Blood on the Corners, Silence in City Hall

At Linden Blvd and Drew St, a Chevy SUV turned left into the path of a BMW sedan driving straight. Steel tore open steel. A 28-year-old woman in the back seat suffered a deep facial laceration but remained conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:10 AM at Linden Boulevard and Drew Street in Brooklyn. The Chevy SUV was making a left turn when it collided with a BMW sedan traveling straight eastbound. The report states: 'A Chevy turned left. A BMW came straight. Steel tore open steel.' The impact caused severe facial lacerations to a 28-year-old female rear-seat occupant, who remained conscious at the scene. The Chevy driver, a 50-year-old male, suffered internal injuries to his hip and upper leg. The report does not explicitly cite driver errors such as failure to yield, but the collision dynamics highlight the inherent danger when turning vehicles cross paths with oncoming traffic. No contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior or safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788337, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council wants autism warning plaques on city streets. Parents could request signs. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors say it alerts drivers. No proven safety gain for children. The city keeps counting on signs. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 1142-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 19, 2024. The bill is titled, "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing child with autism warning plaques on streets." Council Member Kevin C. Riley is the primary sponsor, joined by Ariola, Joseph, Moya, Won, Banks, Narcisse, Paladino, and Marmorato. Their action: referral to committee. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install warning plaques at the request of a parent or guardian. It details the process for requesting, installing, and removing these signs. The stated aim is to alert motorists to the presence of a child with autism. There is no evidence these plaques reduce crashes or protect children. The city continues to rely on signage, not street redesign, to address systemic danger.

• File Int 1142-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Council bill targets e-bike and e-scooter share systems. Speedometers become mandatory. New riders lose electric assist at 10 mph. Brewer, Lee, and Banks sponsor. The measure sits in committee. The city moves to slow the machines. Streets may change.

Int 1145-2024 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 19, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that electric bicycles and electric scooters that are part of share systems have speedometers and limit electric speed assistance to new riders," would force all shared e-bikes and e-scooters to have working speedometers. For new riders, electric assist would cut out at 10 miles per hour. Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, and Chris Banks back the measure. The bill aims to slow inexperienced users and make speeds visible. It remains in committee. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1145-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

City Council passed a law forcing DOT to check with FDNY before approving open streets, bike lanes, or big street changes. Firehouses get notified. Council members and boards get updates. The law aims for more eyes, more voices, but adds hurdles for street redesigns.

Bill Int 0104-2024, now Local Law 6 of 2025, was enacted by the City Council on January 18, 2025, after passing both the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council in December 2024. The law requires the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department before approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, or major transportation projects. The official matter title states the law amends the city code to require DOT to consult with FDNY and notify affected firehouses before moving forward. Primary sponsor Kalman Yeger, with co-sponsors including Joann Ariola, Robert Holden, Lynn Schulman, and others, pushed the bill through. The law expands notification and comment rights for firehouses and community boards, adding new steps before any street or lane changes. No safety analyst assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users. The law’s effect: more agencies weigh in, but the process for safer streets grows longer and more complex.

• File Int 0104-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Two Audis slam together on Belt Parkway. Metal crumples, glass bursts. A 21-year-old driver, unbelted, is hurled onto the asphalt, head bleeding, silent and still. Unsafe speed and distraction leave wreckage and blood in their wake.

On Belt Parkway, two eastbound Audis collided at high speed. According to the police report, the crash involved a 2023 Audi and a 2005 Audi, both traveling straight. The report states that 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' were the primary contributing factors. The impact demolished the front of one Audi and crushed the rear of the other. A 21-year-old male driver, listed as unbelted and ejected from his vehicle, suffered severe head bleeding and was found unconscious on the roadway. The police report describes the aftermath as 'silence' following the violent collision. No victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor; the focus remains on driver error and the lethal consequences of excessive speed and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778930, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV hit a 58-year-old woman in the road near 570 Pennsylvania Ave. Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street. The SUV rolled on, untouched. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of her last breath.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV traveling north near 570 Pennsylvania Ave in Brooklyn struck a 58-year-old woman who was in the roadway. The report states, 'Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head and crush injuries. The SUV sustained no damage and continued on. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway' at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the SUV and the systemic danger faced by pedestrians in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772871, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council moves to strip speed cameras from zones where schools have shut down. Annual studies will flag dead schools. Cameras come down. Streets lose a layer of watchfulness. The bill sits in committee. Vulnerable road users face more risk.

