Prospect Park Bleeds: No Safety Until City Acts

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

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 2025-08-07

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 2025-08-07

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

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 2025-08-07

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

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 2025-08-07

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

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

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 2025-08-07

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

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-31

A 16-year-old boy was struck while crossing Parkside Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV hit him center front with no vehicle damage. He suffered a fractured hip and upper leg. The boy was conscious and injured away from an intersection.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Parkside Avenue in Brooklyn when a 2003 SUV traveling east struck him center front. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The SUV showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The driver was licensed and going straight ahead at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532543 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 16-year-old boy was struck by an eastbound SUV on Parkside Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk when the vehicle hit him center front. He suffered a fractured hip and upper leg and remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Parkside Avenue outside a crosswalk. The driver, a licensed male operating a 2003 SUV traveling east, struck the pedestrian with the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg injury. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. Vehicle damage was limited to the center front end of the SUV. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 59-year-old male driver lost consciousness while driving east on Prospect Park West. His SUV struck an object with the left front bumper. The driver was injured and found unconscious. Illness caused the loss of control and crash.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old male driver traveling east on Prospect Park West in Brooklyn lost consciousness due to illness. The driver, alone in a 2021 Kia SUV, collided with an object impacting the left front bumper. The report lists 'Illness' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. The driver was injured and found unconscious at the scene. There is no mention of other vehicles or pedestrians involved. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash resulted from the driver’s medical condition leading to loss of control, not from any external traffic violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532544 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25