforcement, and real protections for workers and vulnerable road users.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss E-Bikes … With Joy and Concern, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-09

Mayoral hopefuls clashed over parking and street space. Most backed cutting parking minimums and repurposing curb space for people, not cars. Only one vowed to keep free parking. The rest called for safer streets, more transit, and fewer cars.

At a May 8, 2025 forum, candidates for New York City mayor faced off on the future of parking and street space. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, featured Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, and Whitney Tilson. Stringer pledged to move the city away from car dependence and build infrastructure for biking and transit. Myrie called for removing parking mandates to boost housing and speed up buses. Ramos supported repurposing parking for safer streets and green space. Lander pushed for eliminating parking minimums citywide and dynamic curbside management. Mamdani criticized the vast space given to cars. Only Tilson promised to preserve free street parking. The candidates’ stances show a clear divide: most want to reclaim streets for people, not vehicles. The debate signals a shift toward policies that could reduce car dominance and improve safety for vulnerable road users.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss the High Cost of ‘Free’ Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-08

Albany lawmakers push Assembly Bill 590 to force 16- and 17-year-olds on Citi Bike e-bikes to wear helmets. Critics warn helmet laws slash ridership and invite biased policing. The bill moves forward despite evidence of harm to vulnerable road users.

Assembly Bill 590, sponsored by Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), advanced in a Transportation Committee hearing on May 7, 2025. The bill would require 16- and 17-year-olds riding Class 1 or 2 e-bikes, including Citi Bikes, to wear helmets. Committee Chair William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) defended the bill, stating, "My only concern is the safety of the people riding the bike." The bill summary notes, 'studies have shown [helmet mandates] can dramatically reduce ridership of the city’s bike share system.' Experts warn such laws lead to fewer cyclists and open the door to discriminatory enforcement, especially against youth of color. Seattle dropped its helmet law in 2022 for these reasons. Despite evidence that helmet laws hurt vulnerable road users, the committee advanced the bill without addressing these harms.

• Teen Helmet Mandate for E-Citi Bikes? Albany Lawmakers are Up to No Good Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07

Six mayoral candidates vow to fight reckless driving. They promise more bike lanes, busways, and open streets. Some call for automated enforcement and less NYPD control. All focus on design, not blame. The city’s most vulnerable demand real change.

This policy statement, published May 7, 2025, gathers responses from six mayoral candidates—Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Zellnor Myrie, and Zohran Mamdani—on street safety. The forum, hosted by Streetsblog NYC, asked candidates how they would address reckless driving. Scott Stringer said, 'The best way to curtail reckless driving is to make less room for reckless drivers on the road.' Zellnor Myrie promised 'physically separated bus lanes' and expanded automated enforcement. Jessica Ramos called for 'a citywide strategy that prioritizes safety through design.' Zohran Mamdani wants to move traffic enforcement from NYPD to DOT, ending biased stops. Whitney Tilson supports more police and cameras. The candidates back protected bike lanes, busways, daylighting, and automated enforcement. Their plans center on street redesign and accountability, not blaming victims. Each pledges to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders from systemic danger.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss Saving Us From Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07

A cyclist’s arm broke on Northern Blvd. A BMW sedan struck him. Police cite traffic control ignored. The cyclist left hurt. Metal met flesh. The street stayed dangerous.

A cyclist, age 34, suffered a fractured arm after a crash with a BMW sedan at Northern Blvd and 35 Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The cyclist was injured, while the sedan driver was not reported hurt. The police report lists traffic control disregarded as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this is noted only after the driver’s actions. The crash left the cyclist with a serious arm injury, underscoring the risks faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811224 - 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 2025-05-06

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 2025-05-06

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 2025-05-06

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 2025-05-06