BQE at Atlantic: a morning, a death

Jul 20 - A driver turned into a gas station, striking a cyclist in an unprotected bike lane. The road lacked promised safety upgrades. The cyclist went to the hospital. The driver faced no charges.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-20) reports a 32-year-old cyclist was struck by a turning driver on McGuinness Boulevard, where a 'road diet' was shelved by Mayor Adams. The crash happened in a painted, unprotected bike lane. The driver 'failed to yield to the cyclist,' police said, but was not charged. Advocates blame the lack of protected infrastructure: 'The road diet works where it's been installed and it's needed for the entire corridor before this happens again,' said Kevin LaCherra. The city had planned to remove a lane for cars, but left two lanes for traffic and an unprotected bike lane after political intervention.

• Cyclist Injured on Unprotected McGuinness, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - SUV and sedan collided on Court Street at Hamilton Avenue. Three people hurt. Passengers suffered back and shoulder injuries. No clear cause listed. Metal and bodies slammed. Brooklyn shook.

An SUV and a sedan collided at Court Street and Hamilton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three people were injured: a 34-year-old male driver, a 21-year-old female rear passenger, and a 30-year-old female rear passenger. Injuries included back pain, shoulder pain, and whiplash. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left metal twisted and passengers in pain.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828603 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 18 - Six speeding tickets. School zones. Gersh Kuntzman calls out Andrew Cuomo. Reckless driving from leaders puts lives at risk. Streets stay dangerous. No answers from Cuomo.

"if the state legislature had passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes's "Stop Super Speeder" bill, would have required Cuomo to get a speed limiter installed into his beloved Dodge." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 18, 2025, journalist Gersh Kuntzman of Streetsblog NYC criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for racking up six speed-camera tickets in city school zones between March and June. Kuntzman wrote, 'That's objectively a horrendous record of reckless driving through city school zones.' He noted that if Sen. Andrew Gounardes's 'Stop Super Speeder' bill had passed, Cuomo would face a mandatory speed limiter. No council bill or committee action is involved. The safety analyst notes this is an individual’s behavior, not a policy change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 17 - The driver of a sedan ran a traffic control and struck a cyclist at Hicks and Congress. The 27-year-old man was ejected and suffered a head injury and a contusion. Police recorded 'Traffic Control Disregarded' by the driver.

The driver of a 2021 BMW sedan ran a traffic control and struck a bicyclist at Hicks Street and Congress Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 27-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury and a contusion. According to the police report, "Traffic Control Disregarded" was a contributing factor. The report notes the sedan's right front bumper struck the bike's left rear bumper while the bicyclist was traveling east and the sedan was traveling north. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. The report lists no other injured persons.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828287 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 16 - A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 14 - Two SUVs crashed on Woodhull Street. One driver suffered neck injuries. Metal twisted. Streets stayed open. No clear cause. The city moves on.

Two station wagons—both SUVs—collided on Woodhull Street at Hamilton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 34-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. Three other male occupants, ages 34 and 66, were listed with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Both drivers were licensed and wore lap belts and harnesses. The crash left one driver hurt, but the cause remains unspecified in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827642 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 14 - Manhattan Community Board 5 blasts Mayor Adams for gutting bike and bus lanes from Fifth Avenue’s redesign. The board calls the plan a danger to people on foot, bike, and bus.

On July 14, 2025, Manhattan Community Board 5 passed a resolution against Mayor Adams’s scaled-down Fifth Avenue redesign. The board urged immediate adoption of the 2021 plan, which included a protected bike lane and busway. The resolution states, "A real solution to the bike / pedestrian safety issue on 5th Avenue must be proposed in the final design." Vice Chair Samir Lavingia and Transportation Chair David Sigman led the charge. Yoshi Omi-Jarrett reported the action. Safety analysts warn that Adams’s plan preserves unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, missing a chance for real, system-wide safety improvements.

• Civic Panel Dings Adams For Cutting Bike and Bus Lanes Out of Fifth Av. Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 13 - An SUV and a sedan collided westbound on the Gowanus Ramp. Two passengers were injured. A 27-year-old front passenger suffered head trauma and whiplash. A rear passenger suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries. Police listed no driver errors.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided while traveling west on the Gowanus Ramp. According to the police report, a 27-year-old front passenger suffered a head injury and whiplash. The report also notes a 25-year-old rear passenger sustained trauma to her shoulder and upper arm. The sedan sustained left rear quarter panel damage; the SUV showed no damage. Both drivers are recorded as licensed. The police report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and the report contains no mention of helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827358 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 13 - The driver of a sedan hit a 5-year-old boy on a bicycle at Clinton and Mill in Brooklyn. The child was ejected and suffered a facial abrasion. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The driver was unhurt.

