Linden Boulevard Bleeds—How Many Dead Before Council Acts?

A motorcycle slammed into a parked SUV on 149 Avenue. The rider, a 25-year-old man, was ejected and killed. Police cite improper lane usage. Others were listed as occupants or witnesses. The crash left one dead, others shaken.

A deadly crash unfolded on 149 Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling east struck the left rear bumper of a parked Ford SUV. The 25-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and killed, suffering crush injuries to his entire body. Several others were listed as occupants or witnesses, with unspecified injuries. The police report states, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The motorcyclist was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash. No evidence in the report blames the victim. The data points to improper lane usage as the critical error that led to this fatal collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819497, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

City Hall failed to control delivery apps. Now, it punishes cyclists. Riders face summonses and speed traps. Bosses walk free. Streets grow more dangerous. Cyclists, mostly immigrants, take the hit. City leaders ignore the real threat. Safety slips away.

On June 9, 2025, Sophia Lebowitz spoke out against New York City's e-bike enforcement shift, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. No bill number or committee was cited. Lebowitz condemned City Hall's failure to regulate delivery app companies, saying, 'the city's failure to rein in the delivery industry created the current war on bikes.' The Adams administration now targets riders with criminal summonses and a proposed 15-mph e-bike speed limit. Delivery cyclists, many immigrants, face police crackdowns while app bosses avoid responsibility. The safety analyst notes: 'Failure to regulate the delivery industry often leads to increased conflicts, unsafe street conditions, and scapegoating of cyclists, undermining safety and discouraging active transportation.' Lebowitz's stance highlights how city inaction endangers vulnerable road users and shifts blame onto those least protected.

• Anatomy Of A Debacle: How Mayor Adams Went From Visionary to Bully on E-Bikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-09

Seventeen council members back Ryder’s Law to ban horse-drawn carriages. The bill stalls. Horses bolt, people get hurt. Speaker Adrienne Adams blocks a hearing. The city’s inaction leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and horses at risk. No change for street safety.

On June 2, 2025, City & State NY published an opinion urging action on Ryder’s Law, the stalled NYC Council bill to ban horse-drawn carriages. The article states, "Forcing horses to pound the pavement with heavy carriages in Midtown, where they compete with motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians, is inhumane." Seventeen council members, led by Robert Holden (bill sponsor) and Erik Bottcher (district includes stables), support the ban. Speaker Adrienne Adams has blocked a hearing and vote. The piece highlights recent incidents where bolting horses injured at least four people, including a pedicab driver. Despite the vivid danger, the safety analyst notes: "The event text does not describe any policy or legislative change affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so there is no direct impact on their safety." The bill remains stalled in committee, with no relief for vulnerable road users.

• Opinion: Stop our political blindness on inhumane horse-drawn carriages, City & State NY, Published 2025-06-02

City will spend $550 million to remake Fifth Avenue. Cars keep two lanes. Buses lose out. Cyclists get nothing. Sidewalks widen, but most space stays with traffic. Critics say safety for walkers and riders is left behind.

On May 22, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the city's announcement of a $550 million redesign for Fifth Avenue. The plan, described as a 'much-compromised redesign,' keeps two car lanes, scraps a bus lane, and offers no space for cyclists. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called it a 'pedestrian-first corridor,' but critics, including Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein, slammed the move as a 'huge corporate giveaway at New Yorkers' expense.' The redesign widens sidewalks and adds planters and seating, but cars still dominate. Council members and advocates oppose the car-first approach. According to safety analysts, the event only mentions the redesign and its cost, without specifying design features or their effects on vulnerable road users; therefore, the safety impact cannot be determined from the information provided.

• Thursday’s Headlines: Car-First Fifth Avenue Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-22

NYPD targets e-bike riders with criminal summonses for minor traffic offenses. Council members and advocates push back. They say the crackdown is not backed by crash data. Delivery workers and immigrants bear the brunt. Calls grow for civil, not criminal, penalties.

On May 14, 2025, the NYPD admitted its e-bike crackdown was driven by community complaints, not data. The policy, announced April 28, 2025, issues criminal—not civil—summonses for minor cycling infractions like running red lights. Ninety percent of these summonses hit e-bike riders, mainly delivery workers and immigrants. Council Member Gale Brewer opposes the move: 'A civil summons is more appropriate.' Mara Davis, for Speaker Adrienne Adams, calls it 'misguided.' Rep. Dan Goldman urges civil fines first, warning of harm to immigrants. The council’s stance: criminalizing minor cycling violations does not protect vulnerable road users. Data shows e-bikes are a minor source of injuries and deaths. Lawmakers demand fair, data-driven enforcement.

