No More Widows for Van Buren: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

An SUV struck and killed an eight-year-old boy crossing Eastern Parkway with his sister. Blood washed from the street. His yarmulke left behind. The driver stayed. Police probe speed. The community mourns.

ABC7 (2025-06-29) reports an eight-year-old boy, Mordica Keller, died after a southbound SUV hit him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Avenue in Crown Heights. He was crossing with his sister. The 69-year-old driver remained at the scene. Police towed a black Honda Pilot. The article notes, "Police are looking at whether speed was a factor." No arrests have been made. Residents called the street dangerous. The crash highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• SUV Kills Boy At Brooklyn Crossing, ABC7, Published 2025-06-29

Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Heavy trucks pound the BQE. The city will ticket Staten Island-bound rigs. Sensors catch the violators. The road crumbles under weight it cannot bear. Warnings are over. Fines begin. The system aims to cut danger and slow decay.

Gothamist (2025-06-21) reports that New York City will start ticketing overweight Staten Island-bound trucks on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The Department of Transportation will fine violators $650 per incident, using in-road sensors to detect excess weight. Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Overweight trucks cause wear and tear on our roadways and we all pay the price through expensive repairs to our infrastructure." The city issued over 3,000 warnings during a 90-day grace period. Similar enforcement on Queens-bound trucks led to a 60% drop in overweight vehicles. Albany has approved expanding this automated system to more city roadways. The BQE’s aging structure faces risk from trucks exceeding its design limits, raising safety and infrastructure concerns.

• City Targets Overweight Trucks On BQE, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-21

A motorcycle rider crashed on Fulton Street at Schenectady Avenue. The rider suffered an arm abrasion. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left the motorcycle undamaged. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A 47-year-old man riding a motorcycle was injured on Fulton Street near Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The rider, who wore a helmet, suffered an abrasion to his upper arm and remained conscious. The motorcycle showed no visible damage. Police listed no other vehicles involved and no other injuries. The report notes the driver held only a permit at the time of the crash. Driver inattention stands out as the key factor in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822138, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29

A judge stopped the city from tearing out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane stays for now. A toddler was struck by an e-bike. City Hall acted without consulting locals. The fight over street safety continues.

The New York Post reported on June 18, 2025, that Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo blocked Mayor Adams' plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The ruling followed a lawsuit by Transportation Alternatives, who argued that removing the lane would endanger road users. The judge found City Hall 'acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally' by failing to consult local officials or the community. The city cited 'several dangerous incidents—many of which involved children getting seriously hurt' as the reason for the proposed removal, after a 3-year-old was struck by an e-bike in May. The protected lane will remain until a court hearing in August. The case highlights the tension between rapid policy changes and the need for community input on street safety.

• Judge Halts Removal Of Brooklyn Bike Lane, New York Post, Published 2025-06-18

Barriers shielded Bedford Avenue’s bike lane. The city plans to strip them away. Cyclists and advocates sue to halt the rollback. They say the old design left riders exposed. The fight is sharp. The danger is real. The outcome matters.

Gothamist reported on June 17, 2025, that Transportation Alternatives filed a lawsuit to stop Mayor Adams from removing protective barriers from the Bedford Avenue bike lane in Brooklyn. The city intends to revert to an older, unprotected design after complaints from local residents. Advocates argue the protected lane was installed due to 'years of danger and death,' and that removing it is 'unwarranted, unlawful, reckless.' The lawsuit claims the city failed to conduct required traffic or impact studies before making the change. City Hall says intersections will keep some safety features, but the main stretch will lose its protection. The article highlights persistent double-parking and high injury rates as key dangers. The legal battle underscores the tension between community concerns and proven safety measures for vulnerable road users.

• Lawsuit Challenges Removal Of Bike Barriers, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-17

Two cars met at Bainbridge Street. Metal struck metal. One driver took a hit to the head. Police blamed an improper turn. The street stayed silent. The system failed to protect those inside.

A crash at 335 Bainbridge Street in Brooklyn involved a sedan and an SUV. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' One driver, a 58-year-old man, suffered a head injury and reported whiplash. Another occupant and the second driver were listed with unspecified injuries. The sedan was entering a parked position when the SUV, making a left turn, struck it. The police report cites 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. No mention was made of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to turn safely, leaving occupants at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820201, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29

Mayor Adams will rip out the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city put it in last year to tame a deadly stretch. Now, cyclists and pedestrians lose their shield. The street grows more dangerous. Safety for Brooklyn’s most vulnerable is stripped away.

On June 13, 2025, Mayor Adams announced the removal of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn. The lane, installed in 2024, calmed a corridor once plagued by crashes and deaths. Streetsblog NYC reported: 'A protected bike lane that was installed last year to calm a notoriously dangerous Brooklyn corridor will be removed by the Adams administration, making the roadway less safe.' Council Members Lincoln Restler and Chi Ossé condemned the move, calling it reckless and political. Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani joined in opposition. No council bill or committee review occurred; this was a unilateral mayoral action. Removing the lane eliminates a proven safety intervention, increasing risk for cyclists and pedestrians and discouraging active transportation, which undermines safety in numbers and equitable street access.

