Prospect Park Bleeds: No Safety Until City Acts

Sep 27 - Assembly Member Carroll stands firm for congestion pricing. He wants fewer cars, cleaner air, and faster buses. He rejects broad carve-outs. Only yellow cabs get a break. Uber and Lyft must pay. He demands urgency. Streets must change. Lives depend on it.

On September 27, 2022, Assembly Member Robert Carroll made a public statement supporting congestion pricing in New York City. The matter, titled 'I’m Willing to Take the Heat to Support Congestion Pricing,' was reported by Streetsblog NYC. Carroll opposes broad exemptions, saying, 'Simplicity is key and exemptions should be limited.' He supports only yellow cab drivers for additional exemptions, citing their medallion fees and capped numbers. Carroll insists Uber and Lyft drivers pay every time they enter the zone, regardless of fare. He also backs time-based charges for taxis, for-hire vehicles, and trucks, especially in busy corridors. Carroll acknowledges the financial burden but argues the cost of congestion is greater. He urges swift action, naming London, Milan, Stockholm, and Singapore as models. No safety analyst note was provided.

• AM Carroll: ‘I’m Willing to Take the Heat’ to Support Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-27

Aug 30 - Lawmakers push for e-bike rebates. Senate passes, Assembly stalls. Salazar and Carroll lead. Up to $1,100 for buyers. Critics call it a luxury. Carroll disagrees. Program aims for working-class riders. Cars keep killing. E-bikes offer a way out.

""I think there’s a misconception that this bill is maybe purely for folks who have disposable income. They don’t realize that this is not a luxury item."" -- Robert Carroll

Senate Bill 'Ride Clean' proposes up to $1,100 rebates for e-bike purchases, covering half the cost. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly as of August 30, 2022. The measure, led by State Senator Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Robert Carroll, aims to make e-bikes accessible to working-class New Yorkers. Salazar says, 'With the Ride Clean rebate, [e-bikes] really would be much more accessible to working New Yorkers.' Carroll pushes back on critics who call e-bikes a luxury, stating, 'They don’t realize that this is not a luxury item.' The program would use NYSERDA funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, mirroring the Drive Clean program for electric cars. Advocates cite European and U.S. models. The bill’s fate now rests with the Assembly.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-30

Aug 30 - Senator Julia Salazar’s Ride Clean bill passed the New York Senate 60-3. It offers up to $1,100 for e-bike purchases. The bill aims to cut car use and emissions. It stalled in the Assembly. Lawmakers say it makes e-bikes accessible for working New Yorkers.

Senate Bill S7703, known as the Ride Clean rebate, passed the New York State Senate on June 2022 by a 60-3 vote. The bill sits stalled in the Assembly committee since January. The measure, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar, would require NYSERDA to cover half the cost of e-bike purchases, up to $1,100. Salazar said, 'When the federal government falls short, it really does fall on the state to step up and take responsibility.' Assembly sponsor Robert Carroll added, 'This is not a luxury item.' The bill’s summary states it aims to make e-bikes accessible and reduce car dependence. If enacted, New York would join a handful of states offering direct e-bike subsidies, targeting emissions and car use in daily trips.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-30

Aug 26 - Lawmakers spar over who gets a break from congestion pricing. Some want tight limits. Others push for taxi exemptions and tunnel credits. Advocates warn: too many carve-outs gut the plan. The final call lands with the Traffic Mobility Review Board.

On August 26, 2022, New York officials debated congestion pricing exemptions as the policy neared implementation. The discussion, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted shifting positions. State Senator Leroy Comrie, once opposed to exemptions, now listens to public input. Assembly Member Robert Carroll said, "I think that there should be limited exemptions." State Senator Andrew Gounardes added, "Obviously we want them to be as limited as possible." Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine backed toll credits for tunnel users and taxi exemptions. Taxi and for-hire drivers lobbied for relief, citing existing surcharges. Advocacy groups warned against broad carve-outs. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide on further exemptions after federal review. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was assessed.

• Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-26

Aug 26 - Council and state leaders spar over who gets a break from congestion pricing. Some want carve-outs. Others warn exemptions gut the plan. Vulnerable road users wait as drivers fight for special treatment. The final call lands with the Traffic Mobility Review Board.

On August 26, 2022, the council held a public debate on congestion pricing exemptions. The matter, titled 'Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions,' drew sharp lines. State Senator Leroy Comrie, once a hardliner against exemptions, now listens to public input. Assembly Member Robert Carroll backs limited carve-outs, saying, 'I think that there should be limited exemptions.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes stresses, 'Obviously we want them to be as limited as possible.' Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine pushes for toll credits and taxi exemptions. Advocacy groups warn against broad carve-outs. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide after federal review. The debate centers on who pays and who gets a pass, while the safety of people outside cars hangs in the balance.

• Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-26

Aug 25 - Nearly a thousand people signed up to speak at MTA’s congestion pricing hearings. The plan targets Manhattan below 61st Street. Supporters want fewer exemptions. Critics fear more truck traffic. Lawmakers push for swift action. Streets and air hang in the balance.

"It needs to be implemented now, we passed this bill three years ago, it’s time to get moving." -- Robert Carroll

On August 25, 2022, the MTA held public hearings on congestion pricing for Manhattan below 61st Street. The hearings drew nearly a thousand speakers. The plan, described as aiming to 'reduce congestion, air pollution, and driving into the city,' would charge drivers $5 to $23 depending on time and exemptions. Council Member Robert Carroll (District 44) urged, 'It needs to be implemented now, we passed this bill three years ago, it’s time to get moving.' Other lawmakers, including Andrew Gounardes and Mark Levine, debated exemptions and credits. Governor Hochul called the charge 'crucial to cutting the number of vehicles and combating climate change.' The hearings reflect strong support for minimal carveouts and immediate action to fund transit and clear streets. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Thousand ask to speak at upcoming MTA congestion pricing hearings, amny.com, Published 2022-08-25

Aug 18 - Two bikes collided head-on near West Drive. Steel twisted. A 43-year-old man flew off, neck wrenched, skin split, blood on the ground. Both riders ejected. Both conscious. Pain and shock filled the air. The road stayed silent after the crash.

Two bicyclists slammed into each other head-on on East Drive near West Drive. According to the police report, 'Two bikes slammed head-on. Steel bent. A 43-year-old man flew off, hit the ground. His neck wrenched. Skin split. Blood ran. He stayed awake, staring at the sky, breathing through pain.' Both riders were ejected and injured. The 43-year-old suffered severe neck lacerations. The other, age 40, had chest injuries but no visible complaint. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. No mention of helmet use or signaling as a cause. The crash left both men conscious but hurt, the street marked by their collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse backs a dedicated bus lane on Flatbush Avenue. She joins Mayor Adams and others, pushing for faster, safer rides. Riders wait too long. Streets choke with traffic. The city moves to act, despite driver backlash and parking fears.

On August 9, 2022, Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse (District 46) endorsed the Flatbush Avenue dedicated bus lane proposal. The plan, a priority for the Adams administration and MTA, aims to speed up the B41 bus from Downtown Brooklyn to Marine Park. Narcisse and Councilmember Rita Joseph joined Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference, riding the B41 and speaking with riders. Narcisse said, “People are suffering waiting 30 minutes, 40 minutes, it’s unfair to the riders.” She stressed that better bus service could cut down on illegal dollar vans. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, has started community engagement. Some community boards worry about lost parking, but Rodriguez called their role advisory, saying, “we want to hear what the riders want.” Narcisse acknowledged driver backlash but insisted on the need for faster, reliable transit.

