No One Is Safe Until Streets Change

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Nov 29 - A 43-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on 39 Street. The e-bike struck another vehicle head-on. The rider suffered a concussion and arm injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. The other vehicle showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike westbound on 39 Street collided head-on with another vehicle traveling southbound. The bicyclist was ejected from the bike and sustained injuries including a concussion and trauma to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. The e-bike sustained damage to the right front quarter panel, while the other vehicle showed no damage. The bicyclist was conscious and wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 25 - A moped traveling east struck the left side doors of a northbound pick-up truck in Brooklyn. The 18-year-old moped driver was partially ejected and suffered head injuries and whiplash. The driver was helmeted and in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, a moped traveling east collided with the left side doors of a northbound pick-up truck in Brooklyn's 11219 zip code. The moped driver, an 18-year-old male, was partially ejected from his vehicle and sustained head injuries and whiplash. He was wearing a helmet at the time. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the crash but does not identify any specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pick-up truck was driven by a licensed male driver from New Jersey. No pedestrians or other vulnerable road users were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A 27-year-old male SUV driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Brooklyn crash. The SUV was making a left turn when it struck a westbound sedan head-on. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male driver of a 2014 Ford SUV was making a left turn on Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn when his vehicle collided head-on with a westbound 2017 Toyota sedan. The SUV driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left front bumpers. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver errors were recorded. The crash resulted in injury to the SUV driver only.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - Two SUVs slammed together on 39th Street in Brooklyn. One driver took the hit—back pain, whiplash. Police blamed failure to yield. Metal twisted. The street stayed hard.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided near 856 39th Street in Brooklyn. One driver, a 50-year-old man, suffered back injuries and whiplash but stayed conscious and was not ejected. The crash happened when one SUV went straight and the other pulled out from parking. Impact struck the right front bumper of one and the left front of the other. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. No other contributing factors or victim errors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579562 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A 72-year-old woman was hit by a taxi making a left turn on 40 Street. She was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on 40 Street made a left turn and struck a 72-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body and was reported to be in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The taxi showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. The pedestrian's crossing action was lawful and not a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - Arterial roads kill. They are wide, fast, and deadly for walkers and cyclists. Most are state-owned. Cities and advocates demand lower speeds, urban design, and local control. Changing these streets is urgent. Lives hang in the balance.

This policy advocacy statement, published October 18, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, highlights the urgent need to fix deadly arterial roads. The statement, titled 'Vision Zero Cities: How to Fix Our Most Dangerous Roads,' calls for context-sensitive speed limits, urban street design standards, and transferring state-owned roads to city control. Streetsblog and Transportation Alternatives urge, 'Cities and advocates should push their states to transform arterial streets into safe spaces for all modes.' The statement notes that arterials make up 15 percent of roads but see 67 percent of pedestrian deaths. It stresses that speed is the main factor in fatal crashes and that state DOTs often prioritize fast driving over safety. The call is clear: redesign streets for people, not cars, and give cities the power to act.

• Vision Zero Cities: How to Fix Our Most Dangerous Roads, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-18

Oct 16 - An e-bike carrying two riders struck a parked sedan on 47th Street in Brooklyn. Both e-bike occupants were ejected and suffered bruises and arm injuries. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling west on 47th Street collided with a parked sedan. The e-bike had two occupants, a 31-year-old male driver and a 29-year-old female passenger, both wearing helmets. Both riders were ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to their elbows, lower arms, and hands. The sedan was parked at the time of the crash and suffered damage to its left side doors. The report lists driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The injuries were classified as moderate, with both victims conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574406 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - An e-bike rider was partially ejected and injured in a Brooklyn crash. The SUV was making a left turn while the e-bike traveled straight. The rider suffered abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries. Unsafe speed was a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male e-bike rider was partially ejected and injured when a 2021 BMW SUV made a left turn in Brooklyn at 8 Avenue. The e-bike was traveling straight north and struck the SUV's left front quarter panel. The rider sustained abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries, classified as injury severity 3. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and female, with no damage reported to the SUV. The e-bike rider was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 17 - Two e-scooters crashed head-on on 40 Street. Both drivers were male, one 57 years old. One driver was ejected and suffered a head contusion. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The crash was caused by driver inattention.

According to the police report, two e-scooters collided head-on on 40 Street. One driver, a 57-year-old man, was ejected from his scooter and sustained a head injury described as a contusion. Both vehicles had damage to their center front ends. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor to the crash. Neither driver was wearing safety equipment. The injured driver remained conscious after the collision. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 15 - A parked SUV struck a sedan in Brooklyn. The impact hit the SUV’s left rear quarter panel and left side doors. A 47-year-old female passenger in the SUV suffered elbow and arm injuries. She was semiconscious and wore a lap belt.

