Fifteen Dead—How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

Mayor Adams pledged $900 million for protected bike and bus lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it a dramatic step for street safety. The sum falls short of Council’s ask, but promises hardened lanes and real barriers for cyclists and bus riders.

On April 23, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced a $900 million budget proposal for street safety infrastructure. The plan, part of ongoing budget talks, aims to fund hundreds of miles of protected bike and bus lanes, plus concrete barriers. Council Member Lincoln Restler of District 33, a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, praised the move as 'a very clear commitment to addressing street safety across the five boroughs.' The proposal supports the Streets Master Plan, which mandates 250 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of protected bus lanes in five years. Restler emphasized that the funding will harden bike lanes, replacing paint with physical barriers to keep cars out and protect cyclists. The Council had requested $3.1 billion, but Restler called the $900 million a dramatic investment. The budget must be finalized by June 30.

• Mayor Adams pledges more than $900 million to enhancing traffic safety, gothamist.com, Published 2022-04-23

Mayor Adams pledged $904 million for safer streets. The money will build protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and plazas. City leaders say this will save lives. Advocates call it historic. The city moves to reclaim space from cars and curb reckless driving.

On April 23, 2022, Mayor Adams announced a $904 million investment for the Streets Master Plan, aiming to build hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and car-free plazas over five years. The plan follows the City Council's push for a $3.1 billion, five-year budget. Adams said, 'We're making a historical announcement to continue to keep our streets safe.' Council Member Lincoln Restler called it 'a big, big, big day for street safety.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated, 'We will be building even more bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes as well as new plaza and other public space.' The funding will upgrade weakly protected bike lanes and step up enforcement against reckless drivers. Advocates, including Transportation Alternatives, praised the move as transformational for vulnerable road users. The investment marks a major step to reclaim streets from cars and address rising traffic deaths.

• Mayor Adams Puts Nearly $1 Billion Into Street Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-23

Council members and advocates rallied at City Hall. They demanded $3.1 billion for the Streets Master Plan. Traffic deaths surged 44 percent in early 2022. The mayor’s budget falls short. The city stalls. Streets remain deadly. The call: fund safety now.

On April 22, 2022, more than a dozen City Council members and advocates gathered at City Hall to demand full funding for the Streets Master Plan. The plan, passed in 2019, requires hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and safer sidewalks. Council Member Alexa Avilés led the call: "We want $3.1 billion, a little tiny fraction of the [nearly $100-billion] city budget, to make sure our streets belong to us, and to make sure New Yorkers are safe." Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers, Carlina Rivera, Lincoln Restler, Sandy Nurse, Chi Ossé, Crystal Hudson, Shekar Krishnan, and Amanda Farías joined her. Traffic fatalities rose 44 percent in the first quarter of 2022, the deadliest start since Vision Zero began. The mayor’s proposed $98.5-billion budget did not allocate significant funds for the plan. Advocates say the city must act now to stem the bloodshed on its streets.

• Pols and Advocates to Mayor: Put More Money Into the Streets Master Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

The 84th Precinct in Downtown Brooklyn took the crown for illegal parking, placard abuse, and reckless driving. Council Member Lincoln Restler vowed tough laws and real enforcement. NYPD’s actions fuel danger for pedestrians and cyclists. Residents pay the price.

On April 21, 2022, Streetsblog announced the results of its annual March (Parking) Madness contest, spotlighting NYPD precincts with rampant illegal parking and placard abuse. The 84th Precinct in Downtown Brooklyn was named the worst offender, with officers racking up speeding tickets, blocking hydrants, and abusing placards. Council Member Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, condemned the precinct’s behavior as 'petty, but pervasive corruption' and pledged to push for aggressive legislation and enforcement. Restler has previously called for eliminating parking placards entirely. Streetsblog’s study found that precinct blocks see more crashes than nearby streets, linking NYPD misconduct to increased danger for vulnerable road users. The issue is framed as a threat to public safety and neighborhood respect.

• MARCH (PARKING) MADNESS: And the <s>Winner</s> Loser Is…, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-21

Council bill Int 0147-2022 would force DOT to answer traffic device requests in 60 days. No more endless waits. Denials must show crash data and study details. Brannan, Yeger, Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse back the push. The bill died in committee.

