Dead in the Crosswalk, Ignored in City Hall

A Toyota SUV turned left at 80th Street and Myrtle Avenue, crushing a 17-year-old girl’s leg as she crossed with the signal. The driver’s license remained intact. The SUV showed no scars. Her knee did.

At the intersection of 80th Street and Myrtle Avenue in Queens, a 17-year-old pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg when a Toyota SUV turned left and struck her. According to the police report, the girl was 'crossing with the light' at the time of the collision. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The SUV, described as a 2015 Toyota, sustained no visible damage, and the driver retained his license after the crash. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police report makes clear that the victim was in the intersection and had the signal in her favor when the SUV made its left turn, resulting in her injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765708, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Council urges Albany to regulate high-speed motorized scooters. The resolution targets unregulated, seatless scooters topping 20 mph. Sponsors want registration, insurance, and inspections. The bill aims to close loopholes and define these fast machines as a separate class.

Resolution 0602-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced October 10, 2024. The Council calls on the State Legislature and Governor to pass A.9747/S.9209, which would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to regulate motorized scooters. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9747/S.9209, to amend the New York State Vehicle and Traffic law, in relation to the regulation of the operation of motorized scooters.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, and Joann Ariola back the measure. The bills would require registration, insurance, and inspection for scooters, and define them as a new vehicle class. The move targets fast, unregulated scooters now flooding city streets, aiming to bring them under clear legal control.

• File Res 0602-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

Two SUVs slammed together on Beach Channel Drive, glare burning through the windshield. A woman, 47, was pinned and crushed behind the wheel, her body shattered but her mind alert. Metal and sunlight conspired to trap her in agony.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided at Beach Channel Drive and Beach 140th Street in Queens. The crash occurred in blinding sunlight, with 'glare' cited as a contributing factor. One SUV was making a left turn while the other traveled straight ahead. The report describes how a 47-year-old woman, driving one of the vehicles, was crushed behind the wheel, suffering injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious as she was trapped by the wreckage. The police report states that both drivers were licensed and that the blinding sun played a direct role in the collision. No specific driver error beyond the environmental condition of glare is listed in the official data. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761743, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing 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 pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

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

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

A sedan slammed into a parked car on Cross Bay Boulevard. Metal buckled. In the back seat, a 52-year-old woman’s spine folded under the force. She wore her belt. The street did not forgive. The city’s danger pressed in.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Cross Bay Boulevard near 135th Avenue struck a parked sedan from behind. The impact targeted the left rear quarter panel of the stationary vehicle. Inside, a 52-year-old woman, belted in the back seat, suffered severe crush injuries to her back. The report states the collision occurred at 14:38 in Queens. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, placing the onus on the driver who failed to maintain a safe distance. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact: 'Two tons of steel kissed too close. Her spine folded.' This crash highlights the persistent threat posed by driver inattention and systemic risk on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756020, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 28-year-old man riding east on Jackie Robinson Parkway was crushed and killed. A lane change ended him. His motorcycle struck head-on. He was ejected, his body broken. The road stayed still. His life did not.

A fatal crash on Jackie Robinson Parkway claimed the life of a 28-year-old man riding a FENGYUAN motorcycle, according to the police report. The collision occurred as the motorcycle, traveling east, was struck head-on during a lane change. The report states the rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his entire body, resulting in death. The police narrative describes the impact as sudden and violent: 'A lane change ended him. The road stayed still. His body did not.' The contributing factor listed in the police report is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' with no specific driver error cited for the other vehicle. The report notes the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the description of the crash mechanics and contributing factors. The focus remains on the deadly consequences of a lane change on a high-speed parkway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752246, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The council passed a law forcing DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Protected lanes get tracked. The city must show where riders go and where danger lurks. Data goes public. Riders get seen.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity,' was introduced April 11, 2024. It passed committee and full council votes on August 15, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88 of 2024. Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, Lynn C. Schulman, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and others backed the measure. The law compels DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, including counts from automated sensors. DOT must also describe safety projects and analyze crash and usage data to guide improvements. This law forces transparency. It puts the movement and safety of vulnerable riders on record.

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

Councilwoman Joann Ariola called out Tiffany Cabán for racking up school-zone speeding tickets while pushing to cut car use. Cabán’s platform promised safer streets and fewer cars. Ariola and others say the tickets show a gap between words and actions.

