Steel Rules, Children Die—Albany Stalls

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 21 - A distracted SUV driver rear-ended a sedan on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at night. The sedan’s front passenger, a 28-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling westbound when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:15 PM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A 2011 SUV traveling westbound struck the rear center of a 2018 sedan also traveling westbound. The point of impact was the SUV’s center front end and the sedan’s center back end. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor to the collision. The sedan carried three occupants; the front passenger, a 28-year-old woman, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The SUV had one occupant, the licensed male driver. No other contributing factors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761668 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 4 - A Jeep SUV struck a motorscooter head-on on Union Avenue in Brooklyn. The 19-year-old unlicensed, helmetless rider suffered a crushed skull. The driver’s failure to obey traffic control caused a violent, fatal collision that left blood on the street.

According to the police report, at 12:10 a.m., a Jeep SUV traveling west on Union Avenue near Lorimer Street in Brooklyn collided head-on with a northbound motorscooter. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the Jeep driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. The Jeep’s left front bumper struck the scooter’s center front end. The 19-year-old male scooter rider was unlicensed and helmetless, suffering severe head injuries described as a crushed skull. The police report places these victim details after noting the driver’s failure to follow traffic control devices. The crash left blood on the street and silence in its wake, underscoring the deadly consequences of driver disregard for traffic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - A 46-year-old man pedaled north on Union Avenue. An unlicensed SUV driver struck him head-on. His helmet split. Blood spread across the pavement. He was thrown from his bike. He never moved again.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man was riding his bicycle north on Union Avenue near Lynch Street in Brooklyn when an unlicensed driver operating a 2024 Volkswagen SUV struck him head-on. The report states the crash occurred at 11:26 a.m. The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The narrative describes the immediate aftermath: 'His helmet split. Blood spread across the pavement. He was thrown from the bike. He never moved again.' The report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s actions and improper lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 26 - Mayor Adams caved to business pressure, gutting a proven safety redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. The city scrapped lane reductions and protected bike lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. Elected officials condemned the move. The mayor put politics before lives.

On August 26, 2024, Mayor Adams reversed a key street safety redesign for McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn. The Department of Transportation's original plan, announced after a fatal crash in 2021, would have reduced travel lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. DOT data showed this 'would reduce deaths and serious injuries by 30 percent.' Under pressure from business interests, especially Broadway Stages, Adams first weakened the plan in July 2023, then scaled it back further in August 2024. Council Member Lincoln Restler said, 'Mayor Adams says he cares about safety, except when it comes to McGuinness Boulevard.' Assembly Member Emily Gallagher called the compromise 'a plan that does nothing to address the central safety concerns of our community.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams urged the city to follow the evidence and protect lives. The mayor’s decision leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Anatomy of a Debacle: How Adams Put Safety Last on McGuinness Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-26

Aug 23 - Lawmakers say Hochul broke the law. They filed a brief. They argue the governor has no right to halt congestion pricing. The MTA Board, not Albany, holds the power. The pause sows confusion. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On August 23, 2024, a group of New York State legislators—Assembly Members Phil Steck and Andrew Hevesi, State Senator Julia Salazar, and former Assembly Member Dick Gottfried—filed a legal brief against Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing. The matter, as described: “the legislature never gave her or any governor the power to do away with the traffic toll.” The brief cites the 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, arguing only the Traffic Mobility Review Board and the MTA can make such decisions. The lawmakers warn that letting the governor override the MTA would “make impossibly opaque the actual responsibility for MTA decisions.” Their action supports the MTA Board’s independence and opposes executive interference. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the legislators’ stance highlights the risk of political meddling in life-and-death street policy.

