Dragged to Death: City Lets Kids Bleed for Parking Spots

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

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

Mayoral hopefuls hammered Eric Adams for broken bus lane promises. At a transit forum, they called out City Hall’s slow pace. The law demands 30 miles a year. Adams delivered half. Candidates pledged pro-transit reforms. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, a mayoral candidate forum on NYC bus service and transportation policy spotlighted City Hall’s failures. The event, organized by Riders Alliance, saw candidates attack Mayor Eric Adams for not meeting the Streets Master Plan law, which mandates 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. Adams’ administration installed only 15.7 miles last fiscal year. State Sen. Jessica Ramos said, 'The current mayor promised 150 miles of bus lanes and hasn't delivered.' Comptroller Brad Lander promised a 'professional, world-class DOT commissioner.' Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani vowed to resist business interests blocking bus projects. Sen. Zellnor Myrie, mentioned at the forum, made pro-transit promises. The forum exposed how political inaction and broken promises keep streets unsafe for bus riders and pedestrians.

• Mayoral candidates hit Adams on failed promises to boost NYC's bus service, gothamist.com, Published 2024-12-03

Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They clashed over congestion pricing, bus expansion, and subway safety. Zellnor Myrie pledged to defend congestion pricing. Others called for more police, more buses, and mental health teams. Streets and subways remain battlegrounds.

On December 3, 2024, at a Riders Alliance forum, six Democratic mayoral candidates—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—debated New York City transit policy. The event focused on congestion pricing, set to begin January 5, and subway safety. The matter summary reads: 'NYC mayoral candidates participated in a transit-focused forum... discussing congestion pricing, subway safety, and transit upgrades.' Zellnor Myrie, representing District 20, criticized Mayor Adams for not defending congestion pricing and promised to support it regardless of federal politics. Ramos pushed for congestion pricing revenue to fund the MTA. Stringer called for bus expansion and DOT reform. Walden wanted more police and exemptions for seniors and disabled riders. Lander and Mamdani argued for housing and outreach teams over policing. The forum highlighted sharp divides on how to protect vulnerable New Yorkers on streets and subways.

• 2025 NYC mayoral candidates sound off on congestion pricing, subway safety, amny.com, Published 2024-12-03

Two sedans smashed on Bedford Avenue. One tried a U-turn. The other went straight. Four people hurt. Back bruises. Unsafe lane change caused the crash. Metal twisted. Sirens followed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 11:30 a.m. on Bedford Avenue near Prospect Place in Brooklyn. One sedan traveled north, going straight. The other made a U-turn southbound. The northbound car's left side doors and the southbound car's front bumper took the hit. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as a contributing factor. Four occupants were injured, including a 36-year-old male driver and a 54-year-old female passenger, both suffering back contusions. Both were conscious and wore lap belts and harnesses. The crash shows clear driver error in lane control and turning.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

A 2016 SUV traveling west struck the rear of another vehicle on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Two rear-seat passengers suffered head and neck injuries, including whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses during the impact.

According to the police report, a 2016 ACUR SUV was traveling westbound on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn at 21:05 when it struck the center back end of another vehicle that was going straight ahead. The impact caused injuries to two rear-seat passengers in the SUV, a 28-year-old male and a 29-year-old female. Both passengers were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses but suffered head and neck injuries, including whiplash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the female passenger but does not specify driver errors or other contributing factors for the collision. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV, indicating a rear-end collision. No ejections occurred, and the driver was licensed in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver making a left turn struck a 54-year-old man crossing Atlantic Avenue with the signal. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his entire body. The impact came from the vehicle's left front bumper at a Brooklyn intersection.

