District 32’s deadly roads: Belt, Woodhaven, Cross Bay

Jun 6 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "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 measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

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

May 24 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 16 - Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes trigger a mandatory safety course. Ignore the course, lose your bike. DOT will track results. Three-year pilot. Enforcement, not education, leads.

Int 0874-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Ariola (primary), Hanks, Hudson, Louis, Mealy, and Banks, the bill orders DOT to launch a pilot abatement program for unsafe pedal-assist bicycle operators. The bill summary states: 'Pedal-assist bicycle operators who accrue 3 or more moving violations under city law would be required to take a safe pedal-assist bicycle operation course offered by DOT.' Noncompliance means bike impoundment. DOT must report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. The pilot sunsets after three years. The bill aims to curb reckless riding through strict enforcement.

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

May 16 - Council bill redefines major transit projects. Bike lanes, busways, and bus lanes now trigger community board notice. DOT must present plans, boards get sixty days to respond. Progress reports go public. Holden and Ariola sponsor.

Int 0880-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Joann Ariola and Robert F. Holden, it amends city code to require community notification for any bus lane, busway, or bike lane project, no matter the size. The bill states: 'construction or removal of a bus lane, busway, or bike lane' counts as a major project. DOT must present plans to affected boards, who get sixty days to comment. DOT must post quarterly updates online. Ariola is the primary sponsor; Holden co-sponsors. The bill aims to increase transparency and community input on street changes that shape safety for all.

• File Int 0880-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

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

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

Apr 25 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 4 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 4 - 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

Mar 17 - A sedan cut left on Jamaica Avenue. A moped sped straight. Metal struck flesh. A 26-year-old man flew, slammed headfirst onto the street, bleeding and semiconscious, sirens closing in. Failure to yield and unsafe speed left him sprawled under cold lights.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn on Jamaica Avenue collided with a moped traveling straight at an unsafe speed. The impact flung the 26-year-old moped driver headfirst onto the pavement, leaving him semiconscious and bleeding from the head. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The moped driver was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. The police report notes that the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield and operate at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710599 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Feb 28 - Council wants DOT to check 100 speed camera spots a year for raised speed bumps. If possible, bumps go in within a year. DOT must track and report on driver behavior changes. No delay. No loopholes.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Louis (primary), Carr, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino, and Morano. The bill orders DOT to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. If feasible, DOT must install the bump within a year. The law demands annual reports on these checks and on shifts in dangerous driving at treated sites. The bill summary reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council aims to force physical changes where cameras alone fail.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 19 - A Jeep struck a Volkswagen at Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue. The right side of the Volkswagen caved in. A 32-year-old woman in the front seat died as the airbag burst. The street went silent. Metal and silence remained.

At the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, a Jeep collided broadside with a Volkswagen, according to the police report. The impact crushed the Volkswagen’s right side, killing a 32-year-old woman seated in the front passenger seat. The report states, 'A Jeep struck a Volkswagen broadside. The right side folded in. A 32-year-old woman in the front seat died. The airbag bloomed.' Police cite 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, drawing attention to driver error and systemic visibility hazards at this intersection. The victim was not ejected and the airbag deployed, but the force proved fatal. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls and sightlines are compromised.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703790 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 14 - A fleeing Honda reversed down 84th Street, crushing a man’s leg beneath steel. The driver had no license. Sirens echoed. The pedestrian stayed conscious, pain radiating in the dark as streetlights flickered over Dumont Avenue.

A 33-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his leg when a Honda sedan, driven by an unlicensed man, reversed into him on 84th Street near Dumont Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash occurred during a police pursuit. The report states the driver was 'Backing Unsafely' and did not possess a valid license. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk at the time, but the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The narrative describes the scene: 'A fleeing Honda reversed into a man, not at a crosswalk. His leg was crushed under steel. He stayed conscious. The driver had no license. The streetlights flickered. Sirens followed.' The focus remains on the driver’s unlawful actions—operating without a license and reversing unsafely while fleeing police—which directly led to the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705891 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Jan 1 - A man, 47, crossed Woodhaven Boulevard before dawn. A Toyota hit him head-on. A Jeep struck next. His head broke the silence. He died there, between two sedans and the cold.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was killed on Woodhaven Boulevard in the early morning. The report states he was crossing outside the crosswalk when a Toyota sedan struck him head-on. A Jeep sedan hit him next. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, with no further detail on specific driver errors. The victim’s location—crossing not at an intersection and not at a signal or crosswalk—is described, but not listed as a contributing factor. The lethal impact of two sedans in rapid succession highlights the persistent danger for pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 10 - A Toyota sedan tore down Cross Bay Boulevard. It hit hard, left side first. The driver, alone, was thrown from the car. Chest crushed. Unsafe speed and alcohol fueled the crash. He died on the street, harness strapped, darkness all around.

A 27-year-old man driving a 1993 Toyota sedan on Cross Bay Boulevard near East 1st Road in Queens was killed after his car struck left-side first and he was ejected from the vehicle. According to the police report, 'Speed and alcohol behind the wheel. Dead on the street.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The driver was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness. The impact crushed his chest. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of unsafe speed, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 18 - Two sedans struck a man and woman on Woodhaven Boulevard. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Head trauma. Crush injuries. Both died where they fell. Southbound traffic did not stop. The street swallowed them whole.

Two sedans, both heading south on Woodhaven Boulevard, struck a 71-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man. Both pedestrians were walking outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'Head trauma. Crush injuries. Blood on the asphalt. Both died where they fell. Southbound traffic did not stop in time.' The report lists no specific driver errors, only 'Unspecified' contributing factors for both victims. The impact was severe: both pedestrians suffered fatal head and internal injuries. The drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680207 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 10 - A bus turned left at dawn in Queens. A 73-year-old woman crossed in the marked crosswalk. The front of the bus hit her. She died on the street. The engine idled. The city stayed silent.

A 73-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 86th Street and 107th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a bus turned left at dawn and struck her as she crossed in the marked crosswalk. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered fatal injuries to her entire body and died at the scene. The bus, a Ford, was making a left turn when its front end hit the pedestrian. No damage was reported to the bus. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors from the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677970 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 6 - A BMW turned across Cross Bay Boulevard. A motorcycle struck its side. The rider, 29, was thrown and killed. Blood marked the asphalt. The street fell silent. Failure to yield and unsafe speed shaped the crash. One man dead. Nothing moved.

A deadly crash unfolded on Cross Bay Boulevard near 165th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW SUV made a U-turn across the boulevard. A motorcycle traveling south struck the SUV’s right side doors. The 29-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and killed, suffering fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV’s driver was making a U-turn when the collision occurred. The data does not mention any helmet use or signal issues as contributing factors. The crash left one man dead and the street quiet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676899 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 2 - A Jeep lunged from the curb on Jamaica Avenue. Two boys on an e-bike slammed into its nose. Metal met flesh. Legs crushed, arms broken. Both boys hurled onto the street, conscious, bleeding, no helmets. The night echoed with pain and sirens.

Two boys, ages 16 and 19, riding an e-bike west on Jamaica Avenue, collided with the front of a Jeep SUV that pulled from the curb near 92nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'A Jeep pulled from the curb. An e-bike with two boys struck its nose. No helmets. No chance. One boy’s legs crushed, the other’s arms broken. Both thrown. Both conscious. Both bleeding on the asphalt.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both boys were ejected from the e-bike and suffered serious crush injuries to their arms and legs. The report notes neither wore helmets, but the primary cause was the Jeep driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18