Fifteen Dead—How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

A Honda tore down the BQE. The driver had no license. Alcohol and speed ruled the car. Two young women, both passengers, suffered head and chest wounds. Blood marked the seats. The crash left pain and sirens in its wake.

A 2011 Honda sedan crashed eastbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. According to the police report, the unlicensed driver sped forward, reeking of alcohol. Three passengers rode with him. Two young women, both 22, were injured—one with severe head lacerations, the other with internal chest injuries. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver wore a harness but held no valid license. Both injured passengers were belted. The crash left the car's front end smashed and its occupants hurt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4533976, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Council Member Lincoln Restler introduced two bills to slash 60,000 parking placards and let New Yorkers report illegal placard use. Placard abuse blocks sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus lanes. Streets stay dangerous for people outside cars. Restler wants action.

On June 3, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) introduced two bills in the City Council. The legislation, now in committee, aims to revoke about 60,000 city-issued parking placards and create a civilian enforcement program. The matter summary states: 'legislation seeks to curb the misuse of parking placards by government employees by revoking thousands of the permits and empowering New Yorkers to report drivers who abuse their parking privileges.' Restler, the sponsor, said, 'We have illegal placard activities on every block, and it actually makes our streets unsafe.' The bills target the rampant abuse that blocks intersections, sidewalks, and bike lanes, especially in Downtown Brooklyn. The civilian enforcement bill would let New Yorkers report violations and collect a share of fines. Transportation advocates back the effort, calling placard abuse 'city-approved corruption.' The legislation seeks to restore safety and access for people on foot, bikes, and transit.

• Two new bills would nix 60K parking placards and pay New Yorkers to snitch on illegal use, crainsnewyork.com, Published 2022-06-03

Lincoln Restler targets placard abuse. He introduces two bills. One slashes city-issued parking permits. The other lets civilians report illegal parking. Streets clogged by city workers’ cars. Cyclists, parents, wheelchair users forced into danger. Restler calls it petty corruption.

On June 2, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) introduced two bills to the New York City Council. The bills aim to revoke about 60,000 city-issued parking placards and allow civilians to report illegal parking. The legislation, not yet passed or assigned to a committee, is described as a response to 'petty corruption' that endangers pedestrians, people with disabilities, and cyclists. Restler said, 'It is petty corruption and it makes our streets unsafe for a parent walking with a stroller, for a person with a wheelchair, for a cyclist.' The first bill would sharply restrict city agencies from issuing parking permits for private cars, with narrow exemptions. The second would empower civilians to report cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants, creating a $175 fine and a reward for reporters. Restler’s district, including Downtown Brooklyn, suffers from rampant placard abuse. The bills seek to reclaim street space and protect vulnerable road users.

• NYC Council bills would cut 60,000 city parking placards, allow civilian reporting of illegal parking, amny.com, Published 2022-06-02

Placard abuse blocks sidewalks, endangers cyclists, and forces parents and wheelchair users into traffic. Council Member Lincoln Restler pushes a bill to revoke most personal placards and let citizens report abuse. The goal: end corruption and reclaim public space.

On June 2, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler introduced legislation in the New York City Council to crack down on placard abuse. The bill would revoke all placards for personal vehicles without government plates, except for those granted by collective bargaining or disability. Restler’s proposal, echoing a prior bill from Stephen Levin, would also empower citizens to report placard abuse to the Department of Transportation, triggering civil penalties. The matter summary reads: 'Placard abuse forces neighbors using wheelchairs to navigate unsafe sidewalks, cyclists to go up against oncoming traffic, and parents to push strollers into the street.' Restler, representing Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint, has refused a placard himself. The bill aims to eliminate roughly 60,000 placards and restore safety and access for vulnerable road users.

• OPINION: Why We Must Eliminate Placards — And Here’s How We’ll Do It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-02

Councilmember Lincoln Restler moves to strip 60,000 city-issued parking placards. He targets abuse and corruption. The bill lets citizens report illegal placard use. Fewer placards mean fewer cars parked on sidewalks and crosswalks. Streets grow safer for walkers and riders.

