Twelve Dead, No Justice: Stop Letting Cars Kill in District 36

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A man on a Fly e-bike crashed into a stopped SUV on Chauncey Street. He flew from the saddle, pelvis shattered, awake on the asphalt. The report cites following too closely and inexperience. No helmet. No license. The street stayed silent.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man operating a Fly e-bike eastbound on Chauncey Street near 155th in Brooklyn struck the rear of a stationary SUV at 10:10 a.m. The e-bike rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, was ejected from his vehicle and suffered severe crush injuries to his pelvis. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors in the crash. The SUV, driven by a licensed woman, was stopped in traffic when the collision occurred. The e-bike's center front end crumpled on impact with the SUV's right rear bumper. The police narrative describes the rider as conscious but immobilized on the asphalt, staring at the sky. The report makes no mention of any error by the SUV driver, focusing instead on the e-bike operator's actions and lack of protective equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735465 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A woman riding east on Gates Avenue struck a defective patch of road. Her bike stopped cold. She flew forward, her helmet cracking on impact. Blood pooled as she lay incoherent. The street’s broken surface drew its price.

A 38-year-old woman riding a bicycle eastbound on Gates Avenue was severely injured when defective pavement caused her to crash, according to the police report. The report describes how 'the road gave way,' halting her bike and sending her headfirst to the ground. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was described as incoherent at the scene. The police report identifies 'Pavement Defective' as the sole contributing factor in the crash. The narrative notes her helmet cracked on impact, but no victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the danger posed by hazardous street conditions to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721986 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 46-year-old man riding east on Atlantic Avenue struck an object head-on. His skull bore the force. He died at the scene. Police cite driver inattention. The night swallowed another life on Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man was operating a Fly Wing moped eastbound on Atlantic Avenue at Kingston Avenue in Brooklyn when he collided head-on with an object. The report states the impact was to the center front end of the moped, causing fatal head injuries to the driver, who died at the scene. The police explicitly list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The narrative underscores that the victim’s skull took the brunt of the blow. No other vehicles or persons are reported involved. The report does not specify the use of any safety equipment by the victim, nor does it list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by driver distraction, as detailed in the official police account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to force DOT to post clear bus lane signs on every block. Riders and walkers need to know when cars must stay out. The bill demands public, block-by-block rules. No more guessing. Streets reveal their rules.

Int 0647-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on March 7, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to bus lane restrictions," orders DOT to post signs on each block with bus lane rules and to publish hours online. Sponsors include Althea V. Stevens (primary), Chris Banks, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Amanda Farías, Yusef Salaam, and Kevin C. Riley. The measure aims to end confusion and make bus lane rules plain for all. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0647-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill demands NYPD track every time cops use cars as weapons. No more hiding behind vague stats. Each crash, each injury, must be counted. The city moves closer to truth.

Int 0255-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by Hudson, Won, Hanif, Bottcher, Brewer, Avilés, Abreu, Ossé, Krishnan, Williams, Cabán, Nurse, Sanchez, and at the Brooklyn Borough President's request. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.' It forces the NYPD to report every use of a car to control a subject. No more lumping these acts with other force. The bill aims for hard numbers and real accountability. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—will no longer be invisible in police data.

• File Int 0255-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. Cyclists need steel and concrete, not paint. The bill sits in committee. Streets could change. Lives hang in the balance.

Int 0271-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Rivera, Louis, Hanif, Ossé, Brewer, Cabán, Nurse, Hudson, Salaam, Bottcher, Gutiérrez, Feliz, Won, and Joseph. The bill demands the Department of Transportation install 100 miles of protected bike lanes per year for six years. The aim: real protection for cyclists and a safer city grid.

• File Int 0271-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A sedan slammed into a southbound e-scooter on Tompkins Avenue. The rider flew headfirst onto the pavement, blood pooling beneath him. Driver inattention ruled the night. Sirens came late. The street bore witness to another wound.

According to the police report, a sedan struck a southbound e-scooter near Tompkins Avenue and Halsey Street in Brooklyn at 11:56 p.m. The e-scooter rider, a 34-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The sedan's point of impact was the left rear quarter panel, while the e-scooter was hit at the center front end. The rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The narrative describes the rider flying headfirst onto the pavement, blood pooling on the street, and the driver remaining silent. The incident underscores the deadly consequences of driver inattention for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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.

""I'm very excited that Council Member Ossé publicly expressed his and the District 36 community's strong support of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue that DOT promised would be installed this summer."" -- Chi A. Ossé

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Night on Bedford Avenue. SUV plows into cyclist. Man flies, arm torn, blood on asphalt. Hand shattered, pain sharp. Driver distracted. Metal hits flesh. The street holds the wound.

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 stayed conscious. According to the police report, 'the driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04