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

Council bill Int 0879-2023 would force DOT to install bollards at rebuilt sidewalks, curb extensions, and ramps. The law targets spots where cars strike. It demands a study, annual reports, and clear rules. Filed at session’s end. No action yet.

Int 0879-2023 was introduced on January 19, 2023, in 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 the installation of bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions and pedestrian ramps,” was sponsored by Council Members Brooks-Powers, Krishnan (primary), Stevens, Hanif, Hudson, Richardson Jordan, Riley, and the Manhattan Borough President. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian ramps, especially where accessibility upgrades are made. It mandates a study on bollard effectiveness in high pedestrian areas and demands annual reporting on installations and requests. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no enactment. The measure aims to harden pedestrian space, forcing the city to act where cars threaten walkers and wheelchair users.

• File Int 0879-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-01-19

A 2000 Infiniti slammed into two parked vehicles on Rockaway Boulevard near 146th Avenue. The driver, 21, was trapped and bleeding. Metal twisted. Glass scattered. The street fell silent around the wreck. Only the driver was hurt.

A 21-year-old man driving a 2000 Infiniti sedan struck two parked vehicles on Rockaway Boulevard near 146th Avenue. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was the contributing factor. The Infiniti hit a parked SUV and a utility truck, both unoccupied. The driver was trapped inside his demolished car, bleeding and incoherent, with severe lacerations and injuries to his entire body. No other injuries were reported. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597591, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 65-year-old man outside the crosswalk on Merrick Boulevard. He lay broken in the street. He died there as headlights passed. The new year began with loss and silence.

A sedan traveling west on Merrick Boulevard struck a 65-year-old man who was outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 65-year-old man outside the crosswalk. He lay crushed and unconscious in the street. He died there, beneath the cold sky, as headlights passed and the new year began without him.' The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594840, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda slammed into stopped cars on South Conduit Avenue. Metal screamed. Four vehicles struck. A 76-year-old man bled from the head. Passengers hurt. The cause: following too closely, driver inattention. Shock and pain lingered in the cold Queens air.

A violent multi-car crash unfolded on South Conduit Avenue near Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a 76-year-old man driving a Honda struck a line of stopped vehicles, setting off a chain reaction that damaged four cars. The driver suffered severe head bleeding and shock. Several passengers, including women aged 24, 32, and 66, reported back injuries and pain. Others sat stunned, still buckled in their seats. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians were involved. The impact left metal twisted and lives shaken, all traced to driver error behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592521, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0858-2022 would force the city’s DOT to probe every serious crash. The bill demands quick action, deep analysis, and public reporting. It targets street design flaws and driver behavior. Lawmakers filed it, but the session ended before passage.

Int 0858-2022, introduced December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to overhaul how New York City investigates vehicle collisions. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Shekar Krishnan, Charles Barron, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Lincoln Restler, and Rita C. Joseph, required the Department of Transportation to investigate all serious vehicular crashes. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions.' The bill would have expanded the definition of serious crashes, set strict investigation timelines, and mandated detailed public reports. It also called for reviews of street design and infrastructure at crash sites, with recommendations for safety improvements. The bill was filed at the end of the session and did not become law.

• File Int 0858-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

A man drove east on South Conduit Avenue. He fell asleep. His SUV smashed front-first. He died belted in, arm broken. The crash left the morning dark and silent. No other injuries reported. Sleep claimed the wheel. Steel claimed the rest.

A 33-year-old man driving a 2021 Nissan SUV on South Conduit Avenue in Queens fell asleep at the wheel. According to the police report, the vehicle struck hard with its center front end. The driver, alone in the car, was killed. His arm was broken, and he was found belted in. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other injuries were reported. The crash happened in the early morning darkness. The data shows no other driver errors or contributing factors beyond the driver falling asleep.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585208, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Drivers hide plates with leaves and branches. They dodge cameras. They dodge tolls. The city loses millions. Council cracks down. Brooks-Powers calls it a safety threat. New laws ban cover sales. DOT must now report evaders. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 26, 2022, the New York City Council took legislative action to combat license plate obscuring, a tactic used by drivers to evade tolls and traffic cameras. The matter, described as 'banning the sale of toll-beating covers and requiring DOT to report cars evading red lights and speed cameras with unreadable license plates,' passed through the transportation and infrastructure committee. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair of the committee and sponsor, stated, 'It’s a safety issue, it’s an issue in terms of [city] revenue, it’s an issue in terms of ensuring we have safe streets and holding people accountable.' The city has lost $19 million this year due to unreadable plates. The new laws aim to close loopholes and restore accountability, but the risk to pedestrians and cyclists from untraceable drivers remains high.

• Unbe-leaf-able: Scofflaws dodge tolls and traffic cameras with foliage, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-26

A Jeep hit a 64-year-old man in the crosswalk on Seagirt Boulevard. The impact was head-on. He died on the pavement as darkness fell. The SUV kept straight. The street stayed silent. No driver errors listed. The man never got up.