On June 2, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) introduced a bill to revoke about 60,000 government-issued parking permits in New York City. The proposal, reintroduced to the council, aims to 'allow citizen enforcement of illegal placard abuse.' Restler, the sole sponsor, says, 'It's petty corruption, and it has to stop.' The bill exempts clergy, people with disabilities, and workers with collectively bargained permits. Restler also backs a measure to pay New Yorkers for reporting illegal parking, including by police. He argues that widespread placard abuse 'makes our streets unsafe.' By slashing the number of permits and empowering citizen enforcement, the bill targets the root of placard corruption and aims to clear sidewalks and crosswalks for vulnerable road users.

• NYC councilman wants to yank 60K government-issued parking permits, nypost.com, Published 2022-06-02

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilians can report violators. Each offense draws a $175 fine. The city pays whistleblowers a cut. The bill stalled. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0501-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 2, 2022. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints to the department of transportation for hazardous obstruction violations,' aimed to create a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school. The penalty: $175 per violation, enforced through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Civilians, except city employees, could file complaints and receive 25% of collected fines. The Department of Transportation would support this with a phased-in reporting program and annual public reports. Council Member Carlina Rivera led as primary sponsor, joined by over two dozen co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0501-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

Council pushed a bill to force early walk signals at crossings near hospitals, schools, libraries, and senior centers. Four hundred intersections per year. The bill died in committee. No law. No change. Streets stay dangerous for the city’s most vulnerable.

Int 0479-2022 was introduced on June 2, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to require leading pedestrian interval signals at intersections next to hospitals, libraries, schools, and senior centers. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring leading pedestrian interval signals at intersections adjacent to hospitals, libraries, schools, and senior centers.' Council Member Lynn C. Schulman sponsored the bill, joined by Kagan, Hudson, Hanif, Abreu, Restler, Riley, and Sanchez. The bill would have forced the city to install these signals at no fewer than 400 intersections each year. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No law passed. The city’s most vulnerable—kids, elders, patients—remain at risk at crossings meant to protect them.

• File Int 0479-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

Council bill Int 0500-2022 would kill private vehicle parking permits. All existing permits get revoked. Only disabled drivers and union contracts are spared. The bill targets abuse and privilege. It died in committee. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0500-2022 was introduced on June 2, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to "prohibit the issuance of private vehicle parking permits and revoke such existing permits," with exceptions for people with disabilities and collective bargaining agreements. Council Member Christopher Marte led as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Brewer, Joseph, Nurse, Cabán, Avilés, Bottcher, Won, Ossé, and Richardson Jordan, plus the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill aimed to end a system that let private cars claim curb space, fueling illegal parking and danger for those on foot or bike. It was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. The status quo remains: permits still shield drivers, while vulnerable road users face the risk.

• File Int 0500-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

Lincoln Restler introduced a bill to strip 60,000 city workers of parking placards. The move targets illegal parking and city corruption. Advocates say it will clear streets for buses and bikes. Placard abuse blocks crosswalks, endangers lives, and slows transit.

On June 2, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) introduced legislation to revoke an estimated 60,000 parking placards from New York City employees. The bill, now before the City Council, aims to crack down on placard abuse by city workers, which Restler calls 'petty corruption.' The matter summary states the legislation would force agencies to revoke most placards not protected by union contracts. Restler also proposed a bill letting New Yorkers report illegal placards and collect a share of fines. Street safety advocates back the move, saying, 'Ending placard abuse in New York City will make our streets safe, while ensuring bus and bike riders can stay moving—unobstructed by illegally stored cars.' The bill follows years of failed enforcement and mounting placard numbers. Restler’s action targets a system that blocks crosswalks, endangers pedestrians, and slows public transit.

