Prospect Park Bleeds: No Safety Until City Acts

May 16 - Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-05-16

May 11 - A 19-year-old bicyclist was ejected and seriously injured on Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, unlicensed and distracted, struck the cyclist while starting from parking. The rider suffered fractures and dislocations to the lower leg and foot.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male bicyclist was injured and ejected from his bike on Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. The bicyclist sustained fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash involved an unlicensed driver who was starting from a parking spot and struck the bicyclist, who was traveling straight south. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The impact occurred at the center front end of the bike and the left front bumper of the other vehicle. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4627866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - Assembly Member Carroll rejects letting suburbs dodge the MTA payroll tax hike. He says all regions use transit, all must pay. Exempting suburbs would gut MTA funding. Carroll demands shared cost, warns against service cuts, and calls for real revenue.

Assembly Member Robert Carroll issued a legislative statement on April 28, 2023, urging equal cost-sharing for the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT) increase. The proposal, discussed in the Assembly, faces suburban resistance. Carroll’s statement, titled "When It Comes to Transit, Everyone Must Pay Their Fair Share," argues that exempting suburbs would cost the MTA $325 million and undermine regional transit. Carroll and NYC Assembly colleagues wrote to Speaker Heastie, demanding the PMT hike apply to both city and suburbs or, failing that, that new revenue go only to NYC Transit. Carroll said, "It is unwise and bad policy to abandon the principle of an integrated regional transportation system funded through cost sharing across the jurisdictions that benefit most from the MTA." He warns that letting only city businesses pay would be unfair and would threaten transit service. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the statement centers on funding the transit system that protects vulnerable road users.

• Assembly Member Carroll: When It Comes to Transit, Everyone Must Pay Their Fair Share, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-28

Apr 28 - DOT will add a protected bike lane to a lethal stretch of Ninth Street. The move follows the death of cyclist Sarah Schick. Advocates and Council Member Hanif say the plan is not enough. They demand bolder action. The danger remains.

On April 28, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled a proposal to add a protected bike lane to Ninth Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The plan, presented ahead of a Brooklyn Community Board 6 meeting, follows the January death of Citi Bike rider Sarah Schick. The DOT's concept removes parking between Second and Third avenues to create a five-foot, buffer-protected bike lane in each direction. Council Member Shahana Hanif called the protected lane 'imperative' but said, 'getting this bike lane done is the first step towards a more serious look at this corridor.' Transportation Alternatives organizer Kathy Park Price said, 'We did the bare minimum... we can and should do more.' Schick’s widowed husband, Maxime Le Munier, blamed DOT inaction for her death. Advocates and Hanif urge a full corridor redesign, including one-way conversion, but DOT claims this is not feasible now. The plan is only a start. The threat to cyclists and pedestrians persists.

• DOT Unveils ‘Concepts’ For Deadly Ninth Street, But Advocates Want Something Bolder, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-28

Apr 26 - Albany’s payroll tax plan spares the suburbs, dumps the MTA’s burden on New York City. Lawmakers and analysts call it unfair. The city shoulders the cost. Suburban riders get a free pass. The MTA’s deficit grows. Transit’s future hangs in the balance.

The proposed payroll mobility tax hike, debated in Albany as of April 26, 2023, would apply only to New York City, leaving suburban counties exempt. The matter, described as a plan to 'save the MTA,' faces criticism for letting 'suburban fatcats' dodge responsibility. Assembly Member Robert Carroll (D-Brooklyn) slammed the exemption, asking, 'We have a regional network, why aren't we having the region pay for it?' Carroll called the carve-out 'unconscionable' and 'ridiculous,' pointing to billions spent on suburban transit. Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany warned the move 'sets a terrible precedent' and deepens inequity. MTA CEO Janno Lieber deferred to lawmakers but stressed the need to close the deficit. The bill’s status remains in flux as budget talks continue. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was assessed.

• Payroll Tax Hike to Save MTA May Completely Exclude New York’s Transit-Rich Suburbs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-26

Apr 16 - A sedan turning right on Coney Island Avenue hit a 17-year-old girl crossing with the signal. She suffered a head abrasion but stayed conscious. Police cite pedestrian confusion as a factor. Impact hit the car’s right front.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Coney Island Avenue with the signal. A southbound sedan, driven by a licensed male, made a right turn and struck her on the right front quarter panel. The girl suffered a head abrasion and remained conscious. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621353 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sidestepped backing Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set its own speed limits. As cyclist deaths mount, other council members press for action. Adams cites other priorities. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Streets stay deadly.

On April 12, 2023, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams declined to support Sammy’s Law, a state bill allowing New York City to control its speed limits. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver in 2013, has stalled in Albany despite mounting pressure. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez introduced a resolution urging passage, co-sponsored by Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Restler. Adams, however, said, 'We’re going to let the state do what the state does in response to Sammy’s Law,' and focused on other budget priorities. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for pairing lower speed limits with street redesigns in neglected neighborhoods. As children and cyclists die in record numbers, the council’s inaction leaves vulnerable New Yorkers at risk. The law would not lower limits automatically, but grant the city authority to act.

