Prospect Park Bleeds: No Safety Until City Acts

Sep 26 - Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face deadly risk. Lawmakers demand action. Streets must protect the vulnerable.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The measure calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program' using cameras to enforce bike lane rules. Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the resolution. The text states: 'enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The council demands Albany act. Cyclists die while drivers block lanes. The bill aims to hold motorists accountable and protect those most at risk.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Aug 23 - A female e-scooter driver struck a male cyclist from behind on East Drive in Brooklyn. The collision caused facial abrasions to the e-scooter rider. Police cited following too closely as the primary contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:37 on East Drive in Brooklyn. A female e-scooter driver traveling north collided with a male cyclist also traveling north. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-scooter striking the center back end of the bike. The e-scooter driver sustained abrasions to her face and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor attributed to the e-scooter driver. No other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. Both vehicles showed no damage, and the e-scooter driver was not ejected. This crash highlights the dangers of close vehicle proximity on shared paths.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750601 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 5 - Mayor Adams’s DOT has proposed just seven miles of new bus lanes for 2024. The law requires thirty. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Advocates rage. The city drags its feet. Streets stay dangerous. The promise of safer, faster transit goes unmet.

""It s unacceptable that Mayor Adams has not prioritized improving bus speeds, service, and reliability with the tools he has at his control,"" -- Zellnor Myrie

On August 5, 2024, the Department of Transportation revealed it has proposed only seven miles of bus priority lanes for the year—less than a quarter of the thirty miles required annually by the Streets Master Plan law. This marks the lowest bus lane mileage since 2018. The matter, titled 'Adams Has Proposed Just 7 Miles of Bus Lanes This Year — Less Than 1/4 of Requirement,' has drawn sharp criticism. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie called it 'unacceptable that Mayor Adams has not prioritized improving bus speeds, service, and reliability.' Scott Stringer accused the administration of using 'community engagement as an excuse to not get things done.' Brad Lander pledged to push for more dedicated bus lanes. Riders like Alex Gean described daily gridlock. The DOT claims more lanes are coming, but offers no details. Vulnerable road users—bus riders, pedestrians—remain at risk as the city fails to meet its own safety and mobility targets.

• Adams Has Proposed Just 7 Miles of Bus Lanes This Year — Less Than 1/4 of Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-05

Aug 1 - Two occupants suffered injuries in a multi-sedan crash on Flatbush Avenue. The driver and front passenger endured shock and bodily harm. A defective accelerator was cited as a contributing factor, highlighting vehicle malfunction in the collision’s cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:34. Two sedans traveling north collided, with one vehicle impacting the left rear quarter panel of a parked sedan. The driver of the moving sedan, a 41-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. The front passenger, a 28-year-old female, was also injured and in shock, with chest injuries noted. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts. The report identifies a defective accelerator as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating a vehicle malfunction played a role. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of the moving sedan and the left rear bumper of the parked vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745294 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 25 - Two bicyclists collided head-on on East Drive in Brooklyn. A 12-year-old boy suffered bruises and injuries to his lower leg. The crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way, according to the police report.

According to the police report, two bicyclists traveling in opposite directions on East Drive collided head-on at around 4 p.m. in Brooklyn. The 12-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both bicyclists were riding straight ahead before impact, which occurred at the center front end of their bikes. The injured bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from his bike. No other contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were listed. The collision highlights the dangers of right-of-way violations among cyclists in shared road spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736102 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A 45-year-old man, northbound on an e-bike, sped down Prospect Park West. He crashed head-on, thrown from his seat. Blood pooled on the pavement. His head was split open. The bike stood undamaged. He lay conscious, but broken.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old man riding an e-bike north on Prospect Park West near 3rd Street was involved in a violent crash at 5:30 p.m. The report states the rider was traveling at 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was also listed as a contributing factor. The rider, not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the bike upon impact, suffering a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'Head split open. Blood on the pavement. He lay conscious. The bike was fine. He was not.' The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor until after listing the driver errors. The e-bike itself sustained no damage, underscoring the force absorbed by the rider’s body.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Assembly Members Emily Gallagher and Robert Carroll denounce the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. Their words cut through: New York’s streets belong to people, not cars.

On June 7, 2024, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher (District 50) joined Robert Carroll in a public statement opposing Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of congestion pricing. The op-ed, titled 'Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It,' argues the governor’s action is 'effectively a cancellation.' Gallagher and Carroll stress that congestion pricing is essential for funding the MTA and improving public transit. They write, 'Congestion pricing does both and there is no fair or viable alternative way to fund the MTA’s capital needs at this juncture.' The statement warns that the delay will shelve critical projects and worsen conditions for all who rely on safe, accessible streets. Gallagher’s stance is clear: the city’s future depends on prioritizing transit and public space over traffic and private cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Two Assembly members slam the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. They say New York needs fewer cars, more trains, and streets for people, not traffic. The fight continues.

