Linden Boulevard Bleeds—How Many Dead Before Council Acts?

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 2025-06-15

Council leadership handed street policy to car-first politicians. Safety bills stalled. Parking won. Cyclists and pedestrians lost. Deaths stayed high. Advocates condemned the shift. The Speaker and committee heads blocked reforms. Vulnerable New Yorkers paid the price.

On January 21, 2025, the City Council, under Speaker Adrienne Adams, set its transportation agenda. The session saw progressives sidelined as the Council prioritized car-centric bills, including Intros 103 and 104 (parking protection) and hearings on Intro 606 (e-bike registration). The Common Sense Caucus, known for opposing bike lanes and congestion pricing, led the charge. Progressive members lost key committee seats. Universal daylighting (Intro 1138) and other safety reforms stalled. Council Member Julie Won continued to push for daylighting but faced resistance. As Streetsblog reported, 'roadway safety is simply not a priority.' Advocates and former members criticized the Council for failing to hold the mayor accountable on the Streets Master Plan and for focusing on parking over safety. The Council's actions marked a retreat from previous street safety gains, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• ‘Progressives’ Turn Council’s Transportation Policy Over to Republicans, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-21

A left-turning sedan struck a cyclist riding straight on Linden Boulevard. Metal slammed flesh. The rider, twenty-seven, flew and landed hard. His leg shattered. Blood spread on cold asphalt. The morning stayed gray. The driver’s improper lane use left pain behind.

A crash at the corner of Linden Boulevard and 155th Street in Queens left a 27-year-old cyclist with severe leg injuries after a sedan turned left and collided with him. According to the police report, the 1996 Honda sedan was 'making left turn' while the cyclist was 'going straight ahead.' The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The narrative states: 'A 1996 Honda turned left. A bike came straight. Metal hit bone. The rider, 27, flew. No helmet. His leg crushed. He lay conscious on cold asphalt, bleeding into the gray morning.' The point of impact was the sedan’s left front bumper, striking the center front of the bicycle. The cyclist was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his lower leg. The police report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor, but notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield or use lanes properly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

E-scooter rides surge in the Bronx and Queens. Speaker Adrienne Adams demands a pause. She cites scooters blocking sidewalks, endangering pedestrians. Companies tout transit links, but council staff want more accountability. DOT stays silent. Riders keep rolling. Danger remains.

On December 31, 2024, the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams, called for a pause or end to the city’s e-scooter pilot program. The matter, described as a response to 'constituent concerns about the safety hazards created when e-scooters are frequently left on sidewalks and streets, obstructing pedestrians and all road users,' highlights the tension between rising scooter use and street safety. Council spokespersons echoed Adams, citing reckless scooter parking near homes, businesses, and senior centers. The Council press office downplayed ridership, demanding better community engagement and accountability from Lime, Bird, and Veo. The Department of Transportation did not comment. No formal bill number or committee action was reported. Vulnerable road users—especially pedestrians—remain at risk as scooters block vital paths.

• Scooter Use is Soaring From Bronx to Queens: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-31

Metal shrieked on Lefferts Boulevard. A taxi and sedan collided, crushing a woman and breaking a baby’s legs. Both were off the roadway. The drivers missed the signs. One woman dead. One child maimed. The city’s danger, laid bare.

A deadly crash unfolded on Lefferts Boulevard near 115th Avenue in Queens when a taxi and a sedan collided, according to the police report. The impact killed a 51-year-old woman and left a baby boy with broken legs. Both victims were pedestrians and, as the report states, 'not in the roadway' at the time of the crash. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for both drivers. The narrative underscores that 'the drivers missed the signs,' highlighting systemic failures in driver compliance with traffic controls. The collision’s violence—'metal screamed'—left one woman dead from crush injuries and a child with severe leg trauma. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on driver error and the lethal consequences for those outside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782691, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Mayor Adams broke the law. His team built too few bus lanes and bike paths. Commutes drag. Riders and cyclists pay the price. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called out DOT’s failure. The city’s poorest wait longer. Streets stay dangerous. Promises broken.

