No More Empty Chairs: Demand Safe Streets Now

Two cars slammed head-on. Metal screamed. A young man bled from the face, trapped in the front seat. Both drivers, women, hurt. Alcohol fueled the crash. The SUV rolled south. The sedan stopped. The night stayed cold and loud.

A head-on collision on the Major Deegan Expressway left three people injured. According to the police report, two vehicles—a sedan and an SUV—struck each other front-to-front at 2:50 a.m. A 22-year-old male passenger suffered severe bleeding from the face. Both drivers, women, were also hurt. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The SUV continued south after the crash; the sedan did not. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. According to the police report, driver impairment led to this violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4627829, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1030-2023 would force DOT to show its hand. Every traffic signal and speed bump request, tracked online. Status, reason, and timeline—no more black box. The bill died in committee, but the demand for sunlight remains.

Int 1030-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to post details of all traffic control device and speed reducer requests on a public website. The matter summary reads: 'The required website would include, but need not be limited to, the following information: case number, general topic, issue, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial of traffic control device, and if approved, the timeline for completion.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by 21 co-sponsors including Williams, Hanif, and Yeger. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to end secrecy around life-saving street changes. Public access to this data could expose delays and denials that keep streets deadly.

• File Int 1030-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

Top NYPD brass told council members cops park on sidewalks for lack of legal spots. Councilmember Stevens called it a major problem. Advocates and public blasted the excuse. The mayor’s promises ring hollow as placard abuse and blocked sidewalks persist.

On March 20, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on NYPD illegal parking practices. The session focused on the widespread use of sidewalks for police parking. Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey defended the practice, saying, 'There’s not enough parking spots.' Councilmember Althea Stevens, representing District 16, highlighted the issue’s impact on her district: 'It becomes very difficult. And not just for me, but even to drive down.' Councilmember Gale Brewer also pressed the NYPD, calling for fewer police and private cars parked illegally. Transit advocates and the public questioned why officers do not use public transit. The Adams administration claims it will crack down on illegal parking, but past actions suggest otherwise. The hearing exposed the city’s failure to protect sidewalks for pedestrians, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Top NYPD official claims cops park on sidewalks because there’s nowhere else to park on the streets, amny.com, Published 2023-03-20

A 47-year-old man died on Webster Avenue. Two SUVs struck him outside the crosswalk. Steel crushed bone. The street was still. Driver inattention fueled the impact. One driver suffered head pain. The city counted another lost life.

A 47-year-old pedestrian was killed on Webster Avenue when two SUVs struck and crushed him outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, "A 47-year-old man was struck and crushed by two SUVs outside the crosswalk. One came down from Georgia, its front end shattered." The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. One driver, a 58-year-old man, was injured with head pain. No other serious injuries were reported. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed by inattentive drivers in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606635, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0879-2023 would force DOT to install bollards at rebuilt sidewalks, curb extensions, and ramps. The law targets spots where cars strike. It demands a study, annual reports, and clear rules. Filed at session’s end. No action yet.

Int 0879-2023 was introduced on January 19, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions and pedestrian ramps,” was sponsored by Council Members Brooks-Powers, Krishnan (primary), Stevens, Hanif, Hudson, Richardson Jordan, Riley, and the Manhattan Borough President. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian ramps, especially where accessibility upgrades are made. It mandates a study on bollard effectiveness in high pedestrian areas and demands annual reporting on installations and requests. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no enactment. The measure aims to harden pedestrian space, forcing the city to act where cars threaten walkers and wheelchair users.

• File Int 0879-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-01-19

Council bill Int 0883-2023 sought to double fines for e-bike and e-scooter violations. It aimed to restore impoundment powers and repeal recent legal protections. The measure targeted riders, not drivers. The bill died at session’s end. Vulnerable users remain exposed.

