Bed-Stuy Bleeds: Machines Kill, City Stalls

A child steps from a bus. A cyclist strikes. Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane will vanish. City listens to complaints, not data. Streets stay dangerous. Cyclists and children caught in the crossfire. Policy shifts, safety left behind.

CBS New York reported on June 14, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams will remove three blocks of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn after several crashes, including one involving a child exiting a school bus. The mayor cited 'community concerns' and stated, 'After several incidents—including some involving children...we decided to adjust the current design.' City Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the move, calling it 'pure politics' and warning, 'He is going to make this area less safe for pedestrians, for cyclists.' The article highlights tension between local complaints and street safety policy. No driver error is cited; the crash involved a cyclist and a child. The decision raises questions about how New York responds to vulnerable road users and whether removing infrastructure addresses underlying dangers.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removed After Crashes, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-14

City strips protection from Bedford Avenue bike lane. Cyclists lose shield. Children dart from double-parked cars. Community complaints drive policy. Streets stay chaotic. Power struggles linger. Riders and walkers face new risk. Steel yields to politics.

Gothamist reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams ordered the removal of protective barriers from a stretch of Brooklyn’s Bedford Avenue bike lane. The move follows complaints from local residents, especially after a viral video showed a child running into the lane from a double-parked car and colliding with an e-bike. Adams stated, 'we listened to community concerns and decided to adjust the current design to better reflect community feedback.' The Department of Transportation will revert the protected lane to its previous unprotected state between Willoughby and Flushing avenues. The article highlights ongoing political battles over street design and notes that double-parking and chaotic traffic remain unaddressed. Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro cited 'lack of action' on e-bike safety as a barrier to safer infrastructure. The decision removes a key safety measure for vulnerable road users.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Barriers, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-13

Two drivers collided on Park Avenue in Brooklyn. One man suffered a back injury. Police cited driver inattention and blocked views. Metal twisted. The street stayed busy. The system failed to protect.

A crash involving a station wagon/SUV and a box truck occurred on Park Avenue at Warsoff Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling east when they collided. One driver, a 45-year-old man, was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers cannot see and lose focus. The system left a man hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819437, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped slammed into another vehicle at Nostrand and Putnam. The driver flew from the seat. He hit the ground hard. His shoulder and arm scraped raw. Police say traffic control was ignored. The street stayed busy. The city moved on.

A crash on Nostrand Avenue at Putnam Avenue in Brooklyn left a 45-year-old moped driver injured. According to the police report, the moped struck another vehicle while both were traveling straight. The driver was ejected and suffered abrasions to his shoulder and upper arm. Police cite 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report lists no injuries for the other vehicle's occupants. The moped driver was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the risks when traffic controls are ignored and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a cyclist at Lafayette and Tompkins. The cyclist, 25, took the blow in the shoulder and arm. He bled, stunned. Police blamed driver inattention and failure to yield. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A crash on Lafayette Avenue at Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn left a 25-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, a sedan traveling east struck the cyclist, causing abrasions and shoulder injuries. The cyclist was in shock after the impact. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any helmet use or signaling as factors. The driver of the sedan, a 63-year-old man, was not reported injured. The crash highlights the risks faced by cyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or yield, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818373, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two motorcycles collided at Nostrand and DeKalb. One rider suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. One driver was unlicensed. The crash left metal and pain on Brooklyn asphalt.

Two motorcycles crashed at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the collision. One rider, age 27, was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot, and was wearing a helmet. Another driver was operating without a license. The crash involved one motorcycle making a right turn and another going straight. The police report lists no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left one rider with abrasions and pain, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving and unlicensed operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817263, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans crashed at Fulton and Downing in Brooklyn. Metal twisted. Glass broke. A driver and a passenger were injured. Police cited failure to yield. The street stayed open. The city moved on. The wounded did not.

Two sedans collided at the intersection of Fulton Street and Downing Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a driver and a front-seat passenger suffered injuries, including whiplash and back pain. The crash involved a sedan going straight and another making a left turn. Police listed 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report notes that both injured persons were using lap belts and harnesses. The crash highlights the dangers faced by vehicle occupants when drivers fail to yield, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815832, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a cyclist at Classon Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a leg injury and was partially ejected. The crash left bruises and confusion. Both vehicles were moving straight. Streets stayed dangerous. No one died.

A crash occurred at the intersection of Classon Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan and a bicycle collided while both were traveling straight. The cyclist, a 34-year-old man, was injured with a contusion and a lower leg wound. He was partially ejected but remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were listed in the data. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged. No fatalities were reported. The police report did not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816134, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle and SUV collided on Nostrand Avenue. The crash threw the motorcyclist from his bike. He suffered injuries to his leg. Police cited driver distraction. The street ran dark and fast. Metal hit flesh. Sirens followed.

A crash on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn involved a Ford SUV and a Honda motorcycle. According to the police report, the SUV was going straight while the motorcycle changed lanes. The impact ejected the 21-year-old male motorcyclist, who sustained injuries to his knee and lower leg. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The SUV’s front end struck the motorcycle’s back. The motorcyclist was unlicensed. No helmet use was noted as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814509, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A U-turn gone wrong on Park Avenue. Sedans collide. Metal twists. An eight-year-old boy suffers abdominal injuries. Three drivers hurt. Failure to yield and debris mark the scene. Brooklyn’s streets claim more pain.

According to the police report, a crash involving multiple sedans occurred near 583 Park Avenue in Brooklyn. One sedan was making a U-turn when it collided with other vehicles. An eight-year-old boy, riding as a rear passenger, sustained abdominal injuries. Three drivers, aged 29, 35, and 38, were also injured, suffering pain in their legs and backs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Obstruction/Debris' as contributing factors. The child was restrained in a child seat. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield and obstacles clutter city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814496, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi struck trouble on Franklin Avenue. Three young passengers suffered whiplash and bruises. The crash left heads, arms, and legs aching. Police blamed driver distraction. Metal twisted. The city’s streets claimed more victims.

