Flatlands Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Sleep

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

Council wants 500 solar-lit crosswalks in five years. Bright signals cut through the dark. The bill demands action and a study. Safety for walkers, not drivers. No more hiding in the shadows.

Int 0301-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law...in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and others. The bill also requires a study comparing these devices to standard signs. The city must report findings within two years. The goal: more visible crossings, fewer deadly impacts.

• File Int 0301-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians win the right to cross anywhere, signals or not. The law strips police of power to ticket walkers. Streets shift. The city must now teach all road users the new rules.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, amends city code to let pedestrians cross streets at any point, even against signals. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed it on October 26, 2024. The bill states: 'crossing against a traffic signal or outside a crosswalk will not be a violation.' Council Member Tiffany Cabán led, joined by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, Restler, Mealy, Louis, and Bottcher. The law bans summonses for jaywalking and orders the Department of Transportation to educate the public on new rights and responsibilities. The mayor returned it unsigned. This law removes a tool long used to target vulnerable New Yorkers.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council eyes bigger NYPD tow pounds. Bill demands enough space to haul away law-breaking cars. Public reports would track towing. Committee shelves action. Streets wait.

Int 0179-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, would require the NYPD to run tow pounds with enough capacity to deter illegal driving. The bill, introduced February 28, 2024, and discussed again on April 28, 2025, reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to police department tow pound capacity.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Farías, Narcisse, Restler, Hudson, Louis, and Holden. The bill also calls for public reports on towing operations. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0179-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to stop repeat bus lane tickets for the same infraction within an hour. Drivers get a break. Streets stay the same. No new shield for people on foot or bike.

Bill Int 0339-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024 by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the issuance of multiple bus lane violation tickets for the same infraction within a one hour period,' aims to ensure drivers do not receive multiple summonses for a single bus lane violation in a short span. Narcisse sponsored the measure. The bill does not address the safety of pedestrians or cyclists. It focuses on ticket fairness, not street danger.

• File Int 0339-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

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 moves to stop repeat bus lane tickets for the same infraction within an hour. Drivers get a break. Streets stay the same. No new shield for people on foot or bike.

Bill Int 0339-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024 by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the issuance of multiple bus lane violation tickets for the same infraction within a one hour period,' aims to ensure drivers do not receive multiple summonses for a single bus lane violation in a short span. Narcisse sponsored the measure. The bill does not address the safety of pedestrians or cyclists. It focuses on ticket fairness, not street danger.

• File Int 0339-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill blocks repeat tickets for same bus lane infraction within an hour. Drivers get a break. Streets stay the same. No change for those on foot or bike.

Int 0339-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the bill would 'prohibit the issuance of multiple bus lane violation tickets for the same infraction within a one hour period.' Narcisse sponsored the measure. The bill aims to stop drivers from getting stacked tickets for a single bus lane offense. There is no evidence this move will help or harm pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers. The danger on streets remains. Enforcement gets softer. Vulnerable road users see no relief.

• File Int 0339-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill blocks repeat tickets for same bus lane infraction within an hour. Drivers get a break. Streets stay the same. No change for those on foot or bike.

Int 0339-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the bill would 'prohibit the issuance of multiple bus lane violation tickets for the same infraction within a one hour period.' Narcisse sponsored the measure. The bill aims to stop drivers from getting stacked tickets for a single bus lane offense. There is no evidence this move will help or harm pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers. The danger on streets remains. Enforcement gets softer. Vulnerable road users see no relief.

• File Int 0339-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A 33-year-old woman was struck at a Brooklyn intersection by an SUV making a U-turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle failed to yield right-of-way. She suffered head abrasions but remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:31 PM on Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2019 Chevrolet SUV, traveling west, was making a U-turn when it struck a 33-year-old female pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained head abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the vehicle driver as a contributing factor, along with 'Other Vehicular' factors. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the collision's nature. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the maneuver. The data highlights driver error in yielding as central to the crash, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705273 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Hyundai SUV turned left on Avenue H. It struck the side of an Infiniti sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered neck crush injuries. Night air thickened. Driver inattention cut through Brooklyn’s quiet.

According to the police report, a Hyundai SUV was making a left turn at Avenue H and East 38th Street when it struck the right side of an Infiniti sedan that was traveling straight. The crash occurred at 22:25 in Brooklyn. The report states the SUV’s driver was inattentive or distracted, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The impact crushed the sedan driver’s neck. The 27-year-old man, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, remained conscious after the collision. The police narrative describes the scene: 'A Hyundai SUV turned left. An Infiniti sedan went straight. The SUV struck the sedan’s side. A 27-year-old man, belted in, suffered crush injuries to his neck. He stayed awake. The street went quiet.' The report does not cite any contributing actions by the injured driver. The focus remains on the left-turning SUV and the danger posed by driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705520 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 23-year-old woman suffered head injuries after a sedan made a left turn and hit her at an intersection. The driver’s inattention caused the collision. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the impact occurred.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Avenue H and East 57 Street in Brooklyn at 8:53 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2017 Toyota sedan, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and remained conscious after the collision. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703983 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV driver, distracted, turned right on Avenue N. Hit 19-year-old e-scooter rider making a left. Rider thrown, shoulder and arm hurt. Both vehicles’ front ends smashed. Brooklyn street, morning crash.

According to the police report, a crash happened at 10:27 a.m. on Avenue N near Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. An SUV driver, licensed in New York, made a right turn and struck a southbound e-scooter rider who was making a left turn. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the SUV driver. The 19-year-old e-scooter rider was partially ejected and suffered injuries to the shoulder and upper arm. Both vehicles had damage to their left front bumpers. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702816 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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

A sedan struck two parked cars in Brooklyn. The driver, a 39-year-old woman, suffered facial abrasions. Police cite alcohol involvement and other vehicular factors. Only the moving driver was hurt.

According to the police report, at 22:40 on Albany Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2019 Toyota sedan driven by a 39-year-old woman crashed into two parked sedans, a 2013 Hyundai and a 2022 Jeep. The Toyota hit the Hyundai's right rear quarter panel and the Jeep's left rear bumper. The driver was injured, sustaining abrasions to her face, but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error in the crash. No injuries were reported for others. The parked vehicles and their owners played no role in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702003 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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

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