Queens Streets Bleed While City Stalls

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

DOT broke promises. Bike lanes unbuilt. Busways cut. Cyclists left exposed. Pedestrians wait. Council members stall. Businesses block change. Queensboro Bridge path delayed. Canal Street ignored. Ocean Parkway crumbles. City agencies fail the vulnerable. Streets stay deadly.

The Streetsies 2022 report, published December 29, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, delivers a harsh verdict on New York City’s transportation leadership. The Department of Transportation failed to build the 30 miles of protected bike lanes and 20 miles of bus lanes required by law. The agency scaled back busway hours on Jamaica Avenue and 181st Street after local pushback. Council Member Oswald Feliz opposed Fordham Road improvements, calling them an 'existential threat.' Queens Council Member Julie Won labeled Queensboro Bridge delays 'garbage.' The DOT removed protected bike lanes during Fourth Avenue construction, endangering cyclists. The Central Park Conservancy stalled on safety studies. Canal Street and Ocean Parkway saw little progress. The report states: 'city agencies failing to prioritize or deliver on street safety and sustainable transportation commitments.' Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders—remain at risk as the city delays, dithers, and disappoints.

• Streetsies 2022: New York’s Biggest Failures and Disappointments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-29

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 members push Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. The resolution died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Resolution 0441-2022, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. This would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. The matter, titled 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass...S.315/A.1416, which would authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program,' was sponsored by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Amanda Farías, Julie Won, Carlina Rivera, and Crystal Hudson. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The measure aimed to protect pedestrians and cyclists by slowing traffic where people gather. But with the bill stalled, Open Streets remain at risk from fast-moving vehicles.

• File Res 0441-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

A van turned right on Steinway Street. Its rear struck a sixteen-year-old girl crossing. She hit the cold asphalt. Broken pelvis. She stayed conscious. The street held her. The van kept moving. The city did not stop.

A van making a right turn on Steinway Street near 35th Avenue struck a sixteen-year-old girl as she crossed the intersection. According to the police report, 'the right rear struck her pelvis. She fell hard. Cold asphalt. Broken bones. Eyes open. Breathing.' The girl suffered crush injuries to her abdomen and pelvis but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor in the crash. No injuries were reported among the van's occupants. The data shows the driver was licensed and making a right turn when the impact occurred. The report does not list any helmet or signal issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591323, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Roosevelt Island Bridge bike lane now has a tough, weatherproof cover. Cyclists no longer risk slipping or punctured tires on metal grates. Council Member Julie Won joined DOT and others to push the project. Riders get a safer, smoother crossing.

On December 13, 2022, Council Member Julie Won (District 26) joined city officials to mark the completion of a DOT pilot project covering the Roosevelt Island Bridge bike lane. The project, coordinated with Council Member Julie Menin, used fiber-reinforced polymer panels to shield riders from the bridge’s hazardous metal grating. The official matter: 'Roosevelt Island Bridge bike lane now covered for a safer, smoother ride.' Won praised the project’s quick finish and its promise of safer, more comfortable biking. DOT and community leaders noted the new surface prevents slips and flats, separating cyclists from traffic. The $100,000 upgrade, never before used in New York, aims to keep vulnerable road users out of harm’s way.

• Roosevelt Island Bridge bike lane now covered for a safer, smoother ride, amny.com, Published 2022-12-13

DOT stalls on promised space for cyclists and walkers. Riders and pedestrians squeeze into a single lane. Car lanes stay open. Bike trips surge. Crashes rise. Advocates and Council Member Julie Won demand action. City puts drivers first, safety last.

On December 5, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) delayed expanding pedestrian and cyclist space on the Queensboro Bridge. The plan, promised by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, would have made the southern roadway pedestrian-only and the northern path bike-only by the end of 2022. Instead, DOT postponed this until at least late 2023, citing the need to keep seven of nine car lanes open during bridge rehabilitation. The matter summary states: 'The city is delaying the expansion of space for cyclists and pedestrians on the Queensboro Bridge, despite a significant increase in bike traffic.' Council Member Julie Won criticized the move, saying, 'The city must open the south outer roadway immediately for our safety. DOT should stop prioritizing cars over the safety of pedestrians.' Advocates point to rising bike ridership and crashes on the narrow shared path. DOT maintains the project cannot be expedited due to driver needs, despite evidence that more bike infrastructure boosts usage without hurting traffic elsewhere.

