Prospect Park Bleeds: No Safety Until City Acts

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 2022-05-23

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 2022-05-23

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 2022-05-23

Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

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 2022-05-23

Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

Council Members Hudson and Hanif call on DOT to fix Grand Army Plaza. They want protected bike lanes, speed bumps, and better signals. Community groups back them. The plaza stays dangerous for walkers and cyclists. DOT promises a review. Action is overdue.

On May 11, 2022, Council Members Crystal Hudson and Shahana Hanif sent a letter to the Department of Transportation urging immediate safety upgrades at Grand Army Plaza. The matter, titled 'Brooklyn Pols: Fix Grand Army Plaza and Make it Safer,' calls for more protected bike lanes, speed bumps, improved traffic signals, and completion of stalled capital work. The councilmembers cited ongoing crashes, injuries, and community complaints about dangerous conditions. They requested a comprehensive traffic study and highlighted support from over 2,000 neighbors and local advocacy groups. DOT responded that it would review the letter and meet with the community. The push comes as past improvements have failed to end the threat to pedestrians and cyclists. Hudson and Hanif’s action keeps pressure on the city to fix a deadly crossroads.

• Brooklyn Pols: Fix Grand Army Plaza and Make it Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-11

Steel crashed on Washington Avenue. Two men, alone in their cars, slammed nose to tail. Both drivers stunned, necks wrenched, pain sharp and sudden. Distraction behind the wheel left them broken and silent in the Brooklyn dark.

Two sedans collided near 971 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers, a 24-year-old and a 48-year-old, suffered neck injuries and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight when the crash occurred, with one sedan striking the other from behind. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary cause. Both drivers were alone and wore lap belts. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left both men injured, their silence broken by pain. The crash underscores the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518809 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two men on bikes crashed hard on Prospect Park West. Both ejected. Both hurt. Abrasions, leg and body injuries. Unsafe speed and close passing listed as causes. Helmets worn. Still, the street took blood.

According to the police report, two bicyclists collided while traveling south on Prospect Park West. Both riders, aged 53 and 25, were ejected and injured, suffering abrasions and injuries to the legs and body. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors for both cyclists. Both wore helmets at the time of the crash. The collision happened during a passing maneuver, with impact on the left sides of both bikes. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash left both men conscious but wounded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518640 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Councilmember Rita Joseph opens the door. Residents in District 40 and four other Brooklyn districts can vote on local projects. Ballots close April 10. The process funds parks, schools, and public spaces. The city lets people decide. Streets may change.

Participatory Budgeting voting opened in Brooklyn District 40 on April 7, 2022. Councilmember Rita Joseph announced the cycle, which runs until April 10. The process lets residents as young as 11 vote on capital and expense projects. The official matter title: 'Voting for Participatory Budgeting is open in five Brooklyn districts until April 10.' Joseph, along with councilmembers Jennifer Gutiérrez (34), Chi Ossé (36), Alexa Avilés (38), and Shahana Hanif (39), offers in-person and online voting. Projects range from park upgrades to school improvements. Final results will be announced the week of April 17. Participatory Budgeting shapes how public money is spent, but the safety impact for vulnerable road users depends on which projects win. No direct safety assessment was provided.

• Voting for Participatory Budgeting is open in five Brooklyn districts until April 10, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-04-07

Senate Bill 8667 would force new drivers to log six hours with a professional instructor. Gounardes and Carroll say the current system is lax. They want more training. Safety leaders back the move. DOT is reviewing. Streets stay deadly.

Senate Bill 8667, introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Bobby Carroll, would require all new drivers in New York State to complete six hours of professional driving instruction before taking the road test. The bill was announced on March 29, 2022. Gounardes slammed the current rules as too lenient, saying, "For some drivers, the first time they take the wheel [as a licensed driver] they are in sole control of their car." Carroll called the requirement "reasonable." Stephen Walling, president of the New York State Association of Professional Driving Schools, said the bill would "go a long way towards keeping all New Yorkers safer on our roads." The NYC Department of Transportation called driver education "crucial" for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, and is reviewing the proposal. The bill awaits committee action.

• Albany Bill Would Finally Mandate Instruction for Student Drivers (Well, a Little), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-29

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Brooklyn lawmakers tell developers: no more parking mandates. They want special permits to drop parking. They say parking rules drive up costs, block affordable homes, and fuel car use. The message is clear—build for people, not for cars.

On March 1, 2022, Brooklyn politicians announced a push to eliminate mandatory parking minimums for new developments. The action is not a formal bill, but a policy stance led by Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler. The group, including Council Members Jennifer Gutierrez, Crystal Hudson, Chi Osse, Sandy Nurse, Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Rita Joseph, and Farah Louis, demands that developers seeking zoning changes first apply for a special permit to waive parking requirements. Restler said, 'Developers need our consent and approval, and we are telling them, plainly, that they have to file for a special permit to end parking requirements.' Reynoso added, 'You don't need to do that anymore.' Avilés called parking mandates a barrier to affordable housing and climate action. The group argues that parking minimums raise construction costs, encourage car use, and block green space. Restler warned he is 'far more likely to vote no' on projects without a parking waiver. Advocates and policy experts back the move, and related state legislation is pending.

• Brooklyn Pols Tell Developers to Eliminate Parking or Else, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-01

State officials want answers from cyclists. They ask how, where, and why people ride. The survey digs into barriers, habits, and needs. Planners say the data will shape safer, fairer streets. Results will go public. Cyclists’ voices count.