The driver of a sedan traveling north on Clinton Street struck a five-year-old boy riding a bicycle eastbound at Mill Street in Brooklyn. The child was ejected and suffered an abrasion to the face; he remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver of the sedan. The driver was not injured. No other contributing factors were listed in the report. The collision involved a bike and a 2021 Jeep-model sedan. Emergency responders treated the child for facial injury at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827185 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 12 - A speeding car struck two men at dawn in Sunset Park. One pulled a cart, the other used a cane. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police tracked the suspect to Staten Island.

ABC7 reported on July 12, 2025, that Juventino Anastacio Florentino, 23, was arraigned after allegedly striking and killing Faqiu Lin, 59, and Kex Un Chen, 80, at Third Avenue and 52nd Street. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver left the scene. Charges include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. Police used video and car debris to find the suspect. The victims were near a food pantry, highlighting risks for vulnerable New Yorkers accessing basic needs.

• Two Killed In Sunset Park Hit-And-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 11 - A BMW ran a red in Sunset Park. Two men died on the street. The driver fled. Police made an arrest. Blood on the asphalt, lives ended fast.

Patch reported on July 11, 2025, that a hit-and-run driver killed two pedestrians at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Brooklyn. The NYPD said the BMW "sped through a red light" before striking 80-year-old Kex Un Chen and 59-year-old Faqiu Lin. Both men died at the scene. Police later arrested Juventino Anastacio Florentino, charging him with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The crash highlights the lethal risk of red-light running and the ongoing threat to pedestrians in city crosswalks.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Patch, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 9 - Box truck and sedan collided on Clinton Street. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. One driver suffered arm and shoulder injuries. The street bore the brunt. No pedestrians hurt.

A box truck and a sedan collided at Clinton Street and Lorraine Street in Brooklyn. One driver, a 56-year-old man, was injured in the arm and shoulder. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' was a contributing factor. The crash left the sedan with front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The toll fell on those inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 9 - A 15-year-old died on the Williamsburg Bridge. He rode atop a J train. An overhead beam struck him. The impact threw him under the train. Five died subway surfing in 2023. The toll keeps rising.

amNY (2025-07-09) reports Norma Nazario’s son, Zackery, died subway surfing on the Williamsburg Bridge. He climbed atop a Manhattan-bound J train and was struck by an overhead beam. Nazario said, "the train was going so fast that the impact pushed him under the train." The article notes five subway surfing deaths in 2023, six in 2024, and three more already in 2025. The case highlights the deadly risks of riding outside trains and raises questions about social media’s role and transit safety. No driver error is cited; the focus is on systemic dangers and rising fatalities.

• Teen Killed Subway Surfing On J Train, amny, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This project has been a long time coming. When I first got into elected office, there was not a single accessible station anywhere in my district... Today we are celebrating the second station in Bay Ridge to have accessibility access." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 8 - Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - Two westbound vehicles turned left on Atlantic Avenue at Columbia Street and collided. A 63-year-old front-seat passenger suffered back pain and whiplash. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction. Metal buckled; occupants were injured.

A box truck and an SUV collided while both drivers made left turns on Atlantic Avenue at Columbia Street in Brooklyn. A 63-year-old front-seat passenger suffered a back injury and complained of whiplash; she was conscious and not ejected. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was recorded as a contributing factor. The SUV sustained left-rear bumper damage; the truck showed center-front damage. Both drivers were licensed. The report lists the passenger’s safety equipment as a lap belt and harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

Jul 3 - A former DOT leader blasts the mayor’s 15 mph e-bike cap. He warns it will slow riders, expose them to cars, and erase safety gains. Cyclists face new risks. Streets grow more hostile.

On July 3, 2025, Michael Replogle, ex-DOT policy director, publicly opposed the proposed 15 mph e-bike speed limit. The policy, up for hearing July 14, faces broad criticism. Replogle wrote, 'It is an ill-considered idea to improve safety which will be counterproductive.' He argues the cap forces cyclists to ride slower than car traffic, putting them in harm’s way. Kevin Duggan reported the statement for Streetsblog NYC. The safety analyst notes: undoing cycling gains reduces support, shrinks mode share, and weakens safety in numbers. The result: streets less safe for vulnerable users. No council bill number or committee action is attached.

• Ex-DOT Official Warns NYC’s ‘Counterproductive’ E-bike Speed Limit Will Curb Biking, Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 1 - A judge paused city plans to cut a protected bike lane after children were struck crossing. The lane, built after five pedestrian crashes, stays for now. Streets wait. Danger lingers.

NY1 reported on July 1, 2025, that a judge halted the city's move to remove a three-block section of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city acted after 'incidents of children exiting school buses, crossing into the lane, and being hit by bikes.' The lane, stretching over two miles, was installed in 2024 following 'years of advocacy and five pedestrian incidents.' The hearing highlights ongoing conflict between street safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and the city's rapid policy shifts in response to crashes.

• Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Faces Review, NY1, Published 2025-07-01

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30