On December 27, 2024, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28) condemned the Adams administration for failing to meet the 2019 Streets Plan’s legal requirements. The Department of Transportation installed only about five miles of protected bus lanes and 22 miles of protected bike lanes—far below the mandated 30 and 50 miles. The matter, titled 'Worst Mayor Ever for Bus Riders? Adams's Streets Plan Failure Means Longer Commutes for the Poorest New Yorkers,' highlights how DOT’s underperformance has slowed bus speeds and left vulnerable road users exposed. Speaker Adams, through spokesperson Mara Davis, called the Streets Plan benchmarks 'critical for street safety' and criticized DOT for 'consistently fall[ing] short of complying with the law.' Pending legislation seeks more transparency. The city’s neglect leaves riders and cyclists in danger, with no relief in sight.

• Worst Mayor Ever for Bus Riders? Adams's 'Streets Plan' Failure Means Longer Commutes for the Poorest New Yorkers, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-12-27

Mayor Adams missed legal targets for bus and bike lanes. DOT built only a fraction of what the law demands. Commutes drag for the city’s poorest. Council and advocates slam the mayor. Streets stay dangerous. Promises broken. Riders and walkers pay the price.

On December 27, 2024, the Adams administration again failed to meet the 2019 Streets Plan’s legal requirements. The Department of Transportation installed just five miles of protected bus lanes and 22 miles of protected bike lanes—far below the law’s 30 and 50 mile minimums. This marks the third straight year of missed targets. The City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams, is considering legislation for stricter tracking. Speaker Adams called the benchmarks 'critical for street safety,' and her spokesperson Mara Davis criticized DOT for 'consistently fall[ing] short of complying with the law.' Advocates like Philip Miatkowski and Danny Pearlstein condemned the mayor’s neglect. The poorest New Yorkers wait longer for slow buses. Streets remain unsafe. The law is ignored. Vulnerable road users suffer.

• Worst Mayor Ever for Bus Riders? Adams’s ‘Streets Plan’ Failure Means Longer Commutes for the Poorest New Yorkers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-27

A woman crossing 111th Avenue was struck by two westbound SUVs. Both drivers were distracted. Her pelvis shattered. Blood pooled on the street. She died before help could arrive. The night swallowed her last breath.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old woman was crossing 111th Avenue near 158th Street in Queens when she was struck by two westbound SUVs. The crash occurred at 21:33. The report states both drivers were inattentive or distracted at the time of the collision. The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries, including a shattered pelvis and internal bleeding, and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The victim was crossing without a signal, but this is only mentioned after the drivers' failures. The impact and aftermath are described in stark terms: 'Her pelvis shattered. Internal bleeding. She died on the street. Both drivers were distracted.' The sequence of events and the cited driver errors underscore the systemic danger faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781816, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The 2024 Streetsie Awards cut through the noise. Streetsblog NYC named names. They praised wins—like jaywalking decriminalization and parking minimum cuts. They called out failures—delayed congestion pricing, weak bus lane enforcement, and slow bike lane rollouts. Progress, setbacks, and hard truths.

The 2024 Streetsie Awards, published December 24, 2024, by Streetsblog NYC, reviewed the year’s transportation policy. The article highlighted both progress and setbacks, stating: 'The 2024 Streetsie Awards by Streetsblog NYC review the year's best and worst in NYC transportation policy, highlighting key events, policies, and political actors.' Key actions included the City Council decriminalizing jaywalking and cutting mandatory parking minimums, though low-density areas were left out. Council Member Lincoln Restler lost his Transportation Committee seat despite pushing for citizen enforcement against illegal parking. Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, and Mayor Adams were all named for missed promises or weak follow-through. Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s crackdown on ghost plates drew praise. The review called out Gov. Hochul for delaying congestion pricing, then reversing course. The NYPD faced criticism for ignoring placard abuse and Vision Zero, and for deadly high-speed chases. The piece underscored the need for accountability and stronger action to protect vulnerable road users.

• And the Winners Are…: It’s Time for the 2024 Streetsie Awards!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-24

A city bus swung left on Lefferts. Steel met flesh. A woman, sixty-four, crossing with the light, was struck and crushed. She stayed conscious as the signal blinked. The street swallowed her pain. The driver failed to yield.

