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

Jun 2 - A BMW SUV struck while making a U-turn on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. A ten-year-old boy in the back seat suffered an eye injury. Police cite improper turning. The street saw impact, pain, and a child left hurt by driver error.

A crash on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens left a ten-year-old boy injured. According to the police report, a BMW SUV traveling east collided with another vehicle making a U-turn. The boy, seated in the left rear, suffered a contusion to his eye. Police list 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The SUV’s left front bumper took the hit. Two other occupants, both women, were listed as uninjured. The report does not mention any helmet or signal use as factors. The data points to driver error—improper turning—at the heart of this crash. No blame is placed on the injured child.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817535 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 26 - Two sedans crashed on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. Driver distraction and improper lane use led to impact. Two women were injured, one with chest pain, one with arm wounds. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Two sedans collided on Beach Channel Drive near Beach 91st Street in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred. Driver inattention and improper lane usage were listed as contributing factors. Two women, a 32-year-old driver and a 55-year-old front passenger, suffered injuries. The driver sustained abrasions to her arm, while the passenger complained of chest pain and nausea. Both were conscious and wore seat belts. Two male occupants in the other vehicle were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report highlights 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as key errors. No mention of helmet or signal use was made. The crash underscores the persistent risk on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815792 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The cyclist was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention. Two car occupants and another person were also involved. The crash left bruises and bleeding. Systemic danger persists.

A sedan and a bicycle collided on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The crash injured a 56-year-old male cyclist, who was ejected and suffered bleeding and bruises to his lower leg and foot. Another person, also ejected, sustained a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. Two car occupants, ages 49 and 85, were involved but their injuries were unspecified. The sedan’s right front bumper struck the cyclist. The report lists no helmet or signal issues as contributing factors. The data highlights driver inattention as a key factor in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - 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

May 19 - Adams administration opens a pedestrian path on Queensboro Bridge. Federal Secretary Duffy objects. Critics say his stance ignores history and safety. The bridge once belonged to walkers. Now, the city returns space to people, not cars. Tensions flare. Vulnerable users watch.

On May 19, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the Adams administration's move to open a dedicated pedestrian path on the Queensboro Bridge. The event, not a council bill but a city action, drew sharp criticism from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who opposed removing a vehicle lane for pedestrians and cyclists. The article states: 'forcing pedestrians and cyclists in both directions to share a single lane on a bridge with nine lanes for car drivers was unsafe.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Council Member Julie Won attended the opening. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety to assess.' Still, the move restores space to those on foot and bike, challenging car dominance and federal resistance.

• Monday’s Headlines: ‘Hey, Sean, We’re Walking Here’ Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-19

May 15 - A bus hit a cyclist and a pedestrian in Queens. Both men, age 54, suffered leg injuries. The bus was turning right. No driver errors listed. Impact was sudden. The street stayed dangerous.

A bus struck a cyclist and a pedestrian on Beach Channel Drive near Dix Avenue in Queens. Both the cyclist and pedestrian, men aged 54, sustained injuries to their lower legs. According to the police report, the bus was making a right turn when the crash occurred. The cyclist was going straight, and the pedestrian was walking along the highway against traffic. No specific driver errors were listed in the report. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814703 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 14 - The city dropped plans to ban bikes on Rockaway’s boardwalk after fierce protest. Council Member Joann Ariola welcomed the reversal but demanded tougher enforcement against reckless cyclists. Locals pushed for clearer signs and marked lanes. The board voted for new safety measures.

On May 14, 2025, a proposed ban on bicycles along Rockaway Beach’s boardwalk was canceled after public backlash. The plan, discussed at a community board meeting, would have barred cyclists from Beach 108th to Beach 73rd Street during summer months. Council Member Joann Ariola, representing District 32, expressed relief at the reversal, stating, 'I’m glad that the Parks Department is going to continue allowing Rockaway residents to enjoy their bikes on the boardwalk this summer, but now we need real enforcement.' Instead of a ban, the Parks Department will increase signage and enforcement, especially near concessions. The community board voted 30-1 for new signs and called for marked bike lanes, an 8 mph speed limit, and clearer right-of-way rules. Board chair Dolores Orr stressed these safety improvements have been needed since the boardwalk’s post-Sandy rebuild.

• Controversial NYC boardwalk bicycle ban scrapped after local outrage, protests: ‘Bad timing’, nypost.com, Published 2025-05-14

May 13 - Two cars collided at Beach 122nd Street. Driver distraction sent metal into flesh. Two passengers hurt. Impact struck bumpers. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided at Beach 122nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, driver inattention and distraction caused the crash. Two passengers, a 23-year-old woman and an 82-year-old woman, suffered injuries to the leg and neck. Both drivers and two other occupants were also involved, including an infant and an 84-year-old man. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The impact struck the right front bumper of the sedan and the rear of the SUV. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812643 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - Five dead. Forty badly hurt. The Conduit slices through Queens and Brooklyn, fast and wide. DOT will study a fix. Borough presidents called for urgent change. The city will listen to neighbors. The old highway’s days are numbered. Lives hang in the balance.