• State Legislators Say They Never Gave Hochul the Power to Pause Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-23

Aug 19 - In Brooklyn, a female driver entering a parking spot struck a parked SUV on its left rear quarter panel. The impact caused damage to both vehicles. The driver experienced shock but was not ejected. Police cited driver inexperience as a factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Brooklyn near 700 Broadway at 20:11. A 27-year-old female driver operating a 2016 GMC SUV was entering a parked position when her vehicle collided with a stationary 2015 Ford SUV. The point of impact was the right side doors of the moving vehicle and the left rear quarter panel of the parked vehicle. The driver was licensed and had two occupants in her vehicle. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor to the collision. The driver was not ejected and suffered unspecified injuries, experiencing shock at the scene. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - A tractor truck making a right turn hit a 20-year-old bicyclist traveling straight on Broadway. The cyclist was ejected and suffered a head contusion. Police cite driver inattention and passing too closely as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, a 2024 tractor truck traveling west on Broadway was making a right turn when it collided with a bicyclist also traveling west. The bicyclist, a 20-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained a head contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The point of impact was the truck's right front bumper striking the bike's center front end. The report identifies driver errors including inattention, distraction, and passing too closely as contributing factors. The bicyclist's injury and ejection highlight the severity of the impact. The truck driver was licensed in New Jersey, and the cyclist held a permit from New York. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748786 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 11 - A 67-year-old bicyclist suffered elbow and lower arm bruises after a crash on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The police report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected from the bike.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 PM on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The victim, a 67-year-old male bicyclist, was riding northbound when the collision happened. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The bicyclist sustained contusions and bruises to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious and was not ejected from the bike. The report does not specify any contributing factors related to the bicyclist. The incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 2 - SUV struck a 2-year-old girl outside an intersection on Ross Street. Driver inattention caused full-body bruises. The child was conscious. Streets remain perilous for Brooklyn’s youngest pedestrians.

According to the police report, a 2-year-old girl walking outside an intersection on Ross Street in Brooklyn was struck by a southbound 2021 SUV. The point of impact was the center front end while the driver was passing. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The child suffered contusions and bruises over her entire body but remained conscious. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but no victim behavior was cited as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the danger posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable pedestrians, especially children.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 26 - SUV driver lost focus on Kent Avenue. Slammed into sedan’s rear. Five inside the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Metal twisted. Pain followed. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling north on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn struck the left rear of a sedan making a left turn from Rutledge Street at 9:45 PM. The SUV driver was cited for inattention and following too closely. All five sedan occupants, including a 34-year-old woman and four passengers aged 1 to 46, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as key contributing factors. The sedan’s left rear and the SUV’s right front quarter panels were damaged. All injured were conscious and restrained. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 23 - A Ford sedan’s front left caught a 19-year-old cyclist on Broadway. The rider flew, head split on the street, blood pooling. Doors bent. He lay conscious, bleeding, ejected from his bike. Driver inattention and unsafe lane change listed as causes.

According to the police report, a Ford sedan traveling east on Broadway near 371 struck a 19-year-old bicyclist who was also heading east and passing. The report states, 'A Ford sedan struck a 19-year-old bicyclist passing east. No helmet. He flew, head split on the street. Blood pooled. The car’s front left caught him. Doors bent. He lay conscious, bleeding.' The bicyclist suffered severe head injuries and was ejected from his bike, remaining conscious but bleeding heavily. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors in the crash. These driver errors are central to the incident. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s actions, which are explicitly listed as causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743121 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - A tanker truck making a left turn struck the left side of a sedan traveling straight on Kent Avenue. The sedan’s female driver suffered neck injuries and shock, with alcohol involvement noted. The tanker’s right front bumper hit the sedan’s left doors.

