Eight Dead, Thousands Hurt. Brooklyn Streets Are Killing Fields—Who Will Stop the Bloodshed?

A 25-year-old cyclist lost his hand to a speeding SUV on Bleecker Street. Metal hit flesh. The crash tore bone and skin. The cyclist stayed conscious. The SUV’s front quarter struck hard. Blood marked the street. The night swallowed the sound.

A 25-year-old man riding a bike was struck by a speeding SUV on Bleecker Street near Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV’s right front quarter panel hit the cyclist, causing severe injuries: his arm was torn and his hand was amputated. The cyclist remained conscious at the scene. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The report describes the SUV as a 2020 Dodge, registered in New York. The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, but the police report cites driver errors as the primary causes. The crash left the cyclist with life-changing injuries. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662790, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan sedan hit a 26-year-old woman on Atlantic Avenue near Van Siclen. She crossed against the light. The car’s left front bumper struck her. She suffered head trauma and deep cuts. She died on the street. Traffic kept moving.

A 26-year-old woman was killed on Atlantic Avenue near Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing against the signal when a westbound Nissan sedan struck her with its left front bumper. The impact caused head trauma and severe lacerations. She died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the data. The victim was a pedestrian at the intersection. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of vehicle-pedestrian collisions on busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659490, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Bob Holden wants license plates for every e-bike and scooter. Advocates say the bill targets delivery workers and blocks safe, green transport. Critics warn it ignores illegal mopeds and risks biased enforcement. The fight over city streets rages on.

Intro 758, introduced by Council Member Bob Holden, would force the NYC Department of Transportation to register all legal e-bikes, scooters, and similar vehicles, issuing license plates for each. The bill, introduced on September 1, 2023, is under review and has drawn support from some council members known for opposing cycling infrastructure. The matter summary states: 'require the NYC Department of Transportation to register all legal electric bikes, stand-up scooters, and other legal motorized vehicles, and issue license plates for them.' David Carr is mentioned in connection with the bill. Major advocacy groups, including StreetsPAC, Open Plans, and Transportation Alternatives, strongly oppose the measure, warning it would hinder Citi Bike use, block sustainable commuting, and target nonwhite delivery workers. Critics say the bill ignores illegal mopeds, lacks funding, and risks racially biased enforcement. The Department of Transportation is still reviewing the legislation.

• The Explainer: What's With Council Member Bob Holden's Bill to Register E-Bikes?, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-09-01

Council Member Holden’s bill would force e-bike and scooter riders to register and plate their vehicles. It skips illegal mopeds, lacks funding, and ignores enforcement. Advocates warn it will hurt delivery workers, slow mode shift, and threaten vulnerable road users.

Intro 758, introduced by Council Member Bob Holden, would require the NYC Department of Transportation to register all legal e-bikes, stand-up scooters, and similar vehicles, issuing license plates for each. The bill, introduced on September 1, 2023, has support from council members often hostile to cycling infrastructure. The matter summary states the bill targets 'all legal electric bikes, stand-up scooters, and other legal motorized vehicles.' Holden leads the push, while Council Member Sandy Nurse supports debate but not the bill itself. Major advocacy groups—StreetsPAC, Open Plans, and Transportation Alternatives—oppose the measure, warning it would 'sabotage mode shift while targeting nonwhite delivery workers' and 'create additional hurdles for low-income New Yorkers.' The bill does not address illegal mopeds, lacks funding, and omits enforcement details. DOT is reviewing the proposal. Critics say it will reduce cycling, worsen equity, and undermine safety for vulnerable road users.

• The Explainer: What’s With Council Member Bob Holden’s Bill to Register E-Bikes?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-01

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A sedan slammed into an e-bike on Euclid Avenue near Jamaica. The rider, 39, hit the pavement. Blood pooled on his leg. Metal twisted. The morning air filled with pain and sirens. Unsafe speed left the street scarred.

