The Blood Stays—Until City Hall Moves

Mar 2 - Cracked asphalt splits the Ocean Parkway bike path. Cyclists dodge hazards. Advocates warn of worsening danger. Repairs crawl. City agencies stall. A fatal crash haunts the route. Groups demand urgent fixes, safer slip lanes, and real maintenance. City officials stay silent.

On March 2, 2022, cycling groups Bike New York and Bike South Brooklyn sounded the alarm over the crumbling Ocean Parkway bike path in Brooklyn. In a letter to the Parks Department and Department of Transportation, they wrote: "Asphalt is heaving and cracking at many points from the northern end of the bikeway to Avenue R... These conditions will worsen as long as they are not repaired or addressed." The advocates criticized the slow pace of repairs, noting the southern section will not be fixed until 2023. Jon Orcutt, Bike New York Advocacy Director, said, "Parks' inability to move projects like these or stay ahead of decay poses big problems for an expanded citywide greenway system." The letter urges long-term maintenance plans and calls for safer slip street designs, demanding drivers stop before crossing bike lanes. No city officials responded. The advocates cite a recent cyclist fatality as proof of the deadly risk.

• Cycling Groups Sound Alarm that More of Ocean Parkway Bike Path is Falling Apart, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-02

Feb 28 - A sunken road on 40th Drive killed Lin Wen-Chiang, 77, after months of ignored complaints. City agencies patched the hole only after his death. The repair was rushed and uneven. The hazard remains. The city failed to protect cyclists. No answers given.

On February 28, 2022, city agencies responded to the death of Lin Wen-Chiang, 77, who was killed after his bike struck a caved-in section of 40th Drive in Elmhurst, Queens. The matter, titled 'City Covers Up Failure After Cyclist Death, With Hastily Made Repairs After Months of 311 Complaints,' details how residents filed at least eight 311 complaints to the Department of Transportation and 14 to the Department of Environmental Protection since 2019. Both agencies failed to fix the hazard. Only after Wen-Chiang’s death did city workers patch the road, but the repair was rushed and left uneven, creating a new danger. DOT spokesman Vin Barone called it 'a tragedy' and said an investigation is underway. DEP claimed the subsurface infrastructure was sound. No council members are named. The city’s neglect cost a life and left the street unsafe for cyclists.

• City Covers Up Failure After Cyclist Death, With Hastily Made Repairs After Months of 311 Complaints, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-28

Feb 15 - Two men on bikes collided on Fulton Street in Manhattan. One rider, 35, suffered a head abrasion. Both bikers were going straight east. No vehicle damage was reported. The injured cyclist wore no helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, two bicyclists traveling east on Fulton Street in Manhattan collided. One bicyclist, a 35-year-old man, was injured with a head abrasion but was conscious and not ejected from his bike. Both riders were going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless behavior. Neither bike sustained damage. The injured cyclist was not wearing a helmet. The crash resulted in injury severity level 3 for the bicyclist. No other persons were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 2 - Mayor Adams named new climate chiefs. Advocates want less talk, more action. They demand bus lanes, bike lanes, and fewer cars. Transportation emissions barely dropped in 15 years. Car ownership climbs. The city’s climate targets slip further away.

On February 2, 2022, Mayor Adams announced his new climate team, appointing Rohit Aggarwala as Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner and Chief Climate Officer, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. The announcement, covered by Streetsblog NYC, focused on broad climate issues. Advocates, including Jaqi Cohen and Kevin Garcia, pressed the new office to prioritize transportation emissions, quoting, 'improving transit options and creating access for environmental justice communities, while also curbing harmful diesel emissions.' Aggarwala voiced support for congestion pricing, pedestrianization, and bus lanes, promising collaboration with the Department of Transportation. Transportation emissions have dropped only 5% since 2007, while car ownership rises. Advocates urge the climate team to work with DOT on bus and bike lanes, last-mile delivery, and cargo bikes to meet climate and justice goals.

• New City Hall Climate Teams Must Focus On Transportation Emissions Reductions, Advocates Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-02

Jan 31 - Cities and states rip out parking minimums. Planners shift focus. Streets change. Fewer cars, more homes. Demand-based pricing rises. Public space gets new life. The old rules crumble. The car’s grip loosens. Vulnerable road users watch the system bend.

