No One Died, But Everyone Bleeds: Astoria’s Streets Are Still Unsafe

Dec 10 - A Queens judge ordered DOT to halt a protected bike lane on Astoria’s 31st Street. Advocates staged a protest ride and die-in. DOT recorded nearly 200 injuries, two deaths and 11 serious injuries on the corridor over five years.

""This project would save lives. It would make our neighborhood safer for every person who walks, bikes, takes the bus, or drives."" -- Tiffany Cabán

Matter: no bill number — Queens Supreme Court ruling. Status: judge ordered DOT to halt plans and remove an installed section. Committee: none. Key dates: Dec. 5, 2025 ruling; Dec. 9 protest ride and die-in; Dec. 10 coverage. The court is quoted as "ordering the Department of Transportation to halt plans for a protected bike lane along 31st Street." Council Member Tiffany Cabán joined Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets at the protest and said the ruling "puts lives at risk" and that "This project would save lives." Safety analysts say halting the lane "blocks a proven crash-reducing intervention, discourages cycling, and delays equitable street access improvements for vulnerable users on 31st Street." No council vote or committee action recorded.

• Cabán, transit advocates protest against ruling ordering DOT to halt 31st Street protected bike lanes in Astoria, AMNY, Published 2025-12-10

Dec 10 - Dueling rallies broke out in Astoria after a judge ordered the removal of the 31st Street protected bike lane. About 100 neighbors, riders and advocates demanded an appeal and staged a die-in to mourn lives lost while opponents cheered the ruling.

""It is the number one constituent call that we get consistently since the day I took office, and the 31st Street corridor, was a really important part of the plan,"" -- Tiffany Cabán

Event: Dueling rallies over the 31st Street bike lane on Dec. 10, 2025. Bill number: none — this is a local dispute, not a council bill. Status: community clash; no committee hearings or votes listed. Committee: none listed. Quoted matter: "dueling rallies over the 31st Street bike lane." Council Member Tiffany Caban attended and publicly demanded the Adams administration file an appeal, saying the corridor is the neighborhood's top safety complaint and that "appeals are an important part of our judicial process." Business leader Joseph Mirabella backed the judge's decision. Activists including Diana Moreno and former FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh joined a die-in. Safety note: the rallies reflect debate without an enacted change, so there is no immediate system-wide safety effect; awareness could build support, but the conflict may also delay safety improvements.

• Wednesday’s Headlines: Dueling Rallies Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-12-10

• Family heartbroken after deadly Queens moped crash: "My Christmases will never be the same.", CBS New York, Published 2025-12-07

• NYPD needs to quash violent car-meetup ‘street takeovers’ IMMEDIATELY, New York Post, Published 2025-11-24

Nov 13 - A driver in a sedan hit a 23-year-old woman at 4 St and 26 Ave in Queens. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. She was conscious with a lower-leg bruise.

A driver in a Hyundai sedan hit a 23-year-old woman in the intersection of 4 St and 26 Ave in Queens at 4:29 p.m. She had a bruise to her lower leg and foot. She was conscious. According to the police report, contributing factors included “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The point of impact was the center front end. The record lists the pre-crash status as “Parked.” The crash was logged to collision ID 4857536 in the 114th Precinct. This was a right-of-way case. The driver failed to yield to a person in the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4857536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-14

• File Int 1431-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-10-29

• File Int 1431-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-10-29

Oct 29 - Int 1431-2025 tightens NYPD high-speed pursuit rules. Two units max. Supervisor authorization required. PIT banned. Cameras must record and footage released. Annual reports due. The bill targets chases that put pedestrians, cyclists and bystanders in danger.

Int 1431-2025 is an introduction now in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced Oct. 29, 2025 and referred to committee same day (agenda 10/29/2025; votes recorded 13:25–13:30). The matter title reads, "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requirements for police department high-speed vehicle pursuits." Council Members Cabán, Avilés and Marte introduced the bill. It would cap pursuits at two units, require verbal supervisor authorization, ban tactical vehicle intervention (PIT), force body/vehicle cameras on and require footage release within 30 days plus an annual report (first due March 1, 2026). No safety-impact note from an analyst was provided.