• BREAKING: Mayor Adams to Remove Bedford Avenue Protected Bike Lane Citing, Bizarrely, Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13

A truck backed unsafely into a sedan on Lewis Avenue. One woman suffered neck injuries. Police cite backing unsafely and driver distraction. The crash left a child and two others with unspecified injuries. Metal and glass met in the Brooklyn afternoon.

A tractor truck and a sedan collided at Lewis Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the truck was making a left turn and backed unsafely, striking the sedan, which was making a right turn. The crash injured a 24-year-old woman, the sedan’s driver, who suffered neck injuries and whiplash. A 4-year-old boy, a 36-year-old man, and an infant were also listed as occupants with unspecified injuries. Police list 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The report notes the woman was using a lap belt and harness. The crash underscores the danger when large vehicles move without care and attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820187, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29

Parents in Greenpoint want cars out. A cyclist died at Monitor and Driggs. Children walk and bike to PS 110. The street stays dangerous. The city has not acted. Families wait. The threat of cars remains.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 11, 2025, that parents at Public School 110 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are calling for a Paris-style school street to protect children. Their plan would turn Monitor Street into a cul-de-sac with a pedestrian plaza, add mid-block crossings, and close a slip lane to block cut-through traffic from the BQE. The push follows a fatal crash at Monitor and Driggs, where a driver killed 73-year-old cyclist Teddy Orzechowski. Streetsblog notes, 'Streets outside schools have higher crash and injury rates than the city average.' Most PS 110 families walk or bike, but the city has not responded to the proposal. The article highlights the persistent risk from drivers using local streets as shortcuts.

• Brooklyn Parents Demand Safer School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-11

StreetsPAC picks Brad Lander for mayor. They praise his sweeping plan for safer streets and better transit. The group rejects weak promises. They demand bold action to protect people outside cars. Lander vows real change for New Yorkers.

On June 11, 2025, StreetsPAC, a political action committee for livable streets, endorsed Brad Lander for New York City mayor. The endorsement, reported by Streetsblog NYC and covered by Gersh Kuntzman, followed a review of candidate plans. StreetsPAC called Lander’s proposal 'by far the most comprehensive blueprint ... we've ever seen from a candidate for any office.' Lander promised more protected bike lanes, a citywide Bus Rapid Transit network, and using congestion pricing revenue for busways and bikeways. He pledged six-minute service on subways and buses and action on street homelessness. StreetsPAC’s endorsement signals strong support for policies that prioritize vulnerable road users. Their safety analyst noted: 'A comprehensive plan for safer streets and better public transit typically prioritizes vulnerable road users, supports mode shift, and aligns with best practices for population-level safety improvements.'

• StreetsPAC Ranks Lander #1 for Mayor, Offers Other Picks for Comptroller, Beeps and Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-11

City eyes a center bus lane on Flatbush. Concrete islands promise safer crossings. Details remain thin. Cars may still block buses. The street could change. Pedestrians and riders wait. The city holds its breath.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-06-09) reports the Department of Transportation plans a center-running bus lane on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. The project aims to connect neighborhoods and calm traffic. DOT Assistant Director Dustin Khuu said the goal is a 'high performing transit priority street.' The plan includes concrete bus boarding islands and may reduce car lanes, giving more space to pedestrians and buses. However, the article notes gaps: 'DOT didn't share a block-by-block breakdown,' and curbside parking may remain, risking bus lane obstruction by double-parked vehicles. The city may physically protect the lane, but details are pending. The B41 bus, serving 28,000 daily trips, crawls at 4 mph during rush hour. The proposal highlights the need for clear enforcement and design to keep cars out of bus lanes and protect vulnerable road users.

• Flatbush Avenue Bus Lane Plan Advances, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-09

Court Street bleeds from double parking and swerving cars. Cyclists and walkers dodge danger daily. DOT will cut a lane, add a protected bike path, and shrink space for reckless driving. Fewer lanes, fewer crashes. Safety, not speed, takes the street.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-06-06) reports the Department of Transportation will install a protected bike lane on Brooklyn’s Court Street, a corridor plagued by double parking and sideswipe crashes. DOT’s Chris Brunson said, “The narrower street width for vehicles will de-incentivize double parking on the corridor.” The redesign removes a travel lane, adds a protected bike lane, and aims to curb driver behavior that leads to crashes. Between 2022 and 2024, 165 crashes on this mile-long stretch caused one death and injured 15 cyclists and 23 pedestrians. Most pedestrian injuries happened while crossing with the light, showing drivers failed to yield. The plan targets excess road capacity and prioritizes vulnerable users on a Vision Zero Priority Corridor.

• DOT Plans Protected Bike Lane Court Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-06

A moped struck a cyclist from behind on Broadway near Flushing Avenue. The cyclist, a 27-year-old man, suffered a fractured arm. Police cite following too closely as the cause. The crash left the cyclist conscious but hurt.

