No More Names on the Asphalt: Demand Safe Streets Now

A Nissan SUV trailed a 63-year-old cyclist on Sanford Avenue, closing in too tight. Metal struck flesh. She flew from her bike, body crushed, left conscious on the cold pavement. The SUV rolled on, unscathed.

A 63-year-old woman riding her bike west on Sanford Avenue was struck from behind by a Nissan SUV, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was 'following too closely' and the driver demonstrated 'driver inexperience.' The impact ejected the cyclist from her saddle, causing crush injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report notes the SUV sustained no damage. The cyclist was the only person injured. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, highlighting the driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance and proper lane use. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The collision underscores the danger faced by cyclists when drivers fail to respect space and proper operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707958, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda SUV turned on Blossom Avenue and struck a 63-year-old woman riding an e-scooter. She was ejected, suffered fatal head trauma, and died alone in the morning light. Blood marked the pavement. Failure to yield sealed her fate.

A 63-year-old woman riding an e-scooter was killed when a Honda SUV struck her during a left turn on Blossom Avenue near College Point Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were making left turns when the SUV hit the e-scooter, ejecting the rider and causing fatal head trauma. The report states that 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor in the crash. The woman died at the scene, her blood marking the pavement. The police narrative describes the victim as 'unlicensed and unshielded,' but no victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the SUV driver's failure to yield, a systemic danger that continues to threaten vulnerable road users in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707767, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Ung pushes a bill to block stoop line stands from choking sidewalks. DOT must now approve every license, checking for crowding and tight spots. No stand goes up if it traps pedestrians. The committee holds the bill for review.

Int 0457-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024, by Council Member Sandra Ung. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to department of transportation approval prior to issuing or renewing a stoop line stand license.' Ung’s bill demands the Department of Transportation (DOT) approve, in writing, every stoop line stand license or renewal. DOT must ensure stands do not block pedestrian flow, factoring in sidewalk crowding and, when needed, site visits. If a stand sits within 10 feet of a structure that narrows the walk for at least 10 feet, DOT must inspect before approval. The bill aims to keep sidewalks clear for people, not commerce. It remains in committee.

• File Int 0457-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council Member Ung pushes a bill to block stoop line stands from choking sidewalks. DOT must now approve every license, checking for crowding and tight spots. No stand goes up if it traps pedestrians. The committee holds the bill for review.

Int 0457-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024, by Council Member Sandra Ung. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to department of transportation approval prior to issuing or renewing a stoop line stand license.' Ung’s bill demands the Department of Transportation (DOT) approve, in writing, every stoop line stand license or renewal. DOT must ensure stands do not block pedestrian flow, factoring in sidewalk crowding and, when needed, site visits. If a stand sits within 10 feet of a structure that narrows the walk for at least 10 feet, DOT must inspect before approval. The bill aims to keep sidewalks clear for people, not commerce. It remains in committee.

• File Int 0457-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to outlaw driving with fake or expired plates. The bill sets fines and a short grace period for expired tags. Lawmakers say this targets scofflaws who dodge accountability. The measure now sits with the Public Safety Committee.

Int 0177-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill 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.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Restler, Won, Brewer, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Avilés, De La Rosa, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill makes it unlawful to drive with fake or expired plates, including temporary ones. Civil penalties apply, but drivers with expired plates get a 10-day window to fix the issue. The bill aims to close loopholes that let reckless drivers evade detection and accountability. It awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0177-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders signs to keep bikes, e-bikes, and scooters off sidewalks, park paths, and boardwalks. Fines loom for violators. Restler leads. Committee holds the bill. Streets stay tense. Pedestrians walk wary. The city posts warnings. Enforcement waits.

Int 0235-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, the bill commands the Department of Transportation and Parks to post signs warning cyclists, e-bike, and e-scooter riders: stay off sidewalks, park walkways, and boardwalks, or face fines. The matter title reads, 'A Local Law...notifying operators...of the prohibition against operating such devices on sidewalks, park walkways, and boardwalks, and of related fines and penalties.' Lincoln Restler sponsors, joined by Hudson, Brewer, Hanif, Gennaro, Abreu, Ung, and Schulman. The bill aims to keep vulnerable pedestrians safe by making the rules clear at every crossing and path. No safety analyst has weighed in yet. The measure waits in committee. The city’s warning signs may soon rise.

