No More Excuses: Demand Safe Streets Before Another Life Is Lost

Concrete barriers on Park Avenue bike lanes promised safety. Drivers ignored them. Cars block both ends. Cyclists forced into traffic. Police rarely ticket. Council stalls on citizen reporting. The city’s fix failed. Cyclists pay the price.

On January 12, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported on the failure of new concrete barriers meant to protect bike lanes on Park Avenue in the Bronx. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, installed these barriers in fall 2023, aiming to 'harden' bike lanes in a borough with few safe cycling routes. Cyclists like Joseph Rienti say the barriers are better than nothing, but drivers now park at both ends, forcing riders into car traffic. Rienti urges better design or enforcement, not removal. Police enforcement is almost nonexistent: less than 2 percent of 76,000 complaints led to tickets. City Council, including Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, has not advanced a bill allowing citizen reporting of blocked lanes, despite majority support. DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno promises to work with police, but for now, the barriers fail to protect vulnerable cyclists.

• Barriers Fail To Keep Drivers From Blocking Bronx Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-12

City finished the Livingston Street busway. Two-way bus lanes now run where cars once clogged. Concrete islands keep buses moving. Councilmember Restler says the era of endless traffic is over. Riders get speed. Streets get order. Danger shifts.

On January 10, 2024, the city completed a new busway on Livingston Street in Brooklyn. The project, not tied to a specific bill number, was led by the Department of Transportation and praised by Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33). The redesign turned a congested, two-way street into a one-way westbound corridor with two directions of physically-separated, dedicated bus lanes. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the project 'transformed what was a congested, double-parked corridor into two-way fully protected and dedicated bus lanes.' Restler declared, 'Those days are over with the new Livingston Busway!' The project aims to speed up service for 50,000 daily riders and keep cars out of bus lanes with concrete boarding islands. While the article notes ongoing issues with illegal parking and citywide delays, the Livingston Street busway stands as a rare win for bus riders and vulnerable street users.

• City completes ‘transformative’ new busway on Brooklyn’s Livingston Street, amny.com, Published 2024-01-10

A city meeting on curb space in the Upper West Side erupted. Residents, fueled by rumors, demanded parking rights. City officials denied plans to remove all parking. The DOT sought input for safer, smarter curb use. Tension filled the room. No consensus reached.

On January 9, 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) hosted a public meeting on the Upper West Side to discuss the 'Smart Curbs' pilot program. The event, held at a W. 84th Street school, was the first outreach for a study on curb management. The DOT described the meeting as a chance to 'help craft a proposal' and denied any plan to eliminate all parking. Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'We wanted to start here, in this pilot project, listening from the community on how we reimagine the community.' Residents, spurred by misinformation, confronted officials and voiced fears over losing parking. Some, like Andy Rosenthal, supported loading zones. Others, like activist Andrew Fine, rejected the process outright. The meeting highlighted deep divides over curb use, but also the urgent need to address double parking and blocked bike lanes that endanger pedestrians and cyclists.

• Upper West Side Meeting on Curb Space Management Turns Into Heated Dispute, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-09

Advocates fought City Hall all year. They demanded safer streets for cyclists, walkers, and bus riders. Bureaucrats stalled. Politicians caved. Still, activists won scraps—bike lanes, traffic calming, wage gains for delivery workers. The fight for vulnerable road users never stopped. The city resisted. Advocates pushed back.

This advocacy campaign, highlighted in the December 27, 2023 Streetsblog NYC article, reviews the relentless push by New York City activists for safer streets. The piece, titled '2023 in Review: Who is the Activist of the Year?', details how groups like Make McGuinness Safe, Worker's Justice Project, Riders Alliance, and Astoria's r/MicromobilityNYC subredditors challenged City Hall's pro-car inertia. Despite setbacks—canceled bus lanes, watered-down bike projects—advocates secured protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and a minimum wage for delivery workers. Council members and city officials often opposed or delayed these measures, but activists, including Bronwyn Breitner and Ligia Guallpa, kept pressure on. The article underscores that every gain for vulnerable road users came from organized, persistent advocacy, not government initiative.

• 2023 in Review: Who is the Activist of the Year?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-27

Advocates fought City Hall’s pro-car moves all year. Bus lanes were canceled. Bike lanes were scaled back. Council Member Oswald Feliz sided with powerful interests to block Fordham Road’s busway. Riders Alliance called the mayor’s transit policy a betrayal.