• Legislation would revoke an estimated 60,000 parking placards from NYC employees, nydailynews.com, Published 2022-06-02

NYC DOT will rebuild Schermerhorn Street. Painted bike lanes will become protected. Curb extensions and bollards will guard corners. One-way traffic will cut conflict. Cyclists and walkers get relief. Councilmember Restler calls the street a disaster. Change comes after years of injury.

On May 25, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a major redesign for Schermerhorn Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The plan, detailed in the media, will convert the painted bike lane to a two-way, parking-protected lane between Smith Street and Third Avenue. The street will become eastbound one-way for vehicles, with curb extensions, loading zones, and plastic bollards to block illegal parking. The DOT says the redesign addresses high injury rates from turning vehicles. Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) publicly backed the project, calling Schermerhorn 'a disaster' for cyclists and naming its fix a top priority. The overhaul follows DOT surveys of local stakeholders. The project aims to protect cyclists and pedestrians on a vital route, with city agencies keeping parking and new loading zones for hotels.

• Major overhaul coming to Schermerhorn Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-05-25

DOT will overhaul Schermerhorn Street. A two-way protected bike lane and pedestrian upgrades will replace chaos. The street saw 555 crashes since 2015. One pedestrian died. Cyclists and walkers get refuge. Left turns, a top killer, are banned. Danger faces a reckoning.

On May 25, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation presented a redesign for Schermerhorn Street at Brooklyn Community Board 2. The plan, not requiring board approval, targets the stretch between Boerum Place and Third Avenue. DOT calls it a 'Vision Zero Priority Area.' The redesign converts the street to one-way eastbound, adds a two-way protected bike lane, and installs pedestrian improvements like Qwick Curbs and refuge spaces. Loading zones and left-turn bans aim to cut injuries. Since 2015, 555 crashes have injured 124 and killed one pedestrian. Council Member Lincoln Restler backed the plan, calling it a 'top priority' and 'necessary response' to deadly conditions. Former Council Member Steve Levin and advocates pushed for these changes for years. Some locals criticized Qwick Curbs as ugly, but DOT officials stressed the board's advisory role. The redesign does not address Hoyt Street, where illegal parking remains rampant.

• At Long Last, City Unveils Schermerhorn Street Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-25

Council filed a bill to force the city to study dangerous driving. The measure called for annual reports on driver behavior tied to crashes, injuries, and deaths. The bill died at session’s end. No action, no data, no change for the vulnerable.

Int 0415-2022 was introduced on May 19, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation, with the NYPD and other agencies, to conduct an annual study of dangerous driving behaviors linked to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a study of dangerous driving.' Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Keith Powers, Gale A. Brewer, Rita C. Joseph, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Marjorie Velázquez, and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Borough Presidents sponsored the bill. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Without passage, the city remains without mandated, public-facing data on the patterns that put pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

• File Int 0415-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

Council bill Int 0401-2022 would force the city to install speed humps on streets bordering parks over one acre. The measure targets reckless driving near green spaces. The transportation committee filed the bill at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0401-2022 was introduced in the City Council on May 19, 2022, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by sixteen co-sponsors. The bill would have required the Department of Transportation to install speed humps on all roadways next to parks at least one acre in size, unless the DOT commissioner found installation unsafe or inconsistent with guidelines. The bill was filed without passage at the end of the session. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0401-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

DOT will overhaul Schermerhorn Street after years of crashes and chaos. The plan adds a two-way protected bike lane, shifts traffic to one-way, and promises real pedestrian upgrades. Advocates demand strong barriers to keep cars out. Cyclists and walkers have waited too long.

On May 17, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled a redesign plan for Schermerhorn Street, a notorious crash corridor in Downtown Brooklyn. The plan, presented to the community board, proposes making Schermerhorn one-way between Smith Street and Third Avenue, installing a two-way protected bike lane, and moving the existing painted lane to the south side. DOT spokesperson Vincent Barone called it a 'holistic approach to address traffic and bicycle safety.' Council Member Lincoln Restler said, 'Getting this has been a top priority across the district.' Former Council Member Stephen Levin and advocates have long pushed for these changes, especially to stop NYPD from blocking bike lanes. Advocates like Brian Howald and Jon Orcutt stress the need for robust, physical protection—not just paint or flexible posts—to keep drivers out. Since 2015, 555 crashes have injured 124 people and killed one pedestrian on this stretch. The plan aims to end the lawless status quo and protect the most vulnerable.

