Eight Dead, Countless Broken—How Many Bodies Before Banks Acts?

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

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

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

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 2024-09-10

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "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 measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

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

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill 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, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

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

Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes trigger a mandatory safety course. Ignore the course, lose your bike. DOT will track results. Three-year pilot. Enforcement, not education, leads.

Int 0874-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Ariola (primary), Hanks, Hudson, Louis, Mealy, and Banks, the bill orders DOT to launch a pilot abatement program for unsafe pedal-assist bicycle operators. The bill summary states: 'Pedal-assist bicycle operators who accrue 3 or more moving violations under city law would be required to take a safe pedal-assist bicycle operation course offered by DOT.' Noncompliance means bike impoundment. DOT must report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. The pilot sunsets after three years. The bill aims to curb reckless riding through strict enforcement.

• File Int 0874-2024, 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 16-year-old girl crossing Sutter Avenue was struck by a 2004 Mercedes. Her body broke under the car’s weight. She remained conscious, her screams echoing through the Brooklyn night. The street bore witness to her pain, the city’s danger unyielding.

According to the police report, a 2004 Mercedes struck a 16-year-old girl as she crossed Sutter Avenue near Doscher Street in Brooklyn. The report states the girl was crossing without a signal when the vehicle hit her, resulting in crush injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes the impact: 'Her body broke under the weight. She stayed conscious. The street echoed with her screams.' No driver actions or errors were cited in the police report, nor were any contributing factors attributed to the driver. The only victim behavior noted was that she was 'crossing without a signal.' The report does not mention any other circumstances or vehicle types involved. The focus remains on the violence of the impact and the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712918 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Council moves to force DOT to post clear bus lane signs on every block. Riders and walkers need to know when cars must stay out. The bill demands public, block-by-block rules. No more guessing. Streets reveal their rules.

Int 0647-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on March 7, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to bus lane restrictions," orders DOT to post signs on each block with bus lane rules and to publish hours online. Sponsors include Althea V. Stevens (primary), Chris Banks, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Amanda Farías, Yusef Salaam, and Kevin C. Riley. The measure aims to end confusion and make bus lane rules plain for all. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0647-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28