Inwood Bleeds, City Waits: Demand Safe Streets Now

Queensboro Bridge’s narrow shared path forces walkers and cyclists into danger. Nine lanes for cars, half a lane each for people on foot and on bikes. Injuries rise. DOT delays promised improvements. Council Members Menin and Won demand action. Blood stains the pavement.

Council Members Julie Menin and Julie Won are pushing for urgent pedestrian and bike improvements on the Queensboro Bridge. The Department of Transportation (DOT) delayed the conversion of the South Outer Roadway to a full-time pedestrian path until at least the end of 2023, citing ongoing bridge repairs. The shared path, only 11 feet wide, is far below DOT’s own safety standards. Injuries have increased as usage soars—nine cyclists hurt in three years, up from three. Julie Won said, "People walking or biking on the shared path are paying with bloody pavement and broken bones, all so the DOT can promote car travel for the few." DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez claims the project is a priority, but the city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed. Nine lanes for cars, half a lane each for people. The danger is real and rising.

• EYES ON THE STREET: Walking Across the Queensboro Bridge is So Dangerous, It Feels Illegal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-05

City officials shrugged off a push to ban cars from Lower Broadway on Sundays. Advocates demanded action after a crash. Letters went unanswered. The city offered only bureaucracy. Pedestrians remain at risk while officials stall and streets stay open to traffic.

On July 1, 2022, Arthur Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association urged the city to make Lower Broadway car-free on summer Sundays. The proposal, sent to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, cited low vehicle use and the area's attractions. Piccolo argued, 'The automotive quiet creates the perfect opportunity for the administration to prove its commitment to pedestrians.' The city responded only after media inquiry, with DOT spokesperson Vincent Barone stating the proposal is under review as part of the 'Broadway Vision' plan and inviting groups to apply to the Open Streets program. Piccolo dismissed this as 'bureaucratic nonsense.' The Mayor's Office declined comment. The proposal follows renewed calls for pedestrian safety after a serious crash on Broadway. No formal council bill or committee action is noted. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• City Ignores Proposal for Car-Free Sundays on Lower Broadway, Booster Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-01

DOT says it manages public space well. Council and advocates disagree. They see gaps. Poorer neighborhoods lack safety upgrades. Volunteers and BIDs fill the void. DOT claims its programs work. The fight is over who protects the street—and who gets left out.

On June 29, 2022, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the proposal for an Office of Public Space Management. The Department of Transportation (DOT), led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, opposed the idea, stating, 'we do have a team at DOT that has been doing [public space management] and it's been doing a great job.' Rodriguez pointed to the city's interagency task force and programs like Plaza Equity and Open Streets. Councilmembers and advocates, including Sara Lind of Open Plans, argued that the current system fails underserved neighborhoods, relying too much on volunteers and business improvement districts. Lind testified, 'Safety improvements to the city’s public space should not require a private partner. An Office of Public Space Management ... could solve this problem.' The debate highlights systemic gaps in safety and equity for vulnerable road users.

• DOT Pushes Back at Calls for Office of ‘Public Space Management’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-29

City Council pushes a Greenways Master Plan. DOT backs it. The plan aims to stitch together the city’s broken greenway network. Advocates demand action, not more paper. The bill shifts responsibility to agencies that build and maintain. Vulnerable users wait for safe, connected paths.

On June 28, 2022, the City Council held a hearing on a bill to create a Greenways Master Plan. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera, was reviewed by the Transportation Committee. The matter title calls for 'a master plan to build and maintain a five-borough greenway network.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez voiced strong support, stating, 'This administration welcomes this bill, which is in line with both our vision for a greener, more connected city.' Rivera criticized the current system: 'Many of New York's 100 miles of greenways exist only on paper with no cohesive city network.' The bill would require city agencies to present a plan by July 1 next year. It also shifts responsibility from City Planning to agencies that actually build and maintain greenways. Advocates say this could finally connect fragmented paths and bring safer routes to neighborhoods long left out.

• DOT ‘Welcomes’ Council Bill to Build and Maintain City Greenways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-28

Three dead. Seven injured. Brooklyn streets ran red this weekend. Drivers struck, dragged, and killed. Victims included a child and an elder. Officials spoke. Promises made. The toll climbs. Vision Zero falters. Blood on the asphalt. The crisis deepens.

On June 26, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez issued a joint statement after a weekend of deadly crashes in Brooklyn. The statement followed a spate of violence: 'Car drivers killed at least three people and injured seven others, including an 11-year-old boy.' The carnage included hit-and-runs, reckless driving, and unlicensed operators. Adams and Rodriguez said they are 'working every day to deliver true public safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who uses our streets.' They acknowledged recent progress but warned, 'the disturbing incidents we've seen in recent weeks and the last 48 hours remind us just how fragile those positive steps are and how much more work remains.' The city faces one of its most violent years since Vision Zero began. The numbers: 106 killed citywide in the first half of 2022, surpassing 2015. The crisis is not over. The danger remains.

