Third Avenue: Two Miles, Too Many Graves

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 10 - Albany lawmakers set aside the Stop Super Speeders bill. Advocates erupted. The Assembly dodged action. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay in harm’s way. No relief. No justice. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers offered excuses. Lives hang in the balance.

On June 10, 2025, the New York State Assembly set aside the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2299), halting its progress this legislative session. The bill, heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee, would have required drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year to install a device preventing them from exceeding the speed limit by more than five miles per hour. Advocates, including Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets, called the Assembly's move 'outrageous.' Senate sponsor Andrew Gounardes vowed to keep fighting. Assembly Transportation Chair William Magnarelli cited due process concerns. Brandy Nannini, Ben Furnas, and Frank Harris condemned the inaction. According to safety analysts, the event marks no direct change for pedestrian or cyclist safety, as the bill did not pass and no new protections were enacted.

• Advocates Slam Albany Pols After ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill is Set Aside, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - Lawmakers killed a bill to force repeat speeders to install devices that stop reckless driving. Upstate politicians balked. The bill will not pass this session. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. No relief. No change. The danger rolls on.

On June 8, 2025, the New York State Assembly Transportation Committee, chaired by William Magnarelli, blocked the Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, had passed the Senate Transportation Committee but stalled in the Assembly. The measure would have required drivers caught speeding six or more times in a year to install devices preventing reckless driving. The matter summary states: 'A bill that would require recidivist speeders to install a simple device to block the car from being driven recklessly will not pass this session.' Gallagher expressed frustration, warning that every delay means preventable crashes and lives lost. Safety analysts note the bill would have directly reduced risk for pedestrians and cyclists by targeting repeat dangerous drivers. Despite support from advocates and NYC DOT, the committee cited due process and enforcement concerns. The bill must be reintroduced next year. Vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• BREAKING: Key ‘Super Speeders’ Bill Won’t Pass This Session, Says Assembly Transportation Chair, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 6 - A sedan hit a 16-year-old girl in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. Her leg was bruised. The car’s bumper struck her. The driver was not hurt. Police list no clear cause.

A 16-year-old pedestrian was hit by a sedan while crossing 5th Avenue at 21st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the vehicle, making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. She suffered a contusion to her lower leg and remained conscious. The driver and another occupant were not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 6 - A 26-year-old cyclist was struck and injured by an SUV turning right on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street. The crash threw the cyclist from his bike. He suffered leg injuries. The SUV driver and passenger were not reported injured.

A crash on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street in Brooklyn left a 26-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when a 2023 Toyota SUV, also heading north, made a right turn and struck him. The impact ejected the cyclist from his bike, causing abrasions and injuries to his lower leg and foot. The SUV's driver and a passenger, both 59-year-old men, were not reported injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted in the report, but no helmet or signaling issues were listed as contributing factors. The data does not specify any driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 4 - A 19-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and hurt on 58th Street in Brooklyn. The crash left him with hip and internal injuries. He was conscious at the scene. The cause remains unspecified.

A 19-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and injured while traveling north on 58th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the rider suffered hip and internal injuries but remained conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or road users were involved. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The impact and damage centered on the motorcycle's front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

May 31 - A pickup and a sedan crashed on 35th Street in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a neck injury. The crash came fast. Police cite unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Shock followed. Another occupant was hurt. The street bore the mark of impact.

A pickup truck and a sedan collided on 35th Street near 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed. One driver, a 40-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and was in shock. Another occupant was also injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The pickup was struck at the left rear bumper, while the sedan was damaged at the center front end. Airbags deployed in the pickup. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not specify further details about the sequence of events or additional injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 30 - Two sedans collided on the Gowanus Ramp. One driver, nineteen, suffered neck injuries. Police cite improper lane use and passing too closely. Metal scraped metal. The night air filled with the sound of impact. The system failed to protect.

Two sedans crashed on the Gowanus Ramp in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a nineteen-year-old driver suffered neck injuries described as whiplash. Another occupant, age thirty-four, had unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling north; one was going straight, the other making a left turn. The BMW sedan sustained damage to its right rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of improper lane changes and close passing. The police report makes no mention of helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 24 - Two cars slammed together at 3rd Avenue and 50th Street. Metal twisted. Three men hurt. One bled. Two bruised. A baby and another man shaken. Police blamed other vehicular factors. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A station wagon SUV and a sedan collided at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 50th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three men were injured: a 40-year-old front passenger suffered minor bleeding, while both drivers, aged 26 and 38, sustained bruises. A 49-year-old man and an infant were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for all involved. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact, with the sedan striking the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left bodies hurt and the street marked by another violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 21 - Senate moves to clamp down on repeat speeders. Bill forces reckless drivers to install speed limiters. Lawmakers act after years of carnage. Streets remain perilous for walkers and riders until the law takes hold.

On May 21, 2025, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced bill S4045B, known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure passed with just two 'no' votes out of 13. The bill requires speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year. Streetsblog NYC reports, 'A bill that would prevent the most-reckless drivers from speeding easily moved forward on Tuesday.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the bill, emphasizing it targets the most dangerous drivers. Assembly sponsor Emily Gallagher raised concerns about cost and judicial bias, but stressed that speeding endangers everyone. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins backs the bill's safety focus. According to safety analysts, restricting repeat speeders directly tackles a major threat to pedestrians and cyclists, likely reducing crashes and making streets safer citywide.

• ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill Advances in Senate Committee, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21

May 16 - Two sedans crashed while turning on 60th Street in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a fractured arm. The police report lists no clear cause. Metal and bone broke. Streets stayed busy.

Two sedans collided while both were making right turns on 60th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, a 44-year-old man, suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder. Three other occupants had unspecified injuries. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. Both vehicles sustained damage to their sides and front panels. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813297 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 16 - Senator Palumbo, once wary, now backs the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure targets repeat speeders with court-ordered limiters. Twenty-one percent of fatal pedestrian crashes involve such drivers. Speed limiters cut deaths by over a third. Action, not talk.

On May 16, 2025, the New York State Senate debated the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2029), which requires speed-limiting devices for drivers with six or more speed-camera violations in a year. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, aims to curb reckless driving. Initially, Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk) opposed the measure, citing concerns about government overreach and enforcement. He compared it to ignition locks for drunk drivers, which he supports. After discussion with Gounardes, Palumbo shifted, supporting the bill if it meets its goal. The bill’s summary states it targets repeat speeders with court orders and misdemeanor charges for non-compliance. Data shows 21 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes in NYC involve vehicles with six or more camera tickets in the prior year. Speed limiters have been shown to reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. Palumbo now signals willingness to take strong action against reckless drivers.

• How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 16 - State Sen. Palumbo, once wary of government reach, now supports speed-limiting devices for repeat speeders. The bill targets drivers with six or more violations. Debate follows a fatal crash. Lawmakers clash, then unite. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On May 16, 2025, State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, Republican from Suffolk, changed course on the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2029). The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, would require speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more speed-camera violations in a year. Palumbo first called the measure 'government overreach,' preferring license suspensions. After debate and a detailed comparison to ignition locks for drunk drivers, Palumbo agreed to support the bill if it meets its goal. Gounardes explained, 'We mimicked the ignition lock process and procedure.' The bill gained momentum after a deadly crash. According to the safety analyst, the event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so no safety impact can be determined.

• How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16