No More Names on the Asphalt: Demand Safe Streets Now

A Lexus sedan hit a 75-year-old woman crossing 47th Avenue. The car struck her head-on. She bled from the head. She died. The driver was distracted. The street stayed silent. The system failed her.

A 75-year-old woman was killed while crossing 47th Avenue near 192nd Street. According to the police report, 'A 75-year-old woman crossed the road. A Lexus came straight, struck her head-on. She was conscious, broken, bleeding from the head. The driver was distracted. The car was fine. She died.' The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, operating a 2022 Lexus sedan, went straight and struck the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s distraction led to the deadly impact. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607655, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study street design that blocks or deters trucks from residential streets. The bill called for a report on making streets less accessible to commercial vehicles. It died at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0924-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study and report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential neighborhoods. The matter’s 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 sponsored the bill, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The report was due by December 31, 2023. The bill was filed at the end of session with no report issued. The measure aimed to examine street redesign, traffic calming, and camera enforcement to keep trucks out of residential areas, but it stalled before any impact reached the street.

• File Int 0924-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

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 BMW tore through a red light on 37th Avenue. Steel met steel. The driver, twenty-five, died at the scene. The night held its breath. Traffic control was ignored. The street stayed silent. One life ended in a flash.

A deadly crash unfolded on 37th Avenue near Parsons Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a 25-year-old man driving a BMW westbound ignored a traffic signal and crashed head-on. The driver suffered fatal head injuries and died behind the wheel. The report states: “Traffic Control Disregarded.” No other injuries were specified for the other listed occupants. The data lists no helmet or signal issues. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when traffic controls are ignored. The scene was marked by twisted metal and silence, the cost of a single mistake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583557, 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

A boy on a bike turned left. An SUV turned right. The view was blocked. Steel struck skin. Blood poured from his leg. He stayed conscious. Pain did not leave him. The street stayed silent.

A 14-year-old boy riding a bike was struck by an SUV on 190 Street. According to the police report, both the cyclist and the SUV driver had their views obstructed. The boy suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg but did not lose consciousness. The SUV, a 2009 Hyundai, was making a right turn while the boy was making a left. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the contributing factor for both parties. No other driver errors were noted. The crash left the boy injured, his blood on the street, while the SUV’s right front bumper bore the mark of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4568717, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a young woman as she stepped down from a car on Prince Street. Her arm split open. Blood ran. The driver was distracted. She stayed conscious, clutching the wound. The car rolled on, untouched. The street stayed dangerous.

A 22-year-old woman was struck by a southbound Honda sedan while getting out of a vehicle near 37-20 Prince Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was distracted at the time of the crash. The impact tore open the woman’s arm, causing severe bleeding, but she remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No damage was reported to the vehicle. Other occupants in the vehicles were not injured. The crash highlights the ongoing threat to pedestrians from inattentive drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557754, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel buckled on the Long Island Expressway. A 2022 Acura crashed into the rear of a 2013 Toyota. Three men suffered head injuries. Blood pooled. The night was silent. Speed killed the calm. The road bore the scars.

A 2022 Acura struck the rear of a 2013 Toyota on the Long Island Expressway at 2:35 a.m. Three men were injured, all suffering head wounds. According to the police report, 'A 2022 Acura slams into the rear of a 2013 Toyota. Steel buckles. A 29-year-old man, bleeding from the head, sits conscious in the wreckage.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. One driver and a front passenger were left with whiplash, while the other driver suffered severe lacerations. The crash left the vehicles mangled and the victims conscious but wounded. The data shows no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552190, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge sedan tore down Clearview Expressway before dawn. It hit head-on. The front passenger, thirty, died in the wreck. Two others were hurt. Unsafe speed and driver distraction left bodies broken and the road silent.

A deadly crash struck Clearview Expressway in the early morning. According to the police report, a Dodge sedan traveling south at unsafe speed crashed head-on. The front passenger, age 30, died at the scene. Two other occupants, including the driver and a rear passenger, suffered injuries to their entire bodies. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No safety equipment was used by those injured or killed. The crash left one dead and two injured, all due to reckless driving behaviors documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539798, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for bold school safety signs. Painted warnings and overhead alerts near every school entrance. The bill died in committee. Streets stay the same. Children still cross in danger. Drivers keep rolling through.