• Speaker Adams Still Won’t Come Out in Support of Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-12

Mar 23 - Senator Gounardes wants a 25-cent fee on every online package. The money would fund city infrastructure. Trucks crowd streets. Packages pile up. The bill aims to slow the flood. City Hall will review. Delivery giants face new rules. Streets stay dangerous.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill on March 23, 2023, proposing a 25-cent surcharge on every online delivery package in New York City. The bill, now under review, aims to raise $226 million yearly for city infrastructure. Gounardes said, "We're proposing an infrastructure fund to help pay for some of the capital costs to mitigate some of the consequences of last-mile trucking, and freight growth." The bill responds to a surge in daily package deliveries, now at 2.3 million, and forecasts of 200,000 trucks a day by 2045. Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, wants the city—not the MTA—to control the funds. City Hall has not taken a position but said it welcomes ideas to limit emissions and advance infrastructure. The bill joins other efforts to regulate last-mile delivery and warehouse placement. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• State Senator Seeks Online Delivery Charge to Fund City Infrastructure, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-23

Mar 21 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Mar 12 - A 32-year-old woman was struck by an unlicensed male e-bike rider on Prospect Park West. The pedestrian suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding after emerging from behind a parked car. The e-bike showed front-end damage from the collision.

According to the police report, a male e-bike rider without a license was traveling west on Prospect Park West when he struck a 32-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle when the collision occurred. The pedestrian sustained facial injuries and minor bleeding, and was in shock. The report lists the driver's errors as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Unsafe Speed." The e-bike's center front end was damaged on impact. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The pedestrian was not at an intersection at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 8 - Prospect Park’s East Drive gets a full overhaul. Fresh pavement replaces potholes. Cyclists and pedestrians gain wider, dedicated lanes. Cars lose ground. Officials call it a pilot for city parks. If it works, Central Park could be next.

On March 8, 2023, city officials announced a major redesign of Prospect Park’s East Drive. The project, not tied to a specific council bill, begins March 12 and is billed as an 18-month pilot. The main loop’s eastern stretch will be repaved and repainted, giving cyclists a 16-to-18-foot shared lane with authorized vehicles, flanked by two pedestrian lanes up to 14 feet wide. The city rejected a two-bike-lane alternative, citing pedestrian access needs. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie praised the upgrade, calling Prospect Park a treasure. Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu said, 'Re-examining how we design the roads in our park system is a perfect example of how we’re advancing the Mayor’s vision for quality public spaces throughout the city.' Officials stress the park is closed to private vehicles. The redesign aims to set a new standard for park safety and access across New York.

• New Prospect Park Road Redesign Paves the Way for Central Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-08

Mar 2 - City Council pushed forward a battery buy-back and tough lithium-ion rules. Delivery workers’ safety and livelihoods hung in the balance. Lawmakers targeted sellers, not riders. The bills aimed to stop deadly fires without punishing those who rely on e-bikes to survive.

On March 2, 2023, the New York City Council advanced a package of lithium-ion battery safety bills. Council Member Keith Powers introduced the buy-back bill, which creates a citywide program for defective or uncertified batteries. Powers said, "We don't want to penalize businesses and workers without thinking about this strategically." The Council also moved bills from Oswald Feliz, Gale Brewer, Alexa Avilés, and Robert Holden. These measures ban uncertified batteries, require fireproof charging containers, mandate public education, and order FDNY reporting on battery fires. Speaker Adrienne Adams clarified the bills target commercial sellers, not workers. Shahana Hanif urged that policy must "keep workers" at the center. The Council and delivery workers’ union stressed that tech companies, not workers, should bear costs. The FDNY opposed the reporting bill over resource concerns. The legislation aims to curb battery fires while protecting delivery workers who depend on e-bikes.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Lithium-Ion Bills Advance in Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-02

Mar 1 - City eyes a temporary highway atop Brooklyn Heights. Trucks may thunder down quiet blocks. Residents brace for noise, danger, and disruption. Officials promise green space and safer bike links, but locals call the plan reckless. Streets meant for people, not freight.

On March 1, 2023, NYC DOT floated a plan to build a temporary highway through Brooklyn Heights during the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) rebuild. The agency outlined two options: diverting traffic onto local streets or constructing a bypass road. The matter, described as 'a controversial possibility reminiscent of an earlier plan,' sparked outrage. Assembly Member Robert Carroll slammed the idea of sending trucks onto residential blocks as 'insane.' Lara Birnback of the Brooklyn Heights Association called the plan disruptive and wasteful. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez highlighted public calls for 'safer bike and pedestrian connections' and new green space. No bill number or committee was cited. The plan remains a proposal, with no set price or location. Vulnerable road users face increased risk if trucks flood neighborhood streets.

