Queens Streets Bleed While City Hall Sleeps

Governor Hochul pledged more police and brighter lights in the subway. Barriers and new fare gates will come to a few stations. Critics called the plans symbolic, lacking funding and detail. Andrea Stewart-Cousins stood with Hochul as the city waits for real change.

On January 14, 2025, during the State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul announced new subway safety measures. The proposals include NYPD officers on every overnight train, LED lighting in all stations, and limited installation of platform barriers and modern fare gates. The matter summary states: 'Hochul finally acknowledges NYC subway crime in State of the State speech—but proposals slammed as largely symbolic.' Andrea Stewart-Cousins, mentioned in the announcement, stood with Hochul. Critics, including State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, called the measures 'symbolic.' The Working Families Party warned that tax cuts without new revenue could threaten transit funding. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided, but advocates and lawmakers questioned whether these steps will protect riders or simply signal action.

• Hochul finally acknowledges NYC subway crime in ‘State of the State’ speech — but proposals slammed as largely ‘symbolic’, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-14

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

A tractor truck rear-ended a sedan on Grand Central Parkway. Both sedan occupants suffered head and back injuries, left in shock and pain. Driver distraction and an oversized truck fueled the crash.

According to the police report, just after midnight on Grand Central Parkway, a westbound tractor truck diesel struck a sedan from behind. The sedan's driver, 32, and his 20-year-old front passenger both suffered injuries—head and back—along with shock and pain. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. Both injured occupants were restrained and not ejected. The crash highlights the danger of driver distraction and large trucks on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784833 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 803 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Streets could clear. Cyclists might breathe easier. Lawmakers back the crackdown. The fight for safe passage continues.

Assembly bill A 803, now in sponsorship, proposes a bicycle lane safety program for New York City. It would enforce restrictions on bike lane use with photo devices. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Primary sponsor Zohran Mamdani leads, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill was introduced January 8, 2025. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure targets drivers who block or endanger cyclists.

• File A 803, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

SUV turned left, struck a 78-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered full-body injuries, shock, pain, and nausea. Driver failed to yield and was distracted. Queens intersection became a danger zone.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old woman was crossing 31 St at 23 Ave in Queens with the signal when a westbound Ford SUV made a left turn and struck her with its left rear bumper. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body, experienced shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The collision highlights the risk to pedestrians when drivers fail to yield and pay attention at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783689 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

A bus struck a 53-year-old woman head-on at Ditmars Boulevard and 31st Street. Her body broke beneath the wheels. She died in the street. The bus rolled on into the morning. The city’s machinery did not stop for her.

A 53-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Ditmars Boulevard and 31st Street when a 2009 bus struck her head-on, according to the police report. The report states the woman was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. The bus, traveling straight ahead, hit her with its center front end. The force of the impact crushed her body beneath the wheels, resulting in her death at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The narrative notes the bus continued on after the collision. The report centers the fatal outcome for the pedestrian, with systemic danger underscored by the presence of a large vehicle moving through a busy intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV cut lanes and slammed into a sedan’s rear on Grand Central Parkway. Sedan driver took a neck injury. Unsafe lane change and tailgating by SUV triggered the crash. The street stayed loud and dangerous.

According to the police report, an SUV changed lanes and struck the rear of a sedan merging eastbound on Grand Central Parkway at 23:08. The 43-year-old male sedan driver suffered neck injuries, described as whiplash. The report cites "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors. The SUV’s right front bumper hit the sedan’s left rear bumper. The sedan driver was not ejected but was injured. The police report highlights driver errors by the SUV operator—unsafe lane change and failure to maintain distance—as the cause. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783451 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV stopped. Sedan struck from behind. Passenger in front seat hurt. Neck injury. Whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Impact was sudden. City street, Queens. No escape for the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on 28th Street in Queens rear-ended a station wagon/SUV. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The sedan struck the SUV's center back end. A 28-year-old female passenger in the SUV's middle front seat suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She was not ejected and remained conscious. The police report does not mention any contributing factors related to the passenger's actions or safety equipment. The crash underscores the risk posed by drivers who fail to keep safe distance on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

A 41-year-old man suffered a concussion and full-body injuries after a convertible struck him at a marked crosswalk in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn, hitting the pedestrian crossing without signal.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:38 on 79th Street near 21st Avenue in Queens. A 41-year-old male pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal when he was struck by a northbound 2013 Mazda convertible making a right turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end, causing center front end damage to the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his entire body, including a concussion, and remained conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the driver as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the failure to yield created a dangerous situation resulting in serious pedestrian injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Taxi turned left on 31st Street, struck northbound motorcycle head-on. Rider ejected, suffered leg injuries. Police cite taxi’s failure to yield. Crash exposes risk for vulnerable motorcyclists.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on 31st Street in Queens made a left turn and collided head-on with a northbound motorcycle. The impact ejected the 24-year-old motorcycle driver, who sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, including abrasions. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the taxi driver as the key contributing factor. Both drivers held permit licenses. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield, especially for motorcyclists exposed to direct impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778937 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW sedan hit an e-bike on 29th Street in Queens. The 63-year-old cyclist was injured and in shock. Police cite confusion as a factor. The crash exposes the peril of car and e-bike encounters.

A BMW sedan traveling south on 29th Street struck an eastbound e-bike near 23 Avenue in Queens at 12:37 PM. The 63-year-old male cyclist was injured and suffered shock. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' contributed to the crash. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were listed. The sedan driver was licensed and moving straight ahead. The cyclist was not ejected. The report did not cite lack of safety equipment as a factor. The collision highlights the danger when cars and e-bikes meet on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778235 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Just after midnight on Grand Central Parkway, a speeding sedan slammed into the rear of an SUV. The impact crushed metal and left a 19-year-old passenger bleeding from a severe head wound, conscious but seriously injured in the back seat.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling at unsafe speed collided with the left rear bumper of a sport utility vehicle on Grand Central Parkway shortly after midnight. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The sedan's right front bumper struck the SUV's rear, crushing metal and causing significant damage. Inside the SUV, a 19-year-old male passenger suffered severe head lacerations; he remained conscious but was bleeding heavily. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations but was not ejected and had safety equipment deployed. No victim behaviors or safety equipment issues were cited as contributing factors. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speed and inexperience behind the wheel on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776248 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 37-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after a collision with a pick-up truck on Hoyt Ave N. The bicyclist suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding. The crash involved improper lane usage and bicyclist confusion, according to police.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 3:00 PM on Hoyt Ave N involving a pick-up truck traveling east and a northbound bicycle. The bicyclist, a 37-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained facial injuries with minor bleeding. The report cites 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The pick-up truck driver was going straight ahead and impacted the bicyclist with the vehicle's right front bumper. The bicyclist was not using any safety equipment at the time. The report highlights driver errors related to lane usage and the bicyclist's confusion but does not attribute fault to the victim. This crash underscores the dangers posed by improper lane use and the vulnerability of bicyclists in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773592 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04