Blood on Broadway: Slow the Cars, Save the Living

A tractor-trailer killed Kala Santiago, 25, on Parkside Avenue near Prospect Park. Councilmember Rita Joseph demanded safer streets. Parkside is not a truck route. The street has seen dozens of injuries. Advocates want protected bike lanes. Lives hang in the balance.

On October 12, 2022, Councilmember Rita Joseph (District 40) responded to the death of cyclist Kala Santiago, struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Parkside Avenue, Brooklyn. Joseph, in a joint statement with Transportation Alternatives, said, "The tragic death of yet another cyclist in our city, this time in my own neighborhood, shows how far we need to come to address traffic violence." Joseph called for urgent action to make streets safer. Parkside Avenue, not a designated truck route, has seen 161 injuries in five years, including 28 cyclists and 25 pedestrians. Advocates, including Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives, demanded the city fast-track protected bike lanes, warning, "Lives are on the line." The city has completed eight miles of protected lanes this year, with a goal of 20 by January. The push for protected infrastructure follows a spike in traffic deaths and ongoing danger for vulnerable road users.

• Cyclist killed in Brooklyn crash near Prospect Park, gothamist.com, Published 2022-10-12

A 23-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured and ejected after colliding with a left-turning SUV on Audubon Avenue. The impact struck the scooter’s front center and the SUV’s right side. The rider suffered a head contusion and bruises.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling north on Audubon Avenue collided with a Mercedes SUV making a left turn southbound. The point of impact was the scooter’s center front end and the SUV’s right side doors. The e-scooter driver was ejected and sustained a head injury classified as a contusion and bruises. The report lists driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The injured rider was not wearing any safety equipment. No other occupants were involved. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and improper turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574540 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Council Member Gale Brewer challenges DOT’s street safety boasts. She questions claims of 750 redesigned intersections. Public data shows far less. Most fixes are signal timing, not real protection. Advocates want proof, not promises. Road deaths remain high. Brewer vows investigation.

On October 5, 2022, Council Member Gale Brewer, chair of the Council's oversight committee, announced plans to investigate the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) street safety claims. Brewer questioned DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez’s assertion that 750 of 1,000 intersections were redesigned, citing public data showing fewer than 400. Brewer said, “I love the idea of using her committee's investigatory power to explore whether the Adams administration has indeed redesigned 750 of the promised 1,000 intersections... or whether it done fewer than that, as the agency's own public data shows.” She confirmed her intent to use committee investigators and hold an oversight hearing. The matter, titled “City Council oversight inquiry into DOT street safety implementation and data transparency,” highlights DOT’s lack of documentation and reliance on signal retiming over physical improvements. Advocates and Brewer demand full transparency and real progress. Road deaths remain high, and the city lags on legal mandates for bus and bike lanes.

• CM Brewer: ‘I’ll Hold DOT Accountable on Promises and Data’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-05

Council Member Alexa Avilés pushes new rules for last-mile trucking. Trucks choke Red Hook and Sunset Park. Narrow streets shake. Residents breathe fumes. The bill demands safer, smarter routes. Data and daylighting aim to protect people, not just freight.

On September 30, 2022, Council Member Alexa Avilés (District 38) introduced a package of bills targeting last-mile trucking regulation. The measures, revived in committee, seek to redesign truck routes and gather data on facilities run by Amazon, FedEx, and UPS. The matter aims to 'reduce congestion and emissions, improve safety and increase visibility,' especially in overburdened neighborhoods like Red Hook and Sunset Park. Avilés, the lead sponsor, calls for systematic changes: 'We really need to look systematically at more improved routes to ensure people are safe.' The bills would require the Department of Transportation to daylight intersections and the Department of Environmental Protection to install air monitors on heavy-use roads. Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsors a related bill for public truck-route data. The legislation draws support from industry and advocates, all seeking safer streets and cleaner air for vulnerable New Yorkers.

• Trio of council bills seeks to regulate last-mile trucking routes, crainsnewyork.com, Published 2022-09-30

City officials want entrepreneurs to build bike repair shops, rentals, and safe parking on city land. The plan aims to make cycling safer and easier. Leaders say it will cut congestion and boost access. Some insiders doubt the process will deliver.

