Eight Dead, a Thousand Broken—How Many More Before We Act?

Council bill pushes cheaper bike share for students sixteen and up. City’s Department of Transportation must set new rates. More teens could ride. Bill sits in committee. Streets may see more young cyclists. Danger remains. System must protect them.

Int 1287-2025, introduced May 28, 2025, sits with 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 a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older,” would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted rate for eligible students. Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Gale A. Brewer, Shahana K. Hanif, Sandy Nurse, Linda Lee, Keith Powers, Lincoln Restler, Chi A. Ossé, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Althea V. Stevens, and Farah N. Louis. The measure aims to make cycling more accessible for youth, but the city must ensure safe streets as more young riders join traffic. The bill remains under committee review.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

Two SUVs collided on Guy R Brewer Blvd at 146 Dr. A rear passenger suffered severe head bleeding. Another driver complained of pain. Police cite following too closely. Metal struck metal. The street bore the cost.

Two sport utility vehicles crashed on Guy R Brewer Blvd at 146 Dr. According to the police report, the collision happened when one SUV struck the back of another. A 61-year-old right rear passenger suffered severe bleeding from a head injury. A 35-year-old driver reported pain across his entire body. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left two people hurt, with the most serious injuries to a passenger. The report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812513, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

NYPD targets cyclists with criminal summonses for minor offenses. Riders face tickets for headphones, stop line slips. Complaints of entrapment rise. Advocates and lawmakers slam the crackdown. Data shows e-bikes rarely harm pedestrians. Council eyes hearings. Streets stay dangerous.

On May 6, 2025, the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists and e-bike riders for low-level traffic offenses drew sharp criticism. The policy, backed by Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch, claims to target 'quality of life' offenses. Cyclists report tickets for minor or fabricated infractions, including headphone use and stopping ahead of painted lines. Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander called the crackdown 'performative,' urging alternatives like the Idaho Stop and stricter delivery app regulation. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the need for criminal court involvement and signaled interest in a hearing. The article notes e-bike riders cause few pedestrian injuries. The City Council previously limited criminal summonses for minor infractions over racial profiling concerns. Critics say the crackdown punishes vulnerable road users while failing to improve street safety.

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

NYPD targets cyclists with criminal summonses. Minor infractions become court cases. Riders face fear, confusion, and entrapment. Streets grow hostile. Enforcement is uneven. Safety suffers. The crackdown punishes the vulnerable. City leaders question the policy.

On May 6, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported on the NYPD's new traffic enforcement policy targeting cyclists and e-bike riders. The policy, supported by Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch, escalates minor cycling infractions to criminal court summonses. The article, titled 'As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims,' details complaints of overzealous, inconsistent enforcement and alleged entrapment. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the need for criminal court involvement, while Comptroller Brad Lander called the crackdown 'performative' and dangerous. The safety analyst notes: 'Policies that empower discretionary or punitive enforcement against cyclists can deter active transportation, increase fear and mistrust, and shift responsibility away from systemic safety improvements, ultimately undermining population-level safety for vulnerable road users.' The crackdown draws widespread criticism for endangering those outside cars.

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

Council passed a bill forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post warnings on rear doors. The decals tell riders to watch for cyclists before swinging open. The law aims to cut dooring. Signs come free from the city. Cyclists face less risk.

Int 0193-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, moved through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed the Council on May 1, 2025. The bill reads: 'requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door.' Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Jennifer Gutiérrez and a long list of co-sponsors. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law orders all taxis and for-hire vehicles to post warning decals on rear passenger doors, alerting riders to check for cyclists before opening. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure targets dooring, a common threat to cyclists. The bill takes effect 120 days after becoming law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Parks Department blocks bikes from Rockaway Boardwalk, closes Hudson River Greenway, and lets cars back into Silver Lake Park. Cyclists, kids, and seniors lose safe routes. Council Member Brooks-Powers and residents protest. Advocates demand better maintenance and real transportation focus.

