Linden Boulevard Bleeds—How Many Dead Before Council Acts?

Council yanked the jaywalking bill. Lawmakers clashed over driver liability. Advocates withdrew support after amendments weakened pedestrian protections. Speaker Adrienne Adams delayed a vote. The city’s streets remain dangerous. Enforcement falls hardest on people of color. The fight continues.

Bill 2024, aimed at decriminalizing jaywalking, stalled in the City Council on September 12, 2024. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had advanced the bill, but Speaker Adrienne Adams held it back from a full vote, citing ongoing debate. The bill’s summary: ending NYPD tickets for crossing outside crosswalks, a practice disproportionately enforced against New Yorkers of color. Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, a sponsor, condemned the law’s discriminatory impact and its failure to reduce traffic violence. After lawmakers amended the bill to shield drivers from liability in pedestrian crashes, advocates like Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives withdrew support, insisting the law should 'clearly protect [pedestrians’] right to safety and security.' The latest version still exposes jaywalkers to civil suits and mandates a city safety education campaign. The bill’s future is uncertain. Advocates demand stronger protections for people on foot.

• NYC lawmakers struggle to decriminalize jaywalking, gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-12

Steel clashed on North Conduit Avenue. Two sedans, one turning, one charging ahead. A man, belted in, felt his body break. The street bore witness. Improper lane use carved pain into the morning.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at North Conduit Avenue and 122nd Street in Queens. One vehicle was making a right turn while the other continued straight. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The impact left a 30-year-old male driver with crush injuries to his entire body; he remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The narrative states, 'Steel met steel. A 30-year-old man, belted in, stayed conscious as his body broke.' No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing behavior by the injured driver beyond the cited improper lane usage by both drivers. The crash underscores the persistent danger when drivers fail to maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751715, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped tore down Rockaway Boulevard. The driver, helmetless, lost control. He flew headfirst onto the street. Blood pooled in the dark. His body lay twisted, semiconscious, bleeding from the head. No other vehicles or people nearby.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old moped driver traveling eastbound on Rockaway Boulevard near 135th Place crashed late at night. The report states the moped was operated at 'Unsafe Speed.' The driver, who wore no helmet, was ejected from the vehicle and landed headfirst on the street. He was found semiconscious, suffering severe head bleeding, with his body twisted on the pavement. The police narrative describes the scene as solitary, with no other vehicles or people present. The only contributing factor cited in the report is 'Unsafe Speed.' The absence of helmet use is noted after the primary driver error. The data does not mention any other contributing factors or victim actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750558, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal shrieked at 160th and 110th. An SUV struck a sedan turning wrong. A 63-year-old man, belted in, sat crushed and conscious, his back broken. The street held him still. Dawn broke over shattered glass and broken bone.

At the corner of 160th Street and 110th Avenue in Queens, a violent collision left a 63-year-old male driver with severe back injuries. According to the police report, a sedan executed an improper turn and failed to yield the right-of-way, leading to a forceful impact with a northbound SUV. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The injured driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, remained conscious but suffered crush injuries to his back. The police narrative describes the scene: 'Metal screamed at dawn. A sedan turned wrong. The SUV struck hard. A 63-year-old man, belted in, sat crushed and conscious, his back broken.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver errors—specifically, improper turning and failure to yield—on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745477, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A turning car’s door caught a 15-year-old riding an e-bike. The boy slammed, flew, landed hard. Crush injuries racked his body. He stayed conscious, pain burning through him. Driver inattention and an improper turn paved the way.

A 15-year-old boy riding an e-bike was severely injured near 127th Street and 109th Avenue when he collided with the side of a car making a left turn. According to the police report, the e-bike struck the turning vehicle’s left side doors, sending the boy flying and causing crush injuries to his entire body. The report states the boy was not wearing a helmet, but emphasizes that 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' were the primary contributing factors. The car was making a left turn while the e-bike was going straight ahead. The boy remained conscious after the crash, despite significant pain. The police report centers the driver’s lack of attention and improper maneuver as key causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744256, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

New York City streets are deadlier than ever. Sixty-one pedestrians died in the first half of 2024. Cyclists and drivers fell too. Midtown leads in bloodshed. Brooklyn breaks records. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sounds the alarm. Vision Zero falters. The toll mounts.

