No More Dead Neighbors: Demand Action on District 31’s Killing Streets

Mayor Adams missed legal targets for protected bike and bus lanes in 2023. Projects were delayed or canceled. The city cited staff shortages and budget cuts. Council members condemned the failures. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Promises faded. Danger persists.

""Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

In 2023, Mayor Adams failed to meet the mandates of the 2019 Streets Master Plan, which required 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected or enhanced bus lanes. The law, championed by then-Speaker Corey Johnson, aimed for safer, more equitable streets. Key projects, including bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard and Ashland Place, and bus lanes on Fordham Road, were stalled or abandoned. The Department of Transportation blamed staff shortages and budget cuts. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other members voiced frustration but admitted limited power to enforce compliance. Council Member Chi Ossé was mentioned in coverage. Without mayoral commitment, the plan’s promise to protect vulnerable road users remains unfulfilled. The city’s vision for safer streets is at risk.

• In 2023, Mayor Adams Basically Erased the 'Streets Master Plan', streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-02

A hit-and-run truck killed an 82-year-old cyclist on Northern Boulevard. The driver fled. This marks the 29th cyclist death in 2023. Councilmember Brooks-Powers blasted DOT for missing legal bike lane targets. Streets remain deadly. Progress is slow. Accountability is lacking.

On December 28, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers responded to the death of an 82-year-old cyclist killed by a hit-and-run truck on Northern Boulevard. This incident marked the 29th cyclist fatality in 2023, a grim milestone in a year of rising traffic violence. Brooks-Powers criticized the Adams administration and the Department of Transportation for failing to meet the Streets Plan's legal requirement of 50 miles of protected bike lanes, achieving only about 30 miles. She stated, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Brooks-Powers also condemned the missed bus lane targets and called out DOT's lack of transparency, pledging to hold the agency accountable and push for safer, more equitable streets. The city faces more cars, more crashes, and more injuries, while vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Another Cyclist Killed in One of the Deadliest Years on Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-28

A Dodge truck, driver unlicensed, tore into a Chevy sedan on Brewer Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 71-year-old man died alone in the dark. Police cite traffic control ignored. The street swallowed another life.

A deadly crash unfolded on Brewer Boulevard near South Conduit Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a 71-year-old man driving a 2002 Chevy sedan was struck head-on by a Dodge truck. The Dodge driver was unlicensed. The impact crushed the Chevy and killed its driver at the scene. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report also notes 'Unsafe Speed' as a factor for the deceased driver. The Dodge truck's unlicensed status and disregard for traffic control are central to the crash. The man in the Chevy wore no seatbelt, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Conduit Avenue kills. Brooklyn and Queens borough presidents call it urgent. They want DOT to turn this deadly, crash-heavy road into a safe corridor. In less than two years, 1,321 crashes. Seventy pedestrians and 14 cyclists hurt. Five dead. DOT silent.

On December 14, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pressed the Department of Transportation to overhaul Conduit Avenue. Their letter called for a transformation of the avenue, described as "one of the most dangerous and non-inclusive roadways in the entire city." The officials urged DOT to prioritize traffic safety, cycling and mass transit infrastructure, pedestrian walkability, and green space. Between January 2022 and December 2023, Conduit Avenue saw 1,321 crashes, injuring 880 people—including 70 pedestrians and 14 cyclists—and killing five. Three intersections are listed as DOT pedestrian safety priorities, but the corridor itself is not. Richards and Reynoso have formed a task force and are pushing for action. DOT has not commented.

• Boob Tube: Brooklyn, Queens Leaders Want DOT to Fix Dangerous Conduit Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

MTA plans $30 million for Queens bus overhaul. Eight new routes. More frequent service for thousands. Stops spaced farther apart. Most riders keep their stops. Councilmember Brooks-Powers doubts gains for her district. Borough President Richards backs the plan. Rollout not before 2025.

The MTA’s Queens Bus Network Redesign, announced December 12, 2023, proposes $30 million in service upgrades and expands local routes from 83 to 91. The plan, under review since 2020, aims to boost 10-minute-or-better service for 200,000 more residents, raising coverage from 60.1% to 68.9%. The official summary states the redesign will 'streamline and speed up service.' Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers voiced 'serious concerns' about disadvantages for her district, especially with congestion pricing. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, once critical, now supports the draft after public outreach. State Senator Leroy Comrie noted Brooks-Powers wants clarity for her community, not outright rejection. The redesign awaits further input and is expected no sooner than 2025. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• MTA’s Queens Bus Redesign: $30M in Service, 8 More Routes, Skepticism from Brooks-Powers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-12

MTA revealed its final Queens bus overhaul. Routes shift. Stops thin out. Riders brace for longer walks. Council Member Brooks-Powers warns of harm to her district. The city lags on bus lanes. Public review looms. Vulnerable riders face uncertainty.

