Brooklyn Heights: Two Dead on Cadman and the BQE. The Rest Is Bruises and Waiting.

Jul 25 - Thin string, nearly invisible, sliced at necks and faces. Cyclists struck crossing Marine Parkway Bridge. Injuries mount. No answers. Danger lingers. System fails to clear the path.

Gothamist (2025-07-25) reports multiple cyclists injured by string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge walkway. Victims described sudden pain and red marks. One cyclist landed in intensive care in June. The NYPD said no criminality was suspected and has not identified the source. The MTA forbids cycling on the path, but most riders do not dismount due to the narrow walkway. The article quotes Angel Montalvo: "I felt pain, but I didn't know what it was." The recurring hazard exposes gaps in bridge safety and enforcement, leaving vulnerable users at risk.

• Cyclists Injured By Hidden String On Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two dead on Third Avenue. A hit-and-run. Leaders call for change. The city promised a fix. The street stays deadly. Demands grow. Blood stains the corridor. Action lags.

CBS New York (2025-07-24) reports Brooklyn leaders urge the city to redesign Third Avenue after a fatal hit-and-run killed two. The article states, "Traffic safety leaders are calling on New York City to keep its promise to redesign Brooklyn's Third Avenue corridor." The crash highlights ongoing danger and unmet city commitments. Driver fled the scene. Advocates press for swift redesign to prevent more deaths.

• Brooklyn Leaders Demand Third Avenue Redesign, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

""Here we are, once again gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets. But it doesn't have to be this way,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"This is not meant to be a highway. This is where people walk. This is where people live. This is where kids go to school." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - A drunk driver killed a man in East Flatbush. Another driver struck a 95-year-old woman in Bensonhurst. Both drivers stayed. Both now face charges. The city counts sixty pedestrians dead this year.

NY Daily News (2025-07-18) reports two Brooklyn drivers face charges after fatal crashes. Winston Reid, accused of drunk driving, struck a man in an East Flatbush crosswalk. Police charged him with vehicular manslaughter. In a separate January crash, Timothe Andre hit Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Bensonhurst. Gil died from her injuries. After a six-month probe, Andre was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The article notes, 'As of Thursday, 60 pedestrians had been killed by vehicles across the city this year.' Both drivers remained at the scene. The cases highlight ongoing risks for city pedestrians and the legal consequences for driver negligence.

• Brooklyn Drivers Charged In Deadly Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 18 - Six speeding tickets. School zones. Gersh Kuntzman calls out Andrew Cuomo. Reckless driving from leaders puts lives at risk. Streets stay dangerous. No answers from Cuomo.

"if the state legislature had passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes's "Stop Super Speeder" bill, would have required Cuomo to get a speed limiter installed into his beloved Dodge." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 18, 2025, journalist Gersh Kuntzman of Streetsblog NYC criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for racking up six speed-camera tickets in city school zones between March and June. Kuntzman wrote, 'That's objectively a horrendous record of reckless driving through city school zones.' He noted that if Sen. Andrew Gounardes's 'Stop Super Speeder' bill had passed, Cuomo would face a mandatory speed limiter. No council bill or committee action is involved. The safety analyst notes this is an individual’s behavior, not a policy change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 15 - A judge stopped city crews from tearing out Bedford Ave’s only protected bike lane. The lane, shielded by parked cars, now waits for a court fight. Cyclists and advocates hold their ground.

NY Daily News reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge blocked New York City from removing the protected Bedford Ave bike lane in Williamsburg. The city planned to move cyclists next to car traffic, but the court granted an emergency restraining order after advocates appealed. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called the lane a 'critical safety project.' City Hall insists the reconfiguration is legal and claims the appeal delays 'easing the safety concerns plaguing Williamsburg parents.' The protected lane, installed in October 2024, separates cyclists from moving vehicles. The ruling highlights ongoing policy battles over street design and cyclist safety.

• Judge Halts Bedford Ave Bike Lane Removal, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 12 - A BMW sped through a Brooklyn red light at dawn. Two men crossing 3rd Avenue fell. Both died on the street. The driver fled. Police caught him. Charges followed. The toll of cars grows.

Gothamist (2025-07-12) reports a Staten Island man "blew through a red light and killed two pedestrians" at 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street, Brooklyn. Police say the driver, 23, struck Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59, then fled. Both victims died at the scene. The suspect faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. NYPD data shows 98 citywide traffic deaths this year, nearly half pedestrians. The crash highlights the lethal risk at intersections and the deadly impact of ignoring signals.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 11 - A driver struck two men in Sunset Park. Both died. The driver fled. Police investigate. The street holds the silence. Lives ended. The car kept going.

CBS New York (July 11, 2025) reports two men were killed by a hit-and-run driver in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Police say the driver 'took off' after striking the pedestrians. The article notes an 'active investigation' but gives no details on arrests or charges. The crash highlights the lethal risk to pedestrians and the ongoing problem of drivers fleeing crash scenes. No mention of street design or enforcement changes.

• Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Two Pedestrians, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 10 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A woman on a bike struck the right-side doors of a parked car on Schermerhorn Street. She was ejected and suffered a contusion to her lower leg. Police recorded passenger distraction as a contributing factor.