A July 27, 2024 report highlights a grim milestone: 61 pedestrians killed in NYC since January, the highest six-month toll since Vision Zero began in 2014. The study, cited by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28), warns, '2024 is on pace to be the deadliest year for traffic violence in the Vision Zero era, which should alarm all New Yorkers.' Adams expressed deep concern and urged the city to hold the line on past safety gains. The report, from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets, blames the spike on policy failures, especially the cancellation of congestion pricing. Advocates demand immediate action: congestion pricing, more bike lanes, and daylighting intersections. The Department of Transportation promises visibility upgrades at 1,000 intersections and speed reductions under Sammy's Law. But the numbers are stark: 127 killed in six months, a record. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Past 6 months have had the most traffic deaths in nearly a decade with 61 pedestrians killed since January: study, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-27

Vision Zero failed this year. One hundred twenty-seven killed in six months. Pedestrian deaths soared. Cyclists still died. SUVs and trucks mowed down most victims. City leaders stalled on proven fixes. Speaker Adrienne Adams may punt speed limit decisions to districts.

On July 23, 2024, a Vision Zero progress report revealed the deadliest start to a year on New York City streets since 2014. The report, discussed in Council District 28, showed 127 killed from January to June: 61 pedestrians, 51 motorists, 12 cyclists. The matter summary states, 'NYC streets see most traffic deaths to start year in a decade.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, mentioned in the report, may let local lawmakers decide on speed limit reductions. Transportation Alternatives blamed Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Hochul for ignoring proven safety measures. Cyclist deaths dropped, but pedestrian deaths jumped 27%. Large SUVs and trucks caused 94% of pedestrian deaths. The Department of Transportation cited red light cameras, intersection visibility, and selective speed limit drops. But citywide speed limits need Council action. Speaker Adams’s indecision leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC streets see most traffic deaths to start year in a decade: report, amny.com, Published 2024-07-23

Pedestrian deaths surged 27 percent in 2024. The Council sits idle on Sammy’s Law, blocking a citywide 20 mph limit. Speeding rages. DOT lowers limits piecemeal. Streets stay deadly. Vision Zero fades. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

City Council has not acted on Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City lower its speed limit to 20 mph. The bill remains stalled, with Speaker Adrienne Adams showing little interest. The matter: 'Sammy's Law authorized the Council to lower the citywide speed limit to 20 miles per hour.' Inaction comes as 127 people died in crashes through June 30, 2024—more than any year since Vision Zero began. Pedestrian deaths rose 27 percent from 2023. DOT, led by rep Nick Benson, uses its limited authority to lower speed limits at 201 locations by year’s end. Adams says, 'Each Council member is going to have to weigh in on how they feel it should be enacted or should not be enacted in their district.' Meanwhile, injuries and deaths climb. The Council’s delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• Speeding Fuels Pedestrian Death Crisis As Council Stalls ‘Sammy’s Law’ Changes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-23

A Hyundai swung wide on 122 Avenue, its nose colliding with an Audi’s front. Inside, a 31-year-old woman bled from her head, conscious, belted, trapped in the aftermath. The street pulsed on, indifferent to broken flesh and steel.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 122 Avenue and Brewer Boulevard in Queens when a Hyundai sedan attempted a wide U-turn and struck the right front of an Audi SUV. The report cites 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor in the crash. The impact left the 31-year-old woman driving the Hyundai with head injuries and crush trauma; she remained conscious and was wearing a seatbelt. The Audi was traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. The police report makes no mention of any contributing factors related to the injured driver’s behavior. The crash underscores the danger when drivers execute improper turning maneuvers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742478, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Speaker Adams wavers on using new power to lower speed limits. She calls for district input. Advocates warn: patchwork rules endanger lives. Uniform 20 mph limit saves people. Council delays action as streets stay deadly.

On July 19, 2024, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams addressed the Council’s authority under Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City lower its speed limit. The matter, discussed in Streetsblog, quotes Adams: “Each Council member is going to have to weigh in on how they feel it should be enacted or should not be enacted in their district.” Adams hesitated to commit to a citywide 20 mph limit, instead suggesting community-by-community decisions. Eric McClure of StreetsPAC called this approach “chaotic and dangerous,” pushing for a uniform 20 mph limit to save lives. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged a comprehensive, data-driven plan. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Brad Hoylman-Sigal pressed the Council to use its new powers. The Department of Transportation clarified its limited authority. The Council’s delay leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Speaker Adams: Council May Not Use its ‘Sammy’s Law’ Power to Lower Speed Limits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-19

A sedan slammed into an SUV on 107th Avenue. Metal twisted. Blood streaked a driver’s arm. The air reeked of alcohol. One man hurt, conscious, bleeding in the dark Queens night. Two cars, one crash, danger unchecked.

