Thirteen Dead, Still No Action: How Many More?

Council bill targets killer corners. City must pick crash hotspots and block parking near crosswalks. Five intersections per borough each year. More space. More sight. Less blood on the street.

Int 0285-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Julie Menin, and Crystal Hudson. The bill orders the city to find intersections with the most pedestrian crashes and install curb extensions—no parking within 15 feet of crosswalks—at five sites per borough, every year. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law...requiring curb extensions at certain dangerous intersections.' Curb extensions force cars back, clear sight lines, and keep walkers in view. The sponsors push city agencies to act, not wait. The bill demands oversight and speed.

• File Int 0285-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. Resolution adopted. Streets may breathe easier. Danger may shrink.

Resolution 0079-2024, adopted June 6, 2024 by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The matter title reads: 'authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The Council's action follows rising traffic deaths and growing use of Open Streets. The bill targets streets where people walk, bike, and gather, aiming to cut speed and risk for all vulnerable users.

• File Res 0079-2024, 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

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Steel met flesh on Union Street. An 83-year-old man, crossing with the light, was struck by a turning taxi. Blood pooled. His head split. The cab did not stop. The street did not forgive.

An 83-year-old man was seriously injured at the intersection of Union Street and 6th Avenue in Brooklyn when a taxi making a right turn struck him as he crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'Steel meets flesh. He falls. Blood pools on the pavement. Head split. Eyes open. The cab did not stop.' The victim suffered a severe head injury and was conscious at the scene. The police report makes clear the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian lawfully crossing, underscoring the persistent danger faced by New York City’s most vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Genesis SUV turned left through a red. A moped rider, unlicensed and unprotected, was thrown and crushed. Blood pooled. A leg shattered. The street did not forgive. The law was ignored. The city bore witness.

According to the police report, a Genesis SUV made a left turn on Carroll Street near Bond Street, disregarding traffic control. At the same moment, a moped was making a right turn. The SUV's driver, licensed, ignored the light, as stated in the report: 'The light was ignored.' The moped rider, a 20-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The report details that the rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his leg. The contributing factors listed include 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly.' The SUV's left front bumper struck the moped's center front end. The police report paints a stark scene: 'Blood pooled. A leg shattered.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic signals and turn improperly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699806 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17

A Jeep lost a tire on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal twisted as it slammed forward. Seven inside. In the right rear, a man’s leg was crushed. He wore a harness. He lay still. The road stayed quiet.

According to the police report, a Jeep sedan traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway lost a tire. The vehicle slammed forward. Metal folded. Seven people were inside. In the right rear seat, a 27-year-old man screamed as his leg was crushed. He wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited. The injured passenger suffered severe crush injuries to his lower leg and foot and was in shock. The crash shows the brutal cost of mechanical failure and distraction for those inside.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi hit a 72-year-old woman crossing Flatbush Avenue at 5th Avenue. The front end crushed her. She died on the street, alone in the dark. By sunrise, the asphalt was still. The city moved on. She did not.

A taxi traveling north on Flatbush Avenue struck a 72-year-old woman as she crossed at 5th Avenue. According to the police report, the front end of the taxi hit her, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. She died at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The woman was crossing against the signal, but the data does not cite this as a contributing factor for the driver. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are listed in the report. The crash left the street quiet by sunrise, marking another loss on Brooklyn’s roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned on Ocean Avenue. It hit a 90-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She fell. Blood streaked her face. The car kept moving. She lay there, conscious, head cut and wounded, the street cold and hard beneath her.

A 90-year-old woman was struck head-on by a sedan while crossing Ocean Avenue at Parkside Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the sedan, making a right turn, hit her. She suffered severe lacerations and a head injury but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan. The woman was not at fault; she was following the signal. The crash left her bleeding and wounded in the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a bike flew from his seat. His arm split open. Blood pooled on Sterling Place. An SUV stood still. A passenger turned, and the crash followed. The street fell silent. Metal did not bend, but flesh did.

A 31-year-old man riding a bike on Sterling Place near 5th Avenue in Brooklyn was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his arm. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and a stationary SUV. The report states, 'A passenger turned their head. The crash came from silence, not steel.' The listed contributing factor is 'Passenger Distraction.' The SUV showed no damage. The cyclist was conscious after the crash. No driver errors beyond passenger distraction were recorded. Helmet use was not specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672391 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding electric sedan hit a parked Jeep on Flatbush. The unbelted driver flew out. A helmeted woman in back was torn at the leg. Both bled on the street, awake and broken. Driver inexperience marked the crash.

