Blood on the Crosswalk: No More Delays, No More Deaths

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

MTA’s congestion pricing plan splits New Yorkers. Council Member Holden calls it betrayal. Poll shows narrow support. Some see a cash grab, others hope for better transit. The $9 fee hits drivers. The city waits for the impact.

On November 18, 2024, the MTA approved congestion pricing, set to start January 5, 2025. The plan charges $9 for cars and $14.40 for trucks entering Manhattan below 60th Street. amNew York Metro polled nearly 3,000 residents: 53.8% support, 44.9% oppose. The matter, titled 'Here’s how New Yorkers really feel about congestion pricing,' reveals sharp divides. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) condemned the move, calling it a 'blatant political move and a shameless betrayal of New Yorkers.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes backed the plan, citing needed transit upgrades. The bill’s impact on vulnerable road users was not assessed. The debate centers on funding transit versus burdening drivers. The city stands at a crossroads.

• Here’s how New Yorkers really feel about congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2024-12-03

A 38-year-old woman suffered whole-body injuries and whiplash after a Ford SUV backing up on Bond Street hit her while she crossed outside a crosswalk. The driver’s reversing maneuver caused the impact, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2014 Ford SUV traveling south on Bond Street backed into her. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right rear bumper, causing center back end damage to the SUV. The pedestrian was crossing the street outside a crosswalk or signal and sustained injuries to her entire body, including whiplash, with an injury severity rated at 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report lists no explicit contributing factors from the driver, but the pre-crash action of backing directly caused the collision. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. This crash highlights the dangers posed by vehicle reversing maneuvers in pedestrian areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774993 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Bay Ridge’s parks and promenade get $30 million for repairs and upgrades. Community Board 10 approves. New lighting, wider paths, and more green space promised. Council Member Justin Brannan funds and supports. Cyclists and pedestrians get safer, smoother routes. No timeline yet.

On November 25, 2024, City Council Member Justin Brannan and Community Board 10 announced approval and funding for major upgrades to the Bay Ridge Promenade and Leif Ericson Park. The Parks Committee and full board both voted unanimously for the $30 million overhaul, which includes $20.97 million for the Shore Road Promenade and $9.25 million for Leif Ericson Park. The project, described as 'Destination: Greenways!', will expand green space, separate bike and pedestrian lanes, add lighting, and install new amenities. Brannan, a key funder and supporter, said, 'Our local parks are the lungs of our city.' The overhaul aims to improve recreational cycling, repair pothole-ridden paths, and increase accessibility. Board members raised concerns about safety and sanitation, which the Parks Department pledged to address in final designs. No construction timeline has been set.

• Bay Ridge community board greenlights $30M facelift for Shore Road Promenade, Leif Ericson Park, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-25

SUV slammed into stopped sedan on Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Driver and front passenger hurt. Both suffered back injuries. Police cite driver distraction. High-speed road, sudden pain, no warning.

According to the police report, a sedan stopped in traffic on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway was struck from behind by an SUV at 17:52. The SUV, traveling east, hit the sedan's left rear quarter panel with its center front end. The driver of the SUV, a 34-year-old man, was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Both he and a 27-year-old woman in the sedan's front seat were injured, suffering back injuries including whiplash and contusions. Both were conscious and restrained. No other contributing factors were listed. The crash shows the danger of driver distraction on busy city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773811 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a parked SUV in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. A two-year-old girl in the sedan suffered facial abrasions. Police cite traffic control disregarded by the sedan driver. Airbags deployed. Four in sedan, one in SUV.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel struck a parked SUV at 23:03. The sedan hit the center back end of the SUV with its front. Police list "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error by the sedan operator. A two-year-old female passenger in the sedan's right rear seat suffered facial abrasions but remained conscious. The sedan's airbags deployed. The SUV had one occupant; the sedan carried four. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs crashed in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Both drivers ignored traffic controls. A 2-year-old girl in the back seat suffered facial abrasions. Airbag deployed. The crash left the child hurt and the tunnel scarred.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel at 23:03. One SUV was parked; the other moved straight ahead with four occupants. Both drivers disregarded traffic controls, which the report lists as the contributing factor. The impact struck the front of the moving SUV and the back of the parked one. A 2-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered facial abrasions and was injured, even though the airbag deployed. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the cause. No other victim actions contributed. The crash shows the danger when drivers ignore traffic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774214 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided head-on on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One driver was unlicensed and alcohol was involved. The licensed driver suffered back injuries and whiplash, restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles damaged at front ends.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:45 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving two station wagons/SUVs traveling westbound. One driver was licensed and restrained with a lap belt and harness; he sustained back injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The other driver was unlicensed, a critical factor in the collision. Alcohol involvement was also cited as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage, with impact points at the left front bumper and center front end respectively. The licensed driver’s injuries and the vehicle damage indicate a severe impact. The report highlights driver errors including unlicensed operation and alcohol involvement, underscoring systemic risks on this highway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773483 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck made an improper left turn on Hamilton Place in Brooklyn, striking a parked sedan. The sedan driver, a 58-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a concussion and upper arm injury. The crash exposed critical driver errors and risks.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Hamilton Place in Brooklyn at 3:00 p.m. A box truck, traveling west and making a left turn, collided with a sedan that was parked and also facing west. The point of impact was the left rear bumper of the sedan and the right rear bumper of the truck. The sedan driver, a 58-year-old male occupant wearing a lap belt, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a concussion and an upper arm injury. The police report cites "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor, highlighting the box truck driver's error in executing the left turn. There were no contributing factors listed for the sedan driver. The truck sustained no damage, while the sedan suffered damage to its left rear quarter panel. This crash underscores the dangers posed by improper vehicle maneuvers in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773513 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan collided with an e-bike on 3 Avenue in Brooklyn, injuring the 45-year-old male cyclist. The impact to the cyclist’s left arm caused abrasions. Police cite the sedan driver’s disregard of traffic control as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:32 AM on 3 Avenue near Bergen Street in Brooklyn. A 2018 sedan traveling south struck a westbound e-bike at the left front quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The e-bike rider, a 45-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The police report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' by the sedan driver as the contributing factor. The cyclist’s behavior or helmet use was not cited as a factor. The sedan driver was licensed and driving straight ahead, indicating a failure to yield or stop as required by traffic controls. This collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers ignoring traffic signals and controls in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773741 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound sedan struck the right rear quarter panel of a merging Mack truck on Hicks Street. The sedan driver, a 39-year-old man, suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries, sustaining contusions and bruises. The crash exposed risks in merging maneuvers.