According to the police report, a vehicle traveling east on Atlantic Avenue was making a left turn when it struck a pedestrian at the intersection near Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian, a 54-year-old man, was crossing with the signal and sustained abrasions and injuries to his entire body. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, which also sustained damage. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The pedestrian remained conscious after the collision but was injured severely enough to be classified with injury severity level 3. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775216 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A 22-year-old unlicensed motorcyclist crashed into a parked sedan on Bergen Street. He suffered leg injuries. Police cite inattention and inexperience. The sedan was empty and stationary.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male motorcyclist, unlicensed, struck the left side doors of a parked sedan on Bergen Street in Brooklyn. The sedan was stationary. The rider suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other persons were injured. The sedan sustained damage to its left side doors; the motorcycle's left front bumper was also damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a moped sped down Albany Avenue. He lost control, was thrown, and struck his head. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The streetlights blinked. He lay unconscious, alone, while traffic moved past in the Brooklyn night.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old man was traveling south on Albany Avenue near Prospect Place on a moped when he lost control and was ejected from the vehicle. The report states the driver was 'helmetless,' and suffered a severe head injury, bleeding on the roadway and rendered unconscious. The police cite 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The report notes the driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the incident. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'He was thrown, struck his head, and bled on the asphalt. Unconscious. Alone. The streetlights blinked. The traffic kept moving.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus struck a sedan from behind on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Eleven occupants, including children and adults, suffered whiplash and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inexperience and distraction as key factors in the crash’s violent impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:05 on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn when a bus traveling south rear-ended a southbound sedan. The bus was stopped in traffic before impact, hitting the sedan at its center front end. Eleven occupants in both vehicles were injured, including a 13-year-old boy and adults aged 31 to 68. Injuries ranged from knee, lower leg, and foot trauma to abdominal and back pain, with all victims conscious and none ejected. The report identifies driver inexperience and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors to the collision. No safety equipment was noted for passengers, but no victim behavior was cited as contributing. The crash’s force caused whiplash complaints and multiple moderate injuries, highlighting systemic risks tied to inexperienced and distracted driving in dense urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770795 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan collided with a parked SUV on Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 26-year-old woman, suffered facial abrasions. Tire failure contributed to the crash, highlighting vehicle maintenance issues as a factor in this collision.

According to the police report, at 3:38 AM on Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, a sedan traveling south struck the left rear quarter panel of a parked SUV. The sedan’s driver, a 26-year-old female occupant, sustained facial abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies tire failure or inadequate tires as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV was stationary at the time of impact, and the sedan’s driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and airbag deployment. No other driver errors were specified in the report. The collision caused damage to the right front quarter panel of the sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the SUV. This incident underscores the role of vehicle condition, specifically tire integrity, in crash causation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766565 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 17-year-old bicyclist was partially ejected and suffered head injuries after a collision with a sedan on Atlantic Avenue. The driver disregarded traffic controls, causing a violent impact that left the teen in shock and injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:17 AM on Atlantic Avenue involving a sedan traveling west and a northbound bike. The sedan's left front bumper struck the right side doors of the bike, partially ejecting the 17-year-old male bicyclist and causing head injuries. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. The bicyclist was injured and in shock but did not have visible complaints at the scene. The collision highlights the danger posed by drivers ignoring traffic controls, leading to severe injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Atlantic Avenue. The rear driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, driver inattention caused the crash. Both drivers were licensed men traveling westbound, with one occupant each.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on Atlantic Avenue collided, with the rear vehicle impacting the center back end of the front vehicle. The rear driver, a 45-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed, with one occupant each, and were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The collision damaged the center back end of the front sedan and the center front end of the rear sedan. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767787 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 62-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and shock after his SUV rear-ended another vehicle on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash occurred at 10:40 AM, caused by following too closely, according to the police report.

At 10:40 AM on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, a 62-year-old male driver in a 2022 SUV sustained back injuries and shock after colliding with the rear of another vehicle. According to the police report, the primary contributing factor was the SUV driver's failure to maintain a safe distance, described as "Following Too Closely." The impact was centered on the back end of the SUV, which also sustained damage in the same area. The injured driver was not ejected and reported complaints of pain or nausea. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior or safety equipment use. The collision underscores the dangers posed by driver errors in maintaining proper following distance on busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped rider was ejected and suffered serious head injuries after a 2012 SUV made a left turn into his path on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The collision occurred at the front center of both vehicles, leaving the rider unconscious and injured.

According to the police report, a 2012 Cadillac SUV traveling east on Atlantic Avenue was making a left turn when it collided head-on with a northbound moped. The moped driver, a 60-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained severe head injuries, rendering him unconscious. The SUV's right front bumper and the moped's center front end were the points of impact. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' and 'Unspecified' contributing factors related to the moped driver but does not list any direct fault or error by the moped rider. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the left turn maneuver. This crash highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to vulnerable riders, with the SUV's left turn directly causing the collision and serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed head-on on Utica Avenue. A 59-year-old front passenger was semiconscious with chest injuries. Both cars took heavy front-end damage. Brooklyn streets remain dangerous for those inside vehicles.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling straight collided on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:44. The 2006 Toyota sedan, heading east, struck the 2012 Nissan sedan, which was traveling north. Both vehicles suffered center front-end damage. A 59-year-old female front passenger in the Nissan was semiconscious with chest injuries and reported pain or nausea. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed. The crash highlights the severe risks of vehicle-to-vehicle impacts on Brooklyn streets, with serious injuries to passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759177 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26