Int 1106-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on November 13, 2024. The bill orders the Commissioner of Transportation, with the Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, to conduct yearly studies to find non-operational schools. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' Council Members Chris Banks (District 42, primary sponsor) and Kamillah Hanks (District 49, co-sponsor) back the measure. If passed, speed cameras must be removed from zones tied to closed schools. The bill’s plain language summary confirms cameras will be pulled from these areas. No safety analyst has weighed in, but the removal of cameras means less oversight where children and families once crossed. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Council passed a law forcing DOT to show traffic device and speed reducer requests on its website. Now, every case number, status, and decision must be public. The move cracks open city data, exposing delays and denials that shape street danger.

Int 0468-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Council passed it on October 23, 2024; it became law November 22, 2024, as Local Law 113. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the department of transportation posting information on traffic-control device and speed reducer requests on its website.” Council Member Kalman Yeger led as primary sponsor, joined by dozens of co-sponsors. The law orders DOT to publish every request for traffic signals and speed humps—case number, subject, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial, and timeline if approved. The public can now track what the city does, or fails to do, when streets need taming. This transparency exposes the machinery behind every crosswalk, signal, and speed bump—vital for anyone who walks, bikes, or rides in New York.

• File Int 0468-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-23

A 49-year-old man lay bleeding on Hegeman Avenue, struck while crossing. The car’s front end crumpled. He mumbled, incoherent, as the street fell silent. The crash left him motionless, blood pooling from his leg, danger written in steel and silence.

A 49-year-old pedestrian was struck at the intersection of Hegeman Avenue and 212th, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man was mid-crossing; he sustained severe bleeding to his lower leg and was described as incoherent at the scene. The police report notes the vehicle was traveling east and struck the pedestrian with its center front end, resulting in visible damage to the car. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly named, but the impact location and injury details underscore the systemic danger faced by pedestrians at intersections. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The narrative captures the aftermath: 'Blood ran from his leg. He mumbled nonsense. The car’s front crumpled. He did not rise. The street held its breath.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763603, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1069-2024 slashes legal parking time for tractor-trailers and similar trucks to 90 minutes. Commercial vehicles clogging curbs will face tighter limits. The measure targets streets where hulking rigs linger, blocking sightlines and endangering walkers and riders.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." It limits parking for tractor-trailer combinations, tractors, truck trailers, and semi-trailers to 90 minutes, down from three hours. Council Member Kevin C. Riley leads as primary sponsor, joined by Nantasha M. Williams, Darlene Mealy, Sandy Nurse, and others. The bill was referred to committee the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the measure aims to keep large trucks from blocking curbs and crosswalks, where they threaten pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

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

Steel struck flesh on Hinsdale Street. An SUV’s bumper smashed into a 72-year-old man pedaling north. His hip shattered. Blood streaked the pavement. He stayed conscious, staring skyward as the city thundered past.

A 72-year-old man riding a bicycle northbound on Hinsdale Street near 617 was struck by a southbound SUV, according to the police report. The collision occurred at 12:18 p.m. in Brooklyn. The report describes, 'Steel met flesh. His hip shattered. Blood slicked the asphalt. The bumper bent. He stayed awake, staring up at the sky.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations and a broken hip but remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s left front bumper bore the impact. Both vehicles were reported as traveling straight ahead before the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on driver actions or errors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the violent impact between the SUV and the vulnerable cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757681, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an unlicensed e-bike struck a young woman crossing Gateway Drive. Her leg split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. The bike’s front end crumpled. She stayed conscious, pain sharp and immediate. The rider swerved too late.

According to the police report, a man operating an unlicensed e-bike collided with a 23-year-old woman crossing Gateway Drive near 528 Gateway Drive in Brooklyn at 5:48 PM. The report details that the e-bike’s front end crumpled on impact, and the pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg, remaining conscious at the scene. The police cite 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The e-bike operator was unlicensed and failed to avoid the pedestrian, swerving too late. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing outside the crosswalk, but this is listed after the driver’s errors. The crash left blood on the pavement and a young woman injured, underscoring the dangers posed by unlicensed and inexperienced vehicle operators.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750508, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The council passed a law forcing DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Protected lanes get tracked. The city must show where riders go and where danger lurks. Data goes public. Riders get seen.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity,' was introduced April 11, 2024. It passed committee and full council votes on August 15, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88 of 2024. Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, Lynn C. Schulman, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and others backed the measure. The law compels DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, including counts from automated sensors. DOT must also describe safety projects and analyze crash and usage data to guide improvements. This law forces transparency. It puts the movement and safety of vulnerable riders on record.

