Another Year, Another Funeral: End the Silence on Deadly Streets

Intro 941 would gut New York’s citizen idling enforcement. The bill slashes bounties, lets the city ban whistleblowers, and carves out new loopholes for polluters. Critics warn it will silence the public and let engines poison streets unchecked.

Intro 941, sponsored by Council Member James Gennaro and drafted with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is under City Council debate as of September 13, 2024. The bill, titled 'Council Bill Could Chill Citizen Reporting That Dramatically Boosted Idling Enforcement,' would give the city broad power to disqualify public participants from reporting idling, reduce fines for vehicles with anti-idling tech, and halve citizen bounties. It also allows school buses to idle up to 15 minutes and imposes a new code of conduct for enforcers. The Adams administration supports capping bounties but wants higher fines. Opponents, including the New York Clean Air Collective, say the bill 'weaponizes rules that chill participation' and will 'watch while companies like Con Ed, Verizon, and Amazon steal New York’s breath.' The Council is preparing for a hearing as debate intensifies.

• Council Bill Could Chill Citizen Reporting That Dramatically Boosted Idling Enforcement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-13

A box truck struck a parked sedan on East 82nd Street. Metal screamed. A 42-year-old man suffered a shattered arm, blood soaking his sleeve. The truck remained undamaged. The street fell silent after the sudden impact.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south on East 82nd Street near 2nd Avenue collided with a parked sedan. The report states, 'A box truck struck a parked sedan. Metal screamed. A 42-year-old man clutched his shattered arm, blood soaking his sleeve.' The injured man, a pedestrian at the intersection getting on or off the vehicle, suffered crush injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock. The sedan sustained damage to its right rear quarter panel, while the truck showed no damage. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no clear driver error such as failure to yield or distraction. No victim behavior was noted as contributing. The crash highlights the danger posed by moving vehicles striking stationary cars and the severe injuries inflicted on vulnerable individuals nearby.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753484, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan blasted through the light at 2nd Avenue and East 74th. The bike hit hard. The cyclist flew, head split, blood pooling. He lay semiconscious on the pavement. The car sat untouched. The night air thick with sirens and shock.

According to the police report, a sedan disregarded a traffic control at the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 74th Street. The report states the sedan 'ran the light.' A cyclist, traveling south, struck the car's side and was ejected, landing hard and suffering a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The cyclist was described as semiconscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The sedan sustained no damage, while the bike impacted the right side doors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the report cites driver errors—specifically, ignoring the traffic signal and inattention—as the primary causes. No mention is made of any actions by the cyclist contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737814, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

DOT will open a separate path for walkers and cyclists on the Queensboro Bridge by late summer. Delays have plagued the project. Council Member Julie Menin backs the plan but demands no more slippage. Years of crashes and injuries forced action.

On April 8, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced plans to open the Queensboro Bridge’s south outer roadway as a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist path. The project, delayed for over a year, is set for completion in late summer 2024. Safety upgrades include a concrete landing, median, sidewalk extensions, and new bike lanes. Council Member Julie Menin supports the project, calling the overdue walkway 'a serious safety concern and impediment to movement for both pedestrians and cyclists.' Menin pressed DOT to 'strictly adhere to the promised timeline' and provide frequent updates. The project aims to end years of conflict and injury on the bridge’s narrow shared path, where multiple crashes have harmed vulnerable road users since 2021.

• First Look: The DOT Finally Has Plans For Its Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-08

Two sedans collided on York Avenue. A woman crossing the street was struck down. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Head trauma ended her life beneath the streetlight. Engines ticked. Sirens wailed too late. The city claimed another pedestrian.

A deadly crash unfolded on York Avenue near East 87th Street in Manhattan, where, according to the police report, two sedans collided and a 30-year-old woman crossing the street was struck. The report states she suffered head trauma and severe bleeding, dying at the scene. The narrative describes, 'Blood pooled on the asphalt. She died beneath the streetlight. The cars sat still. Engines ticking. Sirens too late.' Police data lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for one of the sedan drivers. The woman was at the intersection when struck. The report does not cite any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The tragedy centers on driver actions and the lethal consequences of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714580, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 25-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk with the light. An e-scooter rider, inattentive and inexperienced, struck her head-on. Blood pooled on East 78th Street. The rider fled. The woman’s leg split open, pain pulsing through the city’s grid.