Assembly Members Robert Carroll and Emily Gallagher issued a public statement on June 7, 2024, supporting congestion pricing and condemning Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of the program. The statement, published as an op-ed, argues, 'the Governor’s announcement to indefinitely delay implementation is effectively a cancellation of congestion pricing.' Carroll and Gallagher, both long-time supporters, stress that congestion pricing is vital for funding the MTA’s capital needs and for reducing traffic and pollution. They warn that the governor’s move will stall key transit projects and harm New Yorkers who rely on public transportation. The members urge Democrats to embrace the policy, stating, 'It is past time for New York to join such cities as London, Milan, Stockholm, and Singapore and implement congestion pricing without further delay.' The statement does not mince words: the city’s future depends on streets for people, not cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Albany scrambles. Hochul halts congestion pricing. Lawmakers, including Zellnor Myrie, reject quick fixes. The MTA’s future hangs on shaky ground. No new plan. No stable money. Riders and streets wait. Danger grows as funding stalls.

On June 7, 2024, state lawmakers debated MTA funding after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, titled 'Hochul, Albany lawmakers scramble to find new funding stream for MTA after pausing congestion pricing,' unfolded as the legislative session neared its end. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie voiced strong opposition, stating, 'I am opposed to the Governor’s last-minute plan to cancel congestion pricing. I will vote against any plan that will redirect funds from other priorities to cover the revenue lost from congestion pricing.' Hochul’s payroll tax proposal failed. An IOU from the general fund faces resistance. Critics argue only congestion pricing offers stable, legal funding. No alternative secures the MTA’s capital needs. Vulnerable riders face mounting risk as lawmakers stall.

• Hochul, Albany lawmakers scramble to find new funding stream for MTA after pausing congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Two SUVs collided on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Driver inattention caused the crash. A 74-year-old female passenger suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. Both drivers were distracted, leading to impact damage on front and left front bumpers.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at 3:55 p.m. Both drivers were cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. One vehicle was starting from parking, the other traveling straight south. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel on one SUV and the center front end on the other. A 74-year-old female passenger in one SUV was injured with a head contusion but remained conscious and was not ejected. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report highlights driver distraction as the primary cause, with no mention of victim fault or contributing pedestrian or passenger behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - Governor Hochul yanked support for congestion pricing weeks before launch. Senator Liz Krueger called it reckless. The move leaves a $15 billion hole in MTA funding. No clear replacement plan. Riders and streets hang in the balance. Gridlock wins.

On June 6, 2024, Senator Liz Krueger (District 28) condemned Governor Hochul’s last-minute reversal on congestion pricing. The policy, approved by the MTA Board and set for June 30, now faces indefinite delay. Krueger called the decision 'a staggering error' that creates a financial crisis for the MTA. The matter at hand: 'Gov. Hochul revoked her support for congestion pricing less than a month before it was supposed to start.' Assembly Member Robert Carroll also criticized the governor, rejecting her proposal to hike the payroll mobility tax on city businesses. The MTA’s capital plan now faces a $15 billion shortfall, with no replacement funding in sight. The delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as congestion pricing aimed to cut traffic and fund safer transit. The council’s response is clear: the city needs congestion pricing, now.

• Two Huge Questions About 'Gridlock Gov.' Hochul's Congestion Pricing Delay, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Governor Hochul pulled the plug on congestion pricing just weeks before rollout. The move leaves the MTA’s future in limbo. Board members and city officials push back. Billions for transit hang in the balance. No clear plan replaces lost funds.

On June 6, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul revoked her support for congestion pricing, a policy set to start June 30. The delay, announced without legislative action, sparked backlash. MTA Board member Midori Valdivia vowed, 'I'm going to vote yes to congestion pricing, and that it should start as soon as possible.' Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi echoed, 'It needs to happen now.' Senator Liz Krueger called Hochul's move 'a staggering error.' Assembly Member Robert Carroll and business leader Kathy Wylde criticized the governor’s floated payroll tax hike as unfair to city businesses. The MTA faces a $15 billion shortfall, with no replacement funding in sight. The delay keeps streets clogged and transit underfunded, risking more danger for those outside cars.

• Two Huge Questions About ‘Gridlock Gov.’ Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Delay, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 13 - A 60-year-old man suffered severe whole-body injuries and lost consciousness after being struck by a northbound cyclist on East Drive in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was off intersection, with unspecified contributing factors noted in the police report.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was injured by a bicycle traveling northbound on East Drive in Brooklyn at 18:54. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his entire body and was unconscious at the scene. The point of impact was the center front end of the bicycle. The pedestrian was located off an intersection, and the report lists unspecified contributing factors for both the pedestrian and the incident. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited in the report. The cyclist was going straight ahead prior to the collision. The report does not indicate any helmet use or crossing signal involvement. The focus remains on the collision dynamics and the severe injuries sustained by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724437 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19