Third Avenue: Two Miles, Too Many Graves

Senate bill S 153 cracks down on bus lane violators. Owners face liability. Cameras catch drivers blocking buses. Sponsors push for stronger enforcement. Streets clear for buses, danger cut for those on foot.

Senate bill S 153, sponsored by Liz Krueger (District 28) with Andrew Gounardes (26) and Brad Hoylman-Sigal (47) as co-sponsors, is at the sponsorship stage. Introduced January 4, 2023, it 'relates to owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus operation-related local law or regulation traffic restrictions and to the adjudication of certain parking infractions.' The bill extends a bus rapid transit demonstration program, using cameras to enforce bus lane rules. No safety analyst note was provided. The sponsors aim to hold vehicle owners accountable and keep bus lanes clear, a move that can reduce risk for pedestrians and bus riders.

• File S 153, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

Senate bill S 343 seeks a clear, public safety score for cars. The DMV would post these ratings. Lawmakers push for sunlight on danger. Pedestrians face risk. The system aims to expose it.

Senate bill S 343 was proposed on January 4, 2023. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Creates a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles,' would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to post these ratings online. Primary sponsor Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The measure targets transparency. It puts the danger of cars in plain sight. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 343, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

A BMW cut through scattered debris on the Gowanus Expressway. A man, 32, was struck near parked taxis. His legs were torn. Blood pooled on the cold asphalt. He died there, under the humming lights and steel.

A deadly crash unfolded on the Gowanus Expressway. According to the police report, a BMW changed lanes and struck a 32-year-old man near parked taxis and scattered debris. The pedestrian suffered severe leg injuries and died at the scene. Multiple occupants and drivers were also injured, including two drivers with head and back wounds. The police report lists 'Steering Failure' and 'Obstruction/Debris' as contributing factors. No driver was cited for failure to yield or speeding. The crash scene was marked by parked vehicles, debris, and chaos. The victim’s actions are not blamed. The report centers on the hazards and failures that led to this fatal impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595159 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 15-year-old male in-line skater was ejected and suffered a head injury during a collision with a 1997 Dodge SUV making a left turn on 4 Avenue. The skater was riding along the highway with traffic when struck at the right rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old male in-line skater was injured and ejected after a collision with a 1997 Dodge SUV on 4 Avenue. The SUV was making a left turn when it struck the skater riding along the highway with traffic. The point of impact was the vehicle's right rear quarter panel. The skater suffered a head injury and was in shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors explicitly. The skater was not using any safety equipment. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 31-year-old man was struck on 4 Avenue in Brooklyn by a southbound sedan. The pedestrian suffered neck injuries and was incoherent at the scene. The crash occurred away from an intersection with unspecified contributing factors noted.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male pedestrian was injured on 4 Avenue near 26 Street in Brooklyn after being hit by a southbound 2013 Toyota sedan. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection, performing other actions in the roadway. He sustained neck injuries and was incoherent, complaining of pain or nausea. The sedan struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No safety equipment or pedestrian fault is mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Drivers hide plates. Cameras miss them. Streets stay dangerous. Senator Gounardes pushes a bill to pay citizens for reporting illegal plates. Police claim action, but advocates see little change. The bill sits in committee. Ghost cars keep rolling.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill in 2022 to reward citizens who report illegal license plates. The bill remains in committee. The measure would give whistleblowers 25% of the ticket, up to $75. The matter targets drivers who obscure or remove plates to dodge automated enforcement. As city and state agencies rely more on cameras to catch speeders and red-light runners, more drivers hide their plates. The Department of Transportation says cameras failed to ticket over 4% of violators last fall, up from 1% in 2019. Advocates accuse police of lax enforcement and even breaking the law themselves. Gounardes’s bill, still stalled, aims to close this loophole and put power in the hands of citizens. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while enforcement lags.