• Queensboro Bridge Bike Boom Continues, But DOT Still Prioritizes Car Drivers Over Walkers and Cyclists, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-05

Queens Community Board 2 voted to block a new SUV dealership on Northern Boulevard. Local leaders demand housing, not more cars. They cite danger, pollution, and reckless driving. Council Member Julie Won and Assembly Member González-Rojas back the board. The fight moves to City Planning.

On November 7, 2022, Queens Community Board 2 passed a resolution rejecting a rezoning application for a Lincoln SUV dealership on Northern Boulevard, Woodside. The matter, described as a call for a moratorium on car-related development, pits housing needs against car infrastructure. Council Member Julie Won supported the board, stating, "It should be a neighborhood rezoning instead of spot rezoning... we need to make it safer and more liveable." Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas also opposed the dealership, urging the space be used for affordable housing and highlighting dangerous driving by existing dealerships. Despite Borough President Donovan Richards' support for the rezoning, citing cycling and EV promotion, the application faces strong local resistance. The City Planning Commission now reviews the case, with a City Council vote possible. The board and electeds argue more cars mean more risk for pedestrians and cyclists on a deadly stretch.

• Woodside Wants Housing, But It’s Likely to Get More SUVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-07

A Honda SUV tore through the dark on the Long Island Expressway. Metal buckled. Two rear passengers bled—one from the head, one from the leg. Speed and chaos ruled. The other car vanished. The toll: pain, blood, and broken silence.

On the Long Island Expressway at 4:37 a.m., a 2003 Honda SUV crashed, injuring two rear passengers—a 65-year-old man with severe leg lacerations and a 44-year-old woman with severe head wounds. According to the police report, 'A 2003 Honda slammed into darkness. The right front crumpled. In the back, a man and woman bled from head and leg. Speed chased shadows. The other car never stopped.' The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver and front passenger were also involved but not seriously hurt. The crash left the SUV’s front end mangled. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581726, 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 motorcycle slammed into a parked sedan on Review Avenue. The rider flew off, helmet on, blood streaming from his face. He lay conscious on the pavement. The car never moved. Driver inattention marked the crash. Metal and flesh met hard.

A motorcycle collided with a parked sedan on Review Avenue near 37th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old rider was ejected from his seat, suffering severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle struck a parked sedan. The rider, 30, flew from the seat. His helmet stayed on. Blood ran from his face. He lay conscious on the pavement. The car never moved.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was stationary at the time of the crash and its occupants were not injured. The rider’s helmet remained on throughout the incident, as noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4573000, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a motorcycle head-on at 40th Avenue and 12th Street. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was thrown from his bike and died on the pavement. The crash left a mark under the gray Queens sky.

A sedan collided head-on with a motorcycle at the corner of 40th Avenue and 12th Street in Queens. The 37-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a motorcycle head-on. The unlicensed rider, 37, wore no helmet. He flew from the bike, landed headfirst on the pavement, and died beneath a gray Queens sky.' The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling north; the motorcycle was heading east. The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause cited is the sedan driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572051, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A KIA turned right near 57th Street. Its bumper hit a man standing in the road. His arm tore open. Blood spilled onto Queens pavement. The driver looked away, distracted by something outside. The night stayed silent. The wound did not.

A 42-year-old pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his arm when a KIA sedan, making a right turn near 57th Street in Queens, struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, 'the driver looked away—distracted by something outside the car.' The crash occurred at 1:55 a.m. The pedestrian was standing in the roadway when the impact happened. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' as the contributing factor for the driver. No errors or contributing factors are attributed to the pedestrian. Other vehicle occupants were not reported injured. The parked Lexus sedan was not involved in the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566714, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Julie Won blasted DOT for stalling a promised pedestrian lane on the Queensboro Bridge. She called the agency’s excuses garbage. Cyclists and walkers remain squeezed into a narrow, dangerous path. DOT’s delays keep vulnerable road users at risk.