A sedan collided with an e-bike on Euclid Avenue near Jamaica Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 39-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations to his leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The sedan’s left side doors crumpled, and the e-bike’s front end shattered. The report states, 'A sedan tore into an e-bike at speed. The rider, 39, hit the pavement hard. Blood soaked his leg.' No helmet or signaling issues are listed as contributing factors. The data highlights unsafe speed as the key driver error. The crash left the vulnerable rider injured and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646913, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to legalize crossing streets anywhere, even against signals. No more penalties for jaywalking. The measure aimed to strip state law and let pedestrians move freely. The session ended before action. Vulnerable users remain exposed.

Int 1125-2023, introduced July 13, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sought to amend city law on pedestrian crossing and right of way. The bill stated: “Pedestrians may cross any roadway at any point, including outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and allow for crossing against traffic signals. It would legalize the activity commonly referred to as ‘jaywalking’ and specify that no penalties can be imposed for jaywalking.” Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by Narcisse, Won, Farías, Hanif, Ayala, Richardson Jordan, Krishnan, and Nurse. The bill superseded state law and removed penalties for pedestrian movement. Filed at session’s end, it did not advance. Vulnerable road users still face the same risks at crossings.

• File Int 1125-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-07-13

Two SUVs collided on Crescent Street near Atlantic Avenue. A 2003 Honda struck the rear of a Tesla. The Honda driver, a 44-year-old woman, sat conscious, arm crushed, pain sharp in the heat. Metal and glass scattered. Silence followed the impact.

Two sport utility vehicles collided on Crescent Street near Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 2003 Honda SUV struck the rear of a Tesla SUV. The Honda’s driver, a 44-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her arm but remained conscious and belted. The report states, “A 2003 Honda struck the Tesla’s rear. The driver, 44, sat conscious, arm crushed, seatbelt tight.” Both vehicles were traveling straight before the crash. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left metal and glass scattered, and the driver’s pain marked the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646914, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Sammy’s Law would let New York City drop speed limits to 20 mph on deadly streets. Council Member Gutierrez led the charge. Brooks-Powers joined. Streets scarred by crashes and deaths. Lower speeds mean fewer bodies broken. The city waits. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, debated by the NYC Council and State Legislature, seeks home rule for New York City to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on dangerous streets. Council Member Jen Gutierrez carried the resolution; Selvena Brooks-Powers later signed on. The bill targets corridors like Bushwick Avenue, Laurelton Parkway, and East Gun Hill Road—sites of hundreds of crashes and dozens killed or maimed since 2019. The matter summary states: 'Because people are dying and being maimed on New York's most-dangerous 25-mile-per-hour streets.' Supporters, including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, cite the science: lower speeds mean less force, fewer deaths. Research shows 20 mph zones cut crashes by 60 percent. The bill does not mandate, but allows, lower limits where carnage is highest. The council’s action centers the lives of pedestrians and cyclists, demanding the city act before more are lost.

• MAP QUEST: See Exactly Why Sammy’s Law Would Be So Crucial for the Boroughs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-08

City’s trash plan puts bins on sidewalks. Advocates warn of tighter, more dangerous walks. Council Member Sandy Nurse leads debate. Streets or sidewalks—someone must yield. Pedestrians face new obstacles. The city weighs trash against safety. The hearing looms.

On May 25, 2023, the Department of Sanitation proposed letting restaurants keep trash bins on sidewalks at all hours. The plan, discussed in the Council’s Committee on Sanitation led by Council Member Sandy Nurse, aims to shift waste from bags to containers. The matter summary warns: 'New York City's already crowded sidewalks could get even more clogged.' Christine Berthet, founder of CHEKPEDS, opposes sidewalk bins, saying, 'We'll now be surrounded not just on one side, but on two sides by garbage and containers.' Nurse did not endorse street placement, but said, 'New Yorkers are going to have to make some hard decisions, do they want parking spaces or do they want their trash in a container.' The Department will hold a virtual hearing. Advocates urge using street space, not sidewalks, to protect pedestrians.

• Sanitation Restaurant Trash Plan Threatens to Gobble Up More Sidewalk: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-25

A van backed up. A sedan lunged forward. A man, 33, was struck on Pennsylvania Avenue. Blood spilled from his leg. The street froze. Aggressive driving shattered the calm. Metal bent. Silence followed.