On February 17, 2022, New York State launched the first New York Bike Census, a voluntary survey led by NYSERDA and Urban Cycling Solutions. The effort is described as 'an unprecedented effort to collect detailed data on bicycle transportation across the state.' The survey asks about riding frequency, infrastructure, barriers, and connections to transit. Assembly Member Robert Carroll and State Senator Julia Salazar have backed related legislation for an e-bike rebate program. The survey’s results will be shared with governments and advocacy groups. Officials say the data will help planners and policymakers 'invest in safer, more equitable multimodal streets.' No direct safety impact assessment was provided, but the project aims to inform future improvements for vulnerable road users.

• New York State Wants To Know Everything About Your Cycling Habits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-17

A Brooklyn man got death threats after reporting illegal parking to 311. City Hall condemned the harassment but offered no reforms. Police stayed silent. Local officials demanded answers. The city’s response left dangerous gaps for those who report reckless driving.

On February 10, 2022, City Hall responded to threats against Tony Melone, a Park Slope resident who filed a 311 complaint about illegal parking. The incident, covered by Streetsblog, exposed how reporting traffic violations can put New Yorkers at risk. City Hall called the harassment 'extremely disturbing' and promised to review a Department of Investigation probe, but did not commit to changing NYPD’s handling of 311 complaints. Assembly Member Robert Carroll condemned the threats and demanded accountability if city staff leaked Melone’s information. Council Member Shahana Hanif echoed concern, urging that harassment not silence those reporting dangerous driving. The NYPD did not comment. The city’s lack of action leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as illegal parking blocks sightlines, sidewalks, and bike lanes, endangering lives.

• City Hall Condemns Death Threats to 311 User Who Filed Illegal Parking Complaint to NYPD, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-10

A Brooklyn man got death threats after reporting illegal parking to 311. City Hall condemned the harassment but offered no reforms. Police stayed silent. Local officials demanded answers. The city’s response left dangerous gaps for those who report reckless driving.

On February 10, 2022, City Hall responded to threats against Tony Melone, a Park Slope resident who filed a 311 complaint about illegal parking. The incident, covered by Streetsblog, exposed how reporting traffic violations can put New Yorkers at risk. City Hall called the harassment 'extremely disturbing' and promised to review a Department of Investigation probe, but did not commit to changing NYPD’s handling of 311 complaints. Assembly Member Robert Carroll condemned the threats and demanded accountability if city staff leaked Melone’s information. Council Member Shahana Hanif echoed concern, urging that harassment not silence those reporting dangerous driving. The NYPD did not comment. The city’s lack of action leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as illegal parking blocks sightlines, sidewalks, and bike lanes, endangering lives.

• City Hall Condemns Death Threats to 311 User Who Filed Illegal Parking Complaint to NYPD, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-10

Councilmember Shahana Hanif calls out deadly Brooklyn streets. She names Arcellie Muschamp, killed in a crosswalk by a truck. Hanif demands street designs that slow drivers. She rejects punishment as the main fix. She wants action to stop traffic deaths.

On January 18, 2022, Councilmember Shahana Hanif issued a statement on pedestrian safety following the death of Arcellie Muschamp in Brooklyn. The matter, titled 'Crossing the Street Should Not Be a Matter of Life and Death,' highlights the failure of current street design. Hanif, representing the district where Muschamp died, pledges to fight for safer streets. She calls for preventive design—daylighting, mid-block chicanes, leading pedestrian intervals, pedestrian-only crossings, and safety islands. Hanif opposes relying on punitive enforcement, saying, 'Planning streets for people means designs that force drivers to drive slowly and carefully.' She urges the Council and new administration to act, stating, 'Our streets are dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists because they are planned for cars, not people.' Hanif’s stance centers vulnerable road users and demands systemic change.

• New Brooklyn Council Member: Crossing the Street Should Not Be a Matter of Life and Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-18

Councilmember Shahana Hanif calls out deadly Brooklyn streets. She names Arcellie Muschamp, killed saving a child from a reckless driver. Hanif demands street designs that slow cars and shield walkers. She rejects empty enforcement. She wants action, not excuses.

On January 18, 2022, Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39) issued a statement on pedestrian safety and street design. She declared, 'Crossing the street should not be a matter of life or death—but, for too many New Yorkers, it is.' Hanif invoked the death of Arcellie Muschamp, a nanny killed by a truck driver who failed to yield at Union Street and Fifth Avenue. Hanif criticized streets built for cars, not people, and called for preventive design: daylighting, chicanes, pedestrian intervals, Barnes Dances, and safety islands. She opposes relying on punitive enforcement. Hanif pledged to fight for safer streets so children and caretakers can cross without fear. Her statement underscores the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable road users.

• New Brooklyn Council Member: Crossing the Street Should Not Be a Matter of Life and Death, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-01-18

A 19-year-old woman was struck at an intersection on 9 Street and Prospect Park West. The driver made an improper right turn and failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The vehicle’s front center was damaged.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at the intersection of 9 Street and Prospect Park West in Brooklyn. The 19-year-old female pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious after the crash. The driver was making a right turn when the collision occurred. The report lists the driver’s errors as "Turning Improperly" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The vehicle struck the pedestrian with its center front end, causing damage to that area. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling by the pedestrian were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493663 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09