According to the police report, a 2013 sedan traveling north on Hicks Street collided with the right rear quarter panel of a 2023 Mack truck that was merging. The sedan driver, a 39-year-old male occupant, was injured with contusions and bruises to his abdomen and pelvis but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The truck was also traveling north and had one occupant. The point of impact was the sedan's left rear bumper striking the truck's right rear quarter panel. The report lists the sedan driver's contributing factors as unspecified, indicating potential driver error during the merging maneuver. No contributing factors were assigned to the truck driver. This collision highlights the dangers vehicles face when merging and the potential for rear-quarter impacts leading to serious occupant injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772519 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck rolled south on Columbia. A 65-year-old man lay in its path. Bone cracked. The shoulder gave. No screech, no crash, only silence. The man died in the street, another life ended by steel and speed.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old man was killed on Columbia Street near Sigourney Street in Brooklyn when a southbound box truck struck him. The incident occurred at 9:49 a.m. The narrative states, 'A 65-year-old man lay still in the road. A southbound box truck passed. No screech, no crash, no damage. Just the crack of bone. The shoulder gave. Then silence.' The police report lists the pedestrian's location as 'not at intersection' and his action as 'other actions in roadway.' Both contributing factors for the pedestrian are marked as 'Unspecified.' The box truck, registered in Illinois and operated by a licensed driver from Pennsylvania, was reportedly 'avoiding object in roadway' before the crash. Despite the lack of visible vehicle damage, the impact proved fatal. The report does not cite any specific driver errors or victim behaviors as contributing factors, but the outcome underscores the lethal risk faced by pedestrians outside intersections in the presence of large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A taxi struck a pick-up truck from behind on the BQE eastbound entrance at Hamilton Avenue. Both drivers suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both drivers were conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:30 AM on the BQE eastbound entrance at Hamilton Avenue. A taxi traveling east struck the rear of a pick-up truck also traveling east. The point of impact was the center front end of the taxi and the center back end of the pick-up truck. Both drivers, a 56-year-old man in the pick-up truck and a 28-year-old man in the taxi, sustained injuries described as affecting their entire bodies and complained of whiplash. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The police report explicitly lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor for both drivers, indicating driver error as the primary cause. No victim behaviors or pedestrian involvement were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771001 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A collision on Hamilton Ave in Brooklyn injured a 28-year-old male SUV driver. The crash involved an unlicensed sedan driver traveling westbound. The SUV driver suffered a head injury and was trapped, incoherent, and concussed after impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:20 on Hamilton Ave, Brooklyn. The collision involved a 2021 SUV and a 2009 sedan, both traveling westbound. The sedan driver was unlicensed, a critical contributing factor to the crash. The SUV driver, a 28-year-old male occupant, was trapped and sustained a head injury resulting in a concussion and incoherence. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. Alcohol involvement was noted as a contributing factor. The report highlights driver errors, specifically the unlicensed status of the sedan driver, as central to the crash. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770590 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Governor Hochul cuts the congestion toll to $9. The move aims to beat a Trump block. Experts warn the lower fee will not cut traffic like the original $15 plan. Urgency grows as the MTA stalls projects. Vulnerable road users wait for relief.

""It’s more important than ever that we start congestion pricing immediately, before Trump can block it,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On November 8, 2024, State Senator Andrew Gounardes responded to Governor Hochul’s revised congestion pricing plan. The new proposal drops the peak toll from $15 to $9. The plan’s status is pending, with urgency to implement before a new presidential administration. Gounardes stressed, “It’s more important than ever that we start congestion pricing immediately, before Trump can block it.” The bill aims to fund the MTA’s 2020-2024 capital plan, but economist Charles Komanoff warns, “You don’t get the immediate traffic speed gain that a $15 toll would give.” The measure is meant to reduce traffic and improve transit, but the lower toll means less impact. The MTA has already paused $16 billion in work. The focus is on starting the program, but advocates note the diluted toll will not deliver the same safety and quality-of-life gains for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Analysis: Hochul's $9 Congestion Toll May Stave Off Trump, But Won't Reduce Traffic as Much, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-11-08