• Flatbush Avenue bus lane proposal gains support of key electeds, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-08-09

Jul 1 - A 33-year-old woman crossing Prospect Park West was struck by a southbound moped. The driver, 42, unlicensed and inexperienced, suffered bruises to his arm. The pedestrian sustained knee and lower leg injuries. Both were conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old unlicensed moped driver traveling south on Prospect Park West collided with a 33-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver sustained bruises to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the contributing factor for both parties. The moped's center front end struck the pedestrian. The driver was not ejected but was injured. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed and inexperienced drivers operating mopeds in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - E-bike slammed into two girls crossing Prospect Park West. Both children and the rider suffered abrasions. The rider was unlicensed. All stayed conscious. No vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old unlicensed e-bike rider traveling south on Prospect Park West struck two female pedestrians, ages 5 and 7, who were crossing outside a crosswalk and without a signal. Both children suffered abrasions and injuries to their legs and bodies. The rider was ejected and injured his arm and hand. He wore a helmet. The report lists the driver’s unlicensed status as a key error. No damage was reported to the e-bike. The police report does not assign fault to the pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545283 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - Senator Zellnor Myrie told a city panel how NYPD officers used bikes as weapons during a protest. He described tires on his back, threats of pepper spray, and trauma that lingers. The Civilian Complaint Review Board found the officer abused his authority.

On June 30, 2022, State Senator Zellnor Myrie testified at an NYPD disciplinary hearing for Officer Michael Kovalik, a member of the Strategic Response Group. The hearing followed a Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) investigation, which found Kovalik abused his authority by threatening Myrie and others with pepper spray during a protest on May 29, 2020. The matter centered on 'excessive use of force with department-issued bikes' and the officer's actions at a protest outside Barclays Center after George Floyd's murder. Myrie, detained with zip ties, said, 'I felt what felt like bike tires on my back and on my arms.' He described lasting trauma from the incident. The CCRB prosecutor, Andre Applewhite, argued video evidence confirmed the threats. Myrie and another lawmaker have filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD. The case highlights the dangers faced by peaceful protesters and the use of police bicycles as tools of force.

• Brooklyn Pol Tears Up Describing Brutal Treatment at Hands (and Bikes) of Cops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-30

Jun 29 - A moped slammed into a stopped SUV on Washington Avenue. The rider flew headfirst onto the pavement. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious, skull split. The crash left two injured. Night swallowed the street.

A moped struck the back of a stopped SUV on Washington Avenue. The 34-year-old moped rider was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The SUV driver, a 54-year-old woman, was also injured. Both vehicles were traveling south. The crash left the street stained with blood and two people hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543110 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 28 - A 74-year-old motorcyclist struck the rear of a taxi on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider was partially ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Driver inattention and following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 74-year-old male motorcyclist traveling north on Flatbush Avenue rear-ended a taxi also moving north. The motorcyclist was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention/distraction and following too closely as contributing factors. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The taxi and motorcycle both had front and rear-end damage respectively. No other injuries or victims were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542576 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - Council members push to ban non-essential helicopter flights from city-owned helipads. The bill targets tourist and luxury flights, sparing only essential services. Noise, pollution, and safety risks drive the move. The city’s airspace faces a reckoning.

On June 27, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler and colleagues introduced a bill to ban all non-essential helicopter flights from the Wall Street and East 34th Street city-owned helipads. The legislation, discussed in the City Council, exempts NYPD, news, and hospital helicopters. The bill’s matter title: 'Stop the Chop.' Council Members Amanda Farias, Gale Brewer, Shahana Hanif, Alexa Avilés, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Christopher Marte, and Carlina Rivera joined as sponsors. Hanif stated, 'Our airspace is not for sale to the highest bidder and should only be available to essential needs of our city.' The bill responds to mounting complaints—nearly 60,000 since 2010—over helicopter noise and pollution. The proposal aims to cut thousands of flights, reduce greenhouse gases, and restore peace to city parks and neighborhoods.

• OPINION: Here’s How the Council Will ‘Stop the Chop’ in New York, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-27

Jun 25 - A 62-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after a collision with a sedan on Parkside Avenue. The bicyclist suffered upper arm injuries and was in shock. Both vehicles struck each other front-left. The bicyclist wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south and a bicycle traveling west collided head-on on Parkside Avenue. The bicyclist, a 62-year-old man, was ejected and sustained upper arm injuries, resulting in shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The sedan was driven by a licensed female driver. Both vehicles impacted at their left front bumpers. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not identify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors or violations were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540802 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - A 26-year-old woman walking along East Drive in Brooklyn was struck by an unlicensed male driver on an e-scooter. The driver was inexperienced and speeding. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg.