According to the police report, at 8:40 a.m. on Kent Avenue, a tanker truck traveling south was making a left turn when it collided with a sedan traveling southwest straight ahead. The point of impact was the tanker’s right front quarter panel striking the sedan’s left side doors. The sedan’s driver, a 51-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and shock and reported complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor for the sedan driver. The tanker driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the left turn maneuver. No other contributing factors were specified. The collision caused damage primarily to the left side doors of the sedan and the right front bumper of the tanker.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741705 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - A 26-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan hit her while crossing outside a crosswalk. The impact occurred on Broadway in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was conscious and bruised, with no driver errors explicitly noted in the report.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 1998 Honda sedan traveling west on Broadway in Brooklyn struck her outside an intersection at approximately 8:40 AM. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, and the impact occurred at the vehicle's left rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report does not list any specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both contributing factors for the pedestrian are marked as unspecified. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The collision highlights the dangers pedestrians face when crossing outside designated areas, though no explicit driver fault is recorded in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739502 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 28 - Pro-safety candidates swept North Brooklyn primaries. Voters backed the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Opponents, funded by Broadway Stages, lost every race. Assemblymember Gallagher called for Mayor Adams to finish the job. The city’s delay keeps the boulevard deadly for walkers and riders.

On June 28, 2024, North Brooklyn’s primary elections became a referendum on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a vocal supporter of the lane-reduction plan, defeated challenger Anathea Simpkins, who was backed by anti-redesign group Keep McGuinness Moving. Gallagher secured over 75 percent of the vote, declaring, “North Brooklyn demands Mayor Adams finish the job and make McGuinness safe.” Down-ballot, street safety advocates Luke Ohlson and Jenna Bimbi also won, both endorsed by Make McGuinness Safe. Opponents, including Broadway Stages executives, lost every race. Despite a partial redesign last year, the city has stalled on completing safety improvements. The election results send a clear mandate: voters want action to protect pedestrians and cyclists on McGuinness Boulevard.

• Safety for McGuinness Blvd. Was a Winning Issue for Greenpoint Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-28

Jun 28 - Emily Gallagher crushed her opponent. She stood with Greenpoint. She backed ripping out car lanes and building protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard. The street is deadly. Locals cheered. The fight for safer streets just got muscle.

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, representing District 50, won her primary on June 28, 2024. The race centered on the future of McGuinness Boulevard, a street known for danger. Gallagher supported 'removing vehicle lanes and adding protected bike lanes to the historically dangerous McGuinness Boulevard.' Her challenger opposed these changes. Gallagher's victory signals strong support for street redesign. Greenpointers celebrated, seeing her win as a mandate for safety. The measure was not a formal council bill, but Gallagher’s stance and win put political weight behind protected bike lanes and fewer car lanes. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the community’s reaction shows the stakes for vulnerable road users.

• Early Addition: People really want to buy luxury apartments in Gowanus, toxic canal be damned, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-28

Jun 27 - An 11-year-old boy suffered abrasions and arm injuries after an SUV struck him while crossing a marked crosswalk on Wythe Avenue. The driver’s inattention and improper turning caused the collision, leaving the child injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Wythe Avenue in Brooklyn at 10:15 AM. An 11-year-old boy was crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2017 Mazda SUV, traveling south and making a right turn, struck him with the vehicle's right front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors to the crash. The boy sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious and was not ejected from the scene. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors, specifically distraction and improper turning maneuvers, in intersections involving vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736285 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 24 - An 88-year-old man driving an SUV suffered a hip and upper leg injury after a crash while making a left turn in Brooklyn. The police report cites driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:21 in Brooklyn near Wallabout Street. The driver, an 88-year-old male occupant of a 2020 Lexus SUV traveling north, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage. The driver was injured, suffering contusions and bruises to the hip and upper leg area, and was conscious at the time of the report. He was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 20 - A box truck and sedan collided head-on on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Three occupants suffered back injuries and whiplash. Driver inattention and unsafe speed caused the crash. All victims were restrained and conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving a box truck and a sedan, both traveling east. The box truck struck the sedan's right rear bumper with its left front bumper. The crash injured three occupants: the sedan driver, a front passenger, and a rear passenger. All suffered back injuries and whiplash but were conscious and restrained with lap belts. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' for the truck driver and sedan driver, and 'Unsafe Speed' for the sedan driver. The sedan was noted as an 'Oversized Vehicle' contributing to the unsafe speed factor. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of distracted driving and speeding on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19