The 2023 review, published December 27, spotlights fierce advocacy for safer streets and better transit. The article details how Council Member Oswald Feliz (District 15) joined U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat to oppose the Fordham Road busway, leading Mayor Adams to cancel the project. The matter title asks, 'Who is the Activist of the Year?' and highlights setbacks: 'City Hall canceled bus lanes, scaled back bike lanes and stalled open streets.' Feliz’s opposition helped powerful interests defeat the busway, leaving only more enforcement cameras. Riders Alliance, once supportive of the mayor, revoked his 'bus mayor' title, calling his administration’s transit policy 'a betrayal.' The piece underscores how advocates, not politicians, drove progress for vulnerable road users, even as official actions fell short.

• 2023 in Review: Who is the Activist of the Year?, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-12-27

Third Avenue’s new bike lane cuts through 37 blocks. Two car lanes become space for bikes and buses. But cars still rule the street. Advocates call it a start, not a finish. Pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders remain boxed in by traffic and steel.

On December 8, 2023, the city unveiled a redesign of Third Avenue, repurposing two of seven lanes for a protected bike lane and an offset bus lane. The project, led by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, was described as 'transformative' and aimed at safety for all users. The official summary states: 'The city's redesign of Third Avenue adds a wide protected bike lane and an offset bus lane over 37 blocks.' Despite these changes, advocates and local politicians criticized the plan for leaving three moving lanes and two parking lanes for cars, calling for more sidewalk space and loading zones. The redesign ends at 96th Street, where the old, car-focused layout returns. Advocates say the city must 'aim higher' to truly protect vulnerable road users.

• Third Ave. ‘Complete Street’ Adds Wide Bike Lane, But Still Keeps Too Much Space for Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-08

Paint and signs do not stop cars. At NYC intersections, daylighting zones without barriers become illegal parking lots. City vehicles ignore the rules. Pedestrians lose ground. Advocates demand real protection—bike racks, boulders, planters. Paint alone is empty promise. Lives remain at risk.

This report covers the ongoing debate over New York City’s daylighting policy, highlighted in a December 5, 2023 Streetsblog NYC article. Mayor Adams pledged to clear parking near 1,000 intersections yearly to improve visibility and reduce crashes. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, told the City Council that daylighting 'must be implemented with physical infrastructure in the newly opened space to prevent vehicles from turning more quickly.' Advocacy Director Jon Orcutt of Bike New York dismissed paint-only solutions: 'If it’s just paint in 2023, forget about it.' The article documents rampant illegal parking in painted daylighting zones, often by city vehicles. Advocates argue that only physical barriers—bike racks, boulders, planters—can keep cars out and protect pedestrians. Without them, daylighting is a hollow gesture. The city’s current approach leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• Eyes on the Street: ‘Daylighting’ NYC Intersections Needs More Than Paint and Signs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-05

Mayor Adams will ban parking near 1,000 intersections each year. The city aims to clear corners, boost sightlines, and protect people on foot. Advocates pushed for this. The plan outpaces current law but leaves thousands of corners untouched for decades.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive policy: New York City will remove car parking near 1,000 intersections annually, far exceeding the 100 intersections required by recent Council law. The effort, known as daylighting, aims to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. Adams said, 'Protecting New Yorkers is my most sacred responsibility as mayor.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers praised daylighting as 'a proven safety measure.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stressed that daylighting must include physical infrastructure to prevent reckless turns. The Department of Transportation will also add raised crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and leading pedestrian signals at 1,000 intersections next year. The city will expand speed restriction technology in its fleet and increase data transparency. Advocates and community boards have long called for these changes. With nearly 47,000 intersections citywide, the plan will take decades to reach every corner.

• Adams Says He’ll Ban Parking Near 1,000 Intersections Every Year To Make Corners Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

City leaders cut ribbon on new protected bike lanes in Long Island City. Concrete curbs and daylighting shield cyclists from cars. Gaps persist at key intersections and bridge connections. Advocates demand more links and stronger barriers. Progress, but not enough.