According to the police report, a male driver operating an unlicensed e-scooter traveling north on East Drive struck a 26-year-old female pedestrian walking along the highway with traffic. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. The report lists driver inexperience and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact at the center front end. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The driver was unlicensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539323 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 14 - Fourth Street in Park Slope will close to cars this summer. Kids and neighbors get space. Teachers lose parking. Council Member Hanif backs the plaza. Advocates fought for years. The city acts only during school recess. Permanent change remains uncertain.

Council Member Shahana Hanif supports the plan to close Fourth Street, west of Fifth Avenue, to cars from July 8 through Labor Day weekend. The move follows a decade-long push to reclaim the block, used as both a play space and a parking lot for placard-holding teachers. The matter, described as 'a fully reimagined pedestrian plaza,' has backing from Hanif, who said, 'It’s going be a plaza. It’ll be closed off and won’t have parking spaces.' The Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID and Old Stone House plan to apply for permanent plaza status with the Department of Transportation. Advocates like Kathy Park Price cite placard abuse and safety risks, calling for a permanent pedestrian space to expand the park and protect the community. The DOT has not committed to a permanent plan. For now, the street will be car-free only during summer recess.

• UH, THANKS: City Will Turn a Dead-End Block into a Plaza … But Only When Placarded Teachers Go on Recess, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-14

Jun 14 - A subway shooting survivor sues Glock under a new state law. The law cracks open gun industry immunity. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, sponsor, says litigation forces change. The law aims to save lives, not target legal owners. Industry fights back in court.

On June 14, 2022, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie sponsored a New York law enabling lawsuits against gun manufacturers for dangerous marketing or sales practices. The law, recently upheld in court, lets victims like Ilene Steur—injured in the Sunset Park subway shooting—sue Glock. The bill challenges federal PLCAA protections that shield gun companies. Myrie says, 'Bad actions by industries...are often forced to change their practices by way of litigation.' He insists, 'This isn’t about anyone coming after your legally possessed guns...The guns are killing my people.' The law is not about targeting legal gun owners, but about holding companies accountable when their products fuel violence. Gun industry groups are fighting the law, but for now, it stands. Myrie’s push is clear: force the industry to act or get out of New York.

• Subway shooting victim leans on new NY law to take Glock to court, gothamist.com, Published 2022-06-14

Jun 12 - A moped making a right turn struck a parked sedan on 11 Street in Brooklyn. Two occupants on the moped suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan bore damage on its right side doors. Driver distraction was a factor.

According to the police report, a moped carrying two occupants was making a right turn on 11 Street in Brooklyn when it collided with a parked sedan. The moped's front center impacted the sedan's right side doors. Both the moped driver, a 43-year-old man, and a 66-year-old female passenger sustained contusions and bruises to their knees and lower legs. Neither occupant was ejected, and both remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - NYPD and Parks officers stopped e-bike riders in Prospect Park. Parents, workers, and people with disabilities faced threats and exclusion. Council Members Hanif, Joseph, and Hudson demand change. The ban blocks safe routes, targets the vulnerable, and deepens inequality.

This policy debate, highlighted in a June 3, 2022 Streetsblog NYC opinion, centers on the Parks Department's ban on e-assist bikes in Prospect Park. Council Members Shahana Hanif, Rita Joseph, and Crystal Hudson, whose districts border or include the park, call for a new policy to allow e-assist bikes. The article states, 'This policy is discriminatory and ableist, and harmful to climate goals.' Hanif notes e-bikes enabled her to ride after hip surgery. The ban forces riders onto dangerous streets, blocks access for families and people with limited mobility, and invites selective NYPD enforcement. The council members urge Mayor Adams to lift the ban, arguing it closes the park to those who need safe, accessible routes most.

• OPINION: Reversing the Parks Dept. Ban on E-Bikes is a Matter of Equity, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-03