Queens CB2’s broken hour: deaths on Queens Boulevard, trucks in the crosswalk

Feb 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

Feb 28 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. Resolution adopted. Streets may breathe easier. Danger may shrink.

Resolution 0079-2024, adopted June 6, 2024 by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The matter title reads: 'authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The Council's action follows rising traffic deaths and growing use of Open Streets. The bill targets streets where people walk, bike, and gather, aiming to cut speed and risk for all vulnerable users.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 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

Feb 28 - Council bill targets private car permits. Only elected officials, disabled drivers, and union contracts keep parking perks. Streets may clear. Danger shifts. Committee weighs next step.

Int 0411-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after its February 28, 2024 introduction. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won, Lincoln Restler, Gale Brewer, Christopher Marte, Erik Bottcher, Alexa Avilés, and the Brooklyn Borough President, aims to 'prohibit any city agency from issuing parking permits to private vehicles that do not have an elected official license plate, and would provide for the revocation of such parking permits.' Exemptions remain for people with disabilities and collective bargaining agreements. The bill seeks to cut back on private car privileges, a move that could reshape curb space and city streets.

• File Int 0411-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes demand-based parking in crowded boroughs. DOT must set rates, tweak with notice. Exempt vehicles dodge new fees. Streets may shift. Pedestrians and cyclists watch the curb.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, Farías, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates rising or falling by real-time demand. DOT must set the range before launch and give a week’s notice for changes. Vehicles with special permits stay exempt. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 27 - Senate bill S 8658 orders $90 million for faster, more reliable buses and fare-free rides. Sponsors push MTA to act. Riders wait for relief. Streets choke on traffic. The city holds its breath.

Senate bill S 8658, introduced on February 27, 2024, sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'get congestion pricing right act,' directs the MTA to spend $45 million to boost bus frequency and reliability, and another $45 million to expand fare-free bus pilots in New York City. Senators Michael Gianaris (primary sponsor), Jabari Brisport, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Julia Salazar back the measure. The bill demands reporting on these investments. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File S 8658, Open States, Published 2024-02-27

Feb 22 - A sedan driven by an inexperienced, distracted woman rear-ended a box truck on the Long Island Expressway. Three occupants in the sedan suffered moderate injuries, including head, back, and arm trauma, all restrained but shocked and in pain.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:14 AM on the Long Island Expressway when a sedan traveling east slowed or stopped and was struck from behind by a box truck also traveling east. The sedan driver, a 31-year-old woman, was cited for driver inattention, distraction, and inexperience. The impact point was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the truck. Three occupants in the sedan, including the driver and two passengers, sustained injuries classified as severity 3, involving the head, back, and elbow-lower-arm-hand. All occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and inexperience—as contributing factors, with no mention of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - An 18-year-old male bicyclist suffered a head contusion after a crash on Queens Plaza South. The rider was conscious and not ejected. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not indicate driver errors or other vehicles involved.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:38 on Queens Plaza South in Queens. The sole vehicle involved was a bicycle traveling south, with the rider going straight ahead. The bicyclist, an 18-year-old male, sustained a head injury described as a contusion or bruise and was conscious at the scene. The report notes unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors or violations. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and the bicyclist was not ejected from the bike. Safety equipment use is unknown. The impact was at the center front end of the bicycle, causing damage to the same area. The report focuses on the injury to the bicyclist without assigning fault or noting victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702821 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - A taxi turned left on Thomson Avenue. An SUV slammed its side. Metal screamed. Blood pooled as a woman in the back seat faded, semiconscious, her face split open, her belt holding her in place. The city’s danger pressed in.