On December 12, 2023, the MTA released its final proposal for the Queens bus network redesign. The plan, shaped by two years of outreach, proposes 121 routes—eight more than before—but cuts and combines stops, aiming for straighter lines and faster trips. The matter summary states the redesign seeks 'improved travel speed and reliability.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, voiced 'serious concerns about the proposal’s impact on her constituents, especially with the looming arrival of congestion pricing.' She called for an 'equitable and balanced' approach. The plan faces backlash over wider stop spacing and fewer stops, which could force longer walks for riders—many of them elderly or disabled. The city has failed to meet its legal mandate for new bus lanes, building only 18 miles this year. The proposal enters public review ahead of a 2025 rollout.

• MTA unveils final proposal for Queens bus network redesign, amny.com, Published 2023-12-12

Mayor Adams will ban parking near 1,000 intersections each year. The city aims to clear corners, boost sightlines, and protect people on foot. Advocates pushed for this. The plan outpaces current law but leaves thousands of corners untouched for decades.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive policy: New York City will remove car parking near 1,000 intersections annually, far exceeding the 100 intersections required by recent Council law. The effort, known as daylighting, aims to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. Adams said, 'Protecting New Yorkers is my most sacred responsibility as mayor.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers praised daylighting as 'a proven safety measure.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stressed that daylighting must include physical infrastructure to prevent reckless turns. The Department of Transportation will also add raised crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and leading pedestrian signals at 1,000 intersections next year. The city will expand speed restriction technology in its fleet and increase data transparency. Advocates and community boards have long called for these changes. With nearly 47,000 intersections citywide, the plan will take decades to reach every corner.

• Adams Says He’ll Ban Parking Near 1,000 Intersections Every Year To Make Corners Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

Mayor Adams wavers on congestion pricing. He questions the $15 toll, stirring opposition. Experts slam his stance. Councilmember Brooks-Powers voices concern for drivers, but data shows most benefit. The mayor’s shift weakens support for safer, saner streets.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams publicly questioned New York City’s incoming congestion pricing plan, specifically the proposed $15 peak toll. The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, quotes Adams: the fee is 'the beginning of the conversation' and exemptions must be considered. Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, echoed concerns, saying the toll 'is going to put definitely a hardship on many of my constituents.' Experts Bruce Schaller and Danny Pearlstein criticized Adams, urging him to champion the program’s benefits for transit riders and the environment. The mayor’s office later clarified his comments focused on city workers in city vehicles. The article notes that while a small fraction of Brooks-Powers’s constituents drive into Manhattan, all would benefit from improved transit. Adams’s wavering undermines momentum for a policy proven to reduce traffic and protect vulnerable road users.

• Cycle of Rage: Mayor is Failing the Leadership Test on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

A young rider slammed into a car at high speed on Belt Parkway. He flew from his bike. His chest crushed. He died alone on the cold pavement. Unsafe speed and inexperience marked his final ride.

A 23-year-old motorcyclist died after striking the front of a vehicle on Belt Parkway, westbound. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his 2008 Yamaha at high speed. He wore a helmet. His chest was crushed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the rider dead on the roadway, the night cold and empty around him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Revel pulls the plug on shared mopeds. The company pivots to electric taxis. Car-free travel options shrink. Riders lose a fast, nimble way to move. Revel’s exit marks another blow to micro-mobility in New York. Streets grow less free.

On November 3, 2023, Revel, the Brooklyn-based electric moped company, announced it will end its moped rental service in New York City and San Francisco. The company’s founders, Frank Reig and Paul Suhey, shared the news, citing a 30 percent drop in ridership and financial strain. Revel’s mopeds, once hailed as a lifeline during transit disruptions, will disappear from city streets by November 18. The company now focuses on its growing electric taxi fleet, boasting 500 Teslas and over 1,500 drivers. Advocates mourned the loss, calling it a bad day for car-free travel. Revel’s mopeds were legal, registered, and barred from bike lanes by geo-fencing. Their departure leaves fewer options for vulnerable road users seeking safe, efficient alternatives to cars.

