No More Blood on Broadway: Lower the Limit, Save a Life

Council grilled city officials on outdoor dining fees. Activists demanded fair curb pricing. Motorists get free space; restaurants must pay. Some council members griped about noise and trash. Consensus: city must manage public space better. No mention of direct safety impact.

On February 9, 2022, the City Council held a hearing on making the Open Restaurants program permanent. The matter, titled 'Could Fees for Outdoor Dining Lead to Proper Pricing of City’s Curbs?', focused on charging restaurants for curbside space. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez explained fees would depend on location and size, starting at $1,050. Council members Julie Menin and Christopher Marte raised concerns about noise, garbage, and parking loss. Livable streets groups, including Open Plans and Transportation Alternatives, supported curbside fees and called for an Office of Public Space Management. Marco Conner DiAquoi of Transportation Alternatives noted, 'Seventy-five percent of our public curb space is devoted to the movement and storage of vehicles.' The hearing showed broad support for better public space management, but the safety impact for vulnerable road users was not addressed.

• Hearing Day: Could Fees for Outdoor Dining Lead to Proper Pricing of City’s Curbs?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-09

A school bus driver cut off and killed April Reign, a 32-year-old moped rider, on Eastern Parkway. The driver turned sharply, struck Reign, ran her over, and left the scene. Brooklyn’s wide roads and chaotic intersections remain deadly for vulnerable road users.

On February 4, 2022, a deadly crash unfolded on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. A yellow school bus, driven by a 48-year-old man, struck and killed April Reign, a 32-year-old moped rider, near St. Marks Avenue. The driver made a sharp right turn, cut off Reign, knocked her down, and ran her over. He left the scene but later returned after a bystander intervened. No charges were filed at the time. The intersection is notorious for danger, with 487 crashes and 241 injuries reported on this stretch in 2021 alone. Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, called Brooklyn streets 'horrifically deadly for pedestrians and cyclists' and demanded immediate action. Promised safety upgrades—protected bike lanes, intersection redesigns—remain unfulfilled. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• UPDATE: Brooklyn Moped Rider is Killed by a School Bus Driver, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-04

City drags its feet on cyclist-friendly rules. DOT stalls on right-on-red and T-intersection reforms. Meanwhile, NYPD cracks down on cyclists at crosswalks. Advocates slam delays. Riders face more tickets, more danger. City promises review, but action lags.

On February 3, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) delayed two key cyclist-friendly rule changes from its 2021 regulatory agenda. These would allow cyclists to make right turns on red after stopping and to roll through red lights or stop signs at T-intersections when safe. No public hearings are scheduled. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams announced NYPD enforcement of a rule requiring cyclists and drivers to stop and wait for pedestrians at unsignalized crosswalks. Advocates, including Eric McClure of StreetsPAC and Jon Orcutt of Bike New York, criticized the delays. McClure called the changes 'common-sense' and 'safe,' urging DOT to act. The new enforcement rule is seen as targeting cyclists. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the rule would be reconsidered if enforcement is abused. Vulnerable road users face continued risk as reforms stall.

• THE SLOW WALK: What Happened to Those Cyclist-Friendly Rules?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-03

City delays Queensboro Bridge safety fix. Cyclists and walkers stay cramped on a narrow path. Cars keep nine lanes. Councilmember Julie Won urges action. DOT says repairs come first. Vulnerable road users wait. Danger lingers. Comfort for drivers wins again.

On February 3, 2022, Councilmember Julie Won (District 26) and others responded to the city's decision to delay the Queensboro Bridge bike and pedestrian lane project. The Department of Transportation postponed converting the south outer roadway to a pedestrian-only path until December 2023, citing ongoing upper deck repairs. The matter, titled 'City punts fix for ‘treacherous’ Queensboro Bridge bike and pedestrian path by another year,' leaves cyclists and pedestrians sharing a dangerously tight path for another year. Councilmembers Julie Won and Julie Menin urged DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez to speed up the process, calling the delay a safety concern. Cycling advocate Laura Shepard criticized the city for prioritizing drivers' comfort over vulnerable road users. DOT insists repairs must finish first. The delay keeps walkers and cyclists at risk, forced to share space while cars keep most of the bridge.

• City punts fix for ‘treacherous’ Queensboro Bridge bike and pedestrian path by another year, amny.com, Published 2022-02-03

DOT delays Queensboro Bridge safety upgrades, forcing cyclists and walkers to share a cramped lane for two more years. Council Members Menin and Won demand answers. Advocates call the delay dangerous. Nine lanes for cars, none safe for the rest.

