District 33: Deadly hours, the same streets, the same hurt

Jul 5 - A sedan driver hit a cyclist on Bedford Ave. The cyclist suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed dangerous. The night stayed loud.

A sedan struck a 26-year-old cyclist on Bedford Ave near Myrtle Ave in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the sedan occupants. The collision highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826168 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 3 - A 55-year-old motorcyclist died on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. He was ejected. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The rider wore a helmet. The crash left one dead, no others hurt.

A 55-year-old man driving a motorcycle west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway was killed after being ejected from his bike. According to the police report, the crash involved driver inattention and unsafe speed. The rider was unlicensed and wore a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The crash left the motorcyclist dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Kent Avenue. The rider, 24, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite unsafe speed. The night was quiet. The street was not.

A sedan collided with a cyclist on Kent Avenue at South 4th Street in Brooklyn. The 24-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor. The crash involved the sedan traveling north and the bike traveling south, both going straight. No other factors were cited in the report. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. No helmet use was listed as a factor. The data does not mention injuries to the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jun 29 - An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 27 - A sedan struck trouble on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One passenger bled from the leg. Five others escaped serious harm. The crash stemmed from vehicular factors, police said.

A sedan traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway crashed, injuring a 21-year-old front passenger who suffered severe bleeding to the leg. According to the police report, 'Other Vehicular' factors contributed to the collision. The driver and three other passengers were not seriously hurt. The report lists no pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The sedan’s roof was damaged, and the point of impact was the undercarriage. Driver error is noted as 'Other Vehicular.' All occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823667 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jun 24 - Police blocked off a longtime illegal lot under the BQE. Dozens of city employee cars vanished. Metal barriers now guard the plaza. Summonses flew, cars towed. Streets opened for people. The crackdown strikes at driver privilege. Pedestrians and cyclists reclaim space.

On June 24, 2025, NYPD and the 84th Precinct enforced a sweep against illegal placard parking under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Tillary and Navy streets. The action, coordinated with Council Member Lincoln Restler, followed community complaints. Officers issued 40 summonses and towed 10 vehicles. The NYPD stated, "Following community complaints about illegal parking... the NYPD Transportation Bureau and Council Member Lincoln Restler coordinated... to address the parking condition and clear the area." Council Members Restler and Crystal Hudson represent the district but did not claim credit. The crackdown targets city employees who abused parking privileges for years. Safety analysts note: "Cracking down on placard abuse reduces illegal parking, especially in bike lanes, crosswalks, and sidewalks, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists by reclaiming public space and reducing driver entitlement."

• Police Finally Remove Cars From Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 24 - Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 20 - A Brooklyn political boss fights a judge’s order to keep the Bedford Avenue bike lane. Crash and injury numbers fell after the redesign. The city faces pressure to defend protections for cyclists. The battle exposes the city’s fractured safety priorities.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 20, 2025, that Frank Seddio, a Brooklyn Democratic leader and Board of Elections commissioner, is appealing a court order that blocks the city from removing part of the Bedford Avenue bike lane. Seddio claims the lane will only shift location and disputes the safety benefits, arguing, 'The bike lane will still exist, but merely shift to an alternative location in the road.' He also questions crash data, citing seasonal differences: 'The change in accident and injury rates is better explained by seasonal weather patterns.' Streetsblog notes that after the redesign, crashes dropped by 18–19% and injuries by 25–26%. The case highlights ongoing tension between local political power, city notification procedures, and efforts to protect cyclists and pedestrians through street design.

• Brooklyn Power Broker Fights Bike Lane Ruling, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20

Jun 18 - A stolen Chevy struck Tiffany Cifuni’s car in Brooklyn. She stepped out to confront the driver. The driver ran her down and fled. Cifuni, twelve weeks pregnant, died on the street. Police arrested the suspect weeks later.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Chaquasia Pigford was arrested for killing Tiffany Cifuni in a Brooklyn hit-and-run. Pigford, driving a stolen Chevy Trax, rear-ended Cifuni’s Toyota late at night on May 24. When Cifuni, pregnant and 32, exited her vehicle to exchange information, Pigford sped off. Cifuni followed for two blocks, confronted Pigford, and was then run over. Prosecutors described the incident in court, noting Pigford refused to engage before fleeing. The article quotes Cifuni’s family and Assistant District Attorney Tara Kelly: 'Pigford was driving a stolen 2016 Chevy Trax... when she rear-ended Cifuni’s 2021 Toyota 4Runner.' The case highlights the lethal risk of hit-and-run drivers and the dangers posed by stolen vehicles on city streets.

• Pregnant Woman Killed After Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 15 - Steel slammed steel in Brooklyn before dawn. A Chevy hit a Volvo, then a police car. Four people hurt. Two were NYPD. The driver of the Chevy was arrested. Sirens silent. Lights flashing. Streets left scarred.

ABC7 reported on June 15, 2025, that a three-car crash at Avenue U and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn injured four people, including two NYPD officers. The article states, “Police say a 25-year-old man was traveling north on Coney Island Avenue in a Chevrolet Suburban when he collided with the driver of a Volvo traveling west on Avenue U.” The impact pushed the Chevy into a marked police car, which had its lights on but no sirens. The 25-year-old Chevy driver was arrested at the scene. Both his passengers and two officers were hospitalized in stable condition. No injuries were reported in the Volvo. The incident highlights the dangers at busy intersections and the risks faced by all road users, including police. Authorities continue to investigate the cause.

