Simcha Felder’s Silence Is Deadly: How Many More Must Die?

A taxi ran the light at Avenue P and West 1st. It struck a 65-year-old man crossing with the signal. His pelvis shattered. He died on the street. Two passengers and a driver suffered neck injuries. Parked cars and an SUV took the crash’s force.

A 65-year-old man was killed while crossing Avenue P at West 1st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A 65-year-old man crossed with the light. A taxi struck him head-on. His pelvis shattered. He died where he fell.' The crash also injured a 2-year-old girl, a 29-year-old woman, and a 32-year-old man, all suffering neck pain. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver ignored the signal. Parked vehicles and an SUV were also struck. The police report makes no mention of helmet or signal use by the pedestrian. The data shows the deadly result of disregarding traffic control at a Brooklyn intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0401-2022 would force the city to install speed humps on streets bordering parks over one acre. The measure targets reckless driving near green spaces. The transportation committee filed the bill at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0401-2022 was introduced in the City Council on May 19, 2022, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by sixteen co-sponsors. The bill would have required the Department of Transportation to install speed humps on all roadways next to parks at least one acre in size, unless the DOT commissioner found installation unsafe or inconsistent with guidelines. The bill was filed without passage at the end of the session. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0401-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

Council tried to stop repair shops and rentals from clogging streets with cars. The bill set steep fines and allowed impoundment. It died at session’s end. Streets stay crowded. Danger for walkers and riders remains. No relief for the vulnerable.

Int 0393-2022 was introduced on May 19, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to prohibit commercial establishments—repair shops, rental agencies, maintenance shops—from parking, storing, or idling vehicles on city streets. The matter summary states: 'This bill would prohibit commercial establishments from parking vehicles on city streets as part of their business.' Civil penalties ranged from $250 to $400 per day, with possible impoundment. Sponsors included Kalman Yeger (primary), Carlina Rivera, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Kevin C. Riley, Marjorie Velázquez, Erik D. Bottcher, Nantasha M. Williams, and Robert F. Holden. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst assessment was provided. The bill’s failure leaves streets crowded with commercial vehicles, keeping vulnerable road users at risk.

• File Int 0393-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

A sanitation truck killed a cyclist in Borough Park. The driver fled, then got summonses but no arrest. MTA workers kept parking illegally at the scene. Local politicians block safer streets. The road still lacks protection. Cyclists remain exposed. Danger lingers.

On May 7, 2022, a sanitation truck driver struck and killed a cyclist in Borough Park. The driver fled but was later found and issued multiple summonses, though not arrested. The crash site remained clogged with illegally parked cars, many marked with MTA vests and NYPD placards. These blockages forced buses to detour and left cyclists at risk. The neighborhood has no protected bike lanes. Local officials—State Sen. Simcha Felder, Assembly Member Peter Abbate, and Council Member Kalman Yeger—have opposed street safety improvements. Abbate, quoted as saying, "Bicyclists need to wear a helmet and be registered," supports more enforcement against drivers but resists bike infrastructure. He doubts DOT safety data and calls for stricter punishment for dangerous drivers, yet maintains opposition to measures that protect vulnerable road users. The MTA stated employees are not exempt from parking rules. The street remains unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Truck Driver Gets a Few Summonses for Killing Borough Park Cyclist as MTA Workers Continue Dangerous Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-07

Council bill sought bright bands on bollards, curbs, posts, roundabouts. The aim: make street hazards visible in the dark. DOT would install 250 reflective upgrades per borough each year. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay dim.

Int 0369-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 5, 2022. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install reflective material on bollards, curbs, posts, and roundabouts—at least 250 installations per borough, per year. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the installation of reflective material on bollards, curbs, posts, and roundabouts.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Marjorie Velázquez, Kalman Yeger, Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, and Rita C. Joseph backed the bill. Despite support, the bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s most dangerous fixtures remain hard to see.

• File Int 0369-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

Council tried to pay tipsters for catching hit-and-run drivers who maim or kill. The bill died. No reward. No justice for victims. Streets stay dangerous. Drivers flee. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. Lawmakers failed to act.