A 64-year-old man was killed when a Jeep SUV struck him head-on at the intersection of Seagirt Boulevard and Beach 31st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the man stepped into the intersection as the Jeep traveled east and hit him with its center front end. The pedestrian died at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was licensed and wore a seatbelt. The only fatality was the pedestrian; no injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash underscores the lethal risk faced by people crossing New York City streets, even when no driver error is officially cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584724, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City made Jamaica and Archer Avenue busways permanent. Jamaica Avenue hours slashed. Archer stays 24/7. Northern Boulevard bus lanes started after months of delay. Local politicians fought restrictions. Bus riders still face slow trips. City bows to business pressure.

On November 15, 2022, the Adams administration made busways on Jamaica and Archer avenues permanent after a one-year pilot. The Department of Transportation cut Jamaica Avenue’s busway hours from 24/7 to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, while Archer Avenue remains round-the-clock. The Northern Boulevard bus lane project, stalled for months after Council Member Francisco Moya lobbied against it, finally began installation. Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the busways, calling for their elimination and citing business concerns. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and other local officials pushed for even shorter hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the busways, saying, 'strong bus infrastructure is a necessity.' Despite opposition, the city kept some busway hours intact, but caved to business interests, reducing protection for bus riders and vulnerable road users.

• City Makes Jamaica Busways Permanent But With Shorter Hours; Begins Northern Blvd. Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-15

Council Member Restler’s bill lets New Yorkers ticket drivers who block bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, or hydrants near schools. Twenty-four council members back it. The bill targets driver impunity and NYPD inaction. Advocates say it protects cyclists and pedestrians.

Bill number not specified. Sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, the bill is advancing in the City Council with 24 out of 51 members signed on as of November 7, 2022. It sits with the Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, who is working with Restler to streamline the complaint process. The bill’s summary: it allows residents to ticket drivers who block bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or fire hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school, creating a $175 fine and a civilian complaint protocol. Restler and Brooks-Powers are refining the process to avoid the pitfalls of the city’s anti-idling law, which discourages participation. The NYPD and DOT oppose the bill, citing concerns about neighbor conflict. Advocates support it, highlighting NYPD’s failure to protect vulnerable road users. The bill is seen as a major improvement over the ineffective 311 system.

• UPDATE: Restler Bill to Allow Residents to Ticket Dangerous Drivers Gaining Steam, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-07

Two cars tore through a red light on Carson Street. Metal slammed metal. The Nissan driver’s head was crushed. Four others hurt. Sirens cut the dawn. The street lay still, marked by reckless speed and disregard.

A Jeep and a Nissan collided at Carson Street and 219th in Queens. Both vehicles ran the light, according to the police report: 'A Jeep slammed into a Nissan’s front. Both ran the light.' The Nissan’s driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered severe head injuries and was found unconscious. Four other occupants, aged 20 to 24, were also injured, with complaints of back pain and other trauma. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for both drivers. The Nissan driver wore no seatbelt, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The crash left the intersection scarred, a stark result of ignoring traffic signals and speeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579105, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan sped east on 144th Avenue. Steel hit a man’s head. Blood pooled on the street. The driver fled. The man, sixty-one, lay injured. The night swallowed the sound. Only silence remained.

A 61-year-old man was crossing near 225-06 144th Avenue in Queens when a sedan, traveling east, struck him. According to the police report, the sedan was moving at unsafe speed and the driver was inattentive or distracted. The impact hit the man’s head, causing severe lacerations. The driver did not stop. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash left the man conscious but badly hurt. The street was left silent after the driver fled.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577367, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Council passed a bill to map and expand greenways for cyclists and walkers. The plan targets neglected neighborhoods. It demands real infrastructure, not just paint. Advocates say it will open safe routes, cut danger, and connect the city.

On October 27, 2022, the City Council passed a bill requiring a comprehensive master plan for New York City's greenways. The legislation, championed by Council Member Carlina Rivera and supported by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), mandates the city to study, map, and expand greenways—'highways for cyclists and pedestrians, separated from motor vehicle traffic.' The bill focuses on low-income and underserved neighborhoods, with a final plan due by December 2024 and updates every five years. Rivera said, 'All of us are here today because we believe in a future where New Yorkers of all backgrounds... can safely access active transportation.' Brooks-Powers called it 'a real opportunity... to make a profound impact.' Advocates like Jon Orcutt of Bike New York praised the move, urging the city to build 'real infrastructure for cycling.' The bill passed nearly unanimously, signaling strong council support for safer, more equitable streets.

• Comprehensive NYC Greenway plan for bike, pedestrian infrastructure passes City Council, amny.com, Published 2022-10-27

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

A westbound Lexus crashed into a parked Nissan SUV in Queens. The Lexus folded. The driver, a 41-year-old woman, lay unconscious, bloodied, crushed. Three children and another woman rode inside. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens followed.

