No More Bodies in the Road: Demand Streets That Don’t Kill

A pickup truck moved east on Atlantic Avenue. The driver lost focus. The truck struck. In the back seat, a four-year-old boy bled out. Belt fastened. Airbag deployed. Nothing stopped the dying. Brooklyn lost another child to the street.

A pickup truck driven by a permit holder struck with its front on Atlantic Avenue near Brooklyn Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive or distracted. In the back seat, a four-year-old boy suffered severe bleeding and died. He was wearing a seatbelt and the airbag deployed. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The child, a rear passenger, was not ejected. The crash left the boy dead and exposed the deadly risk faced by passengers, even when safety equipment is used. The system failed to protect him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678116, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A senior woman died crossing New York Avenue. Two cars struck her. Both drivers fled. Council Member Chi Ossé and others demand swift action. The intersection remains deadly. City Hall delays safety fixes. Grief and anger fill the street.

On November 3, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) issued a public call for urgent street safety after a fatal hit-and-run at New York Avenue and Herkimer Street. The statement follows the death of Yvonne Sandiford, 79, who was struck by two vehicles while crossing in a marked crosswalk. Both drivers fled. Ossé said, 'Safe infrastructure is key. Driver and pedestrian education is key. Responsible policies are key.' Local leaders and groups, including Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development and Transportation Alternatives, joined the call, urging Mayor Adams to speed up DOT safety improvements. The intersection is known as dangerous for seniors, yet remains unimproved. The city faces mounting pressure to act before more lives are lost.

• Officials call for focus on street safety after two-car hit-and-run claims life of senior woman in Brooklyn, amny.com, Published 2023-11-03

Two SUVs crashed at New York Avenue and Herkimer Street. A 79-year-old woman, crossing with the signal, was struck and killed. She lay broken in the crosswalk. The drivers failed to yield. The light was green. The right-of-way was hers.

A deadly crash unfolded at New York Avenue and Herkimer Street in Brooklyn. Two SUVs collided. According to the police report, a 79-year-old woman was crossing with the signal when the vehicles struck her. She suffered fatal crush injuries to her entire body. The report states, “The light was green. The right-of-way was hers.” Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The drivers’ errors led to a fatal outcome for a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676203, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Chi Ossé condemned DOT for stalling the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The lane, long promised and long dangerous, remains unbuilt. Ossé demanded action. Cyclists keep dying. DOT offered no timeline. The city’s failure leaves lives at risk.

On November 2, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the protected bike lane project on Bedford Avenue. The project, which was supposed to upgrade a painted lane to a parking-protected lane, has been pushed to at least next spring. Ossé wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, calling the delay 'unacceptable' and demanding a firm installation date. He stated, 'The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected.' Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, echoed his frustration, citing record cyclist deaths and urgent need for safety. The DOT has not responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights the city’s repeated failures to deliver promised street safety improvements.

• Council Member Chi Ossé Blasts DOT For Delaying — And Maybe Killing — Bedford Ave Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-02

On Tompkins Avenue, metal slammed metal. An SUV and a moped turned left, both southbound. The moped rider flew from his seat. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, pain sharp, pavement cold.

A crash on Tompkins Avenue near Pulaski Street in Brooklyn left a 46-year-old moped rider injured. According to the police report, both a station wagon/SUV and a moped were making left turns southbound when they collided. The impact threw the moped rider from his vehicle, causing severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The moped rider was conscious at the scene, blood darkening the pavement beneath him. No helmet use or signaling issues were cited as contributing factors. The SUV sustained damage to its left front quarter panel; the moped was struck at the center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664416, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on Franklin Avenue. An e-bike rider kept straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider, 48, flew and landed hard. His leg crushed. He lay conscious, broken, in the sun. The car showed no damage.

An e-bike and a sedan collided on Franklin Avenue. The sedan turned left while the e-bike continued straight. According to the police report, 'Metal met flesh. The rider, 48, flew. His leg crushed beneath him. No helmet. No damage to the car. He lay conscious, broken, on the sunlit street.' The e-bike rider suffered crush injuries to his leg and was ejected from his bike. Police listed 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The sedan sustained no damage. The crash left the cyclist injured and conscious on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658510, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan ran the light at Marcus Garvey and Decatur. It struck a motorscooter broadside. The rider, 26, was thrown and killed. Head trauma. No helmet. Blood on the street. Dawn broke over shattered glass and silence.

