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

Lawmakers push for e-bike rebates. Senate passes, Assembly stalls. Salazar and Carroll lead. Up to $1,100 for buyers. Critics call it a luxury. Carroll disagrees. Program aims for working-class riders. Cars keep killing. E-bikes offer a way out.

""When the federal government falls short, it really does fall on the state to step up and take responsibility."" -- Julia Salazar

Senate Bill 'Ride Clean' proposes up to $1,100 rebates for e-bike purchases, covering half the cost. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly as of August 30, 2022. The measure, led by State Senator Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Robert Carroll, aims to make e-bikes accessible to working-class New Yorkers. Salazar says, 'With the Ride Clean rebate, [e-bikes] really would be much more accessible to working New Yorkers.' Carroll pushes back on critics who call e-bikes a luxury, stating, 'They don’t realize that this is not a luxury item.' The program would use NYSERDA funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, mirroring the Drive Clean program for electric cars. Advocates cite European and U.S. models. The bill’s fate now rests with the Assembly.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-30

Senator Julia Salazar’s Ride Clean bill passed the New York Senate 60-3. It offers up to $1,100 for e-bike purchases. The bill aims to cut car use and emissions. It stalled in the Assembly. Lawmakers say it makes e-bikes accessible for working New Yorkers.

Senate Bill S7703, known as the Ride Clean rebate, passed the New York State Senate on June 2022 by a 60-3 vote. The bill sits stalled in the Assembly committee since January. The measure, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar, would require NYSERDA to cover half the cost of e-bike purchases, up to $1,100. Salazar said, 'When the federal government falls short, it really does fall on the state to step up and take responsibility.' Assembly sponsor Robert Carroll added, 'This is not a luxury item.' The bill’s summary states it aims to make e-bikes accessible and reduce car dependence. If enacted, New York would join a handful of states offering direct e-bike subsidies, targeting emissions and car use in daily trips.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-30

A 29-year-old man on an unlicensed e-bike collided with a sedan on Knickerbocker Avenue. The e-bike struck the sedan’s right front bumper with its left rear quarter panel. The rider suffered knee and lower leg abrasions and shock.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male e-bike driver, unlicensed and traveling westbound, collided with a northbound sedan on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-bike impacted the sedan’s right front bumper with its left rear quarter panel. The e-bike driver sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but notes the e-bike driver was unlicensed. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No helmet or signaling issues were reported. The crash caused damage to the left side doors of the e-bike and the sedan’s right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557333 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 27-year-old male bicyclist was injured when an SUV struck him from behind on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact hit the bike’s center back end and the SUV’s left front bumper. The cyclist suffered abrasions and leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Knickerbocker Avenue was rear-ended by a northbound SUV. The collision occurred when the SUV, driven without occupants, struck the bike’s center back end with its left front bumper. The bicyclist sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Following Too Closely" and "Aggressive Driving/Road Rage" as contributing factors. The bicyclist was not ejected and was conscious after the crash. No safety equipment was noted. The driver errors identified focus on the SUV driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance and aggressive behavior. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating and aggressive driving near vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4558020 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 21-year-old male passenger on an e-scooter suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a 2017 Dodge SUV. The crash happened on Knickerbocker Avenue. The SUV struck the scooter’s front end, causing minor bleeding and shock.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Knickerbocker Avenue involving a 2017 Dodge SUV and an e-scooter traveling north. The SUV, traveling east, struck the e-scooter on its right front quarter panel. The injured party was a 21-year-old male passenger on the e-scooter, who sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with minor bleeding and shock. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The passenger was not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552790 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A taxi making a left turn struck a moped traveling straight on Flushing Avenue. The moped driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The crash involved driver inattention and distraction. The moped rider wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a taxi was making a left turn on Flushing Avenue when it collided with a moped traveling straight east. The moped driver, a 27-year-old male occupant, sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with driver inexperience. The taxi's left front bumper struck the center front end of the moped. The moped rider was wearing a helmet. The taxi driver was licensed in New York and traveling west. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552248 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 24-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on Bushwick Avenue. The bike struck a sedan while both traveled south. The bicyclist suffered back contusions. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. The sedan showed no damage.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Bushwick Avenue involving a sedan and a bicycle. The 24-year-old male bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained back contusions, classified as injury severity 3. Both vehicles were traveling south when the crash happened. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, attributed to the bicyclist. The sedan showed no damage and had no occupants at the time. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550794 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A sedan crashed into a parked commercial truck on Bushwick Avenue. The impact left a 46-year-old man bruised and hurt. Police cite driver distraction as the cause.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Bushwick Avenue struck the center rear of a parked commercial vehicle. The crash injured a 46-year-old male occupant in the sedan, leaving him with bruises and injuries to his arm and hand. He was conscious and not ejected. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other errors or factors were noted for the victim. The commercial vehicle was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