• Weekend Road Carnage Kills Three, Injures at Least Seven, as Bad Old Days Return, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-26

DOT doubled scooters in the East Bronx. Riders still face gaps. Protected bike lanes unfinished. Parks ban scooters near key hubs. DOT touts safety: no deaths, few injuries. Residents want more access. Bureaucracy blocks the way. Streets stay risky.

On June 22, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Phase II of its Bronx scooter share pilot. The program now covers the rest of the East Bronx. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'We’re thrilled to build on our successful e-scooter pilot in the Bronx and offer this safe and efficient travel option to even more residents.' The expansion doubles the number of scooters and extends service, but protected bike lanes in the new zone remain unfinished. Scooters are banned in some parks, cutting off access to the Ferry Point Park ferry terminal and Orchard Beach. DOT blames interdepartmental issues with the Parks Department. Rodriguez highlighted the pilot’s safety record: no fatalities, few injuries, and safety protocols like speed limits for new users. Residents voiced frustration over limited access. The expansion promises more mobility but leaves gaps in protection for vulnerable road users.

• DOT Launches Phase II of Popular East Bronx Scooter Share Pilot, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-22

A cab plowed into pedestrians on Broadway. Advocates demanded cars out. Mayor Adams said no. He praised open streets but stalled on action. Workers and safety groups called the delay deadly. The city waits. The danger remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On June 21, 2022, after a serious crash on Broadway, Mayor Eric Adams declined to pedestrianize the street, saying, "Not at this time." The matter, discussed in the article "Horrified City Calls for Safe, Car-Free Broadway, But Mayor Says ‘Not at This Time,’" saw Adams defer to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for further study. Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, blasted the delay. Danny Harris said, "A car-free Broadway would have prevented this heinous crash." Local workers echoed the call, citing safety and economic gains. The council took no formal legislative action. The city has tools to act but chooses more study. The street stays open to cars. The risk to pedestrians and cyclists continues.

• Horrified City Calls for Safe, Car-Free Broadway, But Mayor Says ‘Not at This Time’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-21

DOT will upgrade 50 intersections a year for senior safety. Plastic bollards, speed bumps, and paint aim to slow drivers. Critics say the pace is glacial. Over 40,000 intersections remain untouched. Seniors keep dying. The city calls it data-driven. Advocates demand more.

On June 15, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced a senior pedestrian safety initiative. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "We are a data-driven administration. We are following the crashes. We are focusing on the most dangerous intersections." The plan targets 50 intersections per year with turn-calming treatments like plastic bollards, rubber speed bumps, and paint. It focuses on 'Senior Pedestrian Zones' with high injury rates, but leaves out some neighborhoods with large senior populations. The plan also expands Leading Pedestrian Intervals and promises at least 10 Senior Street Improvement Projects annually. Critics, including Second Avenue Sagas, slammed the slow pace: "Fifty a year sounds like pushing a boulder up a hill with a toothpick." Advocates call the plan a small step, but say it falls short as senior deaths continue. No council bill number or committee is attached; this is a DOT policy action.

• Amid Senior Pedestrian Death Crisis, City Rolls Out Small Safety Initiative, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-15

DOT dumps Jersey barriers. Lighter blocks, wave delineators, armadillos come instead. Faster, cheaper, easier to install. Union Square East gets first shot. Advocates cheer, but worry: partial barriers may not stop cars. Cyclists wait for real protection. Streets stay dangerous.

On June 10, 2022, the New York City Department of Transportation announced a new pilot: the 'Better Barriers' initiative. The agency will swap out heavy Jersey barriers for curb-height blocks, wave delineators, and armadillo-shaped bumps. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'The Better Barriers pilot is an example of the innovative ways we are addressing traffic safety and improving our cycling network.' The pilot launches on Union Square East, with plans to expand. Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi both praised the creative push for safer streets. Advocacy groups like StreetsPAC and Open Plans welcomed the move but raised doubts about durability and the risk of partial barriers failing to keep lanes clear. Bike New York warned, 'simply putting barriers or partial barriers along the edges of the lanes isn’t sufficient to keep them clear.' The city promises faster, more cost-effective protection, but the fight for real safety continues.

• DOT Announces ‘Better Barriers’ in Shift to Protect Bike Lanes Faster, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-10

After a probe exposed deadly school streets, DOT pledged redesigns. Commissioner Rodriguez promised safer routes for children, but stopped short of bold action. Advocates demand car-free school streets. The city offered no project list. Crashes drop when streets close to cars.

On June 9, 2022, the Department of Transportation held a press conference in response to a Streetsblog investigation revealing high rates of traffic violence near city schools, especially in communities of color. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced plans to redesign dozens of school streets this year, stating, 'Our children and families deserve to be able to walk to school without the fear of being struck by a speeding or reckless driving.' Rodriguez highlighted collaborations with students and a $1 billion budget for street safety, but did not commit to expanding car-free school streets. Advocates argue that closing streets to cars is the most effective way to protect children, a method rarely used in New York City. The city did not release a list of the 100 planned projects or specify how many are near schools. Streetsblog’s reporting shows that closing streets to cars near schools leads to dramatic drops in crashes and injuries.

