No More Casualties: Dyker Beach Bleeds While Politicians Stall

• Brooklyn boy, 11, remains in critical condition after hit-run; driver on loose, NY Daily News, Published 2025-10-14

• Police hunting for driver who hit and killed a 75-year-old woman in Brooklyn and then sped off, CBS New York, Published 2025-10-05

• Firefighters racing to emergency collide with moped driver in Brooklyn, sending him to hospital, amny, Published 2025-09-21

• Woman fatally struck by 18-wheeler truck in hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - On 92nd and Seventh, a northbound sedan struck a stopped car. A bad accelerator. Metal to metal. Three passengers hurt, including a child. Doors crumpled. Brooklyn heard it. Streets bear the bruise.

A Toyota sedan traveling north on 7 Ave hit a Honda sedan that was stopped in traffic at 92 St. Three passengers were injured: a 13-year-old boy with arm bruising, a 49-year-old woman with back pain, and a 59-year-old woman with body pain. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Accelerator Defective.” The moving driver’s car struck the left front bumper; the stopped car took damage to its left side doors. Driver errors and conditions cited in the data point to equipment failure. Only after that, safety equipment notes show lap belts and harnesses for several occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 11 - Summer Streets expands. Streets close to cars for weekends. Crowds swell and bikes and feet fill the asphalt. The city dangles more, but the reach is small. Where cars vanish, walking and cycling flourish; most streets remain unchanged.

"The tallest subway station in NYC is finally getting an elevator. The Smith-9th St station in Gowanus is nearly 90' high. Soon, you'll be able to take an elevator to get there." -- Andrew Gounardes

File number: none. Status: statement, not legislation. Committee action: none. On August 11, 2025, David Meyer published a Streetsblog NYC piece and wrote, "Summer Streets is bigger and better than ever and New Yorkers are begging for more." There is no council bill or sponsor. Meyer praises the expansion while criticizing its limited scale. A safety analyst notes: "Expanding Summer Streets increases car-free space, encourages mode shift to walking and cycling, and demonstrates the safety and enjoyment possible with reduced vehicle traffic, supporting system-wide safety and equity for vulnerable road users." The car-free weekends run Aug. 16 in Manhattan and Aug. 23 in Brooklyn and the Bronx, showing safety gains that remain localized.

• Monday’s Headlines: All Hail Summer Streets Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 11 - MTA will add elevators to Smith‑9th Street, ending a brutal 90‑foot climb. The change opens the station to seniors and people with disabilities. More transit riders may mean fewer cars, cutting pedestrian and cyclist exposure to traffic danger.

"the station will get elevators as part of the MTA's approved $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025-2029" -- Andrew Gounardes

Bill number: none — this is an MTA capital plan project. Status: announced Aug. 11, 2025. Committee: N/A. Key dates: funded in the MTA’s approved $68.4 billion 2025–2029 capital plan. The announcement quotes the article title: "Tall order: Smith-9th Streets subway station, city’s highest, to get elevators." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said, “With elevators coming to the Smith-9th Street station, that’s finally going to change.” Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon praised the MTA for prioritizing accessibility. Safety analysts note: improved subway accessibility encourages mode shift from driving to transit, reducing pedestrian and cyclist exposure to traffic danger and supporting safer, more equitable streets.

• Tall order: Smith-9th Streets subway station, city’s highest, to get elevators, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 11 - Elevators planned for Smith‑9th Street, NYC's tallest station. Stairs end. Riders with limited mobility win. NYCHA residents and seniors regain access to jobs and care. Project cuts forced walking or biking along hazardous routes and shifts trips onto public transit.

"the addition of elevators will make the subway accessible to all." -- Andrew Gounardes

Bill/file number: none. Status: MTA announced planned installation on August 11, 2025. Committee: none listed. BKReader ran the piece titled "Brooklyn’s Steepest Subway Stop to Get a Lift," noting "The MTA will install an elevator at the Smith-9th Street station." State Senator Andrew Gounardes praised the plan. Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon backed it. NYCHA leaders voiced support. MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo called the stop the clearest case for access. Installing elevators improves transit accessibility for people with mobility challenges, reducing reliance on walking or cycling along potentially hazardous routes and supporting an equitable, safe mode shift to public transit.

• Brooklyn’s Steepest Subway Stop to Get a Lift, BKReader, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 10 - State officials will add elevators to Smith-9th Street station, ending a brutal 90‑foot climb. The lifts expand access and push riders toward transit — cutting pedestrian and cyclist exposure to street car traffic and easing danger for vulnerable users.

Bill number: none. Status: included in the MTA's approved $68.4 billion Capital Plan for 2025–2029. Committee: N/A. Key date: announcement Aug 10, 2025. The matter: "New York City's tallest subway station, Smith-9th Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn, will soon have elevators, ending the difficult climb to the platform." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes led the announcement. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon praised the move. MTA chief accessibility officer Quemuel Arroyo said the upgrades push system access past 50%. The MTA must meet a court settlement to make 95% of stations ADA-accessible by 2055. Improved subway accessibility encourages mode shift from driving to transit, reducing pedestrian and cyclist exposure to car traffic and supporting safer, more equitable streets for vulnerable users.

• Tall order: NYC’s tallest subway station to get elevators, putting accessibility on the ascent, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-10

Aug 5 - Poor DOT signs on Hylan Boulevard sow chaos. Drivers turn from the wrong lane. Collisions mount. Bus lane rules shift by the hour. The street stays dangerous for those on foot and bike.

