No More Names on Asphalt: Demand Action Before the Next Death

A City Hall official blocks life-saving street redesigns. Projects for safer roads stall. Pedestrians and cyclists lose ground. City Hall favors drivers. DOT’s mission weakens. Council Member Restler calls it neutering. Streets grow deadlier. The process delays change. Lives hang in the balance.

On November 10, 2023, Streetsblog NYC reported that Richard Bearak, a City Hall land use official, is quietly interfering with New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) street safety projects. The article, titled 'City Hall Functionary is Quietly Interfering with Critical Street Safety Initiatives: Sources,' details how Bearak reviews and delays projects like McGuinness Boulevard and Underhill Avenue, often demanding changes that benefit private motorists over pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Council Member Lincoln Restler condemned Bearak’s oversight, stating, 'The Department of Transportation has been neutered.' Bearak, with no transportation background, was placed in this role by Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor’s chief adviser. Officials say this process undermines DOT’s ability to deliver on the Streets Master Plan and the mayor’s promises, risking more deaths and injuries for vulnerable road users. The interference creates extra hurdles for projects already vetted by the public and experts, stalling progress and endangering lives.

• City Hall Functionary is Quietly Interfering with Critical Street Safety Initiatives: Sources, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-10

Council pushed to shift parking enforcement to DOT. The bill aimed to crack down on illegal parking. It stalled. Streets stay clogged. Double-parked cars block crosswalks. Cyclists and walkers pay the price. The bill died at session’s end.

Int 1227-2023 was introduced on October 19, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to create a dedicated parking enforcement unit. Its summary: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Council Members Christopher Marte (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Rita C. Joseph backed the measure. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. The proposal would have targeted illegal parking, a key threat to pedestrians and cyclists. With the bill’s failure, enforcement remains fragmented. Vulnerable road users continue to face blocked crosswalks and bike lanes.

• File Int 1227-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

Council passed a law forcing DOT to report cars with unreadable plates dodging cameras. The bill targets drivers hiding their plates from red light and speed cameras. Reports must show where, when, and how plates go unseen. Data goes public, every quarter.

Int 0712-2022, now enacted as Local Law 155 of 2023, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council on October 19, 2023. The law, sponsored by Gale A. Brewer with co-sponsors including Erik D. Bottcher, Lincoln Restler, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to report on vehicles with license plates unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems. The law’s title states it is 'in relation to reporting on motor vehicles with license plates that are unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems.' DOT must post quarterly reports showing the time, location, and reasons plates evade cameras—whether by concealment, distortion, or missing tags. The law aims to expose drivers who dodge automated enforcement, shining light on a loophole that puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The reports must be public and sent to the Mayor and Council Speaker.

• File Int 0712-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

Council passed Int 1164-2023. The law forces DOT to map out where street safety money goes. It tracks past investment, crash rates, and who gets left behind. The city must show its work, district by district. No more hiding the gaps.

Int 1164-2023, now enacted, amends the city code to require an 'investment roadmap' in every Streets Master Plan starting December 1, 2026. The bill moved through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passing on October 19, 2023, and became law on November 19, 2023. The law states: 'The department shall prioritize and promote...the safety of all street users...and improving equity in infrastructure investment.' Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley (primary), with Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Hanif, Brewer, Restler, and Rivera as co-sponsors, the bill demands DOT report, by neighborhood, on safety infrastructure investment, crash rates, and demographics. It shines a light on which districts get safety upgrades and which are left exposed. The roadmap aims to close the gap for underserved areas, forcing transparency and accountability for every dollar spent on street safety.

• File Int 1164-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Mayor Adams slashed key bike and bus lane projects. Advocates and Councilmember Restler say lives are at risk. Promised safety upgrades for cyclists and bus riders stall. Political will fades. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

On October 18, 2023, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) spoke out as the Adams administration scaled back major street safety and transit projects. The matter, titled 'Advocates worry which street safety project Mayor Adams will abandon next,' details how the city cut the length of a planned protected bike lane on McGuinness Boulevard and reduced the scope of a Fordham Road busway. Restler said, 'I have no expectations that bold, big projects that can make our streets safer... are going to be happening in this administration.' He revealed the Department of Transportation was told to halt large bike and bus lane expansions due to waning political support. The administration’s actions leave vulnerable road users exposed, as cycling deaths rise and promised safety infrastructure stalls. The city fell short of its protected bike lane targets, endangering those outside cars.