At the corner of Lefferts Boulevard and 133rd Avenue in Queens, a bus making a left turn struck a 64-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, 'A bus turned left. A 64-year-old woman walked with the light. The bumper struck her full. Her body crushed. She stayed awake.' The crash occurred at 18:28. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman suffered crush injuries to her entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The impact point was the bus’s left front bumper. The pedestrian’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted in the report, but the driver’s failure to yield is the primary factor cited by police. No contributing behaviors are attributed to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780180, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushes Intro 606 to license e-bikes. Critics warn it targets immigrant delivery workers, not reckless drivers. Supporters cite safety, but data shows e-bikes cause few deaths. The bill risks criminalizing workers and fueling biased enforcement.

Intro 606, now before the New York City Council, would require all e-bikes to be registered and display license plates. The bill is supported by a majority of council members and discussed in recent committee hearings. The official summary states it aims to improve public safety. Council Member Vickie Paladino backs the bill, suggesting bike lane funds be diverted to its rollout. Speaker Adrienne Adams voiced concern for immigrant communities but did not address the bill's direct impact. Critics, including Michael Sisitzky of NYCLU and Luis Cortes of Los Deliveristas Unidos, warn the bill will lead to discriminatory policing and criminalize delivery workers. Experts say e-bikes are linked to a small share of road deaths, and the bill could expose immigrants to federal enforcement. The measure, they argue, misses the real dangers on city streets.

• ‘Trojan Horse’: E-Bike Licensing Bill Would Fuel Anti-Immigrant Policing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-10

Intro 606 would force e-bike riders to register and plate their bikes. Critics warn it targets immigrant delivery workers, not reckless drivers. Council debate rages. The bill ignores the real killers: cars. E-bikes cause few deaths. The danger remains unchecked.

Intro 606, now before the City Council, would require all e-bikes to be registered with the Department of Transportation and display license plates. The bill, debated on December 10, 2024, is backed by Council Member Bob Holden and mentioned by Chi Ossé of District 36. The matter summary states: 'A majority of NYC Council members support Intro 606, a bill requiring all e-bikes to be registered with the Department of Transportation and issued license plates.' Speaker Adrienne Adams voiced concern for immigrant communities but did not address the bill's direct impact. Council Member Vickie Paladino dismissed profiling worries, focusing instead on crime. Advocates and experts warn the bill could lead to discriminatory enforcement against immigrant delivery workers, exposing them to policing and immigration risks. Data shows e-bikes cause a tiny fraction of road deaths, while car drivers remain the main threat. The bill, critics say, misses the real danger.

• Trojan Horse': E-Bike Licensing Bill Would Fuel Anti-Immigrant Policing, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-12-10

Metal slammed metal near Rockaway Boulevard. A parked sedan struck from behind. A 65-year-old woman trapped in the back seat, three others hurt. The midnight air rang with pain, the violence of speed and tailgating written in steel and bone.

According to the police report, two sedans were parked near 110-00 Rockaway Blvd in Queens when one was struck from behind just before midnight. The impact crushed the rear of the vehicle, injuring four occupants. A 65-year-old woman in the back seat suffered crush injuries, along with three others. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for both drivers and a front passenger, underscoring driver error as the primary cause. The narrative details, 'One struck from behind. Metal folded. A 65-year-old woman crushed in the back seat. Three others hurt.' No victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors. The crash exposes the persistent danger of reckless driving, even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775515, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan barreled west on North Conduit Avenue. Light failed. A woman, crossing at 150th Street, was struck head-on. She died there, crushed and alone. The street swallowed her in the dark, another life ended by steel and speed.

According to the police report, a woman was killed near 150th Street and North Conduit Avenue in Queens just after dawn. The report states that a westbound sedan struck her head-on as she crossed the intersection. The contributing factor listed is 'Other Lighting Defects,' highlighting poor lighting conditions at the scene. The report notes the sedan was traveling straight ahead and the impact occurred at the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene with crush injuries. The police report also notes the pedestrian was 'crossing against the signal,' but this is mentioned after the lighting defect cited as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of inadequate street lighting and vehicle movement through dark intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773457, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council weighs gutting parking mandates. Experts warn: halve the housing, choke new homes. Low-density districts resist. Speaker silent. Planners say parking rules block growth. The fight is clear—more parking, fewer homes, less safety for those outside cars.