According to the police report, a sedan struck the back of a sport utility vehicle on 107th Avenue near 111th Street in Queens at 1:06 a.m. The report notes 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor in the crash. The sedan’s front end collided with the SUV’s rear, crumpling metal and causing severe bleeding to a 32-year-old male driver, who remained conscious. The narrative describes the scene: 'Metal crumpled. Blood ran down a 32-year-old man’s arm. He stayed conscious. The night smelled of alcohol.' Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the presence of alcohol and the violent impact that left one driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728519, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Hall vows to rein in last-mile warehouses. Trucks choke low-income streets. Council and activists press for action. New rules will target emissions and zoning. The city promises laws within a year. Vulnerable neighborhoods wait for relief.

On May 22, 2024, Mayor Adams’s administration committed to regulate last-mile delivery warehouses. The pledge came in a letter from Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, just before the Council’s Land-Use Committee reviewed the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity zoning change. The city promised to pass legislation within a year to control warehouse emissions and restrict new facilities in low-income areas without review. Council Member Alexa Avilés and activists have long demanded these protections, citing environmental harm and truck traffic. Torres-Springer wrote, 'The city shares the Council's desire to take near-term steps to address the harmful effects of last-mile operations.' The new rules will empower the Department of Environmental Preservation and propose zoning changes, though they are not part of the current zoning plan due to procedural limits. Advocates hope these steps will curb pollution and truck danger in vulnerable communities.

• Activists Hail City Commitment to Fewer Trucks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-22

Mayor Adams backs lower speed limits but calls crashes ‘accidents.’ He urges drivers to slow down, yet hedges on citywide changes. The Council and DOT hold the power. Advocates say language matters. Streets remain deadly. Action lags. Lives hang in balance.

On May 8, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams publicly supported lowering speed limits after the passage of 'Sammy’s Law,' which allows New York City to reduce limits to 20 mph on most roads. The law, passed in the state budget, excludes wide, multi-lane roads in the outer boroughs. Adams said, 'I do believe as New Yorkers we need to slow down,' but repeatedly referred to preventable crashes as 'accidents,' a term advocates reject for removing driver responsibility. The City Council must legislate any citywide speed limit change, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) can adjust limits on specific streets after community input. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Speaker Adrienne Adams pledged to 'collaborate and negotiate' with City Hall. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi stressed the need for street redesign and legal reform, noting, 'This is not a problem that goes away on its own.' Despite new authority, the Adams administration has lagged on safe street infrastructure. The city faces its deadliest start to a year in the Vision Zero era, with 60 killed in the first quarter.

• Adams Backs Lower Speed Limits, Calls Crashes ‘Accidents’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-08

Steel collided at 120th Street and 107th Avenue. An SUV struck a sedan. Metal screamed. Doors buckled. A man’s shoulder crushed, a woman’s body broken. Both survived, conscious. The right-of-way was denied. Failure to yield left two people injured, pain echoing through Queens.

At the intersection of 120th Street and 107th Avenue in Queens, a Ford SUV collided with a northbound sedan, injuring two occupants. According to the police report, the SUV 'struck a northbound sedan. Metal screamed. Doors buckled.' A 26-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his shoulder, while a 30-year-old woman endured injuries across her entire body. Both remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The report states, 'The right-of-way was not given.' The data does not indicate any contributing factors related to the victims’ behavior. The crash underscores the consequences of driver error and the persistent threat at city intersections when right-of-way is denied.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720541, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Sixty people died on New York streets in early 2024. Cyclists and pedestrians bore the brunt. Most killed outside protected lanes. SUVs struck hardest. City failed to build promised safety infrastructure. Advocates demand action. The toll keeps rising. Lives lost. Promises broken.

On April 25, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported a grim milestone: the first quarter of 2024 saw 60 traffic deaths in New York City, the highest since Vision Zero began in 2014. The report, titled 'Road Violence Hits Record in First Quarter of 2024,' highlights that 'twice as many bike riders were killed compared to the average Vision Zero first quarter, and most were not in protected bike lanes.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called for monthly DOT updates to address the shortfall in protected bike and bus lane construction. Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris urged the city to meet the legal mandates of the Streets Plan, stating, 'Every single one of these deaths was preventable.' The Adams administration faces criticism for failing to deliver required safety infrastructure, with only 58.2 miles of protected bike lanes and 9.6 miles of bus lanes built, far short of legal mandates. Most cyclist and pedestrian deaths occurred on streets lacking safety measures, and SUVs were involved in the majority of fatalities. The city’s failure to daylight intersections and build protected lanes continues to endanger vulnerable road users.

