Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 7 - A string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge cut two cyclists. One suffered a slashed throat and blood loss, the other needed stitches. The string’s source remains unclear. Kite fighting blamed, but city action lags. Riders bleed. System fails.

Gothamist (2025-06-07) reports two cyclists were injured by a string suspended across the Marine Parkway Bridge. One cyclist, Robert Hillebrand, suffered a severed windpipe and required blood transfusions. Another, Jennifer Noble, received stitches and a broken finger. Police said the string was likely from kite fighting, a practice where glass-coated strings are used to cut opponents' kites. Witnesses described a yellow nylon string stretched across the bike lane. The NYPD found no criminality. The city parks department bans kite fighting but enforcement is lacking. Danny Mundy, a local civic leader, said, “It’s absolutely dangerous and unacceptable.” Previous injuries and lawsuits linked to kite string in the area highlight ongoing risks for cyclists and wildlife. No driver involvement was reported, but the incident exposes gaps in infrastructure and enforcement.

• String Slices Cyclists On Parkway Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 3 - An 87-year-old man stood near a Brooklyn corner. An MTA bus turned left. The bus struck him. He was pinned beneath its weight. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The street stayed quiet. The driver waited for police.

Gothamist reported on June 3, 2025, that an MTA bus struck an 87-year-old man at East 12th Street and Avenue Z in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Police said the man was 'standing near the corner when the driver made a left onto the avenue and hit him.' The man was pinned under the bus and taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in critical condition. The 34-year-old driver remained at the scene and was later taken to Coney Island Medical Center. The bus was not in service and had no passengers. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the risks at intersections and the consequences of left turns by large vehicles in city streets.

• MTA Bus Pins Elderly Man In Brooklyn, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-03

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for seniors. More elders could ride. Streets may see more slow, unprotected cyclists. Danger from cars remains. Bill sits in committee. No safety fixes for traffic threats.

Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' requires the Department of Transportation to set lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The measure aims to boost senior cycling but does not address street safety or car violence. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes bill for cheaper bike share for New Yorkers over 65. More seniors could ride. The city’s streets may see older cyclists in the mix. The committee now holds the bill.

Bill Int 1288-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 28, 2025, and re-referred June 4, it mandates a discounted bike share rate for seniors 65 and older. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.” Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, and Menin. The Department of Transportation would require bike share operators to offer this rate. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 27 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

May 26 - A fire truck sped south on Flatbush. Sirens blared. A motorcycle crossed Avenue U. Metal struck metal. The rider fell. Paramedics rushed him to Brookdale. He did not survive. Firefighters stood by, unhurt. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on May 26, 2025, that a motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a fire truck at Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The fire truck, Engine 309, was responding to a fire with lights and sirens activated when it struck the westbound motorcycle at 11:55 p.m. The rider, identified as 30-year-old Valentin Ivancsuk, was pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital. Firefighters were evaluated at the scene and were not injured. The FDNY stated the 'incident is under investigation.' The crash highlights the risks at busy intersections, especially when emergency vehicles respond at speed. No details on right-of-way or traffic signals were provided. The investigation may examine protocols for emergency response and intersection safety.

• Motorcyclist Dies in Collision With Fire Truck, ABC7, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A woman stepped from her car after a crash in Bed-Stuy. The other driver hit her, dragged her, then sped off the wrong way. He crashed again, abandoned the SUV, and fled. She died at the hospital. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News reported on May 25, 2025, that a 32-year-old woman was killed after a minor collision near Van Buren St. and Marcus Garvey Blvd. in Brooklyn. After the initial crash, the Chevy Trax driver struck the woman as she exited her vehicle, then drove against traffic on Lafayette Ave., hitting two parked cars before fleeing on foot. Witness Shane Bridges described, "They dragged her like to the middle of the street, and then they turned wrong up Lafayette and she was just left there." The SUV had temporary paper plates. The incident highlights the dangers posed by reckless driving and hit-and-run behavior, especially when drivers ignore traffic direction and abandon crash scenes.

• Driver Runs Down Woman After Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-25

May 20 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-05-20

May 17 - A Ford Explorer struck a man crossing Washington Avenue. The driver fled. The victim died at the hospital. No arrests. Another fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn, second in a week. Streets stay deadly. Names withheld. Police search for answers.

According to NY Daily News (published May 17, 2025), a 55-year-old man was killed while crossing Washington Ave. at Fulton St. in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, just after midnight. Police said, "a burgundy-colored Ford Explorer heading west on Fulton St. rammed into him." The driver did not stop and fled the scene. Emergency services transported the victim to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was the second fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn within a week, highlighting a persistent pattern of drivers leaving crash scenes. The city has seen a slight increase in pedestrian deaths despite an overall drop in fatal crashes, underscoring ongoing risks for those on foot.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Brooklyn Pedestrian, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-17

May 16 - A woman walked with the light. A Mercedes struck her. Bones broke. She died in the crosswalk. The driver sped through. The street stayed silent. The city failed to protect her.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, died after a driver in a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her as she crossed Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk, with the signal to walk. A witness said, "The lady spin around and sped through." The driver, a 64-year-old woman, has not been charged. The vehicle had one prior violation for blocking a bus lane. The article highlights the lack of immediate accountability and calls for stronger pedestrian protections: "The government should do something, like when people are walking, no cars should be moving."

• Driver Kills Pedestrian In Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 13 - A motorcyclist struck a stopped car on the BQE. He died at the hospital. The driver, unlicensed and lacking required safety equipment, was arrested. The crash happened fast, on a crowded stretch. Police are still investigating.

According to amny (published May 13, 2025), a fatal crash on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway left a motorcyclist dead. The article reports, "Police arrested 44-year-old Laura Cordova... for driving without a license and using a vehicle without ignition interlock." The incident took place near Tillary Street just before 10 p.m. on May 10. The motorcyclist, 27-year-old Sean Johnson, struck Cordova's stopped Honda Accord and later died at Brooklyn Hospital Center. Cordova was required to use an ignition interlock device due to a prior conviction but was not charged with DUI. The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The case highlights issues of unlicensed driving and compliance with court-ordered safety measures.

• Motorcyclist Killed in BQE Collision Arrest, amny, Published 2025-05-13

May 13 - Senate bill S 533 seeks to kill congestion pricing and order a forensic audit of the MTA. The committee vote failed. Streets stay clogged. Danger for walkers and riders lingers.

Senate bill S 533, introduced on May 13, 2025, in committee, aimed to repeal congestion pricing and require an independent audit of the MTA. The bill summary reads: 'Repeals congestion pricing (Part A); directs the metropolitan transportation authority to contract with a certified public accounting firm for the provision of an independent, comprehensive, forensic audit of the authority (Part B).' Primary sponsor Jack M. Martins led the push, joined by George Borrello, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, and others. The committee voted it down. No safety analyst reviewed the bill’s impact on vulnerable road users. The fight over street safety and traffic chaos continues.

• File S 533, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

May 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

May 13 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

May 13 - Senate passes S 346. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. Pushes work zone safety. Sets up new enforcement fund. Lawmakers move to shield workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 346 cleared committee on May 13, 2025. The bill, titled 'Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker; promotes work zone safety awareness; establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement,' aims to crack down on drivers who threaten highway workers. Senator Jeremy Cooney led as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, Christopher Ryan, and James Skoufis. The committee voted yes. The bill targets reckless driving in work zones, boosting penalties and funding enforcement. It marks a step to protect those most exposed to traffic danger.

• File S 346, Open States, Published 2025-05-13