No More Studies—Stop the Street Slaughter Now

A cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Brooklyn. Gil died. The driver turned left, hit them in the crosswalk. No charges filed. Gil survived war and disaster, but not New York traffic. Another senior lost to city streets.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. A man driving a cargo van made a left turn and struck Gil and her home health aide. The aide survived; Gil did not. Police made no arrests or charges. The article notes, 'She was a very active lady.' Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn that month. Transportation Alternatives highlighted that 46 senior pedestrians died in city crashes last year. The crash underscores the ongoing risk to older New Yorkers at crosswalks and the lack of driver accountability in such incidents.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Council leadership handed street policy to car-first politicians. Safety bills stalled. Parking won. Cyclists and pedestrians lost. Deaths stayed high. Advocates condemned the shift. The Speaker and committee heads blocked reforms. Vulnerable New Yorkers paid the price.

""[Intro 606] that was brought forth by Bob Holden wouldn't have seen the light of day and wouldn't have gotten as many signatures as it has now because the leadership wouldn't have had it that way. We wouldn't allow for what I consider his false narrative and public perception to dictate safety and safety policy."" -- Antonio Reynoso

On January 21, 2025, the City Council, under Speaker Adrienne Adams, set its transportation agenda. The session saw progressives sidelined as the Council prioritized car-centric bills, including Intros 103 and 104 (parking protection) and hearings on Intro 606 (e-bike registration). The Common Sense Caucus, known for opposing bike lanes and congestion pricing, led the charge. Progressive members lost key committee seats. Universal daylighting (Intro 1138) and other safety reforms stalled. Council Member Julie Won continued to push for daylighting but faced resistance. As Streetsblog reported, 'roadway safety is simply not a priority.' Advocates and former members criticized the Council for failing to hold the mayor accountable on the Streets Master Plan and for focusing on parking over safety. The Council's actions marked a retreat from previous street safety gains, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• ‘Progressives’ Turn Council’s Transportation Policy Over to Republicans, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-21

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

A moped rider, thirty-one, thrown and bleeding after an SUV struck him head-on at Myrtle and Bushwick. Both drivers distracted. Sirens tore the night. Blood pooled on the street. The city’s danger sharpened in the dark.

A violent collision unfolded at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn when a Station Wagon/SUV traveling north struck a moped head-on. According to the police report, both drivers were 'distracted' at the time of the crash, with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' listed as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The moped rider, a 31-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his arm, remaining conscious at the scene. The report describes the impact as centered on the front ends of both vehicles. The SUV, a 2008 Cadillac, and the moped were both traveling straight before the crash. The police narrative underscores the chaos: 'A moped hit head-on by an SUV. The rider, 31, thrown partway off, bleeding hard from his arm. He stayed awake. Both drivers distracted.' The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver distraction, with the vulnerable moped rider bearing the brunt of the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786640 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda SUV crashed into two parked cars on Himrod Street. Metal screamed. The driver’s face was crushed. He was conscious, bloodied, silent. Alcohol was involved, according to police. The street stood still, broken by the violence of impact.

A 2010 Honda SUV struck two parked vehicles near 1717 Himrod Street in Queens. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:25 a.m. and involved a single driver, age 29, who suffered severe facial injuries described as 'crush injuries.' The report states the driver was 'conscious' after the collision. Police explicitly list 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The narrative details that the SUV 'slammed into two parked cars,' emphasizing the violence of the crash. Both struck vehicles were stationary at the time. The driver was wearing only a lap belt. No actions by other road users contributed to the crash, and no pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the cited presence of alcohol as a systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Council bill Intro 103 forces DOT to notify members for every parking change. Critics say it slows life-saving street redesigns. Advocates warn it props up car culture and blocks safer bike lanes. The bill risks more sidewalk riding and fewer safe crossings.