• Report: Road Violence Hits Record in First Quarter of 2024, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-25

Speaker Adrienne Adams wants monthly DOT updates on bus and bike lane progress. The law demands more lanes, but DOT lags behind. The tracker aims to force action. Advocates back it. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous. The city stalls. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 14, 2024, Speaker Adrienne Adams introduced a bill requiring the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide monthly progress reports on the Streets Master Plan. The bill, now before the Council, would replace the current annual reporting—often delayed—with monthly updates on bus lanes, bike lanes, and public space benchmarks. The matter summary states: 'Speaker Adams wants a tracker to make sure Mayor Adams follows the law.' Adams sponsors the bill, citing the DOT’s failure to meet legal mandates for two years running. In 2023, DOT built only 32 of 50 required bike lane miles and 5.2 of the mandated bus lane miles. Advocacy groups Transportation Alternatives and Riders Alliance support the tracker, calling it a tool for accountability and enforcement. DOT objects, citing project pacing. Speaker Adams signals she may pursue legal action if the city fails to comply. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as city agencies stall.

• Speaker Adams Wants Streets Plan ‘Tracker’ to Make Sure Mayor Adams Follows the Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-14

Council and DOT are at war. Bike lanes stall. Bus lanes stall. Six of 51 council members respond to DOT’s call for safety ideas. Most ignore it. Mayor Adams shrugs off legal mandates. Projects stall. Streets stay dangerous. Vulnerable road users pay.

On February 28, 2024, the New York City Council and Department of Transportation (DOT) faced off over street safety project implementation. The matter, described as a conflict over 'the implementation of street safety improvements, particularly protected bike lanes and bus lanes,' exposes deep rifts. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez asked council members for input; only six of 51 replied. Council Member Gale Brewer cited ignored past outreach. Joe Borelli dismissed bike lanes and DOT’s efforts. Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers insisted the agency, not lawmakers, must pick locations. The city is failing to meet legal benchmarks for new lanes. Mayor Adams has sidelined mandates for community feedback. Advocates blame both the council and mayor for delays, missed projects, and rising danger. Decisive leadership is missing. The city’s legal obligations for street safety remain unmet.

• Divorce NY Style: The Council and DOT Have Moved to Splitsville, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-28

DOT missed legal targets for protected lanes. Council mostly silent. Mayor cut funds. Projects stalled. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable New Yorkers left exposed. Leadership absent. Promises broken. Change delayed. The city’s most fragile pay the price.

On February 28, 2024, the conflict between the City Council and Department of Transportation over the Streets Master Plan erupted. The DOT failed to meet 2023’s legal benchmarks: just 5.2 miles of protected bus lanes built out of 30 required, and 32 miles of protected bike lanes out of 50 mandated by 2019 law. Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) was mentioned, but only six of 51 council members responded to DOT’s call for safety project suggestions. The matter centers on the DOT’s report and council inaction: 'Out of 51 City Council members, only six responded to a request from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for recommended locations where street safety improvements should be made in their districts.' Mayor Adams slashed DOT’s budget and weakened projects, while council leaders deflected responsibility. Advocates like Jon Orcutt and Elizabeth Adams demanded decisive action, warning that delays and excuses cost lives. More than half of New Yorkers remain far from protected bike lanes as daily cycling surges. The city’s vulnerable road users remain at risk while officials pass the buck.

• Divorce NY Style: The Council and DOT Have Moved to Splitsville, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-28

A Chevy sedan tore down Centreville Avenue and struck a 29-year-old man. The impact crushed his leg. He stayed conscious as the car sped away, leaving him broken in the street. The driver’s aggression marked the night.

A 2004 Chevy sedan traveling southwest on Centreville Avenue near Rockaway Boulevard struck a 29-year-old man, according to the police report. The pedestrian was not at an intersection when the collision occurred. The report states the man suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' was cited as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The sedan’s left front bumper delivered the blow, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The report notes the driver continued on, leaving the injured man in the roadway. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were listed in the police report. The focus remains on the driver’s aggression and the systemic risk it poses to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams may sue Mayor Adams for ignoring the Streets Master Plan. The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Advocates demand action. The law is clear. Vulnerable road users wait while leaders argue.

On February 9, 2024, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced she would consider suing Mayor Adams for failing to meet the Streets Master Plan’s legal mandates. The plan, passed in 2019, requires 30 miles of new bus lanes and 50 miles of protected bike lanes each year. The Adams administration has missed these targets for two years. Speaker Adams told reporters, "Just like you have to comply with the law and I have to comply with the law, the administration has to comply with the law as well." The Council is weighing all options, including legal action, to force compliance. Advocacy groups and policy organizations back the lawsuit, demanding the city meet its obligations to vulnerable road users. The matter remains under Council review.

• Council Speaker Adams Says She’ll Consider Suing Mayor Adams over Streets Master Plan Failures, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-09