Williamsburg Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall, Children Pay

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - Lawmakers killed a bill to force repeat speeders to install devices that stop reckless driving. Upstate politicians balked. The bill will not pass this session. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. No relief. No change. The danger rolls on.

On June 8, 2025, the New York State Assembly Transportation Committee, chaired by William Magnarelli, blocked the Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, had passed the Senate Transportation Committee but stalled in the Assembly. The measure would have required drivers caught speeding six or more times in a year to install devices preventing reckless driving. The matter summary states: 'A bill that would require recidivist speeders to install a simple device to block the car from being driven recklessly will not pass this session.' Gallagher expressed frustration, warning that every delay means preventable crashes and lives lost. Safety analysts note the bill would have directly reduced risk for pedestrians and cyclists by targeting repeat dangerous drivers. Despite support from advocates and NYC DOT, the committee cited due process and enforcement concerns. The bill must be reintroduced next year. Vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• BREAKING: Key ‘Super Speeders’ Bill Won’t Pass This Session, Says Assembly Transportation Chair, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 7 - A string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge cut two cyclists. One suffered a slashed throat and blood loss, the other needed stitches. The string’s source remains unclear. Kite fighting blamed, but city action lags. Riders bleed. System fails.

Gothamist (2025-06-07) reports two cyclists were injured by a string suspended across the Marine Parkway Bridge. One cyclist, Robert Hillebrand, suffered a severed windpipe and required blood transfusions. Another, Jennifer Noble, received stitches and a broken finger. Police said the string was likely from kite fighting, a practice where glass-coated strings are used to cut opponents' kites. Witnesses described a yellow nylon string stretched across the bike lane. The NYPD found no criminality. The city parks department bans kite fighting but enforcement is lacking. Danny Mundy, a local civic leader, said, “It’s absolutely dangerous and unacceptable.” Previous injuries and lawsuits linked to kite string in the area highlight ongoing risks for cyclists and wildlife. No driver involvement was reported, but the incident exposes gaps in infrastructure and enforcement.

• String Slices Cyclists On Parkway Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 5 - A distracted moped driver crashed on Wythe Avenue. He was ejected and injured. The crash left him with abrasions. No other vehicles struck. Streets stayed dangerous.

A 22-year-old moped driver was ejected and injured on Wythe Avenue at North 10th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The driver suffered abrasions to his entire body. No other vehicles were involved. The report lists no helmet use or other safety equipment. The crash highlights the risk when drivers lose focus, especially for those on smaller vehicles like mopeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

Jun 3 - 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

May 31 - A driver backed up unsafely on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. An e-bike rider struck the vehicle’s rear. The rider suffered a leg injury and shock. The crash left pain and damage. The street stayed dangerous. Metal met flesh. The system failed again.

An e-bike rider was injured in a crash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a vehicle backed unsafely, causing the e-bike to strike the rear of the vehicle. The e-bike rider, a 21-year-old man, suffered a knee and lower leg injury and was in shock. The police report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor. The rider reported pain and nausea. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to operate safely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - An SUV hit an e-scooter on Berry Street. The scooter rider was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. The SUV driver was semiconscious and hurt. Police cited illness as a factor. The crash left both drivers injured, the street marked by impact.

A crash on Berry Street in Brooklyn involved a Ford SUV and an e-scooter. The 33-year-old male e-scooter rider was ejected and sustained a fractured upper arm. The 68-year-old male SUV driver was semiconscious with abdominal and pelvic injuries. According to the police report, 'Illness' was listed as a contributing factor for both drivers. The SUV struck the e-scooter with its left front bumper. The e-scooter rider was wearing a helmet. No pedestrians were reported injured. The collision highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when driver impairment is present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

May 26 - A sedan hit an e-scooter on Driggs Avenue. The e-scooter rider, a 53-year-old man, suffered facial abrasions. Police cited driver inattention. Both vehicles moved south. The sedan was entering a parked position. Streets stayed dangerous. Injuries followed.

A crash on Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn involved a sedan and an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider, a 53-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to the face. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The sedan, registered in Maryland, was entering a parked position while the e-scooter was traveling straight ahead. The sedan's left front quarter panel struck the center front end of the e-scooter. The e-scooter rider was unlicensed. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants. The police report highlights driver inattention as the main contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

May 26 - A fire truck sped south on Flatbush. Sirens blared. A motorcycle crossed Avenue U. Metal struck metal. The rider fell. Paramedics rushed him to Brookdale. He did not survive. Firefighters stood by, unhurt. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on May 26, 2025, that a motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a fire truck at Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The fire truck, Engine 309, was responding to a fire with lights and sirens activated when it struck the westbound motorcycle at 11:55 p.m. The rider, identified as 30-year-old Valentin Ivancsuk, was pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital. Firefighters were evaluated at the scene and were not injured. The FDNY stated the 'incident is under investigation.' The crash highlights the risks at busy intersections, especially when emergency vehicles respond at speed. No details on right-of-way or traffic signals were provided. The investigation may examine protocols for emergency response and intersection safety.