Intro 103, now before the City Council, would require the Department of Transportation to notify Council members every time a single parking spot is repurposed—for car-share, bike corrals, or Citi Bike docks. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Joann Ariola, claims residents need notice before losing parking. But DOT and street safety advocates slam the measure as a bureaucratic drag on urgent safety fixes. Council Member Lincoln Restler calls it 'additional hoops and hurdles' for street safety. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso says, 'I don’t know why we entertain any effort to stop or slow-roll safe street design.' Open Plans and StreetsPAC argue the bill props up car dominance and blocks safer, more sustainable streets. The bill could make it harder to move bike infrastructure off sidewalks, risking more sidewalk riding and fewer safe crossings for pedestrians. Similar bills (Intro 606, Intro 104) face the same criticism.

• Council Members Want To Be Notified When City Repurposes ‘Their’ Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Bay Ridge’s parks and promenade get $30 million for repairs and upgrades. Community Board 10 approves. New lighting, wider paths, and more green space promised. Council Member Justin Brannan funds and supports. Cyclists and pedestrians get safer, smoother routes. No timeline yet.

On November 25, 2024, City Council Member Justin Brannan and Community Board 10 announced approval and funding for major upgrades to the Bay Ridge Promenade and Leif Ericson Park. The Parks Committee and full board both voted unanimously for the $30 million overhaul, which includes $20.97 million for the Shore Road Promenade and $9.25 million for Leif Ericson Park. The project, described as 'Destination: Greenways!', will expand green space, separate bike and pedestrian lanes, add lighting, and install new amenities. Brannan, a key funder and supporter, said, 'Our local parks are the lungs of our city.' The overhaul aims to improve recreational cycling, repair pothole-ridden paths, and increase accessibility. Board members raised concerns about safety and sanitation, which the Parks Department pledged to address in final designs. No construction timeline has been set.

• Bay Ridge community board greenlights $30M facelift for Shore Road Promenade, Leif Ericson Park, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-25

Council weakened Adams’s zoning plan. Parking mandates stay in low-density zones. Central areas lose mandates. Housing projections drop. Some neighborhoods bear the burden. Car-centric rules persist. Vulnerable road users see little relief. The city’s streets remain dangerous.

""The consequences of today's decision to exempt R1, R2, and R3 contextual districts from City of Yes are severe," he said in a statement. "The housing pressure on every other neighborhood will go up, which means if Queens or Staten Island doesn't grow, Brooklyn is asked to do more than our fair share."" -- Antonio Reynoso

Bill: City of Yes zoning reform. Status: Amended and advanced by City Council on November 22, 2024. The Council’s action, described as 'watering down' the mayor’s plan, keeps mandatory parking in low-density neighborhoods while ending it in central areas. The matter summary states: 'ending mandatory parking in areas with the best transit while keeping the costly mandate in low-density neighborhoods where it most hinders development.' Council Member Crystal Hudson voted yes, urging all neighborhoods to share the housing burden. Council Member Kevin Riley defended single-family zones. Council Member Rafael Salamanca cited balancing concerns and securing $5 billion for affordable housing. Borough President Antonio Reynoso warned of increased housing pressure elsewhere. The Council’s changes preserve car-centric zoning, leaving vulnerable road users exposed and limiting progress on safer, less car-dependent streets.

• Analysis: Mayor Gets the ‘W,’ But Council Turns His Zoning Plan into ‘City Of Yes … Sort Of’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-22

Private trash trucks still maim and kill. Five years after reform, chaos rules. Only one waste zone runs. No citywide plan. Streets stay dangerous. Lawmakers and survivors demand action. The city stalls. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

""If done right, CWZs can eliminate millions of truck miles traveled from our streets, keep workers and pedestrians safe, and ensure quality service for all customers. The city's goal right now should be to prevent bad implementation from undermining a good bill."" -- Antonio Reynoso

The 2019 commercial waste zone reform aimed to cut truck carnage by dividing New York City into 20 zones, each served by specific haulers. As of October 30, 2024, only one zone is active. No timeline exists for citywide rollout. The Department of Sanitation claims caution is needed to avoid price hikes and ensure effective change, but offers no clear metrics or deadlines. Lauren Pine, a crash survivor, pleads, 'We can't wait another day to enforce truck safety requirements.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso warns, 'The city's goal right now should be to prevent bad implementation from undermining a good bill.' Delays keep streets deadly for workers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The law’s promise remains unfulfilled. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