• Guerilla activists fight back against NYC drivers who hide license plates to evade tolls and tickets, gothamist.com, Published 2022-12-14

Police arrested Adam White for removing plastic from a hidden plate. Charges dropped. Council Member Restler pushes Int. 501: fines for blocking lanes, rewards for civilian reporting. Politicians call for accountability. Defaced plates shield reckless drivers. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 1, 2022, Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler renewed his push for Int. 501, a bill to fine drivers $175 for blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants near schools, and to reward civilians with 25% of the fine for reporting violations. The matter arose after attorney Adam White was arrested for removing plastic from an obscured license plate; charges were later dropped by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, citing 'insufficient evidence.' The bill, discussed at a press conference, aims to crack down on license plate defacement and illegal parking, which Restler says is rampant among city workers and police. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced a similar bill at the state level. Both lawmakers stress the need for public accountability and tougher enforcement to protect vulnerable road users from drivers who evade responsibility.

• Attorney Arrested for ‘Criminal Mischief’ Charge Will Sue Driver for Wrongful Arrest, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-01

An e-scooter rider was partially ejected and injured in a collision with an SUV turning right on 52 Street in Brooklyn. The scooter struck the SUV’s right front quarter panel. The rider suffered facial abrasions and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured when his vehicle collided with a 2008 Honda SUV making a right turn on 52 Street in Brooklyn. The e-scooter struck the right front quarter panel of the SUV, resulting in the rider being partially ejected and sustaining facial abrasions. The report lists the contributing factors as "Following Too Closely" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" by the e-scooter driver. The rider was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling east, while the e-scooter was traveling north going straight ahead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584262 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Lawmakers and advocates rallied in Manhattan. They demanded more money for the MTA. They want six-minute bus and subway service. They warned against service cuts and fare hikes. They called for gas tax revenue to fund transit. Riders need safe, frequent service.

On November 17, 2022, state legislators and transit advocates pressed for increased MTA funding and six-minute off-peak service. The push comes ahead of the next budget cycle. Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Amanda Septimo, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher led the call. Mamdani said, 'If we implement six-minute service, the consequences would be felt for riders across all aspects of their life.' Septimo called transit an economic and racial justice issue. Gounardes urged the governor to include MTA funding in the initial budget. Gallagher criticized the gas tax holiday, urging funds go to transit. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber warned that cuts or fare hikes would devastate working- and middle-class New Yorkers. The group demanded action to protect and improve transit for all riders.

• Legislators and Advocates Press Case For MTA Rescue And Six-Minute Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-17

Two sedans collided on 5 Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver made a left turn into the path of the other. A rear passenger suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Unsafe speed was a contributing factor. The injured passenger was not ejected and was in shock.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on 5 Avenue collided when one vehicle was making a left turn and struck the other going straight ahead. The impact occurred at the right rear bumper of the turning vehicle and the left front bumper of the other. A 40-year-old female rear passenger was injured, suffering shoulder and upper arm injuries and was in shock. She was not ejected from the vehicle and complained of pain and nausea. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors were specified. Both drivers were male, and one driver was licensed in New York. The collision caused center back and front end damage to the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577413 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A Ford SUV struck a Toyota sedan from behind on 5 Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact injured a 36-year-old female passenger in the SUV, causing shoulder and upper arm pain. Unsafe speed and following too closely led to the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 5 Avenue in Brooklyn involving a Ford SUV and a Toyota sedan, both traveling north. The SUV's left front bumper hit the sedan's center back end. A 36-year-old female occupant in the SUV suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries and was in shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed men. The injured passenger was not ejected and complained of pain and nausea. Vehicle damage was centered on the SUV's front end and the sedan's rear bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 73-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by an e-scooter traveling south on 55 Street. She suffered a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. The scooter's left front bumper made impact, causing injury.

According to the police report, a 73-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 55 Street with the signal. She was struck by a male driver on an e-scooter traveling straight south. The point of impact was the scooter's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a back contusion and remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the collision itself. The pedestrian was not ejected and no safety equipment or other factors were noted. The incident highlights the dangers posed by motorized scooters to vulnerable pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577414 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 44-year-old male bicyclist was injured on 19 Street in Brooklyn. The SUV made a right turn and hit the cyclist from the side. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Both parties failed to yield right-of-way, according to police.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on 19 Street was struck by a 2015 Jeep SUV making a right turn from 4 Avenue. The cyclist was injured with contusions and trauma to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for both the bicyclist and the SUV driver. The bicyclist was unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV sustained no damage, while the bike was impacted at its center back end. The collision highlights failures in yielding right-of-way by both parties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 33-year-old front-seat passenger was injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Gowanus Expressway. The SUV struck the sedan from behind. The passenger suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries and was semiconscious with complaints of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on the Gowanus Expressway involving a sedan and an SUV, both traveling westbound. The SUV struck the sedan in the center back end, causing injuries to a 33-year-old female front passenger in the sedan. She was semiconscious and complained of pain and nausea, with injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. The report lists driver errors including 'Following Too Closely' and 'Other Vehicular' factors contributing to the crash. No ejection occurred, and the passenger's safety equipment status is unknown. The crash involved multiple vehicles traveling straight ahead, with impact points indicating a rear-end collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 27-year-old female bicyclist was ejected and injured at Hamilton Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver, distracted, struck the cyclist’s hip and upper leg. The cyclist was semiconscious, wearing a helmet, suffering bruises and contusions.

