Queens Bleeds While Leaders Stall: End Street Deaths Now

A 13-year-old boy riding a bike was ejected and injured in a collision with an SUV traveling southbound in Queens. The crash caused fractures and dislocations to the boy’s lower leg and foot. Unsafe speed by the driver contributed to the impact.

According to the police report, at 10:33 AM in Queens near 95-68 112 Street, an SUV traveling southbound collided head-on with a westbound bike driven by a 13-year-old boy. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor on the part of the SUV driver. Additionally, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was noted as a contributing factor related to the bicyclist. Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. The report does not attribute fault to the bicyclist but highlights driver error and unsafe speed as primary causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756064 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

SUV hit sedan on Atlantic Avenue. Driver in sedan suffered head injury. Police cite traffic control disregard. Night crash. System failed to protect. Metal and flesh collided.

According to the police report, an SUV and a sedan collided at 11:30 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue near 130 Street in Queens. The SUV struck the sedan's left front bumper with its center front end. The sedan's driver, a 44-year-old woman, suffered a head contusion but remained conscious and restrained. Police listed 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor, highlighting a failure to obey traffic signals. No other factors were cited. The crash left one person injured and exposed the danger of ignored controls on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756063 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

SUV veered, struck a 27-year-old cyclist. Rider thrown, body battered. Shock set in. Bike untouched. Metal and flesh collided on Vanwyck Expressway. Unsafe lane change left pain and chaos.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male bicyclist was riding south on Vanwyck Expressway in Queens when a southbound SUV changed lanes unsafely and struck him. The SUV’s right front quarter panel hit the cyclist’s left side, ejecting him from his bike. The bicyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and experienced shock and pain. The SUV, a 2005 model with two occupants, was damaged on its right front quarter panel. The police report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor. No contributing factors related to the bicyclist’s behavior or safety equipment are noted. The crash underscores the risk posed by reckless driver actions to people on bikes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A sedan’s faulty brakes failed in Queens. The driver, a 22-year-old woman, suffered facial bruises. The crash struck the left front bumper. She stayed conscious. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old female driver was injured when her sedan crashed near 94-28 87 Street in Queens at 8:19 PM. The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the contributing factor. The driver was making a U-turn when the vehicle struck its left front bumper. She suffered facial contusions and bruises but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt. No other people were injured. The police report highlights mechanical failure—defective brakes—as the cause of the crash. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Councilwoman Joann Ariola called out Tiffany Cabán for racking up school-zone speeding tickets while pushing to cut car use. Cabán’s platform promised safer streets and fewer cars. Ariola and others say the tickets show a gap between words and actions.

On August 10, 2024, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (District 32) publicly criticized Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán after media reports revealed Cabán received four school-zone speeding tickets and three other violations since November 2022. The matter, covered by the New York Post, states: 'Cabán—who was elected to office on a platform advocating less car use and cracking down on dangerous driving—received four tickets in the past 13 months for speeding her vehicle in school zones.' Ariola, joined by Councilman Robert Holden, accused Cabán of hypocrisy, highlighting the disconnect between Cabán’s advocacy for street safety and her own driving record. Cabán’s policy platform includes converting 25% of city roadways for people, building 1,000 miles of car-free streets, and expanding bus and bike lanes. No formal council bill or committee action is attached to this event, but the public dispute underscores tensions in the city’s push for safer, less car-dominated streets.

• Socialist NYC Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán has amassed nearly $500 in traffic tickets despite pushing anti-car agenda: ‘Hypocrisy’, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-10

A high-speed crash on 114 Street in Queens sent three riders flying. Two drivers and one passenger suffered bruises and fractures. All were ejected from their vehicles. Unsafe speed caused the violent impact, leaving injuries to neck, limbs, and joints.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:08 on 114 Street near Atlantic Avenue in Queens. The collision involved a moped traveling west and an e-scooter heading south, both going straight ahead. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for both drivers. Three males were injured: a 30-year-old moped driver, a 16-year-old e-scooter driver, and a 16-year-old passenger on the moped. All three were ejected from their vehicles. Injuries included contusions and bruises to the neck and lower limbs, as well as a fracture and dislocation to the elbow and hand. None of the injured wore safety equipment. The report highlights driver error—specifically unsafe speed—as the cause of the crash and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746791 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