• File Int 0235-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill cracks down on car dealers clogging city streets with vehicles for sale or repair. No more stashing cars on sidewalks. Fines and impoundment loom. Dealers must mark cars awaiting repair. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Int 0462-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting the parking of motor vehicles by dealers.' Council Members Francisco P. Moya (primary sponsor), Sandra Ung, Lincoln Restler, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. It bans dealers from parking, storing, or displaying cars for sale or repair on city streets, except for emergencies. Dealers must display placards on cars awaiting repair or return. Each violation brings fines and possible impoundment. Owners get an affirmative defense if ticketed while their car is with a dealer. The bill aims to clear sidewalks and curbs, reducing hazards for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0462-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on streets by parks over one acre. DOT must install unless safety or guidelines say no. Seventeen council members back the move. The bill sits in committee. Streets by parks may soon slow cars.

Int 0262-2024 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 28, 2024. The bill states: "requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre." Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by seventeen co-sponsors including Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Marte, and others. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps on qualifying streets unless the commissioner finds it unsafe or inconsistent with DOT guidelines. The bill remains in committee. If passed, it would take effect 180 days after becoming law. The measure aims to slow traffic near parks, where walkers and children cross.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to study speed bumps at camera sites. If possible, bumps go in within a year. Annual reports track danger and decide if cameras stay. Carr, Louis, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino back the move. Streets may slow. Lives may change.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. The bill reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), David M. Carr, Sandra Ung, Robert F. Holden, Joann Ariola, and Vickie Paladino sponsor the measure. If DOT finds a location suitable, it must install a raised speed reducer within a year. DOT must also report annually, track changes in dangerous driving, and recommend if cameras are still needed. The bill aims to force physical changes where drivers speed, not just rely on cameras. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council members push for a hard look at last mile delivery hubs. Trucks swarm neighborhoods. Streets clog. Collisions rise. The bill demands data. It targets the city’s growing freight problem. Vulnerable New Yorkers walk these streets. The study could expose the toll.

Int 0113-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it orders the Department of Transportation to study how last mile delivery facilities batter local streets and communities. The bill summary reads: 'estimating the amount of delivery vehicles arriving at or departing from each facility, and the impact that additional vehicle traffic has on parking, street congestion, vehicle collisions and other traffic incidents.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Alexa Avilés, Shekar Krishnan, Amanda Farías, and over twenty others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the bill’s focus is clear: count the trucks, count the crashes, and show the cost to people on foot and bike.

• File Int 0113-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential neighborhoods. The bill demands a report. Streets packed with trucks endanger walkers and cyclists. The committee holds the bill. No action yet. Pressure mounts.

Int 0114-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, the bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential areas. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. Streets crowded with trucks put vulnerable road users at risk. The bill seeks data and solutions, but action is pending.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A Toyota sedan barreled north on Main Street. Its left front bumper slammed into a 68-year-old woman crossing near Reeves Avenue. She died on the pavement. The driver’s speed was too much. Darkness and steel erased a life in seconds.

A 68-year-old woman was killed when a northbound Toyota sedan struck her on Main Street near Reeves Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 20:14. The report states the woman was crossing the street, not at an intersection or signal. The sedan hit her with its left front bumper. She died at the scene. Police cite 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor, noting, 'His speed was too much.' The driver continued straight ahead. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian’s actions. The narrative and official data center the driver’s excessive speed as the primary cause of this fatal impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702952, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council calls for state law to fail cars at inspection if plates are damaged or blocked. Obstructed plates let reckless drivers hide. Cameras miss them. Streets grow more dangerous. The bill targets this loophole. It sits in committee. Action is pending.

Resolution 0026-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The measure urges the New York State Legislature and Governor to require inspectors to fail any vehicle with a damaged or obstructed license plate. The resolution states: 'Obstructed and defaced license plates prevent cameras and law enforcement from identifying traffic offenders and impedes safe operating conditions on the road.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Sandra Ung, Crystal Hudson, and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers back the bill. They want to close a gap that lets drivers dodge red light and speed cameras. The bill aims to stop offenders from hiding behind unreadable plates. It remains in committee, awaiting further action.

