Flatbush Bleeds While City Hall Delays

A Dodge SUV plowed into a 25-year-old motorcyclist on Albany Avenue, crushing his body and leaving him unconscious. The bike was destroyed. The street fell silent as the young man lay broken, ejected, and battered in the Brooklyn night.

A violent crash unfolded on Albany Avenue near Farragut Road at 1:41 a.m., according to the police report. A Dodge SUV struck a 25-year-old man riding a ZHI motorcycle from behind, ejecting him and causing severe crush injuries to his entire body. The police report states the SUV's driver was inattentive or distracted, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The motorcyclist was left unconscious at the scene, his motorcycle demolished. The report further notes 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors in the crash. The SUV's front end collided with the motorcycle's rear, a classic pattern of driver error and systemic danger for vulnerable road users. The police report records that the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears only after the driver’s documented failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775575, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a 75-year-old man on Utica Avenue, tearing his eye and leaving blood on the street. The driver was distracted. The man stayed conscious, wounded and upright, as the city’s traffic pressed on around him.

A 75-year-old man was struck by a sedan on Utica Avenue near Church Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The collision occurred outside the crosswalk at 17:24. The report states, 'A sedan struck a 75-year-old man outside the crosswalk. His eye torn, blood on the asphalt. He stayed conscious.' The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan’s left front bumper made contact, causing severe lacerations to the pedestrian’s eye. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver’s distraction, which led to the violent impact and left the pedestrian injured on the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778655, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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 sedan barreled south on Utica Avenue and struck a man crossing with the signal. Blood streaked his face. He stood, conscious, torn by steel and rage, his eye lacerated, the street marked by violence and failure.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Utica Avenue at Avenue K struck a 35-year-old man who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states the vehicle's front end hit the pedestrian head-on, resulting in severe lacerations to his eye. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors in the collision. The pedestrian's behavior—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, but only after the driver's aggressive actions and failure to yield. The incident underscores the danger posed by aggressive driving and the systemic risks faced by people walking in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765153, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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

A sedan cut left on Flatbush. A moped pressed straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider, 26, took the hit. His leg split open. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious. Pain roared. The street bore witness.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn at Flatbush Avenue and Avenue H collided with a moped traveling straight. The moped rider, a 26-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations to his leg and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan's right front bumper struck the moped's front end. The narrative states, 'Metal struck flesh. The rider, 26, hit hard. His leg gashed open. Blood pooled on the street.' No evidence in the report suggests any action by the moped rider contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the sedan driver's failure to yield and inattention, which led to the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756217, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan cut left on Utica Avenue. An e-bike shot straight. Two young men launched from the bike, heads striking pavement. Blood pooled. Both lay conscious, bleeding, silent in the Brooklyn night. The street bore witness to their pain.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn at Utica Avenue and Avenue H in Brooklyn collided with an e-bike traveling straight. The crash occurred at 22:40. The report states, 'A sedan turned left. An e-bike kept straight. Two young men flew from the bike, no helmets. Their heads hit pavement. Blood pooled. Both conscious. Both bleeding.' Both e-bike riders, aged 22 and 21, were ejected and suffered severe head injuries with heavy bleeding. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, highlighting a driver error. The sedan's left turn across the e-bike's path and the disregard for traffic control devices are central to the crash. The report notes the e-bike riders were not wearing helmets, but this detail is mentioned after the driver’s failure to obey traffic rules. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by driver actions and traffic violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753262, 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

An SUV swung wide on Avenue K, carving a path into a cyclist’s flesh. Blood pooled. The man stayed conscious, pain roaring through his split arm. The driver’s turn, sudden and improper, left steel and bone tangled in Brooklyn’s morning.

A 47-year-old man riding east on Avenue K near East 24th Street was struck by an SUV making a U-turn, according to the police report. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm but remained conscious as blood pooled on the pavement. The police report identifies 'Turning Improperly' as the sole contributing factor, with the SUV driver executing a U-turn into the cyclist’s path. The cyclist was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is not listed as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error—here, an improper turn—on Brooklyn’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745220, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mazda tore down East 80th and crashed into two parked cars. Metal screamed. The driver, semiconscious, bled in the dark, shoulder torn, trapped by his belt. Sirens echoed. The street stood silent, witness to speed and inexperience.

According to the police report, a Mazda sedan traveling east on East 80th Street near Farragut Road struck two parked vehicles—a sedan and a taxi—at 3:31 a.m. in Brooklyn. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was found semiconscious, suffering severe bleeding and a torn shoulder, trapped by his lap belt. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the crash. The parked vehicles were unoccupied at the time. The narrative details the violent impact: 'A Mazda slammed into two parked cars. The driver, 39, lay semiconscious, bleeding, shoulder torn, lap belt tight. Steam hissed. Sirens rose.' The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the dangers posed by driver error and excessive speed, leaving the driver gravely injured and the street scarred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742345, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Dawn on Utica Avenue. A moped slams into a turning SUV. The rider is hurled, body torn, blood on the street. Semiconscious, broken, he lies in the silence. Traffic control disregarded. The city’s wounds deepen.

