Park Slope Bleeds While Leaders Stall—Demand Streets That Protect People, Not Cars

Jul 22 - The driver of a sedan rear-ended a 27-year-old bicyclist on southbound 7th Avenue. The rider suffered a contusion to the shoulder and upper arm and remained conscious. Police recorded Unsafe Speed and Following Too Closely.

The driver of a sedan traveling south on 7th Avenue rear-ended a bicyclist going the same direction. The 27-year-old rider suffered a contusion to the shoulder and upper arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely.' Police list the bicycle's point of impact as center back end and note no damage recorded to the bike. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The report records the bicyclist as injured with a contusion. The police cited driver errors in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831099 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - A pick-up driver rear-ended a stopped moped on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn. The 35-year-old moped rider suffered wounds to his lower leg and foot and was in shock. Police recorded 'Following Too Closely' by the driver.

A pick-up truck hit a stopped moped on Flatbush Ave. The moped driver, a 35-year-old man, was injured — wounds to his knee, lower leg and foot — and was reported in shock. "According to the police report," both vehicles were stopped in traffic before the collision. Police recorded "Following Too Closely" by the driver as a contributing factor. The moped took center back-end damage; the pick-up took center front-end damage. The crash involved one occupant on the moped and two in the truck. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-18

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 16 - An SUV struck an e-bike on Dean Street. The cyclist suffered a leg injury. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Streets remain hazardous for those outside cars.

An SUV collided with an e-bike on Dean Street in Brooklyn. The 46-year-old male cyclist was injured, suffering pain and a leg injury. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was a contributing factor. The SUV's front end hit the e-bike's right front quarter panel. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. No helmet use was noted for the cyclist, but this was not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the persistent dangers faced by cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 16 - A sedan hit a child and an adult crossing with the signal on 8th Avenue. Both suffered injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Impact was at the center front. The street did not protect them.

A sedan making a left turn on 8th Avenue struck a 3-year-old boy and a 38-year-old woman as they crossed with the signal at the intersection with 7th Street. Both pedestrians were injured—one in the head, one in the back—and experienced shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the center front of the sedan. The driver was licensed and uninjured. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the pedestrians were crossing with the signal. Systemic danger remains for those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. The machine struck Madison Ruiz as she sat by the curb. She died at the hospital. The driver faces criminal charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madison Ruiz, 21, was killed when Zachary Cando, 24, lost control of a Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in a Gateway Plaza parking lot. The article states Cando 'lost control' and struck Ruiz as she sat by the curb. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The incident highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Brooklyn Woman, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

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 10 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man crossing in Sheepshead Bay. The rider looked away, hit the man, paused, then fled. The victim lay motionless. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries.

ABC7 reported on July 9, 2025, that Zhuo Xie, 90, was killed crossing East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The article states, "a man riding a blue moped slammed into Xie and both men fell to the ground." Surveillance video showed the moped rider looking left, not ahead, before impact. The driver checked on Xie, then left the scene. Police said the moped had a green light, but the rider's inattention and failure to remain highlight systemic dangers for pedestrians. The incident underscores risks at intersections and the consequences of hit-and-run crashes.

• Moped Hits Elderly Pedestrian, Flees Scene, ABC7, 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 6 - A cyclist slammed into a parked sedan on 7th Avenue. He flew from his bike, hit hard, and suffered arm injuries. The street stayed busy. The crash left the cyclist hurt and shaken.

A 40-year-old cyclist was injured after colliding with a parked sedan on 7th Avenue at Carroll Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to his arm. The sedan was parked, and its left front bumper was damaged. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826288 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - A cyclist riding north on 4th Avenue struck a turning vehicle at Baltic Street. She was ejected and injured. Police cite failure to yield. The crash left her with leg abrasions.

A 24-year-old woman riding a bike north on 4th Avenue collided with a vehicle making a left turn onto Baltic Street. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers fail to yield during turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825515 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - Albany lawmakers killed a bill to make apps insure delivery workers. DoorDash lobbied hard. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. No coverage. Profits protected. Safety denied.

Bill to require app companies to provide $50,000 insurance for delivery workers, pedestrians, and cyclists was introduced by Assembly Member Robert Carroll. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly on June 30, 2025, after DoorDash called it 'costly.' Amy Sohn reported the defeat. The bill aimed to cover injuries from crashes and bar retaliation against workers filing claims. DoorDash lobbied against it, backing a weaker bill. The safety analyst notes this defeat reduces accountability and weakens protections for pedestrians and cyclists. Corporate pressure won. Vulnerable road users lost.

• DoorDash Lobbying Sunk Bill to Require Apps to Insure Delivery Workers, Streetsblog NYC, 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

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signs speed camera law. Enforcement runs to 2030. Cameras slash speeding. Injuries drop. Streets still deadly. Lawmakers split. Pedestrians and cyclists get a fighting chance.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Hochul signed the reauthorization of New York City's speed camera program. The law, with no listed bill number or committee, extends automated enforcement through 2030. Hochul declared, 'Speed cameras save lives and keep New Yorkers safe.' Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, praised the renewal. City data shows a 30 percent drop in severe injuries and a 94 percent fall in speeding at camera sites. Safety analysts confirm: speed cameras cut dangerous driving and protect pedestrians and cyclists without burdening them. Lawmakers remain divided, but the program stands.

• Hochul Signs Speed Camera Reauthorization, Enforcement Continues Through 2030, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-30

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