Four Dead, 555 Hurt: City Stalls, Streets Kill

Council bill would pay up to $1,000 for tips that help catch hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill. Police and city workers are barred from rewards. The measure targets unsolved crashes that leave victims behind.

Int 0143-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'establishing a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, Louis, Bottcher, Hudson, Gennaro, and Williams. The bill excludes law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The aim is to mobilize the public to help solve hit-and-run cases, many of which remain unsolved, and bring justice for victims.

• File Int 0143-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

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

Council wants DOT to check 100 speed camera spots a year for raised speed bumps. If possible, bumps go in within a year. DOT must track and report on driver behavior changes. No delay. No loopholes.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Louis (primary), Carr, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino, and Morano. The bill orders DOT to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. If feasible, DOT must install the bump within a year. The law demands annual reports on these checks and on shifts in dangerous driving at treated sites. The bill summary reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council aims to force physical changes where cameras alone fail.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

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

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A female bicyclist was injured when a Nissan SUV stopped in traffic struck her bike’s right rear quarter panel. The impact caused contusions to the cyclist’s lower leg and foot. The crash exposed dangers of stopped vehicles on busy Brooklyn streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Foster Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:40 p.m. A licensed female driver of a 2013 Nissan SUV was stopped in traffic when her vehicle’s right rear quarter panel collided with the right rear quarter panel of a female bicyclist traveling east. The bicyclist, age 30, sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle lawfully. The collision highlights the systemic danger posed by stopped vehicles and close-quarter traffic conditions that can lead to rear impacts on vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699903 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17

SUV driver lost focus. E-bike rider thrown, scraped, hurt. Metal struck flesh. Brooklyn street, midday. System failed the cyclist.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old male e-bike rider was struck and ejected by a 2022 Hyundai SUV on Newkirk Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 11:21 a.m. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The SUV hit the bike’s front, its right quarter panel taking the blow. The e-bike rider was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, but these are not listed as causes. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694241 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A BMW sedan turned right and hit a 44-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Ocean Parkway. She suffered a bruised hip and leg. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. The car was undamaged. The victim survived.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old woman was crossing Ocean Parkway at Foster Avenue in Brooklyn with the signal when a 2021 BMW sedan, making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and an injury to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 69-year-old woman was hit by an SUV making a left turn on Cortelyou Road. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg. She remained conscious and was not ejected from the scene.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2013 SUV made a left turn on Cortelyou Road and struck her at the intersection. The impact occurred at the vehicle's left front bumper, causing center front-end damage. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4689653 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 54-year-old woman was struck while in the roadway on Coney Island Avenue. The sedan was backing up when it hit her, causing a fractured elbow and dislocation. She remained conscious despite serious injuries.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn when a sedan backing south struck her. The pedestrian was located in the roadway, not at an intersection, and suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. The sedan’s point of impact was its left rear bumper, indicating the vehicle was reversing at the time of collision. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. The pedestrian’s actions were described as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' with no helmet or signaling factors noted. The injured woman remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A sedan struck a 30-year-old man crossing Foster Avenue with the signal. The driver failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered burns and injuries across his body. The car’s right front was damaged.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling northeast on Foster Avenue struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his entire body, including moderate burns, and remained conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver. The vehicle, a 2006 Honda sedan, was damaged on the right front quarter panel. The driver was licensed and was the only occupant. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678390 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 60-year-old man was struck while crossing Foster Avenue with the signal. The driver, making a left turn in a pick-up truck, showed inattention. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg and was unconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Foster Avenue and Rugby Road in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a pick-up truck, driven by a licensed male driver making a left turn, struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was found unconscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678389 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two SUVs collided on Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered a head contusion. Both vehicles were traveling north. The crash caused center back-end damage to the lead SUV and front-end damage to the striking SUV.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveling north on Ocean Avenue collided. The rear SUV struck the back of the lead SUV, causing center back-end damage to the lead vehicle and front-end damage to the striking vehicle. The driver of the rear SUV, a 53-year-old woman, was injured with a head contusion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified. The lead vehicle was also occupied by a single driver, a man, who was licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Councilmember Robert Carroll blasted the proposed congestion pricing fees for taxis and Ubers. He called the charges a joke. Experts warn the low surcharges could flood Lower Manhattan with more cars. The plan risks more danger for people on foot and bike.

On October 25, 2023, Councilmember Robert Carroll (District 44) criticized the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s congestion pricing proposal. The plan recommends a $1.50 per-ride fee for taxis and $2.75 for Uber and Lyft in Lower Manhattan. Carroll tweeted, 'TMRB's recommendation to charge passengers of @Uber/@lyft an additional $1/$2 to be ferried around the congestion zone is a joke.' He argued these low fees would not curb for-hire vehicle trips, saying, 'We can't stop congestion if we don't limit FHV trips.' The matter, titled 'Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders,' highlights a split: some experts want higher surcharges to push riders to transit, while others want yellow cabs exempted. The debate centers on how pricing shapes traffic and, by extension, the safety of vulnerable road users in crowded city streets.

• Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-10-25

The Traffic Mobility Review Board wants low per-ride fees for taxis and Ubers in Lower Manhattan. Critics say the charges are too weak. Cheap surcharges could push more cars into crowded streets, squeezing out walkers and cyclists. The city risks more danger, not less.

This policy debate centers on congestion pricing surcharges for taxis and for-hire vehicles (FHVs) in New York City. The Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) proposed per-ride fees—$1.50 for taxis, $2.75 for Uber/Lyft—far below the full congestion toll. Assemblymember Robert Carroll called the charges 'a joke,' arguing, 'We can't stop congestion if we don't limit FHV trips. Taxis shld be exempt & FHVs shld pay more.' Bruce Schaller, a former DOT official, warned, 'If you have a low fee for the taxis and the for-hires, people just switch modes.' Charles Komanoff and Sam Schwartz both support exempting yellow cabs, citing economic hardship and market imbalance. The TMRB's focus on keeping tolls low may undermine efforts to reduce traffic and protect vulnerable road users. No board member addressed the impact on street safety or congestion.

• Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-25

A 27-year-old woman was struck crossing a marked crosswalk on Glenwood Road. The sedan, making a left turn, hit her with its front center. She suffered a hip and upper leg contusion. Driver distraction and limited view contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing a marked crosswalk at an intersection on Glenwood Road in Brooklyn. The driver, operating a 2020 Volvo sedan, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The pedestrian sustained a contusion to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with a limited or obstructed view. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal. The driver was licensed and traveling east at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

An e-bike rider collided with a parked sedan on Foster Avenue in Brooklyn. The 22-year-old cyclist was partially ejected and suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The sedan sustained damage to its left side doors. No driver errors were specified.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male e-bike driver traveling west on Foster Avenue struck a parked 2020 Toyota sedan. The cyclist was partially ejected and sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The sedan was damaged on its left side doors. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors for either party. The e-bike rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The sedan driver was licensed and parked at the time of impact. The collision caused injury to the cyclist but no injuries were reported for the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667003 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05