• Long-Awaited Upgrades Finally Coming to Schermerhorn Street, DOT Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-17

Council bill sought bright bands on bollards, curbs, posts, roundabouts. The aim: make street hazards visible in the dark. DOT would install 250 reflective upgrades per borough each year. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay dim.

Int 0369-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 5, 2022. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install reflective material on bollards, curbs, posts, and roundabouts—at least 250 installations per borough, per year. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the installation of reflective material on bollards, curbs, posts, and roundabouts.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Marjorie Velázquez, Kalman Yeger, Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, and Rita C. Joseph backed the bill. Despite support, the bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s most dangerous fixtures remain hard to see.

• File Int 0369-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

Council tried to pay tipsters for catching hit-and-run drivers who maim or kill. The bill died. No reward. No justice for victims. Streets stay dangerous. Drivers flee. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. Lawmakers failed to act.

Int 0329-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Public Safety on May 5, 2022. The bill aimed to amend the city code to 'establish a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph sponsored the bill, joined by sixteen co-sponsors including Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, and others. The bill would have authorized up to $1,000 for information leading to the capture of hit-and-run drivers, but excluded law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The measure was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. With the bill's failure, the city offers no extra incentive to help catch drivers who leave victims bleeding in the street.

• File Int 0329-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

Council bill Int 0256-2022 would force NYPD to count every time an officer uses a car to control someone. The law closes a reporting loophole. Police vehicles are now named as weapons. The bill was filed at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0256-2022, introduced April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety, sought to amend the city code to require NYPD to report when officers use a motor vehicle as force. The bill’s matter title reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.” Council Member Althea V. Stevens led as primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Hudson, Williams, Restler, Krishnan, and others. The bill would have added 'use of a motor vehicle to gain control of a subject' as a reporting category. It was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. This measure aimed to expose police vehicle violence by demanding full transparency in use-of-force reporting.

• File Int 0256-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council filed a bill to create an Office of Active Transportation and an advisory board. The plan aimed to coordinate city policy, hear complaints, and push for safer streets. The bill died at session’s end. Vulnerable users remain exposed.

Int 0287-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill proposed 'establishing an office of active transportation and an active transportation advisory board.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera backed the measure. The advisory board would have studied safety, complaints, and policy for cyclists, e-bike riders, and others outside cars. Eight board members would be appointed by the Council Speaker, four by the Mayor. The office would report annually and serve as a citywide liaison for active transportation users. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No new protections for vulnerable road users resulted.

• File Int 0287-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council tried to create an Office of Pedestrians. The bill died in committee. No new office. No new power. Pedestrians remain at risk. The city missed a chance to stand up for those on foot.

Int 0288-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to establish an Office of Pedestrians, led by a mayoral appointee, to advise on safety and act as a bridge between walkers and city agencies. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pedestrians.' Council Member Althea V. Stevens sponsored the bill, with Julie Won, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera as co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure means no dedicated city office for pedestrian safety. The city keeps walking, unprotected.

• File Int 0288-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council bill Int 0224-2022 would bar sightseeing buses from bus lanes during rush hours. The measure targets weekday mornings and evenings. Sponsors say it keeps lanes clear for city buses. The bill stalled, filed at session’s end.

Int 0224-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to amend city law to 'restrict the use of bus lanes by sight-seeing buses.' It would have prohibited sightseeing buses from using bus lanes between 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. The Department of Transportation would also be barred from authorizing sightseeing bus stops in bus lanes during those hours. Council Members Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor), Justin Brannan, Sandy Nurse, Lincoln Restler, and Diana Ayala backed the bill. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. The bill aimed to keep bus lanes clear for transit, reducing congestion and potential conflict with pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0224-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28