Red Lights, Broken Lives: Queens Streets Are Killing Our Kids

Council Member Krishnan pushes a bill to cut parks project delays by a quarter. Bike and pedestrian greenways like Ocean Parkway wait years for repairs. The bill demands speed and transparency. Parks officials admit the need. The mayor’s task force circles.

On December 8, 2022, Council Member Shekar Krishnan (District 25) introduced a legislative proposal targeting the Parks Department’s long project timelines. The bill, now before the Council, calls for a 25 percent reduction in capital project durations and greater transparency through improved online tracking. Krishnan said, “The infrastructure projects, the transportation and green space projects, need to be progressing at a much much faster rate.” The bill responds to years-long delays on projects like the Ocean Parkway greenway. Parks officials acknowledge the problem and welcome collaboration. The mayor’s task force also seeks capital process reform, including design-build contracts and standardized approvals. The proposal aims to speed up critical repairs for pedestrians and cyclists, demanding accountability from city agencies.

• Council Wants to Speed Up Parks Projects (Like Those Much-Delayed Greenways!), streetsblog.org, Published 2022-12-08

Council Member Krishnan pushes bills to cut Parks project delays by a quarter. Bike and pedestrian paths rot while repairs stall for years. Lawmakers demand answers. The city’s oldest greenways stay cracked. Cyclists and walkers wait. Danger lingers.

On December 8, 2022, Council Member Shekar Krishnan introduced legislation targeting the Parks Department’s slow capital project timelines. The bills, discussed at an oversight hearing, would force Parks to devise a plan by December 1, 2023, to reduce project durations by 25 percent and improve online transparency about delays and costs. Krishnan said, “The infrastructure projects, the transportation and green space projects, need to be progressing at a much much faster rate.” The legislation responds to years-long delays on vital bike and pedestrian greenways, like Ocean Parkway, where repairs have lagged since 2019. Parks officials blame pandemic pauses and contractor reviews. The bills aim to end the cycle of neglect that leaves vulnerable road users at risk on crumbling paths. Parks spokesperson Meghan Lalor said the agency is open to working with the Council on reforms.

• Council Wants to Speed Up Parks Projects (Like Those Much-Delayed Greenways!), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-08

A drunk driver killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. The driver stayed at the scene and was arrested. Local officials mourned the loss. The deadly corridor has seen little change despite repeated deaths. The toll mounts. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 27, 2022, State Senator Jessica Ramos responded to a fatal crash in Council District 13. The incident occurred when a drunk driver struck and killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue, a Vision Zero priority corridor in Queens. The official matter summary reads: 'Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider.' Ramos urged residents, 'Please do your part to keep our neighbors safe,' and condemned drunk driving. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called the death 'senseless.' Despite five pedestrian deaths on this stretch in the past decade, major safety improvements have not been made. Ramos’s statement highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users and the city’s failure to fix deadly streets.

• Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider, amny.com, Published 2022-11-27

A drunk driver killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. The driver stayed at the scene and was arrested. Local officials mourned the loss. The deadly corridor has seen little change despite repeated deaths. The toll mounts. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 27, 2022, State Senator Jessica Ramos responded to a fatal crash in Council District 13. The incident occurred when a drunk driver struck and killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue, a Vision Zero priority corridor in Queens. The official matter summary reads: 'Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider.' Ramos urged residents, 'Please do your part to keep our neighbors safe,' and condemned drunk driving. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called the death 'senseless.' Despite five pedestrian deaths on this stretch in the past decade, major safety improvements have not been made. Ramos’s statement highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users and the city’s failure to fix deadly streets.

• Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider, amny.com, Published 2022-11-27

A motorscooter struck a sedan’s side at 37th Avenue and 82nd Street. The unlicensed rider, without a helmet, was ejected and died on the pavement. Both drivers lacked licenses. Alcohol played a role. The street stayed cold. The loss was final.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 37th Avenue and 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a motorscooter slammed into the side of a sedan. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was ejected and died from head injuries. The sedan’s driver was also unlicensed. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The data highlights systemic failures: unlicensed operation, alcohol, and lack of protective equipment. The police report states, 'He died there, alone, on the cold Queens asphalt.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 71-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck on 101 Street near 37 Avenue in Queens. The driver, making a left turn, hit the pedestrian with the vehicle’s front center. The victim suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding.