According to amny (2025-08-05), collisions on Hylan Boulevard have risen due to unclear DOT signage about bus lane hours. Borough President Vito Fossella noted, “That’s one accident every four days where somebody perhaps unwittingly thinks they must turn from the middle lane.” The article reports 32 crashes in 2025 tied to drivers making right turns from the middle lane instead of the curb-side bus lane. Some signs list hours, others only say 'Bus Corridor Photo,' confusing drivers. The lack of clear, consistent information leaves intersections hazardous, especially for vulnerable road users. The report highlights a pressing need for better signage and clearer policy.

• Confusing Bus Lane Signs Spur Crashes, amny, Published 2025-08-05

Aug 4 - A hotel awning crashed down at Clark Street station. Years of leaks, rot, and stench warned locals. No one fixed it. The city let danger fester. Pedestrians faced the risk. No injuries, but trust is broken.

"Our NYC Buildings engineers are now on site conducting additional inspections of the collapsed awning, and a second similar awning at the building on Clark Street, which is showing similar signs of poor maintenance." -- James S. Oddo

On August 4, 2025, a hotel awning collapsed outside the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights. The incident, reported by Barbara Russo-Lennon and Lloyd Mitchell, followed 'years of visible disrepair, foul smells and water leaks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler confirmed no timeline for reopening. The Department of Buildings cited the owners for 'Failure to maintain' and ordered demolition. DOB Commissioner James Oddo said engineers are inspecting a second awning showing 'poor maintenance.' The collapse put pedestrians in harm's way. As safety analysts note, such failures in busy areas raise the risk of injury or death for vulnerable road users and discourage walking, undermining city safety goals.

• ‘Not surprised’: Locals say neglect to blame in Clark Street station awning collapse, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 3 - A man crossed Broadway. A driver hit him. The driver sped off. The man died on the street. Police hunt for the vehicle, possibly a garbage truck. The city’s roads claim another life.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports a 47-year-old pedestrian was killed crossing Broadway at Suydam St. in Brooklyn. The driver, possibly operating a garbage truck, left the scene. Police said, "A driver struck and killed a 47-year-old pedestrian... then left the scene." The victim died before help arrived. The driver’s failure to remain highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the persistent issue of hit-and-runs in New York City.

• Driver Flees After Brooklyn Pedestrian Death, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 25 - Thin string, nearly invisible, sliced at necks and faces. Cyclists struck crossing Marine Parkway Bridge. Injuries mount. No answers. Danger lingers. System fails to clear the path.

Gothamist (2025-07-25) reports multiple cyclists injured by string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge walkway. Victims described sudden pain and red marks. One cyclist landed in intensive care in June. The NYPD said no criminality was suspected and has not identified the source. The MTA forbids cycling on the path, but most riders do not dismount due to the narrow walkway. The article quotes Angel Montalvo: "I felt pain, but I didn't know what it was." The recurring hazard exposes gaps in bridge safety and enforcement, leaving vulnerable users at risk.

• Cyclists Injured By Hidden String On Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two dead on Third Avenue. A hit-and-run. Leaders call for change. The city promised a fix. The street stays deadly. Demands grow. Blood stains the corridor. Action lags.

CBS New York (2025-07-24) reports Brooklyn leaders urge the city to redesign Third Avenue after a fatal hit-and-run killed two. The article states, "Traffic safety leaders are calling on New York City to keep its promise to redesign Brooklyn's Third Avenue corridor." The crash highlights ongoing danger and unmet city commitments. Driver fled the scene. Advocates press for swift redesign to prevent more deaths.

• Brooklyn Leaders Demand Third Avenue Redesign, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

""Here we are, once again gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets. But it doesn't have to be this way,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"This is not meant to be a highway. This is where people walk. This is where people live. This is where kids go to school." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - A drunk driver killed a man in East Flatbush. Another driver struck a 95-year-old woman in Bensonhurst. Both drivers stayed. Both now face charges. The city counts sixty pedestrians dead this year.

NY Daily News (2025-07-18) reports two Brooklyn drivers face charges after fatal crashes. Winston Reid, accused of drunk driving, struck a man in an East Flatbush crosswalk. Police charged him with vehicular manslaughter. In a separate January crash, Timothe Andre hit Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Bensonhurst. Gil died from her injuries. After a six-month probe, Andre was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The article notes, 'As of Thursday, 60 pedestrians had been killed by vehicles across the city this year.' Both drivers remained at the scene. The cases highlight ongoing risks for city pedestrians and the legal consequences for driver negligence.

• Brooklyn Drivers Charged In Deadly Crashes, NY Daily News, 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 15 - A judge stopped city crews from tearing out Bedford Ave’s only protected bike lane. The lane, shielded by parked cars, now waits for a court fight. Cyclists and advocates hold their ground.

NY Daily News reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge blocked New York City from removing the protected Bedford Ave bike lane in Williamsburg. The city planned to move cyclists next to car traffic, but the court granted an emergency restraining order after advocates appealed. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called the lane a 'critical safety project.' City Hall insists the reconfiguration is legal and claims the appeal delays 'easing the safety concerns plaguing Williamsburg parents.' The protected lane, installed in October 2024, separates cyclists from moving vehicles. The ruling highlights ongoing policy battles over street design and cyclist safety.

• Judge Halts Bedford Ave Bike Lane Removal, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 12 - A BMW sped through a Brooklyn red light at dawn. Two men crossing 3rd Avenue fell. Both died on the street. The driver fled. Police caught him. Charges followed. The toll of cars grows.

Gothamist (2025-07-12) reports a Staten Island man "blew through a red light and killed two pedestrians" at 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street, Brooklyn. Police say the driver, 23, struck Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59, then fled. Both victims died at the scene. The suspect faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. NYPD data shows 98 citywide traffic deaths this year, nearly half pedestrians. The crash highlights the lethal risk at intersections and the deadly impact of ignoring signals.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-12