A deadly crash unfolded at Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Decatur Street in Brooklyn. A sedan struck a 26-year-old motorscooter rider broadside. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was the contributing factor for both vehicles. The rider was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma. The report states, 'Signal ignored. Scooter crushed. Blood pooled as dawn crept over broken glass and silence.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause listed was the failure to obey traffic control. The motorscooter was demolished. The crash left one dead and a city street stained with loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651853, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council locks in outdoor dining, but cars reclaim curb space each winter. Sidewalk tables stay year-round. Curbside setups vanish from November to April. Lawmakers call it balance. Advocates see lost ground. Streets shift, but cars still win cold months.

On August 3, 2023, the New York City Council passed a bill to make outdoor dining permanent, but with limits. The measure, approved 34-11, moves through the Council and awaits Mayor Adams’s signature. The bill states: 'curbside set-ups were designed to be temporary and should not be in the permanent program.' Council Member Marjorie Velázquez, the bill’s sponsor, said, 'We want to strike a chord and a balance and this is it.' Speaker Adrienne Adams backed the winter pause. Council Member Chi Ossé voted yes, but noted hardship for small businesses. The law allows sidewalk seating all year, but curbside dining only from April to November. Fees apply, and old sheds must go by November 2024. The Department of Transportation will set design rules. Advocates call the bill historic but incomplete, as curb space returns to cars in winter, limiting gains for people on foot and bike.

• Council Approves Diminished Permanent Outdoor Dining Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-03

Night on Bedford Avenue. An SUV’s bumper slams a cyclist. The man flies, arm torn, blood pooling. He lies conscious, hand shattered, pain sharp under streetlights. The driver, distracted, keeps the engine running. Metal and flesh meet. The street remembers.

A 28-year-old cyclist was struck by a northbound SUV on Bedford Avenue at 10:30 p.m. The impact threw him from his bike. He suffered severe bleeding and a shattered hand and arm but remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'the driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The SUV’s left front bumper hit the cyclist, who was ejected. No other contributing factors are noted in the data. The crash left the cyclist injured and bleeding on the pavement, while the SUV showed damage to its left front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644102, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 26-year-old on a minibike crashed into a bus on Halsey Street. Brakes failed. His head struck hard. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious. The night was tense. The street was silent. Danger lingered at the corner.

A 26-year-old man riding a minibike struck the rear of a bus at the corner of Halsey Street and Throop Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the minibike's brakes were defective. The rider suffered a severe head injury and was bleeding heavily but remained conscious at the scene. The report states, “Brakes failed. His head hit hard. Blood pooled on the pavement.” The only contributing factor listed is 'Brakes Defective.' The report also notes that the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned after the mechanical failure. No injuries were reported for the bus occupants. The crash left the street in a hush, underscoring the peril faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643638, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A truck struck and killed Adam Uster on Franklin Avenue. Council Members Crystal Hudson and Chi Osse called his death preventable. Neighbors mourned. The city failed to protect cyclists. The street lacks safe bike lanes. The community demands action. Grief fuels their fight.

On May 5, 2023, Council Members Crystal Hudson (D-Fort Greene) and Chi Osse (D-Bed-Stuy) responded to the killing of cyclist Adam Uster by a truck driver on Franklin Avenue. The matter, titled 'Pols and Neighbors Call For a Safer Franklin Avenue After Killing of Cycling Advocate,' centers on calls for protected bike lanes and urgent safety upgrades. Hudson stated, 'having a protected bike lane would help save lives,' and called Uster's death a 'tragic loss that could have been avoided.' Osse called it 'another preventable tragedy,' blaming the lack of safe infrastructure and reckless driving. Neighbors, including Amy Ko, echoed the need for change, citing frequent crashes and speeding. The Department of Transportation pledged to evaluate upgrades. The community plans a vigil and rally to demand safer streets. No formal bill number or committee status is listed.

• Pols and Neighbors Call For a Safer Franklin Avenue After Killing of Cycling Advocate, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-05

Council bill Int 1030-2023 would force DOT to show its hand. Every traffic signal and speed bump request, tracked online. Status, reason, and timeline—no more black box. The bill died in committee, but the demand for sunlight remains.