On August 10, 2024, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (District 32) publicly criticized Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán after media reports revealed Cabán received four school-zone speeding tickets and three other violations since November 2022. The matter, covered by the New York Post, states: 'Cabán—who was elected to office on a platform advocating less car use and cracking down on dangerous driving—received four tickets in the past 13 months for speeding her vehicle in school zones.' Ariola, joined by Councilman Robert Holden, accused Cabán of hypocrisy, highlighting the disconnect between Cabán’s advocacy for street safety and her own driving record. Cabán’s policy platform includes converting 25% of city roadways for people, building 1,000 miles of car-free streets, and expanding bus and bike lanes. No formal council bill or committee action is attached to this event, but the public dispute underscores tensions in the city’s push for safer, less car-dominated streets.

• Socialist NYC Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán has amassed nearly $500 in traffic tickets despite pushing anti-car agenda: ‘Hypocrisy’, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-10

A motorcycle slammed into a Jeep’s rear on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The rider, 43, was thrown, leg torn, blood pooling on the asphalt. Engines roared past. According to police, following too closely led to carnage. The rider lay semiconscious, bleeding, motionless.

According to the police report, a motorcycle collided with the rear of a Jeep on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The crash occurred at 1:10 p.m. The report states, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a Jeep. The rider, 43, was thrown hard. Semiconscious. Leg torn. Blood pooled on hot asphalt.' The rider, the only person injured, suffered severe bleeding and was ejected from the motorcycle, sustaining significant leg injuries. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor in the crash. The Jeep was traveling straight ahead when the motorcycle, while passing, struck its left rear quarter panel. No other contributing factors are cited in the report. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by close following at speed on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735419, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound SUV plowed into a 19-year-old woman crossing North Conduit Avenue with the signal. Her head split. Blood pooled. She lay semiconscious on the pavement. The driver, distracted and inattentive, kept going straight. Systemic danger, flesh and steel.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old woman was crossing North Conduit Avenue at 79th Street in Queens with the pedestrian signal when a westbound SUV struck her. The report states she suffered a severe head injury and was left semiconscious, bleeding on the pavement. The SUV, a 2020 Honda, was traveling straight ahead with three occupants. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver did not see the pedestrian and continued straight, making no attempt to avoid the collision. The victim was crossing with the light, as noted in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731349, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council calls for five mile per hour speed cap on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. Resolution passes. Streets may breathe easier. The city pushes Albany to let it set its own pace.

Resolution 0079-2024, adopted June 6, 2024 by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. The measure would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. The matter title reads: 'authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The committee approved the resolution with strong support. The bill targets streets where pedestrians and cyclists mix with traffic. Lower speeds mean fewer crashes and less severe injuries. The council’s action puts pressure on Albany to give the city the power to protect people where they are most exposed.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

A sedan lunged from its spot on Park Lane South. Metal met flesh. A woman on her bike crashed, her body torn, blood spilling. She stayed awake. The car bore no mark. The street swallowed the pain and kept moving.

According to the police report, a sedan pulled from parking on Park Lane South near Myrtle Avenue as a woman rode her bike eastbound. The report states: 'A sedan pulled from parking. A woman rode east on her bike. Metal struck flesh. Her body broke open, bleeding.' The cyclist, a 38-year-old woman, suffered severe bleeding and injuries to her entire body. She was conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan, driven by a man with a permit, showed no visible damage. The report notes the cyclist wore no helmet, but this is mentioned after the driver actions and only because it appears in the official record. The crash underscores the danger when vehicles enter traffic from parking, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727668, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes, and riders must take a DOT safety course. Ignore the rule, lose your bike. The pilot runs three years. DOT must track completions, impounds, and results. Law aims to curb reckless riding.

Int 0874-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on May 16, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a pilot abatement program for unsafe operators of pedal-assist bicycles,' orders the Department of Transportation to launch a three-year pilot. Riders with three or more moving violations must complete a DOT-run safety course. Fail, and their pedal-assist bike can be seized until proof of course completion. The bill requires DOT to report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. Council Member Joann Ariola leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, Darlene Mealy, Chris Banks, and Kamillah Hanks. The measure seeks to hold repeat offenders accountable and reduce harm to pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0874-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Council wants lights on city step streets. The bill orders the DOT to brighten at least 25 stairways a year. Dark stairs mean danger. Light means fewer falls, fewer hidden threats. The push comes from a broad coalition. The goal is simple: safer steps.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian lighting on at least 25 step streets each year. The bill’s matter title 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 leads, joined by Council Members Hanks, Ayala, Salaam, Brooks-Powers, Banks, Restler, Brannan, Ung, Gutiérrez, Louis, Hudson, Schulman, Ossé, Krishnan, Nurse, Moya, and Marmorato. Step streets are public staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to ensure these stairs are well-lit, reducing risk for walkers. Once all step streets are lit, the mandate ends. The measure targets a clear hazard: darkness on city stairs.