On February 3, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a year-long delay in safety improvements for the Queensboro Bridge. The project, which would create a dedicated pedestrian path on the bridge’s south outer roadway, is now postponed until the end of 2023 due to deck fabrication issues. Council Members Julie Menin and Julie Won, responding to the delay, stated, 'At least two more years of a shared pedestrian and bike path is not the best outcome for our constituents.' Both called for a meeting with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, who reaffirmed his commitment to the project but offered no clear reason for the holdup. Advocates and community members condemned the delay as a threat to non-car users, citing frequent crashes and near-misses on the narrow shared path. They criticized the city’s prioritization of nine car lanes over the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

• Queensboro Bridge Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Delayed a Full Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-03

Mayor Adams launched a new Vision Zero push. The plan targets drivers and cyclists at crosswalks. NYPD vows strict enforcement. Advocates fear bias against cyclists. The city promises safer intersections, raised crosswalks, and more bike corrals. Warnings end. Tickets begin.

On January 19, 2022, Mayor Adams announced a new Vision Zero enforcement effort. The initiative, not a council bill but a citywide policy, requires all drivers and cyclists to stop for pedestrians at unsignalized crosswalks. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, a former council member, claims the rule protects pedestrians: 'Pedestrians are the ones that we are so committed to protecting in this particular initiative.' Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Sewell stressed enforcement: warnings will end, compliance will be enforced. Advocates like George Calderaro and Jon Orcutt warn of NYPD bias and a crackdown on cyclists. The plan includes engineering fixes at 1,000 intersections, raised crosswalks, more bike corrals, and a public awareness campaign. Advocacy groups back infrastructure but demand fair enforcement, not targeting cyclists. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• Mayor Adams’s ‘Turbo-Charged’ Vision Zero Includes a Back Door to Massive NYPD Crackdown on Cyclists, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-19

Ydanis Rodriguez faced the press. He promised more protected bike lanes. He backed Citi Bike growth in poor neighborhoods. He stayed vague on speed limits and price hikes. He pledged equity, but details were thin. Riders wait for action.

On January 19, 2022, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez held his first press conference since taking over the $1.3-billion agency. Rodriguez reaffirmed support for expanding Citi Bike, especially in underserved communities, and for strengthening protected bike lanes. He also voiced support for local control over speed limits and speed cameras, echoing the Crash Victims Rights & Safety Act. Rodriguez said, 'expanding Citi Bike to the underserved community is critical,' but offered few specifics, citing the need for internal review and consultation with the mayor. He acknowledged a 3 percent budget cut but maintained commitment to bike lane protection. Rodriguez's stance signals intent to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, but concrete plans remain unclear. The press and public await firmer commitments and timelines.

• Ydanis Rodriguez Meets the Press: What a Nice Guy (Who Didn’t Say Much), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-19

Bike New York blasts DOT for weak bike lanes and empty mileage targets. Advocates demand real protection, more concrete, and fewer painted lanes. They call for action, not excuses. The city’s cyclists face danger. The city must do better.

On January 7, 2022, Bike New York sent a letter to new DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The advocacy group declared, "The DOT bike program you inherit today is no longer a global leader or effective innovator." They criticized the agency for chasing mileage targets over safety and for letting police, film crews, and city vehicles block bike lanes. Bike New York called for physically protected lanes, more concrete, and an end to painted lanes and community board vetoes. Director Jon Orcutt said, "Bike lanes that are merely paint are obsolete and mostly useless to New Yorkers on bicycles in today’s city." DOT spokesman Seth Stein said Rodriguez agrees that a world-class protected bike lane network is key to safer streets and will consider the recommendations. The push is clear: vulnerable cyclists need real protection, not empty promises.

• Bike NY to DOT: The City’s Cycling Program is No Longer a World Leader, So Fix It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-12

Fifth Avenue stays dangerous. DOT stalls on promised redesign. Bike lane, busway, and pedestrian fixes remain on paper. Local business pressure blocks progress. Community Board 5 approved. Crashes and injuries mount. Council Member Powers urges action. Vulnerable road users wait.

"Powers reiterated that he’s supported the entirety of the plan on Fifth Avenue from the beginning, and wants the Adams administration – and new DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez – to move forward with the bike lane immediately." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

The Fifth Avenue redesign, announced in 2020 under former Mayor de Blasio, remains stalled as of January 10, 2022. The project, once a bold car-free busway, was scaled back to a protected bike lane and minor pedestrian upgrades. No new bus lane. Community Board 5 approved the plan, but DOT has not started work. Council Member Keith Powers supports the full plan and calls for immediate action on the bike lane, urging the Adams administration and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez to move forward. Local business interests, led by the Fifth Avenue Association, oppose the project, citing pandemic recovery concerns. Transportation Alternatives’ Cory Epstein says, 'Busways and bike lanes are good for the economy, good for our climate, and good for our Vision Zero goals.' Since the project’s announcement, crashes and injuries continue on the corridor. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the city delays.

• Despite End of Holiday Season, DOT Has No Update on Long-Stalled Fifth Ave. Project, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-10