Blood on Graham Avenue—How Many More Will Die Before City Hall Acts?

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso demands more. He wants car-free streets in Brooklyn, longer than Manhattan’s. He pledges funding. He rejects short, patchwork routes. The city drags its feet. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for safe, open roads.

On November 29, 2022, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called on the Department of Transportation to expand the Summer Streets program into Brooklyn. Reynoso insists the new corridor must be at least as long as Manhattan’s six-and-a-half-mile stretch, not just a patchwork of short Open Streets. He told Streetsblog, "We have to think about, long-term, having a route that is as long if not longer than the one Manhattan does." Reynoso commits city funding to make this happen. The Adams administration has yet to announce plans. The matter, described as 'expansion of car-free Summer Streets program to Brooklyn,' remains in policy advocacy, with support from public-space advocates. Reynoso’s push centers on opening streets to pedestrians and cyclists, not just for events, but as a lasting, borough-wide change.

• Bigger and Better: Brooklyn BP Wants Summer Streets Longer Than Manhattan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-29

A Ford SUV and a Toyota sedan crashed at Vandervort Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV hit the sedan’s right side. The sedan’s driver, a 32-year-old man, suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Police cited driver distraction and ignoring traffic controls.

According to the police report, a 2020 Ford SUV traveling west collided with a 2014 Toyota sedan traveling south on Vandervort Avenue in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the SUV’s center front end and the sedan’s right side doors. The sedan’s driver, a 32-year-old man, was injured with whiplash and injuries to his entire body. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention or distraction and disregarding traffic control as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash caused damage to the front of the SUV and the right front quarter panel of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583716 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A sedan struck the rear of another vehicle on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The 25-year-old male driver suffered facial abrasions. Police cited following too closely and driver inattention as factors. Airbag deployed; no ejection occurred.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male driver in a 2021 Nissan sedan was injured when his vehicle rear-ended another sedan on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The driver sustained facial abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The Nissan's airbag deployed upon impact, and the driver was not ejected. The crash involved multiple vehicles traveling eastbound, with one truck merging nearby but sustaining no damage. The collision caused center front-end damage to the Nissan and rear-end damage to the other sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

An unlicensed man on an e-scooter crashed in Brooklyn at Morgan Avenue. The scooter’s front center hit an unknown object. The 25-year-old driver suffered bruises and abdominal-pelvic injuries. Police cited driver inattention as a factor.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male driving an e-scooter in Brooklyn was injured when his vehicle’s center front end collided with an unknown object. The driver was not ejected but sustained contusions and injuries to the abdomen and pelvis. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The vehicle damage was limited to the center front end. No safety equipment was reported in use. The crash occurred while the driver was traveling straight ahead near Morgan Avenue.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

Two sedans crashed at Porter Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver of one sedan suffered elbow and lower arm injuries. Police cited unsafe speed and driver distraction as causes. Both drivers were licensed men traveling straight before impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Porter Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver of a 2016 Honda sedan, a 38-year-old man, was injured with elbow and lower arm pain and shock but was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. Both drivers were traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred, with impact on the right front quarter panel of the Honda and the center front end of the Infiniti sedan. Both drivers were licensed, one from New York and the other from New Jersey. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577368 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

DOT refused a protected bike lane on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. Cyclists face danger. The city law demands protection. DOT chose traffic flow over safety. Advocates and officials condemned the move. Illegally parked cars block the shared lane. Cyclists remain exposed.

On October 20, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it would not install a temporary protected bike lane on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during major construction, despite Local Law 124 requiring such measures when bike lanes are blocked. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, who once supported the law as a council member, now claims a protected lane would worsen traffic and turning conflicts. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Alexa Aviles criticized the decision, with Reynoso stating, 'protected bike lanes are essential,' and Aviles urging the city to 'install an alternative, fully protected bike lane where the road can accommodate one.' Advocates argue the shared lane is unsafe and often blocked by cars. The DOT’s move prioritizes vehicle flow over cyclist safety, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• SAFETY LAST: DOT Admits To Intentionally Endangering Cyclists on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-20

A sedan struck the back of a box truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan’s driver, a 23-year-old woman, suffered an eye contusion. The truck showed no damage. The crash happened while both vehicles traveled eastbound.

