No More Victims: Streets for People, Not for Pain

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

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

A motorscooter crashed into a sedan’s rear on Austin Street. The unlicensed rider, helmetless and exposed, suffered a crushed leg. Steel met flesh. The scooter’s front crumpled. He stayed awake, pain burning through the afternoon in Queens.

A violent collision unfolded on Austin Street near 67th Road in Queens, where a motorscooter struck the rear of a sedan, according to the police report. The report states the rider, a 30-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore no helmet or protective gear. The impact crushed his leg, leaving him conscious but in severe pain. The police report describes the scene: 'A motorscooter slammed into a sedan’s rear. The rider, unlicensed and unarmored, crushed his leg on impact. No helmet. Just flesh meeting steel.' The scooter’s front end folded from the force. The sedan sustained damage to its right rear bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the systemic danger of unlicensed, unprotected operation and the unforgiving violence of car-dominated streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757789 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A 14-year-old boy pedaled west on 103rd Avenue. An eastbound sedan struck him head-on. Crush injuries tore through his body. He was conscious when found. Police cite improper lane usage by the driver. The street swallowed another child.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old boy riding a bicycle was struck head-on by an eastbound Acura sedan at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 130th Street in Queens at 10:46 p.m. The report states the boy suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious when first responders arrived. The sedan's center front end bore the brunt of the impact. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, placing responsibility on the vehicle driver for failing to maintain proper lane discipline. The report makes no mention of any cyclist actions contributing to the crash, but notes the boy was not wearing a helmet. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A southbound SUV turned wrong at 109th and 103rd. Its front bumper struck a baby girl crossing with the light. Her body was crushed. She lay in shock on the pavement, beneath the afternoon sun. The driver failed to yield.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV at the corner of 109th Street and 103rd Avenue turned improperly and struck a baby girl who was crossing with the signal. The report states, 'A southbound SUV turned wrong. The front bumper struck a baby girl crossing with the light. Her body was crushed.' The child suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was left in shock on the pavement. The police report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The victim was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error and failure to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726458 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A motorcycle tore through the intersection at 114th Street and Liberty Avenue. It struck a 52-year-old woman. She died there, blood pooling on the asphalt. The bike’s front end crumpled. The street fell silent. Lives changed in an instant.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south on 114th Street struck a 52-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with Liberty Avenue. The impact was severe, causing fatal head injuries; the woman died at the scene, bleeding from the head. The report notes the motorcycle’s center front end took the brunt of the collision and was left crumpled. The narrative describes the aftermath as quiet and grim. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the vehicle and the pedestrian, providing no evidence of victim error. The motorcyclist was 'going straight ahead' at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of the pedestrian’s actions contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of a motorcycle striking a pedestrian in a city intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Frank Cavalluzzi, wielding a bladed glove, tried to mow down nine protesters in Queens. He shouted slurs, swung blades, then drove onto the sidewalk. The judge gave him 14 years. The court called it justice. The victims scattered. No one died.

On March 19, 2024, Supreme Court Justice Michelle Johnson sentenced Frank Cavalluzzi to 14 years in prison for nine counts of attempted murder. The case stemmed from a June 2020 incident, when Cavalluzzi, wearing a 'Wolverine' glove with blades, threatened and then drove at Black Lives Matter protesters on a Whitestone overpass above the Cross Island Parkway. The matter summary states Cavalluzzi 'taunted, then attempted to run over nine Black Lives Matter protesters.' Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the sentence 'justice,' emphasizing Cavalluzzi's use of racial slurs and his attack on peaceful demonstrators. Cavalluzzi's lawyer, Jason Russo, argued the case was overcharged, but the court rejected this. The sentence holds a dangerous driver accountable for targeting vulnerable people using the street to protest.

• SEE IT! ‘Racist’ Wolverine Man Hit With 14-Year Sentence, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-19

Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

A pickup driver with a record killed an 8-year-old in Queens. He pleaded not guilty. The court let him keep his license. He still drives. The boy’s family mourns. Politicians and advocates demand action. Streets stay deadly. Children pay the price.

