Queens CB5: Deadly Corners, Known Fixes, stalled urgency

Aug 17 - An SUV cut left on Woodward and met a bike. Metal swung. A rider went down. She bled at the knee and stayed conscious. The driver sat belted and unhurt. Sirens filled Ridgewood air.

A westbound SUV making a left turn on Woodward Ave at Troutman St collided with a westbound bicyclist. The cyclist, a 31-year-old woman, suffered a knee and lower-leg injury and remained conscious. The SUV driver, a 48-year-old man, was uninjured. According to the police report, the sole listed factor was “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” The SUV’s action—turning left across the cyclist’s path—created the conflict that led to impact at the SUV’s left-side doors and the bike’s front end. The cyclist was reported with “Helmet Only (In-Line Skater/Bicyclist)” after the driver’s turning movement is noted. This crash underscores how a left-turning SUV can endanger a person on a bike moving straight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 17 - A northbound Honda driver struck the right side of a southbound Toyota at 63 Ave and 82 Pl in Queens. The Toyota’s 27-year-old driver suffered neck injury and whiplash; a 14-year-old rear passenger was injured. Police recorded Traffic Control Disregarded and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

The driver of a northbound Honda struck the right-side doors of a southbound Toyota at 63 Ave and 82 Pl in Queens. The Toyota’s 27-year-old driver suffered a neck injury and complained of whiplash. A 14-year-old left rear passenger was also injured. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded those driver errors for the crash. The Honda’s center-front end struck the Toyota’s right-side doors; vehicle damage entries list center-front and right-side-door damage consistent with that impact. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - An SUV cut too close and hit a northbound cyclist on Himrod Street. The rider went down, hurt and in shock. Police list distraction and close passing. Queens pavement took the blow. The SUV rolled on with no damage.

A northbound SUV struck a northbound bicyclist near 1718 Himrod St in Queens. The cyclist suffered back pain and shock. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Driver Inattention/Distraction” and “Passing Too Closely.” These driver errors put the rider on the ground. Vehicle data show a left front bumper impact to the SUV and a rear impact to the bike. The SUV had no reported damage; the cyclist was injured. The report also notes the cyclist wore a helmet, but that detail comes after the driver’s failures listed by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - Holden targets ghost plates. Int 1358-2025 would yank city-issued parking permits when drivers hide or deface tags. Referred to Transportation. Ghost plates dodge enforcement. People walking and biking feel the hit.

Int 1358-2025 is an Introduction now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025, and referred the same day. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill amends Administrative Code 19-166.1 to add plate-tampering to permit revocation triggers. It quotes its purpose plainly: “the revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” It would strip permits from individuals found guilty of parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with an obscured plate. No vote yet. The move targets a loophole that lets drivers mask identity and dodge accountability. When scofflaws skate, people outside cars pay.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Holden targets ghost plates. Int 1358-2025 would yank city-issued parking permits when drivers hide or deface tags. Referred to Transportation. Ghost plates dodge enforcement. People walking and biking feel the hit.

Int 1358-2025 is an Introduction now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025, and referred the same day. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill amends Administrative Code 19-166.1 to add plate-tampering to permit revocation triggers. It quotes its purpose plainly: “the revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” It would strip permits from individuals found guilty of parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with an obscured plate. No vote yet. The move targets a loophole that lets drivers mask identity and dodge accountability. When scofflaws skate, people outside cars pay.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council bill targets obscured plates. It would yank city parking permits from holders caught parking, stopping, or driving with defaced tags. Misuse and unpaid fines already trigger revocation. Referred to Transportation and Infrastructure.

Int 1358-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025 and sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. Status: in committee. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The bill amends Admin Code Section 19-166.1 to add revocation for obscured or defaced plates: "any violation relating to the parking, standing, stopping, or operating of a motor vehicle with an obscured or defaced license plate." Existing triggers remain: three permit misuse violations; any Section 19-166 violation; or more than $350 unpaid. Revocations follow NYPD procedures for Section 14-183 permits and DOT procedures for others. Matter title: "revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates."

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council bill targets obscured plates. It would yank city parking permits from holders caught parking, stopping, or driving with defaced tags. Misuse and unpaid fines already trigger revocation. Referred to Transportation and Infrastructure.