E-scooter rider thrown and injured on Bushwick Avenue. Impact left him with full-body abrasions. Police cite following too closely. No other causes listed. The crash left the rider conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man riding an e-scooter north on Bushwick Avenue was partially ejected and suffered injuries to his entire body, including abrasions. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The rider was wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were specified. The crash caused serious, non-fatal injuries. No pedestrians or other vulnerable road users were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two sedans crashed on Saint Nicholas Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. The impact hit the left side doors of one vehicle and the front center of the other. Driver distraction caused the collision.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Saint Nicholas Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver of one sedan, a 58-year-old man, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The collision impacted the left side doors of his vehicle and the front center of the other sedan. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. A parked SUV nearby sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel but was not involved in the moving collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

An e-bike rider traveling south was struck on the left side by a vehicle making a left turn. The rider was ejected and suffered abrasions to the elbow and lower arm. The crash involved driver inattention and distraction.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old male e-bike driver was injured after a collision on Bushwick Avenue. The e-bike was traveling straight south when it was hit on the left side doors by a vehicle making a left turn. The rider was ejected and sustained abrasions to the elbow and lower arm. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was not using any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543757 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 29-year-old woman on an e-scooter was partially ejected and injured in a collision on Bushwick Avenue. The sedan behind her struck her from the rear. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was conscious.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female e-scooter driver was partially ejected and injured when a sedan traveling north on Bushwick Avenue struck her from behind. The e-scooter driver sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the sedan driver's errors as "Following Too Closely" and "Unsafe Speed." The sedan showed no damage, and the e-scooter also showed no damage. The e-scooter driver was conscious at the scene. No helmet or signaling factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council Member Restler slammed DOT’s weak McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Three killed since 2014. Advocates want fewer lanes, safer crossings, protected bike lanes. DOT’s plans keep traffic flow, ignore calls for real change. Community demands safety, not parking.

On July 1, 2022, the NYC Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) preliminary redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The matter, titled 'Adams Administration’s McGuinness Redesign Options Underwhelm Street Safety Boosters,' outlined three options: only one would remove travel lanes and add protected bike lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler, joined by Assembly Member Emily Gallagher and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, criticized DOT’s proposals as 'inadequate.' Restler stated, 'The way we're going to fully connect Greenpoint community and make this street safer is by having less lanes of traffic.' Advocates and residents backed lane reductions and protected bike lanes, citing three deaths since 2014. DOT cited traffic concerns and delayed action. The hearing exposed a rift between community safety demands and DOT’s reluctance to prioritize vulnerable road users over car throughput and parking.

• Adams Administration’s McGuinness Redesign Options Underwhelm Street Safety Boosters, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-01

Over 2,500 neighbors demand a safer McGuinness Boulevard. The petition calls for fewer lanes, wider sidewalks, and a protected bike lane. Community anger follows deadly crashes. The city’s DOT faces pressure to act. The street remains a danger zone.

On June 28, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and over 2,500 residents backed a petition urging a full redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation will present its draft plan to Brooklyn Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee on June 30. The petition, described as a call for 'wider sidewalks and a wider median, a protected bike lane, and eliminating one lane of traffic in each direction,' follows the hit-and-run death of teacher Matthew Jensen. Gallagher stated, 'Our community is speaking loud and clear: no more deaths on McGuinness.' The campaign has support from Councilmember Lincoln Restler and Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The street, a busy four-lane truck route, has seen dozens of crashes and injuries in recent years. Organizers and residents demand urgent action to end the deadly toll on vulnerable road users.

• EXCLUSIVE: More than 2,500 sign petition supporting McGuinness Boulevard redesign ahead of DOT presentation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-06-28

A 27-year-old male e-bike driver was ejected and injured in a crash on Flushing Avenue. The e-bike struck a sedan while making a left turn. The rider suffered head abrasions and was conscious at the scene. Unsafe speed and failure to yield were factors.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male e-bike driver was injured and ejected during a collision on Flushing Avenue in Queens. The e-bike, traveling west and making a left turn, collided with an eastbound sedan. The e-bike driver sustained head abrasions and was conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike and the left front bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A sedan struck an e-bike from behind on Bushwick Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 23-year-old woman, suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. Both vehicles were traveling south, going straight ahead at impact.

According to the police report, a sedan collided with an e-bike on Bushwick Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 23-year-old female driver, was injured with abrasions and trauma to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. Both vehicles were traveling southbound and moving straight ahead when the sedan struck the e-bike from behind. The point of impact was the sedan's center front end and the e-bike's center back end. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors explicitly noted. The e-bike rider was not ejected and remained conscious. No safety equipment details were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 27-year-old man was hit while crossing Wilson Avenue with the signal. The sedan, making a right turn, struck him at the center front end. The pedestrian suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Unsafe speed and driver distraction contributed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Wilson Avenue made a right turn and struck a 27-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm and remained conscious after the collision. The report lists unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, indicating the pedestrian was hit directly by the front of the sedan. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539247 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A bike and moped collided on Troutman Street in Brooklyn. Both vehicles traveled west. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old woman, suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The moped carried two occupants. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a bike and a moped collided on Troutman Street in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were traveling west and struck each other on their sides. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old woman, was injured with abrasions and trauma to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to lane use. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The moped carried two occupants, but no injuries were noted for them. The bicyclist was not using any safety equipment. The report does not specify any contributing factors related to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534084 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01