No Deaths, No Excuses: Streets Still Bleed in District 25

A Chevy van hit a 78-year-old woman head-on on 82nd Street. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver, distracted, kept going. She lay conscious, head bleeding, the street empty of crosswalks and signals. Impact and indifference marked the night.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old woman was crossing 82nd Street near 37th Avenue in Queens when a 2009 Chevrolet van struck her head-on. The incident occurred at 18:30. The report states the woman was not at an intersection and there were no signals or crosswalks present. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop and continued driving after the collision. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian’s actions. The focus remains on the van driver's failure to observe and yield, as well as the act of leaving the scene after impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A turning SUV cut across 72nd Street. A motorcycle slammed into its side. The young rider, helmetless, flew from the seat, legs shattered, blood pooling on the pavement. The road bore witness to violence and error, not mercy.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle was making a left turn from 72nd Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens when a motorcycle traveling straight collided with the SUV's right side doors. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected from his seat, suffered severe bleeding, and sustained serious injuries to his legs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The SUV driver’s failure to yield during the turn is explicitly cited. The motorcycle rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail appears after the primary driver errors. The crash unfolded at 3:19 p.m., leaving the rider incoherent and gravely hurt, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver mistakes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lexus veered off 94th Street, metal shrieked, and a 33-year-old man died behind the wheel. Evening light fell on twisted steel and silence. Driver inattention ended a life in Queens, leaving only wreckage and unanswered questions.

According to the police report, a Lexus sedan traveling north on 94th Street at the corner of 60th Avenue veered into two parked sedans. The report states, 'A Lexus veered into two parked sedans. Metal tore. A 33-year-old man slumped behind the wheel, lap belt tight, head struck. Evening light caught the silence. He did not move again.' The sole occupant and driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The parked vehicles, a Kia and a Honda, were unoccupied at the time. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, as cited in the official report. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756153 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

New state law forces moped and e-bike sellers to register vehicles, educate buyers, and ban unsafe batteries. Lawmakers say this closes loopholes, shifts blame from workers, and aims to cut rising crashes. Streets see more mopeds, more injuries, more tension.

On July 12, 2024, Governor Hochul signed a package of eight bills into law, including new moped and e-bike safety regulations. The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Alex Bores, requires retailers to register mopeds at the point of sale, provide safety information, and prohibit the sale of substandard lithium-ion batteries. The law also mandates crash reporting and new safety training for first responders. Hoylman-Sigal said, 'I've received more complaints about the hazards these mopeds cause than just about any other issue.' Bores added, 'By requiring the registration of mopeds at point of sale and the collection of e-bike collision data, we are making our streets safer and increasing accountability.' The law shifts accountability to retailers, aiming to improve street safety without penalizing delivery workers. Council Member Shekar Krishnan and State Senator Liz Kruger also voiced support, highlighting the dangers of unregistered mopeds and the need for better buyer education. The law responds to a sharp rise in moped-related injuries and community complaints across New York City.

• Moped and E-Bike Safety Legislation Becomes State Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-12

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called out the surge of reckless mopeds and e-bikes on 34th Avenue. Residents spoke of fear, injury, and death. City officials promised enforcement and education. Advocates demanded safer streets, not criminalization. The crisis rolls on. Action lags.

On June 11, 2024, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (District 25) convened a town hall in Jackson Heights to address what he called a 'moped crisis.' The meeting followed a deadly year: a 75-year-old man killed by an e-bike, two injured in a dirt bike crash. Residents described near-misses and constant danger on the 34th Avenue open street. The matter, titled 'On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle,' drew city officials, including DOT and Mayor Adams, who backed enforcement and moped registration. Krishnan slammed DOT’s reliance on signage, pushing instead for a dedicated micromobility lane. Delivery worker advocates opposed criminalization, demanding labor protections and safe infrastructure. Despite new signs and vehicle seizures, mopeds still speed through. The call for urgent, systemic change grows louder.

• On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-11

Council Member Shekar Krishnan blasted DOT for chaos on 34th Avenue’s Paseo Park. He called it a ‘moped highway’ and demanded a redesign. Pedestrians dodge speeding mopeds. Painted bike lanes fail. DOT touts safety, but danger remains for those on foot.

