Queens Bleeds While Leaders Stall—How Many More Must Die?

Two sedans collided on Beach Channel Drive. One driver turned improperly. A 20-year-old woman in the turning car suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Impact was violent. Streets failed to protect her.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed at 11:15 a.m. on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. One driver made an improper turn and struck another sedan traveling straight. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the main contributing factor. A 20-year-old female passenger in the turning vehicle was injured, suffering whiplash and injuries to her entire body. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. No contributing factors related to the passenger's actions were listed. The crash underscores the danger of improper turning in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696265 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Concrete barriers on Park Avenue bike lanes promised safety. Drivers ignored them. Cars block both ends. Cyclists forced into traffic. Police rarely ticket. Council stalls on citizen reporting. The city’s fix failed. Cyclists pay the price.

On January 12, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported on the failure of new concrete barriers meant to protect bike lanes on Park Avenue in the Bronx. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, installed these barriers in fall 2023, aiming to 'harden' bike lanes in a borough with few safe cycling routes. Cyclists like Joseph Rienti say the barriers are better than nothing, but drivers now park at both ends, forcing riders into car traffic. Rienti urges better design or enforcement, not removal. Police enforcement is almost nonexistent: less than 2 percent of 76,000 complaints led to tickets. City Council, including Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, has not advanced a bill allowing citizen reporting of blocked lanes, despite majority support. DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno promises to work with police, but for now, the barriers fail to protect vulnerable cyclists.

• Barriers Fail To Keep Drivers From Blocking Bronx Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-12

A 64-year-old woman was injured crossing a marked crosswalk on Beach 130 Street in Queens. The driver, making a left turn, struck her with the SUV’s front center. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:30 PM on Beach 130 Street near Cronston Avenue in Queens. A 64-year-old female pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when she was struck by a 2017 Jeep SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in a complaint of pain and nausea and emotional shock. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the driver failed to notice the pedestrian. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian's crossing behavior was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle eastbound at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

An unlicensed driver slammed into a stopped sedan on Seagirt Boulevard. The front passenger took a blow to the head and suffered whiplash. Metal twisted. The street bore the mark of reckless hands.

According to the police report, a crash unfolded at 17:37 on Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. An unlicensed male driver in a GMC sedan rear-ended a stopped sedan. The front passenger, a 49-year-old woman, suffered head injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and belted. The report lists the driver’s unlicensed status as a critical error. Both cars were badly damaged—front and rear crushed. No other contributing factors appear in the report. The collision’s cause is clear: an unlicensed driver behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Mayor Adams missed the law’s targets for protected bike and bus lanes in 2023. Projects stalled. Promises broken. Streets stayed dangerous. City Council called out the failure. Vulnerable road users paid the price. The plan sits ignored. Lives remain at risk.

""Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

In 2023, under Mayor Adams, New York City failed to meet the Streets Master Plan’s legal mandate: 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected or enhanced bus lanes. This was the second year of missed targets since the law’s 2019 passage. The plan, created by then-Council Speaker Corey Johnson, aimed to make streets safer and more equitable. Key projects—like McGuinness Boulevard bike lanes and Fordham Road bus lanes—were delayed or canceled. The Department of Transportation blamed staff shortages and budget cuts. Transportation Committee Chairwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' She also criticized the DOT’s lack of transparency. Speaker Adrienne Adams joined calls for compliance but admitted the Council’s enforcement tools are limited. Without mayoral commitment, the plan’s promise for safer streets remains unfulfilled.

• In 2023, Mayor Adams Basically Erased the ‘Streets Master Plan’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-02

Mayor Adams missed legal targets for protected bike and bus lanes in 2023. Projects were delayed or canceled. The city cited staff shortages and budget cuts. Council members condemned the failures. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Promises faded. Danger persists.

""Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

In 2023, Mayor Adams failed to meet the mandates of the 2019 Streets Master Plan, which required 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected or enhanced bus lanes. The law, championed by then-Speaker Corey Johnson, aimed for safer, more equitable streets. Key projects, including bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard and Ashland Place, and bus lanes on Fordham Road, were stalled or abandoned. The Department of Transportation blamed staff shortages and budget cuts. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other members voiced frustration but admitted limited power to enforce compliance. Council Member Chi Ossé was mentioned in coverage. Without mayoral commitment, the plan’s promise to protect vulnerable road users remains unfulfilled. The city’s vision for safer streets is at risk.

• In 2023, Mayor Adams Basically Erased the 'Streets Master Plan', streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-02

A 56-year-old man was injured in a crash on Rockaway Freeway. The driver, a male, suffered a concussion. He was conscious but hurt. Distraction was a factor in the collision.