• Motorcyclist Dies in Collision With Fire Truck, ABC7, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - Two cars slammed together on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Three people hurt. Faces bloodied. Necks snapped. Drivers pushed too fast, blew past signals. Metal twisted. Passengers shaken. The road took its toll. The system failed to slow them.

Two vehicles—a sedan and an SUV—collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three people suffered injuries: a 32-year-old male driver with pain across his body, a 19-year-old female rear passenger with facial bleeding, and a 24-year-old male rear passenger with whiplash. The crash report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left metal torn and bodies hurt. The data shows drivers failed to control their speed and ignored traffic signals, leading to harm for those inside.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

May 25 - A woman stepped from her car after a crash in Bed-Stuy. The other driver hit her, dragged her, then sped off the wrong way. He crashed again, abandoned the SUV, and fled. She died at the hospital. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News reported on May 25, 2025, that a 32-year-old woman was killed after a minor collision near Van Buren St. and Marcus Garvey Blvd. in Brooklyn. After the initial crash, the Chevy Trax driver struck the woman as she exited her vehicle, then drove against traffic on Lafayette Ave., hitting two parked cars before fleeing on foot. Witness Shane Bridges described, "They dragged her like to the middle of the street, and then they turned wrong up Lafayette and she was just left there." The SUV had temporary paper plates. The incident highlights the dangers posed by reckless driving and hit-and-run behavior, especially when drivers ignore traffic direction and abandon crash scenes.

• Driver Runs Down Woman After Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-25

May 22 - Amy Sohn left her car. She walked Albany’s streets. She saw the city with new eyes. She called car ownership a burden. She praised walkability. Her story shows what’s possible. But without new laws, streets stay the same.

On May 22, 2025, Assembly Member Amy Sohn made headlines for abandoning her car and embracing walking in Albany. The event, reported by Streetsblog NYC, was not a bill or vote but a personal shift. Sohn said, 'It disconnects you from the life of the city.' She praised Albany’s walkability and called car ownership a hassle. Governor Hochul also spoke on the need for walkable cities and announced a $400-million downtown plan. No committee, bill number, or formal legislative action is tied to this event. According to safety analysts, this is an individual choice and a vague policy gesture; without concrete legislative changes, there is no measurable system-wide safety impact for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Assembly Member Ditches Her Car — and Discovers The Good Side of Albany, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-22

May 21 - Senate moves to clamp down on repeat speeders. Bill forces reckless drivers to install speed limiters. Lawmakers act after years of carnage. Streets remain perilous for walkers and riders until the law takes hold.

On May 21, 2025, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced bill S4045B, known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure passed with just two 'no' votes out of 13. The bill requires speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year. Streetsblog NYC reports, 'A bill that would prevent the most-reckless drivers from speeding easily moved forward on Tuesday.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the bill, emphasizing it targets the most dangerous drivers. Assembly sponsor Emily Gallagher raised concerns about cost and judicial bias, but stressed that speeding endangers everyone. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins backs the bill's safety focus. According to safety analysts, restricting repeat speeders directly tackles a major threat to pedestrians and cyclists, likely reducing crashes and making streets safer citywide.

• ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill Advances in Senate Committee, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21

May 17 - A Ford Explorer struck a man crossing Washington Avenue. The driver fled. The victim died at the hospital. No arrests. Another fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn, second in a week. Streets stay deadly. Names withheld. Police search for answers.

According to NY Daily News (published May 17, 2025), a 55-year-old man was killed while crossing Washington Ave. at Fulton St. in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, just after midnight. Police said, "a burgundy-colored Ford Explorer heading west on Fulton St. rammed into him." The driver did not stop and fled the scene. Emergency services transported the victim to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was the second fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn within a week, highlighting a persistent pattern of drivers leaving crash scenes. The city has seen a slight increase in pedestrian deaths despite an overall drop in fatal crashes, underscoring ongoing risks for those on foot.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Brooklyn Pedestrian, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-17

May 16 - A woman walked with the light. A Mercedes struck her. Bones broke. She died in the crosswalk. The driver sped through. The street stayed silent. The city failed to protect her.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, died after a driver in a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her as she crossed Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk, with the signal to walk. A witness said, "The lady spin around and sped through." The driver, a 64-year-old woman, has not been charged. The vehicle had one prior violation for blocking a bus lane. The article highlights the lack of immediate accountability and calls for stronger pedestrian protections: "The government should do something, like when people are walking, no cars should be moving."

• Driver Kills Pedestrian In Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16