Six Dead, Hundreds Broken—But the Street Never Changes

Feb 28 - Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill orders speed humps on roads beside parks over one acre. DOT can skip spots if safety or rules demand. Law aims to slow cars where families walk, run, and play.

Int 0262-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: “requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by eighteen co-sponsors. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps unless the commissioner finds a risk to safety or a conflict with DOT guidelines. The law would take effect 180 days after passage. The measure targets streets where parks meet traffic, aiming to slow cars and shield people outside vehicles.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 27 - Two pickup trucks crashed on Pennsylvania Avenue. Fourteen people hurt. Neck, chest, and limb injuries. Shock and whiplash common. One driver unlicensed. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, two pickup trucks collided at 526 Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:20. Fourteen occupants, including drivers and passengers, suffered injuries—mostly neck, chest, and limb trauma. The report notes one driver was unlicensed and making a right turn, while the other, licensed, was traveling north. No explicit driver errors were listed, but the unlicensed status stands out. Many victims experienced shock and whiplash. Some wore lap belts or had airbags deploy, but most safety equipment use was unknown. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left a trail of pain and confusion among those inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706018 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 17 - A 62-year-old woman was injured after a sedan traveling south struck her outside an intersection on Elton Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries and was in shock. The vehicle showed no damage at impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Elton Street struck a 62-year-old female pedestrian who was in the roadway but not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her shoulder and upper arm and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, yet the sedan showed no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not identify any specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian's actions are noted as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but no driver violations are explicitly cited. This crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even outside intersections and the potential for serious injury despite minimal vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

Feb 8 - An SUV plowed into parked cars on Pennsylvania Avenue. A woman in the front seat took full-body injuries. Police cite alcohol and distraction. Metal twisted. The street bore the mark.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV struck several parked vehicles on Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:06. The SUV hit the center back ends of a sedan and a truck. The front passenger, a 29-year-old woman, suffered abrasions and injuries across her body. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt. Police list passenger distraction and alcohol involvement as contributing factors. The parked vehicles were stationary. The report highlights driver-related errors—distraction and alcohol use—as primary causes. No blame is placed on the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 7 - An SUV making a left turn struck a southbound e-bike on Cozine Avenue. The 36-year-old bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Police cited driver inexperience and failure to yield as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:30 PM on Cozine Avenue in Brooklyn. A station wagon/SUV, traveling west and making a left turn, collided with a southbound e-bike. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors on the part of the SUV driver. The e-bike rider was operating the vehicle legally but was injured due to the SUV driver's errors. The SUV sustained damage to its left front bumper, and the e-bike was impacted at its center front end. The SUV driver held a valid license, while the e-bike rider was unlicensed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 5 - A sedan making a right turn hit two pedestrians crossing New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn. Both suffered whole-body injuries and shock. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The impact struck the right side doors, causing abrasions and pain.

According to the police report, a 2021 Volkswagen sedan was making a right turn on New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:49 a.m. when it struck two pedestrians—a 34-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy—crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. Both pedestrians sustained injuries to their entire bodies and were in shock, with complaints of abrasions and pain or nausea. The point of impact was the sedan's right side doors, which also sustained damage. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. There are no listed contributing factors related to the pedestrians' actions beyond the driver error. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally but failed to yield to pedestrians legally crossing, leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - A car turned left on New Lots Avenue. An e-scooter rider went straight. The car struck the scooter. The rider suffered bruises to his leg and foot. Streets stayed dangerous. No other factors listed.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old man riding an e-scooter westbound on New Lots Avenue collided with a southbound vehicle making a left turn. The crash happened at 15:56. The e-scooter rider was injured, suffering contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious. The report states the e-scooter driver was unlicensed. The vehicle driver's pre-crash action was making a left turn. No other contributing factors were specified in the report. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698944 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Jan 27 - Two SUVs crashed on New Lots Avenue late at night. The driver of one vehicle suffered facial injuries and incoherence, restrained by a lap belt and harness. Illness contributed to the crash, highlighting risks beyond typical driver error.