• After Streetsblog Probe of Dangerous School Streets, DOT Talks Up Student Safety Projects, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-09

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

The State Senate backed Sen. Gounardes’s bill to run speed cameras nonstop in city school zones. The vote was 51-12. Supporters cited lives lost to speeding. Opponents called it a cash grab. The Assembly must act before the session ends.

Bill S. (no number given) passed the New York State Senate on June 1, 2022, by a 51-12 vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, reauthorizes and expands New York City’s school-zone speed camera program to operate 24/7. The measure was debated in the Senate, with Sen. Robert Jackson and Gounardes defending it: 'Cars speeding in New York kill New Yorkers, injure New Yorkers.' Gounardes called the cameras 'life-saving.' Opponents, including Sen. Andrew Lanza, dismissed the program as a 'cash register.' Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives said, 'When New York City’s speed safety cameras turn off, speeding increases and crashes rise.' The bill awaits Assembly action before the legislative session ends.

• State Senate Overwhelmingly Supports 24/7 Speed Cameras for the City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-01

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01

Council members blasted the city for failing children on school streets. They called the danger 'egregious.' Streets near schools see more crashes, more injuries. Lawmakers want more crossing guards, speed bumps, and car-free hours. The city must act. Kids’ lives hang in the balance.

On June 1, 2022, New York City Council members held a press conference in response to a Streetsblog report exposing high crash rates near schools. The event, not tied to a specific bill, saw Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Julie Menin, Alexa Avilés, and Carlina Rivera demand urgent safety upgrades. The matter summary reads: 'City lawmakers and transportation and education advocates expressed outrage over a recent Streetsblog report on dangerous school streets, demanding the city do more to prevent drivers from harming children outside schools.' Lawmakers called the findings 'egregious' and 'unconscionable.' They urged more crossing guards, traffic calming, and car-free hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez signaled openness to restricting cars during key times. The council’s stance is clear: the city’s inaction puts children, especially those of color, at deadly risk. Lawmakers want swift, systemic change.

• Outraged Lawmakers and Advocates Urge City Action over Unsafe School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-01

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-31

DOT chief Ydanis Rodriguez says city streets near schools are deadly for kids. He backs speed cameras, traffic bans at arrival and dismissal, and new safe routes. He calls out racial inequity. He vows to use every tool. The danger is urgent.

On May 27, 2022, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez made a public statement after a rally for school-zone speed cameras. He said, “There's more work that we have to continue doing,” and called addressing racial disparities in street safety his 'top priority.' Rodriguez supports restricting cars on school streets during arrival and departure and is open to any tool to protect children. He announced a new plan for safe routes to school. Rodriguez’s comments followed a Streetsblog investigation showing higher crash rates near schools, especially those serving poor children and children of color. He emphasized the personal stakes, noting his own daughters walk city streets. No formal bill number or committee was cited.

• DOT Commissioner: City Must Do More to Keep Kids Safe from Cars Outside Schools, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-27

City Council voted to extend and expand speed cameras. The bill lets cameras run all day, every day. Forty-three said yes, seven said no. David Carr voted no. The measure now heads to Albany. Streets may see more eyes, more tickets.

On May 26, 2022, the City Council approved a home rule request to extend and expand New York City's speed camera program, allowing cameras to operate 24/7 for three more years. The vote was 43 in favor, seven against. The matter summary: 'giving the state Legislature the go-ahead to pass a three-year extension and expansion of New York City's speed camera program that allows them to operate 24/7.' Council Member David Carr (District 50) voted no. Other Republicans and two Democrats also opposed. Ydanis Rodriguez, City Transportation Commissioner, said, 'Cameras will be 24/7 the whole year.' The bill now moves to the state legislature, which must act before June 2. No formal safety analyst note was provided for this action.

• NYC Council signs off on 24/7 speed enforcement cameras, nypost.com, Published 2022-05-26

Council passed Albany’s speed camera expansion. Cameras now run all day, every day. Seven members opposed. Supporters cited lives lost when cameras slept. Opponents called it a tax. The vote followed a deadly year. Danger stalks city streets, especially near schools.

On May 26, 2022, the New York City Council voted 43-7 to approve Albany’s extension and expansion of the city’s speed camera program. The measure, handled by the Transportation Committee, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7. The matter summary: 'The City Council approved Albany's extension and expansion of New York's speed camera program, allowing cameras to operate 24/7, but not before several council members voiced opposition.' Chairwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers urged action, saying, 'We must use all the tools at our disposal.' Council Members Joan Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and David Carr opposed, calling cameras a financial burden. Eric Dinowitz defended the program: 'If you don't want a speeding ticket, don't speed.' The vote came after a year of high road deaths, with special risk near schools.

• Amid Epic Crisis of Road Deaths, Some Members of the City Council Still Oppose Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-26

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25