Int 0147-2022 was introduced on April 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to issue a traffic study determination within 60 days of a request for a traffic control device by a council member or community board. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Council Members Brannan, Yeger (primary), Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse sponsored the bill. The measure aimed to end delays and force transparency by requiring denials to include crash data and study summaries. The bill was filed at the end of session and did not become law.

• File Int 0147-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14

City investigators stall on placard abuse. Council members press for action. Streets stay blocked. Curb access lost. Police and city workers park with impunity. Laws ignored. Promises broken. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On April 12, 2022, the City Council held an oversight hearing on placard abuse and enforcement. The new Department of Investigation (DOI) boss, Jocelyn Strauber, hesitated to confirm if placard abuse is a problem, despite a 2019 law requiring DOI and NYPD to investigate and report on the issue. Council Member Erik Bottcher pressed Strauber, citing resident complaints about fake placards and blocked curbs. Bottcher said, 'NYPD traffic enforcement agents are not issuing tickets to many people using counterfeit placards.' Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the lack of a digital placard system and is drafting new enforcement legislation. Local Law 6 mandates weekly sweeps and monthly reports, but agencies have failed to comply. The Adams administration has not advanced citizen enforcement. The result: curb space remains dangerous and inaccessible for pedestrians, cyclists, and those who need it most.

• CLUELESS: New Department of Investigation Boss Isn’t Sure if Placard Abuse is a Thing (It Is), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-12

Police cars block sidewalks in Brooklyn. Crashes follow. Council Member Lincoln Restler calls out illegal placard parking. He backs new laws and outside enforcement. Streets stay dangerous while police ignore the rules. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

On March 22, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler issued a statement targeting police placard abuse in Brooklyn. The matter, highlighted in the annual March (Parking) Madness contest, compared the 84th and 69th Precincts for their illegal parking practices. Restler said, "Placard permit holders and users of fake placards park illegally every day and it's simply the status quo." He noted, "These cars obstruct pedestrian space, endanger cyclists, and undermine safety on our streets." Restler supports legislation to reduce placard issuance and the creation of an independent enforcement unit outside the NYPD. Between January 2017 and February 2022, the 84th Precinct area saw 219 crashes injuring cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. Police cars often took over sidewalks despite having two parking lots. The statement underscores how unchecked police parking endangers vulnerable road users and blocks safe passage.

• March (Parking) Madness: A David vs. Goliath Battle of Police Rudeness in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-22

North Brooklyn leaders and advocates demand real protection for cyclists on Grand Street. Plastic posts failed. Cars park in the lane. Crashes mount. They want Jersey barriers, hardened entrances, and an end to chaos. The city must act before more lives are lost.

On March 4, 2022, North Brooklyn officials and activists sent a letter to the Department of Transportation demanding a true protected bike lane on Grand Street. The letter, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Members Lincoln Restler and Jennifer Gutierrez, called for 'protective jersey barricades and measures taken at each intersection to stop cars from entering the protected bike lane.' The group condemned the current plastic delineators, noting, 'From day one, the Grand Street bike lane has failed to keep people safe.' Since 2019, 67 cyclists have been injured and 196 crashes reported. The letter urges the city to replace weak barriers, fix dangerous entrances, and finally deliver safety for vulnerable road users. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Adams are now under pressure to act.

• North Brooklyn Seeks Some of that Jersey Barrier Magic on Grand Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

Cyclists dodge cars on Grand Street. Plastic bollards fail. Drivers block lanes. Restler and activists push for concrete barriers. Seventy injuries since 2019. DOT delays. Riders wait. Danger remains. Lives at risk until real protection arrives.

On March 3, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined activists to demand the Department of Transportation install concrete barriers on the Grand Street bike lane. The push follows years of crashes—67 cyclist injuries and 196 total crashes since 2019—despite so-called 'protected' lanes. The matter, titled 'Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane,' highlights how plastic bollards fail to stop drivers from blocking lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic. Restler, along with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter urging Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez to act. The DOT has started hardening some lanes citywide, but Grand Street remains unprotected. Activists say, 'We knew the omission of protective jersey barriers would lead to dangerous conditions back in 2019 and we have witnessed that prediction come tragically true throughout 2021.' The call is clear: real barriers, not broken promises.

• Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-03

Brooklyn lawmakers tell developers: no more parking mandates. They want special permits to drop parking. They say parking rules drive up costs, block affordable homes, and fuel car use. The message is clear—build for people, not for cars.

On March 1, 2022, Brooklyn politicians announced a push to eliminate mandatory parking minimums for new developments. The action is not a formal bill, but a policy stance led by Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler. The group, including Council Members Jennifer Gutierrez, Crystal Hudson, Chi Osse, Sandy Nurse, Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Rita Joseph, and Farah Louis, demands that developers seeking zoning changes first apply for a special permit to waive parking requirements. Restler said, 'Developers need our consent and approval, and we are telling them, plainly, that they have to file for a special permit to end parking requirements.' Reynoso added, 'You don't need to do that anymore.' Avilés called parking mandates a barrier to affordable housing and climate action. The group argues that parking minimums raise construction costs, encourage car use, and block green space. Restler warned he is 'far more likely to vote no' on projects without a parking waiver. Advocates and policy experts back the move, and related state legislation is pending.

• Brooklyn Pols Tell Developers to Eliminate Parking or Else, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-01

Restler and city leaders stood at Brooklyn Borough Hall. They demanded faster buses, more lanes, and real enforcement. Riders choke on slow service. Cars clog bus lanes. The call: redesign routes, expand service, and put riders first. No more stalling.

On February 28, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined borough presidents and advocates at Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand urgent action on New York City’s bus system. The event, titled 'Borough beeps join city transit advocates for better bus service,' spotlighted stalled promises and called for Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul to deliver. Restler and others backed the Bus Turnaround Coalition’s push for network redesigns, expanded and more frequent service, all-door boarding, and tougher enforcement in bus lanes. Comptroller Brad Lander stressed that 'expanded bus routes must also match 21st century travel patterns.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso linked better buses to less car dependence and climate action. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez pledged 150 new miles of busways and lanes. The campaign aims to speed up buses, cut car dominance, and put vulnerable road users first.

• Borough beeps join city transit advocates for better bus service, gothamist.com, Published 2022-02-28

Advocates and Councilmember Restler rallied for faster buses. They called out slow speeds, illegal driving, and lack of city action. Bus riders, mostly working-class and people of color, remain stranded. City promises more bus lanes, but plans lag. Riders wait.

On February 28, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined transit advocates at a rally demanding urgent improvements to New York City's bus system. The event, covered by amny.com, highlighted the Bus Turnaround coalition's renewed push for dedicated busways, more bus lanes, and increased funding. Restler said, 'We need a real busway on Jay Street,' citing rampant illegal driving and slow service. The rally criticized City Hall for ambitious targets but no concrete plans. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez promised 150 new miles of bus lanes, but advocates noted delays and lack of enforcement. The recommendations aim to speed up buses for vulnerable riders—working-class, immigrant, and communities of color—who rely on slow, unreliable service. The rally underscored the urgent need for action to protect and prioritize those most at risk on city streets.

• Transit advocates call on Adams, Hochul to speed up NYC buses, amny.com, Published 2022-02-28

Councilmember Lincoln Restler rode Schermerhorn Street’s bike lane. Snow and cars blocked his path. He failed the challenge. Restler called for protected lanes. Painted lines do not stop cars. Cyclists face danger. The city must act. Lives depend on it.

On February 7, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler of District 33 staged the 'Schermerhorn Challenge.' He tried to ride the Schermerhorn Street bike lane after a snowstorm. The lane was blocked by snow and illegally parked vehicles. Restler took 41 minutes to travel half a mile and was forced to leave the lane. He declared, 'No one should have to bike into traffic because of a row of illegally parked cars.' Restler called for a comprehensive street redesign and protected bike lanes, saying, 'There’s a crisis on Schermerhorn Street.' The Department of Transportation is reportedly working on a proposal. Restler’s action highlights the failure of painted lanes to protect cyclists. Most lanes in Downtown Brooklyn remain unprotected and easily blocked, putting riders at risk.