On September 23, 2022, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) released a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) to expand bike infrastructure and services across New York City. The RFEI, still in a preliminary stage, seeks proposals for bike repair and rental facilities, cargo-bike rentals, secure bike parking, and traffic safety gardens on city-owned lots. DCAS Commissioner Dawn Pinnock called a 'safe, accessible, and thriving biking ecosystem... essential for our city’s future.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez backed the move, calling it 'the next natural step' to support the cycling boom. The initiative aims to make biking safer, easier, and more convenient, while easing street congestion. Some transportation insiders, however, question whether the process will lead to real change.

• EXCLU: City to Entrepreneurs: Help Us Build a Truly Bike-Friendly City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-23

DOT bleeds talent. One in five top jobs sit empty. Projects stall. Safety work slows. Leadership wobbles. Staff burn out. Promises break. Streets stay dangerous. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price. The lights stay on, but hope flickers.

This report, published September 22, 2022, exposes a staffing crisis inside the New York City Department of Transportation. Nearly 20% of top agency positions are vacant. The article, titled 'Just Keeping the Lights On,' details how these gaps cripple street safety and improvement projects. Key leadership roles—chief of staff, general counsel, communications director—remain unfilled. Employees blame city hiring policies, pandemic resignations, and weak leadership from Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. One former staffer says, 'We couldn't produce anything new. We were just keeping the lights on.' Another warns, 'The agency's ability to respond to severe injuries and fatalities is also limited and slow.' Political interference and lack of expertise at the top deepen the crisis. The result: fewer bus lanes, stalled bike infrastructure, and a city where vulnerable road users face mounting danger.

• ‘Just Keeping the Lights On’: Low Morale, High Staff Vacancy Rate Hobble Department of Transportation, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-22

Council Member Stevens and others urge DOT to fix the Washington Bridge. They want a two-way bike lane, wider walkways, better lights, and cameras. The bridge is old, narrow, and dark. Crossing is risky. They demand action to protect people.

On September 22, 2022, Council Member Althea Stevens joined Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and Council Member Carmen de la Rosa in a joint letter to the Department of Transportation. The letter calls for urgent upgrades to the 133-year-old Washington Bridge. The officials demand a two-way protected bike lane, wider pedestrian paths, improved lighting, and safety cameras. The letter states: 'The city has done a terrific job of making wise investments in improving mobility on both sides of the Harlem River, but left the bridge with just two very narrow, poorly lit lanes for foot and bike traffic.' Stevens and her colleagues stress that the bridge is unsafe for people on foot and bike. They urge DOT to act, citing the need to reduce traffic deaths and make the bridge safe for all.

• Exclusive: BPs Levine and Gibson pen letter to DOT calling for upgrades to Washington Bridge, amny.com, Published 2022-09-22

Mayor Adams promised to fix 1,000 intersections. Only 395 saw changes. Most were minor tweaks to signal timing. Few got real redesigns. Advocates are angry. Fatalities stay high. The city moves slow. Streets remain deadly for walkers and riders.

This is a progress report on Mayor Adams’s 1,000-intersection safety pledge, published September 21, 2022. The Department of Transportation claims only 395 intersections improved since the January 19 announcement. Most changes were limited to signal timing (LPIs), not physical redesigns. The matter centers on the mayor’s vow to 'make expedient and substantive changes to dangerous intersections.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez’s earlier claims of progress are not supported by public data. Advocates like Liz Denys (Transportation Alternatives) and Sara Lind (Open Plans) criticize the slow pace and lack of real fixes. Lind urges, 'The city must allocate the resources needed for DOT to employ their full toolkit of redesign tools.' Council members and community boards are called to help identify and fix dangerous spots. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• Update: ‘Get Stuff Done’ Mayor Far Behind on his Vow to Fix 1,000 Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-21

A sedan making a U-turn struck a southbound moped on Saint Nicholas Avenue. The moped driver, 41, suffered neck abrasions. Police cited unsafe speed as a factor. Metal hit flesh. The street stayed busy.