On April 24, 2025, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation faced backlash for policies affecting key bike infrastructure. The department banned bikes from a major stretch of the Rockaway Boardwalk, closed parts of the Hudson River Greenway, and allowed cars back into Silver Lake Park. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, speaking for local families, condemned the boardwalk ban: "It was about the children that take advantage of biking on the boardwalk...We’re now shifting them into the street." Residents and advocates argue these moves ignore years of complaints about poor maintenance and lack of coordination with DOT. They highlight that car-free conditions in Silver Lake Park improved safety, especially for children. Advocates call for shifting road maintenance from Parks to DOT and demand structural changes. The Parks Department’s focus on recreation, not transportation, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and frustrated.

• Parks Dept. Controls Vital Bike Infrastructure But Treats Riders Like An Afterthought, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-24

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

Council bill orders new medians between bike lanes and car traffic to hold trees and plants. Parks and Transportation must decide what’s possible, then plant. The law aims to shield cyclists, break up the street, and cool the city’s hard edges.

Int 1233-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on April 10, 2025. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. Their action: referral to committee. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to build new medians between bike lanes and car lanes that can support trees and other vegetation, subject to feasibility. Parks and Recreation must plant or allow planting in these medians. The move promises a harder barrier between cyclists and cars, with green infrastructure as a shield.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post updates on every street safety project. Each month, the public will see which projects are planned, which are stalled, and which are done. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. Sunlight on every mile.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now on the Mayor's desk, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced November 13, 2024, and passed committee and full Council votes on April 10, 2025. The law, titled '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,' demands the Department of Transportation post annual and monthly updates on all benchmark projects—protected bike lanes, bus lanes, signals, and upgrades. Council Member Julie Won led as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law requires public reporting on project status, funding, delays, and overruns. This measure brings hard oversight and transparency to the city’s street safety promises.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council Transportation Chair Brooks-Powers wants the Beach 20th Street protected bike lane gone. She blames illegal parking, not enforcement. Cyclists lose space. The city risks more danger. DOT says it will look at hardening the lane and boosting enforcement.

On March 24, 2025, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for the removal of the protected bike lane on Beach 20th Street in Arverne, Queens. At a community meeting, Brooks-Powers said, "We’ve been trying to get [the bike lane] removed for three years. It wasn’t supported by the community. ... In effect it’s not a bike lane quite honestly; no one uses it, they [drivers] park there. We would like to see the hard infrastructure removed." Instead of demanding enforcement against illegal parking, she wants the lane ripped out, returning the street to a more dangerous state for cyclists and pedestrians. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez replied that building safe bike lanes requires support from local leaders. DOT spokesperson Will Livingston said the agency remains committed to safety and will explore hardening the lane and increasing enforcement.

• Council Transportation Chair Asks DOT To Rip Up a Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-24

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

A Toyota SUV turned left on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, metal striking a woman’s chest as she crossed with the signal. She fell hard, crushed and silent, the car untouched. The sea waited beyond, indifferent to blood on the street.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV made a left turn at Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 73rd Street in Queens. As the vehicle turned, it struck a 36-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states, 'She crossed with the light. The Toyota turned left. Metal met chest. She dropped to the pavement. Crush injuries.' The pedestrian suffered severe chest injuries and fell to the ground. The SUV sustained no damage, and the report notes silence after the impact. The driver’s action—turning left while a pedestrian was lawfully in the crosswalk—created the deadly conflict. The police report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'Crossing With Signal,' underscoring that she had the right of way. No driver error is specified in the contributing factors, but the narrative and sequence of events center the danger of turning vehicles at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793676, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A minivan slammed head-on on Brookville Boulevard, crushing its front. A 78-year-old woman in the back seat took the full force and died at the scene. The impact shattered steel and bodies alike. The street kept moving. She did not.

