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

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

A moped and an SUV struck each other on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. One rider was partially ejected and injured. Unsafe lane changing played a role. The crash left bruises and shook the night. Metal and bodies collided. The street stayed dangerous.

A crash involving a moped and an SUV occurred at 71-21 Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when they collided. The moped driver, a 29-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered a knee and lower leg injury, with a contusion noted. Two other occupants, ages 74 and 29, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The moped driver was not using any safety equipment. The SUV driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. The data points to driver error—specifically unsafe lane changing—as a key cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818567 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a cyclist at 37th Avenue and 93rd Street in Queens. The cyclist was ejected and suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw blood and confusion. The car kept moving. The bike did not.

A crash on 37th Avenue at 93rd Street in Queens involved a sedan and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 37-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered a head injury with minor bleeding. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for both the sedan driver and the cyclist. The sedan, traveling east, struck the cyclist, who was heading south. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, but this is noted only after the primary cause: driver inattention. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818497 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two trucks crashed on Astoria Boulevard. A passenger and a driver suffered head injuries. Police cited driver inattention and inexperience. Metal and glass scattered. The street fell silent. Pain lingered. The system failed to protect those inside.

A pick-up truck and a box truck collided on Astoria Boulevard at 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred. A 46-year-old female passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash. The 49-year-old male driver also sustained head injuries and complained of pain and nausea. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. Both vehicles showed damage to their front and rear ends. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report highlights driver errors as central to the crash. Helmet use or turn signals were not cited as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

A sedan backed up on 97th Street and struck a northbound e-bike. The cyclist took the hit in the abdomen and pelvis. He was left bruised and hurt. The car’s rear bumper bore the mark. Night fell heavy in Queens.

A crash on 97th Street at 23rd Avenue in Queens involved a sedan and an e-bike. According to the police report, the sedan was backing up when it struck a northbound e-bike. The 39-year-old cyclist suffered injuries to his abdomen and pelvis, with a contusion noted. The sedan’s right rear bumper was damaged. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this was not listed as a contributing factor. The crash left the cyclist injured and the car marked, underscoring the risks faced by those on two wheels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a man crossing 106th Street at 32nd Avenue. The driver sped and lost focus. The pedestrian suffered a bruised hip and leg. The driver was unlicensed. The street bore the mark of impact. System failed to protect the walker.

A sedan traveling south on 106th Street at 32nd Avenue in Queens struck a 49-year-old man who was crossing in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the driver was unlicensed and listed for 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The pedestrian suffered a contusion to his hip and upper leg. The vehicle's center front end took the impact. The report notes the driver was the sole occupant of the car. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The police report makes clear: driver speed and inattention led to harm. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816377 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on 87th Street in Queens. One driver was unlicensed and fleeing police. Both cars struck hard. Injuries followed. Unsafe speed and aggressive driving fueled the crash. The street bore the brunt. Metal twisted. Lives rattled.

Two sedans crashed on 87th Street at 35th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, one vehicle was fleeing police at unsafe speed, driven by an unlicensed man. The other sedan was parked. Both drivers suffered injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The unlicensed driver’s car struck the other vehicle head-on. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report notes the use of a lap belt by one driver. The crash highlights the danger when speed and aggression mix with police pursuits on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816715 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

A sedan and flatbed truck collided on 37th Avenue in Queens. Two people were hurt. One suffered a hip injury. Another took a blow to the head. Both were left in shock. The crash followed improper lane use.

A crash involving a sedan and a flatbed truck on 37th Avenue in Queens left two people injured. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The flatbed truck was making a right turn when the crash occurred. The sedan, which was parked before the incident, sustained damage to its left rear bumper. A 54-year-old male driver suffered a hip and upper leg injury. A 49-year-old female passenger sustained a head injury. Both victims were reported in shock. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815150 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City will spend $550 million to remake Fifth Avenue. Cars keep two lanes. Buses lose out. Cyclists get nothing. Sidewalks widen, but most space stays with traffic. Critics say safety for walkers and riders is left behind.

On May 22, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the city's announcement of a $550 million redesign for Fifth Avenue. The plan, described as a 'much-compromised redesign,' keeps two car lanes, scraps a bus lane, and offers no space for cyclists. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called it a 'pedestrian-first corridor,' but critics, including Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein, slammed the move as a 'huge corporate giveaway at New Yorkers' expense.' The redesign widens sidewalks and adds planters and seating, but cars still dominate. Council members and advocates oppose the car-first approach. According to safety analysts, the event only mentions the redesign and its cost, without specifying design features or their effects on vulnerable road users; therefore, the safety impact cannot be determined from the information provided.

• Thursday’s Headlines: Car-First Fifth Avenue Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-22

A sedan turned left on 108th Street. A moped came straight. Metal struck metal. The moped driver, sixty, took the hit. He suffered arm injuries and whiplash. Police blamed driver inattention and inexperience. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A crash on 108th Street at 37th Avenue in Queens involved a sedan making a left turn and a moped traveling straight. According to the police report, both vehicles' drivers were inattentive and inexperienced. The sixty-year-old moped driver was injured, suffering arm trauma and whiplash. The sedan's right side doors were damaged; the moped's front end took the impact. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for both drivers. The moped driver wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The collision highlights the persistent risk for vulnerable road users at intersections where driver error goes unchecked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

E-bike rider hit hard on Northern Blvd. Head injury. Blood on the street. Distraction and inexperience listed. Night in Queens turns violent for the vulnerable.

A 37-year-old e-bike rider was injured on Northern Blvd near 106th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the rider suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The rider was conscious at the scene. No safety equipment was noted. The impact struck the center front end of the e-bike. No other vehicles or persons were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814780 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup struck an elderly man crossing Jericho Turnpike. The victim died days later. Police charged the driver months after the crash. The intersection remains dangerous. The law caught up, but the street stayed the same.

According to NY Daily News (published May 21, 2025), police arrested Benjamin Jean-Baptiste five months after he fatally struck 78-year-old Jose Jimenez at Jericho Turnpike and 91st Ave. in Queens. The article reports, "On Tuesday, police charged him with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, both misdemeanors." Jean-Baptiste, driving a Dodge Ram, turned left and hit Jimenez as he crossed the busy intersection. Jimenez suffered a massive head injury and died a week later. The driver remained at the scene and was later given a desk appearance ticket. This case highlights persistent risks at major crossings and the delay in holding drivers accountable for failing to yield and exercise care.

• Driver Charged Months After Queens Fatality, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-21

Two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway. A 70-year-old driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite following too closely. Impact struck center back and front ends.

A crash involving two sedans occurred on Grand Central Parkway at 94th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the collision happened when one vehicle struck the other from behind, damaging the center back and front ends. A 70-year-old male driver sustained neck injuries and was conscious at the scene. Two other occupants, including an infant, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or helmet or signal issues were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04