Int 1030-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to post details of all traffic control device and speed reducer requests on a public website. The matter summary reads: 'The required website would include, but need not be limited to, the following information: case number, general topic, issue, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial of traffic control device, and if approved, the timeline for completion.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by 21 co-sponsors including Williams, Hanif, and Yeger. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to end secrecy around life-saving street changes. Public access to this data could expose delays and denials that keep streets deadly.

• File Int 1030-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

A motorscooter hit a 64-year-old woman as she crossed Nostrand Avenue with the signal. Her face burned. She stayed conscious. The scooter slammed into a stopped Jeep. Driver inattention cut through the morning. Flesh met steel. Pain lingered.

A 64-year-old woman was crossing Nostrand Avenue with the signal when a southbound motorscooter struck her. According to the police report, her face was burned but she remained conscious. The motorscooter then crashed into a stopped Jeep. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered severe facial burns. No injuries were reported for the drivers or passengers of the Jeep or motorscooter. The police report makes clear: driver inattention led to this harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622067, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

The Council called for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law, letting New York City set lower speed limits. The resolution also urged a crash victims bill of rights and stronger street safety laws. Lawmakers want fewer deaths. The bill stalled. Danger remains.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2023, and pushed by Council Member Shahana K. Hanif as primary sponsor, with Jennifer Gutiérrez and over twenty others co-sponsoring. The resolution urged the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), which would let New York City set lower speed limits, and A.1901, a crash victims bill of rights. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422, also known as ‘Sammy’s Law,’ ... and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights, as well as the other bills of the package known as the SAFE Streets Act.' The SAFE Streets Act package also includes safe passing for cyclists and complete street design mandates. The Council’s action highlights the city’s ongoing fight against reckless driving and the urgent need for stronger protections for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

Bedford Avenue cuts through Brooklyn. Its painted bike lane fails. Cars block it. Cyclists swerve into traffic. Crashes pile up. Activists and council members demand a protected lane. DOT listens but stalls. Neighborhoods argue. Riders keep risking their lives.

On March 22, 2023, activists and City Council Members Chi Ossé and Lincoln Restler called for a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue between Flushing and Flatbush avenues in Brooklyn. The matter, described as 'the heavily used existing painted bike lane on Bedford Avenue puts people on bikes at risk because it is chronically blocked by double-parked vehicles,' highlights a deadly stretch for cyclists and pedestrians. Good Co., a Black-led bike club, and Transportation Alternatives lead the push. DOT acknowledged support and is open to future talks. The effort faces resistance from some community boards. Council Members Ossé and Restler publicly backed the project, pressing for urgent action. The current lane leaves cyclists exposed, forcing them into traffic and danger. Advocates demand real protection, not paint.

• Activists Want a Protected Bike Lane on an Unsafe Stretch of Bedford Avenue, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-22

Council bill Int 0965-2023 aimed to force the city to build 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. The bill died at session’s end. Cyclists remain exposed. The city’s pace stays slow. The streets stay dangerous. The need remains.

Int 0965-2023 was introduced on March 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 miles of protected bicycle lanes annually until 2029. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Sandy Nurse, Erik D. Bottcher, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Won, Chi A. Ossé, Tiffany Cabán, Christopher Marte, Crystal Hudson, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill was filed at the end of session, never enacted. The city’s protected bike lane network remains incomplete. Cyclists and other vulnerable road users still face daily risk from cars and trucks. The bill’s failure leaves the city’s most exposed travelers in harm’s way.

• File Int 0965-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-03-16

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

A Dodge turned left on Bedford. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider’s arm split open. Blood ran down his hand. He stayed upright. The driver was distracted. The street bore witness.

A crash on Bedford Avenue involved a Dodge sedan making a left turn and a man riding a bike straight ahead. The cyclist, age 30, suffered a severe arm injury with heavy bleeding but did not fall or lose consciousness. According to the police report, 'The driver was looking elsewhere.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right rear bumper struck the cyclist. No other serious injuries were reported among the car’s occupants. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the primary fault lies with the driver’s inattention, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585767, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27