Queens Streets Bleed—How Many More Before We Act?

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

An 18-year-old cyclist bled from the head after a head-on crash on Honeywell Street. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver failed to see him. The street kept moving. The cyclist stayed conscious, injured and alone.

An 18-year-old cyclist was struck head-on on Honeywell Street near Skillman Avenue in Queens, sustaining a severe head injury and bleeding heavily, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 7:30 a.m. The report states, 'The driver did not see him,' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, remained conscious at the scene, but blood pooled on the pavement. The police report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A bicyclist was injured after a sedan struck him on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The collision caused knee and lower leg injuries and ejection from the bike. Driver distraction was cited as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a sedan on Northern Boulevard in Queens at 9:27 AM. The bicyclist, traveling eastbound, was struck on the left side doors of the parked sedan, sustaining knee, lower leg, and foot injuries and was ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor twice, indicating the sedan driver’s failure to maintain focus. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet but was also noted with a contributing factor of 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The sedan was parked prior to impact, and the point of impact was the vehicle's left side doors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2021 Hyundai sedan. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and the vulnerability of bicyclists in such collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 19-year-old moped driver slammed into trouble on Roosevelt Avenue. His inattention left him with fractured and dislocated leg bones. The crash tore up the moped’s front end. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male driving a 2023 Taizhou Zhilong moped east on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens crashed at 12:04 a.m. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. The moped’s center front end was damaged, showing a direct impact. The driver was not ejected but suffered serious injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including fractures and dislocations. No other people were reported injured. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a factor, focusing solely on the driver's inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727027 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A southbound SUV collided with an eastbound moped on 11 Street in Queens. The moped driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:36 on 11 Street in Queens involving a 2015 Ford SUV and a 2023 JIAJU moped. The SUV was traveling south, and the moped was traveling east when the collision happened. The point of impact was the SUV's center front end and the moped's left side doors. The moped driver, a 27-year-old male, sustained abrasions and injuries to his shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected from his vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the moped driver and also notes driver inattention for the SUV driver. Both drivers were licensed. The data highlights driver distraction as the critical cause, with no mention of victim fault or other contributing victim behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

A 23-year-old driver and 21-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries in a Queens crash. The SUV struck an object or vehicle with its left front bumper while making a left turn. Alcohol and driver distraction played key roles in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Laurel Hill Boulevard in Queens at 4:18 a.m. The involved vehicle was a 2021 Dodge SUV traveling west, making a left turn when it impacted with its left front bumper. The driver, a 23-year-old male, and a 21-year-old male passenger were both trapped inside the vehicle and sustained injuries classified as severity level 3. The driver suffered abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, while the passenger had contusions and bruises over his entire body. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors to the crash. Both occupants were conscious but injured. The driver held a valid New York license. The collision caused damage to the vehicle's left front bumper. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A distracted SUV driver turned left on 65th Street. A moped slammed into the bumper. The rider crashed, blood streaming from his head onto the pavement. He lay conscious, helmetless, as the SUV’s torn bumper marked the violent impact.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 65th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens when a southbound moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV’s right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered severe bleeding from the head, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood pouring from his head onto the pavement. The SUV’s bumper was torn in the crash. The police report notes the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention while turning across traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722243 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two sedans collided on the Long Island Expressway. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both vehicles were traveling westbound at impact.

According to the police report, at 9:52 AM on the Long Island Expressway, two sedans traveling westbound collided. The rear vehicle struck the front vehicle at the center back end, causing damage to both cars' front and rear centers. The driver of the rear sedan, a 37-year-old male, sustained back injuries and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead prior to impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721933 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two SUVs collided on 55 Street in Queens. The front passenger in one vehicle suffered neck injuries, including whiplash. Both drivers were distracted, causing the crash. Damage concentrated on the left front quarter panel of one SUV.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on 55 Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens at 2:30 p.m. Both drivers were cited for "Driver Inattention/Distraction," a critical factor in the crash. The impact occurred on the left front quarter panel of one SUV, which sustained visible damage. The other vehicle showed no damage. A 23-year-old male front passenger in the damaged SUV was injured, suffering neck trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists driver distraction as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured passenger. Both drivers were licensed, traveling westbound, and going straight ahead before the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A station wagon rear-ended a carry all on the Long Island Expressway. The impact struck the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the carry all. A front passenger suffered a head contusion and was injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Long Island Expressway at 8:30. A station wagon/SUV traveling west struck the center back end of a carry all also traveling west, impacting its center front end. The contributing factor cited was "Following Too Closely," indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The front passenger in the SUV, a 50-year-old female, sustained a head injury described as a contusion and was injured but not ejected. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The damage was concentrated on the rear of the SUV and front of the carry all, confirming a rear-end collision caused by insufficient following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 49-year-old male motorcyclist sustained knee and concussion injuries after a crash in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was following too closely. The rider was helmeted and conscious, but suffered serious lower leg trauma.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on 51 Street in Queens was involved in a crash at 15:22. The 49-year-old male driver, who was wearing a helmet, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, and suffered a concussion. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. There was no damage reported to the motorcycle at the point of impact. The police data highlights driver error—specifically failure to maintain safe distance—as the cause of the injury. No victim behavior was cited as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A moped struck a turning sedan on Queens Boulevard. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, silent, as speed and steel tore through the evening air.