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

A bus struck a stopped bike at Myrtle Avenue and 69th Street. The rider, fifty-four, was thrown off, bleeding and conscious, pain everywhere. The bus did not stop. The bike lay broken, the street stained, the city indifferent.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on Myrtle Avenue at 69th Street collided with a stopped bicycle. The narrative states, 'A bus hit a stopped bike. The rider, 54, flew off. No helmet. Blood ran. He was awake, hurting everywhere. The bus kept going. The bike stayed down.' The cyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and was ejected from the bike, sustaining severe bleeding but remaining conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but the primary sequence of events centers on the bus striking a stationary cyclist. The bus driver continued without stopping. No driver-specific errors are cited in the data, but the impact and aftermath underscore the systemic dangers facing cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720081, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

At 157th Avenue and 97th Street, an SUV’s left turn slams into a young e-bike rider. Steel tears flesh. Blood pools on Queens asphalt. The cyclist, helmeted but unlicensed, stays conscious as his leg splits open. Driver inattention rules the scene.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old e-bike rider was traveling north at the corner of 157th Avenue and 97th Street when an SUV made a left turn and struck him. The report states the SUV driver’s action was a 'left turn,' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The collision resulted in severe lacerations to the cyclist’s leg, described in the report as 'his leg splits open' and 'blood on asphalt.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the crash. The report notes the cyclist was unlicensed, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. No evidence in the report suggests any error by the cyclist. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention in left-turn scenarios.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714654, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Queens fights over a rail line. The mayor backs a park. Advocates demand transit. Poor residents lose out. Elected officials split. The city risks locking out thousands from jobs and care. The debate rages. No one asks the people.

This op-ed, published April 4, 2024, covers the battle over the unused Rockaway Beach Branch rail line in southeastern Queens. The city, led by Mayor Adams, pushes a park-only project, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Rick Horan, QueensLink’s executive director, argues the plan blocks a vital north-south rail corridor, denying disadvantaged communities access to jobs, education, and healthcare. The op-ed states: 'It is simply irresponsible to build a park on a viable transit right-of-way in the biggest city in America.' State Senators James Sanders, Jr. and Joe Addabbo, Assembly Member Stacey Amato, and Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers, JoAnn Ariola, and Bob Holden support studies and funding for the rails-and-trails QueensLink alternative. The mayor’s plan faces criticism for ignoring public input and environmental justice. No safety impact assessment for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Op-Ed: Keeping Poor Residents in Transit Deserts is Getting Expensive, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-04

Council bill demands DOT keep curbs high after street work. Low curbs mean water floods sidewalks. Pedestrians wade through puddles. Property owners get fined. Ariola leads, Holden, Paladino, Vernikov back her. Committee reviews. No action yet. Streets stay risky.

Int 0603-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since March 7, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that the department of transportation maintain curb heights following street construction,' targets a simple failure: after street work, curbs often vanish, water pools, and property owners get fined for city mistakes. Council Member Joann Ariola sponsors, joined by Holden, Paladino, and Vernikov. The bill orders DOT to restore curbs to proper height after any street, sidewalk, or gutter work. The committee has not voted. The bill aims to stop flooding and fines, but leaves the daily hazard for walkers and wheelchair users unaddressed until passed.

• File Int 0603-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill Int 0221-2024 shifts sidewalk repair duty for city tree damage from homeowners to the Parks Department. Homeowners must report damage. City crews must fix broken, buckled, or hazardous walks caused by city trees. Private owners are off the hook.

Int 0221-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by trees owned by the city of New York.' Council Members James F. Gennaro (primary sponsor), Robert F. Holden, Joann Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and Inna Vernikov back the measure. Their bill requires the Parks Department to repair sidewalks damaged by city-owned trees, removing the burden from homeowners of one-, two-, or three-family homes. Owners must notify the city if tree roots break the walk. If the damage is not tree-related, owners still have ninety days to fix it. The bill aims to clarify responsibility and ensure city action on hazards caused by its own trees.

• File Int 0221-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28