According to the police report, a box truck and a sedan collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan struck the center back end of the truck. The sedan’s driver, a 23-year-old female occupant, sustained an eye injury classified as a contusion and was conscious after the crash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the truck. The truck showed no damage, and its driver was not reported injured. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead eastbound at the time of impact. The sedan’s right front bumper was damaged. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574146 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A 31-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected on Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. He suffered a fractured, dislocated shoulder. The crash involved other vehicular factors. The rider was helmeted but severely injured. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected and injured on Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. He sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated upper arm injury. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as the contributing factor twice, indicating driver or vehicle-related errors. The motorcycle was traveling east, going straight ahead, with no damage to the vehicle or point of impact noted. The rider was wearing a helmet but was still ejected and seriously injured. The report does not specify other vehicles involved or their actions. The crash highlights the severe consequences of vehicular errors on vulnerable motorcycle riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575583 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

Sedan hit hard on Metropolitan Avenue. Driver and passenger hurt. Neck, shoulder, arm injuries. Unsafe speed listed. Both wore lap belts. Metal twisted. Shock followed.

According to the police report, a sedan crashed on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, a 29-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and shock. The front passenger, a 32-year-old man, sustained shoulder and upper arm injuries. Both were restrained with lap belts. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The sedan’s left front quarter panel took the impact. No other vehicle damage was reported. The crash left both occupants injured inside the car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4573802 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A sedan hit its right rear passenger on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The 24-year-old woman suffered leg bruises. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The passenger stayed conscious and harnessed.

According to the police report, a 2017 Nissan sedan traveling north on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway struck its right rear passenger. The 24-year-old female occupant, secured by a harness, sustained contusions to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The vehicle's center front end was damaged, showing the point of impact. The passenger was not ejected and remained conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4570194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A motorcycle and an SUV collided head-on on Meeker Avenue. The motorcycle driver, a 21-year-old man, suffered hip and upper leg injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. The motorcyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Meeker Avenue struck a westbound SUV at the center front ends of both vehicles. The motorcycle driver, a 21-year-old male occupant, sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg and was conscious at the scene. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor in the crash. The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. No ejections occurred. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the front ends, with the SUV's left front bumper damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4571993 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A 17-year-old e-bike rider turned left into the path of a southbound SUV on Morgan Avenue. The rider was ejected, unconscious, and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The SUV’s front end was damaged. The e-bike driver was unlicensed.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male e-bike driver, unlicensed, was making a left turn northbound on Morgan Avenue when his e-bike collided head-on with a southbound SUV. The impact ejected the rider, leaving him unconscious with injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The SUV, carrying six occupants, sustained front-end damage. The report lists no specific contributing factors but notes the e-bike driver was unlicensed. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The collision occurred at the left front bumper of the SUV and the center front end of the e-bike. The ejection and injury severity highlight the crash’s violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569279 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

Council Member Alexa Avilés pushes new rules for last-mile trucking. Trucks choke Red Hook and Sunset Park. Narrow streets shake. Residents breathe fumes. The bill demands safer, smarter routes. Data and daylighting aim to protect people, not just freight.

On September 30, 2022, Council Member Alexa Avilés (District 38) introduced a package of bills targeting last-mile trucking regulation. The measures, revived in committee, seek to redesign truck routes and gather data on facilities run by Amazon, FedEx, and UPS. The matter aims to 'reduce congestion and emissions, improve safety and increase visibility,' especially in overburdened neighborhoods like Red Hook and Sunset Park. Avilés, the lead sponsor, calls for systematic changes: 'We really need to look systematically at more improved routes to ensure people are safe.' The bills would require the Department of Transportation to daylight intersections and the Department of Environmental Protection to install air monitors on heavy-use roads. Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsors a related bill for public truck-route data. The legislation draws support from industry and advocates, all seeking safer streets and cleaner air for vulnerable New Yorkers.