• Private Trash Haulers Are Still Killing and Injuring New Yorkers As Long-Awaited Reforms Lag, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-30

A sedan, northbound on Bushwick Avenue, struck a 28-year-old man crossing outside the crosswalk. The left front bumper hit his head. He lay unconscious, blood pooling on the quiet street. Driver inattention and unsafe speed marked the morning.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Bushwick Avenue near DeKalb Avenue struck a 28-year-old man who was crossing outside the crosswalk in the early morning. The report states, 'the left front bumper hit his head,' leaving the pedestrian unconscious and bleeding on the street. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver’s distraction and excessive speed directly preceded the impact. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain attention and control, which led to severe injury for the man crossing Bushwick Avenue.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City reverses its own reversal. DOT will cut a traffic lane and add parking-protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard’s southern half. Local officials and advocates forced the city’s hand. The northern half stays unchanged. Vulnerable road users get a win.

On October 2, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a policy reversal on McGuinness Boulevard. The original lane reduction and protected bike lane plan, previously scrapped, will now move forward for the southern half of the street, between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The matter, described as a return to 'the road diet it had previously finalized and then rejected,' follows months of community outcry and advocacy. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and other local officials celebrated the move, crediting the Make McGuinness Safe coalition for relentless pressure. Restler stated, 'this is a decision that enhances safety in our community, and that's what matters.' The northern half of the boulevard remains unchanged, with two traffic lanes and barrier-protected bike lanes. The city’s action signals a renewed commitment to street safety after repeated delays and political interference.

• Another U-turn on McGuinness Boulevard as city returns to original lane reduction plan, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-10-02

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A 26-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by a sedan on Hart Street near Evergreen Avenue. Thrown, crushed against a parked car. Head trauma. He died there. The driver disregarded traffic control, according to the police report.

A 26-year-old e-bike rider was killed on Hart Street near Evergreen Avenue in Brooklyn when a sedan struck him, according to the police report. The report states the collision occurred at 2:48 a.m. The e-bike rider was thrown and crushed against a parked car, suffering fatal head trauma. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was cited as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The sedan's driver failed to obey traffic controls, leading directly to the deadly impact. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The e-bike rider was ejected and died at the scene. The crash involved two sedans—one moving, one parked—and an e-bike. The focus remains on the sedan driver's disregard for traffic control, which proved fatal for the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757577 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota sedan reversed on Hope Street. The driver looked away. The bumper smashed into a 26-year-old woman’s head as she stood off the road. Blood spilled. She stood silent, stunned, bleeding. Driver inattention and unsafe backing, police say.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan was backing west on Hope Street in Brooklyn when the driver 'looked away.' The vehicle's bumper struck the head of a 26-year-old woman who was standing off the roadway. The report notes she suffered severe bleeding and shock, with the point of impact listed as the center back end of the sedan. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The woman was not in the roadway and was not crossing at an intersection at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of any pedestrian error or behavior contributing to the collision. The driver’s actions—specifically inattention and unsafe backing—are the only factors cited in the police account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck barreled through Flushing Avenue, disregarding traffic control. A 29-year-old motorcyclist struck its front, was crushed, thrown, and died on the street. His helmet offered no shield against the violence of steel and neglect.

A deadly collision unfolded on Flushing Avenue near Scott Avenue in Brooklyn when a 1987 BMW motorcycle collided with the front quarter of a box truck, according to the police report. The 29-year-old motorcycle rider, who was wearing a helmet, was crushed and partially ejected from his bike. He died at the scene from severe injuries to his entire body. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, drawing attention to the failure of at least one driver to obey traffic signals or signs. Both vehicles were reported as going straight ahead at the time of impact. The truck's left front quarter panel was struck, and the motorcycle overturned. The report makes no mention of any victim error or behavior contributing to the crash. The violence of the impact and the disregard for traffic control proved fatal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04