A collision occurred on Rockaway Freeway in Queens, injuring a 56-year-old male driver. According to the police report, the driver experienced a concussion and was conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor was driver inattention and distraction. The driver was operating a 2013 Mazda SUV, traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred at the right front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved in the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A hit-and-run truck killed an 82-year-old cyclist on Northern Boulevard. The driver fled. This marks the 29th cyclist death in 2023. Councilmember Brooks-Powers blasted DOT for missing legal bike lane targets. Streets remain deadly. Progress is slow. Accountability is lacking.

On December 28, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers responded to the death of an 82-year-old cyclist killed by a hit-and-run truck on Northern Boulevard. This incident marked the 29th cyclist fatality in 2023, a grim milestone in a year of rising traffic violence. Brooks-Powers criticized the Adams administration and the Department of Transportation for failing to meet the Streets Plan's legal requirement of 50 miles of protected bike lanes, achieving only about 30 miles. She stated, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Brooks-Powers also condemned the missed bus lane targets and called out DOT's lack of transparency, pledging to hold the agency accountable and push for safer, more equitable streets. The city faces more cars, more crashes, and more injuries, while vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Another Cyclist Killed in One of the Deadliest Years on Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-28

A 31-year-old moped driver was injured in Queens. The crash occurred on Norton Avenue. The driver suffered an abrasion to the elbow. Aggressive driving and unsafe speed contributed to the incident.

A moped driver, 31, was injured in a crash on Norton Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when the incident occurred. The driver was conscious but sustained an abrasion to the elbow, classified as a severe injury. The police report cites aggressive driving and unsafe speed as contributing factors. No safety equipment was used by the driver at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692089 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Conduit Avenue kills. Brooklyn and Queens borough presidents call it urgent. They want DOT to turn this deadly, crash-heavy road into a safe corridor. In less than two years, 1,321 crashes. Seventy pedestrians and 14 cyclists hurt. Five dead. DOT silent.

On December 14, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pressed the Department of Transportation to overhaul Conduit Avenue. Their letter called for a transformation of the avenue, described as "one of the most dangerous and non-inclusive roadways in the entire city." The officials urged DOT to prioritize traffic safety, cycling and mass transit infrastructure, pedestrian walkability, and green space. Between January 2022 and December 2023, Conduit Avenue saw 1,321 crashes, injuring 880 people—including 70 pedestrians and 14 cyclists—and killing five. Three intersections are listed as DOT pedestrian safety priorities, but the corridor itself is not. Richards and Reynoso have formed a task force and are pushing for action. DOT has not commented.

• Boob Tube: Brooklyn, Queens Leaders Want DOT to Fix Dangerous Conduit Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

MTA plans $30 million for Queens bus overhaul. Eight new routes. More frequent service for thousands. Stops spaced farther apart. Most riders keep their stops. Councilmember Brooks-Powers doubts gains for her district. Borough President Richards backs the plan. Rollout not before 2025.

The MTA’s Queens Bus Network Redesign, announced December 12, 2023, proposes $30 million in service upgrades and expands local routes from 83 to 91. The plan, under review since 2020, aims to boost 10-minute-or-better service for 200,000 more residents, raising coverage from 60.1% to 68.9%. The official summary states the redesign will 'streamline and speed up service.' Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers voiced 'serious concerns' about disadvantages for her district, especially with congestion pricing. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, once critical, now supports the draft after public outreach. State Senator Leroy Comrie noted Brooks-Powers wants clarity for her community, not outright rejection. The redesign awaits further input and is expected no sooner than 2025. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• MTA’s Queens Bus Redesign: $30M in Service, 8 More Routes, Skepticism from Brooks-Powers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-12

MTA revealed its final Queens bus overhaul. Routes shift. Stops thin out. Riders brace for longer walks. Council Member Brooks-Powers warns of harm to her district. The city lags on bus lanes. Public review looms. Vulnerable riders face uncertainty.

On December 12, 2023, the MTA released its final proposal for the Queens bus network redesign. The plan, shaped by two years of outreach, proposes 121 routes—eight more than before—but cuts and combines stops, aiming for straighter lines and faster trips. The matter summary states the redesign seeks 'improved travel speed and reliability.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, voiced 'serious concerns about the proposal’s impact on her constituents, especially with the looming arrival of congestion pricing.' She called for an 'equitable and balanced' approach. The plan faces backlash over wider stop spacing and fewer stops, which could force longer walks for riders—many of them elderly or disabled. The city has failed to meet its legal mandate for new bus lanes, building only 18 miles this year. The proposal enters public review ahead of a 2025 rollout.

• MTA unveils final proposal for Queens bus network redesign, amny.com, Published 2023-12-12

A Toyota sedan tore down Cross Bay Boulevard. It hit hard, left side first. The driver, alone, was thrown from the car. Chest crushed. Unsafe speed and alcohol fueled the crash. He died on the street, harness strapped, darkness all around.