According to the police report, a driver making a left turn on 101 Street in Queens struck a 71-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained facial injuries and minor bleeding, and was in shock at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The pedestrian was not ejected and was injured at the intersection. The driver’s distraction caused the collision, resulting in serious harm to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585374 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Two sedans slammed together on 88 Street in Queens. Both drivers hurt. Rear passenger suffered whiplash. Metal twisted. No one thrown. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on 88 Street in Queens. Both vehicles traveled west when the 2010 Toyota struck the right rear bumper of a 2007 Hyundai. The Hyundai’s 24-year-old male driver and a 43-year-old female rear passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained. No ejections occurred. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The crash left both cars damaged, front and rear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584335 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A sedan struck a bicyclist traveling east on 34 Road near Junction Boulevard. The 33-year-old cyclist suffered bruises and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The driver showed signs of inattention or distraction at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on 34 Road collided with a bicyclist going straight ahead eastbound. The bicyclist, a 33-year-old man, was injured with contusions and bruises to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan's right front bumper and the bike's center front end were damaged. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A sedan pulling out from parking hit a bus traveling east on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old woman, suffered a concussion and back injury. The bus bore damage to its right front bumper. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female sedan driver was injured when her vehicle collided with a bus on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The sedan was starting from a parking spot when it struck the bus, which was going straight ahead eastbound. The impact occurred on the sedan's left side doors and the bus's right front bumper. The sedan driver sustained a concussion and back injury and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The bus driver was licensed and traveling properly. The crash highlights the dangers of inattentive driving during vehicle maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4590401 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A sedan struck a parked vehicle on 32 Avenue in Queens. The driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The impact damaged the center back end of the parked car.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on 32 Avenue rear-ended a parked GMC sedan. The driver of the moving vehicle, a 29-year-old male occupant, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. The point of impact was the center back end of the parked vehicle, causing damage there. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted. The driver was conscious and not ejected. The report does not indicate any fault or blame toward the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4580998 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Queens Community Board 2 voted to block a new SUV dealership on Northern Boulevard. Local leaders demand housing, not more cars. They cite danger, pollution, and reckless driving. Council Member Julie Won and Assembly Member González-Rojas back the board. The fight moves to City Planning.

On November 7, 2022, Queens Community Board 2 passed a resolution rejecting a rezoning application for a Lincoln SUV dealership on Northern Boulevard, Woodside. The matter, described as a call for a moratorium on car-related development, pits housing needs against car infrastructure. Council Member Julie Won supported the board, stating, "It should be a neighborhood rezoning instead of spot rezoning... we need to make it safer and more liveable." Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas also opposed the dealership, urging the space be used for affordable housing and highlighting dangerous driving by existing dealerships. Despite Borough President Donovan Richards' support for the rezoning, citing cycling and EV promotion, the application faces strong local resistance. The City Planning Commission now reviews the case, with a City Council vote possible. The board and electeds argue more cars mean more risk for pedestrians and cyclists on a deadly stretch.

• Woodside Wants Housing, But It’s Likely to Get More SUVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-07

A 51-year-old woman was injured crossing 96 Street with the signal in Queens. A sedan making a left turn hit her with its left front bumper. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Northern Boulevard made a left turn onto 96 Street in Queens. The driver, a licensed female from California, was inattentive and distracted. The vehicle struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper, causing damage to the vehicle's center front end. Driver inattention and distraction were cited as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Councilmember Joann Ariola claimed open streets, bike lanes, and traffic islands slow emergency vehicles. She blamed street safety measures for longer fire response times. FDNY officials disagreed, citing traffic volume. The debate exposes tension between safety for walkers and emergency access.

On November 5, 2022, the NYC Council debated street design and emergency response. The discussion, reported by nypost.com, focused on rising fire deaths and slower FDNY response times. The matter summary reads: 'Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures.' Councilmember Joann Ariola (District 32) argued that open street programs, bike lanes, and traffic islands hinder emergency vehicles, especially when illegal parking blocks access. She called for better enforcement. Other voices, including union leaders, echoed her concerns. However, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan defended new street designs, stating they were built with emergency input. The Department of Transportation said all projects include emergency routes and are monitored. FDNY officials attributed delays to increased post-pandemic traffic, not street safety measures. The debate highlights the ongoing conflict between car-free streets for vulnerable users and emergency vehicle access.

• Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-05

A 44-year-old man on an e-scooter crashed into the left rear quarter of a southbound SUV on 73 Street in Queens. The rider suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling westbound on 73 Street collided with the left rear quarter panel of a southbound 2021 Toyota SUV. The e-scooter rider sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a helmet. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the e-scooter and the left side doors of the SUV. No ejection occurred. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in mixed-vehicle traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579108 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A driver struck a 55-year-old woman crossing Northern Boulevard with the signal. She suffered head and internal injuries. Police cite failure to yield and improper lane use. The car showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old woman was crossing Northern Boulevard at 80 Street in Queens with the signal when a vehicle traveling east struck her at the center front end. She suffered head injuries, internal complaints, and was in shock. The report lists driver errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Passing or Lane Usage Improper. The vehicle was going straight ahead and showed no damage. No other contributing factors were noted. The pedestrian was not at fault; driver actions caused the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4587906 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

SUV struck sedan’s rear as it backed on Junction Boulevard. Both women inside suffered neck and back injuries. Driver inattention and unsafe backing fueled the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan was backing unsafely on Junction Boulevard in Queens when an SUV, following too closely and driven inattentively, struck its right rear bumper. The impact injured both the sedan’s 46-year-old female driver and her 80-year-old female passenger, causing neck and back pain. Both wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The police report lists 'Backing Unsafely,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The crash left both occupants in shock, complaining of pain and nausea.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579122 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Bus lanes crawl while people die. Advocates and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas rally on Northern Boulevard. Only 5.4 miles built, far short of the 20-mile goal. The city stalls. Streets stay deadly. Families mourn. The clock runs out.

On November 1, 2022, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas joined advocates in Jackson Heights to demand faster bus lane construction under the New York City Streets Plan. The plan, launched to comply with a 2019 law, mandates 150 miles of protected bus lanes by 2026—20 miles in 2022 alone. With two months left, only 5.4 miles were finished. González-Rojas declared, 'We demand to get our 20 miles of bus lanes.' The rally took place on Northern Boulevard, a corridor scarred by pedestrian deaths, including 9-year-old Giovanni Ampuero. His father spoke out: 'If you don’t improve the street, people are going to still get killed.' The Department of Transportation claims progress and a $900 million investment, but the pace lags. The city’s delay leaves vulnerable road users at risk, as deadly streets remain unchanged.

• Adams admin has slowed to a crawl on bus lane construction, advocates say, amny.com, Published 2022-11-01

A 28-year-old male moped driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries and a concussion after being struck from behind by an SUV. Both vehicles were traveling west on 34 Avenue. The moped driver remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 34 Avenue involving a 2006 SUV and a 2021 moped, both traveling west. The SUV struck the moped from behind, impacting the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the moped. The moped driver, a 28-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, along with a concussion. He was conscious and not ejected from his vehicle. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as the contributing factor for both vehicles, indicating driver error related to vehicle operation. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579051 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 32-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries in Queens. The crash involved driver inattention. The cyclist was conscious but fractured and dislocated his knee and lower leg. The bike sustained left-side damage.

According to the police report, a bicyclist traveling south on 32-15 100 Street in Queens was injured when a collision occurred involving driver inattention or distraction. The 32-year-old male bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene. The bike suffered damage to its left side doors, while the other vehicle involved showed no damage. No helmet or signaling factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577182 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

An 18-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and fractured his knee and lower leg after colliding with a turning SUV on 83 Street in Queens. The SUV driver was distracted. The e-bike struck the SUV’s rear bumper, suffering severe injuries.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male riding an e-bike was injured and ejected after colliding with a 2022 Kia SUV making a right turn on 83 Street in Queens. The e-bike was traveling south, and the SUV was traveling north. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike and the left rear bumper of the SUV. The injured rider suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and distracted at the time of the crash. No helmet or other safety equipment was noted for the e-bike rider. A parked 2011 Ford SUV was also damaged on its right side doors but had no occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10