An electric sedan struck a parked Jeep near 450 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations. A woman in the rear seat, wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and suffered severe leg wounds. Both victims were conscious but badly injured. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The woman in back wore a helmet, but the crash's force left both bleeding and still. No pedestrians or bystanders were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666944 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist lies in critical condition after a crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street. Councilmember Shahana Hanif calls out the city’s inaction. The intersection has claimed lives before. The community rallies, but danger remains. Cyclists keep dying. The city stalls.

On September 26, 2023, Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39) issued a statement following a severe crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street in Park Slope. The incident left Jacob Priley, a cyclist and advocate, critically injured. Hanif highlighted the intersection’s deadly history, referencing the 2021 death of Arcellie Muschamp. She pressed the Department of Transportation for urgent safety upgrades, saying, 'How many more crashes until the DOT pays attention?' Hanif noted the recent completion of a protected bike lane on Ninth Street but stressed that more action is needed. She thanked neighbors for their support and vowed to work with the DOT. So far in 2023, 3,702 cyclists have been injured and 22 killed on New York City streets. The city’s pace on safety remains too slow for those at risk.

• Brooklyn rallies behind biker critically injured in Park Slope crash, raises funds for medical bills, amny.com, Published 2023-09-26

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Two sedans slammed together before dawn at Atlantic and Court. Steel tore. An 18-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died on impact. Sirens came too late. The city woke to loss and twisted metal.

Two sedans collided at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Court Street in Brooklyn before sunrise. An 18-year-old woman, riding as a front-seat passenger, died at the scene. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor in the crash. The impact left the woman motionless while emergency crews responded. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. The victim wore a lap belt and harness, but the force of the collision was fatal. No other injuries were reported in the data. The crash underscores the deadly consequences when speed overtakes safety on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Jose Guerrero rode north on Broadway. A driver turned left. The Honda hit him. Guerrero died three days later. No charges. Twenty-two cyclists dead this year. The city stalls. Politicians talk. Riders bleed. The toll climbs. The streets stay deadly.

On August 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif condemned Mayor Adams’s approach to street safety after the death of Jose Guerrero, the 22nd cyclist killed in New York City this year. Guerrero was struck by a Honda CRV while cycling in Brooklyn and died from his injuries. The 74-year-old driver was not charged. Hanif stated, 'We have been proactive and pushing against what this mayor is doing to undo street safety. We need to have the political courage across all levels of government to create a city that is walkable, prioritizes pedestrians, and ends these senseless murders.' Eric McClure of StreetsPAC added, 'Any death is a tragedy and [the] deaths so far this year is a really significant number. We need to do better.' The Adams administration has focused on pedestrian fatality reductions, but activists and council members demand urgent, systemic change as cyclist deaths reach a decades-high peak.

• It’s 22! Another Cyclist Has Been Killed By Another Driver Who Has Not Been Charged, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-18

Twenty cyclists are dead in seven months. Most died on streets without protection. City leaders and advocates blame Mayor Adams for delays and broken promises. Riders face danger. The city stalls. The toll climbs. Action is demanded. Lives are lost.

On August 7, 2023, Streetsblog NYC reported a deadly surge: 20 cyclists killed so far this year, the highest toll in over a decade. The article, titled '‘Not a Bike-Friendly City:’ Cyclist Deaths Are Surging This Year in NYC,' details failures in bike infrastructure and city policy. Brooklyn Council Member Shahana Hanif accused Mayor Adams of 'undoing street safety' and called for 'political courage' to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives demanded immediate, legally-required action under the NYC Streets Plan. Fourteen of the 20 deaths involved e-bikes. Ninety-three percent of fatalities happened on streets lacking protected lanes. Despite record ridership, the city missed its own goals for new bike lanes. Advocates and council members demand bold, urgent change. The mayor’s delays and weak execution leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• ‘Not a Bike-Friendly City:’ Cyclist Deaths Are Surging This Year in NYC, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-07

State Sen. Gounardes and Assembly Member Gallagher push a bill to force repeat speeders to install limiters. The tech would cap speed, targeting drivers with six or more tickets. Advocates say it could cut deaths. Reckless drivers face real consequences.

On August 2, 2023, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced new legislation targeting recidivist reckless drivers. The bill, introduced in the New York State Legislature, would require drivers with at least six speeding tickets in a single year, or 11 points in 18 months, to install speed limiter devices in their vehicles. The matter summary states: "We are going to literally force you to slow down by requiring you to install a speed limiter on your car." Gounardes led the announcement at the Atlantic Avenue intersection where a driver killed Katherine Harris. Gallagher, co-sponsor, said, "Cars and trucks can act as weapons when used recklessly." The bill aims to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and act automatically, modeled after ignition interlock devices for drunk drivers. Advocates and city officials joined the call, citing data that speed limiters can reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. The bill targets the most dangerous drivers, seeking to end impunity for repeat offenders.

• In-Car Tech Would Force NYC’s Worst Drivers to Slow Down Under New Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-02