A severe collision unfolded on Thomson Avenue when a taxi making a left turn was struck on its side by an SUV proceeding straight, according to the police report. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Inside the taxi, a 49-year-old woman seated in the right rear position suffered severe facial lacerations and was found semiconscious, her lap belt and harness holding her in place. The narrative states, 'A taxi turned left. An SUV struck its side. Metal shrieked. In the back seat, a woman’s face split open. Blood pooled on the floor. She faded, semiconscious, her belt holding what the crash could not.' The violence of the impact and the cited driver inattention underscore the systemic dangers faced by passengers in New York City traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - A sedan changing lanes unsafely struck a pick-up truck on the Long Island Expressway. The collision injured the sedan driver, causing back contusions. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage, highlighting hazardous lane changes on a busy highway.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Long Island Expressway at 4:50 a.m. A sedan was changing lanes when it collided with a pick-up truck traveling westbound. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the truck's right front quarter panel. The sedan driver, a 52-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, suffered a back contusion and was injured but not ejected. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the sedan operator. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. The damage to both vehicles' front ends underscores the severity of the impact caused by the sedan's lane change maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702219 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

Feb 12 - A 46-year-old woman suffered upper leg injuries and shock after an SUV struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, striking the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, at 18:26 on Jackson Avenue in Queens, a 2023 Nissan SUV traveling south struck a 46-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver's contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, yet the vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and going straight ahead. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian beyond the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703568 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - A 5-year-old girl suffered a head contusion after a taxi struck her at an intersection. The crash occurred as she was crossing without a signal. Limited driver visibility contributed to the collision, leaving the child injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on 43 Avenue struck a 5-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with 61 Street. The child was crossing without a signal or crosswalk when the collision occurred. The pedestrian sustained a head injury described as a contusion or bruise and was conscious after the impact. The point of impact was the taxi's right front bumper. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating driver visibility issues played a role in the crash. The taxi driver was licensed and driving straight ahead at the time. No vehicle damage was reported. There is no indication of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors beyond crossing without a signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701819 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - Lawmakers want $90 million for more buses as congestion pricing nears. Gianaris and Mamdani lead the charge. Critics say it’s late. Riders on free bus lines surged. The plan faces union warnings and legal threats. Streets wait for relief.

On February 8, 2024, State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani called for $90 million to expand MTA bus service before the $15 congestion pricing toll begins. Their proposal seeks $45 million in this year’s budget to boost bus frequency, with another $45 million to triple free buses citywide. The lawmakers’ push follows a successful fare-free pilot, which Mamdani says increased ridership by over 20%. Gianaris admitted, 'It should have been done sooner.' Critics argue the move is too late, as congestion pricing was approved in 2019. Some unions warn of possible driver shortages, but Mamdani insists existing buses and operators can handle the expansion. The funding proposal comes as the congestion toll faces lawsuits and could launch by mid-June. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers ripped over push for $90M bus service expansion as $15 congestion pricing looms: ‘Covering their a—s’, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 2 - SUV and sedan slammed head-on on Hunters Point Avenue. A front passenger took the hit—back bruised, shaken but conscious. Police blamed unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 2016 Jeep SUV and a 2011 Ford sedan collided head-on at 18:20 on Hunters Point Avenue in Queens. The crash left a 29-year-old man, riding in the front passenger seat of the sedan, with back contusions and bruises. He was not ejected and remained conscious. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Both drivers, licensed men, were traveling straight ahead before impact. The sedan’s left front bumper and the SUV’s center front end bore the brunt of the damage. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699635 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - A dump truck turning right in Queens struck a westbound bicyclist on Review Avenue. The cyclist suffered severe lower leg injuries and a fractured knee. Police cited the truck driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the crash cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 AM on Review Avenue in Queens. A dump truck traveling north was making a right turn when it collided with a bicyclist traveling westbound. The bicyclist, a 51-year-old man, was injured with fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report states the bicyclist was not ejected and was conscious after the crash. The dump truck sustained no damage, while the bike was demolished. The primary contributing factor listed is the dump truck driver’s failure to yield right-of-way. The bicyclist was not cited with any contributing factors. This collision highlights the danger posed by large vehicles turning across the path of vulnerable cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699039 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 20 - A taxi driver made an improper left turn on 51 Street, striking a westbound sedan. The sedan driver, a 50-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and shock. Both vehicles sustained right front bumper damage in the early morning crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 51 Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens at 12:53 a.m. A taxi, traveling north and making a left turn, collided with a sedan going straight west. The report cites "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver's error. The sedan's driver, a 50-year-old female, was injured with neck pain and shock, wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right front bumpers. The taxi driver held a permit license, while the sedan driver was fully licensed. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision highlights the dangers of improper turning maneuvers by vehicle drivers in NYC streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696494 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19