According to the police report, a 2022 minivan traveling north on Brookville Boulevard near S Conduit Avenue crashed head-on, with the center front end absorbing the impact. The vehicle's front was crushed, confirming the violent collision. Inside, a 78-year-old female passenger seated in the rear left suffered fatal injuries to her entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor, indicating a vehicle-related error or malfunction played a role. The driver, a 74-year-old man, also sustained internal injuries but survived. Another occupant, a 71-year-old female front passenger, suffered fractures and dislocations. No driver errors beyond the unspecified vehicular factor are detailed, and no victim behaviors contributed according to the police report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of vehicle-related failures in head-on collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792680, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

City Council passed a law forcing DOT to repaint pavement markings within five days after resurfacing. Streets stripped bare by fresh asphalt must get lines back fast. Delays require public notice. The law aims to keep crosswalks and lanes visible, protecting walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced January 8, 2025, passed March 15, and became Local Law 28 of 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law orders DOT to install pavement or temporary markings within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must post notices explaining the delay and set a new timeline. DOT must also report yearly on compliance. The law responds to a simple fact: missing markings mean danger for people on foot and bike. With this law, the city moves to close that deadly gap.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

A speeding Toyota sedan on Belt Parkway ejected its front passenger, a 30-year-old man. He suffered severe whole-body injuries and was unconscious. The vehicle’s left front bumper was damaged. Unsafe speed drove the crash, leaving a silent, cold road behind.

According to the police report, at 3:47 a.m., a Toyota sedan traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway crashed with the left front bumper as the point of impact. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, was cited for 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The front passenger, a 30-year-old man, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained severe injuries to his entire body, resulting in unconsciousness. The report notes the passenger was not using any safety equipment. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed, which led directly to the passenger’s ejection and critical injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791204, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

Council Chair Brooks-Powers blasted DOT for missing bike and bus lane targets. She pushed a bill to force public tracking. DOT made excuses. The city fell short for the third year. Vulnerable road users wait. The council wants answers, not promises.

On January 22, 2025, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers confronted the Department of Transportation at a public hearing. She cited DOT's repeated failure to meet the 2019 Streets Master Plan benchmarks—50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles of bus lanes and 25.7 miles of bike lanes. Brooks-Powers introduced Intro 1105, a bill requiring DOT to publish a tracker of its progress. She declared, "DOT gives us their word every hearing and we are not getting results." DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione objected, claiming the tracker would add paperwork and reduce community engagement. Brooks-Powers countered, "DOT needs to be more transparent about its project pipeline so we can identify bottlenecks." The committee signaled intent to advance the bill. The city’s failure leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders exposed.

• Council Transportation Chair Tells DOT That She’s Sick of the Streets Plan Excuses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-22

A 71-year-old woman, turning east on Rockaway Freeway, crashed her Mazda. Distraction behind the wheel. The right front struck hard. Her leg split open. Blood ran. The airbag burst. She stayed awake in the sudden quiet.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was driving a 2023 Mazda sedan eastbound on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 41st Street in Queens when she crashed while making a right turn. The report states the vehicle struck hard at the right front bumper, causing severe bleeding and a significant leg injury to the driver. The airbag deployed. The driver remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor leading to the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The report underscores the consequences of driver distraction, which resulted in serious injury and a violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782665, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 21-year-old man, unlicensed and alone, sped down Laurelton Parkway. The Audi slammed, right side crushed. He died inside, body broken. No one else was hurt. The road fell silent, marked by reckless speed and shattered metal.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old unlicensed man was driving a 2015 Audi sedan alone on Laurelton Parkway when he changed lanes at an unsafe speed. The sedan struck with force, its right side crushed and the vehicle demolished. The report states the driver was killed, suffering injuries to his entire body. No other people were involved or injured. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor, with the driver’s lack of a valid license also noted in the data. No seatbelt use was recorded. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed and unlicensed driving, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781385, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14