Queens Streets Bleed While City Hall Sleeps

A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

Water rose fast. Cars stranded. People climbed roofs to escape. Rescue teams pulled them out. Rain hammered Queens. The road drowned, then cleared. Danger came quick. Relief came late.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that flash flooding trapped drivers on the Clearview Expressway in Queens. Video showed people perched atop cars, waiting for rescue. A witness described, "10 feet deep, people sitting on top of cars, 6 or 7." Mayor Eric Adams declared a localized State of Emergency. The flooding left vehicles stranded and forced emergency response. The article highlights the risk of sudden, severe weather overwhelming city infrastructure, stranding vulnerable road users in harm’s way.

• Flash Flood Traps Cars On Expressway, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

SUV plowed into a cyclist on 20th Ave. The rider, a 36-year-old woman, suffered pain and shock. Police cite traffic control ignored and failure to yield. System failed the vulnerable again.

A station wagon/SUV traveling north on 20th Ave struck a 36-year-old woman riding east on a bike. She was injured, reporting pain and shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The cyclist wore a helmet, but driver errors came first. Two vehicle occupants were also involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals and fail to yield to those most at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided at 21st Street and 21st Avenue. Both drivers suffered neck injuries. Police cite improper turning. Metal and glass, sudden pain, sirens in Queens.

Two station wagons collided at the intersection of 21st Street and 21st Avenue in Queens. Both male drivers, aged 48 and 54, were injured with neck trauma. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. Helmet use or signaling is not mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUVs tangled on Grand Central Parkway. Three passengers hurt. Back, neck, head injuries. Unsafe lane changes listed. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

On Grand Central Parkway in Queens, two SUVs collided while changing lanes. Three passengers, all women, suffered injuries to the back, neck, and head. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was the main contributing factor. The crash left one passenger in shock. No other contributing factors were listed before driver error. The impact damaged bumpers and doors, leaving pain and confusion in its wake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pick-up and motorcycle collided on Crescent Street. The motorcyclist was thrown, arm fractured. Police cite improper lane use by both drivers. Steel met flesh. The street stayed hard.

A pick-up truck and a motorcycle crashed on Crescent Street at Hoyt Avenue North in Queens. The 39-year-old male motorcyclist was partially ejected and suffered a fractured arm. According to the police report, both drivers engaged in 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The motorcyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were specified. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to stay in their lanes. The impact left one man hurt and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Candles flickered in Queens. Workers mourned the dead. Portraits lined the park. Grief and anger mixed. Demands for safety echoed. Fatigue and risk shadow every shift. The toll grows. The city listens.

amny reported on July 11, 2025, that rideshare and delivery workers gathered in Little Bay Park to honor colleagues killed on the job. The Justice for App Workers coalition demanded safety reforms, including panic buttons and limits on shift lengths. 'These deaths were not inevitable; they happened because billion-dollar companies chose profit over safety,' said Adaligisa Payero. Speakers highlighted long hours and fatigue as key dangers. The coalition called for tech companies and lawmakers to act, noting that app-based workers face higher injury and death rates than many traditional employees.

• Memorial Honors Fallen App-Based Workers, amny, Published 2025-07-11

SUV ran the light on 37th Street. Moped driver ejected, killed. Police cite traffic control ignored, driver distraction. One dead, others shaken. Metal and flesh, torn by carelessness.

A deadly crash unfolded on 37th Street at 23rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV and a moped collided. The 39-year-old moped driver was ejected and killed, suffering head injuries. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV driver and a passenger, ages 22 and 21, were also involved but not seriously hurt. The moped driver wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No pedestrians were struck. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers ignore signals and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW flew over a Belt Parkway barrier at dawn. Metal twisted. Six hurt. Two critical. Flames rose. Police say speed may have played a role. The crash left wreckage and questions in its wake.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), a BMW traveling east on the Belt Parkway in Queens struck a concrete median, vaulted over it, and hit two oncoming vehicles. The article states, "Six people were injured—two critically—in a fiery crash." Police noted, "speed may have been an issue." The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The incident highlights the dangers of high speeds and highway design where barriers failed to contain a vehicle, putting multiple road users at risk.

• BMW Vaults Median, Six Injured In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

SUV hit cyclist in Queens. Rider ejected. Suffered leg injury. Police cite confusion. Streets left another body bruised.