Int 1358-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025 and sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. Status: in committee. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The bill amends Admin Code Section 19-166.1 to add revocation for obscured or defaced plates: "any violation relating to the parking, standing, stopping, or operating of a motor vehicle with an obscured or defaced license plate." Existing triggers remain: three permit misuse violations; any Section 19-166 violation; or more than $350 unpaid. Revocations follow NYPD procedures for Section 14-183 permits and DOT procedures for others. Matter title: "revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates."

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Hidden plates beat the cameras. Pedestrians lose. Cyclists lose. Int 1358-2025 would yank city parking permits from plate cheats. It also targets permit misuse and big unpaid fines. A strike at impunity that puts people on foot and bike at risk.

Int 1358-2025 is in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, with same‑day referral. Primary sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. Co-sponsor: Robert F. Holden. The bill quotes its aim as the “revocation of city‑issued parking permits” for “obscured or defaced license plates.” It would also revoke permits for three misuse violations, any §19‑166 violation, or unpaid violations over $350. Status: Committee. Agenda date: August 14, 2025. Obscured plates block identification and undermine camera enforcement that protects people walking and cycling. This bill goes at that shield and the culture of permit misuse that lets drivers dodge accountability.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 12 - A car slammed into a food truck in Astoria. Three people died. Metal twisted. Lives ended. The street became a scene of sudden loss.

CBS New York reported on August 12, 2025, that a car crashed into a food truck at 19th Avenue and 42nd Street in Astoria, Queens, killing three people. The article quotes witnesses, including a man who 'narrowly escaped tragedy.' Details on the driver's actions remain scarce, but the crash highlights the lethal risk vehicles pose to people on city streets. The incident raises questions about street design and the exposure of workers and customers at curbside businesses.

• Car Plows Into Queens Food Truck, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 11 - A BMW turned left on Cypress and struck a woman in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. The car’s nose took her down. She was hurt and conscious. Failure to yield in broad daylight on Palmetto’s corner.

A BMW sedan making a left at Cypress Ave and Palmetto St struck a pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The woman suffered a back injury and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a left-turn hit. The data also lists “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,” but the pedestrian was in the crosswalk with the signal. Driver errors led. This was in Queens, within the 104th Precinct, at 12:50 p.m.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 11 - A westbound dump truck rear-ended a westbound sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Two women in the sedan were injured; a 29-year-old front passenger suffered crush injuries and the 42-year-old driver suffered back injuries.

A westbound dump truck struck the center back end of a westbound sedan on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Two sedan occupants were injured: a 29-year-old front passenger with crush injuries and a 42-year-old driver with back injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factors were “Traffic Control Disregarded,” “Unsafe Lane Changing,” and “Oversized Vehicle.” The sedan showed left rear bumper damage; the truck had center front-end damage consistent with a rear impact. Police listed the driver errors above. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported; the sedan passengers bore the harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834534 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 10 - A driver hit a 33-year-old man off the roadway on 60 Ave in Queens. He stayed conscious. His knee, lower leg, and foot were hurt. Police list no driver errors.

A driver hit a 33-year-old man walking off the roadway on 60 Ave in Queens. He was a pedestrian, not in the street. He stayed conscious. He suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. Police did not record failure to yield, distraction, speeding, or impairment. The report lists the vehicle type as unspecified and notes no direction of travel. It provides no information on the driver. No further details appear in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - Two northbound sedans slammed together on Woodhaven Boulevard at 66th Avenue. Front to back. Hard stop. One driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite distraction. The street did what it always does: punish the smallest mistake.

Two sedans, both heading north on Woodhaven Boulevard at 66 Avenue, collided front to back. The BMW struck the Toyota’s center back end, injuring the Toyota’s 26-year-old driver, who reported neck pain. According to the police report, the listed contributing factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” That points to a preventable lapse behind the wheel. No pedestrian or cyclist injuries were recorded in the file. Vehicle damage aligns with a rear impact: center front end to center back end. No other contributing factors were specified in the person records. The report lists one injured occupant and another with unspecified status.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834899 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 8 - DOT sides with car-first politicians. Daylighting stalls. Corners stay blind. Pedestrians and cyclists lose. Safety takes a back seat. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price.