• Electric Moped Company Revel Bails on Two Wheelers in Full Transition to Taxis, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-03

A boy died. The city promises change. Officials tout daylighting and new signals. Critics say action comes too late. Nine children dead this year. Cyclist deaths set records. The mayor defends his record. Parents and advocates demand more. The street stays dangerous.

On November 1, 2023, following the death of 7-year-old Kamari Hughes, Mayor Adams and his administration announced plans to redesign the fatal Brooklyn intersection. The Department of Transportation adjusted signal timing and promised more robust changes, including daylighting and loading zones. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers called daylighting 'a proven safety measure.' Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said the city will target high-crash and school-adjacent corners, using barriers to keep cars from blocking sightlines. Critics like Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives condemned the city’s reactive approach, demanding daylighting at every intersection. Officials claim 299 intersections have been daylighted this year, surpassing Council mandates. Despite these steps, advocates argue the city acts only after tragedy, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Mayor Boasts of His Record — However Spotty — As He Vows to Fix Corner Where Boy Was Killed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-01

A boy died under the wheels of an NYPD tow truck. Council Member Brooks-Powers pushed a bill to daylight intersections. The law passed despite the mayor’s silence. Advocates demand the city erase parking exemptions. They want clear corners. They want no more deaths.

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the transportation committee, introduced legislation requiring the Department of Transportation to study and implement daylighting at a minimum of 100 intersections each year. The bill became law even though the mayor did not sign it. The measure, described as 'a proven safety measure that increases visibility to oncoming traffic at intersections and reduces danger for pedestrians and drivers alike,' responds to the death of a young boy struck by an NYPD tow truck. Brooks-Powers and advocates like Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives called for urgent action, criticizing Mayor Adams for scaling back street safety improvements. Community boards and advocates urge the city to remove parking exemptions near crosswalks, arguing that lack of daylighting leads to preventable deaths. The push is clear: daylight every intersection, save lives, stop traffic violence.

• Advocates Demand Daylighting at Intersections in Wake of Boy’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-31

A 61-year-old man lay bleeding on Brookville Boulevard. Struck at midnight. The driver failed to yield. Blood pooled on the pavement. No car, no name, just silence and pain in the dark Queens street.

A 61-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured on Brookville Boulevard near 130th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was conscious but suffered severe head bleeding after being hit at midnight. The report states, 'The driver failed to yield.' The only listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' No details about the vehicle or driver were provided. The victim’s injuries were serious, but the report does not specify further. The crash left blood on the street and a silence that lingered.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Bike riders keep dying. Twenty-five lost since January. Most killed on streets without protection. Council Member Brooks-Powers calls for urgent investment in safer roads, especially in outer boroughs. Activists demand the city build protected bike lanes now. Promises have failed. Lives are lost.

On October 17, 2023, Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31) highlighted the deadly toll facing cyclists in New York City. The event, covered by amny.com, cited a study showing 25 bike riders killed since January, making this the deadliest year for cyclists since 1999. The matter summary states: 'New York City is on pace to see the deadliest year for bike riders since 1999.' Brooks-Powers stressed the urgent need for investments in street infrastructure, especially in outer-borough communities. She joined advocates and fellow Council Member Diana Ayala in demanding the city fulfill legal requirements to build safe streets. The analysis found 94% of cyclist deaths occurred on streets without protected bike lanes. Activists and analysts called for immediate action to fast track the NYC Streets Plan and expand protected lanes, noting that only 3% of city streets have them, despite an 18.1% drop in injuries and deaths where they exist.

• NYC on pace for deadliest year for bike riders since 1999: Study, amny.com, Published 2023-10-17

Cyclist deaths in New York City hit a grim peak in 2023. Most victims died on streets without protected bike lanes. Advocates blame city delays. Councilmember Brooks-Powers faces pressure to speed up safety fixes. Lives hang in the balance. Promises are not enough.

On October 17, 2023, a report spotlighted a deadly surge in cyclist fatalities across New York City, with District 31—represented by Council Transportation Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers—bearing the highest toll. The matter, titled 'Crunching the Data on the Record-Setting Year For Cyclist Deaths,' details that 94 percent of victims died on streets lacking protected bike lanes. Transportation Alternatives called on Brooks-Powers and her Council colleagues to pass Intro 417, which would eliminate a three-month wait and speed up bike lane construction. Brooks-Powers, mentioned as district representative, faces mounting pressure as advocates decry delays and demand urgent action. The report states: 'Promises won’t keep bike riders safe – but completed, fully protected bike lanes will. The time to act is now.' The city’s failure to meet the NYC Streets Plan benchmarks has left vulnerable road users exposed, with advocates urging immediate follow-through on essential street redesigns.

