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

A sedan hit a southbound motorcycle on Bushwick Avenue. The rider, helmeted, was thrown and left unconscious, bleeding from the head. The car’s front left crumpled. Sirens faded. The street fell silent. Impact and error left scars behind.

A sedan struck a southbound motorcycle on Bushwick Avenue near Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn. The 43-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected, left unconscious, and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s front left bumper crumpled from the impact. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were specified for the sedan’s occupants. The crash underscores the danger when drivers disregard traffic controls and fail to yield, exposing vulnerable road users to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610454, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to study e-bike charging stations for food delivery workers. The plan called for a task force to weigh cost, location, and fire risk. The bill died at session’s end. Delivery workers remain exposed. No action. No safety.

Int 0927-2023, introduced February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to create a task force to study the feasibility of building charging stations for e-bikes used by food delivery workers. The bill’s summary states: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a task force to study the feasibility of building charging stations for bicycles with electric assist to be used by food delivery workers.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Cabán, Farías, Hudson, Hanif, Richardson Jordan, Ayala, Nurse, Avilés, Won, and Brewer. The task force would have reviewed costs, locations, funding, and fire risks tied to lithium-ion batteries. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving delivery workers without new protections or infrastructure.

• File Int 0927-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

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

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study street design that blocks or deters trucks from residential streets. The bill called for a report on making streets less accessible to commercial vehicles. It died at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0924-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study and report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential neighborhoods. The matter’s title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored the bill, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The report was due by December 31, 2023. The bill was filed at the end of session with no report issued. The measure aimed to examine street redesign, traffic calming, and camera enforcement to keep trucks out of residential areas, but it stalled before any impact reached the street.

• File Int 0924-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council called on maritime importers to cut truck traffic and use marine vessels for last mile deliveries. Trucks choke streets, foul air, and endanger lives. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain crowded. The danger rolls on.

Res 0501-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 16, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urged, in its own words, 'top maritime importers to New York City ports to commit to making the City’s streets greener by reducing truck traffic and using marine vessels for last mile deliveries throughout the boroughs.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate Williams, and others. The bill cited the city’s reliance on trucks—89% of freight—fueling congestion, pollution, and risk for everyone outside a vehicle. The Council pointed to pilot programs like Blue Highways as a way to clear streets and cut emissions. But the resolution was filed without action. Trucks still rule the road.

• File Res 0501-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council Member Sandy Nurse demands action. She calls for a working group to revive stalled trash hauler reform. The city drags its feet. Streets stay dangerous. The 2019 law sits idle. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Accountability is missing. The council plans a hearing.

On February 9, 2023, Council Member Sandy Nurse introduced a legislative initiative to create a working group for the commercial waste zone program. The bill aims to force progress on the 2019 law that would replace a chaotic, dangerous carting system with 20 regulated zones. The matter summary states: 'A Brooklyn Council member, Sandy Nurse, is seeking to revive the city's stalled effort to reform the private carting industry by introducing legislation to create a working group.' Nurse pushes for quarterly meetings with city officials, industry, and labor until the program launches. Mayor Adams and Sanitation Commissioner Tisch have delayed the law, citing cost concerns. Nurse insists, 'We are not going backwards. This is something that needs to happen.' The City Council will hold a hearing. Streets remain unsafe for those outside cars until the city acts.

• ‘Working Group’ Needed to Revive Trash Hauler Reform Stalled by Adams, Pol Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-09

The Adams administration stalled a law to overhaul private carting. Streets stay dangerous. Trucks keep rolling. The city missed deadlines. No new zones. No relief. Advocates warn: every delay risks another life. The law waits. So do the people.

