Hit-and-Run City: Blood on Broadway, Silence at City Hall

Council moves to create a DOT parking squad. The bill targets illegal parking. Sponsors say it will enforce rules. Streets choke on blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

Bill Int 0264-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it would require the Department of Transportation to form a unit focused on parking violations. The matter title reads: 'Establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, and others. The bill aims to crack down on illegal parking, a known threat to people on foot and bike. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but blocked lanes endanger all who travel outside a car.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to create a parking permit enforcement unit. The bill targets city-issued permit misuse. Streets clogged by illegal parking put walkers and riders at risk. Action now sits with the transportation committee.

Int 0173-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a parking permit enforcement unit within the department of transportation," would require DOT to form a unit dedicated to enforcing laws against misuse of city-issued parking permits. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Erik D. Bottcher, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, and Farah N. Louis. The bill aims to curb illegal parking that endangers pedestrians and cyclists. It awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0173-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on roads beside parks over one acre. DOT can skip spots if safety or rules demand. Law aims to slow cars where families walk, run, and play.

Int 0262-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: “requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by eighteen co-sponsors. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps unless the commissioner finds a risk to safety or a conflict with DOT guidelines. The law would take effect 180 days after passage. The measure targets streets where parks meet traffic, aiming to slow cars and shield people outside vehicles.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 500 solar-lit crosswalks in five years. Bright signals cut through the dark. The bill demands action and a study. Safety for walkers, not drivers. No more hiding in the shadows.

Int 0301-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law...in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and others. The bill also requires a study comparing these devices to standard signs. The city must report findings within two years. The goal: more visible crossings, fewer deadly impacts.

• File Int 0301-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Brooklyn officials push to evict judges’ cars from Columbus Park. Four designs scrap the parking lot, add green space, playgrounds, and a skatepark. Streets may get bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and bus lanes. No timeline yet. The park could finally belong to people.

On February 28, 2024, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler, with business leaders, unveiled proposals to remove the judicial parking lot at Columbus Park. The plan, discussed at a community meeting, would replace the lot with public amenities—open greenery, playgrounds, a skatepark, and restrooms. Architects from WXY presented four designs, all eliminating the judges’ parking. The proposal also calls for safer streets: protected bike lanes on Adams Street, expanded sidewalks, narrowed roads, bus lanes, and possible pedestrianization of Johnson Street. Council Member Restler declared, 'Parks should be for people, not for parking.' Residents voiced support, calling the lot a 'vestige of another era.' The officials will gather more public feedback before submitting a formal proposal. No timeline has been set.

• Parking or Parkland? Brooklyn Judges Could Lose their Perk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-28

A Dodge pickup turned left on Nassau Avenue, striking a 49-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk. She died beneath the streetlights. The driver, unharmed, failed to yield. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The city’s danger is written in her absence.

A 49-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Nassau Avenue and Sutton Street in Brooklyn when a Dodge pickup truck, making a left turn, struck her head-on as she crossed in the marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The report states, 'A Dodge pickup turned left. A 49-year-old woman crossed in the marked crosswalk. The truck struck her head-on.' The woman suffered fatal head injuries and severe bleeding, dying at the scene. The driver, a licensed man, was not injured and his vehicle sustained no damage. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The victim was crossing without a signal but within a marked crosswalk, as noted in the police report, after the driver’s error. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

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

A 29-year-old woman lost control of her motorscooter on Manhattan Avenue. Speed too high, pavement slick, she hit the ground hard. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. No helmet. The street was empty, the night silent.

A 29-year-old woman riding a KYMC motorscooter suffered a severe head injury after losing control on Manhattan Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. The report states the driver was traveling at 'unsafe speed' and encountered 'pavement slippery' conditions. The narrative describes her skidding out, hitting the ground hard, and bleeding from the head. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor, with 'Pavement Slippery' also noted. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as documented in the report, but this detail appears after the driver error of unsafe speed. No other vehicles or people were involved. The scene was empty, the crash unfolding in isolation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left on Greenpoint Avenue. An e-scooter kept straight. Metal struck flesh. A young man flew, head first, no helmet. Blood pooled on cold pavement. He lay conscious, bleeding, alone in the street.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at the intersection of Greenpoint Avenue and Humboldt Street in Brooklyn. A sedan, registered in New Jersey, was making a left turn while an e-scooter, operated by a 22-year-old man, was traveling straight. The report states, 'A sedan turned left. An e-scooter went straight. Metal struck flesh.' The collision ejected the e-scooter rider headfirst onto the pavement, resulting in severe bleeding from a head injury. The victim was conscious but alone and bleeding in the cold. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both parties, but the narrative and vehicle actions highlight the sedan's left turn across the path of the e-scooter. The report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the description of the driver's maneuver. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695261 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota SUV hit a 32-year-old man late at night on Flatbush Avenue Extension. His face split open. Blood ran. He stayed awake. The SUV’s bumper showed no damage. The street was silent. The man was left bleeding, conscious, and hurt.