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

Midnight on Farragut Road. Three sedans slam together. Metal twists. A 51-year-old woman bleeds from the head. A 46-year-old driver pinned, clutching her leg. Both conscious. Both battered. The dark street swallows their cries.

According to the police report, three sedans collided at midnight on Farragut Road near East 84th Street in Brooklyn. The impact left a 51-year-old woman, riding as a front passenger, bleeding from the head with crush injuries. A 46-year-old woman, driving one of the vehicles, suffered crush injuries to her leg and was pinned in the wreck. Both victims remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for all vehicles involved, calling attention to unspecified driver actions or systemic vehicular failures. No evidence in the report points to any error or contributing behavior by the injured women. The crash unfolded in darkness, and the violence of the impact left both victims wounded and trapped, underscoring the persistent dangers facing vehicle occupants on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746522, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council calls for five mile per hour speed cap on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. Resolution passes. Streets may breathe easier. The city pushes Albany to let it set its own pace.

Resolution 0079-2024, adopted June 6, 2024 by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. The measure would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. 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 committee approved the resolution with strong support. The bill targets streets where pedestrians and cyclists mix with traffic. Lower speeds mean fewer crashes and less severe injuries. The council’s action puts pressure on Albany to give the city the power to protect people where they are most exposed.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes, and riders must take a DOT safety course. Ignore the rule, lose your bike. The pilot runs three years. DOT must track completions, impounds, and results. Law aims to curb reckless riding.

Int 0874-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on May 16, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a pilot abatement program for unsafe operators of pedal-assist bicycles,' orders the Department of Transportation to launch a three-year pilot. Riders with three or more moving violations must complete a DOT-run safety course. Fail, and their pedal-assist bike can be seized until proof of course completion. The bill requires DOT to report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. Council Member Joann Ariola leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, Darlene Mealy, Chris Banks, and Kamillah Hanks. The measure seeks to hold repeat offenders accountable and reduce harm to pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0874-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Council wants lights on city step streets. The bill orders the DOT to brighten at least 25 stairways a year. Dark stairs mean danger. Light means fewer falls, fewer hidden threats. The push comes from a broad coalition. The goal is simple: safer steps.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian lighting on at least 25 step streets each year. The bill’s matter title 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 leads, joined by Council Members Hanks, Ayala, Salaam, Brooks-Powers, Banks, Restler, Brannan, Ung, Gutiérrez, Louis, Hudson, Schulman, Ossé, Krishnan, Nurse, Moya, and Marmorato. Step streets are public staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to ensure these stairs are well-lit, reducing risk for walkers. Once all step streets are lit, the mandate ends. The measure targets a clear hazard: darkness on city stairs.

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

Two sedans slammed head-on in the pre-dawn hush. Metal shrieked. A 22-year-old man bled from the head but stayed conscious. Parked cars trembled. The street bore the wreckage and the silence that followed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on on Euclid Avenue at 4:14 a.m. The crash tore through the quiet street, leaving a 22-year-old male driver with severe head bleeding, though he remained conscious. The narrative states, 'Euclid Avenue, pre-dawn hush—two sedans collided head-on. Metal tore. A 22-year-old man bled from the head but stayed awake. Parked cars shuddered in silence.' The report lists both vehicles as 'Going Straight Ahead' before impact. Parked cars, including a pick-up truck and another sedan, were struck in the aftermath. No specific driver errors are cited in the contributing factors, which are marked as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the violent impact and the resulting injury, with no mention of victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722036, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Dawn broke in Brooklyn as an SUV ran a signal on Wortman Avenue. Steel struck a 57-year-old man. The city stirred; he did not. His body lay still, crushed in the road, another life ended by disregard behind the wheel.

According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV traveling east on Wortman Avenue near Georgia Avenue disregarded a traffic control device in the early morning hours. The report states the vehicle "ran the signal" and struck a 57-year-old man who was in the roadway. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors on the part of the driver. No evidence in the report suggests any contributing behavior by the victim. The impact occurred away from an intersection, with the SUV's center front end colliding with the pedestrian. The narrative underscores the violence of the crash: "Steel met flesh. The light changed. He did not."

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715011, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15