Int 0883-2023 was introduced in the City Council on January 19, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill proposed to amend the administrative code by expanding the definition of 'motorized scooter' to include e-bikes and e-scooters, raising civil penalties for violations from $250 to $500, and restoring impoundment authority. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the operation of motorized scooters, and to repeal subdivision e of section 19-176.2 of such code, relating to operators of electric scooters and bicycles with electric assist.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Robert F. Holden, Inna Vernikov, Joann Ariola, Vickie Paladino, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Kalman Yeger, and James F. Gennaro sponsored the bill. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst assessment was provided. The bill’s focus was on enforcement and penalties, not on systemic danger from cars.

• File Int 0883-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-01-19

Council filed a bill to form an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. The board would unite NYPD, DOT, and DOE. Twice a year, it would report on guard placement. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain unchanged.

Int 0871-2022 was introduced on December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to create an advisory board with the NYPD, Department of Transportation, and Department of Education to oversee school crossing guard deployment. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment." Council Members Kamillah Hanks (primary sponsor), Althea V. Stevens, Sandra Ung, Amanda Farías, Rita C. Joseph, and Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, with support from the Bronx Borough President. The board would submit biannual reports to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• File Int 0871-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council pushed for a map showing every crossing guard post. The NYPD would have to put it online. The bill died in committee. Streets stay opaque. Kids and elders cross in the dark.

Int 0870-2022 was introduced on December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to require the NYPD to post a map of all crossing guard locations on its website. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Louis, Joseph, Farías, Restler, Hudson, Ung, Avilés, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. If passed, it would have shed light on where the city protects its most vulnerable at the curb. Instead, the public remains in the dark about guard coverage at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0870-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

A 72-year-old man stepped from behind a parked car on East 168th Street. An Audi SUV struck him head-on. His shoulder shattered. Bones broke. He died in the street as darkness fell. The driver disregarded traffic control and sped on.

A 72-year-old pedestrian was killed on East 168th Street when an eastbound Audi SUV struck him head-on. According to the police report, the man emerged from behind a parked car and was hit by the SUV, which caused fatal injuries to his upper arm and shoulder. The report states, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV sustained damage to its center front end. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupant. The data shows the driver failed to obey traffic signals and was traveling at an unsafe speed, leading to the deadly impact. The victim died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591971, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A diesel truck turned right on Grant Highway. An e-bike rider kept straight. Metal struck flesh. The 25-year-old cyclist hit the pavement, hip shattered, skin burned. His bike lay twisted. The truck rolled on, oversized and unscathed.

A diesel tractor truck collided with an e-bike at Grant Highway near West 169th Street. The truck made a right turn as the e-bike rider, a 25-year-old man, continued straight. According to the police report, 'A diesel truck turned right. An e-bike kept straight. Metal caught flesh.' The cyclist suffered severe burns and a broken hip. The report lists 'Oversized Vehicle' as a contributing factor. No helmet was worn by the cyclist, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the truck's role. The truck sustained no damage. Multiple truck occupants were involved but not injured. The crash highlights the danger oversized vehicles pose to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584189, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

Council Member Stevens and others urge DOT to fix the Washington Bridge. They want a two-way bike lane, wider walkways, better lights, and cameras. The bridge is old, narrow, and dark. Crossing is risky. They demand action to protect people.

On September 22, 2022, Council Member Althea Stevens joined Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and Council Member Carmen de la Rosa in a joint letter to the Department of Transportation. The letter calls for urgent upgrades to the 133-year-old Washington Bridge. The officials demand a two-way protected bike lane, wider pedestrian paths, improved lighting, and safety cameras. The letter states: 'The city has done a terrific job of making wise investments in improving mobility on both sides of the Harlem River, but left the bridge with just two very narrow, poorly lit lanes for foot and bike traffic.' Stevens and her colleagues stress that the bridge is unsafe for people on foot and bike. They urge DOT to act, citing the need to reduce traffic deaths and make the bridge safe for all.

• Exclusive: BPs Levine and Gibson pen letter to DOT calling for upgrades to Washington Bridge, amny.com, Published 2022-09-22

A bike struck a four-year-old girl off River Avenue. Blood streamed from her face. She stayed conscious. The cyclist did not stop. The bike rolled on, leaving the child injured and alone.

