Queens Kids Bleed, Politicians Wait—Who Will Stop the Next Hit-and-Run?

City Council urged Albany to let cyclists treat stop signs as yield, red lights as stop. The bill stalled. Supporters say it would keep cyclists moving and out of harm’s way. The measure drew broad council support but died at session’s end.

Resolution 0590-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2643/A.3986. This state bill would 'allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and red lights as stop signs.' The resolution was introduced April 27, 2023, and filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. Sponsors included Mercedes Narcisse (primary), Lincoln Restler, Julie Won, Shekar Krishnan, Gale Brewer, Kevin Riley, Kristin Richardson Jordan, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The council cited studies showing safety benefits for all road users, noting that the Idaho stop 'gives bicyclists greater flexibility at stop signs and red lights, and thus, enhance[s] road safety.' The bill did not advance but signaled strong support for cyclist safety.

• File Res 0590-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

A BMW SUV struck a man on Broadway. The left front bumper crushed his head. He died there, alone under the dark April sky. The driver kept going straight. No driver errors listed. The street claimed another life.

A 48-year-old man walking in the roadway on Broadway was struck and killed by a BMW SUV traveling south. According to the police report, 'A BMW SUV going south struck a 48-year-old man in the road. The left front bumper crushed his head. He died there, alone on the pavement, under the dark April sky.' The crash happened away from an intersection. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620869, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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

The Council called for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law, letting New York City set lower speed limits. The resolution also urged a crash victims bill of rights and stronger street safety laws. Lawmakers want fewer deaths. The bill stalled. Danger remains.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2023, and pushed by Council Member Shahana K. Hanif as primary sponsor, with Jennifer Gutiérrez and over twenty others co-sponsoring. The resolution urged the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), which would let New York City set lower speed limits, and A.1901, a crash victims bill of rights. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422, also known as ‘Sammy’s Law,’ ... and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights, as well as the other bills of the package known as the SAFE Streets Act.' The SAFE Streets Act package also includes safe passing for cyclists and complete street design mandates. The Council’s action highlights the city’s ongoing fight against reckless driving and the urgent need for stronger protections for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

A 12-year-old girl crossed 80th Street. An eastbound SUV struck her hard. Her hip broke. The driver, holding only a permit, kept going straight. The SUV showed no damage. Daylight. The girl stayed conscious. Failure to yield left her broken.

A 12-year-old girl was hit by an eastbound SUV while crossing 80th Street. Her hip shattered from the impact. According to the police report, 'A 12-year-old girl stepped into the road. An eastbound SUV hit her square. Her hip shattered. The driver, a woman with only a permit, kept going straight.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s error. The driver held only a learner’s permit at the time. The SUV showed no visible damage. The girl remained conscious after the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616705, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Lincoln Restler joined advocates at City Hall. They pressed Albany to let New York City set its own speed limits. Families mourned children lost to speeding drivers. The Assembly remains the last barrier. The push is urgent. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 29, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other city officials rallied for Sammy’s Law, a bill allowing New York City to set its own speed limits without state approval. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a speeding driver in 2013, would let the city lower limits to 20 mph. The matter, described as 'Let New York City lower its own speed limits,' has strong support from the mayor, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and advocates like Families for Safe Streets. Restler’s action was public advocacy. The Assembly is the final hurdle; the bill is already in the governor’s and Senate’s budgets. Advocates cite a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit change. Families demand action to prevent more deaths.

• City polls, advocates call on Assembly to let NYC set its own speed limits, amny.com, Published 2023-03-29

Council bill Int 0965-2023 aimed to force the city to build 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. The bill died at session’s end. Cyclists remain exposed. The city’s pace stays slow. The streets stay dangerous. The need remains.