• Crunching the Data on the Record-Setting Year For Cyclist Deaths, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-10-17

Cyclist deaths soared in 2023. Most died on streets without protection. The mayor broke his promise on bike lanes. Projects stalled. Advocates blame City Hall. Council urged to pass Intro 417. The city touts progress. Riders keep dying.

A new report from Transportation Alternatives, published October 17, 2023, slams Mayor Adams for failing to meet the City Council-mandated NYC Streets Plan. The report states, 'Traffic crashes in New York City killed more cyclists through the first nine months of 2023 than all but one other year on record.' Adams promised 75 miles of new protected bike lanes each year but delivered just 26.3 miles in 2022, missing the 30-mile benchmark and falling far short of the 50-mile requirement for 2023. Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, accused Adams of putting 'politics over people' and called on Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and colleagues to pass Intro 417, which would eliminate a three-month delay in bike lane construction. DOT spokesman Chris Browne defended the administration, citing nearly 100 street projects. But the report is clear: delays and broken promises leave cyclists exposed and dying.

• Crunching the Data on the Record-Setting Year For Cyclist Deaths, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-17

DOT will expand e-scooter sharing to eastern Queens next year. Bronx rollout saw millions of rides, no deaths. Advocates back the move but demand real safety infrastructure. City officials tout equity and climate benefits. Riders wait for safer streets.

On October 13, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced the expansion of its e-scooter share program to eastern Queens. The program, which launched in the Bronx in 2021, logged nearly 3 million trips with zero fatalities and few serious injuries in its first year. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Shared e-scooter service can play an important role in providing sustainable options to connect eastern Queens commuters to transit hubs, commercial corridors, and other neighborhood destinations." Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards both voiced support, highlighting the program's focus on underserved communities and environmental benefits. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged the city to pair the expansion with protected infrastructure, warning that safe streets must come with new mobility. The DOT will continue outreach ahead of the launch, expected in the second half of 2024.

• DOT: Eastern Queens E-Scooter Expansion Will Launch Next Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

DOT will expand e-scooter sharing to eastern Queens next year. Bronx rollout saw millions of rides, no deaths. Advocates back the move but demand real safety infrastructure. City officials tout equity and climate benefits. Riders wait for safer streets.

On October 13, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced the expansion of its e-scooter share program to eastern Queens. The program, which launched in the Bronx in 2021, logged nearly 3 million trips with zero fatalities and few serious injuries in its first year. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Shared e-scooter service can play an important role in providing sustainable options to connect eastern Queens commuters to transit hubs, commercial corridors, and other neighborhood destinations." Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards both voiced support, highlighting the program's focus on underserved communities and environmental benefits. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged the city to pair the expansion with protected infrastructure, warning that safe streets must come with new mobility. The DOT will continue outreach ahead of the launch, expected in the second half of 2024.

• DOT: Eastern Queens E-Scooter Expansion Will Launch Next Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

Steel twisted on Belt Parkway. Two sedans collided in the night. A woman, forty-six, slumped behind the wheel. She murmured of paralysis, semiconscious, harnessed in place. The crash left her injured. The road did not forgive. The city kept moving.

Two sedans crashed eastbound on Belt Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, one driver lost consciousness before impact. The collision left a 46-year-old woman semiconscious and complaining of paralysis. She was strapped in with a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as a contributing factor. No other injuries or contributing factors are noted. The crash underscores the danger when a driver loses control. The woman’s condition after the crash remains unknown.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT will let the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program die. The program failed to curb reckless driving. Few drivers faced consequences. Most kept breaking the law. City leaders blame weak enforcement and legal hurdles. Streets remain unsafe for those on foot and bike.

The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), introduced in 2018 and passed in 2020, will expire after its pilot ends on October 26, 2023. The Department of Transportation (DOT) recommends ending DVAP, citing 'uncertain effects, high cost per participant, and the complexity of its implementation.' City Comptroller Brad Lander, who drafted the bill, criticized DOT for 'slow and limited implementation,' calling the program a failure. Only 885 drivers took the mandated safety course, with little impact on violations. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Holding reckless drivers accountable and keeping our streets safe for all New Yorkers remains a priority.' DOT now supports state-level bills to suspend registrations for repeat red-light violators. No Council legislation will reauthorize or expand DVAP.

• Analysis: ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’ is a Failure By All Measures, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-22