• File Int 1431-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-10-29

• File Int 1431-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-10-29

• File Int 1431-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-10-29

Sep 27 - Queens’ 21st Street near 30‑11. A collision with a parked SUV left a 32‑year‑old cyclist with a head injury. Police recorded improper passing or lane usage. The SUV carried passengers. The rear took the blow.

A 32-year-old man riding a bike was injured in a collision with a parked Ford SUV on 21st Street near 30-11 in Queens. He suffered a head injury and abrasion and was conscious. According to the police report, the SUV’s center back end and the bike’s center front end were the points of impact, and the report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The SUV carried two passengers; injuries for vehicle occupants were recorded as unspecified. The SUV driver was licensed. No other contributing factors were listed for the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4846839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-14

• Two pedestrians struck, one fatally, in chain-reaction Queens crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-21

• 2 children struck by driver in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-15

• Driver charged with murder, DWI in Queens crash that killed teenager, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-14

• 16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

Sep 10 - Int. 1375 orders DOT to install 5,000 bicycle parking stations over five years, with at least 400 per year on commercial blocks. The measure aims to make cycling more secure, cut sidewalk bike clutter, and boost safety in underserved neighborhoods.

Bill Int. 1375 (Int 1375-2025). Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Key dates: LS #14435 filed 02/26/2025; event recorded 2025-09-10; effective date: immediately. Matter title: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding the bicycle parking station program." The bill requires DOT to install 5,000 bicycle parking stations over five years (1,000 per year), with at least 400 annually on commercial blocks, post locations online, and file a one-time report within six years. Prime sponsors Gale A. Brewer, Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler and Shahana K. Hanif introduced the bill. Safety note: expanding 5,000 stations—especially on commercial blocks and in underserved areas—will make cycling more convenient and secure, encourage mode shift and safety in numbers, and cut bike clutter and pedestrian conflicts.

• File Int 1375-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-09-10

Sep 10 - Int. 1375 orders DOT to install 5,000 bike parking stations over five years. 1,000 a year. 400 on commercial blocks. It cuts sidewalk clutter, houses bikes off the curb, and strengthens safety for riders and pedestrians.

Int. No. 1375 is at SPONSORSHIP. Introduced 02/26/2025; event date 2025-09-10. Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The measure, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding the bicycle parking station program," would require DOT to install at least 5,000 bicycle parking stations over five years (1,000 per year; at least 400 on commercial blocks), post locations online, and deliver a one-time report within six years. Tiffany Cabán is the primary sponsor; Lincoln Restler and Gale A. Brewer are co-sponsors. Safety analysts note that expanding secure, well-sited bike parking—especially on commercial blocks and in underserved areas—supports mode shift, reduces sidewalk clutter from ad hoc parking, and improves end-of-trip safety; impact will be strongest if DOT prioritizes curb/roadway placement over sidewalks to protect pedestrian space.

• File Int 1375-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-09-10

Sep 6 - Driver on a moped going west hit a 28-year-old man not in the roadway near 11-44 30 RD in Queens. The man bled from the face. He stayed conscious. The front end took the hit.

A driver on a moped, heading west and going straight, hit a 28-year-old man who was not in the roadway near 11-44 30 RD in Queens. The pedestrian suffered severe facial bleeding and was conscious. According to the police report, the moped was “Going Straight Ahead” and the pedestrian was “Not in Roadway.” The front center of the moped took the impact. The report listed no driver errors such as failure to yield or unsafe speed. It did record “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion” as a contributing factor; that is the official account. Two people were on the moped.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-14

• Whitestone man killed after crashing into Mini Copper, two other vehicles: NYPD, amny, Published 2025-09-05

Aug 22 - A driver in a Nissan sedan turned right on Broadway and hit a standing scooter. The 40-year-old scooter driver was ejected and injured, suffering abrasions across his body.

A driver in a Nissan sedan made a right turn and struck a standing scooter near 12-15 Broadway in Queens. The scooter driver, a 40-year-old man, was ejected and injured with abrasions to his entire body. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The sedan’s right front bumper made contact and showed right-front damage. The report lists the rider as conscious at the scene and notes ejection and whole-body injury. This account sticks to the police-recorded facts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837703 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-14