A 27-year-old man driving a 1993 Toyota sedan on Cross Bay Boulevard near East 1st Road in Queens was killed after his car struck left-side first and he was ejected from the vehicle. According to the police report, 'Speed and alcohol behind the wheel. Dead on the street.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The driver was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness. The impact crushed his chest. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of unsafe speed, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

An unlicensed e-bike driver, partially ejected, hit the right rear quarter of a stopped SUV on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The 35-year-old man suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Alcohol and driver inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male e-bike driver collided with the right rear quarter panel of a stopped Jeep SUV on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The e-bike driver was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists alcohol involvement and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed. The SUV driver was licensed and stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The collision caused damage to the left side doors of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685633 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Two SUVs crashed head-to-back on Beach 139 Street in Queens. Three occupants suffered internal injuries to face and neck. Drivers and a passenger were in shock. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage. All occupants wore harnesses and were not ejected.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Beach 139 Street in Queens. The crash involved a 2017 SUV and a 2018 SUV, both traveling westbound. The point of impact was the center front end of one vehicle and the center back end of the other. Three occupants were injured: a 31-year-old female driver with facial injuries, an 80-year-old male driver with neck injuries, and a 76-year-old female front passenger also with neck injuries. All occupants were restrained with harnesses and none were ejected. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors identified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Mayor Adams will ban parking near 1,000 intersections each year. The city aims to clear corners, boost sightlines, and protect people on foot. Advocates pushed for this. The plan outpaces current law but leaves thousands of corners untouched for decades.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive policy: New York City will remove car parking near 1,000 intersections annually, far exceeding the 100 intersections required by recent Council law. The effort, known as daylighting, aims to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. Adams said, 'Protecting New Yorkers is my most sacred responsibility as mayor.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers praised daylighting as 'a proven safety measure.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stressed that daylighting must include physical infrastructure to prevent reckless turns. The Department of Transportation will also add raised crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and leading pedestrian signals at 1,000 intersections next year. The city will expand speed restriction technology in its fleet and increase data transparency. Advocates and community boards have long called for these changes. With nearly 47,000 intersections citywide, the plan will take decades to reach every corner.

• Adams Says He’ll Ban Parking Near 1,000 Intersections Every Year To Make Corners Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

Mayor Adams wavers on congestion pricing. He questions the $15 toll, stirring opposition. Experts slam his stance. Councilmember Brooks-Powers voices concern for drivers, but data shows most benefit. The mayor’s shift weakens support for safer, saner streets.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams publicly questioned New York City’s incoming congestion pricing plan, specifically the proposed $15 peak toll. The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, quotes Adams: the fee is 'the beginning of the conversation' and exemptions must be considered. Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, echoed concerns, saying the toll 'is going to put definitely a hardship on many of my constituents.' Experts Bruce Schaller and Danny Pearlstein criticized Adams, urging him to champion the program’s benefits for transit riders and the environment. The mayor’s office later clarified his comments focused on city workers in city vehicles. The article notes that while a small fraction of Brooks-Powers’s constituents drive into Manhattan, all would benefit from improved transit. Adams’s wavering undermines momentum for a policy proven to reduce traffic and protect vulnerable road users.

• Cycle of Rage: Mayor is Failing the Leadership Test on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

A sedan and an SUV collided head-on on Beach 35 Street. The sedan’s driver, a 67-year-old man, suffered a hip and upper leg injury. Police cited traffic control disregard as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound at impact.

According to the police report, a 2024 Nissan sedan and a 2023 Jeep SUV collided on Beach 35 Street. The sedan’s driver, a 67-year-old man, was injured with hip and upper leg trauma but was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. The crash involved impact to the right front quarter panel of the sedan and the center front end of the SUV. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a driver error contributing to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead eastbound at the time of collision. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682964 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

An 11-year-old boy was struck by a northbound sedan on Hassock Street in Queens. The boy suffered a head contusion and remained conscious. The sedan hit the pedestrian with its center front end. The boy was injured outside an intersection.

According to the police report, an 11-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2020 Jeep sedan traveling north on Hassock Street in Queens. The collision occurred away from an intersection, with the vehicle impacting the pedestrian at the center front end. The boy sustained a head contusion but remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian's actions and does not identify any driver errors or violations. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No safety equipment or helmet use is noted. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A sedan driven by an unlicensed man struck a parked SUV in Queens. The sedan’s front center hit the SUV’s rear center. The driver, unconscious and injured, was the only occupant. Illegal drug use was a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south struck a parked SUV from behind on 215 Beach 116 Street in Queens. The sedan’s driver, a 56-year-old man, was injured and found unconscious. The driver was unlicensed, which is a critical error contributing to the crash. The SUV was occupied by a licensed female driver but was stationary at the time. The report lists illegal drug use as a contributing factor. The sedan sustained front-end damage, and the SUV was damaged at the rear center. No ejections occurred. The driver’s injury severity was rated as serious, but no further details on bodily injury were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679410 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13