Int 0965-2023 was introduced on March 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 miles of protected bicycle lanes annually until 2029. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Sandy Nurse, Erik D. Bottcher, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Won, Chi A. Ossé, Tiffany Cabán, Christopher Marte, Crystal Hudson, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill was filed at the end of session, never enacted. The city’s protected bike lane network remains incomplete. Cyclists and other vulnerable road users still face daily risk from cars and trucks. The bill’s failure leaves the city’s most exposed travelers in harm’s way.

• File Int 0965-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-03-16

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 called on maritime importers to cut truck traffic and use marine vessels for last mile deliveries. Trucks choke streets, foul air, and endanger lives. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain crowded. The danger rolls on.

Res 0501-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 16, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urged, in its own words, 'top maritime importers to New York City ports to commit to making the City’s streets greener by reducing truck traffic and using marine vessels for last mile deliveries throughout the boroughs.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate Williams, and others. The bill cited the city’s reliance on trucks—89% of freight—fueling congestion, pollution, and risk for everyone outside a vehicle. The Council pointed to pilot programs like Blue Highways as a way to clear streets and cut emissions. But the resolution was filed without action. Trucks still rule the road.

• File Res 0501-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

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

A bus and an e-scooter clashed near 25-39 72nd Street. The scooter tried to pass. Metal struck. A 31-year-old woman hit head-first. Blood marked the street. She stayed conscious. Passing went wrong. The city counted another wound.

A bus and an e-scooter collided near 25-39 72nd Street in Queens. The e-scooter, operated by a 31-year-old woman, attempted to pass the bus. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was a contributing factor. The front end of the e-scooter struck, causing the rider to hit head-first and suffer severe head lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The bus carried two occupants, both uninjured. The report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but only after citing improper lane usage as the primary factor. The crash left the street marked by blood and silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605600, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped hit a Mercedes on 75th Street and 32nd Avenue. The rider, helmetless, struck headfirst and died on the cold asphalt. Both drivers ignored traffic control. The sedan driver survived. The street stayed silent under Queens’ night sky.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 75th Street and 32nd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a moped slammed into the side of a southbound Mercedes. The 31-year-old moped rider, not wearing a helmet, struck headfirst and died at the scene. The sedan driver was not reported injured. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor for both drivers. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before the crash. The rider’s lack of helmet is noted, but the primary cause remains the failure to obey traffic controls. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594841, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0858-2022 would force the city’s DOT to probe every serious crash. The bill demands quick action, deep analysis, and public reporting. It targets street design flaws and driver behavior. Lawmakers filed it, but the session ended before passage.

Int 0858-2022, introduced December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to overhaul how New York City investigates vehicle collisions. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Shekar Krishnan, Charles Barron, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Lincoln Restler, and Rita C. Joseph, required the Department of Transportation to investigate all serious vehicular crashes. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions.' The bill would have expanded the definition of serious crashes, set strict investigation timelines, and mandated detailed public reports. It also called for reviews of street design and infrastructure at crash sites, with recommendations for safety improvements. The bill was filed at the end of the session and did not become law.

• File Int 0858-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council bill sought more car-free streets on busy holidays. It would have let neighborhoods close roads for crowds and events. The measure died in committee. Streets stay open to traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed.

Int 0859-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 21, 2022. The bill aimed to require the Department of Transportation to allow special Open Streets activations on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The matter summary reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan led as primary sponsor, joined by Julie Menin, Farah N. Louis, Julie Won, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Alexa Avilés, Lincoln Restler, Shahana K. Hanif, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure leaves vulnerable road users at risk during the city’s busiest days.

• File Int 0859-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council Member Krishnan pushes a bill to cut parks project delays by a quarter. Bike and pedestrian greenways like Ocean Parkway wait years for repairs. The bill demands speed and transparency. Parks officials admit the need. The mayor’s task force circles.