A station wagon SUV hit a 41-year-old cyclist at 24th Avenue and 32nd Street in Queens. The cyclist was ejected and suffered a contusion to the lower leg. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The SUV struck the cyclist's bike at the center back end with its front. No driver errors were listed in the data. The police report did not mention helmet use or signaling.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a young woman on Ditmars Boulevard. She suffered a leg injury. The driver and passenger were unhurt. Police list no clear cause. The street remains dangerous.

A 23-year-old woman walking on Ditmars Boulevard at 38th Street in Queens was struck by a sedan. She suffered a contusion and injury to her lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the driver and a passenger, both 47-year-old men, were not injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited. The impact was to the right rear bumper of the sedan. The crash highlights the ongoing risks pedestrians face on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT pushes ahead. Protected bike lanes coming to 31st Street. Community board erupts. Lawmakers back the plan. Business owners protest. City stands with cyclists and pedestrians. Proven safety gains for vulnerable users. Change rolls forward. Streets shift. Lives may be spared.

On June 20, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its plan to install protected bike lanes under the elevated tracks on 31st Street in Astoria. The proposal, discussed at a heated community board meeting, remains active and is set for installation after summer repaving. Council Member Tiffany Caban, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas endorsed the plan in a letter, stating it would 'protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers while making our streets safer and less congested.' DOT spokesman Will Livingston said the design improves safety and supports local businesses. Despite opposition from some business owners, the plan moves forward. Safety analysts note: 'Protected bike lanes are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities for cyclists and pedestrians, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity by reallocating space from cars to vulnerable users.'

• DOT Stands By Astoria Bike Lane Plan Despite Foes’ ‘Childish’ Outbursts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20

DOT pushes ahead. Protected bike lanes coming to 31st Street. Community board erupts. Lawmakers back the plan. Business owners protest. City stands with cyclists and pedestrians. Proven safety gains for vulnerable users. Change rolls forward. Streets shift. Lives may be spared.

On June 20, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its plan to install protected bike lanes under the elevated tracks on 31st Street in Astoria. The proposal, discussed at a heated community board meeting, remains active and is set for installation after summer repaving. Council Member Tiffany Caban, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas endorsed the plan in a letter, stating it would 'protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers while making our streets safer and less congested.' DOT spokesman Will Livingston said the design improves safety and supports local businesses. Despite opposition from some business owners, the plan moves forward. Safety analysts note: 'Protected bike lanes are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities for cyclists and pedestrians, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity by reallocating space from cars to vulnerable users.'

• DOT Stands By Astoria Bike Lane Plan Despite Foes’ ‘Childish’ Outbursts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20

Grubhub axed over 50 delivery workers in two weeks. Wonder, the new owner, pulled the trigger. Workers lost income. Streets lost eyes. Fewer riders mean more danger. The city’s arteries run thinner. The system failed the people who keep it moving.

On June 18, 2025, more than 50 delivery workers were deactivated from Grubhub after its $650-million acquisition by Wonder. The protest, covered by Streetsblog NYC, centers on mass deactivations and the fight for gig worker protections. Sophia Lebowitz opposes the deactivations and supports worker rights. The article states, 'More than 50 delivery workers have had their accounts deactivated by Grubhub in the past two weeks, and they're blaming the company's new owner, Wonder.' Council Member Tiffany Cabán’s 'Secure Jobs Act' is cited as a possible remedy, requiring companies to give reason for termination, even for gig workers. The safety analyst warns: deactivating accounts pushes workers into riskier, informal jobs, increases unsafe cycling, and erodes safety in numbers for vulnerable road users. The city’s streets grow more dangerous when riders disappear.

• Small ‘Wonder’: Delivery Workers Protest Deactivations By New Food App Power Player, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-18

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

A cyclist lay unconscious on 115th Avenue. The driver fled. Police searched the dark street for clues. The victim’s fate hung in the balance. Another night, another crash. The city’s danger pressed down, silent and heavy.

According to ABC7 (published June 15, 2025), a bicyclist was struck in a hit-and-run on 115th Avenue near 134th Street in South Ozone Park, Queens, just after 11:30 p.m. Friday. Police found the victim unconscious and in critical condition. The article states, 'They are now looking for evidence to help them track down the driver.' No details were given about the cyclist’s age or destination. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene highlights ongoing risks for vulnerable road users and underscores the persistent problem of hit-and-run crashes in New York City.

• Cyclist Left Critical After Queens Hit-And-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-06-15