On June 11, 2024, Council Member Shekar Krishnan publicly condemned the Department of Transportation’s design of Paseo Park, also known as the 34th Avenue open street. At a 'Moped Crisis' town hall, Krishnan called the area a 'moped highway' and said, 'The biggest problem that we have is poor design by the DOT.' He demanded a redesign that separates speeding vehicles from people and creates safe corridors for mopeds away from recreational spaces. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas echoed the call for engineering solutions, stating, 'We must design the roads to ensure that mopeds are not getting on [Paseo Park], and are not driving recklessly.' DOT staff highlighted enforcement efforts, but Krishnan and others insisted that design, not enforcement, must come first. DOT claims a drop in pedestrian crashes, but the current layout leaves pedestrians and cyclists exposed to danger.

• Queens Pol: DOT Needs to Solve ‘Moped Crisis’ in Paseo Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-11

A motorcycle, throttle stuck, careened off 37th Avenue and struck a woman on the sidewalk. Metal crushed bone. She died, conscious, legs shattered. The street spat her out. She never had a chance. The machine did not stop.

According to the police report, a motorcycle with a defective accelerator veered off 37th Avenue near 90th Street in Queens and struck a 44-year-old woman who was standing on the sidewalk. The impact hit her center-front, shattering her legs and causing fatal injuries. The report states she was conscious after the collision but ultimately died from her wounds. Police cite 'Accelerator Defective' as the contributing factor, pointing to a mechanical failure that led to the loss of control. The pedestrian was not in the roadway and was not crossing at an intersection, according to the report. No driver errors by the victim are listed. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when vehicle defects intersect with public space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young moped rider slammed into a parked car, then crashed head-on into a Volvo. He flew from the wreck, struck the pavement, and bled from the head. He lay unconscious as dawn broke on 35th Avenue.

A 20-year-old moped rider suffered severe head injuries after a violent crash on 35th Avenue near 83rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the moped first struck a parked Ford sedan, then collided head-on with a Volvo. The rider was ejected from his vehicle, landing unconscious and bleeding from the head. The report lists his helmet status as unknown. The moped was described as 'demolished.' The Volvo involved was driven by an unlicensed operator, according to the police report. No contributing factors beyond 'unspecified' were cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal risks faced by vulnerable road users amid systemic dangers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727580 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal screamed at 88th and 35th. A chassis cab, distracted, slammed into a sedan’s rear. A 72-year-old woman, alone, belted, conscious, lost a limb. The belt held. Distraction shattered. The street bore witness to another preventable wound.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of 88th Street and 35th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a chassis cab traveling west struck the rear quarter panel of a southbound sedan. The impact tore metal and left a 72-year-old woman, the sedan’s sole occupant, with an amputation injury. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver of the chassis cab failed to maintain focus, resulting in catastrophic harm to the sedan’s occupant. No evidence in the report attributes any contributing actions to the victim; the only cited factor is the inattention of the chassis cab driver. The crash underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Council bill demands NYPD track every time cops use cars as weapons. No more hiding behind vague stats. Each crash, each injury, must be counted. The city moves closer to truth.

Int 0255-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by Hudson, Won, Hanif, Bottcher, Brewer, Avilés, Abreu, Ossé, Krishnan, Williams, Cabán, Nurse, Sanchez, and at the Brooklyn Borough President's request. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.' It forces the NYPD to report every use of a car to control a subject. No more lumping these acts with other force. The bill aims for hard numbers and real accountability. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—will no longer be invisible in police data.

• File Int 0255-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions, and ramps. DOT must study bollard impact in crowded zones. Aim: shield walkers, especially those with disabilities, from car incursion.

Int 0144-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill mandates the Department of Transportation to install bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian ramps to improve access for people with disabilities. It also requires a study on bollard effectiveness in high pedestrian traffic areas and the creation of installation guidelines within six months. The matter title reads: 'installation of bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions and pedestrian ramps.' Council Members Shekar Krishnan (primary), Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Shahana K. Hanif, and Crystal Hudson sponsor the bill. The committee last acted on June 25, 2024, laying it over for further review.

• File Int 0144-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08