Bushwick’s Blood Price: How Many More Must Die Before We Act?

Oct 8 - A 41-year-old man riding an unlicensed e-scooter was ejected after hitting a defective pavement patch on Wyckoff Avenue. He suffered head injuries and contusions. Unsafe speed caused the crash. The scooter showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured and ejected after a crash on Wyckoff Avenue. The report lists unsafe speed and defective pavement as contributing factors. The driver was unlicensed and traveling north, going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the left side doors, but the vehicle sustained no damage. The rider suffered head injuries and contusions and was in shock. The report does not mention any helmet use or signals. Unsafe speed and pavement defects were the primary causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A moped slammed into an SUV turning right on Bushwick Avenue. The rider, a 25-year-old woman, suffered leg injuries. Police cited driver inexperience. The SUV was undamaged. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female moped driver was injured when her moped struck an SUV making a right turn on Bushwick Avenue. The moped rider suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. Police listed driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The SUV, driven by a licensed male, showed no damage. The moped’s left front quarter panel was damaged. No safety equipment was used by the moped rider. The crash underscores the risks created by driver errors on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667897 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A 45-year-old man was struck while crossing Stanhope Street outside a crosswalk. The SUV driver was going straight and showed no damage. The pedestrian suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm. No driver errors were listed.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male pedestrian was injured crossing Stanhope Street outside a crosswalk. He suffered bruising to his elbow and lower arm. The driver, a licensed male operating a 2020 Audi SUV, was traveling westbound going straight ahead. The vehicle showed no damage and no driver errors or contributing factors were recorded. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but there is no indication of driver fault such as failure to yield or reckless driving. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign blame to the pedestrian or driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 25 - A motorcycle struck another vehicle on Flushing Avenue. The rider suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The crash involved improper lane usage and disregarded traffic control. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured in a collision on Flushing Avenue. The rider sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver errors including "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Traffic Control Disregarded" as contributing factors. The motorcycle struck the left front bumper of another vehicle traveling eastbound. The rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other occupants were involved or injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - A 29-year-old woman was struck while crossing Saint Nicholas Avenue with the signal. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered full-body injuries and shock but was not ejected.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Saint Nicholas Avenue in Brooklyn while crossing with the signal. The driver was making a left turn and failed to yield right-of-way. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock but was not ejected from the scene. No safety equipment or other factors were noted. The crash highlights failure to yield and driver distraction as key causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665106 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 22 - A 54-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after emerging from near a parked SUV on Melrose Street. The vehicle was entering a parked position. The pedestrian was conscious and had abrasions. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old female pedestrian was injured while emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle on Melrose Street. The involved vehicle, a 2012 Mazda SUV, was entering a parked position at the time of the crash. The pedestrian sustained hip and upper leg injuries and abrasions but remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian and no driver errors or violations were noted. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The incident highlights the dangers pedestrians face near parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 20 - A moped and sedan collided on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The moped driver, 24, was partially ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan was turning left. The crash involved passing too closely. No helmet was worn.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male moped driver was partially ejected and injured in a collision with a sedan on Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn. The moped was traveling north, and the sedan was making a left turn westbound. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. The moped driver sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan’s point of impact was its left front quarter panel, while the moped’s right front quarter panel was damaged. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the moped driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664540 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 18 - DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 12 - A 23-year-old man riding a moped was ejected after an improper turn on Cypress Avenue. He suffered abrasions and abdomen-pelvis injuries. The moped showed no damage. The driver was unlicensed and conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male moped driver was injured and ejected during a crash on Cypress Avenue. The report lists "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor. The driver was unlicensed and traveling north, going straight ahead before impact. The moped sustained no damage despite the driver’s injuries, which included abrasions and trauma to the abdomen and pelvis. The driver was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the crash. The point of impact was the right side doors of the moped, with the other vehicle striking the left front bumper. No other vehicles or persons were involved or injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662806 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 9 - A 15-year-old girl was hit by a northbound sedan on Bushwick Avenue. She was crossing with the signal when the driver, distracted and failing to yield, struck her with the car’s front center. She suffered abrasions and full-body injuries.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Bushwick Avenue. The driver of a 2016 Toyota sedan was traveling northbound, going straight ahead, when he struck the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious but suffered abrasions and injuries to her entire body. The report lists driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The driver was licensed in New Jersey and driving with one occupant. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664998 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 4 - A 25-year-old man was hit while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Bushwick Avenue. The SUV struck him at the center front end. He suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. The driver was speeding and distracted.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Bushwick Avenue. The driver of a 2017 BMW SUV traveling north struck the pedestrian with the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by speeding and distracted driving in pedestrian areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 18 - Two SUVs collided on Myrtle Avenue. One rear-ended the other at unsafe speed. A 34-year-old woman in the back seat suffered head injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles took heavy center impact.

According to the police report, two SUVs were westbound on Myrtle Avenue when the second SUV struck the first from behind. The lead vehicle was stopped in traffic. The striking SUV hit at unsafe speed, damaging both vehicles at their center points. A 34-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat of the lead SUV was injured, suffering head trauma and whiplash. The report lists driver errors as "Unsafe Speed" and "Other Vehicular" factors. The injured passenger was restrained by a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655235 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 18 - A bus made a left turn on Wilson Avenue. It struck a 30-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The driver was distracted and turned improperly. The pedestrian was conscious.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Wilson Avenue with the signal. A bus traveling south made a left turn and struck her at the intersection. The impact was to the center front end of the bus. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Turning Improperly." The bus driver was licensed and had seven occupants in the vehicle. There was no damage reported to the bus. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 17 - DOT unveiled a watered-down redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will run the length, but car lanes stay for peak hours. Advocates call it less safe. Restler and others back the compromise. The fight for real safety continues.