A 25-year-old woman was seriously injured on East 78th Street when an e-scooter rider struck her head-on as she crossed with the signal, according to the police report. The impact left her with severe lacerations to her lower leg, and blood pooled at the scene. The report states the e-scooter’s front end was damaged and the rider did not stop. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian’s actions—crossing with the light in the marked crosswalk—are noted in the report, but only after the driver’s failures. The collision underscores the consequences of inattentive and unskilled operation of motorized vehicles in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713969, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council wants NYPD to show where crossing guards stand. The bill orders a map online. Streets are dangerous. Kids cross in chaos. The public will see the gaps. The city must face the truth in plain sight.

Int 0447-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment," demands the NYPD post an online map showing where crossing guards are stationed. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Menin, Salaam, Brewer, Marte, and others, including a request from the Bronx Borough President. The bill is for 'informational purposes only,' but the impact is clear: families and advocates will finally see where the city leaves children exposed. The measure forces transparency. It makes the city’s priorities visible block by block.

• File Int 0447-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council members push for a hard look at last mile delivery hubs. Trucks swarm neighborhoods. Streets clog. Collisions rise. The bill demands data. It targets the city’s growing freight problem. Vulnerable New Yorkers walk these streets. The study could expose the toll.

Int 0113-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it orders the Department of Transportation to study how last mile delivery facilities batter local streets and communities. The bill summary reads: 'estimating the amount of delivery vehicles arriving at or departing from each facility, and the impact that additional vehicle traffic has on parking, street congestion, vehicle collisions and other traffic incidents.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Alexa Avilés, Shekar Krishnan, Amanda Farías, and over twenty others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the bill’s focus is clear: count the trucks, count the crashes, and show the cost to people on foot and bike.

• File Int 0113-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets danger. City must find its worst intersections. Five per borough each year get curb extensions. No parking near crosswalks. Pedestrians step out, drivers see them. Concrete bites into asphalt. Visibility up, risk down. Action, not words.

Int 0285-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Crystal Hudson, and Julie Menin, the bill demands the city identify intersections with the most pedestrian crashes. The official summary states: “Curb extensions prohibit parking near crosswalks at an intersection, increasing pedestrian visibility.” The law would force curb extensions—no parking within 15 feet of crosswalks—at a minimum of five dangerous intersections per borough, every year. Hanif, Hudson, and Menin push for concrete change. The bill’s language is blunt: visibility saves lives. City agencies must oversee and evaluate. The measure aims to cut the carnage where it hits hardest—at the curb.

• File Int 0285-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill sits in committee. Streets stay dark. Pedestrians wait. The city promises a study. Lawmakers push for light, but action lags. Danger remains while the council debates.

Int 0301-2024, introduced February 28, 2024, sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, status: Laid Over in Committee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks,' orders 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 department must also study their impact compared to unlit signs. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, Won, Narcisse, Hanks, Hanif, Bottcher, Brewer, Hudson, Schulman, and Avilés. The bill was laid over by committee on June 25, 2024. No safety analyst note was provided. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while the city delays action.

• File Int 0301-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council cracks down on shops selling fire-prone e-bike batteries. Penalties rise. FDNY joins enforcement. Vendors face new rules—no more goods in bike lanes. Brewer and Menin push reforms. Fires killed 18 last year. Law aims to protect lives, streets.

On February 28, 2024, the City Council passed a package of bills led by Councilmember Gale A. Brewer (District 6). The legislation, heard in committee and passed on this date, increases penalties for businesses selling uncertified e-bikes and scooters with dangerous lithium-ion batteries. Brewer said, 'We are not only going after the batteries, we are going after the stores that are selling the batteries.' The FDNY will now assist the Department of Consumer and Worker Protections in enforcement. Fines for repeat violators can reach $2,000. Brewer’s second bill requires e-bike sellers to post safety information in stores and online, with fines up to $350. Councilmember Julie Menin sponsored additional reforms easing street vendor regulations and banning vending in bike lanes. The bills respond to a deadly spike in battery fires—18 killed in 2023, triple the previous year. Lawmakers aim to protect vulnerable road users and workers who rely on these devices.

• NYC Council increases penalties for selling fire-causing e-bikes, passes street vendor reforms, gothamist.com, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants within half a mile of schools. Fines set at $175. Civilians can report violations. DOT must act on complaints. Council aims to clear paths for people, not cars.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after its introduction on February 8, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints to the department of transportation for hazardous obstruction violations," creates a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of a school. The penalty is $175 per violation. The Department of Transportation must launch a civilian reporting program. If DOT prosecutes a case using civilian evidence, the complainant gets 25% of the proceeds. Council Member Carlina Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Joseph, Menin, Nurse, Hudson, Brannan, Farías, Brewer, Salaam, Hanif, Avilés, Won, Bottcher, Krishnan, Gutiérrez, Marte, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill aims to keep streets clear for vulnerable road users, especially near schools.