This policy analysis, published January 31, 2022, reviews the swift rollback of mandatory parking minimums across U.S. cities and states. The article, 'Analysis: The Decline and Fall of Mandatory Parking Minimums,' highlights reforms like removing off-street parking requirements, charging demand-based prices, and investing parking revenue in public services. Cities such as South Bend, Sacramento, Berkeley, Minneapolis, and others lead the charge. State-level changes in Oregon, California, and Connecticut follow. The analysis credits UCLA Professor Donald Shoup’s influence. No council bill number or committee is cited, as this is a legislative trend, not a single bill. The piece notes, 'Minimum parking requirements are on the way out.' These reforms embed parking changes within broader housing and zoning efforts, aiming to cut car dependency and boost affordable housing. No direct safety analyst note is included, but the trend signals a shift in urban priorities that could reshape streets for all users.

• Analysis: The Decline and Fall of Mandatory Parking Minimums, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-31

Jan 31 - DOT says new sensors to catch overweight trucks on the BQE will not arrive until year’s end. Council Member Restler calls the daily truck hazard urgent. Lawmakers demand swift action. The city and state must coordinate. Vulnerable road users wait.

On January 31, 2022, DOT confirmed that weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) will take a year to install. The pilot program, enabled by a state bill signed December 22, aims to fine illegally overweight trucks. The bill was introduced by State lawmakers Brian Kavanagh and Jo Anne Simon. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing District 33, pressed for rapid installation, warning, "There are extremely overweight trucks barreling down the triple cantilever every single day that are a hazard to the health and safety of our community." The matter title states: "Tonnage sensors on the BQE will take a year to set up: DOT." The project is complex, requiring city and state DOT coordination and a 90-day grace period once operational. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while the system is delayed.

• Tonnage sensors on the BQE will take a year to set up: DOT, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-01-31

Jan 30 - DOT drags its feet. Overweight trucks pound the BQE. Council Member Restler calls it a daily hazard. Lawmakers push for weigh-in-motion sensors. The city says setup takes a year. Vulnerable road users wait while trucks threaten collapse.

On January 30, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) pressed for urgent action on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) weigh-in-motion (WIM) pilot. The bill, sponsored in the state legislature by Brian Kavanagh and Jo Anne Simon, was signed into law on December 22. The measure, described as a 'critical project' by DOT, aims to catch and fine overweight trucks using new sensors. Restler said, 'There are extremely overweight trucks barreling down the triple cantilever every single day that are a hazard to the health and safety of our community.' DOT claims the system will be operational by year’s end, citing technical complexity. The Brooklyn Heights Association and local officials demand faster action. The pilot is the first of its kind in the nation. Until sensors are live, the BQE remains a danger zone for everyone not behind the wheel.

• Weight' for it: BQE automatic truck tonnage sensors will take a year to set up, DOT says, amny.com, Published 2022-01-30

Jan 27 - Charles Komanoff’s model shows a $13 congestion toll falls short. The real number for maximum benefit is $80. Politicians settle low. The city leaves billions on the table. Transit, air, and streets stay dangerous. Cars keep winning. Vulnerable lives pay.

This editorial, published January 27, 2022, argues for a much higher congestion pricing toll than the $13–$15 range under discussion. Contributor Charles Komanoff, using his Balanced Transportation Analyzer, finds that an $80 toll would maximize net societal benefit, nearly $10 billion yearly. The article states: 'A $13 or $15 congestion toll might be all the politicians think they can achieve, but such a low fee will fail to maximize the net societal benefit.' Komanoff’s analysis shows the current plan extracts only half the possible benefit while charging less than a fifth of the optimal toll. No council member is named; this is an expert’s call to action. The piece notes that higher tolls could fund subway safety upgrades and faster trains, but the city’s political will remains weak. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as cars dominate.

• OPINION: The Congestion Pricing Toll Really Should Be $80, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-27

Jan 25 - A 75-year-old woman lies in critical condition after a driver struck her on McGuinness Boulevard. The wide, fast road has long endangered walkers. Assemblymember Emily Gallagher calls for urgent safety changes. Neighbors demand a road diet, bike lanes, and traffic calming.