Int 0555-2022 was introduced on June 16, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install painted and overhead safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The matter summary reads: 'to alert drivers to the presence of school-aged children and pedestrians.' Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Marte, Yeger, Sanchez, Won, Restler, Joseph, Gutiérrez, Ung, Louis, Abreu, and Hanif. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure stalled. No new protections for kids on city streets.

• File Int 0555-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-16

A sedan hit an e-scooter on Parsons Boulevard. The rider flew off, blood streaming from his head. The scooter twisted, metal bent. The car’s bumper bore the mark. Streets ran with danger. The driver failed to yield.

A sedan traveling south on Parsons Boulevard struck an eastbound e-scooter at Cherry Avenue. The 32-year-old scooter rider was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck an eastbound e-scooter. The rider, 32, was thrown off, conscious, blood pouring from his head. The scooter crumpled. The car’s bumper carried the wound.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the sedan driver. No other contributing factors were noted for the e-scooter rider. No helmet use was listed as a factor. The crash left the vulnerable rider injured and exposed the risks faced by those outside steel and glass.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534008, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Lexus merged on Northern Boulevard. Its bumper hit a 62-year-old e-bike rider. He fell. Blood pooled from his head. He lay conscious, bleeding in the sun. Unsafe lane change. Passing too close. The street stayed silent.

A crash on Northern Boulevard involved a Lexus SUV merging west and an e-bike traveling straight. The SUV's right front bumper struck the e-bike's side. According to the police report, the e-bike rider, a 62-year-old man, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The SUV was driven by a 61-year-old woman. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529005, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council tried to pay tipsters for catching hit-and-run drivers who maim or kill. The bill died. No reward. No justice for victims. Streets stay dangerous. Drivers flee. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. Lawmakers failed to act.

Int 0329-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Public Safety on May 5, 2022. The bill aimed to amend the city code to 'establish a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph sponsored the bill, joined by sixteen co-sponsors including Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, and others. The bill would have authorized up to $1,000 for information leading to the capture of hit-and-run drivers, but excluded law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The measure was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. With the bill's failure, the city offers no extra incentive to help catch drivers who leave victims bleeding in the street.

• File Int 0329-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

A westbound SUV struck a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The impact was fatal. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. Inattention behind the wheel. Metal twisted. The car never moved again.

A westbound SUV crashed into a parked Honda on Horace Harding Expressway near 174th Street. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A westbound SUV slammed into a parked Honda. The driver, a 40-year-old woman without a seatbelt, died behind the wheel. Morning light on metal. Cause: inattention. The car never moved again.' The police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The data shows the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, but this is noted only after the primary cause: inattention. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the car still and silent, a stark mark of systemic danger on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512714, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV turned left on Franklin Avenue. The driver failed to yield. The front end hit a 67-year-old man crossing with the signal. He suffered head and crush injuries. He lay conscious beneath the grill. The light stayed green.

A 67-year-old man was crossing Franklin Avenue with the signal when a Chevy SUV made a left turn and struck him. According to the police report, 'the front end struck his head. He lay crushed and conscious beneath the grill, the light still green.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 72-year-old man, was licensed and wore a lap belt. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians who have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4509671, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck an 88-year-old man on Northern Boulevard. The car kept moving straight. The man’s skull broke. He died under streetlights. No crosswalk. No signal. Metal untouched. Flesh did not survive.

An 88-year-old pedestrian was killed on Northern Boulevard near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the dark. A 2018 Honda came fast and straight. Metal stayed whole. His skull did not. He died there, under streetlights, with pain in his head and no signal to guide him.' The sedan, traveling east, struck the man as he crossed outside a crosswalk and without a signal. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4509549, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Forty years. No greenway. Queens waits as city stalls. Parks and DOT talk, but no cash. Council Member Sandra Ung vows to fight for funding. Cyclists and families left exposed. The path remains a promise. Danger and delay linger.

This action concerns the long-delayed Queens Greenway, discussed in a public statement on February 17, 2022. The project, first planned in 1977 and 1988, would connect Flushing Meadows Corona Park to Fort Totten with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Parks Department and DOT presented a new vision but admitted that none of the $105 million needed is funded. Council Member Sandra Ung, representing parts of the greenway, said, 'I want to finally see it become a reality,' and stressed the need for accessible open spaces. Still, she could not commit any specific funding. Cycling advocates criticized the city for asking residents to pick favorite sub-projects, calling it a tactic to lower expectations. The city offered no timeline. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the greenway languishes.

• This Time the Charm: Will Long-Delayed Queens Greenway Finally Get Funding?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-17