Flatbush Bleeds While City Hall Delays

Council bill orders DOT to study speed bumps at camera sites. If possible, bumps go in within a year. Annual reports track danger and decide if cameras stay. Carr, Louis, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino back the move. Streets may slow. Lives may change.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. The bill reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), David M. Carr, Sandra Ung, Robert F. Holden, Joann Ariola, and Vickie Paladino sponsor the measure. If DOT finds a location suitable, it must install a raised speed reducer within a year. DOT must also report annually, track changes in dangerous driving, and recommend if cameras are still needed. The bill aims to force physical changes where drivers speed, not just rely on cameras. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A Hyundai SUV turned left on Avenue H. It struck the side of an Infiniti sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered neck crush injuries. Night air thickened. Driver inattention cut through Brooklyn’s quiet.

According to the police report, a Hyundai SUV was making a left turn at Avenue H and East 38th Street when it struck the right side of an Infiniti sedan that was traveling straight. The crash occurred at 22:25 in Brooklyn. The report states the SUV’s driver was inattentive or distracted, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The impact crushed the sedan driver’s neck. The 27-year-old man, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, remained conscious after the collision. The police narrative describes the scene: 'A Hyundai SUV turned left. An Infiniti sedan went straight. The SUV struck the sedan’s side. A 27-year-old man, belted in, suffered crush injuries to his neck. He stayed awake. The street went quiet.' The report does not cite any contributing actions by the injured driver. The focus remains on the left-turning SUV and the danger posed by driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705520, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council backs state bills to force moped buyers to show a valid license and register at the point of sale. Unregistered mopeds menace streets. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. The measure aims to close loopholes and cut illegal, dangerous riding.

Resolution 0024-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, it urges Albany to pass A.8052 and S.7703. The resolution calls for 'purchasers of limited use motorcycles present a driver’s license appropriate for the legal operation... and register such limited use motorcycles, prior to completing a purchase.' Council Member Gale A. Brewer leads, joined by Rivera, Schulman, Krishnan, Won, Bottcher, and others. The bills would require dealers to check licenses and register mopeds at sale. The Council notes that illegal, unregistered mopeds endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and riders. NYPD seized over 8,600 illegal mopeds by September 2023. The resolution presses for safeguards to keep unlicensed, unregistered vehicles off city streets.

• File Res 0024-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council members want 500 corridors lit for walkers each year. The bill demands bright sidewalks—no less than 1 footcandle. Most corridors must connect, forming safer, well-lit routes. The measure sits in committee, waiting for action. Darkness remains a threat.

Int 0079-2024, introduced on February 8, 2024, sits 'Laid Over in Committee' with 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 installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures,' would require the transportation commissioner to install sidewalk lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, each lit to a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux). At least 450 corridors must be contiguous to others with new or existing lighting. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and many others. The bill aims to cut through the city’s darkness, demanding light for those on foot. It remains stalled in committee, its promise unrealized.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council eyes danger at school gates. Bill orders a citywide study on raised crosswalks, intersections, and speed reducers near schools. Streets choke with cars. Children cross. The city stalls. The bill sits in committee. Lives hang in the balance.

Int 0095-2024, introduced February 8, 2024, sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill demands a study on 'the feasibility of installing raised crosswalks, raised intersections, and speed reducers at intersections and roadways adjacent to schools.' Council Member Julie Menin leads, joined by Schulman, Hudson, Brooks-Powers, Riley, Lee, Louis, Restler, and Gutiérrez as sponsors. The bill would repeal and replace Section 19-189 of the city code, requiring the Department of Transportation to report crash data and feasibility findings to the Mayor and Council Speaker. After the study, the Commissioner may install traffic-calming measures where possible. The bill remains 'Laid Over in Committee' as of June 25, 2024. No safety analyst note is available, but the bill targets systemic risk where children walk and drivers speed.

• File Int 0095-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council calls for state law to fail cars at inspection if plates are damaged or blocked. Obstructed plates let reckless drivers hide. Cameras miss them. Streets grow more dangerous. The bill targets this loophole. It sits in committee. Action is pending.

Resolution 0026-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The measure urges the New York State Legislature and Governor to require inspectors to fail any vehicle with a damaged or obstructed license plate. The resolution states: 'Obstructed and defaced license plates prevent cameras and law enforcement from identifying traffic offenders and impedes safe operating conditions on the road.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Sandra Ung, Crystal Hudson, and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers back the bill. They want to close a gap that lets drivers dodge red light and speed cameras. The bill aims to stop offenders from hiding behind unreadable plates. It remains in committee, awaiting further action.