On December 8, 2022, Council Member Shekar Krishnan (District 25) introduced a legislative proposal targeting the Parks Department’s long project timelines. The bill, now before the Council, calls for a 25 percent reduction in capital project durations and greater transparency through improved online tracking. Krishnan said, “The infrastructure projects, the transportation and green space projects, need to be progressing at a much much faster rate.” The bill responds to years-long delays on projects like the Ocean Parkway greenway. Parks officials acknowledge the problem and welcome collaboration. The mayor’s task force also seeks capital process reform, including design-build contracts and standardized approvals. The proposal aims to speed up critical repairs for pedestrians and cyclists, demanding accountability from city agencies.

• Council Wants to Speed Up Parks Projects (Like Those Much-Delayed Greenways!), streetsblog.org, Published 2022-12-08

Council Member Krishnan pushes bills to cut Parks project delays by a quarter. Bike and pedestrian paths rot while repairs stall for years. Lawmakers demand answers. The city’s oldest greenways stay cracked. Cyclists and walkers wait. Danger lingers.

On December 8, 2022, Council Member Shekar Krishnan introduced legislation targeting the Parks Department’s slow capital project timelines. The bills, discussed at an oversight hearing, would force Parks to devise a plan by December 1, 2023, to reduce project durations by 25 percent and improve online transparency about delays and costs. Krishnan said, “The infrastructure projects, the transportation and green space projects, need to be progressing at a much much faster rate.” The legislation responds to years-long delays on vital bike and pedestrian greenways, like Ocean Parkway, where repairs have lagged since 2019. Parks officials blame pandemic pauses and contractor reviews. The bills aim to end the cycle of neglect that leaves vulnerable road users at risk on crumbling paths. Parks spokesperson Meghan Lalor said the agency is open to working with the Council on reforms.

• Council Wants to Speed Up Parks Projects (Like Those Much-Delayed Greenways!), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-08

A drunk driver killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. The driver stayed at the scene and was arrested. Local officials mourned the loss. The deadly corridor has seen little change despite repeated deaths. The toll mounts. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 27, 2022, State Senator Jessica Ramos responded to a fatal crash in Council District 13. The incident occurred when a drunk driver struck and killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue, a Vision Zero priority corridor in Queens. The official matter summary reads: 'Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider.' Ramos urged residents, 'Please do your part to keep our neighbors safe,' and condemned drunk driving. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called the death 'senseless.' Despite five pedestrian deaths on this stretch in the past decade, major safety improvements have not been made. Ramos’s statement highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users and the city’s failure to fix deadly streets.

• Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider, amny.com, Published 2022-11-27

A motorscooter struck a sedan’s side at 37th Avenue and 82nd Street. The unlicensed rider, without a helmet, was ejected and died on the pavement. Both drivers lacked licenses. Alcohol played a role. The street stayed cold. The loss was final.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 37th Avenue and 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a motorscooter slammed into the side of a sedan. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was ejected and died from head injuries. The sedan’s driver was also unlicensed. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The data highlights systemic failures: unlicensed operation, alcohol, and lack of protective equipment. The police report states, 'He died there, alone, on the cold Queens asphalt.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584694, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Councilmember Joann Ariola claimed open streets, bike lanes, and traffic islands slow emergency vehicles. She blamed street safety measures for longer fire response times. FDNY officials disagreed, citing traffic volume. The debate exposes tension between safety for walkers and emergency access.

On November 5, 2022, the NYC Council debated street design and emergency response. The discussion, reported by nypost.com, focused on rising fire deaths and slower FDNY response times. The matter summary reads: 'Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures.' Councilmember Joann Ariola (District 32) argued that open street programs, bike lanes, and traffic islands hinder emergency vehicles, especially when illegal parking blocks access. She called for better enforcement. Other voices, including union leaders, echoed her concerns. However, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan defended new street designs, stating they were built with emergency input. The Department of Transportation said all projects include emergency routes and are monitored. FDNY officials attributed delays to increased post-pandemic traffic, not street safety measures. The debate highlights the ongoing conflict between car-free streets for vulnerable users and emergency vehicle access.

• Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-05