No One Dead—Yet: Gravesend’s Streets Are Waiting for Blood

Mar 18 - SUV hit sedan turning left on Stillwell Avenue. Impact tore into sedan’s front, SUV’s rear. Passenger in SUV, 54, suffered head abrasions. Unsafe speed cited. Streets turned violent in daylight.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV struck a northeast-bound sedan making a left turn on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn at 14:46. The SUV’s right rear bumper and the sedan’s center front end collided. The report cites "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor, pointing to driver error by the SUV operator. A 54-year-old female passenger in the SUV’s right rear seat, secured by a lap belt and harness, suffered head abrasions but remained conscious. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The collision underscores the risk posed by unsafe speed during turning movements.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710869 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 7 - Council aims to ban moving billboards. These rolling ads distract drivers. The bill locks in an existing rule. Streets need fewer distractions. Safety for walkers and riders comes first.

Bill Int 0541-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 7, 2024, by Council Members Bottcher (primary), Brannan, Brewer, and Restler, it seeks to ban moving billboards. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to banning moving billboards.' These billboards are already illegal under city rules. The bill would codify 34 RCNY 4-12(j), making the ban law. Bottcher and co-sponsors want to cut visual clutter and driver distraction. The bill was referred to committee on March 7, 2024.

• File Int 0541-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 7 - Council bill forces DOT to act fast. Traffic study calls get answers in 60 days. No more endless waits. Streets stay dangerous while requests stall. Delay kills. Action saves.

Int 0542-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, laid over since March 7, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Brooks-Powers, Vernikov, and Morano. The bill cracks the whip on DOT, ending open-ended delays. Fast answers mean less time waiting for life-saving signals and signs. The city’s slow grind leaves people at risk. This bill demands speed.

• File Int 0542-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 7 - Council aims to keep sightseeing buses out of bus lanes during rush. The bill targets morning and evening peaks. Streets clear for city buses, not tourists. Pedestrians and cyclists get a break from double-deckers.

Bill Int 0543-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on March 7, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to restricting the use of bus lanes by sight-seeing buses,' blocks sightseeing buses from bus lanes on weekdays, 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. Sponsors Lincoln Restler (District 33, primary) and Justin L. Brannan (District 47, co-sponsor) push to keep bus lanes clear for transit. No sightseeing bus stops allowed in bus lanes during these hours. The bill responds to congestion and crowding, giving vulnerable road users more space and fewer blind spots.

• File Int 0543-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Feb 29 - SUV and sedan crashed on Avenue Z in Brooklyn. Sedan’s bumper hit SUV’s side. A 35-year-old woman in the SUV suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard.

According to the police report, a 2023 SUV traveling south and a 2023 sedan traveling west collided on Avenue Z in Brooklyn at 16:18. The sedan’s right front bumper struck the SUV’s left side doors. A 35-year-old female front passenger in the SUV was injured, suffering head injuries and whiplash. She remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention, distraction, and disregard of traffic control as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight before the crash. No victim fault or helmet use is mentioned. The report centers on driver errors and systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 28 - Council moves to outlaw fake plates. Fraud hides reckless drivers. Bill targets sellers, sets fines. Streets need truth. Law aims to strip shields from danger.

Bill Int 0178-2024 sits with the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the sale or distribution of fraudulent license plates," makes it illegal to sell or distribute fake or temporary plates, with civil penalties for violators. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Brewer, Brannan, and Avilés. The bill was referred to committee the same day. Fraudulent plates let reckless drivers vanish. This measure aims to close that escape, exposing those who endanger lives.

• File Int 0178-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 21 - A southbound SUV struck a westbound sedan on Bay 47 Street, causing injury to the SUV driver. The collision damaged the right front bumper of the SUV and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The driver suffered whiplash and full-body injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:45 on Bay 47 Street involving a 2021 SUV traveling south and a 2022 sedan traveling west. The SUV driver, a 50-year-old woman wearing a lap belt and harness, was injured with whiplash and bodily injuries affecting her entire body. The collision point was the SUV's right front bumper impacting the sedan's right rear quarter panel. The police report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield properly. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The accident also involved a parked 2007 SUV damaged on its left rear quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 11 - Two sedans collided on Avenue Y. Driver inattention sent one car into the back of another. Three people bruised, shaken, but conscious. The crash struck hard, leaving bodies sore and the street marked.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Avenue Y near Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn just after midnight. The rear sedan struck the back of the front sedan. Three occupants were injured: a 31-year-old male driver and two female passengers, ages 28 and 30. All suffered contusions and bruises to their entire bodies. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. All victims were conscious and not ejected. The police report does not cite any contributing factors related to the victims. The crash highlights the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council moves to hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters on city sidewalks. The bill targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. No mention of street safety or driver accountability.