• File Res 0026-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Steel struck flesh on East 38th. A Lexus, driver distracted, plowed into two men atop an e-scooter. Both thrown, torn, bleeding. No helmets. They lay conscious, broken, the street stained. The car kept moving, danger unchecked.

Two men riding an e-scooter on East 38th Street near Avenue D in Brooklyn were struck by a Lexus sedan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 19:47, with both victims—aged 23 and 26—suffering severe lacerations and partial ejection from the scooter. The report states, 'A Lexus struck an e-scooter carrying two men. No helmets. Both thrown, torn, bleeding. Steel met flesh. Skin split open.' Both men were conscious but badly injured, left broken across the road. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan driver, licensed in New York, was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary failure remains with the distracted driver. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698412, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed a law to overhaul city truck routes. The bill orders daylighting at intersections and new signage. It aims to cut crashes, boost visibility, and shrink truck miles. Sponsors demand safer streets for people on foot and bike. Change is now law.

Int 0708-2022, now Local Law 171 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council on December 16, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to redesigning the city truck route network," requires the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to "improve safety, increase visibility, reduce traffic congestion, and reduce vehicle miles traveled." Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by dozens of co-sponsors. The law mandates daylighting—removing parking near intersections—to clear sight lines for drivers and protect people crossing. DOT must consult with safety groups, residents, and businesses, and replace truck route signage for better clarity. The law sets deadlines: initial report by November 2023, implementation by June 2024, and new signage by July 2024. This overhaul targets the deadly risk trucks pose to vulnerable road users at city intersections.

• File Int 0708-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-11-15

A Toyota sedan struck from behind on Ralph Avenue. The driver, a woman, crushed at the wheel. Her son, 11, sat dazed, bleeding from the head. Metal and flesh met. Two lives jarred, held upright in the aftermath.

A Toyota sedan was rear-ended near Ralph Avenue and Glenwood Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan was struck from behind. The driver, a 46-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her lower body. Her 11-year-old son, riding in the front seat, was left bleeding from the head. Both were conscious after the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The impact left two occupants injured, their lives altered in a moment of violence on the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678012, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed a law forcing DOT to report cars with unreadable plates dodging cameras. The bill targets drivers hiding their plates from red light and speed cameras. Reports must show where, when, and how plates go unseen. Data goes public, every quarter.

Int 0712-2022, now enacted as Local Law 155 of 2023, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council on October 19, 2023. The law, sponsored by Gale A. Brewer with co-sponsors including Erik D. Bottcher, Lincoln Restler, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to report on vehicles with license plates unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems. The law’s title states it is 'in relation to reporting on motor vehicles with license plates that are unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems.' DOT must post quarterly reports showing the time, location, and reasons plates evade cameras—whether by concealment, distortion, or missing tags. The law aims to expose drivers who dodge automated enforcement, shining light on a loophole that puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The reports must be public and sent to the Mayor and Council Speaker.

• File Int 0712-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

Council passed Int 1164-2023. The law forces DOT to map out where street safety money goes. It tracks past investment, crash rates, and who gets left behind. The city must show its work, district by district. No more hiding the gaps.

Int 1164-2023, now enacted, amends the city code to require an 'investment roadmap' in every Streets Master Plan starting December 1, 2026. The bill moved through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passing on October 19, 2023, and became law on November 19, 2023. The law states: 'The department shall prioritize and promote...the safety of all street users...and improving equity in infrastructure investment.' Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley (primary), with Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Hanif, Brewer, Restler, and Rivera as co-sponsors, the bill demands DOT report, by neighborhood, on safety infrastructure investment, crash rates, and demographics. It shines a light on which districts get safety upgrades and which are left exposed. The roadmap aims to close the gap for underserved areas, forcing transparency and accountability for every dollar spent on street safety.

• File Int 1164-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

A taxi hit a man crossing Flatbush Avenue. Blood pooled on the street. The cab’s front end crumpled. The man stood, dazed, head bleeding. No signal. No warning. Night air thick with shock. The city kept moving.

A 36-year-old man was struck by a northbound taxi while crossing Flatbush Avenue near 1738 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened at 1:27 a.m. The pedestrian suffered a head wound and severe bleeding. The report describes the man as standing in shock after the impact, with blood pooling on the blacktop and the taxi’s front end crumpled. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was crossing mid-block, with no signal or crosswalk present, but no driver errors are specified in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672513, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan plowed into an e-scooter on Church Avenue. The rider, 37, flew from his seat. His head struck the pavement. Blood pooled beneath him. He lay conscious, crushed and broken, as traffic roared past in Brooklyn dusk.