• Advocates worry which street safety project Mayor Adams will abandon next, gothamist.com, Published 2023-10-18

Council bill Int 1215-2023 orders new signs. Bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters get clear warnings: stay off sidewalks, park paths, and boardwalks. Fines and penalties spelled out. Filed at session’s end. No change yet for street safety.

Int 1215-2023 was introduced in the City Council on October 5, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the posting of signs notifying operators of bicycles, bicycles with electric assist, and electric scooters of the prohibition against operating such devices on sidewalks, park walkways, and boardwalks, and of related fines and penalties," would require the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks and Recreation to post signs warning riders of these restrictions and the consequences. Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Hudson, Hanif, Brewer, Ung, Abreu, Brooks-Powers, Gutiérrez, and Schulman. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No direct safety analysis was provided. The measure aims for clarity, not infrastructure change.

• File Int 1215-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-05

Council calls for scramble crosswalks at school zones. The move aims to cut deadly conflict between cars and kids. Filed at session’s end, the resolution targets peak arrival and dismissal. Sponsors push Albany to act. Streets remain risky.

Resolution 0792-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 28, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urges the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B, which would require scramble crosswalks at intersections near schools during student arrival and dismissal. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5001-A/S.2515-B, in relation to establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of student arrival and dismissal.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Lincoln Restler, and Kevin C. Riley sponsored the measure. The bill responds to persistent crashes near schools and the loss of hundreds of crossing guards. Scramble crosswalks, also called Barnes Dances, stop all traffic so pedestrians cross in every direction. The council’s action highlights the ongoing danger children face on city streets.

• File Res 0792-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-09-28

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Council Member Lincoln Restler stands against the city’s plan for bike lanes and a road diet on McGuinness Boulevard. He claims the redesign will push heavy traffic onto quiet side streets, risking more harm for pedestrians and families in Greenpoint.

On September 12, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) was mentioned in an op-ed opposing the city’s proposed bike lanes and road diet for McGuinness Boulevard. The op-ed, titled 'City plan for bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard will overwhelm local roads,' argues that the plan, promoted by Restler and advocacy groups, would reroute thousands of vehicles onto residential streets. Restler’s opposition centers on concerns for local safety and access, stating, 'This tranquility will be disrupted when thousands of cars and trucks are rerouted onto these local streets.' Instead, the op-ed supports alternative safety measures such as speed cameras, curb extensions, and increased enforcement. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided for the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Op-ed: City plan for bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard will overwhelm local roads, crainsnewyork.com, Published 2023-09-12

Councilmember Lincoln Restler sounded the alarm. His Brooklyn district saw more traffic injuries than any other in New York City this year. Cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers face daily danger. Restler demands swift action: real protected bike lanes, not empty promises.

On September 11, 2023, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) issued a statement on street safety and protected bike lanes. The data, compiled by Transportation Alternatives, showed his Brooklyn district suffered the most traffic injuries citywide in the first half of 2023: 36 pedestrians, 24 cyclists, and 41 motorists. The matter summary reads, 'New York City is on pace for one of the deadliest years for bike riders in recent history, but it doesn't have to be this way.' Restler called on the Adams administration to 'prioritize and expedite proven solutions that will save lives, especially the swift implementation of a truly protected network of bike lanes.' The statement underscores the urgent need for systemic change as vulnerable road users bear the brunt of failed policy and dangerous streets.

• Nearly 8 people seriously injured on NYC streets daily in 2023, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-11

Mayor Adams stalls the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. DOT will study traffic again before finishing the job. Protected bike lanes and lane reductions hang in limbo. Advocates fume. A teacher’s death sparked this fight. The southern stretch waits. Danger remains.

On September 8, 2023, the Adams administration announced a new delay for the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will conduct further 'traffic analysis' before completing the southern section. The project, sparked by a teacher’s death in 2021, promised protected bike lanes and pedestrian islands. DOT had previously announced a compromise design after political pressure and opposition from groups like 'Keep McGuinness Moving,' funded by Broadway Stages. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing the area, said, 'This process has been so messed up that I have no comment.' DOT spokesman Vin Barone claimed the project would calm traffic and protect cyclists. Advocates accuse Mayor Adams of putting donors over safety. The redesign’s future is uncertain. DOT maintains that road diets cut serious injuries by 30 percent, but the southern stretch now faces more delay and ongoing risk for vulnerable road users.