""The current state of the Conduit falls significantly short of meeting the needs of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. It's confusing, it's poorly designed ... and we know the lack of sufficient pedestrian and bike infrastructure makes it even more dangerous for the neighbors of Queens and Brooklyn."" -- Donovan J. Richards

On May 13, 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a city-funded public engagement process for a major safety redesign of Conduit Boulevard, a three-mile corridor linking Atlantic Avenue to the Belt Parkway and JFK Airport. The project follows urgent requests in 2023 from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Brooklyn and Queens deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life, not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk and physically divides entire neighborhoods." The corridor has seen five deaths and 40 severe injuries in five years. The median’s dirt paths show heavy pedestrian use, but only 15 crosswalks span the stretch. The public process begins in June and may run into 2026. The redesign aims to end decades of danger for vulnerable road users.

• Can New York City Fix Its Deadly ‘Conduit’ to JFK Airport?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-13

May 8 - A cyclist struck a 75-year-old woman on the Boardwalk. She suffered a facial fracture and lost consciousness. The crash left the cyclist unhurt. Confusion played a role, police say.

A 75-year-old pedestrian was hit by a cyclist on the Boardwalk at Beach 91st Street in Queens. She suffered a facial fracture and was found unconscious. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' contributed to the crash. The cyclist, a 36-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists confusion as a factor for both parties. The cyclist wore a helmet, but the police report does not cite helmet use as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812368 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - A sedan reversed into a man on Beach Channel Drive. The impact bruised his leg. Police cite driver distraction and unsafe backing. The street stayed dangerous. The man stayed conscious.

A sedan struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian while backing on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a contusion to his lower leg and remained conscious. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The driver, a 78-year-old woman, was licensed and wore a seatbelt. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash highlights the risk to people on foot when drivers reverse without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - NYPD targets cyclists with criminal summonses. Minor infractions become court cases. Riders face fear, confusion, and entrapment. Streets grow hostile. Enforcement is uneven. Safety suffers. The crackdown punishes the vulnerable. City leaders question the policy.

On May 6, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported on the NYPD's new traffic enforcement policy targeting cyclists and e-bike riders. The policy, supported by Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch, escalates minor cycling infractions to criminal court summonses. The article, titled 'As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims,' details complaints of overzealous, inconsistent enforcement and alleged entrapment. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the need for criminal court involvement, while Comptroller Brad Lander called the crackdown 'performative' and dangerous. The safety analyst notes: 'Policies that empower discretionary or punitive enforcement against cyclists can deter active transportation, increase fear and mistrust, and shift responsibility away from systemic safety improvements, ultimately undermining population-level safety for vulnerable road users.' The crackdown draws widespread criticism for endangering those outside cars.

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - NYPD targets cyclists with criminal summonses for minor offenses. Riders face tickets for headphones, stop line slips. Complaints of entrapment rise. Advocates and lawmakers slam the crackdown. Data shows e-bikes rarely harm pedestrians. Council eyes hearings. Streets stay dangerous.

On May 6, 2025, the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists and e-bike riders for low-level traffic offenses drew sharp criticism. The policy, backed by Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch, claims to target 'quality of life' offenses. Cyclists report tickets for minor or fabricated infractions, including headphone use and stopping ahead of painted lines. Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander called the crackdown 'performative,' urging alternatives like the Idaho Stop and stricter delivery app regulation. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the need for criminal court involvement and signaled interest in a hearing. The article notes e-bike riders cause few pedestrian injuries. The City Council previously limited criminal summonses for minor infractions over racial profiling concerns. Critics say the crackdown punishes vulnerable road users while failing to improve street safety.

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 3 - SUV struck bus from behind on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. Nineteen-year-old driver injured, face hit, whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Streets remain unforgiving.

A station wagon/SUV crashed into the back of a bus on Rockaway Beach Boulevard at Beach 149 Street in Queens. One nineteen-year-old male driver suffered facial injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the contributing factor. The bus and SUV were both traveling west. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors for the drivers or occupants. The impact left the SUV's front and the bus's rear damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810892 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 2 - A driver ran a red. He sped through Queens. He hit Justin Diaz, heading to work. Diaz died. The driver, Michael Peña, faced jail, then release. The family mourns. The street remains dangerous. The system moves on.

NY Daily News reported on May 2, 2025, that Michael Peña, a former firefighter, was released from jail after being charged in a fatal crash. Police said Peña drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and ran a red light, t-boning Justin Diaz near LaGuardia Airport. Peña had a history of 25 school-zone speeding tickets. The article quotes Diaz's brother: "We're sick, angry, disgusted." Peña was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusing a breath test. The release followed an appellate judge's decision, despite community outrage. The case highlights persistent dangers from high-speed driving and repeated violations, raising questions about enforcement and bail decisions.

• Red Light Crash Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-02

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01