• File Int 0080-2024, 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

A Chevy SUV hit a 77-year-old woman at dawn on York Avenue. The front end struck her full. She bled from the head, conscious on the street. The driver’s view was blocked. Steel met flesh in the cold morning light.

According to the police report, a 2022 Chevy SUV traveling north on York Avenue near 92nd Street struck a 77-year-old woman who was crossing alone at dawn. The report states, 'The front end hit her full. She lay bleeding from the head. The driver’s view was blocked. She was conscious.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, but remained conscious at the scene. The official contributing factor listed is 'View Obstructed/Limited,' indicating the driver’s line of sight was compromised. The data does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal risk when drivers proceed with limited visibility, especially in areas where vulnerable road users cross.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695105, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman crossed East 90th at 3rd. An e-scooter slammed her in the crosswalk. The front end crushed her shoulder. She stayed down, conscious. The rider vanished. The street roared on. She lay hurt, alone.

A 32-year-old woman was struck by a northbound e-scooter while crossing at the corner of East 90th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A woman in the crosswalk, her shoulder crushed beneath the front of a northbound e-scooter. She stayed down, conscious. The rider fled.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her shoulder and upper arm. The e-scooter rider left the scene without stopping. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No specific driver errors were documented in the data. The crash left the pedestrian injured and the rider unaccounted for.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693430, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Manhattan’s Community Board 6 slammed Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill. The panel voted 8-1 against it. They called it punitive and harmful. Critics say it burdens cyclists and delivery workers, while failing to address illegal mopeds or improve street safety.

Council bill drafted by Bob Holden, backed by 32 co-sponsors, would require registration and license plates for all e-bikes, e-scooters, and other legal motorized vehicles. On November 8, 2023, the transportation committee of Manhattan’s Community Board 6 voted 8-1 to oppose the measure, calling it 'harmful and unnecessarily punitive.' The matter’s summary: 'require license and registration for all types of e-bikes.' Council Members Keith Powers and Julie Menin support the bill; Carlina Rivera has not signed on. The committee’s resolution states the proposal would negatively impact all cyclists, especially delivery workers, and fails to address illegal mopeds or require point-of-sale registration. Critics argue the bill is regressive, ineffective, and would not improve safety for vulnerable road users.

• Manhattan Panel Pans City Council E-Bike Registration Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-08

A car hit a 62-year-old woman at East 81st and East End. She bled from the head. She stayed conscious. The driver, distracted, kept north. The street was silent. Blood marked the crossing. The city watched and waited.

A 62-year-old woman walking at the corner of East 81st Street and East End Avenue was struck by a car. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. The driver did not swerve and continued northbound after the impact. The report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian as contributing factors. The scene was marked by silence and blood on the street. No vehicle type or further driver details were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671719, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A tire burst. The Honda veered. Steel screamed. The front crashed. Doors crumpled. The driver bled from the face, trapped but awake. Two rode in the car. The road was empty. Metal and blood marked the night.

A sedan traveling northbound on FDR Drive suffered a tire failure. According to the police report, 'A tire blew. The Honda veered. Steel shrieked. The front slammed, doors folded.' The crash left the 30-year-old driver with severe facial lacerations. He remained conscious and strapped in. The car carried two occupants. The police report lists 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The point of impact was the center front end, with damage to the left side doors. The crash unfolded in seconds, leaving injury and wreckage behind.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666962, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 71-year-old woman crossed York Avenue with the light. An SUV turned right, its front struck her head. She fell. She never woke. The street claimed another life. Driver inattention marked the moment.

A 71-year-old woman was killed at the corner of York Avenue and East 68th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when a northbound SUV made a right turn and struck her with its right front quarter panel. The impact caused fatal head injuries, leaving her unconscious on the pavement. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman was not at fault; she crossed legally. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664179, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup truck turned left at 1st Avenue and East 68th. The bumper hit a woman crossing with the light. Her body broke. She stayed conscious but could not move. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed busy. She did not.

A pickup truck struck a 31-year-old woman as she crossed 1st Avenue at East 68th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the truck was making a left turn when its left front bumper hit the pedestrian, who was crossing with the signal. The woman suffered injuries to her entire body and paralysis but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The truck showed no damage. The driver was licensed and traveling north. The woman was in the crosswalk, following the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667350, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15