East Flatbush Bleeds—And City Hall Looks Away

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

SUV slammed into a 37-year-old woman crossing Linden Boulevard. Driver’s inattention and speed left her with full-body abrasions. She stayed conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a Chevrolet SUV traveling west struck a 37-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection near 305 Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn at 1:50 AM. The woman was crossing without a signal when the SUV hit her with its center front end. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention, distraction, and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The incident underscores the danger posed by distracted, speeding drivers at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728340 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes trigger a mandatory safety course. Ignore the course, lose your bike. DOT will track results. Three-year pilot. Enforcement, not education, leads.

Int 0874-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Ariola (primary), Hanks, Hudson, Louis, Mealy, and Banks, the bill orders DOT to launch a pilot abatement program for unsafe pedal-assist bicycle operators. The bill summary states: 'Pedal-assist bicycle operators who accrue 3 or more moving violations under city law would be required to take a safe pedal-assist bicycle operation course offered by DOT.' Noncompliance means bike impoundment. DOT must report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. The pilot sunsets after three years. The bill aims to curb reckless riding through strict enforcement.

• File Int 0874-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A sedan hit a 30-year-old woman on Nostrand Avenue. Her elbow and lower arm broke from the impact. Police cite driver-related factors. She was conscious but badly hurt.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old female pedestrian was struck by an eastbound sedan on Nostrand Avenue near Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn at 12:30 a.m. She suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor, pointing to driver-related error. The sedan's right front bumper was the point of impact. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were listed as contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene but sustained serious injuries requiring medical care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723772 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 24-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and fractured his elbow after a collision in Brooklyn. The crash involved a distracted driver and occurred near Bedford Avenue. The bicyclist suffered serious arm injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:50 AM in Brooklyn near 2240 Bedford Avenue. A 24-year-old male bicyclist was traveling south when he was struck. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. The involved SUV was parked and showed no damage, indicating the bicyclist collided with it while the driver was inattentive. The report lists no contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior or equipment. The incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two vehicles collided head-on on East 28 Street in Brooklyn. Both drivers and two passengers suffered injuries ranging from knee to pelvis trauma. Police cited unsafe speed as the primary contributing factor in the crash that left occupants in shock.

According to the police report, a taxi and a sedan collided on East 28 Street near Avenue D in Brooklyn at 8:55 p.m. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The taxi driver, a 39-year-old male, was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The sedan driver, a 62-year-old male, sustained hip and upper leg injuries. Two female passengers in the sedan, ages 28 and 32, were also injured in the abdomen and pelvis area. All occupants experienced shock. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The impact damaged the center front end of the taxi and the left front bumper of the sedan. This collision highlights the systemic danger posed by speeding drivers in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724171 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A bus passenger suffered neck injuries after a sedan started from parking and collided with the bus’s right rear quarter panel. The crash, caused by the sedan passing too closely, left the passenger with whiplash and conscious but injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:14. A sedan, traveling west and starting from parking, collided with the right rear quarter panel of a westbound bus. The contributing factor cited was the sedan passing too closely. The bus sustained no damage, while the sedan’s left front bumper was damaged. The injured party was a 47-year-old male passenger on the bus, who suffered neck injuries described as whiplash and remained conscious. The report explicitly identifies the driver error as passing too closely, which directly led to the collision and injury. There are no victim behaviors listed as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by improper passing maneuvers in mixed-vehicle traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Brooklyn Community Board 9 wants a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board passed a resolution after years of crashes and deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have paid the price. Local officials back the call. DOT has not acted.

On April 18, 2024, Brooklyn Community Board 9 passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation to build a protected bike lane on Empire Boulevard. The board wants to upgrade the faded painted lane, which runs west to Flatbush Boulevard, to a 'vehicle-protected' lane. The matter summary states: 'bring much-needed road safety to a neighborhood.' Council Members Rita Joseph and Crystal Hudson represent the area. Hudson's spokesperson called the resolution 'a necessary step to protect cyclists and pedestrians.' Joseph and DOT did not comment. Between 2021 and 2023, Empire Boulevard saw 406 crashes, injuring 29 cyclists and 52 pedestrians. Two cyclists and two pedestrians have died since 2011. Community Board 9 has zero miles of protected bike lanes. Advocates say improvements are overdue. DOT has yet to propose changes.