• File Res 0026-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council bill Int 0037-2024 would hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, or scooters on city sidewalks. The measure targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. Lawmakers say it will deter reckless riding. The bill sits in committee. No vote yet.

Int 0037-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill's title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), James F. Gennaro, Justin L. Brannan, Gale A. Brewer, and Sandra Ung back the measure. The bill would raise fines for anyone caught riding a bike, e-bike, or scooter on sidewalks. Supporters say higher penalties will curb sidewalk riding and protect pedestrians. The bill awaits further action in committee. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Steel struck a man crossing with the light on Northern Boulevard. His ribs broke under the force. He stayed awake, chest crushed, streetlights burning above. The driver’s name remains unknown. The city’s danger pressed down, unyielding.

A 53-year-old man was struck while crossing Northern Boulevard near 153rd Street, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' at the intersection when he was hit in the chest by an unspecified vehicle. The man suffered broken ribs and crush injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The police report does not list any contributing factors from the driver, nor does it provide details about the vehicle or the driver’s identity. The report emphasizes the pedestrian’s lawful crossing—'crossing with the signal'—and notes the severity of his injuries. No driver errors are specified, but the impact left the pedestrian injured in the intersection, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by those on foot in New York City’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700472, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 42-year-old man crossing Main Street met the front of an Audi SUV. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. He stayed conscious, head split open. The driver did not stop. The city’s danger pressed in from every direction.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old man was crossing Main Street at Blossom Avenue in Queens when an Audi SUV traveling south struck him head-on. The report states the collision occurred at 6:40 a.m. The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his head, with blood visible on the street, but remained conscious at the scene. The driver of the Audi did not stop after the impact. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor to the crash. Instead, both contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified.' The driver’s failure to remain at the scene stands out as a critical failure in duty and responsibility. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the systemic dangers present at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700101, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man worked in the road at dusk. An Infiniti reversed, colliding with a parked SUV. The bumper pinned his leg. He stayed upright, conscious, as the cold night pressed in. Metal and flesh met in the street’s shadow.

A 48-year-old man was injured on Murray Street when a reversing Infiniti sedan struck a parked SUV, crushing the pedestrian’s leg. According to the police report, the incident occurred near dusk as the man was 'working in the roadway' and 'stood upright.' The Infiniti, operated by a licensed male driver, moved in reverse and collided with the stationary SUV. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, directly implicating the driver’s maneuver. The impact forced the SUV’s bumper against the man’s knee and lower leg, causing crush injuries. The police narrative notes the victim did not fall and remained conscious at the scene. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver errors, especially unsafe reversing, to people working or standing in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694708, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel met flesh on Northern Boulevard. An 81-year-old man, turning left on his e-bike, collided with a flatbed truck. He was thrown, crushed, his head struck the pavement. The truck stopped. The man did not rise. Death came fast.

An 81-year-old man was killed while turning left on his e-bike on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street. According to the police report, a flatbed truck traveling straight struck the cyclist, ejecting him and causing fatal head and crush injuries. The report states: 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The truck stopped after the crash. The data lists no helmet or signaling issues for the cyclist. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when large vehicles and vulnerable road users meet and traffic controls are ignored.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690833, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW slammed into a Lexus at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman died. Speed killed. Metal bent. Life ended. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW struck the side of a Lexus SUV. The Lexus driver, a 72-year-old woman, was killed. The report states, “A BMW struck fast from the front. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman sat belted. Her body broke. She never woke.” The police list 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The victim was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash left one dead and exposed the lethal risk of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690257, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1272-2023 would block stoop line stands that choke sidewalks. DOT must approve every site. If a stand narrows a busy path, inspectors must visit. Stands wider than four feet get cut down. Pedestrian flow comes first.

Int 1272-2023, introduced by Council Member Sandra Ung and filed at session's end, landed in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 6, 2023. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to department of transportation approval prior to issuing or renewing a stoop line stand license.' Ung's bill would force the Department of Transportation to sign off before any stoop line stand gets a license or renewal. DOT must check for sidewalk blockages, consider pedestrian volume, and conduct site visits if a stand sits near a narrowing structure. If a stand is too wide and blocks the way, DOT can shrink it to four feet. The law puts the burden on businesses, not walkers. It aims to keep sidewalks open for people, not cluttered by commerce.

• File Int 1272-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-06