A crash occurred late at night on Broadway near Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a moped rear-ended a bicycle, injuring the 27-year-old male cyclist. The cyclist was partially ejected and suffered a fractured arm. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The moped was passing when it struck the bike's left rear, damaging the center back end of the bicycle. No helmet or signaling issues were cited. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. The data highlights driver error—following too closely—as the primary cause of this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818847, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29

An SUV turned right on Atlantic Avenue. A moped went straight. The SUV struck the moped. The moped rider suffered a leg injury. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely. The crash left one hurt and others shaken.

A collision occurred at 1545 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn involving a station wagon/SUV and a moped. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when the SUV made a right turn and struck the moped, which was going straight. The 31-year-old male moped rider was injured, sustaining abrasions and a leg injury. Three other occupants, including a 70-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, were listed as involved but not seriously hurt. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for both drivers. The moped rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The crash highlights the dangers of driver inattention and close following in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818293, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29

City Hall forced Citi Bike to cap e-bike speeds at 15 mph. A child was hit weeks before. Injuries on e-bikes outnumber pedal bikes. Officials call it an emergency. The rule moves fast. Riders and workers face new limits.

Gothamist reported on June 5, 2025, that Mayor Adams ordered Citi Bike to limit e-bike speeds to 15 mph, citing an 'emergency threat to life and property.' The city rejected Lyft’s plan to add speedometers, demanding immediate compliance. Deputy Mayor Mastro wrote, 'We have requested that you immediately implement this new 15 mph speed limit for Citi Bike e-bikes, and you declined to do so.' Citi Bike agreed to the mandate, though previously voiced concerns. In 2021, e-bike injuries (1,170) and deaths (9) far outpaced those on pedal bikes (236 injuries, 2 deaths). The order follows a crash where a 3-year-old was struck by an e-bike in South Williamsburg. The city will collect public comments before finalizing the rule. The move highlights rising e-bike use and the city’s struggle to manage micromobility safety.

• City Orders 15 MPH Limit For E-Bikes, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-05

Flatbush Avenue will lose car lanes. Bus lanes and pedestrian islands will take their place. Fifty-five killed or badly hurt since 2019. Buses crawl. Pedestrians dodge traffic. The city moves to fix a deadly, clogged corridor.

Gothamist reported on June 4, 2025, that New York City's Department of Transportation plans to overhaul Flatbush Avenue between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza. The redesign replaces two car lanes with 24/7 bus-only lanes and adds pedestrian islands. DOT officials said, 'almost 70,000 daily bus riders are stuck waiting too long for slow buses, drivers are caught in a mess of traffic and pedestrians are left crossing intersections clogged with vehicles.' Since 2019, 55 people have been killed or severely injured in crashes along this stretch. The plan removes curbside parking and bans cars from bus lanes, aiming to speed up twelve bus routes and protect people on foot. Most residents in the area do not own cars and depend on slow buses. The proposal reflects a shift toward prioritizing vulnerable road users and addressing systemic danger on one of Brooklyn's busiest corridors.

• Flatbush Avenue Bus Lanes, Pedestrian Islands Planned, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-04

An 87-year-old man stood near a Brooklyn corner. An MTA bus turned left. The bus struck him. He was pinned beneath its weight. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The street stayed quiet. The driver waited for police.

Gothamist reported on June 3, 2025, that an MTA bus struck an 87-year-old man at East 12th Street and Avenue Z in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Police said the man was 'standing near the corner when the driver made a left onto the avenue and hit him.' The man was pinned under the bus and taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in critical condition. The 34-year-old driver remained at the scene and was later taken to Coney Island Medical Center. The bus was not in service and had no passengers. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the risks at intersections and the consequences of left turns by large vehicles in city streets.

• MTA Bus Pins Elderly Man In Brooklyn, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-03

An e-bike and SUV collided on Atlantic Avenue. The rider, eighteen, was thrown and hurt. Police cite driver distraction and improper lane use. The crash left the cyclist with leg injuries. Metal, speed, and inattention met on Brooklyn pavement.

An eighteen-year-old e-bike rider was injured in a crash with an SUV at 1545 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when they collided. The e-bike rider was partially ejected and suffered abrasions to the knee, lower leg, and foot. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any safety equipment used by the rider. The impact struck the left front of the e-bike and the right front of the SUV. No injuries to the SUV occupant were reported. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus and fail to maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817177, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29

A moped and SUV crashed on Broadway near Vernon Avenue. The moped driver suffered leg injuries. Police cite unsafe speed and driver distraction. The crash left one hurt and others shaken. Metal met metal. Danger lingered in the street.

A moped and a station wagon/SUV collided on Broadway at Vernon Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction. The 21-year-old moped driver was injured, suffering pain and trauma to his leg. Two occupants of the SUV, including the 25-year-old driver and a 29-year-old front passenger, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report states, 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for both drivers. The moped driver was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are driver errors. The impact left one person hurt and exposed the persistent risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816232, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-29