Flatbush speed, heavy steel, and the long wait for fixes

Nov 13 - Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Oct 12 - A 41-year-old man riding east on an e-bike tore open his hip near East 40th Street. Blood soaked his leg. He stayed upright as streetlights flickered. The night continued. The crash left him injured and unlicensed, the danger undiminished.

A 41-year-old man was injured while riding an e-bike eastbound on Clarkson Avenue near East 40th Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states the rider was unlicensed and suffered severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. 'His hip split open. Blood soaked his leg. He stayed upright. The streetlights flickered. The night did not stop,' the narrative reads. No other vehicles or persons were listed as involved. The police report does not cite any driver errors or contributing factors beyond the rider's unlicensed status. There is no mention of helmet use or other victim behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the persistent risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - An 85-year-old man crossing Albany Avenue fell beneath a Ford pickup’s right front. Blood pooled as dusk settled. The truck’s force left him semiconscious, his head crushed, the street marked by violence and steel.

An 85-year-old pedestrian was struck by a northbound Ford pickup truck on Albany Avenue near Hawthorne Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states the man was crossing without a signal when the vehicle’s right front quarter panel struck his head, causing crush injuries and leaving him semiconscious and bleeding on the pavement. The police narrative describes the scene: 'The truck’s right front crushed his head. He lay semiconscious on the pavement, bleeding into the dusk.' The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further details on driver behavior. The only mention of the pedestrian’s actions is that he was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' which is included after the account of the vehicle’s impact. The focus remains on the devastating outcome of the collision and the lethal force of the truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 17 - A moped hit a 50-year-old woman crossing Flatbush Avenue. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. She lay semiconscious, no helmet, no crosswalk. Engines hummed as the street fell silent.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old woman was struck by a moped while crossing Flatbush Avenue near 828 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash occurred at 13:13. The narrative states, 'A 50-year-old woman, crossing without a signal, struck by a moped. Head split. Blood pooled on hot pavement. She lay semiconscious, no helmet, no crosswalk.' The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for the moped operator. The victim suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious. The police report notes she was not wearing a helmet and was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but does not cite these as contributing factors. The focus remains on the impact and the vulnerable position of pedestrians on Flatbush Avenue.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 3 - An SUV made a left turn on Bedford Avenue, colliding with a southbound motorcycle. The rider was thrown face-first, suffering severe lacerations and bleeding heavily. He remained conscious despite the brutal impact and extensive injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bedford Avenue at 17:30 involving a 2020 Toyota SUV and a 2023 Fengyuan motorcycle. The SUV was making a left turn while the motorcycle was traveling straight south. The motorcycle rider, a 35-year-old male, was struck on the center front end and thrown face-first, sustaining severe facial lacerations and bleeding. The report states, 'An SUV turned left. A motorcycle came straight. No helmet. The rider flew, face-first. Flesh tore. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed awake. Eyes open.' The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' but the sequence clearly shows the SUV turning left into the motorcycle's path. The rider was not wearing a helmet, noted after the driver actions. The driver of the SUV was a 32-year-old male, wearing a lap belt and harness, and suffered minor abrasions. This collision highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles crossing the path of oncoming motorcycles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754242 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - 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

Jul 13 - A 26-year-old cyclist struck the rear of a Lexus on Flatbush Avenue. Blood streaked his arm, deep cuts marked his hand and elbow. The sedan stood untouched. Asphalt bore the impact. The city’s danger pressed down, silent and heavy.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old bicyclist was injured on Flatbush Avenue near Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn after colliding with the rear of a Lexus sedan. The crash occurred at 15:32. The report states the cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm, hand, and elbow, with blood visible at the scene. The sedan showed no damage. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, underscoring a driver error that led to the crash. The narrative describes the bike slamming into the Lexus’s rear, leaving the cyclist on the asphalt. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is not listed as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the failure to yield, a systemic danger for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741243 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 5 - A sedan turned left on Beverley Road. An e-bike rider went straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist, thirty, hit the ground headfirst, helmetless. Blood pooled. Lacerations deep. He lay conscious, half-thrown from his bike, pain sharp, Brooklyn afternoon.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn collided with an e-bike traveling straight along Beverley Road near Rugby Road in Brooklyn at 14:10. The report states, 'A sedan turned left. An e-bike went straight. Metal met flesh.' The 30-year-old e-bike rider was partially ejected and struck the ground headfirst, sustaining severe lacerations and head injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors in the crash. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor—driver error remains central. The collision left the cyclist conscious but badly hurt, underscoring the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield or pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738383 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - A woman crossed Rogers Avenue with the signal. A vehicle hit her, crushing her arm. She stood bleeding beneath the streetlight. The street fell silent. The night did not move. Shock and injury marked the intersection.