""This bill is so bad that even the inept DOT is against it, which tells you just how radical it is."" -- Robert F. Holden

On August 8, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the clash over universal daylighting. No bill number or committee listed. DOT’s report claimed high costs and little safety gain, fueling opposition from Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden, and Vito Fossella. Council Member Julie Won and Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the report a scare tactic, urging citywide daylighting to save lives. DOT’s compromise with pro-car officials weakens protections. As safety analyst notes, this shift prioritizes cars over people, undermining vulnerable road user safety and citywide mode shift goals.

• We Told You So! DOT’s Anti-Daylighting ‘Scare Tactic’ Now Fuels Pro-Car Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 6 - A horse dies in Hell’s Kitchen. Photos spark outrage. The council stalls on banning horse-drawn carriages. Advocates warn: more crashes, more injuries, more deaths. Unions block change. Streets stay dangerous for all.

Bill 2025 to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City remains stalled as of August 6, 2025. Sponsored by Queens Councilman Robert Holden, the bill sits in the health committee, chaired by Lynn Schulman. Speaker Adrienne Adams has not stated her position. The bill, described as a push to end the city’s carriage industry, gained attention after the death of a horse named Lady. Animal rights groups rallied, warning, 'Without a ban there will be more crashes in traffic, there will be more injuries and possibly deaths.' TWU Local 100 opposes the ban. Safety analysts note that removing carriages would cut unpredictable, slow vehicles from streets, reducing crash risk and making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - Gianaris backs Mamdani for mayor. Both pushed for subway funding and fare-free buses. Their alliance signals power in transit fights. No direct safety change yet for walkers or riders.

On August 4, 2025, State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor. The two worked together on the 'Fix the MTA Act,' which invested in subways and piloted fare-free buses. Gianaris said Mamdani 'provides the energy and ideas' New Yorkers need. Mamdani thanked Gianaris for helping secure 'historic investments in subway and bus services.' This event, reported by City & State NY, shows political unity on transit. However, as no specific policy action or outcome is detailed, analysts find no direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Mike Gianaris backs Zohran Mamdani for mayor, City & State NY, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 3 - Driver swung a U-turn across Fresh Pond Road at Linden. Hit a moped going straight. Rider, 30, bled from a leg and was partly ejected. Police recorded Turning Improperly and Failure to Yield.

A driver in an SUV made a U-turn on Fresh Pond Road at Linden Street in Queens and hit a southbound moped going straight. The moped driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered a serious leg injury with severe bleeding and was partially ejected. "According to the police report, the SUV driver was making a U-turn when he hit the moped." Police recorded Turning Improperly and Failure to Yield Right-of-Way by the driver. Impact was to the SUV’s front and the rear of the moped. Records show the SUV driver held a permit. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833584 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 2 - Two drivers crashed on Jackie Robinson Parkway in Queens. Both were distracted. A driver and a right-rear passenger suffered neck injuries. Left-rear to right-front hit. Metal buckled. Sirens split the night.

Both drivers, traveling northeast, crashed on Jackie Robinson Parkway in Queens at 10:55 p.m. Two were injured: a 48-year-old driver and a 36-year-old right-rear passenger, both reporting neck pain and whiplash. According to the police report, both drivers were distracted at the time of impact; police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction for each vehicle. The contact was the right-front of one sedan into the left-rear of the other. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833182 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 2 - A driver in a sedan struck the left rear bumper of a parked Jeep on Central Ave in Queens. A 29-year-old male driver suffered neck pain and complained of whiplash. Police listed driver inattention/distraction.

A driver in a sedan struck the left rear bumper of a parked Jeep at 64-17 Central Ave in Queens. One 29-year-old man, a driver, was injured and complained of whiplash to his neck. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was listed as a contributing factor. Police recorded that the moving sedan was traveling straight ahead and made contact with the parked vehicle with its right front bumper. Damage was reported to the parked Jeep's left rear bumper and the moving sedan's right front bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 2 - On Grand Ave in Queens, a parked SUV driver swung a door into an 18‑year‑old on an e‑bike. The rider went down, arm scraped and bleeding. Police recorded driver inattention. Metal and skin. Sudden stop.

An 18-year-old e-bike rider was injured when a parked Ford SUV’s driver opened a left-side door at 65-41 Grand Ave in Queens. The rider, traveling west, hit the door and fell. He suffered an abrasion to his lower arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, officers recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction for the SUV driver as a contributing factor. The report also noted Driver Inattention/Distraction for the injured rider. The e-bike showed center-front damage; the SUV had damage to its left-side doors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19