Bill under debate: City of Yes rezoning plan. Status: City Council hearing on November 7, 2024. The plan aims to eliminate mandatory parking requirements citywide, but council members from low-density districts push back, seeking to limit changes to areas near subways. The matter summary states, 'If the Council modifies the plan to eliminate parking requirements only in the transit zone...that would cut the estimated production in about half.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has not taken a public stance. Conservative members like Bob Holden oppose the plan, while City Planning Commission Chairman Dan Garodnick urges action: 'Your district needs to be part of the housing solution.' Experts stress that parking mandates have long blocked new housing. The stakes are high—keeping parking requirements means less housing, more driving, and more danger for those outside cars.

• Want Parking? Kiss Goodbye Half of the Projected Housing in ‘City Of Yes’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-07

A 37-year-old man, helmeted but unlicensed, changed lanes on Nassau Expressway. He was thrown from his moped, struck headfirst, crushed on impact. The road claimed him. No other vehicles. No second chance.

A single-vehicle crash on Nassau Expressway left a 37-year-old man dead, according to the police report. The victim, operating a 2024 Taizhou moped, was unlicensed and was changing lanes when he was ejected from the vehicle. The report states he was helmeted, but suffered fatal head and crush injuries after being thrown and striking the roadway. The police report notes, 'He was thrown, struck headfirst, helmeted. The road took him. Crushed on impact. Ejected.' No other vehicles or people were involved. The driver's unlicensed status is documented in the police report. No additional contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764561, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Speaker Adrienne Adams wants the city to halt its e-scooter share in eastern Queens. She cites blocked sidewalks and safety fears. Riders and advocates push back, warning a pause will hurt those who rely on scooters for safe, cheap travel.

On October 10, 2024, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called for an 'immediate operational pause' of the e-scooter share program in eastern Queens. The matter, described as a demand to 'pause' the program due to 'sidewalks allegedly rendered impassible by the micromobility devices,' reflects Adams's concerns about scooters left on sidewalks and streets. She stated, 'My constituents have consistently raised questions and concerns about the safety hazards created when e-scooters are frequently left on sidewalks and streets, obstructing pedestrians and all road users.' Adams's stance opposes the current e-scooter share and expansion of micromobility options, but supports stronger regulation and enforcement. The Department of Transportation and advocates highlight the program's success, with nearly 500,000 trips since launch, and argue for better infrastructure instead of a ban. No formal council vote has occurred; this is a public demand from the Speaker.

• Speaker Adams to City: Slow Your E-Scooter Roll, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-10

Mayor Adams pledged safer streets, but failed. Bike lanes stalled. Bus lanes shrank. Daylighting rose, but traffic deaths climbed. Donors shaped policy. Promises faded. Pedestrians and cyclists paid the price. The city’s most vulnerable lost ground. Adams called crashes accidents. The toll mounts.

This analysis reviews Mayor Eric Adams’s record on livable streets as of September 27, 2024. The piece, published by Streetsblog NYC, scrutinizes Adams’s actions and inactions: 'Adams repeatedly failed to meet annual requirements to add new miles of protected bus and bike lanes under the 2019 Streets Master Plan, despite vowing to exceed those benchmarks while campaigning.' Adams supported removing parking mandates through the City of Yes initiative and expanded daylighting at intersections, but fell short on bike and bus lane expansion. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams threatened legal action over unmet safety mandates. Adams’s administration enabled donor-driven sabotage of safety projects, watered down road diets, and ignored placard abuse. His DOT advanced the BQE rebuild against local opposition. Adams’s rhetoric blamed victims and minimized systemic danger. The result: vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders—face greater risk. Promises to reclaim streets for people remain largely unfulfilled.

• ‘Resign’: Adams’s Livable Streets Record Wilts Under Scrutiny, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-27

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing 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 pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

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

A Ford SUV crashed into a slowing taxi on Belt Parkway. In the back seat, a woman’s head bled as red taillights flickered past. She stayed conscious, wounded and waiting, while traffic crawled through the aftermath.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV struck the rear of a taxi that was slowing or stopping westbound on Belt Parkway at 22:15. The SUV, described as 'going straight ahead,' collided with the taxi's center back end. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error as the cause of the crash. Inside the taxi, a 50-year-old woman riding in the right rear seat suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. The narrative notes, 'A Ford SUV slammed into a slowing taxi. In the back seat, a 50-year-old woman bled from the head.' No evidence in the report suggests any passenger behavior contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the SUV driver's failure to maintain safe distance, resulting in direct harm to a vulnerable passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758456, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15