According to the police report, at 22:23 on New Lots Avenue, two sport utility vehicles collided. One driver, a 55-year-old man, was injured with facial trauma and was incoherent at the scene. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report cites "Illness" as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating a medical condition affected the driver's ability to operate the vehicle safely. The vehicles involved were a 2018 Jeep SUV traveling east and a 2015 Cadillac SUV making a left turn northwest. The Jeep sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the Cadillac was damaged at the center front end. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - A sedan and an SUV collided on New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention as causes. Both vehicles sustained significant left-side damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 AM on New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn involving a sedan and an SUV. The sedan driver, a 31-year-old woman, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before impact, which struck the left front quarter panel of the sedan and the left front bumper of the SUV. Damage was concentrated on the left side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the SUV. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing factors to the victim beyond the cited driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - A 64-year-old male bicyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries after striking the left side doors of a parked sedan. The bike's center back end impacted the car while both traveled westbound near New Lots Avenue.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:43 near New Lots Avenue. A 64-year-old male bicyclist, traveling westbound, collided with the left side doors of a parked 2011 Nissan sedan. The bicyclist was injured with abrasions and trauma to the knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious and was not ejected. The bike's center back end struck the sedan's left side doors. The sedan was stationary and unoccupied at the time of impact. No contributing factors or driver errors were explicitly cited in the report. The bicyclist's safety equipment status is unknown. The report focuses on the impact between the moving bicycle and the parked vehicle, highlighting the systemic danger posed by parked cars obstructing or interacting with active bike lanes or travel paths.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692715 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 27 - A driver was injured in a multi-vehicle crash on New Lots Avenue. The impact caused significant damage. Emergency responders treated the driver for a knee injury. Speed was a factor in the collision.

A crash occurred on New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn, injuring a 32-year-old male driver. According to the police report, the driver suffered a knee injury, described as a fracture and dislocation. The collision involved multiple sedans, with the driver traveling at an unsafe speed. The report notes, 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other details about safety equipment were provided. The driver was conscious at the scene but required medical attention for his injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 6 - A 48-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries in a Brooklyn crash. The SUV struck the center back end of another vehicle while making a right turn. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old male driver was injured in a collision on Milford Street in Brooklyn. The SUV, traveling south and making a right turn, impacted the center back end of another vehicle. The driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any clear driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685049 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - Two sedans collided on Berriman Street in Brooklyn. A 45-year-old male driver suffered a head abrasion. The crash involved a failure to obey traffic controls. The injured driver remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Berriman Street in Brooklyn involving multiple sedans. A 45-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining a head abrasion but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a driver error related to ignoring traffic signals or signs. The injured person was the driver of one of the sedans. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. Vehicle damage was reported primarily on the front and rear bumpers of the involved sedans.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 23 - Two taxis smashed on Linden Boulevard. Both drivers took head blows and whiplash. Police blamed unsafe speed. Metal twisted at the front and rear. No one ejected. The street bore the scars.

According to the police report, two taxis collided on Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. Both drivers, aged 64 and 28, suffered head injuries and whiplash but stayed conscious. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The crash struck the left front bumper of one taxi and the right front quarter panel of the other, with damage also to rear bumpers. Both drivers wore lap belts and harnesses. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved. No other driver errors were cited. The impact left both men hurt but alive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - A 13-year-old boy was struck at an intersection on Schenck Avenue in Brooklyn. He was crossing with the signal when hit. The impact injured his knee and lower leg. He suffered shock and complained of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Schenck Avenue at an intersection with the signal. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock and complaints of pain and nausea. The vehicle involved struck the pedestrian at the center front end. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The pedestrian was not cited for any fault, and no safety equipment or helmet was mentioned. The crash occurred in Brooklyn near Hegeman Avenue.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19