• Councilmember attempts doomed-to-fail 'Schermerhorn Challenge,' calls for protected bike lanes • Brooklyn Paper, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-02-07

DOT says new sensors to catch overweight trucks on the BQE will not arrive until year’s end. Council Member Restler calls the daily truck hazard urgent. Lawmakers demand swift action. The city and state must coordinate. Vulnerable road users wait.

On January 31, 2022, DOT confirmed that weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) will take a year to install. The pilot program, enabled by a state bill signed December 22, aims to fine illegally overweight trucks. The bill was introduced by State lawmakers Brian Kavanagh and Jo Anne Simon. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing District 33, pressed for rapid installation, warning, "There are extremely overweight trucks barreling down the triple cantilever every single day that are a hazard to the health and safety of our community." The matter title states: "Tonnage sensors on the BQE will take a year to set up: DOT." The project is complex, requiring city and state DOT coordination and a 90-day grace period once operational. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while the system is delayed.

• Tonnage sensors on the BQE will take a year to set up: DOT, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-01-31

DOT drags its feet. Overweight trucks pound the BQE. Council Member Restler calls it a daily hazard. Lawmakers push for weigh-in-motion sensors. The city says setup takes a year. Vulnerable road users wait while trucks threaten collapse.

On January 30, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) pressed for urgent action on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) weigh-in-motion (WIM) pilot. The bill, sponsored in the state legislature by Brian Kavanagh and Jo Anne Simon, was signed into law on December 22. The measure, described as a 'critical project' by DOT, aims to catch and fine overweight trucks using new sensors. Restler said, 'There are extremely overweight trucks barreling down the triple cantilever every single day that are a hazard to the health and safety of our community.' DOT claims the system will be operational by year’s end, citing technical complexity. The Brooklyn Heights Association and local officials demand faster action. The pilot is the first of its kind in the nation. Until sensors are live, the BQE remains a danger zone for everyone not behind the wheel.

• Weight' for it: BQE automatic truck tonnage sensors will take a year to set up, DOT says, amny.com, Published 2022-01-30

A Toyota sedan crashed head-on on Humboldt Street near Meeker Avenue. Four inside. The right front was crushed. One man in the back bled from the head. The car reeked of alcohol. No airbags. No belts. Night, metal, blood.

A 2007 Toyota sedan crashed head-on on Humboldt Street near Meeker Avenue at 3:16 a.m. Four people were inside. According to the police report, the right front of the car was crushed. One man in the back seat suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but was conscious. The report states, 'The car reeked of alcohol.' Alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor for the driver and all passengers. No airbags deployed. Some occupants wore no seat belts. The crash data highlights 'Alcohol Involvement' as the primary driver error. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493256, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Five neighborhoods bleed under car wheels. East New York, East Flatbush, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Jamaica. Council members speak. Some call for bike lanes, street redesigns, real safety. Others hesitate. The toll mounts. Streets remain hostile. Vision Zero falters.

This council action, highlighted in a January 3, 2022 Streetsblog NYC article, spotlights deadly streets in East New York, East Flatbush, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, and Jamaica. The matter, 'Vision Zero Epicenters: 5 Dangerous Neighborhoods that Should Be on Eric Adams’s Agenda,' draws statements from council members. Charles Barron (East New York) showed initial reluctance but later acknowledged the need for safety and equity. Rita Joseph (East Flatbush) demanded urgent improvements, saying, 'We can and must do better as a city.' Chi Ossé (Bedford-Stuyvesant) called for expanded safe corridors. Lincoln Restler (Williamsburg) pushed for 'Vision Zero on steroids' and a network of protected bike lanes. Nantasha Williams (Jamaica) recognized the need for redesigns to curb speeding. The council’s stance: most support protected bike lanes, street redesigns, and Vision Zero policy, but action lags as deaths and injuries climb.

• Vision Zero Epicenters: 5 Dangerous Neighborhoods that Should Be on Eric Adams’s Agenda, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-03