An e-scooter driver traveling north on Metropolitan Avenue suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision caused by a vehicle failing to yield right-of-way. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected from the scooter.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens at 4:00 p.m. The scooter was traveling straight ahead when it collided with a vehicle making a right turn. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor to the crash. The e-scooter driver sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The driver was licensed in New York and was the sole occupant of the scooter. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. Vehicle damage was centered on the front end of the scooter, indicating impact at the center front.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A motorcycle rider was ejected and injured in a rear-end collision with an SUV on Van Wyck Expressway. The SUV driver’s inattention caused the crash. The motorcyclist wore a helmet but suffered back contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on the Van Wyck Expressway involving a motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle (SUV), both traveling southbound. The SUV struck the motorcycle from behind, impacting the motorcycle’s center front end and the SUV’s center back end. The motorcycle rider, a 20-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained back injuries described as contusions and bruises. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention, leading to the rear-end collision. The motorcyclist was conscious after the crash but suffered injury severity level 3. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746074 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A box truck making a left turn collided with an SUV traveling west on 103 Street in Queens. The SUV driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed as the primary contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on 103 Street in Queens was making a left turn when it collided with a westbound SUV. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the truck. The SUV driver, a 40-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report explicitly identifies unsafe speed as the contributing factor for the crash, repeated twice for emphasis. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally, but the truck driver's left turn combined with unsafe speed led to the collision. No victim behaviors or other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743658 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 15-year-old male driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision involving an SUV in Queens. The crash occurred at 88 Street and 85 Road, with unsafe speed cited as a contributing factor. The driver was not ejected but experienced shock.

According to the police report, the crash happened at 17:49 in Queens near 88 Street and 85 Road. A 15-year-old male driver of a stand-up vehicle was injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the collision. The SUV involved was traveling west and struck the right rear bumper of the stand-up vehicle, which was traveling south. The injured driver was not ejected and was in shock at the scene. The police report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on the driver's unsafe speed as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A sedan rear-ended a northbound car on Vanwyck Expressway. A 31-year-old woman in the right rear seat suffered head injuries and whiplash. No driver errors listed. Impact left the passenger hurt and cars damaged.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Vanwyck Expressway struck the right rear bumper of another vehicle also heading north. The crash injured a 31-year-old female passenger seated in the right rear of the impacted car. She suffered head injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated at level 3. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite any explicit driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured passenger was conscious and not ejected. The report does not mention helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742108 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Low-density districts block City of Yes. Most community boards vote no. High-density areas back the plan. The fight centers on housing, parking, and who bears the city’s growth. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait as politics stall change.

Bill: City of Yes housing proposal. Status: Community board votes and public testimony as of July 22, 2024. Of 57 boards, 38 opposed the plan, 20 supported it, mostly in denser neighborhoods. The proposal, described as aiming to build 'a little more housing in every neighborhood,' faces resistance in low-density areas. Council Member Joann Ariola (R-Woodhaven) opposed more housing in her district, calling it 'suburbs.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized neighborhoods that refuse new housing, saying it increases pressure on poorer areas. Arlene Schlesinger, a Queens resident, voiced strong opposition, especially to lifting parking mandates and adding accessory dwelling units. Community boards, often older and whiter, resist change, leaving the city’s most vulnerable to bear the brunt of housing and transportation inequity.

• Map: How Did Community Boards Vote on ‘City of Yes’ Housing Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-22

Queens council members slammed the City of Yes plan. They called new housing near transit a threat. They fought against ending parking mandates. Most public testimony backed the reforms. But Queens officials stood firm, defending car-centric streets and single-family homes.

On July 11, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on the City of Yes zoning reforms. The proposal aims to increase housing near transit, allow mixed-use zoning, and eliminate parking mandates. Council Members Joann Ariola and Vicki Paladino led opposition, calling the plan an 'unmitigated disaster' and disputing housing data. Ariola argued, 'That's what they bought in the suburbs for.' Other Queens officials and residents echoed fears for single-family homeowners and suburban 'character.' In contrast, Borough President Donovan Richards's spokesperson and some residents supported the reforms, citing the city's affordability crisis. The majority of public testimony favored the proposal, but entrenched opposition from Queens officials remains strong. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• ‘Suburban’ Queens Stalwarts Take Hard Line Against Housing — To Rest of City’s Detriment, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-11

Three vehicles collided in a chain reaction on Queens’ Hillside Avenue. A pick-up truck struck two sedans from behind. The pick-up driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited repeated following too closely as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:50 on Hillside Avenue in Queens. A pick-up truck, traveling east, struck two sedans from behind in a chain-reaction collision. The pick-up truck driver, a 37-year-old male, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly lists 'Following Too Closely' three times as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in maintaining unsafe distances. The pick-up truck driver was unlicensed, adding to the systemic danger. The sedans were both traveling east; one was making a right turn before impact. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The collision caused front-end damage to the pick-up and rear-end damage to both sedans.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738537 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two men suffered neck injuries in a multi-sedan crash on 121 Street in Queens. Both drivers were conscious and wearing seat belts. The collision involved rear-end impacts caused by following too closely, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:40 on 121 Street in Queens involving three sedans traveling southbound. The report cites "Following Too Closely" as the primary contributing factor. Two male drivers, ages 37 and 66, were injured with neck injuries described as whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses at the time of the collision. The vehicles sustained center front and center back-end damage consistent with a rear-end chain reaction. The report explicitly notes driver error in maintaining unsafe following distances, leading to the pileup. No pedestrian or cyclist involvement was reported. The focus remains on driver failure to keep proper spacing, which triggered the crash and subsequent injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05