At 4:58 a.m. on Utica Avenue at Clarendon Road in Brooklyn, a violent collision left a 41-year-old moped rider severely injured. According to the police report, a moped traveling north struck the right front bumper of a station wagon/SUV that was making a left turn. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. The moped rider was ejected from his vehicle, suffering severe lacerations to his entire body and was found semiconscious at the scene. The narrative describes the rider as 'broken in the dawn,' with blood marking the street. No victim actions are cited as contributing factors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls at New York City intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739440, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A teenage boy sat in the back seat. The SUV’s right side took the hit. Glass cut his face. Blood spilled. The driver ran the light. The street fell silent, the boy left scarred.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at Avenue K and East 45th Street in Brooklyn when an SUV was struck on its right side. The report states that the driver disregarded traffic control, specifically running a red light. A 15-year-old boy, riding as a right rear passenger in the SUV, suffered severe facial lacerations from shattered glass. The narrative details, 'Glass cut deep into his face. Blood ran. The light was ignored.' The boy was not wearing a seatbelt, but the primary contributing factors cited in the report are 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'View Obstructed/Limited.' The crash left the teenager in shock and with significant injuries. The police report centers driver error—ignoring a traffic signal—as the cause of this violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738426, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan slammed into an e-bike on Avenue M. Metal shrieked. A 19-year-old passenger flew from the bike, head smashing the pavement. Blood pooled. The car’s nose crumpled. The bike twisted, broken. Streets bear the mark of impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Avenue M collided broadside with an e-bike heading south. The crash occurred at 15:27. The report states the sedan failed to yield the right-of-way, resulting in the impact. A 19-year-old male passenger on the e-bike was ejected, suffering a head injury and severe bleeding after striking the pavement. The narrative describes blood pooling on the asphalt, the car’s front end crumpled, and the e-bike’s rear twisted and broken. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The injured passenger was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail follows the driver’s error. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard right-of-way, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to devastating harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736568, 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

A 15-year-old boy was hurled from an SUV on Foster Avenue, semiconscious and bleeding, after the vehicle crashed into a stopped car. Shattered metal, folded steel, distraction at the wheel. The street bore the mark of inattention.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Foster Avenue near East 40th Street in Brooklyn when a station wagon/SUV traveling east slammed into a stopped vehicle. The report states the SUV's driver, a 15-year-old boy, was ejected from the vehicle, found semiconscious and bleeding from the face. The narrative describes the front end of the SUV shattered and the rear of the stopped car folded inward. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The vehicle damage and point of impact confirm a violent crash. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The report centers driver distraction and improper lane use as the causes behind the severe injury and destruction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723773, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0842-2024 demands DOT factor traffic enforcement agents into every city safety plan. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors say it targets deadly streets. The law would force DOT to map out where agents stand guard, not just hope for safer roads.

Bill Int 0842-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced April 18, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to consider placement of traffic enforcement agents in developing an interagency roadway safety plan," requires DOT to consider where traffic enforcement agents are stationed when drafting the city’s five-year safety plan. Sponsors include Council Member Justin L. Brannan (primary), Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, and the Queens Borough President (by request). The bill responds to Local Law 12 of 2011, which already mandates a safety plan, but this measure sharpens the focus: DOT must show where agents will be placed to protect the most dangerous corridors. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 0842-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council wants DOT to study speed bumps and other ways to slow electric bikes in bike lanes. The bill targets crash hotspots. Sponsors demand answers. The measure sits in committee. No action yet. Riders and walkers wait for results.

Int 0823-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on April 18, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to study speed bumps and other speed-reducing measures for electric bikes in bike lanes. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law in relation to a department of transportation study on speed reducing measures for bicycles with electric assist operating in bicycle lanes.' Council Members Robert F. Holden, Justin L. Brannan, James F. Gennaro (primary sponsor), Farah N. Louis, Vickie Paladino, and David M. Carr back the bill. Their action: sponsorship and referral to committee. The study must pinpoint crash-prone spots and weigh the impact on all users. If speed bumps won’t work, DOT must suggest alternatives. The bill expires once the study is submitted.

• File Int 0823-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Abandoned cars choke sidewalks and crossings. Int 0857-2024 orders city crews to tow vehicles that block streets or hide their plates. Council pushes for swift removal—seventy-two hours after notice. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced April 18, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to towing vehicles that are an encumbrance on the street.' It requires the Department of Sanitation to remove vehicles blocking the street within 72 hours of notice. The NYPD must tow cars with missing, obscured, or improper plates and stickers. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca, Brannan, Feliz, Ayala, Louis, Brewer, Avilés, Mealy, Ung, Restler, Farías, Hudson, Riley, and Schulman. The bill targets vehicles that endanger pedestrians and cyclists by blocking sightlines and crossings. It aims to clear hazards fast, making streets safer for all vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18