A sedan struck an eastbound e-scooter at Church Avenue and East 49th Street in Brooklyn. The 37-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck an eastbound e-scooter. The rider, 37, flew from the seat. No helmet. Head crushed. He lay conscious in the street, blood spreading beneath him like a shadow that would not leave.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the police report, but the primary cause cited is driver inattention. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668550, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council calls for harsher punishment when e-scooter riders flee crash scenes. The resolution urges Albany to act. It also pushes to include e-bikes. Lawmakers say stiffer penalties could keep more drivers at the scene. Vulnerable road users stand to gain.

Resolution 0750-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 14, 2023, and closed at session's end on December 31, 2023. The measure urges the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.1679/S.561, which would 'increase the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident involving an e-scooter and further calls upon the New York State Legislature to include e-bikes in such legislation.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, Shaun Abreu, Lynn C. Schulman, and Amanda Farías backed the resolution. The bill would raise penalties for e-scooter hit-and-runs from a violation to a misdemeanor or felony, and seeks to add e-bikes to the law. The council argues this could keep more crash-involved riders at the scene, helping protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Res 0750-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-09-14

A bus turned right on Ralph Avenue. An SUV crashed into its rear. A 13-year-old boy sat belted in the front seat. The impact broke his back. He stayed conscious. Pain filled the car. Metal and bone both crushed.

A crash on Ralph Avenue near 1386 in Brooklyn left a 13-year-old boy injured. According to the police report, a bus was making a right turn when an SUV struck it from behind. The boy, riding as a front passenger in the SUV and wearing a lap belt, suffered a broken back and crush injuries but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The SUV’s front end hit the bus’s rear, showing clear evidence of the listed driver error. No other injuries were reported. The boy’s use of a lap belt is noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the SUV driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659653, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cyclist slammed into a parked SUV on Ocean Avenue. The bike folded. Inside the Toyota, a 58-year-old man sat dead, seatbelt on. The street fell silent. No driver errors listed. The crash left one man lifeless, the city unchanged.

A crash occurred near 1362 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn. A cyclist collided with the right side of a parked SUV. According to the police report, 'A cyclist hit the right side of a parked SUV. The bike crumpled. Inside the Toyota, a 58-year-old man sat still, strapped in his seatbelt. He was dead.' The driver of the SUV, a 58-year-old man, was found dead at the scene. The report does not list any contributing driver errors or factors. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a factor. The impact left the cyclist's bike destroyed and the driver lifeless inside his vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653596, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

The Council passed a law forcing DOT to map every bike lane, hazard, and obstruction. Cyclists and pedestrians get a clear look at danger. The searchable map must show blocked lanes, crash sites, and repairs. No more hiding unsafe streets.

Int 0289-2022, now Local Law 124 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council on September 3, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law requires the Department of Transportation to publish a monthly-updated, searchable map of all city bike lanes. The map must show obstructions, construction, crash patterns, shared paths, conflict points, resurfacing, parking, bike share docks, open streets, repair shops, and reporting tools. The bill’s matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to develop a map of bicycle infrastructure conditions.' Council Member Crystal Hudson sponsored the bill, joined by Rivera, Sanchez, Stevens, Yeger, Restler, Avilés, and others. The law brings sunlight to hidden hazards, giving vulnerable road users the facts they need to see the city’s dangers in plain sight.

• File Int 0289-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A Hyundai sedan crashed head-on near Avenue D. Metal twisted. The 21-year-old driver bled from the head, conscious but hurt. Distraction and other vehicular factors led to the impact. The road stayed hard. The driver did not walk away clean.

A Hyundai sedan traveling east on Kings Highway near Avenue D struck another vehicle head-on. The 21-year-old male driver, the sole occupant, suffered head injuries and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Distraction met steel. The road did not forgive.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The sedan’s front end crumpled on impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The data shows the driver wore a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649855, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed DOT to study raised speed bumps at speed camera spots. If feasible, bumps would go in within a year. Annual reports would track danger and say if cameras are still needed. The bill died at session’s end. No action. No change.

Bill Int 1120-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to force the Department of Transportation to assess at least 100 speed camera locations per year for raised speed reducer feasibility. Introduced July 13, 2023, and sponsored by Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Kevin C. Riley, Kalman Yeger, Amanda Farías, and David M. Carr, the measure required DOT to install raised speed reducers within a year where feasible, then report annually on danger indicators and recommend if cameras should remain. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No raised speed reducers will be installed under this law. Vulnerable road users remain exposed at these crossings.

• File Int 1120-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-07-13