• ‘Dysfunction’: Adams Again Stalls McGuinness Blvd. Safety Redesign for Further ‘Analysis’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-08

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A speeding driver ran a red light on Atlantic Avenue, killing an 18-year-old passenger and injuring three others. The crash happened outside Trader Joe’s in Cobble Hill. Council Member Lincoln Restler called for urgent safety fixes. Atlantic Avenue remains deadly. No changes yet.

On August 18, 2023, a speeding driver in a Mercedes ran a red light at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring three others. This stretch of Atlantic Avenue is notorious for deadly crashes. Council Member Lincoln Restler responded, stating, “Our community is unified in demanding immediate changes to dramatically slow down traffic, improve safety at intersections, and install new mid block crossings.” The incident marks the second fatal crash on this corridor in 2023. Despite calls from Restler and other local officials for mid-block crossings and traffic calming after previous deaths, the city has not acted. The bill or action is a public statement, not legislation, but it highlights urgent demands for redesign and enforcement to protect vulnerable road users. No safety improvements have been implemented yet.

• Speeding Driver Runs Red Light and Kills 18-Year-Old on Deadly Atlantic Avenue Speedway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-18

A reckless driver ran a red light on Atlantic Avenue. He killed an 18-year-old passenger and injured four others. Council Member Lincoln Restler called the strip deadly. He demanded urgent safety fixes. Another life lost. The street remains a threat.

On August 18, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) responded to a fatal crash at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. An 18-year-old woman died after a driver sped through a red light and struck another car. Restler stated, 'This is one of the most dangerous strips in Brooklyn & we need safety improvements on Atlantic Ave NOW.' He called for immediate action: slower traffic, mid-block crossings, and better protections for all. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes echoed the demand for accountability and urgent fixes. No council bill is attached, but Restler’s public statement highlights the deadly pattern on Atlantic Avenue and the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable road users.

• Cops cuff driver after Brooklyn crash kills 18-year-old woman: NYPD, amny.com, Published 2023-08-18

DOT unveiled a watered-down redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will run the length, but car lanes stay for peak hours. Advocates call it less safe. Restler and others back the compromise. The fight for real safety continues.

On August 17, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined other officials in announcing a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation's new plan, described as a 'compromised version,' adds protected bike lanes but keeps two car lanes during peak hours from Calyer Street to the Pulaski Bridge. The matter, titled 'Relief in Greenpoint as compromise reached on McGuinness Boulevard redesign,' reflects years of advocacy for safer streets. Restler, along with Borough President Reynoso and others, welcomed the changes and pledged to push for swift implementation. Advocacy group Make McGuinness Safe criticized the compromise as 'less effective and less safe,' blaming business opposition for watering down the original plan. The compromise marks a partial win for vulnerable road users, but falls short of the full road diet advocates demanded.

• Relief in Greenpoint as compromise reached on McGuinness Boulevard redesign, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-17

Brooklyn’s bike lanes choke with weeds. Riders swerve, hemmed in by brush. Kent Avenue narrows to a single file. DOT shrugs, promises pruning. Advocates demand action. Overgrowth forces cyclists into traffic. The city’s neglect puts lives at risk. Riders wait.

On August 17, 2023, advocates and cyclists sounded the alarm over dangerously overgrown greenways in Brooklyn. The Department of Transportation (DOT) manages these paths but has failed to keep them clear. As one rider put it, 'They should maintain [it] so bikers who use it don't get whacked and don't need to ride in the middle of the lanes.' Council Member Lincoln Restler responded to complaints, tweeting that DOT would prune Kent Avenue’s bike lane 'next week.' The article, 'Too Green: City Neglects Overgrown Bike Paths,' details how weeds squeeze lanes to a single rider, forcing cyclists into traffic. Advocates urge regular maintenance and clearer agency roles, warning that neglect makes greenways unsafe for all who rely on them.

• Too Green: City Neglects Overgrown Bike Paths, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-17