Prospect Heights Bleeds While City Hall Waits

Jan 22 - Assembly Bill 2716 would force new cars to obey speed limits. The law targets vehicles made or assembled after January 1, 2030. Sponsor: Robert C. Carroll. No safety review yet. The streets wait.

Assembly Bill A 2716, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly as of January 22, 2025. The bill 'mandates the use of intelligent speed assistance systems in certain motor vehicles registered in the state which were manufactured or assembled on or after January 1, 2030.' Assembly Member Robert C. Carroll (District 44) sponsors the measure. No committee action or votes yet. No formal safety analyst review has been filed. The bill aims to keep cars from breaking speed limits. Vulnerable road users stand to gain, but the impact remains unmeasured.

• File A 2716, Open States, Published 2025-01-22

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 13 - Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator 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 bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Jan 9 - A BMW SUV traveling west on Atlantic Avenue was struck on its left side by a box truck also heading west. Three occupants in the SUV suffered shoulder injuries and shock. The box truck showed no damage, highlighting a severe impact on the SUV’s side.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:32 on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2009 BMW SUV with three occupants was traveling westbound when it was impacted on its left side doors by a 2024 box truck also traveling westbound. The box truck sustained no damage, while the SUV’s left side doors were damaged. The SUV’s driver, a 41-year-old woman, and two passengers, aged 47 and 66, all suffered upper arm shoulder injuries and were in shock. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless driving. Both drivers were licensed in their respective states. The severity of injuries and damage to the SUV’s side underscores the vulnerability of vehicle occupants in side-impact collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784972 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 803 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Streets could clear. Cyclists might breathe easier. Lawmakers back the crackdown. The fight for safe passage continues.

Assembly bill A 803, now in sponsorship, proposes a bicycle lane safety program for New York City. It would enforce restrictions on bike lane use with photo devices. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Primary sponsor Zohran Mamdani leads, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill was introduced January 8, 2025. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure targets drivers who block or endanger cyclists.

• File A 803, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Dec 18 - 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

Dec 8 - A 33-year-old woman suffered a severe leg fracture after a sedan struck her at an intersection on Atlantic Avenue. The driver, traveling east, hit the pedestrian with the vehicle’s right front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old female pedestrian was injured at an intersection on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:16 PM. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when she was struck by a 2015 Toyota sedan traveling east. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead with no reported vehicle damage. The report lists the pedestrian crossing against the signal as a contributing factor, but no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited. The focus remains on the pedestrian’s crossing behavior and the resulting serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777132 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - 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

Dec 4 - DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Dec 3 - Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They promised bus lanes, free buses, and fair fares. Each slammed the mayor’s record. They called for less fare enforcement, more service. Riders, not drivers, took center stage. Words flew. Streets stayed dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, six candidates for New York City mayor—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—spoke at a Riders Alliance forum. The event focused on transit policy. Candidates pledged support for bus lanes, free buses, expanded Fair Fares, and shifting gas tax funds to mass transit. Lander vowed to end subway and street homelessness for the severely mentally ill by connecting them to stable housing. Mamdani promised a world-class bus network. Myrie pushed for citywide bus lanes. Ramos called for automatic Fair Fares registration. Stringer backed more bus routes. Walden opposed fare evasion crackdowns, urging resources go to service instead. All criticized Mayor Adams’ record on bus lanes and congestion pricing. The forum highlighted a united front for safer, more accessible transit, but offered no immediate relief for vulnerable road users.

• Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-03

Nov 30 - A sedan turned right on Vanderbilt. A 23-year-old bicyclist struck, left with knee and leg injuries. Shock and pain followed. Police cite driver errors. System failed to protect the rider.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male bicyclist was injured on Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn when a westbound sedan made a right turn. The bicyclist, traveling south, suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and experienced shock and pain. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' factors twice as contributing causes, highlighting driver errors in vehicle operation. No helmet use or victim behavior was cited as a factor. The crash underscores the dangers vulnerable road users face from driver actions and systemic risks on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 24 - A Toyota surged off Eastern Parkway. The 88-year-old driver, semiconscious, lost control. Metal shrieked. A 58-year-old man, standing clear of the road, was crushed. Both bodies broken. The car lay wrecked, silent under the streetlight.

According to the police report, an 88-year-old man driving a 1998 Toyota sedan veered west off Eastern Parkway near 85th Street. The driver was described as 'semiconscious' and 'trapped in metal,' suffering crush injuries to his entire body. The report states that 'illness' was the sole contributing factor, listed twice for both the driver and the pedestrian. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a 58-year-old man who was 'not in roadway,' standing off the road. The pedestrian was also left with crush injuries to his entire body. The police narrative describes the car as demolished, its shell silent under the streetlight. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian; the focus remains on the driver's medical condition and loss of control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773784 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A 65-year-old woman suffered a hip and upper leg contusion at a Washington Ave intersection. She was conscious after the impact. The police report lists no driver errors or victim contributing factors. The crash details remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Washington Ave and Lincoln Pl. She sustained a contusion to her hip and upper leg and was conscious following the collision. The report does not specify the type of vehicle involved or any driver contributing factors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian actions or behaviors were identified as contributing to the crash. The vehicle involved is described only as 'unspecified,' with no details on driver errors or license status. The absence of driver errors in the report leaves the cause of the collision unclear but confirms the pedestrian was injured while at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A sedan struck two women on Washington Avenue, leaving both in shock with serious injuries. The driver’s inattention caused the crash. Victims suffered knee, leg, foot, and full-body trauma. Emergency responders found them in pain and distress.

According to the police report, a 2023 Nissan sedan struck two female pedestrians, ages 49 and 65, on Washington Avenue near Lincoln Place. Both victims sustained serious injuries: one with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma; the other with injuries to the entire body. Both were reported to be in shock and complaining of pain or nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. No pedestrian actions or behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The driver’s failure to maintain attention directly led to the impact and injuries. The crash occurred at midnight, and the vehicle was unoccupied aside from the driver. This incident underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving to vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773804 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - Council weighs Adams’s City of Yes plan. Mayoral challengers back the original, urge no watering down. They want housing, not parking. Council may weaken it. The fight is over homes versus cars. Vulnerable road users watch as parking mandates hang in the balance.

On November 21, 2024, the City Council debated Mayor Adams’s City of Yes zoning proposal, which aims to boost housing and scrap mandatory parking citywide. The Council may weaken the plan by creating a three-tiered system, risking fewer new homes. Mayoral challengers Zellnor Myrie, Brad Lander, Scott Stringer, Jessica Ramos, and Zohran Mamdani—all Democrats—strongly support the original plan. Myrie urges, 'resist efforts to revise the proposal in any way that would yield fewer homes.' Lander calls for ending exclusionary zoning and prioritizing housing over parking. Stringer calls the plan a 'small step.' Mamdani opposes changes that reduce housing or water down parking elimination. Ramos would vote yes but wants to protect neighborhood character. The Council’s decision will shape the city’s streets, homes, and the future for those outside cars.

• What Do the Mayoral Candidates Think Of ‘City of Yes’?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-21