On November 30, 2023, city officials unveiled new protected bike lanes along 11th Street, 44th Drive, and Jackson Avenue in Long Island City. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, called the lanes 'life-saving' and said they fill a critical gap, connecting cyclists to the Queensboro and Pulaski bridges. The project follows years of advocacy, including a 2019 push by then-Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. Laura Shepard of Transportation Alternatives praised the concrete curbs and daylighting but warned that gaps remain—especially at confusing intersections and near truck routes. Shepard urged DOT to add more physical barriers and expand the network, noting, 'It’s exciting, but we still need a lot more.' The new lanes mark progress, but the area’s vulnerable road users still face danger from incomplete connections and blocked paths.

• Eyes on the Street: Long Island City Bike Lanes Are a Good Start — But More Needed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-30

Council Member Chi Ossé condemned DOT for stalling the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The lane, long promised and long dangerous, remains unbuilt. Ossé demanded action. Cyclists keep dying. DOT offered no timeline. The city’s failure leaves lives at risk.

On November 2, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the protected bike lane project on Bedford Avenue. The project, which was supposed to upgrade a painted lane to a parking-protected lane, has been pushed to at least next spring. Ossé wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, calling the delay 'unacceptable' and demanding a firm installation date. He stated, 'The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected.' Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, echoed his frustration, citing record cyclist deaths and urgent need for safety. The DOT has not responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights the city’s repeated failures to deliver promised street safety improvements.

• Council Member Chi Ossé Blasts DOT For Delaying — And Maybe Killing — Bedford Ave Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-02

DOT will expand e-scooter sharing to eastern Queens next year. Bronx rollout saw millions of rides, no deaths. Advocates back the move but demand real safety infrastructure. City officials tout equity and climate benefits. Riders wait for safer streets.

On October 13, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced the expansion of its e-scooter share program to eastern Queens. The program, which launched in the Bronx in 2021, logged nearly 3 million trips with zero fatalities and few serious injuries in its first year. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Shared e-scooter service can play an important role in providing sustainable options to connect eastern Queens commuters to transit hubs, commercial corridors, and other neighborhood destinations." Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards both voiced support, highlighting the program's focus on underserved communities and environmental benefits. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged the city to pair the expansion with protected infrastructure, warning that safe streets must come with new mobility. The DOT will continue outreach ahead of the launch, expected in the second half of 2024.

• DOT: Eastern Queens E-Scooter Expansion Will Launch Next Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

Brooklyn Community Board 6 called on Mayor Adams to ban parking near intersections. The board passed a resolution urging daylighting at all possible crossings. Members cited blocked sightlines and deadly crashes. The vote was overwhelming: 33 to 3. Action now, not after tragedy.

On October 12, 2023, Brooklyn Community Board 6, representing Park Slope, Gowanus, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Red Hook, passed a resolution demanding Mayor Adams and the Department of Transportation end the city’s exemption that allows cars to park up to crosswalks. The resolution urges the city to daylight 'all possible' intersections with physical barriers, quoting: 'We don’t want to wait for tragedy, we know what works and we want to get it done.' Board co-chair Doug Gordon and member Marc Torrence led the push, highlighting the danger of blocked sightlines. The board also backed a new city law requiring daylighting at 100 intersections per year starting in 2025. The measure passed 33-3. The board’s action follows deadly crashes and echoes similar calls from Queens and Manhattan boards. Daylighting is proven to reduce crashes and protect pedestrians.

• Brooklyn Board Wants Adams to Stop Letting Cars Dangerously Block Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-12

Cyclists mourn 26 dead. They blame City Hall. The mayor shrugs. Advocates ride in protest. Councilmember Brooks-Powers calls DOT’s failure to track bike lane progress 'unacceptable.' The city falls short on protected lanes. Streets stay deadly. Anger grows.

"DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said his agency isn’t even keeping track of its progress on Streets Plan compliance, which also requires the construction of 30 miles of bus lanes annually, a situation described as 'unacceptable' by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On October 11, 2023, Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31) criticized the Department of Transportation’s oversight during a council hearing on bike infrastructure. The matter, described as 'Cycling safety advocacy and protest; criticism of mayoral transportation policy; city council oversight of bike infrastructure implementation,' centers on a record 26 cyclist deaths so far in 2023—the highest since Vision Zero began. Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called DOT’s lack of progress tracking on the Streets Plan 'unacceptable.' The city has built only 13.5 of the required 50 miles of protected bike lanes this year. Advocates accuse Mayor Adams of abandoning cyclists and failing to meet legal safety obligations. Protesters rode from Union Square to City Hall, demanding action as the death toll climbs.