According to the police report, a sedan making a U-turn on Saint Nicholas Avenue collided with a southbound moped. The moped driver, a 41-year-old man, was injured with neck abrasions but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The moped struck the sedan’s left side doors, damaging its center front. The sedan driver was licensed. The moped driver wore a helmet, but the crash was caused by the sedan’s maneuver and unsafe speed. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565707 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A 2-year-old girl was struck at an intersection on Fort Washington Avenue while crossing with the signal. The sedan made a right turn and hit her with its right front bumper. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee and lower leg.

According to the police report, a 2-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Fort Washington Avenue at an intersection in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a sedan, traveling west and making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. The child sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the vehicle's movement. The vehicle showed no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash and suffered moderate injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Council Member Julie Won blasted DOT for stalling a promised pedestrian lane on the Queensboro Bridge. She called the agency’s excuses garbage. Cyclists and walkers remain squeezed into a narrow, dangerous path. DOT’s delays keep vulnerable road users at risk.

On September 15, 2022, Council Member Julie Won publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the conversion of the Queensboro Bridge’s south outer roadway into a pedestrian-only lane. The project, promised by the previous mayor for completion by the end of 2022, was pushed back at least a year. Won, whose district covers the bridge’s eastern approaches, led a walkthrough with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and staff from Council Members Julie Menin and Selvena Brooks-Powers. Won said, “They kept saying they can’t give the south outer roadway to pedestrians because there would be traffic. Well, I don’t care about the congestion!” She forced the commissioner to stand in the cramped lane, showing how unsafe it is for both cyclists and pedestrians. DOT offered only minor adjustments, like repainting lines, which Won dismissed as “missing the point.” The agency promised lawmakers data to justify keeping five car lanes, but Won insisted the delay puts lives at risk and called for immediate action.

• Queens Pol: DOT’s Excuses for Queensboro Bridge Safety Delays Are ‘Garbage’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-15

A sedan turning left struck a southbound e-bike on West 175 Street. The 22-year-old e-bike rider suffered abrasions and arm injuries. Driver distraction played a role. The crash left the cyclist in shock, injured but not ejected.

According to the police report, a 2017 Honda sedan was making a U-turn on West 175 Street in Manhattan when it collided with a southbound e-bike. The e-bike rider, a 22-year-old man, sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The sedan struck the e-bike on its left side doors and left front bumper, respectively. The cyclist was not ejected but was left in shock. No safety equipment or helmet use was noted. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling southbound. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers making turns in busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4564049 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A southbound SUV struck the rear of another vehicle on West 165 Street in Manhattan. The female driver of the struck vehicle suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on West 165 Street in Manhattan involving two southbound SUVs. The driver of the rear-ended vehicle, a 45-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. The impact was at the center back end of the struck vehicle and the center front end of the striking vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4564051 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A 29-year-old woman was hit by a northbound sedan on West 180 Street. The driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered bruises and leg injuries. Impact struck the vehicle’s right side doors. The victim was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing West 180 Street outside an intersection. She was struck by a northbound 2014 Honda sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right side doors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision and did not have any listed safety equipment. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving to pedestrians crossing mid-block.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566378 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Brooklyn and Queens leaders want car-free Summer Streets beyond Manhattan. They urge the city to open roads for people, not cars. Advocates back them. The city says it will review. Families, children, and communities stand to gain space and safety.

On September 12, 2022, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called for expanding the 'Summer Streets' program to their boroughs. They wrote to Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, stating, 'Every year, we see how much New Yorkers enjoy the car-free street and associated activities, and we are writing to ask you to bring this beloved event to our respective boroughs in 2023.' The Department of Transportation said it would review the request. Advocates like Juan Restrepo and Jackson Chabot joined the call, demanding more hours and borough-wide access. Community groups stressed the benefits for families and children. The program is described as cost-effective, crime-free, and vital for community building. No formal council bill or vote yet, but the push is clear: open streets for all, not just Manhattan.

• Brooklyn, Queens Beeps Want ‘Summer Streets’ Too!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-12

Eight months in, Mayor Adams has redesigned just 28 school streets. Over 1.75 million children remain exposed to reckless drivers. Advocates call the effort weak. Streets near schools still see high crash rates. City promises more, but kids keep facing danger.