On January 27, 2023, the city delayed implementation of Local Law 199 of 2019, which would create 20 commercial waste zones and limit private carters. The law, introduced by then-Council Member Antonio Reynoso, aimed to cut truck miles and improve safety. The Department of Sanitation, led by Commissioner Jessica Tisch, missed deadlines for the program’s rollout. Council Member Sandy Nurse, District 37, voiced concern over lost expertise and stalled progress. Reynoso pressed, 'Why continue with delays?' Advocates, like Justin Wood, pointed to another fatal sanitation truck crash as proof of urgent need. The law has no set deadline, leaving the city under no obligation to act quickly. Each day of delay keeps dangerous trucks on city streets, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• EXCLUSIVE: Adams Administration Has Delayed Commercial Waste Reform That’s Required by Law, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-27

The Adams administration stalled a 2019 law to overhaul private carting. Key staff quit. Only half the jobs are filled. Streets stay dangerous. Trucks keep rolling. Council members and advocates demand action. The city drags its feet. Lives hang in the balance.

Local Law 199 of 2019, meant to create 20 commercial waste zones and cut deadly truck traffic, faces delays under the Adams administration. The Department of Sanitation claims it needs more time to avoid mistakes and cost spikes. Council Member Antonio Reynoso questioned, 'Covid was the original reason why we had to postpone, but now the city is operating in full, why continue with delays on the implementation?' Justin Wood, an advocate, warned, 'Yet another tragic fatality involving a private sanitation truck shows the urgent need to fully implement the new commercial waste zones system.' Staff departures and unfilled positions cripple progress. Council Member Sandy Nurse lamented the loss of key leadership. The city says it remains committed, but the streets tell another story. A Council hearing is set to address the ongoing risk.

• EXCLUSIVE: Adams Administration Has Delayed Commercial Waste Reform That’s Required by Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

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

A young cyclist hit the back of a stopped SUV on Central Avenue. He flew forward, face first. Blood on the street. The SUV’s brakes were defective. The rider stayed conscious. His face split open. No helmet. The driver was unhurt.

A 24-year-old cyclist was injured after crashing into the rear of a stopped SUV at Central Avenue and Menahan Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A bike slammed into the rear of a stopped SUV. The rider, 24, flew forward. No helmet. His face split open on impact. The SUV’s brakes were defective. He stayed conscious.' The cyclist suffered severe facial lacerations and was ejected from his bike. The SUV’s brakes were listed as defective, a critical contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV’s driver or occupant. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the mechanical failure of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4564974, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A truck killed Danny Vidal, a 30-year-old delivery worker, on Morgan Avenue. Family, friends, and officials gathered in Bushwick. They mourned. They demanded action. The street’s painted bike lanes offer no protection. The city’s failure left Vidal exposed. Calls for barriers rose.

On August 17, 2022, Councilmember Sandy Nurse (District 37) joined a vigil for Danny Vidal, a delivery worker killed by a truck on Morgan Avenue. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the area’s deadly record: 126 crashes, 158 injuries since 2011. The matter title reads, 'He was only 30: Family and friends gather to mourn Danny Vidal, deliverista killed in Bushwick.' Nurse called the city’s inaction 'a failure of our city government to protect these lives.' Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez stressed that Bushwick’s industrial character does not excuse neglect. Attendees, including Los Deliveristas Unidos and the Workers Justice Project, demanded protected bike lanes, traffic lights, and barriers. The unprotected, painted lanes failed to shield Vidal. Advocates pressed the city to act before more lives are lost.

• ‘He was only 30’: Family and friends gather to mourn Danny Vidal, ‘deliverista’ killed in Bushwick, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-08-17

Council moved to put NYCHA sidewalks first in line for repairs. Seniors get top priority. Non-NYCHA emergencies still jump the queue. The bill died at session’s end. Broken walks remain. Vulnerable tenants wait. Streets stay rough. Danger lingers.

Int 0604-2022 was introduced on August 11, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to 'establish priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York City Housing Authority,' giving first priority to senior-only NYCHA buildings, then to other NYCHA sites. Emergencies at non-NYCHA properties could override this order, with required notification to local officials. The bill required DOT to report on completed and pending NYCHA sidewalk repairs by June 30, 2023. Council Member Alexa Avilés sponsored the bill, joined by Abreu, Brooks-Powers, Restler, Hanif, Won, Nurse, Gutiérrez, and Sanchez. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without enactment. Sidewalk hazards at NYCHA developments persist, leaving vulnerable residents exposed.