• Brooklyn Three-Car Crash Injures Four, ABC7, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 13 - Taxi slammed into motorcycle at Harrison and Lynch. Rider ejected, bleeding from head. Both drivers hurt. Police cite traffic control ignored.

A taxi and a motorcycle collided at Harrison Avenue and Lynch Street in Brooklyn. The motorcycle rider, a 61-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe head bleeding. The taxi driver, a 46-year-old woman, reported back pain and shock. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The motorcycle rider was unlicensed but wore a helmet. Both vehicles were going straight. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jun 12 - Concrete and granite now guard Brooklyn corners. Barriers force drivers to slow, protect cyclists, and clear sightlines. Seventy-nine crashes last year on Ocean Avenue alone. The city moves slow, but hard edges cut risk where cars once ruled.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 12, 2025, that the Department of Transportation will install hard barriers at six Brooklyn intersections to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The new design 'daylights' corners, using concrete, granite, and planters to keep cars back and create mini-protected bike lanes. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' The agency targeted intersections with a history of turning crashes—Ocean Avenue saw 79 crashes in 2024, injuring 75 people, including 15 pedestrians and 13 cyclists. Advocates praised the move but called for faster, broader use of hard infrastructure. The article notes that most pedestrian injuries and deaths in New York occur at intersections, and that keeping corners clear is standard in other states. DOT opposes removing parking without barriers, citing risks of faster, more dangerous turns.

• DOT Adds Barriers to Brooklyn Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 11 - Council bill demands bike and scooter share firms post road rules at stations and in apps. Riders must review rules yearly. No charge for time spent reading. City aims for clarity, not confusion.

Int 1304-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on June 11, 2025. The bill, titled "requiring micromobility share system operators to display rules of the road for safe operation," compels operators to show safety rules on apps and at stations. Users must review these rules at least once a year before unlocking a device. The bill bars operators from charging for this time. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Hanif, Brewer, Restler, Louis, Narcisse, Lee, Marte, Hanks, Ariola, and Morano. The law aims to make safety rules visible and unavoidable for every rider.

• File Int 1304-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Council bill orders bike and scooter share firms to show road rules on apps and stations. Riders must review rules yearly. No extra fees. Aim: clear, visible rules for all. Committee review underway.

Bill Int 1304-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on June 11, 2025. The bill, titled “A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring micromobility share system operators to display rules of the road for safe operation,” demands that operators of shared bikes and scooters display city and state traffic rules on apps and at stations. Riders must review these rules at least once a year before unlocking a device. Sponsors include Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary), Hanif, Brewer, Restler, Louis, Narcisse, Lee, Marte, Hanks, Banks, Ariola, and Morano. The bill bars operators from charging users for time spent reviewing safety rules. The measure aims to make the rules clear and visible to all users.

• File Int 1304-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Council bill orders bike and scooter share firms to show road rules at docks and in apps. Riders must review rules yearly. No extra fees. Aim: clear, visible reminders. Committee review underway.

Bill Int 1304-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on June 11, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring micromobility share system operators to display rules of the road for safe operation," demands operators post rules at stations and in apps. Riders must review these rules at least once a year before unlocking a device. The law bars operators from charging for the review time. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Hanif, Brewer, Restler, Louis, Narcisse, Lee, Marte, Hanks, Banks, Gutiérrez, Ariola, and Morano. The measure aims for clear, accessible safety information but does not address street design or enforcement.

• File Int 1304-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 7 - A string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge cut two cyclists. One suffered a slashed throat and blood loss, the other needed stitches. The string’s source remains unclear. Kite fighting blamed, but city action lags. Riders bleed. System fails.

Gothamist (2025-06-07) reports two cyclists were injured by a string suspended across the Marine Parkway Bridge. One cyclist, Robert Hillebrand, suffered a severed windpipe and required blood transfusions. Another, Jennifer Noble, received stitches and a broken finger. Police said the string was likely from kite fighting, a practice where glass-coated strings are used to cut opponents' kites. Witnesses described a yellow nylon string stretched across the bike lane. The NYPD found no criminality. The city parks department bans kite fighting but enforcement is lacking. Danny Mundy, a local civic leader, said, “It’s absolutely dangerous and unacceptable.” Previous injuries and lawsuits linked to kite string in the area highlight ongoing risks for cyclists and wildlife. No driver involvement was reported, but the incident exposes gaps in infrastructure and enforcement.

• String Slices Cyclists On Parkway Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 4 - Flatbush Avenue will lose car lanes. Bus lanes and pedestrian islands will take their place. Fifty-five killed or badly hurt since 2019. Buses crawl. Pedestrians dodge traffic. The city moves to fix a deadly, clogged corridor.

Gothamist reported on June 4, 2025, that New York City's Department of Transportation plans to overhaul Flatbush Avenue between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza. The redesign replaces two car lanes with 24/7 bus-only lanes and adds pedestrian islands. DOT officials said, 'almost 70,000 daily bus riders are stuck waiting too long for slow buses, drivers are caught in a mess of traffic and pedestrians are left crossing intersections clogged with vehicles.' Since 2019, 55 people have been killed or severely injured in crashes along this stretch. The plan removes curbside parking and bans cars from bus lanes, aiming to speed up twelve bus routes and protect people on foot. Most residents in the area do not own cars and depend on slow buses. The proposal reflects a shift toward prioritizing vulnerable road users and addressing systemic danger on one of Brooklyn's busiest corridors.

• Flatbush Avenue Bus Lanes, Pedestrian Islands Planned, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-04

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28