Int 0329-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Public Safety on May 5, 2022. The bill aimed to amend the city code to 'establish a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph sponsored the bill, joined by sixteen co-sponsors including Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, and others. The bill would have authorized up to $1,000 for information leading to the capture of hit-and-run drivers, but excluded law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The measure was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. With the bill's failure, the city offers no extra incentive to help catch drivers who leave victims bleeding in the street.

• File Int 0329-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

Council bill Int 0334-2022 would cut the city’s repair window for street and sidewalk hazards from fifteen days to seven. If the city fails to fix dangers after notice, injured people can sue. The bill stalled. Streets stay risky.

Int 0334-2022, introduced on May 5, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend New York City’s administrative code. The bill’s summary reads: “Requirements for maintenance of a civil action against the city for damages or injuries sustained in consequence of unsafe conditions on streets, sidewalks or similar public spaces.” Council Members Julie Won, Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor), and Robert F. Holden sponsored the measure. The bill would have forced the city to fix reported street and sidewalk hazards within seven days, down from fifteen. If the city failed, injured pedestrians or cyclists could sue. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No new protections reached the street.

• File Int 0334-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

Council bill Int 0224-2022 would bar sightseeing buses from bus lanes during rush hours. The measure targets weekday mornings and evenings. Sponsors say it keeps lanes clear for city buses. The bill stalled, filed at session’s end.

Int 0224-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to amend city law to 'restrict the use of bus lanes by sight-seeing buses.' It would have prohibited sightseeing buses from using bus lanes between 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. The Department of Transportation would also be barred from authorizing sightseeing bus stops in bus lanes during those hours. Council Members Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor), Justin Brannan, Sandy Nurse, Lincoln Restler, and Diana Ayala backed the bill. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. The bill aimed to keep bus lanes clear for transit, reducing congestion and potential conflict with pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0224-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

A Volvo SUV turned right at 13th Avenue and 51st Street. A woman crossed. The SUV did not stop. Her arm was torn off. She died on the street. The driver stayed. The city moved on.

A Volvo SUV made a right turn at the corner of 13th Avenue and 51st Street in Brooklyn. A 46-year-old woman was crossing the street when the SUV struck her. According to the police report, 'A Volvo turned right. A woman crossed against the light. The SUV did not stop. Her arm was torn off. She died there, though her body still moved.' The pedestrian suffered an amputation and died at the scene. The data lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver, a 20-year-old man, was licensed and remained at the scene. No injuries were reported for the driver or other occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4522798, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0172-2022 would force DOT to warn communities before changing open streets. Sixty days’ notice. Four weeks for comments. Two weeks for answers. Streets can’t shift without neighbors knowing. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay uncertain.

Int 0172-2022, filed by the NYC Council and handled by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend city law on open streets. Introduced April 14, 2022, the bill required the Department of Transportation to give 60 days’ notice to council members, boards, and local groups before any permanent open street changes. The bill’s summary reads: “notification and community input regarding designation of, removal of and changes to open streets.” Sponsors included Tiffany Cabán (primary), Crystal Hudson, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Kalman Yeger, Sandy Nurse, Shahana K. Hanif, and Althea V. Stevens. The bill mandated a four-week comment window and a two-week response period, plus annual reporting and advance notice for temporary changes. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving open streets policy unchanged.

• File Int 0172-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14

Council bill Int 0147-2022 would force DOT to answer traffic device requests in 60 days. No more endless waits. Denials must show crash data and study details. Brannan, Yeger, Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse back the push. The bill died in committee.

Int 0147-2022 was introduced on April 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to issue a traffic study determination within 60 days of a request for a traffic control device by a council member or community board. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Council Members Brannan, Yeger (primary), Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse sponsored the bill. The measure aimed to end delays and force transparency by requiring denials to include crash data and study summaries. The bill was filed at the end of session and did not become law.

• File Int 0147-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14

When a traffic light fails, time matters. This bill orders the city to plant stop or yield signs within an hour. No more waiting. The aim: fewer crashes, fewer bodies in the street. The council filed it. The danger remains.