On March 18, 2024, Jose Barcia, a pickup truck owner with a long history of unlicensed driving, pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide after fatally striking 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo and injuring his brother in Queens. At arraignment, Barcia was released without surrendering his license. The Queens District Attorney’s office did not seek revocation. State Sen. Jessica Ramos led a rally, citing 'reckless drivers who refuse to yield to pedestrians' and called for stronger pedestrian safety, saying, 'driving is a privilege that can, and should be, taken away.' Adam White, a lawyer for crash victims, said the DA should have insisted Barcia not drive. The rally highlighted rising road deaths—48 killed citywide in early 2024—and called out the city’s failure to protect its most vulnerable. Vision Zero’s mission, Ramos argued, has been 'desecrated.'

• Driver Who Cops Say Killed Queens Boy is Still on the Road After Not Guilty Plea, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-18

Jose Barcia killed Bayron Palomino Arroyo in East Elmhurst. Barcia had four prior arrests for unlicensed driving. His truck racked up eight speeding tickets and $350 in unpaid fines. The city failed to tow his vehicle. Now, a child is dead.

On March 14, 2024, Jose Barcia struck and killed 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo in East Elmhurst. Barcia had been arrested four times for unlicensed driving in 2009 and 2010, with two fines from guilty pleas. His North Carolina-plated pickup had eight camera-issued speeding tickets since June and over $350 in unpaid fines. Despite this, the Sheriff's department did not tow the vehicle. Barcia now faces criminally negligent homicide charges. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, "Driving carries with it a huge responsibility... The rules of the road exist to safeguard everyone." Advocacy groups and officials called for traffic calming and stronger enforcement. The system failed to keep a dangerous driver off the street. A child paid the price.

• Driver Who Killed 8-Year-Old Had Four Prior Arrests for Unlicensed Driving: Cops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-14

A Ford pickup turned left at 120th Street and 101st Avenue. Its bumper hit a man crossing with the signal. He collapsed, broken and unconscious. He died in the street before dawn. Driver inattention marked his final moments.

A 47-year-old man was killed at the intersection of 120th Street and 101st Avenue in Queens when a Ford pickup truck turned left and struck him. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with the signal' when the vehicle's 'left front bumper' hit him. The report states the driver was making a left turn and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The man collapsed, unconscious, suffering injuries to his entire body, and died at the scene. The police report makes no mention of any pedestrian error or unsafe behavior. The fatal impact occurred while the victim was lawfully in the crosswalk, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709148 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill forces DOT to act fast. Traffic study calls get answers in 60 days. No more endless waits. Streets stay dangerous while requests stall. Delay kills. Action saves.

Int 0542-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, laid over since March 7, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Brooks-Powers, Vernikov, and Morano. The bill cracks the whip on DOT, ending open-ended delays. Fast answers mean less time waiting for life-saving signals and signs. The city’s slow grind leaves people at risk. This bill demands speed.

• File Int 0542-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council moves to outlaw fake plates. Fraud hides reckless drivers. Bill targets sellers, sets fines. Streets need truth. Law aims to strip shields from danger.

Bill Int 0178-2024 sits with the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the sale or distribution of fraudulent license plates," makes it illegal to sell or distribute fake or temporary plates, with civil penalties for violators. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Brewer, Brannan, and Avilés. The bill was referred to committee the same day. Fraudulent plates let reckless drivers vanish. This measure aims to close that escape, exposing those who endanger lives.

• File Int 0178-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 500 solar-lit crosswalks in five years. Bright signals cut through the dark. The bill demands action and a study. Safety for walkers, not drivers. No more hiding in the shadows.

Int 0301-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law...in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and others. The bill also requires a study comparing these devices to standard signs. The city must report findings within two years. The goal: more visible crossings, fewer deadly impacts.

• File Int 0301-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28