A crash at Pennsylvania Avenue and Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn left a 33-year-old man injured. According to the police report, a van was backing up while a sedan surged ahead. The pedestrian, not at a crosswalk, was hit by the sedan’s front end and suffered severe bleeding to his leg. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a contributing factor. The sedan’s front crumpled from the impact. No other injuries were reported for vehicle occupants. The data highlights aggressive driving as the key driver error in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631763, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man stepped from a parked car. A bus passed too close. Metal ripped his arm. Blood spilled on De Kalb Avenue. The bus did not stop. The man stayed behind, awake, bleeding, his arm torn open.

A 31-year-old man exited a parked car on De Kalb Avenue. As he stepped down, a westbound bus passed too close. According to the police report, 'Passing Too Closely' was the contributing factor. The bus struck the man’s arm, causing severe lacerations and heavy bleeding. The bus did not stop. The man remained conscious at the scene. No injuries were reported for the bus driver or other vehicle occupants. The police report lists no errors by the victim. The crash highlights the danger when large vehicles fail to give space to people outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626484, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Broadway Junction will change. Seven elevators. New plazas. Fresh paint. Bike lanes. The city pours $500 million into this East New York hub. Council Member Sandy Nurse demands community input. Construction starts 2027. Promises of safety and jobs. Pedestrians wait.

On May 2, 2023, officials announced a $500 million overhaul of Brooklyn’s Broadway Junction subway station. The project, not a council bill but a major infrastructure plan, involves the MTA and NYC Economic Development Corporation. The plan promises full ADA accessibility, seven new elevators, new public plazas, bike lanes, and pedestrian safety features. Council Member Sandy Nurse, District 37, led community engagement and thanked Mayor Eric Adams for funding, but warned, 'intentional and deliberate community engagement is essential to developing the area without contributing to gentrification.' The project’s public space phase aims for completion by 2030, with groundbreaking in 2027. The overhaul claims to reflect community needs and pledges to involve residents throughout. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders—stand to gain safer access, but must wait years for results.

• Brooklyn subway station to undergo a $500M overhaul, includes new elevators and pedestrian plazas, amny.com, Published 2023-05-02

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

Council bill Int 1028-2023 demanded hard numbers. It called for the city to track every crash, injury, and fatality involving e-bikes and scooters. The bill died in committee. The data remains scattered. Vulnerable road users stay in the dark.

Int 1028-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the NYPD and Department of Transportation to publish detailed data on electric bicycle and scooter use, including crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The official summary read: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting data about electric bicycles and electric scooters.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Marjorie Velázquez, Sandy Nurse, Kevin C. Riley, and Gale A. Brewer backed the measure. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. If passed, it would have forced the city to break out crash data by vehicle type, borough, and precinct—shining a light on the toll for riders and pedestrians. Instead, the city keeps counting in the dark.

• File Int 1028-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

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

A car sped down Grove Street at dusk. The driver passed too close. The front end struck a 15-year-old boy. His leg split open. Blood pooled. The driver fled. The boy stayed awake, pain sharp and raw.

A 15-year-old boy walking on Grove Street was struck by a car passing too closely. According to the police report, 'the front slammed into a 15-year-old boy. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed awake. The driver never stopped.' The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The boy suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot but remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not remain after the crash. No mention of helmet or signaling was made in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616169, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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 grilled DSNY for dragging its feet on commercial waste zone reform. Delays keep rogue haulers on the street. Reckless driving and deaths persist. Members pressed for urgency. DSNY offered shifting timelines. The city’s most vulnerable remain at risk.

On February 23, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the delayed rollout of commercial waste zone reform, first mandated by law in 2019. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) admitted the overhaul would not start until late 2024, with citywide coverage years away. The matter, described as a fix for a 'free-for-all system that led to reckless driving and fatalities,' remains stalled. Council Members Lincoln Restler and Julie Menin pressed DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch on the slow pace and shifting deadlines. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who introduced the original legislation, stressed the need for clear guidance. StreetsPAC’s Eric McClure highlighted the deadly consequences of delay. DSNY opposes a bill from Council Member Sandy Nurse to create a working group to address these setbacks. The ongoing delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous private carting trucks.

• Council to DSNY Commish: Move Faster on Rogue Carting Biz, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-23