According to the police report, a female bicyclist traveling east was making a left turn when she was struck by a southbound SUV at Hamilton Avenue, Brooklyn. The bicyclist, 27, was ejected and sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg, including contusions and bruises. She was semiconscious at the scene. The SUV driver was identified as inattentive and distracted, which contributed to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the cyclist’s body. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 53-year-old man on an e-scooter was injured in Brooklyn. An SUV made a left turn and struck the rider head-on. The rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way. No vehicle damage reported on SUV.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old male e-scooter rider was injured when a 2013 Ford SUV made a left turn and collided with him at Hamilton Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The SUV driver, also male and licensed in New York, was cited for failure to yield right-of-way, a contributing factor repeated twice in the report. The SUV showed no damage, while the e-scooter had damage to its right front bumper. The rider was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any helmet use or other safety equipment for the rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576758 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A sedan moved south on 4th Avenue. The driver was distracted. He struck a 66-year-old man in the street. The car’s front caved. The man died there, away from any crosswalk. The street fell silent. Another life ended by inattention.

A southbound sedan hit and killed a 66-year-old man on 4th Avenue, near 64th Street. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and struck the pedestrian in the roadway, away from any intersection or crosswalk. The car’s front end was crushed by the impact. The pedestrian died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. This crash shows the lethal risk posed by driver distraction. No other contributing factors related to helmet use or signaling were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Councilmember Restler and Brooklyn leaders want DOT to flip Bond Street’s traffic northbound after Schermerhorn’s redesign. Locals face gridlock. Community Board 2 backs the move. They demand DOT protect the Bond Street bike lane with a physical barrier.

On October 21, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and Brooklyn Community Board 2 requested the Department of Transportation (DOT) extend Bond Street’s northbound direction to Livingston Street. The request follows complaints after Schermerhorn Street’s redesign, which added a protected bike lane but made all crossings one-way southbound, causing gridlock and blocking access for services. The Community Board’s Transportation and Public Safety Committee, chaired by Sid Meyer, voted to support the change and insisted DOT maintain and protect the Bond Street bike lane with a physical barrier. Restler said, 'We believe that this proposal will improve traffic flow and enhance the public’s access to essential services, deliveries, and residences.' DOT is reviewing the proposal. The matter centers on the impact of traffic changes on residents and the need to safeguard vulnerable road users.

• Street relief: Downtown Brooklynites ask DOT to flip traffic on Bond Street after Schermerhorn redesign, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-10-21

Two men on electric vehicles crashed on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-bike driver suffered a concussion and face injury. Both vehicles showed no damage. Confusion between riders caused the collision. The injured rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man riding an e-bike collided with a man on an e-scooter traveling north on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-bike driver was injured, sustaining a concussion and facial injuries, but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both vehicles had no visible damage. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as the contributing factor, indicating rider confusion led to the crash. The injured rider wore a helmet. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The crash occurred at 7:04 p.m. with both vehicles moving north, one starting in traffic and the other going straight ahead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A chain-reaction crash on Prospect Avenue left a 38-year-old driver with a fractured elbow. SUVs, a sedan, and a pick-up truck collided. Driver inattention and tailgating fueled the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle collision unfolded on Prospect Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash involved two SUVs, a sedan, and a pick-up truck, all traveling west. A 38-year-old male driver suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. The report lists Driver Inattention/Distraction and Following Too Closely as contributing factors. One driver was unlicensed. The injured driver was not ejected and remained conscious. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4573618 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14