• City May Build A Temporary Highway Through Brooklyn Heights After All, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-01

Feb 21 - Assembly Bill 4637 would use cameras to keep cars out of bike lanes. The bill targets drivers who block protected lanes. Sponsors say it will protect cyclists from deadly crashes.

Assembly Bill A 4637, now in the sponsorship stage, aims to create a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced on February 21, 2023, enforces restrictions on protected bike lanes using photo devices. The matter title reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill targets drivers who endanger cyclists by blocking protected lanes. No safety analyst note is available.

• File A 4637, Open States, Published 2023-02-21

Feb 16 - A 70-year-old woman was injured at an intersection in Brooklyn. An unlicensed female cyclist made a left turn and struck the pedestrian. The victim suffered a concussion and upper arm injury. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a female cyclist without a valid license was making a left turn on East Drive in Brooklyn when she collided with a 70-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was conscious but sustained a concussion and an upper arm injury. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the crash. The cyclist’s unlicensed status and turning maneuver were noted. The bike showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The pedestrian was not at fault, and no safety equipment or signals were mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606122 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - 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 2023-02-13

Feb 10 - Eighteen Brooklyn officials demand state DOT address BQE’s full deadly stretch. They reject piecemeal fixes. They call out decades of harm. The state’s refusal leaves neighborhoods exposed. The city’s hands are tied. The highway’s danger remains. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 10, 2023, eighteen Brooklyn lawmakers issued a joint letter demanding New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) participate in comprehensive planning for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The statement, prompted by a Streetsblog report, reads: "We ask that the NYS DOT remember the daily harms caused by the BQE in its current state—not just the crumbling cantilever section—and join us at the table in search of a solution." The group includes Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Dan Goldman, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sens. Jabari Brisport, Julia Salazar, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Members Bobby Carroll, Maritza Davila, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Marcela Mitaynes, and Council Members Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Lincoln Restler. Senator Gounardes called the state’s refusal to join the city’s visioning process “unacceptable and irresponsible.” The lawmakers stress that the BQE’s harms—crashes, pollution, division—stretch from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint. Without state action, only city-owned segments see attention. The city’s efforts are limited. The state’s inaction leaves systemic danger unaddressed.

• Brooklyn Pols Demand the State ‘Come to the Table’ on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-10

Feb 9 - State DOT will not redesign the BQE. City studies a short stretch. Ten miles of highway cut through Brooklyn. Local leaders warn of neglect. Pollution and danger persist. No plan means more harm for people on foot, bike, or bus.

On February 9, 2023, Governor Hochul’s administration confirmed the state has 'no plans' to redesign its portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, states the state DOT will only provide technical help to the city’s study of the 1.5-mile city-owned segment between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized the state’s lack of engagement: 'The state hasn't engaged in any way shape or form.' Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said her community wants the BQE 'revisioned and totally changed,' citing environmental and health impacts. Assembly Member Robert Carroll warned that lack of coordination could worsen problems. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon echoed fears that her constituents would be left behind. The city, under Mayor Adams, has pledged a 'corridor-wide vision,' but admits nothing comprehensive can happen without state DOT. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but the state’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing harm.

• The State Has ‘No Plans’ to Redesign the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-09

Feb 8 - A motorcycle collided with a sedan making a U-turn on Flatbush Avenue. The motorcyclist was ejected, suffering fractures and dislocations to his entire body. The sedan struck the motorcycle’s front center, causing severe injury to the unlicensed rider.

According to the police report, a sedan was making an improper U-turn on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn when it collided with a southbound motorcycle going straight. The point of impact was the sedan’s left rear quarter panel and the motorcycle’s center front end. The motorcycle driver, a 37-year-old man, was ejected and sustained fractures and dislocations to his entire body. He was conscious but seriously injured. The report lists the contributing factor as "Turning Improperly" by the sedan driver. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet but was unlicensed. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4604774 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 6 - Lawmakers raced up Smith-9th Streets station. They showed how slow, underfunded trains force riders to run or wait in the cold. They called for more state money, not fare hikes. They want frequent, reliable service to pull people from cars and save lives.

On February 6, 2023, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (District 52) joined a public event spotlighting the impact of MTA underfunding and slow subway service. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, saw Simon and other officials racing at Smith-9th Streets station to dramatize the daily struggle of straphangers. The matter focused on 'the impact of low MTA funding and long wait times.' Simon said, 'It is really critically important...for people to be able to take reliable, safe, regular, speedy-enough transit service. That’s what’s going to get people out of their cars.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymembers Robert Carroll and Zohran Mamdani also participated, urging Albany to boost state funding and implement congestion pricing. The lawmakers oppose fare hikes and the rider-funded model, calling for public dollars to improve frequency and reliability. No formal bill was cited, but the advocacy targets the state budget and MTA funding structure.

• Straphanger sprint: Pols race to subway platform to highlight slow service, MTA underfunding, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-02-06