A 30-year-old woman was riding west on Schermerhorn Street when her bicycle struck the right-side doors of a parked car. She was ejected and sustained a contusion to her knee and lower leg. She remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, "Passenger Distraction" contributed to the crash. The report lists the parked vehicle's point of impact as the right-side doors and the bike's damage at the center front end. Police recorded the bicyclist as injured and ejected and identified Passenger Distraction as the contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 9 - A Brooklyn judge cleared the way for Adams to tear out Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. City data showed crashes fell with protection. Now, cyclists and pedestrians face exposed pavement and risk.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-09) reports Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo ruled Mayor Adams can remove three blocks of Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane without advance notice. The city’s own Department of Transportation found the protected lane cut crashes and injuries by 47 percent, but the judge called the change 'only a modification.' She wrote, 'Modification of the bike lane is not a major transportation project.' Critics, including Council Member Lincoln Restler, say the removal endangers vulnerable road users and bypasses public input. The decision highlights gaps in notification laws and the risk of reverting to unprotected lanes on a Vision Zero priority corridor.

• Judge Allows Bedford Bike Lane Removal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 9 - A Brooklyn judge cleared the way for Mayor Adams to rip out Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. Cyclists lose shelter. The street grows harsher. Safety for the vulnerable falls away.

""The reckless decision to rip out the Bedford bike lane proves yet again that Eric Adams cares more about his political future than our collective safety."" -- Lincoln Restler

On July 9, 2025, Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo ruled on the removal of Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. The case, reported by Streetsblog NYC, allowed Mayor Eric Adams to erase three blocks of protected lane without public notice. The judge called the change a 'modification,' sidestepping city law on notification. Council Member Lincoln Restler and attorney Peter Beadle condemned the move. DOT data showed the protected lane cut crashes and injuries. The ruling strips away safe space for cyclists and pedestrians. As the safety analyst notes, removing a bike lane increases risk for all vulnerable road users by putting cars first.

• Brooklyn Judge Lets Eric Adams Rip Up Bedford Avenue Protected Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This project has been a long time coming. When I first got into elected office, there was not a single accessible station anywhere in my district... Today we are celebrating the second station in Bay Ridge to have accessibility access." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signs speed camera law. Enforcement runs to 2030. Cameras slash speeding. Injuries drop. Streets still deadly. Lawmakers split. Pedestrians and cyclists get a fighting chance.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Hochul signed the reauthorization of New York City's speed camera program. The law, with no listed bill number or committee, extends automated enforcement through 2030. Hochul declared, 'Speed cameras save lives and keep New Yorkers safe.' Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, praised the renewal. City data shows a 30 percent drop in severe injuries and a 94 percent fall in speeding at camera sites. Safety analysts confirm: speed cameras cut dangerous driving and protect pedestrians and cyclists without burdening them. Lawmakers remain divided, but the program stands.

• Hochul Signs Speed Camera Reauthorization, Enforcement Continues Through 2030, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 25 - Albany stalled. Lawmakers dragged their feet. No new laws for safer streets. Pedestrians and cyclists left exposed. The car stays king. The status quo kills. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

The 2025 Albany legislative session ended June 25, with lawmakers failing to pass key street safety bills. The Streetsblog NYC report reads: "Our elected officials in Albany have failed the livable streets movement again." Despite support for measures like speed camera reauthorization, most bills to protect pedestrians and cyclists died in committee or never reached the floor. Assembly Member Amy Sohn and others criticized the lack of action. The only major win was extending the city’s speed camera program. A safety analyst notes: 'Failure to advance livable streets policies likely maintains the status quo, which typically prioritizes car-centric infrastructure and neglects the safety and needs of pedestrians and cyclists.' The session’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No progress. No protection.

• D-Minus! The Albany Report Card for 2025, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 24 - Police blocked off a longtime illegal lot under the BQE. Dozens of city employee cars vanished. Metal barriers now guard the plaza. Summonses flew, cars towed. Streets opened for people. The crackdown strikes at driver privilege. Pedestrians and cyclists reclaim space.

On June 24, 2025, NYPD and the 84th Precinct enforced a sweep against illegal placard parking under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Tillary and Navy streets. The action, coordinated with Council Member Lincoln Restler, followed community complaints. Officers issued 40 summonses and towed 10 vehicles. The NYPD stated, "Following community complaints about illegal parking... the NYPD Transportation Bureau and Council Member Lincoln Restler coordinated... to address the parking condition and clear the area." Council Members Restler and Crystal Hudson represent the district but did not claim credit. The crackdown targets city employees who abused parking privileges for years. Safety analysts note: "Cracking down on placard abuse reduces illegal parking, especially in bike lanes, crosswalks, and sidewalks, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists by reclaiming public space and reducing driver entitlement."

• Police Finally Remove Cars From Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 20 - A Brooklyn political boss fights a judge’s order to keep the Bedford Avenue bike lane. Crash and injury numbers fell after the redesign. The city faces pressure to defend protections for cyclists. The battle exposes the city’s fractured safety priorities.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 20, 2025, that Frank Seddio, a Brooklyn Democratic leader and Board of Elections commissioner, is appealing a court order that blocks the city from removing part of the Bedford Avenue bike lane. Seddio claims the lane will only shift location and disputes the safety benefits, arguing, 'The bike lane will still exist, but merely shift to an alternative location in the road.' He also questions crash data, citing seasonal differences: 'The change in accident and injury rates is better explained by seasonal weather patterns.' Streetsblog notes that after the redesign, crashes dropped by 18–19% and injuries by 25–26%. The case highlights ongoing tension between local political power, city notification procedures, and efforts to protect cyclists and pedestrians through street design.

• Brooklyn Power Broker Fights Bike Lane Ruling, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20