• NYPD Admits Bike Crackdown Based on ‘Community’ Vibes, Not Data, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

Council leaders slam NYPD’s bike crackdown. Criminal summonses hit e-bike riders hard. Critics say cars kill, bikes don’t. Immigrant workers fear ICE. Lawmakers demand civil fines, not jail. Data shows bike complaints down. NYPD acts on vibes, not facts.

On May 14, 2025, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Manhattan Council Member Gale Brewer opposed the NYPD’s new policy turning minor cycling infractions into criminal court summonses. The crackdown, announced April 28, targets e-bike riders—90 percent of criminal summonses hit them. The NYPD admits the move is based on community complaints, not crash data. Brewer said, 'A civil summons is more appropriate when they are necessary. Car drivers rarely get criminal summonses even when they are deserved.' Mara Davis, speaking for Adams, called the policy 'misguided.' Rep. Dan Goldman warned of harm to immigrants: 'We need to be careful about criminal charges.' Advocates say the policy increases fear among delivery workers and does not address real road danger. The council calls for education, civil penalties, and action on app companies, not criminalization.

• NYPD Admits Bike Crackdown Based on 'Community' Vibes, Not Data, streetsblog.org, Published 2025-05-14

Six mayoral candidates vow to fight reckless driving. They promise more bike lanes, busways, and open streets. Some call for automated enforcement and less NYPD control. All focus on design, not blame. The city’s most vulnerable demand real change.

This policy statement, published May 7, 2025, gathers responses from six mayoral candidates—Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Zellnor Myrie, and Zohran Mamdani—on street safety. The forum, hosted by Streetsblog NYC, asked candidates how they would address reckless driving. Scott Stringer said, 'The best way to curtail reckless driving is to make less room for reckless drivers on the road.' Zellnor Myrie promised 'physically separated bus lanes' and expanded automated enforcement. Jessica Ramos called for 'a citywide strategy that prioritizes safety through design.' Zohran Mamdani wants to move traffic enforcement from NYPD to DOT, ending biased stops. Whitney Tilson supports more police and cameras. The candidates back protected bike lanes, busways, daylighting, and automated enforcement. Their plans center on street redesign and accountability, not blaming victims. Each pledges to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders from systemic danger.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss Saving Us From Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07

Candidates faced the facts. Buses crawl. Streets choke. Each hopeful promised faster rides, more lanes, tougher enforcement. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. No action yet. No relief for those on foot or bike. Words, not change.

On May 5, 2025, Streetsblog NYC hosted a mayoral forum focused on bus service. The event, titled 'Decision 2025: Mayoral Question 2 Seeks Answers on Slow Buses,' asked candidates how they would fix New York’s slowest-in-the-nation bus system. Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Zellnor Myrie, and Zohran Mamdani answered. They called for more bus lanes, stronger enforcement, and faster service. No council bill was introduced; this was a public policy test, not legislation. According to the safety analyst, the event discussed bus speeds but did not specify any policy action affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so no direct safety impact can be assessed. The debate showed urgency but left vulnerable road users waiting for real change.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Question 2 Seeks Answers on Slow Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-05

Six mayoral hopefuls vow to fix New York’s crawling buses. They promise more bus lanes, tougher enforcement, and faster boarding. Each candidate slams City Hall’s slow pace. Riders wait. Cars clog the lanes. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price.

Mayoral Question 2, posed to 2025 candidates, asks how they will address New York City’s slow bus system. The candidates—Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Zellnor Myrie, and Zohran Mamdani—support more dedicated bus lanes, stronger enforcement, and faster boarding. Scott Stringer calls for 'dedicated bus lanes, more enforcement, more shelters, better curbs, more transit signal priority, all-door boarding, and more frequent off-peak services.' Ramos blasts DOT for building only 23 of 150 mandated bus miles. Myrie pledges to exceed the city’s 30-mile annual target. Lander wants immediate all-door boarding and new busways. Mamdani promises rapid expansion and free buses. Each candidate frames bus reform as urgent, with vulnerable riders suffering most from delays and car dominance. The city’s next mayor will shape the streets—and the safety of those who use them.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Question 2 Seeks Answers on Slow Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-05

Two SUVs plowed straight ahead on Linden Boulevard, striking a baby boy outside the crosswalk. His body was crushed. He lay semiconscious in the street. The drivers failed to yield, distracted, leaving devastation in their wake.