A Toyota SUV struck a 32-year-old man crossing Flatbush Avenue Extension near Willoughby Street at 11:55 p.m. in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered severe facial injuries and heavy bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s left front bumper made contact, yet the vehicle showed no damage. The police report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'Crossing Against Signal' and notes 'Unspecified' as contributing factors. No driver errors are recorded in the data. The crash left a man hurt and bleeding on the street, while the SUV continued on, undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 20-year-old on a moped hit a tanker’s side at Greenpoint and Kingsland. He was thrown from the seat, head struck the pavement. No helmet. He died alone. The tanker rolled on, untouched. The street stayed cold and silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Greenpoint Avenue and Kingsland Avenue. A 20-year-old moped rider struck the side of a turning tanker truck. According to the police report, the moped operator was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The tanker sustained no damage and continued on. No other injuries were reported. The crash left one young life ended in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council weighed a citywide bridge vending ban. Residents and tour guides demanded swift removal. Vendors pleaded for compromise. Council Member Restler pushed for designated spaces, not a blanket ban. DOT has no timeline. The fight pits safety and space against livelihoods.

On November 16, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on a proposed ban on street vending across all 789 city bridges. The Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks to prohibit vendors from pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and bridge approaches. The matter, described as a 'span ban,' drew strong public support for restrictions. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing Brooklyn, stated, 'I am a strong supporter of vending, but it should go in designated spaces... the Brooklyn Bridge is not the place for it.' He thanked DOT for acting to eliminate vending on the bridge, but called for more vendor licenses elsewhere. Vendors and advocates argued the ban is too harsh, urging specific rules instead of a blanket prohibition. DOT will review public comments before finalizing the rule. No timeline has been set.

• Bridge Vending Ban Gains Public Support As Vendors Beg For Compromise, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

An SUV turned left on Navy Street. An e-bike rider went straight. Steel struck flesh. The man flew. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. The driver looked too late. The street fell silent.

A 57-year-old man riding an e-bike was struck by an SUV making a left turn at Navy Street and Hudson Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV driver failed to keep right and was inattentive or distracted. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report states, 'The driver looked too late. The street fell silent.' The crash left the cyclist in shock. The listed driver errors—Failure to Keep Right and Driver Inattention/Distraction—contributed to the impact. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679631 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep sped down Broadway. The woman stepped into the crosswalk, signal in her favor. Steel hit flesh. Her head struck the pavement. She died there, a life ended by a driver who failed to yield.

A 68-year-old woman was killed while crossing Broadway at Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was in the intersection, crossing with the signal, when a Jeep SUV traveling south did not stop. The vehicle struck her, causing fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman died at the scene. The data shows no mention of helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers do not yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young moped rider slammed to the pavement at dawn. His arm crushed. The street fell silent but for distant cars. Driver inattention left him broken, helmeted, awake, bleeding on Flushing Avenue’s hard edge.

A 21-year-old moped rider was ejected and suffered severe arm crush injuries on Flushing Avenue near Williamsburg Street West in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened at dawn. The moped’s left side was torn. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The data lists no errors by the moped rider. The helmet is mentioned only as a detail after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a 24-year-old cyclist merging south on Kent Avenue. The car’s right front bumper struck him. He flew from his bike. His head split open. Blood pooled. Shock froze him. The street stood silent around the crash.

A 24-year-old cyclist was struck by a sedan while merging south on Kent Avenue. According to the police report, the sedan’s right front bumper hit the cyclist, ejecting him from his bike and causing a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The data shows the cyclist suffered shock and was left bleeding on the pavement. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to use lanes properly. The helmet is mentioned only because it appears in the police narrative, after the driver’s error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657996 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A van slammed into the back of an SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The van’s driver, 48, lost consciousness and died, still belted in. No skid marks. No swerve. Just impact, metal, and silence on a sunlit afternoon.

A van struck the rear of a Toyota SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, westbound. The van’s driver, a 48-year-old man, lost consciousness and died at the scene. According to the police report, 'A van struck the back of a Toyota SUV. The van’s driver, 48, lost consciousness and died belted in. No skid marks. No swerve.' The listed contributing factor is 'Lost Consciousness.' No driver errors such as speeding or distraction are cited in the data. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the van’s front and the SUV’s rear damaged, marking another fatal toll on New York City’s roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655820 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04