According to the police report, a 2022 Chevrolet SUV was parked when it collided with a sedan on 50 Street in Brooklyn. The SUV sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel and left side doors. A 47-year-old female occupant in the right rear seat of the SUV was injured, suffering elbow and lower arm injuries. She was semiconscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify driver errors or violations. No occupants were reported in the vehicles at the time of the crash except the injured passenger. The sedan’s details and driver information were not provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566021 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 8 - Councilmember Alexa Avilés pushes new rules to rein in e-commerce warehouses. The bill would block massive facilities near homes, schools, and parks. It demands public review and stricter permits. The aim: less truck traffic, cleaner air, safer streets.

On September 8, 2022, Councilmember Alexa Avilés (District 38) supported a proposal to tighten zoning and permitting for e-commerce warehouses in New York City. The measure, not yet introduced as a formal bill, seeks to amend city zoning rules to require special permits for warehouses over 50,000 square feet and ban them within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, nursing homes, public housing, or other warehouses. The proposal states: 'The facilities won’t negatively impact nearby traffic, pedestrian and road safety, or air pollution.' Avilés, along with Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, backs the effort, citing frequent community complaints about truck traffic and pollution. The plan mandates environmental review and public input before any City Council vote. Community groups and environmental advocates say the change is urgent for neighborhoods already burdened by traffic and pollution.

• Environmental activists call for a crack down on e-commerce warehouses in New York City, gothamist.com, Published 2022-09-08

Aug 1 - A 25-year-old man was hit by an e-bike while crossing a Brooklyn street without a signal. The impact fractured his elbow and lower arm. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously injured.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling west struck a 25-year-old male pedestrian crossing 38th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered a fracture and dislocation to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating the e-bike operator failed to obey traffic signals or controls. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal. The crash caused serious injury but no ejection. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552294 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 29 - An e-bike making a left turn collided with a northbound motorcycle on 9 Avenue. The motorcycle driver, a 62-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a neck fracture and dislocation. Driver inattention caused the crash. The motorcyclist wore a helmet.

According to the police report, an e-bike making a left turn struck a motorcycle traveling straight north on 9 Avenue. The motorcycle driver, a 62-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated neck injury. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor for the crash. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time. The e-bike driver was licensed in New York. The collision occurred at the center front end of the motorcycle and the center back end of the e-bike. No other factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4554442 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 20 - A 9-year-old boy was struck while crossing outside a crosswalk in Brooklyn. The sedan hit the pedestrian on the left side doors. The child suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries with abrasions. The driver was licensed and traveling straight eastbound.

According to the police report, a 9-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2015 Nissan sedan traveling eastbound in Brooklyn struck him on the left side doors. The child was crossing outside a crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained abdominal and pelvic injuries and abrasions but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. No driver contributing factors were specified in the report. The pedestrian’s contributing factors were listed as unspecified. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. The incident occurred near 842 49th Street in Brooklyn’s 43rd council district.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4548652 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 28 - A 37-year-old woman was struck while crossing 9 Avenue at 57 Street in Brooklyn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 9 Avenue and 57 Street in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a Nissan SUV making a right turn failed to yield right-of-way. The collision caused contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The contributing factor listed is failure to yield right-of-way by the driver. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered a bruise but no further details on vehicle damage or driver status were noted. The report identifies no other contributing factors or victim errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541703 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - Two SUVs collided on 48 Street. One driver followed too close. A 62-year-old woman crossing in a marked crosswalk was struck and injured. She suffered whiplash and full-body trauma. She was conscious after impact.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling east on 48 Street in Brooklyn collided when one driver followed too closely and rear-ended the other. A 62-year-old female pedestrian, crossing in a marked crosswalk away from an intersection, was injured. She suffered whiplash and trauma to her entire body. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The first SUV was stopped in traffic when the second SUV struck its center back end. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A southbound SUV made a left turn and struck a northbound bicyclist on 8 Avenue near 45 Street in Brooklyn. The 55-year-old female cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The SUV showed no damage. The cyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 2021 Honda SUV traveling south on 8 Avenue was making a left turn when it collided with a northbound bicyclist going straight ahead. The bicyclist, a 55-year-old woman, sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors explicitly. The SUV had no visible damage despite the impact on its left side doors. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet and was not ejected from her bike. She remained conscious after the crash. The collision highlights the dangers cyclists face when motor vehicles turn across their path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 8 - A cyclist hit a 34-year-old man near 43rd Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered internal hip and leg injuries. No vehicle damage. Police list unspecified factors. The victim was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a northbound cyclist near 43rd Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered internal injuries to his hip and upper leg and remained conscious. The cyclist was traveling straight and the bike showed no damage. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite any specific driver errors. No mention of helmet use or other safety equipment. The collision occurred away from an intersection. The report does not assign blame to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02