• File Int 0604-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-08-11

A motorcycle hit the rear of a sedan on Barbey Street near Atlantic Avenue. The rider, 25, was thrown halfway off. His arm ripped open. Blood marked the street. The bike stood whole. The man did not.

A crash unfolded on Barbey Street near Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a motorcycle slammed into the rear of a sedan. The 25-year-old motorcycle rider was partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his arm. Blood covered the street. The sedan’s driver was not reported injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were cited in the data. Helmet use or signals were not mentioned as contributing factors. The crash left the motorcycle rider injured and the sedan undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569568, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study deadly intersections and add signals that give walkers a head start or full crossing time. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay risky. Pedestrians wait for action.

Bill Int 0578-2022, introduced July 14, 2022, aimed to amend city law to improve safety at pedestrian crossings. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reviewed it, but the bill was filed without passage at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to improving safety at pedestrian crossings in the city.' Council Members Robert F. Holden (primary sponsor), Ari Kagan, Justin L. Brannan, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Kalman Yeger, Rita C. Joseph, and Tiffany Cabán sponsored the bill. It would have required DOT to audit the city’s deadliest intersections and consider installing leading pedestrian intervals and exclusive pedestrian phases—signals proven to protect people on foot. The bill’s failure leaves dangerous crossings unchanged.

• File Int 0578-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

A sedan crashed into a KIA SUV’s rear on Harman Street. Metal buckled. A 64-year-old woman in the back seat bled from torn legs. She wore a harness. She sat silent, in shock. The driver suffered a head wound. Streets stayed loud.

A sedan struck the back of a KIA SUV on Harman Street near Central Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan slammed into the back of a KIA SUV. In the rear seat, a 64-year-old woman bled from torn legs. She wore a harness. She did not scream. She sat in silence.' The crash left the woman, a rear passenger, with severe leg lacerations and in shock. The SUV’s driver, a 44-year-old man, suffered a head injury and minor bleeding. Both were not ejected and wore lap belts and harnesses. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No blame is placed on those injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550775, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two sedans slammed head-on near Etna Street. Steel twisted. A man clutched his chest. A woman gripped her neck. Both conscious. Both trapped. Lane markings failed. Speed ruled. The street bore the scars.

Two sedans collided head-on on Crescent Street near Etna Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 57-year-old man suffered chest crush injuries and a 56-year-old woman endured neck crush injuries. Both were conscious at the scene. Another driver, age 26, had minor facial bleeding. The report lists 'Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. These systemic failures set the stage for the violent impact. The police report describes steel screaming and bodies crushed. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash left the street marked by pain and metal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546144, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle sped down Fulton. An old man stepped into its path. The machine struck him head-on. Blood pooled from his head. He stayed awake. The street echoed with silence after the crash.

An 83-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a motorcycle near 3154 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the motorcycle was traveling at an unsafe speed and hit the man head-on as he crossed the street. The report notes the pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Driver errors listed in the data include 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The crash did not occur at an intersection or crosswalk. No mention of helmet use or signals appears in the contributing factors. The impact left the street marked by silence and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540344, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck turned left on Central Avenue. An e-bike passed. Metal caught the rider. He flew, crushed at the pelvis. His helmet split. The truck stood untouched. The e-bike rider, 49, died in the street.

A box truck and an e-bike collided near Central Avenue and Palmetto Street in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider, a 49-year-old man, was killed. According to the police report, 'A box truck turned left. An e-bike passed. Metal caught man. He flew, crushed at the pelvis. His helmet split. The truck stood untouched. The rider, 49, lay still.' The truck was making a left turn while the e-bike was passing. No specific driver errors were listed in the data. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal crush injuries to the pelvis. The helmet split on impact, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the truck occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537612, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilians can report violators. Each offense draws a $175 fine. The city pays whistleblowers a cut. The bill stalled. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0501-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 2, 2022. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints to the department of transportation for hazardous obstruction violations,' aimed to create a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school. The penalty: $175 per violation, enforced through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Civilians, except city employees, could file complaints and receive 25% of collected fines. The Department of Transportation would support this with a phased-in reporting program and annual public reports. Council Member Carlina Rivera led as primary sponsor, joined by over two dozen co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0501-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02