According to the police report, two station wagons or SUVs traveling east on Linden Boulevard near 166th Street struck a baby boy who was crossing outside the crosswalk. The report states the child suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was left semiconscious at the scene. Both vehicles continued straight ahead, and the point of impact was the center front end of each SUV. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors in the crash. The report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the collision. The baby had no protection at all, according to the narrative. The drivers' errors—failing to yield and being distracted—are explicitly identified as the causes of this violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809253, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV tore west on Belt Parkway, changing lanes too fast. The right front slammed hard. A 57-year-old man, belted, airbag blown, died from whole-body injuries. Two others survived. Speed and reckless lane change left no margin.

A deadly crash unfolded on Belt Parkway when a 2019 Mazda SUV, traveling westbound, veered while changing lanes at unsafe speed. According to the police report, the SUV's right front struck with force, resulting in fatal injuries to the 57-year-old male driver. The report states the man was belted and the airbag deployed, but he died from injuries to his entire body. Another man and an infant survived the collision. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors, underscoring the role of excessive speed and reckless maneuvering in this fatal event. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers disregard speed and lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807281, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council passed two bills forcing DOT to show its work. Lawmakers demand public trackers for street safety projects. DOT resists, citing complexity. Advocates want more than data—they want action. Transparency is a start, but not the finish.

On April 11, 2025, the City Council passed Intro 1105 and Intro 1114. Both bills require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create public trackers for capital projects tied to the Streets Master Plan. Intro 1105, sponsored by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, mandates a tracker for projects that count toward safety benchmarks. Intro 1114, sponsored by Council Member Julie Won, calls for a broader capital projects tracker. The bills respond to the Adams administration's failure to meet legal targets for bus and bike lanes. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said, 'Today’s legislation will advance greater transparency.' DOT officials pushed back, arguing project work is not linear and trackers have limited use. Won countered, 'It is [the DOT's] responsibility to take their capital plan and implement it.' Advocates and council members agree: tracking is only a first step. Without real follow-through, data alone will not save lives.

• Council To DOT: Do Better At Tracking Projects (So We Can See When You Fail), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-11

A speeding, unlicensed driver tore through Ocean Parkway. She struck a family crossing the street. Three died: a mother and her daughters. A four-year-old boy lost a kidney and clings to life. The driver faces manslaughter and assault charges. Grief grips Brooklyn.

On April 2, 2025, a fatal crash on Ocean Parkway left a Brooklyn family shattered. The driver, Miriam Yarimi, sped nearly double the limit, ran a red, and drove with a suspended license and expired registration. Her Audi struck an Uber, flipped, and mowed down Natasha Saada and her three children. Only four-year-old Philip Saada survived, but lost a kidney and remains in critical condition. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams visited the family, stating, 'My heart breaks for this family. I will continue to pray for this family.' Yarimi faces multiple manslaughter and assault charges. The crash exposes deadly gaps in traffic enforcement and the lethal risk to families on city streets.

• Brooklyn boy struck by speeding wigmaker Miriam Yarimi in horrific crash loses kidney as he fights for life: official, nypost.com, Published 2025-04-02

DOT will cut speed limits to 20 mph in DUMBO, City Island, Broad Channel, and New Brighton. The move targets busy pedestrian areas. Advocates and Council Member Restler back the change. Lower speeds mean fewer deadly crashes. Citywide action still stalled.

On March 20, 2025, the NYC Department of Transportation announced four new 20 mph speed limit zones. The agency used powers from Sammy's Law, passed last year, to lower speeds in DUMBO (Brooklyn), City Island (Bronx), Broad Channel (Queens), and New Brighton (Staten Island). DOT chose these areas for their heavy pedestrian traffic and clear boundaries. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing DUMBO, praised the move, saying, "I'm pleased that DOT will be implementing Brooklyn's first Regional Slow Zone in DUMBO—a neighborhood densely crowded with pedestrian foot traffic." DOT plans to cut speeds on 250 street segments this year, focusing on schools and shared streets. Research shows lower speed limits reduce injury severity in crashes. Despite this progress, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has not brought a citywide 20 mph limit to a vote. Advocates urge more action.

• DOT Rolls Out Four New 20 MPH Speed Limit Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-20

Open Streets are shrinking. Volunteers warn more cuts loom unless City Hall steps up. Federal relief is gone. Groups want $48 million over three years. Current grants barely keep programs alive. The city’s inaction puts public space and safety at risk.

On March 14, 2025, a coalition of 16 volunteer open street groups sent a letter to City Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers. They warned, 'The limited funding and decreases in funding that have occurred over the years jeopardize the continuity and future of the program—funding pressure is already leading to downsizing and the disappearance of Open Streets programs.' The groups seek $48 million over three years, separate from the city’s $30 million contract with the Horticultural Society. Current grants max out at $20,000 per year, forcing cutbacks. Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Adams are starting budget talks. Council spokesperson Julia Agos called Open Streets 'critical components of our city's public realm.' The Department of Transportation said suggestions will be reviewed. Volunteer groups handle most operations, but stalled redesigns and lack of resources threaten the program’s survival.