At the corner of Rogers Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn, a 40-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle while crossing with the signal, according to the police report. The report states, 'A woman, 40, crossed with the signal. A vehicle struck her. Her arm crushed.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her arm and was described as being in shock, standing beneath the streetlight, bleeding and still. The police report notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal' at the intersection. No driver contributing factors are listed in the report, but the narrative makes clear that the victim was lawfully crossing when struck. The vehicle type and other driver details remain unspecified in the report. The focus remains on the impact and the harm suffered by the pedestrian in a space where she had the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - Steel tore at Flatbush and Church. A truck turned left, a sedan turned right. Metal crumpled. A woman and a man trapped inside, necks twisted, pain sharp. The view was blocked. Both survived, but the wounds lingered.

At the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Church Avenue in Brooklyn, a collision between a truck and a sedan left two people injured, according to the police report. The crash occurred late in the morning as the truck was making a left turn and the sedan was making a right turn. The report states, 'Steel tore. A woman, 25, and a man, 41, crushed inside. Necks twisted. Conscious. Hurt.' Both vehicles suffered significant damage, with the trailer of the truck struck and the sedan's front crumpled. The police report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors, with driver inattention and distraction also noted. The report emphasizes that the drivers' improper lane usage and limited visibility directly contributed to the crash. No mention is made of any actions by the injured occupants that contributed to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - A Toyota sedan reversed on Rutland Road. Its rear bumper struck a 73-year-old woman. Her leg split open. Blood stained the pavement. The car sat untouched. Flesh did not.

According to the police report, a 2014 Toyota sedan was backing up near 463 Rutland Road in Brooklyn when its rear bumper struck a 73-year-old woman. The collision caused severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg, leaving her conscious but badly injured as blood pooled on the street. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The vehicle itself sustained no damage. The pedestrian’s actions are not cited as contributing to the crash. The incident underscores the lethal consequences when drivers reverse without proper attention, especially in areas where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 26 - Brooklyn Community Board 9 wants a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board passed a resolution after years of crashes and deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have paid the price. Local officials back the call. DOT has not acted.

On April 18, 2024, Brooklyn Community Board 9 passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation to build a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board wants to upgrade the faded painted lane, which runs west to Flatbush Boulevard, to a 'vehicle-protected' lane. The matter summary states: 'bring much-needed road safety to a neighborhood.' Council Members Rita Joseph and Crystal Hudson represent the area. Hudson's spokesperson called the resolution 'a necessary step to protect cyclists and pedestrians.' Joseph and DOT did not comment. Between 2021 and 2023, Empire Boulevard saw 406 crashes, injuring 29 cyclists and 52 pedestrians. Two cyclists and two pedestrians have died since 2011. Community Board 9 has zero miles of protected bike lanes. Advocates say improvements are overdue. DOT has yet to propose changes.

• Community Board Wants Protected Bike Lane on Empire Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-26

Apr 5 - An SUV swung right on Rutland Road, cutting across an e-scooter’s path. The rider, twenty-four, struck headfirst, thrown and torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement while the SUV sat untouched. The street bore the mark of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 617 Rutland Road in Brooklyn at 15:30. An SUV made a right turn while an e-scooter, operated by a 24-year-old man, continued straight. The report states the e-scooter rider 'struck headfirst,' was 'ejected,' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head, bleeding on the pavement but remaining conscious. The SUV sustained no damage and its driver was uninjured. The police report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, drawing attention to the systemic danger of limited sightlines at this location. The SUV driver’s action—turning across the path of a straight-traveling e-scooter—created a deadly conflict. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - A dump truck turned right on Bedford and Tilden. The woman crossed with the light. The front of the truck crushed her. She died in the street. The truck did not stop. Metal untouched. She was 58. The city kept moving.

A 58-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn when a dump truck making a right turn struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the truck's front right quarter panel crushed the pedestrian, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The woman was crossing with the light at the intersection, as documented in the report. The truck did not stop after the collision. The vehicle, a 2014 KW-TRUCK/BUS registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage. The report centers on the truck driver's failure to yield and the dangers posed by oversized vehicles at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707890 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Council moves to create a parking permit enforcement unit. The bill targets city-issued permit misuse. Streets clogged by illegal parking put walkers and riders at risk. Action now sits with the transportation committee.

Int 0173-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a parking permit enforcement unit within the department of transportation," would require DOT to form a unit dedicated to enforcing laws against misuse of city-issued parking permits. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Erik D. Bottcher, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, and Farah N. Louis. The bill aims to curb illegal parking that endangers pedestrians and cyclists. It awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0173-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - 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

Feb 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

Feb 28 - Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council moves to create a DOT parking squad. The bill targets illegal parking. Sponsors say it will enforce rules. Streets choke on blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

Bill Int 0264-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it would require the Department of Transportation to form a unit focused on parking violations. The matter title reads: 'Establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, and others. The bill aims to crack down on illegal parking, a known threat to people on foot and bike. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but blocked lanes endanger all who travel outside a car.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28