Three passengers, aged 18, 19, and 22, were injured in a taxi crash on Franklin Avenue at Monroe Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the incident involved a southbound taxi with four occupants. The crash caused head, shoulder, and leg injuries, all described as whiplash. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was not reported injured. No other vehicles or road users were listed as involved. The data shows none of the injured passengers were using safety equipment, but this is noted only after the driver’s error. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by passengers when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812946, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist riding south on Tompkins Avenue collided with a turning vehicle at Greene Avenue. She suffered arm abrasions. Police cite driver inattention and improper lane use. The street stayed open. The crash left one person hurt.

A 29-year-old woman riding a bike was injured at Tompkins Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened as a vehicle made a left turn while the cyclist traveled straight. The cyclist suffered abrasions to her arm. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The report does not mention any damage to the vehicles involved. No other injuries were reported. The data shows the cyclist was not ejected. No helmet or signaling issues are listed as factors. The crash highlights the dangers faced by cyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or use lanes properly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811521, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan struck a cyclist on Tompkins Avenue. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, a woman, suffered a bruised leg. She wore a helmet. The crash left her conscious but hurt. The street stayed busy. The danger was clear.

A crash on Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn involved a sedan and a bicycle. The cyclist, a 30-year-old woman, was injured with a contusion to her leg and was partially ejected. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The sedan was entering a parked position when it struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight ahead. The cyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No vehicle damage was reported. The police report highlights driver distraction as the primary factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811449, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 12-year-old boy was hit by an SUV on Stockton Street near Tompkins Avenue. The impact bruised his leg. He was conscious after the crash. The driver and another occupant were not reported injured. Police listed contributing factors as unspecified.

A 12-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a station wagon/SUV struck him on Stockton Street at Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child suffered a contusion to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious at the scene. The driver, a 45-year-old woman, and another occupant were not reported injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for all involved parties. The crash occurred while the SUV was traveling east and going straight ahead. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were specified in the report. No mention of helmet or signal use was made. The incident highlights the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians, especially children, on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811027, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two cars slammed together on Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn. Metal twisted. Glass broke. Three men hurt, one bleeding from the head. Police say drivers were distracted and speeding. The street bore the mark of reckless force.

On Tompkins Avenue near Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn, a station wagon/SUV and a sedan collided. According to the police report, three men were injured. One passenger suffered severe head bleeding, while two others reported whiplash and injuries to the entire body. The crash involved a left turn and a straight-ahead movement. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. One driver was unlicensed. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The impact struck the left front bumpers of both vehicles, leaving both cars damaged. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus and exceed safe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810785, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan turned left on Dekalb Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist fell. His leg was hurt. Police blamed failure to yield. The street stayed busy. The city moved on.

A crash on Dekalb Avenue at Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn involved a sedan and a bicycle. The sedan, heading west, made a left turn. The cyclist, also westbound, went straight. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The 54-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report notes he wore a helmet. The sedan’s left side doors were damaged. The driver was licensed. No other injuries were specified. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to cyclists proceeding straight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810105, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans crashed on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a back injury. A child passenger was involved. Police cite driver inattention. Metal struck metal. Pain and shock followed. The street stayed dangerous. The system failed again.

Two sedans collided on Franklin Avenue at Lexington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved five people, including a three-year-old passenger. One male driver, age 35, was injured, reporting back pain and shock. The other occupants, including the child, were listed with unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No other contributing factors were cited. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The data shows no mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to all road users when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809074, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A woman and a young boy lay scraped and shaken on the pavement at Gates Avenue. The air hung heavy with the sound of sirens. A bicycle, undamaged, stood nearby. Blood marked the concrete where faces and heads met the street.

According to the police report, a bicycle traveling east struck two pedestrians—a 37-year-old woman and a 6-year-old boy—at 495 Gates Avenue in Brooklyn. Both pedestrians suffered abrasions to the face and head and were reported conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the cyclist failed to maintain awareness. The cyclist was also unlicensed. The police report further notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808036, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Midday on Jefferson Avenue at Tompkins, a motorcycle and taxi collided. Both motorcycle occupants, a man and a woman, were thrown and bruised, conscious but shaken. Sirens echoed as emergency crews arrived. The street bore fresh scars from the crash.

According to the police report, a motorcycle carrying two people collided with a taxi on Jefferson Avenue near Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn. Both the motorcycle driver, a 35-year-old man, and his 46-year-old female passenger suffered lower leg injuries and were partially ejected from the motorcycle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The motorcycle was making a right turn when the crash occurred, striking the taxi's left rear quarter panel. Both injured persons were wearing helmets, but helmet use was not cited as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the taxi driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808170, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A van rolled through Park and Franklin. A young cyclist struck metal, headfirst. Blood pooled on the street. The van’s driver walked away. The cyclist drifted, semiconscious, lacerated, left behind by a driver who disregarded the rules.

According to the police report, a panel van traveling south on Park Avenue at Franklin Avenue disregarded traffic control. The van’s driver continued straight ahead, while a 19-year-old cyclist rode east. The report states, 'A van rolled south. A bike came east. Metal struck flesh.' The cyclist collided headfirst with the van’s rear quarter panel, suffering severe head lacerations and partial ejection, and was found semiconscious with blood on the street. The van’s driver was uninjured. The only contributing factor cited in the report is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the van driver’s failure to obey traffic signals or signs. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers ignore traffic controls, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806577, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14