Bill Int 0037-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 8, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk,' seeks to raise fines for sidewalk riding. Council Members Stevens (primary), Gennaro, Ung, Brewer, Brannan, and Morano sponsor the bill. The action: referral to committee. The summary states, 'This bill would increase each of the existing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, a bicycle with electric assist (commonly referred to as an “e-bike”), or an electric scooter on the sidewalk.' No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill focuses on penalties, not on street design or driver behavior.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 6 - A 48-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after being hit by a northbound e-bike at an Ocean Parkway intersection in Brooklyn. The e-bike showed no damage. Police list unspecified contributing factors without driver error details.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old female pedestrian was injured at an intersection on Ocean Parkway near Avenue Z in Brooklyn at 12:37 PM. She sustained head injuries and was in shock. The collision involved a single e-bike traveling northbound, going straight ahead, which struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The e-bike showed no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless operation. The pedestrian's actions remain unknown, and no safety equipment or helmet use is noted. The focus remains on the collision caused by the e-bike impact, with no blame assigned to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 6 - State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and others joined a lawsuit to block New York’s congestion pricing. The editorial rails against tolls, calling them a blow to working New Yorkers. No mention of pedestrian or cyclist safety. The fight centers on driver costs.

On February 6, 2024, an editorial titled 'Time for insane NYC congestion pricing plan to hit the road' opposed the city’s congestion pricing scheme. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-23) joined 17 other lawmakers in a lawsuit against the plan, which would charge drivers entering Midtown Manhattan. The editorial claims, 'solving [MTA fiscal problems] by punishing average New Yorkers simply for driving is insane,' and highlights concerns over economic burden. The piece quotes union leaders and lawmakers, including Scarcella-Spanton, City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli, and US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, all opposing the tolls. There is no assessment of the impact on vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, or transit riders. The focus remains on driver expenses and political backlash.

• Time for insane NYC congestion pricing plan to hit the road, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 4 - Eighteen lawmakers, including Joseph Borelli, sued to stop New York’s $15 congestion pricing. They claim the toll shifts pollution, burdens drivers, and fails communities with poor transit. The MTA defends the plan, saying it funds safer, less crowded streets.

On February 4, 2024, Council Member Joseph C. Borelli (District 51) joined seventeen other lawmakers in a federal lawsuit to block New York City’s $15 congestion pricing toll for Midtown Manhattan. The suit, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, argues the toll 'is a detriment to those that will be affected by this toll, environmentally and financially,' and claims it will shift traffic and pollution to other neighborhoods. Other plaintiffs include State Senators James Skoufis, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Iwen Chu, Monica Martinez, and Assemblymembers Aileen Gunther, Jamie Williams, and David Weprin. The MTA, backed by Governor Hochul, says the toll will raise $1 billion yearly for transit upgrades, promising safer, less congested streets and better transit for the majority who rely on public transportation. The case highlights the political and environmental battle over how to fund and shape New York’s streets.

• 18 NY lawmakers join suit to block $15 congestion toll, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-04

Jan 22 - A 13-year-old girl was struck while crossing Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered head abrasions and was conscious at the scene. Slippery pavement also contributed to the crash dynamics.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old female pedestrian was injured at 7:45 AM on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing outside an intersection when a southbound 2014 Toyota sedan struck her on the right rear quarter panel. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary driver error. The pedestrian sustained head abrasions and remained conscious after the impact. The report also notes 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor, which may have affected vehicle control or pedestrian footing. The sedan showed no visible damage, indicating a glancing impact. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. This crash underscores the dangers posed by driver failure to yield to pedestrians outside crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697078 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 17 - An 85-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn on Cropsey Avenue. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered head abrasions but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:45 on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. An 85-year-old male pedestrian was crossing at an intersection with the signal when he was hit by a 2012 Chevrolet SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained head abrasions and was conscious after the collision. The report lists driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and traveling southwest with two occupants in the vehicle. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The crash highlights driver errors in yielding and attention as central causes of the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 2 - Two SUVs collided on Stillwell Avenue at 10:30 p.m. One vehicle was making a left turn while the other proceeded straight. Driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way caused the crash. A front passenger suffered injuries and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:30 p.m. on Stillwell Avenue. Two station wagons/SUVs traveling north collided; one was making a left turn, the other going straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the Chevrolet SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the Toyota SUV. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' for both vehicles and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by one driver. A 37-year-old female front passenger in the Toyota SUV was injured and experienced shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger's behavior. The collision and injuries resulted directly from driver errors and failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692299 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 18 - A sedan and box truck collided head-on on Stillwell Avenue. The sedan’s female driver, 55, suffered back injuries and shock. Both vehicles struck front bumpers. Driver inattention caused the crash. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Stillwell Avenue involving a 2020 sedan and a 2017 box truck, both traveling south. The sedan’s 55-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining back pain and shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the sedan and the right front bumper of the truck. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688434 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18