At Queens Boulevard and 69th Street, a moped traveling east collided violently with a sedan making a right turn. According to the police report, the primary cause was 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact severely injured the 17-year-old moped driver, resulting in the amputation of part of his lower arm and hand. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a turning sedan. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake. He did not scream.' Damage was concentrated on the sedan's right front quarter panel and the moped's center front end. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, highlighting the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban traffic. No victim behavior was listed as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A man crossed Roosevelt Avenue before dawn. A Ford SUV hit him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.

A 38-year-old man was killed while crossing Roosevelt Avenue near 70th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 a.m. when a 2011 Ford SUV, traveling east, struck the pedestrian in the chest with its center front end. The report states the man was crossing outside an intersection, with no signal or crosswalk present. The narrative notes, 'A man crossed alone before dawn. A 2011 Ford SUV struck him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further explanation for the fatal impact. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of vehicle movement through pedestrian space in the early morning hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A taxi and sedan collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan changed lanes unsafely, striking the taxi’s right front bumper. A front-seat passenger in the taxi suffered head injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:40 a.m. on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan was changing lanes when it struck the right front bumper of a westbound taxi. The contributing factor cited was "Unsafe Lane Changing" by the sedan driver. The taxi carried two occupants, including a 28-year-old female front passenger who was injured, sustaining head injuries and shock. She was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt. The injury severity was rated level 3, with complaints of pain or nausea. The sedan had no occupants at the time of the crash. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred. The report highlights driver error in lane changing as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719303 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Albany killed the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. No more free rides. Lawmakers gave $12 million for better service, but not enough. Riders lose a lifeline. The city’s poorest feel the blow. Congestion pricing looms. Buses stay crowded, fares return.

On April 21, 2024, the New York State budget ended the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. The pilot, which began in September 2023, made one bus in each borough free. Lawmakers, including Senator Michael Gianaris, pushed to expand it to 15 lines. The budget did not include this. Instead, $12.3 million was set aside to improve bus frequency, far short of the $45 million needed for expansion. The bill’s summary states, 'The MTA's experiment in fare-less city bus service will soon end after Albany lawmakers did not reauthorize it.' Gianaris pledged to keep fighting for affordable transit. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the pilot 'crucial' for working-class New Yorkers. The MTA’s Janno Lieber criticized the program. No safety analyst reviewed the impact on vulnerable road users. The loss hits riders who depend on buses most.

• MTA’s free bus experiment will end after not being reauthorized in state budget, amny.com, Published 2024-04-21

An SUV driver, distracted and failing to yield, struck a moped traveling east in Queens. The moped driver, a 32-year-old man, suffered head contusions but remained conscious. The collision damaged the front ends of both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. in Queens near 45-35 39 Street. A 32-year-old male moped driver traveling east was hit by a southbound SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors on the part of the SUV driver. The moped driver sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The SUV's right front bumper and the moped's center front end were damaged. The moped driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his vehicle. The SUV driver was licensed, but the moped driver was unlicensed. The report focuses on the SUV driver's errors without attributing fault to the moped rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718371 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A taxi rolled backward on Woodside Avenue. Its broken brakes failed. The rear bumper hit a man standing off the road. Blood pooled at his feet. He stayed conscious, leg torn open, as the street watched in silence.

According to the police report, a taxi with defective brakes rolled backward near 68-02 Woodside Avenue in Queens. The vehicle's rear bumper struck a 46-year-old man who was standing off the roadway. The report states the pedestrian suffered severe bleeding to his lower leg and foot but remained conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor listed is 'Brakes Defective.' The taxi was backing up at the time of the crash. No driver errors beyond the mechanical failure are cited in the report. The pedestrian was not in the roadway and is not listed as contributing to the collision. The incident underscores the danger posed by vehicle equipment failures, especially in busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07