A four-year-old girl was hit by a cyclist near River Avenue and East 164th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A bike struck a 4-year-old girl off the roadway. Blood poured from her face. She stayed conscious. The rider did not stop.' The child suffered severe bleeding to her face but remained conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The cyclist continued north without stopping. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report. The crash left a young pedestrian injured and the cyclist unaccounted for.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563623, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 28-year-old man rode fast down Macombs Road. No helmet. He crashed hard. The impact threw him from his motorcycle. He landed headfirst. Blood pooled on the street. No other vehicles. Only silence and injury.

A single-vehicle crash on Macombs Road left a 28-year-old man severely injured. According to the police report, the man was riding a 2015 Honda motorcycle without a helmet when he lost control at unsafe speed and struck an object. The impact ejected him from the bike. He landed headfirst, semiconscious, bleeding from the skull. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. No other people or vehicles were involved. The absence of a helmet is noted in the report, but the primary causes remain unsafe speed and inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543485, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes hit a 13-year-old boy riding his bike on Claremont Parkway. The car struck from behind. The boy flew off, cut and shaking. The car’s front was clean. The boy’s body was not. He was left in shock, bleeding in the street.

A 13-year-old boy riding a bike north on Claremont Parkway near Webster Avenue was struck from behind by a Mercedes. According to the police report, the boy was ejected from his bike, suffering severe lacerations and shock. The report states, 'A 13-year-old boy on a bike, no helmet, struck from behind by a Mercedes. Ejected. Cut and shaking.' The police list 'Other Vehicular' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The boy was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver’s errors. The Mercedes showed no damage to its front end. The boy’s injuries were severe, affecting his entire body.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545189, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV tore up Webster Avenue. It hit parked cars, then smashed a turning sedan. The driver, 45, died at the wheel. Blood on the dash. Airbag blown. The street was silent. Unsafe speed left one dead, others shaken.

A deadly crash unfolded on Webster Avenue near East 168th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, a Chevy SUV traveling north at unsafe speed struck several parked cars before colliding with a sedan making a left turn. The 45-year-old male driver of the SUV was killed, suffering severe head injuries despite the deployment of an airbag and use of a seatbelt. Multiple other occupants were involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. No evidence in the report suggests any error by the sedan driver or other road users. The crash scene was marked by blood, a burst airbag, and quiet streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534134, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A car struck a 59-year-old man crossing East Mount Eden Avenue. The impact split his face. Blood pooled on the street. Sirens cut through the night. The driver was distracted. The man stayed conscious, hurt and bleeding.

A 59-year-old pedestrian was hit head-on by a car while crossing East Mount Eden Avenue at Townsend Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and traveling at an unsafe speed. The man suffered severe facial lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The report states: 'Driver distracted. Blood pooled.' The contributing factors listed are 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed.' No information about the vehicle type or further details about the driver were provided. The data does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to pay attention and control speed, which led to the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535675, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0261-2022 would force the city to build curb extensions at deadly crossings. Five intersections per borough, every year. The aim: block cars from parking near crosswalks, boost pedestrian sightlines, and cut crashes where people walk.

Int 0261-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring curb extensions at certain dangerous intersections,' was sponsored by Council Members Hanif (primary), Menin, Hudson, Stevens, Ayala, Abreu, Krishnan, Nurse, and Riley. The bill required the Department of Transportation to identify intersections with high pedestrian crash rates and install curb extensions—prohibiting parking within 15 feet of crosswalks—at a minimum of five such intersections in each borough per year. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Curb extensions are designed to increase pedestrian visibility and reduce deadly conflicts at crossings, directly targeting systemic dangers faced by people on foot.

• File Int 0261-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council tried to create an Office of Pedestrians. The bill died in committee. No new office. No new power. Pedestrians remain at risk. The city missed a chance to stand up for those on foot.

Int 0288-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to establish an Office of Pedestrians, led by a mayoral appointee, to advise on safety and act as a bridge between walkers and city agencies. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pedestrians.' Council Member Althea V. Stevens sponsored the bill, with Julie Won, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera as co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure means no dedicated city office for pedestrian safety. The city keeps walking, unprotected.

• File Int 0288-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28