Int 0101-2022 was introduced on March 24, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to place temporary priority regulatory signs—like stop or yield—at intersections within one hour of a reported inoperable traffic signal. The matter summary states, 'requiring the placement of temporary priority regulatory signs at intersections within one hour of a report of an inoperable traffic control signal.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Julie Won, Kalman Yeger, and Justin L. Brannan sponsored the bill. The session ended with the bill filed, not enacted. Analysts noted that faster signage could 'significantly reduce the risk of pedestrian injury and vehicular collisions at intersections with malfunctioning traffic control signals.' The city’s current two-hour response and 24-hour wait for alternative controls left vulnerable road users exposed. This bill tried to close that deadly gap.

• File Int 0101-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-03-24

Council calls for tougher checks on aging drivers. S.5004 would force a medical exam after seven license renewals. The move follows a teen’s death by a senior driver. New York lags behind other states on older driver safety rules.

Resolution 0090-2022, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 24, 2022, it urges Albany to pass S.5004. The resolution’s title: 'calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.5004, to enhance the fitness and safety requirements for certain licensed individuals.' Council Members Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor, District 44) and Robert F. Holden (co-sponsor, District 30) led the push. The bill responds to the death of Madeline Sershen, 17, killed by an 88-year-old driver who ran a red. S.5004 would require drivers to prove medical fitness with a physician’s exam after their seventh license renewal. New York’s current rules only demand a vision test every eight years, far less strict than many states. The council’s action highlights a gap in protections for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

• File Res 0090-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-03-24

Council bill Int 0052-2022 would force DOT to keep curbs at proper height after street work. Filed at session’s end. Holden and Yeger led. The bill targets property flooding but leaves pedestrian safety unaddressed. No direct impact for vulnerable road users.

Int 0052-2022 was introduced on February 24, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that the department of transportation maintain curb heights following street construction.' Council Members Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor, District 44) and Robert F. Holden (co-sponsor, District 30) backed the measure. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. The proposal aimed to prevent property flooding and fines by mandating DOT restore curb heights after construction. However, no safety analyst assessed its impact on pedestrians or cyclists. The bill’s focus was property protection, not street safety.

• File Int 0052-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-02-24

Council called on the MTA to make every renovated subway station fully accessible. Only a fraction of stations have elevators. Lawmakers want no more half-measures. The resolution was filed at session’s end. Riders with disabilities remain stranded underground.

Resolution 0009-2022 was introduced on February 10, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ensure any subway station undergoing enhancement or renovation becomes fully accessible to people with disabilities. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make any subway stations undergoing enhancement or renovation fully accessible to people with disabilities.' Council Member Darlene Mealy sponsored the resolution, joined by Brannan, Menin, Louis, Yeger, Hanif, Hudson, Marte, Joseph, Riley, and Brooks-Powers. The resolution was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Only 117 out of 493 subway stations are accessible. The Council’s action highlights the city’s failure to guarantee safe, equal passage for all riders. Elevators and upgrades are overdue. The bill’s filing leaves vulnerable New Yorkers waiting.

• File Res 0009-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-02-10

A BMW turned right on East 12th Street. Its front bumper hit a five-year-old boy standing off the road. Metal crushed his small frame. He died at the scene. The driver stayed licensed. The street stayed silent.

A 2012 BMW sedan, driven by a licensed woman, made a right turn on East 12th Street. According to the police report, the car's right front bumper struck a five-year-old boy who was standing off the roadway. The impact killed the child. The report states, 'His small body broke beneath the metal. He never woke.' The driver remained at the scene and was listed as licensed. No contributing factors were specified in the police data. The child was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The report does not list any driver errors or additional causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4501631, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck hit a 13-year-old girl on Coney Island Avenue. She lay bleeding, head struck, motionless on the pavement. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed cold and silent. The driver kept moving south. The girl did not move.

A 13-year-old girl was struck by a southbound box truck near 1358 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the girl crossed against the signal and was hit by the truck's right front bumper. She suffered a head injury, severe bleeding, and was found unconscious on the pavement. The report notes the truck had no visible damage. No driver errors were listed in the data, and the only contributing factor recorded was the pedestrian crossing against the signal. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The driver was licensed and remained uninjured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497835, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15