"We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration, the Department of Transportation, and our community to make North Brooklyn’s streets safer for all" -- Antonio Reynoso

On August 17, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined other officials in announcing a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation's new plan, described as a 'compromised version,' adds protected bike lanes but keeps two car lanes during peak hours from Calyer Street to the Pulaski Bridge. The matter, titled 'Relief in Greenpoint as compromise reached on McGuinness Boulevard redesign,' reflects years of advocacy for safer streets. Restler, along with Borough President Reynoso and others, welcomed the changes and pledged to push for swift implementation. Advocacy group Make McGuinness Safe criticized the compromise as 'less effective and less safe,' blaming business opposition for watering down the original plan. The compromise marks a partial win for vulnerable road users, but falls short of the full road diet advocates demanded.

• Relief in Greenpoint as compromise reached on McGuinness Boulevard redesign, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-17

Aug 16 - Mayor Adams approved a diluted redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will come, but car lanes stay open during peak hours. The plan falls short of full safety measures. The road remains dangerous. Victims still count. No one is satisfied.

On August 16, 2023, Mayor Adams announced a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard, a notorious Brooklyn corridor. The Department of Transportation will install curbside protected bike lanes and reduce car lanes from two to one in each direction on most of the strip. However, north of Calyer Street, two lanes for cars will remain open during weekdays, reverting to parking lanes at night and on weekends. The plan, shaped after lobbying by business interests and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, mixes two previous DOT proposals. Mayoral spokesman Charles Lutvak said, 'Traffic safety is a key priority for Mayor Adams, and we are delivering with a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard that will make this corridor safer for all road users.' Local officials, including Council Member Lincoln Restler, called it a 'critical step' but noted it lacks key safety elements. The compromise leaves gaps. Since 2021, 62 people have been injured on this stretch. The carnage continues.

• Mayor Adams Signs Off On Compromise for Deadly McGuinness Blvd.; No One Truly Happy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-16

Aug 11 - A 28-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing Central Avenue late at night. The driver, distracted and inexperienced, hit her with the front center of the vehicle. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Central Avenue outside an intersection. The sedan, traveling straight ahead, struck her with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with driver inexperience. The pedestrian was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653497 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 11 - A driver struck a moped rider on McGuinness Boulevard. The rider’s leg broke. Politicians and neighbors demand the mayor act. The city delays a safety plan. The street stays deadly. The call is clear: fix McGuinness now.

On August 11, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other Northern Brooklyn officials responded to a crash on McGuinness Boulevard, where a driver hit and injured a moped rider. The incident happened near Meeker Avenue, one block from where teacher Matthew Jensen was killed in 2021. The matter, titled 'Locals call for mayor to take immediate action after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard,' highlights the urgent need for the Department of Transportation’s proposed safety redesign. Restler, along with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, issued a joint statement: 'Lives are being put at risk. We need immediate action by the Mayor's office to implement the Department of Transportation's proposed safety improvements so that everyone in our community can feel confident that McGuinness Boulevard will not cause more tragedies.' The safety plan remains blocked, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing danger.

• Locals call for mayor to take ‘immediate action’ after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-11

Aug 11 - City officials slam a developer’s push to add 95 parking spaces in Downtown Brooklyn. They call it dangerous and wasteful. The site sits by major transit and a new bike lane. Leaders demand housing, not more cars, to protect people on foot and bike.

On August 11, 2023, city officials and advocates opposed a plan to expand a parking lot at Schermerhorn and Hoyt streets in Downtown Brooklyn. The proposal, by Edison Properties, would add 95 parking spaces. Dan Garodnick, chair of the City Planning Commission, called the site 'ideal for housing.' Council Member Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, stated he is an unequivocal 'no' on the expansion and wants a use that benefits the community. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso urged the city to discourage private vehicles, citing high pedestrian traffic and strong transit access. City Planning Commissioner Juan Camilo Osorio highlighted policies to cut car use and decarbonize the city. Officials warn that more parking means more cars and more danger for people walking and biking, especially after a major bike lane was added to Schermerhorn Street.

• City Wants More Housing, Not Parking, in Downtown Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-11

Aug 10 - A driver tore through McGuinness Boulevard, smashing cars and leaving a moped rider badly hurt. The carnage reignited calls for long-delayed safety fixes. Local leaders say the crash was no surprise. The city’s promise to protect lives remains unfulfilled.

""Sadly, this incident was entirely predictable and underscores once again why the McGuinness Boulevard redesign is so badly needed."" -- Antonio Reynoso

On August 10, 2023, a motorist seriously injured a moped rider and crashed into several vehicles on McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint. The incident, near the site of a 2021 fatality, drew a joint statement from Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Council Member Lincoln Restler. They called the crash 'entirely predictable' and demanded Mayor Adams immediately implement the Department of Transportation’s stalled safety redesign. The DOT’s plan, which includes narrowing the street and adding a protected bike lane, faces opposition from powerful donors. The mayor’s office claims traffic safety is a priority, but the plan remains in limbo. Advocates and officials say every delay puts more lives at risk.

• Outrage on Bloody McGuinness Blvd. as Motorist Severely Injures Moped Rider, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-10

Aug 7 - A moped struck a 15-year-old girl crossing Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The driver was inexperienced and distracted. The impact hit the moped’s front center. The girl remained conscious.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 15-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inexperience and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The moped's point of impact was its center front end, indicating a direct collision. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other vehicles or safety equipment were involved. The driver’s errors—lack of experience and distraction—were key in causing the crash. The victim was not at fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652564 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19