• Community Board Wants Protected Bike Lane on Empire Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-26

A new state bill would let New York City street sweepers use cameras to catch cars blocking cleaning routes. Repeat offenders rack up most tickets. Lawmakers say dirty streets and blocked drains endanger everyone. The law would sunset in 2029.

Assembly Bill (unnumbered) was introduced by Brooklyn Assembly Member Brian Cunningham on April 25, 2024. The bill is pending in the state legislature. It would allow New York City to mount enforcement cameras on street sweepers to ticket cars parked illegally during street cleaning hours. The bill summary states it 'fulfills the Sanitation Department's longstanding ask for help getting vehicles out of the way of road-cleaning operations.' Cunningham, who sponsors the bill, said, 'Dirty streets are totally unacceptable.' Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch supports the change, noting that state law must allow automated ticketing. Uptown Manhattan State Senator Robert Jackson introduced a similar Senate bill. The law would phase in after a year and expire by mid-2029, giving officials time to assess its impact. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Street Sweepers Could Nab Illegal Parking Under State Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-25

An 81-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn on Foster Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing head injuries and bruising to the pedestrian. Glare contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:48 on Foster Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2023 Ford SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, was making a left turn when it struck an 81-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and contusions, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor on the driver's part. Additionally, glare is noted as a contributing factor affecting the pedestrian's visibility. The vehicle showed no damage upon impact, indicating the collision's nature and the pedestrian's vulnerability. This incident underscores the dangers posed by drivers not yielding to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719442 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 42-year-old female bicyclist suffered severe whole-body injuries after an SUV collided with her on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact demolished the bike’s right side and trapped the rider, who was conscious but fractured and dislocated.

According to the police report, at 18:25 on Church Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2016 Honda SUV traveling east struck a female bicyclist also traveling east. The collision impacted the SUV’s right side doors and demolished the bike. The bicyclist, age 42, was trapped and sustained severe injuries including fractures and dislocations affecting her entire body. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors explicitly. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene. The SUV had two occupants and the driver was licensed. The crash involved a direct side impact, indicating a failure to avoid collision. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council bill orders DOT to factor traffic enforcement agents into city safety plans. The move targets deadly streets. Sponsors demand action, not words. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait for safer crossings.

Int 0842-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 18, 2024, the bill amends city law to require the Department of Transportation to consider where traffic enforcement agents are placed when drafting the interagency roadway safety plan. The bill summary states: 'require DOT to specifically consider placement of traffic enforcement agents in certain areas.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Members Brannan (primary), Louis, Restler, and the Queens Borough President sponsor the measure. The bill responds to Local Law 12 of 2011, which already mandates a five-year safety plan. Now, the council demands DOT put enforcement on the map, aiming to cut injuries and deaths.

• File Int 0842-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council pushes for borough-based DOT teams. Staff must answer traffic requests fast. Response tied to need. Three-month deadline. Action targets slow fixes. Vulnerable road users wait less.

Int 0853-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 18, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating borough-based traffic request response teams,' requires the Department of Transportation to assign staff to each borough, matching staff numbers to request volume. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, and Rafael Salamanca, Jr. back the measure. The teams must respond to traffic requests within three months. The bill aims to cut delays that leave dangerous conditions unaddressed, giving vulnerable road users a better shot at safer streets.

• File Int 0853-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A moped slammed into a slowing sedan on New York Avenue. The rider, helmeted, struck hard and bled from the head, half-flung from his seat. Darkness pressed in. He stayed conscious. The street bore witness to metal, blood, and error.

According to the police report, a moped traveling south near 1084 New York Avenue in Brooklyn collided with the rear end of a sedan that was slowing or stopping. The moped rider, age 48, was partially ejected and suffered a severe head injury with significant bleeding, but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The moped struck the center back end of the sedan, which had three occupants. The narrative notes the rider wore a helmet. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to maintain safe distance, especially at night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV hit a 23-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Lenox Road. She suffered bruises to her knee, leg, and foot. The driver kept straight. No vehicle damage. The street left her in shock.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old female pedestrian was struck by an SUV while crossing Lenox Road at New York Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when the eastbound SUV hit her. The woman suffered contusions to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was left in shock. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for the driver. The only contributing factors noted are unspecified and linked to the pedestrian. The SUV showed no damage. The crash underscores the danger pedestrians face, even when following signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715538 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06