• Open Streets Won’t Survive Without More Money From the City, Organizers Warn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-14

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has stalled progress on safer streets. She blocks bike and bus lanes, backs car interests, and weakens outdoor dining. Under her, the Council ignores reckless drivers and fails to enforce safety laws. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

This report examines Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’s record on transportation policy as of March 9, 2025. The Council, under Adams, has passed few street safety bills and instead focused on parking and car-friendly measures. The article states, "Speaker Adams has accomplished far less than her recent predecessors... on expanding bus and bike lanes and making city streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists." Adams has supported e-bike registration, which experts warn would harm delivery workers and street safety. She has not acted to hold reckless drivers accountable after the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired and has not used Council powers to lower speed limits. Adams oversaw an outdoor dining law that restricted the program, leading to fewer participating restaurants. She has not enforced the Streets Master Plan benchmarks or sued the mayor for noncompliance. Her actions have left vulnerable road users exposed and slowed the city’s progress on Vision Zero.

• Not Another Mayor Adams? Adrienne Adams Has Little To Show On Street Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-09

Westbound SUV plows into sedan’s rear near 150th Street. Steel folds. A woman’s spine breaks. She stays conscious, seatbelt digging in, pain radiating. The crash leaves her body broken, the road echoing with the violence of speed and carelessness.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on Belt Parkway near 150th Street when a westbound SUV struck the back of a sedan, according to the police report. The report states the SUV 'slammed into a sedan’s rear,' crushing the 35-year-old woman driving the sedan. She remained conscious but suffered severe back injuries as her seatbelt held her in place while the force of the crash broke her spine. The police report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's failure to maintain a safe distance. No other contributing factors are cited for the victim. The impact crumpled the sedan’s center back end and the SUV’s front, underscoring the destructive consequences of tailgating on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797652, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Bus speeds crawl. Promised bus lanes never come. Mayor Adams broke his pledge. The city built just 9.6 miles in two years. Riders wait. DOT blames funding. Council law ignored. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

This report, released February 7, 2025, by the Independent Budget Office, exposes the city’s failure to meet the Streets Master Plan law (passed in 2019) mandating 150 miles of new bus lanes. The IBO states: 'It will be virtually impossible for the city to meet the City Council's required 150 miles of new bus lanes at the pace Mayor Adams is going.' Mayor Adams, who took office in 2022, has slowed or killed key bus projects, including the Fordham Road busway. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno claims the agency is building protected lanes and using cameras for enforcement, but admits resources are tight. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has called for compliance but not funded it. Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein blames hiring freezes and political interference for 'broken promises and neglected legislation.' The report shows that while DOT’s budget grew, staffing for bus lane expansion fell. Bus speeds remain stuck at 8.1 mph. The city’s inaction leaves millions of bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—stranded and exposed.

• Report: Efforts to Speed Up Bus Speeds Have Stalled … Like Bus Speeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-07

A Toyota SUV flipped on 135th Avenue. A 23-year-old woman, thrown from the back seat, lay unconscious and bleeding. A BMW struck head-on. A parked Dodge crumpled. Someone ran the light. Metal twisted. Lives upended in Queens before dawn.

According to the police report, a violent collision unfolded on 135th Avenue near Lefferts Boulevard in Queens at 2:55 a.m. A Toyota SUV, traveling north, overturned after a driver disregarded traffic control. The report states, 'A Toyota SUV flipped. A 23-year-old woman, unbelted in back, was thrown out. She lay bleeding, unconscious.' The SUV collided head-on with a BMW sedan, while a parked Dodge truck was struck and crumpled. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, pointing to a driver running a red light. The 23-year-old woman, a rear passenger in the SUV, suffered severe injuries after being ejected from the vehicle. No actions by the victim are listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers ignore traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788430, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW slams into a 23-year-old crossing North Conduit Avenue. His head hits the hood. Blood stains the street. The convertible’s front end buckles. The man lies motionless, life ended in the rush of traffic.

According to the police report, a BMW convertible traveling west on North Conduit Avenue near Rockaway Boulevard struck a 23-year-old man at the intersection. The report states the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The impact was severe: the man’s head hit the hood, blood pooled on the asphalt, and the vehicle’s front end crumpled. The victim was found unconscious with fatal head injuries and severe bleeding. The police report lists the contributing factors for both driver and pedestrian as 'Unspecified.' The report describes the driver as licensed and proceeding straight ahead at the time of the crash. The narrative centers the devastating outcome for the pedestrian, who died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788744, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14