A Lexus SUV, heading west on Beach Channel Drive near 69th Street in Queens, struck a parked Nissan SUV. According to the police report, 'A westbound Lexus slammed into a parked Nissan. The SUV folded. Behind the wheel, a 41-year-old woman lay unconscious, her head bloodied, her body crushed beneath the wreckage.' The driver suffered severe head and crush injuries and was found unconscious. Three children and another woman were also in the Lexus; their injuries were unspecified. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The parked Nissan was empty. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left the Lexus demolished, its passengers shaken, and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575262, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Gale Brewer challenges DOT’s street safety boasts. She questions claims of 750 redesigned intersections. Public data shows far less. Most fixes are signal timing, not real protection. Advocates want proof, not promises. Road deaths remain high. Brewer vows investigation.

On October 5, 2022, Council Member Gale Brewer, chair of the Council's oversight committee, announced plans to investigate the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) street safety claims. Brewer questioned DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez’s assertion that 750 of 1,000 intersections were redesigned, citing public data showing fewer than 400. Brewer said, “I love the idea of using her committee's investigatory power to explore whether the Adams administration has indeed redesigned 750 of the promised 1,000 intersections... or whether it done fewer than that, as the agency's own public data shows.” She confirmed her intent to use committee investigators and hold an oversight hearing. The matter, titled “City Council oversight inquiry into DOT street safety implementation and data transparency,” highlights DOT’s lack of documentation and reliance on signal retiming over physical improvements. Advocates and Brewer demand full transparency and real progress. Road deaths remain high, and the city lags on legal mandates for bus and bike lanes.

• CM Brewer: ‘I’ll Hold DOT Accountable on Promises and Data’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-05

Council filed a bill to study truck route compliance and GPS mapping. The measure called for tracking trucks off-route, web-based maps, and new street designs. Avilés led, with Gutiérrez and others co-sponsoring. The session ended before action. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0721-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 29, 2022. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study truck drivers’ compliance with city truck routes and to assess integrating truck maps with GPS technology. The matter’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a truck route GPS study.' Alexa Avilés sponsored the bill, joined by Gutiérrez, Hanif, Restler, Brooks-Powers, Hudson, Krishnan, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill called for measures like converting two-way streets to one-way, posting truck route signs, and outreach to the trucking industry. The study’s results were to be posted online and sent to the council by January 1, 2023. The bill was filed at session’s end, with no further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0721-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-09-29

Council Member Julie Won blasted DOT for stalling a promised pedestrian lane on the Queensboro Bridge. She called the agency’s excuses garbage. Cyclists and walkers remain squeezed into a narrow, dangerous path. DOT’s delays keep vulnerable road users at risk.

On September 15, 2022, Council Member Julie Won publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the conversion of the Queensboro Bridge’s south outer roadway into a pedestrian-only lane. The project, promised by the previous mayor for completion by the end of 2022, was pushed back at least a year. Won, whose district covers the bridge’s eastern approaches, led a walkthrough with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and staff from Council Members Julie Menin and Selvena Brooks-Powers. Won said, “They kept saying they can’t give the south outer roadway to pedestrians because there would be traffic. Well, I don’t care about the congestion!” She forced the commissioner to stand in the cramped lane, showing how unsafe it is for both cyclists and pedestrians. DOT offered only minor adjustments, like repainting lines, which Won dismissed as “missing the point.” The agency promised lawmakers data to justify keeping five car lanes, but Won insisted the delay puts lives at risk and called for immediate action.

• Queens Pol: DOT’s Excuses for Queensboro Bridge Safety Delays Are ‘Garbage’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-15

Council filed a bill to create a parking permit enforcement unit in DOT. The unit would target misuse of city-issued permits. The measure died at session’s end. Streets stay clogged. Danger lingers for those on foot and bike.

Int 0662-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 14, 2022. The bill sought to amend city law by establishing a parking permit enforcement unit within the Department of Transportation. Its summary reads: 'This bill would require the Department of Transportation to create a parking permit enforcement unit that would be dedicated to the enforcement of laws and rules relating to misuse of city-issued parking permits.' The primary sponsor was Kristin Richardson Jordan, joined by Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, and Lincoln Restler. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no further action. No safety analyst assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The city’s permit abuse problem remains unaddressed.

• File Int 0662-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-09-14

A Florida-plated Honda tore down Beach 20th. The driver lost control. The car’s front end struck a man standing off the road. He died on the pavement. Another pedestrian was hurt. Aggressive driving left blood on the street.

A sedan with Florida plates sped south on Beach 20th Street in Far Rockaway. According to the police report, the Honda’s front end struck a 59-year-old man who was standing off the roadway. He died at the scene. Another pedestrian, a 36-year-old man, suffered back injuries. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor. The right front bumper of the car was damaged. No other contributing factors are noted. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The victims were not in the roadway. The violence of the impact and the listed driver behavior point to a deadly failure behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4559882, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15