This report, published September 8, 2022, reviews Mayor Adams’s progress on school street safety. In eight months, the administration completed only 28 street redesigns near schools, out of 2,600 citywide. The Department of Transportation has 24 more projects underway. The matter summary states: 'the city's relatively minor investment in street safety upgrades will do little to mitigate the threats cars pose to children walking to and from city schools.' Council members and advocates, including Emily Stutts and Danny Harris, criticize the slow pace. Stutts says, 'It doesn’t feel like enough,' while Harris urges, 'Mayor Adams and DOT need to expand this program now to save lives.' The city expanded school-zone speed cameras to 24/7 and increased open streets for schools to 47, but this covers only a fraction of schools. Advocates demand aggressive Vision Zero action, citing rising child fatalities and persistent danger for vulnerable road users.

• New Year, Same Dangers: Mayor Adams Has Made Only a Tiny Fraction of School Streets Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-08

City Hall stalls on a council-approved plan for school bus stop-arm cameras. Streets near schools stay dangerous. Children walk past risk. Council Member Keith Powers urges action. Advocates press for automated enforcement. The mayor keeps the tool unused.

On September 7, 2022, the Adams administration declined to implement a City Council-approved program allowing cameras on school bus stop arms to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. The bill, sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and co-sponsored by Keith Powers (District 4), aimed to protect children near schools. The matter summary states the law was 'an innovative way to further our goal of promoting street safety.' Powers urged the mayor and DOT to act. Despite evidence from other cities and strong support from advocates like StreetsPAC and Transportation Alternatives, City Hall cited a lack of recent deaths and continued to evaluate the program. The Council bill permitted, but did not require, the enforcement program. Advocates argue the city is missing a proven tool to hold reckless drivers accountable and keep children safe.

• As School Returns, Mayor Adams Keeps a Street Safety Tool in the Drawer, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-09-07

Mayor Adams shelved a council-approved plan for school bus stop-arm cameras. The law lets the city catch drivers who pass stopped buses. Streets near schools stay dangerous. Advocates push for action. City Hall stalls. Children remain exposed.

Bill number not specified. The City Council passed a law allowing a school bus stop-arm camera program. The measure, sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and co-sponsored by Keith Powers, empowers the city to install cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. On September 7, 2022, Mayor Adams’s administration chose not to implement the program, citing ongoing evaluation and a lack of recent deaths from such incidents. Council Member Powers urged the mayor and DOT to use this tool, calling it 'an innovative way to further our goal of promoting street safety.' Activists from StreetsPAC and Transportation Alternatives criticized the delay, noting that streets near schools are especially dangerous for children, particularly in Black and brown neighborhoods. Evidence from other cities shows stop-arm cameras catch hundreds of violations quickly. The law leaves the program to mayoral discretion. City Hall supports speed cameras but has not acted on stop-arm enforcement.

• As School Returns, Mayor Adams Keeps a Street Safety Tool in the Drawer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-07

A motorcycle collided with an SUV making a left turn on Audubon Avenue. The motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries. The SUV driver was inattentive and turned improperly. The crash left the rider fractured and dislocated.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south on Audubon Avenue struck the left front quarter panel of a Jeep SUV making a left turn northwest at West 179 Street. The motorcyclist, a 40-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver errors as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' by the SUV driver. The motorcyclist was conscious but seriously injured. No information on helmet use was provided. The crash highlights the dangers of inattentive turning maneuvers involving vulnerable motorcyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4564029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A 25-year-old man flew from his multi-wheeled machine at West 178th and Wadsworth. No helmet. No belt. Head struck hard. Blood pooled. Driver inexperience and rage fueled the crash. Only the rider was hurt. The street stayed silent.

A 25-year-old man was ejected from a multi-wheeled vehicle while traveling north on West 178th Street at Wadsworth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the rider was thrown from the vehicle, suffering a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. No other vehicles or people were involved. The rider wore no helmet or seat belt, as noted in the report, but these are mentioned only after the driver errors. The crash left the vehicle undamaged, but the rider was left injured and conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16