The Blood on Brannan’s Streets Won’t Wash Away

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

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

Council bill orders DOT to factor traffic enforcement agents into city safety plans. The move targets deadly streets. Sponsors demand action, not words. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait for safer crossings.

Int 0842-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 18, 2024, the bill amends city law to require the Department of Transportation to consider where traffic enforcement agents are placed when drafting the interagency roadway safety plan. The bill summary states: 'require DOT to specifically consider placement of traffic enforcement agents in certain areas.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Members Brannan (primary), Louis, Restler, and the Queens Borough President sponsor the measure. The bill responds to Local Law 12 of 2011, which already mandates a five-year safety plan. Now, the council demands DOT put enforcement on the map, aiming to cut injuries and deaths.

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

Steel met bone on 86th Street. An SUV barreled north, disregarding traffic control. A 68-year-old man pedaled west. Metal crashed into flesh. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. The bike crumpled. He stayed conscious, battered and bleeding.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was riding his bike westbound on 86th Street when a northbound SUV collided with him. The report states the SUV driver disregarded traffic control, directly contributing to the crash. The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. The narrative details, 'Metal struck flesh. His head hit hard. Blood pooled. The bike folded at the doors. The bumper cracked.' The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, both attributed to driver error. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the clear failures by the SUV driver. The crash unfolded near Council District 47, underscoring the persistent danger vulnerable road users face from drivers who ignore basic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709485 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council aims to ban moving billboards. These rolling ads distract drivers. The bill locks in an existing rule. Streets need fewer distractions. Safety for walkers and riders comes first.

Bill Int 0541-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 7, 2024, by Council Members Bottcher (primary), Brannan, Brewer, and Restler, it seeks to ban moving billboards. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to banning moving billboards.' These billboards are already illegal under city rules. The bill would codify 34 RCNY 4-12(j), making the ban law. Bottcher and co-sponsors want to cut visual clutter and driver distraction. The bill was referred to committee on March 7, 2024.

• File Int 0541-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill forces DOT to act fast. Traffic study calls get answers in 60 days. No more endless waits. Streets stay dangerous while requests stall. Delay kills. Action saves.

Int 0542-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, laid over since March 7, 2024. The bill reads: '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.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Brooks-Powers, Vernikov, and Morano. The bill cracks the whip on DOT, ending open-ended delays. Fast answers mean less time waiting for life-saving signals and signs. The city’s slow grind leaves people at risk. This bill demands speed.

• File Int 0542-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council aims to keep sightseeing buses out of bus lanes during rush. The bill targets morning and evening peaks. Streets clear for city buses, not tourists. Pedestrians and cyclists get a break from double-deckers.

Bill Int 0543-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on March 7, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to restricting the use of bus lanes by sight-seeing buses,' blocks sightseeing buses from bus lanes on weekdays, 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. Sponsors Lincoln Restler (District 33, primary) and Justin L. Brannan (District 47, co-sponsor) push to keep bus lanes clear for transit. No sightseeing bus stops allowed in bus lanes during these hours. The bill responds to congestion and crowding, giving vulnerable road users more space and fewer blind spots.

• File Int 0543-2024, 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 moves to outlaw fake plates. Fraud hides reckless drivers. Bill targets sellers, sets fines. Streets need truth. Law aims to strip shields from danger.

Bill Int 0178-2024 sits with the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the sale or distribution of fraudulent license plates," makes it illegal to sell or distribute fake or temporary plates, with civil penalties for violators. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Brewer, Brannan, and Avilés. The bill was referred to committee the same day. Fraudulent plates let reckless drivers vanish. This measure aims to close that escape, exposing those who endanger lives.

• File Int 0178-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A 56-year-old man died behind the wheel on 82nd Street. His sedan crashed into a parked Toyota. The front end crumpled. He wore no seatbelt. Metal folded, and the street fell silent. He never stepped out. The impact ended everything.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man driving a sedan on 82nd Street crashed into the rear of a parked Toyota. The report states the sedan 'slammed into the back of a parked Toyota.' The front end of the sedan folded in, trapping the driver inside. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, as noted in the narrative. The crash resulted in the apparent death of the driver, who 'never got out.' The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' and no driver errors are explicitly cited in the available data. The parked Toyota was unoccupied at the time of the collision. The report does not mention any actions by other road users or any additional contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council moves to hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters on city sidewalks. The bill targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. No mention of street safety or driver accountability.