• Cyclists decry record fatalities on NYC streets this year, amny.com, Published 2023-10-11

City Hall moves to ban vendors from every bridge. Officials cite crowding, safety, and strain on old spans. Police already sweep Brooklyn Bridge. Vendors protest. The rule targets carts, tables, and generators. DOT will hold a hearing November 15.

On October 6, 2023, the city proposed a sweeping ban on all street vendors from the pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and approaches of New York’s 789 bridges. The Department of Transportation (DOT) published the rule, citing 'overcrowding on the Brooklyn Bridge' and concerns about 'impediments to safety and pedestrian mobility.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'These proposed rules would make it safer and easier for pedestrians to enjoy the Brooklyn Bridge.' Police have already begun enforcement, removing vendors at Mayor Adams’s direction. Mohamed Attia of the Street Vendor Project called the move 'disappointing,' arguing that helping vendors comply with siting rules would be safer. A virtual hearing is set for November 15. The proposal is not yet law and awaits public input.

• City Seeks All-Out Ban on Vendors on Every Bridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-06

Two SUVs crashed on West 231 Street in the Bronx. Both drivers were injured, suffering back pain and shock. One passenger also hurt. The crash involved unsafe speed and left rear quarter panel impact. No one was ejected.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on West 231 Street in the Bronx. The crash involved a 2019 Toyota SUV traveling north and a 2015 Honda SUV traveling south. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of the Toyota and the right front bumper of the Honda. Both drivers, a 22-year-old woman and a male driver, were injured with back pain and shock. A 56-year-old female passenger in the Toyota was also injured with back pain. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Neither driver was ejected from their vehicles. The crash caused significant damage to the vehicles' left rear quarter panel and right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-11

The Bronx has no DOT borough commissioner. Crashes rise. Council Member Salamanca demands answers. Leadership is missing. Accountability is thin. Other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits. Streets stay dangerous. DOT promises a hire. The clock ticks.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s leadership and street safety in the Bronx. Council Member Rafael Salamanca (D-Concourse Village) pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, stating, "There is no borough commissioner in the borough of the Bronx." The Bronx has lacked a permanent commissioner since November 2021. Salamanca demanded a timeline for filling the role, arguing, "There needs to be a level of accountability and our level of accountability is reaching out to that borough commissioner. Please speed it up." DOT responded that street safety projects are not planned or implemented by borough commissioners, but Salamanca insisted the vacancy leaves the Bronx exposed as crashes and injuries rise. All other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits for leadership as danger mounts.

• Amid Rash of Crashes, DOT Has No Bronx Borough Commissioner, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-13

The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Council grilled DOT for stalling on bus and bike lanes. Law demands these lanes. Streets stay deadly. Commissioner Rodriguez faced anger. Restler and others demanded answers. Riders and walkers pay the price for delay.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s failure to deliver required bus and bike lanes. The hearing, led by the Committee on Transportation, featured testimony from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and others criticized the agency for 'continuously falling behind on legally required bus and bike lanes.' The matter title reads: 'NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog.' Restler’s action was to publicly challenge DOT’s delays. No safety analyst note was provided, but the council’s frustration highlights the risk: every missed lane leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-09-12

Serious injuries from traffic crashes surged nearly 10 percent in spring 2023. Pedestrians and cyclists bore the brunt. The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan saw the worst rates. City law forced new data into the open. The carnage continues. Bold action is demanded.

A new report released September 11, 2023, shows a sharp rise in serious traffic injuries in New York City. The data, analyzed by Transportation Alternatives, covers 4,224 severe injuries from January 2022 to June 2023. In the second quarter of 2023 alone, 784 people—192 pedestrians and 124 cyclists among them—were seriously hurt, up from 718 the year before. The law requiring this data was sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. The report’s title calls this a 'preventable public health crisis.' Philip Miatkowski of Transportation Alternatives blames decades of policy that 'prioritize cars over people and leave behind our most vulnerable.' The data shows the Bronx had 23 percent more serious injuries per capita than the city average, Brooklyn 27 percent more, and Manhattan’s cyclist injuries were 77 percent higher per capita. The city’s DOT claims safety redesigns are underway, but the toll on vulnerable road users keeps climbing.

• Serious Traffic Crash Injuries on the Rise: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-11