On January 25, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher responded to a severe crash on McGuinness Boulevard in Council District 50. A 75-year-old pedestrian was hit midblock by a driver in a Lincoln Corsair. Gallagher wrote, 'Extremely distressing to see another serious crash injuring a pedestrian on McGuinness. I’m thinking about the victim and continuing to fight for our improvements, which can’t come soon enough.' The street, notorious for speeding and poor crossings, is slated for a $39 million redesign after years of advocacy and deadly crashes. The Make McGuinness Safe Coalition and residents have pushed for a road diet, bike lanes, and traffic calming. The Department of Transportation is gathering public feedback, with construction expected later this year. Gallagher’s stance and the community’s demands highlight the urgent need to protect vulnerable road users on this dangerous stretch.

• Elderly pedestrian in critical condition after being hit by car in Greenpoint, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-01-25

Jan 20 - A chain reaction crash on West Street injured four passengers, including two children. Vehicles traveling south collided in traffic. Alcohol and illegal drugs were factors. All injured were conscious and restrained. Whiplash and neck injuries reported.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle rear-end collision occurred on West Street involving sedans and an SUV traveling south. Four occupants were injured, including two children ages 8 and 9. All were passengers except one driver. Injuries included whiplash and neck trauma. The report lists alcohol involvement and illegal drugs as contributing factors. The driver errors noted include impaired driving due to alcohol and drugs. All injured parties were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The crash caused center front and back-end damage to multiple vehicles. No pedestrian involvement was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 12 - Tesla’s ‘assertive’ self-driving mode lets cars tailgate, roll stops, and break laws. The company programs machines to endanger people. U.S. law targets drivers, not automakers. Regulators stall. Vulnerable road users pay the price. No one holds Tesla to account.

On January 12, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported on Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) ‘assertive’ mode. The article, titled “Why Tesla Can Program Its Cars to Break Road Safety Laws,” exposes how Tesla’s October 2021 software update lets drivers select aggressive profiles. In ‘assertive’ mode, Teslas tailgate, perform unsafe passes, and roll through stops—illegal actions in most states. Phil Koopman, an autonomous vehicle expert, said, “Basically, Tesla is programming its cars to break laws.” The report highlights a regulatory gap: U.S. law punishes drivers, not manufacturers. Some states shield automakers, while others seek accountability. NHTSA investigates, but action lags. Tesla faces no immediate recall. The result: automated vehicles threaten pedestrians and cyclists, while lawmakers and regulators look away.

• Why Tesla Can Program Its Cars to Break Road Safety Laws, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-12

Jan 9 - A sedan made an improper U-turn on Murray Street. It struck a bicyclist traveling east. The cyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured, dislocated shoulder. The bike's left side doors were damaged. The driver caused the crash by turning improperly.

According to the police report, a sedan was making an improper U-turn on Murray Street in Manhattan when it collided with a bicyclist traveling straight ahead eastbound. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm shoulder injury. The bike's left side doors were damaged on impact. The report lists "Turning Improperly" as the contributing factor for the crash. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash but seriously injured. The sedan showed no damage, indicating the impact was primarily to the bike and rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493373 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 6 - Transit leaders debated how boards handle homelessness. They challenged policing as a fix. They called for social services, not crackdowns. Riders and the unhoused share the system. Boards shape whether transit is safe for all, or just some.

On January 6, 2022, a panel at the Railvolution conference, moderated by former BART GM Grace Crunican, brought together Monica Tibbits-Nutt (former MBTA board) and Christof Spieler (former Houston Metro board) to discuss transit board policy. The session, titled 'Building a Better Transit Board,' focused on how agencies address homelessness. Tibbits-Nutt argued, 'as long as we continue to have these discussions in just that safety standpoint... we’re not going to be able to address any of these issues.' Spieler added, 'they have a right to be on the bus as much as anyone else.' Both opposed policing as the main response and urged boards to involve social services. The discussion underscored that transit boards can either foster inclusive safety or reinforce exclusion and danger for vulnerable riders.

• Talking Headways Podcast: Building a Better Transit Board, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-06