• Trio of council bills seeks to regulate last-mile trucking routes, crainsnewyork.com, Published 2022-09-30

SUV struck another SUV’s rear on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A 24-year-old woman at the wheel suffered a head injury and concussion. Police cited following too closely. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The front of one SUV hit the right rear bumper of the other. A 24-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining a head injury and concussion. She was conscious and wore a lap belt. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash shows the danger when drivers fail to keep safe distance. The impact left one driver hurt, underscoring the risks for vehicle occupants on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567640 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

Two SUVs collided on Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. The rear vehicle struck the front one while slowing. A 19-year-old female passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash. Driver distraction and following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. The rear SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, was slowing or stopping when it struck the back of the front SUV, which was stopped in traffic. A 19-year-old female passenger in the rear vehicle was injured, sustaining head injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction and following too closely as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the center front end of the rear vehicle and the center back end of the front vehicle. No ejections occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567032 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

Brooklyn leaders stood outside Borough Hall. They demanded congestion pricing. They want fewer cars, cleaner air, safer streets. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it sweeping. He pushed for limited exemptions. The rally came as public comment closed. Pressure mounts for federal approval.

On September 22, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined Brooklyn officials at a rally supporting New York State's congestion pricing plan. The event came as the public comment period for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Central Business District Tolling Program ended. The plan would toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, aiming to cut traffic and pollution. Restler said, “This is a tangible, major, sweeping policy that will dramatically reduce the number of cars and trucks on the street in New York City.” He supported limited exemptions, especially for taxis and for-hire vehicles, but stressed the need to keep cars off the road. The rally urged the Federal Highway Administration to approve the plan, which is expected to shift commuters to mass transit and modernize city infrastructure. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon also backed a taxi carveout.

• Brooklyn pols rally for congestion pricing on eve of public comment period ending, amny.com, Published 2022-09-22

Tom Wright backed congestion pricing at the MTA board. He called it vital. He said it cuts traffic, cleans air, and funds transit. Brooklyn lawmakers joined in. Critics raised minor issues. Supporters said fixes are simple. The push for safer streets continues.

On September 21, 2022, Tom Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association, spoke at the MTA board meeting to support congestion pricing. The statement, titled 'Congestion Pricing Benefits Are Inarguable; Its Minor Problems are Easily Fixable,' urged city, state, and federal leaders to advance the Central Business District Tolling Program. Wright said, 'Congestion pricing will have benefits for communities across the city and region: It will reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. It will raise vital revenue for public transit. It will make the transportation system more equitable.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler planned a rally in support. The statement acknowledged minor impacts, like increased traffic on select highways, but insisted these can be addressed by electrifying fleets and capping highways. The focus remained on the program’s broad benefits for vulnerable road users and city residents.

• Opinion: Congestion Pricing Benefits Are Inarguable; Its Minor Problems are Easily Fixable, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-21

An e-bike rider was ejected after a collision with an SUV on Metropolitan Avenue. The rider suffered neck injuries and whiplash, left incoherent at the scene. The SUV was passing southbound when it struck the bike traveling westbound.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old male e-bike rider was injured and ejected during a crash with a station wagon/SUV on Metropolitan Avenue. The e-bike was traveling westbound, going straight ahead, when the SUV, traveling southbound and passing, collided with the bike's right front quarter panel. The rider suffered neck injuries and whiplash and was incoherent at the scene. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The rider was wearing a helmet, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. No other driver errors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4571766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A 45-year-old male bicyclist was injured on Humboldt Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist was partially ejected and suffered abrasions and upper arm injuries. The crash involved a vehicle making a left turn and improper lane use by the cyclist.

According to the police report, a bicyclist traveling south on Humboldt Street was injured when a vehicle making a left turn struck the cyclist's left side doors. The bicyclist, a 45-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and upper arm injuries. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The vehicle's point of impact was the right front quarter panel. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The crash highlights driver errors related to lane usage and following distance, as documented in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4568318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

A GMC SUV hit a Kia sedan on Meeker Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard and driver distraction. The sedan’s left front quarter panel and the SUV’s right side doors were damaged.

According to the police report, a GMC SUV traveling west collided with a Kia sedan making a right turn southbound on Meeker Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver, a 39-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the contributing factors as "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The sedan sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the SUV was damaged on its right side doors. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The crash highlights driver errors involving failure to obey traffic controls and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11