Bill Int 0037-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 8, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk,' seeks to raise fines for sidewalk riding. Council Members Stevens (primary), Gennaro, Ung, Brewer, Brannan, and Morano sponsor the bill. The action: referral to committee. The summary states, 'This bill would increase each of the existing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, a bicycle with electric assist (commonly referred to as an “e-bike”), or an electric scooter on the sidewalk.' No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill focuses on penalties, not on street design or driver behavior.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A sedan hit a 72-year-old woman crossing Marine Avenue at dusk. Her head struck hard. She died in the street. Two sedans collided, one parked, one moving. The street grew quiet. The woman’s life ended where the light faded.

A 72-year-old woman was killed while crossing Marine Avenue near dusk. According to the police report, she was not at an intersection and crossed without a signal. A moving sedan struck her, causing fatal head injuries. The report states, 'Marine Avenue, near dusk — a 72-year-old woman crossed without a signal. A moving sedan struck her, head crushed.' Two sedans were involved: one parked, one in motion. The police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. The woman’s death marks another tragedy on New York City’s streets, where the vulnerable pay the price for everyday traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge truck turned left on Bath Avenue. The driver did not yield. A 66-year-old woman crossed with the signal. The truck struck her. Her head hit the pavement. She died there. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed quiet.

A 66-year-old woman was killed while crossing Bath Avenue near 25th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a Dodge truck turned left as the woman crossed with the signal. The driver did not see her. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The woman suffered fatal head injuries. The truck sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The crash ended a life on a clear day, leaving the intersection marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An e-bike tore through Shore Road. The rider struck a woman, ripping her leg. A teenage girl on the bike hit her head. Blood pooled. The driver did not see. The street fell silent. Two injured. Distraction and failure to yield led to pain.

A 34-year-old woman walking on Shore Road near 83rd Street in Brooklyn was struck by an e-bike. She suffered severe lacerations to her leg. A 17-year-old girl riding on the e-bike also sustained a serious head injury. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' were listed as contributing factors. The e-bike, traveling north, hit the pedestrian with its left front bumper. The report notes blood on the pavement and a silent street after the crash. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The crash left two people hurt, both victims of driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646986 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound sedan hit a man crossing Stillwell Avenue before dawn. The car struck head-on. Blood pooled from the man’s head. He stayed conscious. The street was silent. The car showed no damage. The man was left bleeding in the dark.

A 45-year-old man was injured when a northbound sedan struck him head-on as he crossed Stillwell Avenue before dawn. According to the police report, the man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan, a Honda registered in Pennsylvania, showed no damage after the crash. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection. No other injuries were reported. The street remained quiet as emergency responders arrived.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 26-year-old man on an e-bike struck a parked Mercedes SUV on 6th Avenue near 74th Street. He flew over the bars. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. He was conscious, bleeding, alone. The crash left him with severe head wounds.

A 26-year-old man riding an ARROW e-bike slammed into a parked Mercedes SUV near 74th Street on 6th Avenue. According to the police report, 'He flew over the bars. No helmet. Head split open on the pavement. Blood pooled. He was conscious. He bled alone.' The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations and was ejected from his bike. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The report also notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the primary factor of inattention. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The e-bike rider bore the full force of the crash, underscoring the risks faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned right on 82nd Street. A Yamaha motorcycle hit the car’s front. The 51-year-old rider flew off. Blood poured from his leg. He wore a helmet. He stayed conscious. He lay hurt on the street. Inexperience played a role.

A crash unfolded near 82nd Street and 4th Avenue. According to the police report, a sedan made a right turn as a Yamaha motorcycle traveled straight. The motorcycle slammed into the sedan’s front. The 51-year-old rider was ejected, suffering severe bleeding to his leg, but remained conscious. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the data. No other injuries were specified for the sedan driver or passengers. The impact and injury show the danger when inexperience meets the city’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04