On September 15, 2022, Council Member Julie Won publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the conversion of the Queensboro Bridge’s south outer roadway into a pedestrian-only lane. The project, promised by the previous mayor for completion by the end of 2022, was pushed back at least a year. Won, whose district covers the bridge’s eastern approaches, led a walkthrough with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and staff from Council Members Julie Menin and Selvena Brooks-Powers. Won said, “They kept saying they can’t give the south outer roadway to pedestrians because there would be traffic. Well, I don’t care about the congestion!” She forced the commissioner to stand in the cramped lane, showing how unsafe it is for both cyclists and pedestrians. DOT offered only minor adjustments, like repainting lines, which Won dismissed as “missing the point.” The agency promised lawmakers data to justify keeping five car lanes, but Won insisted the delay puts lives at risk and called for immediate action.

• Queens Pol: DOT’s Excuses for Queensboro Bridge Safety Delays Are ‘Garbage’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-15

Council filed a bill to create a parking permit enforcement unit in DOT. The unit would target misuse of city-issued permits. The measure died at session’s end. Streets stay clogged. Danger lingers for those on foot and bike.

Int 0662-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 14, 2022. The bill sought to amend city law by establishing a parking permit enforcement unit within the Department of Transportation. Its summary reads: 'This bill would require the Department of Transportation to create a parking permit enforcement unit that would be dedicated to the enforcement of laws and rules relating to misuse of city-issued parking permits.' The primary sponsor was Kristin Richardson Jordan, joined by Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, and Lincoln Restler. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no further action. No safety analyst assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The city’s permit abuse problem remains unaddressed.

• File Int 0662-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-09-14

A Ford turned left on Northern Boulevard. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider flew, hit pavement, leg torn open. Blood pooled. He stayed awake, helmet on, pain sharp in the night.

A crash at Northern Boulevard and Steinway Street in Queens left a 31-year-old cyclist badly injured. According to the police report, a Ford car made a left turn while the cyclist traveled straight. The impact threw the cyclist to the ground, causing severe lacerations to his leg. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was ejected from his bike but remained conscious, helmet on, as blood pooled on the street. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s actions created a deadly risk at the intersection, exposing the cyclist to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565916, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an e-bike sped down Maurice Avenue. He lost control. He flew from the bike. His helmet struck the street. The road was empty. He died there. Speed and inexperience marked his last ride.

A 48-year-old man riding a FLY E-BIKE southbound on Maurice Avenue was killed after losing control and being ejected from his bike. According to the police report, 'Maurice Avenue — A 48-year-old man on a FLY E-BIKE sped south, lost control, and was thrown. He wore a helmet. His head struck the street. The road was empty. The bike lay still. He did not move again.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The rider wore a helmet, but the impact proved fatal. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash left the street silent, marked only by the fallen bike and the man who did not rise.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4559904, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A scooter slammed into a turning sedan on Greenpoint Avenue. The rider flew, his leg ripped open. Blood pooled on the street. He screamed, helmet cracked. Both drivers distracted. Metal twisted. Pain and sirens filled the air.

A violent crash unfolded on Greenpoint Avenue near 47th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a Honda scooter struck a turning Ford sedan. The scooter rider, a 29-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his knee and lower leg. He was conscious, his helmet cracked, blood on the asphalt. Both vehicles had one occupant each. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. The Ford was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The scooter rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but distraction behind the wheel led to chaos and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4559364, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council moved to put NYCHA sidewalks first in line for repairs. Seniors get top priority. Non-NYCHA emergencies still jump the queue. The bill died at session’s end. Broken walks remain. Vulnerable tenants wait. Streets stay rough. Danger lingers.

Int 0604-2022 was introduced on August 11, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to 'establish priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York City Housing Authority,' giving first priority to senior-only NYCHA buildings, then to other NYCHA sites. Emergencies at non-NYCHA properties could override this order, with required notification to local officials. The bill required DOT to report on completed and pending NYCHA sidewalk repairs by June 30, 2023. Council Member Alexa Avilés sponsored the bill, joined by Abreu, Brooks-Powers, Restler, Hanif, Won, Nurse, Gutiérrez, and Sanchez. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without enactment. Sidewalk hazards at NYCHA developments persist, leaving vulnerable residents exposed.

• File Int 0604-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-08-11