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

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Lawmakers want $90 million for more buses as congestion pricing nears. Gianaris and Mamdani lead the charge. Critics say it’s late. Riders on free bus lines surged. The plan faces union warnings and legal threats. Streets wait for relief.

On February 8, 2024, State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani called for $90 million to expand MTA bus service before the $15 congestion pricing toll begins. Their proposal seeks $45 million in this year’s budget to boost bus frequency, with another $45 million to triple free buses citywide. The lawmakers’ push follows a successful fare-free pilot, which Mamdani says increased ridership by over 20%. Gianaris admitted, 'It should have been done sooner.' Critics argue the move is too late, as congestion pricing was approved in 2019. Some unions warn of possible driver shortages, but Mamdani insists existing buses and operators can handle the expansion. The funding proposal comes as the congestion toll faces lawsuits and could launch by mid-June. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers ripped over push for $90M bus service expansion as $15 congestion pricing looms: ‘Covering their a—s’, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 6 - Mayor Adams boasted of bus lane progress. The numbers tell a different story. His administration missed legal targets two years running. Bus speeds fell. Promised projects stalled or died. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous. Words do not move buses.

On February 6, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams declared his administration had done an 'amazing job' building bus lanes in New York City. In reality, Adams missed legal targets: only 12.9 miles built in 2022 out of 20 required, and 13.3 miles in 2023 out of 30. Bus speeds dropped from 7.7 mph in January 2022 to 7.4 mph in December 2023. Adams claimed his approach was 'revolutionary' for prioritizing community input. Critics, including Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein, countered that Adams canceled or stalled key projects like Fordham Road, despite strong community support. Mamdani said, 'he's made 1.4 million daily bus riders take the slowest buses in the country.' The mayor’s promises remain unmet. Bus riders and pedestrians still wait for safer, faster streets.

• ‘We’ve Done An Amazing Job Building Bus Lanes,’ Says Mayor Who Keeps Killing Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 6 - Mayor Adams boasts of bus lane progress. The numbers tell another story. Promised miles not built. Bus speeds drop. Riders stranded. Assembly Member Mamdani calls out broken promises. The city stalls. Streets stay dangerous for those outside cars.

On February 6, 2024, Mayor Adams declared his administration had done an 'amazing job' building bus lanes. The facts cut through the claim. In 2022, only 12.9 miles of bus lanes were built out of a required 20. In 2023, just 13.3 miles out of a required 30. The Department of Transportation missed legal targets both years. The matter, as reported, states: 'Mayor Adams claimed... his administration has done an "amazing job" building bus lanes... despite missing legally required targets.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, representing District 36, slammed the mayor for scrapping key projects and failing bus riders. Mamdani said, '49 percent of bus riders are dissatisfied with wait times... instead he's made 1.4 million daily bus riders take the slowest buses in the country.' Riders Alliance joined the criticism, demanding a real plan for the 130 miles of overdue bus lanes. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed, with no clear agenda for safer, faster streets.

• We've Done An Amazing Job Building Bus Lanes,' Says Mayor Who Keeps Killing Bus Lanes, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-06

Jan 30 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Jan 8 - A sedan struck a 59-year-old man walking against traffic on 27 Avenue. The man suffered head injuries and abrasions. Police list no driver errors. The crash left the pedestrian conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on 27 Avenue in Queens struck a 59-year-old male pedestrian who was walking against traffic, not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and abrasions but remained conscious. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified and does not cite any driver errors. The vehicle was going straight ahead and showed no damage. No helmet or signal use is mentioned. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing behavior to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693712 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 8 - A bus and a sedan collided on 21 Street in Queens. The sedan driver reacted to an uninvolved vehicle, causing impact. A 65-year-old male passenger in the bus suffered a back contusion. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a bus traveling south on 21 Street collided with a sedan also heading south. The sedan driver was avoiding an object in the roadway and reacted to an uninvolved vehicle, leading to the crash. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the bus and the right front bumper of the sedan. A 65-year-old male passenger in the bus was injured, suffering a back contusion. The passenger was conscious and not ejected. The contributing factor listed was the sedan driver's reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686032 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 29 - Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

Nov 29 - Red Hook chokes on truck fumes. Lawmakers move. The Clean Deliveries Act aims to cut emissions from sprawling e-commerce warehouses. Kristen Gonzalez and others demand action. Diesel trucks crowd narrow streets. Pollution and danger rise. Residents pay the price.

Bill: Clean Deliveries Act. Announced November 29, 2023. Status: Proposed. Committee: Not specified. Lawmakers, including State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (District 59), call for strict regulation of emissions from last-mile e-commerce warehouses. The bill would require environmental reviews for warehouses over 50,000 square feet, mandate plans to cut air pollution, and push for zero-emission delivery vehicles. Gonzalez said, 'The unchecked growth of large warehouses in neighborhoods across NYC has worsened air quality, noise pollution, and traffic safety for everyday New Yorkers.' Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, a co-sponsor, highlighted the link between warehouse traffic, pollution, and traffic violence. The Red Hook Business Alliance and community advocates back the bill, citing heavy truck traffic, poor air, and threats to safety in working-class neighborhoods. The legislation aims to hold warehouse operators accountable and protect residents from the mounting toll of delivery-driven pollution and danger.

• Lawmakers say influx of e-commerce warehouses has spiked greenhouse gas emissions in Red Hook, urge regulation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-11-29

Nov 16 - Bus ridership in New York City is back to pre-pandemic numbers—if you count those who ride without paying. The MTA pushes fare enforcement. Lawmakers and labor say focus on service, not punishment. Riders, mostly working class, depend on these buses to survive.

This policy debate, highlighted on November 16, 2023, centers on bus fare evasion, free bus pilot expansion, and transit funding. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) leads the charge, arguing, "We are hitting numbers that we are not recognizing, because our focus has been on fares." The MTA claims fare compliance is vital, but Mamdani and union voices like JP Patafio of TWU Local 100 urge investment in service and affordability. The matter underscores the working-class reliance on buses and the stalled rollout of OMNY, which limits all-door boarding. The debate pits fare enforcement against calls for free or reduced fares, with advocates demanding progressive taxation to fund transit. No formal council bill or vote is attached, but the stakes for vulnerable riders are clear: service, not policing, keeps them moving.

• Bus Ridership is Near 2019 Levels (If You Count the People Who Don’t Pay), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

Oct 3 - Astoria residents packed a hall. They demanded safer streets after a child died. Online groups drove turnout. Cyclists and pedestrians led the call. The community board pushed for daylighting. Most locals walk, bike, or ride transit. The fight is urgent. The danger is real.

"Astorians showed up last night for pedestrian + bike safety: over 150 neighbors packed the room at Variety Boys & Girls Club to talk about how we make our streets safer." -- Zohran Mamdani

On October 3, 2023, Astoria activists mobilized for street safety after a fatal crash killed a 7-year-old girl. No formal council bill number is listed, but the Transportation Committee of Community Board 1 passed a resolution urging DOT to daylight all intersections. The matter, described as 'community advocacy for street safety and bike infrastructure,' drew over 150 residents to a public workshop. Council Member Zohran Kwame Mamdani attended, stating, 'Astorians showed up last night for pedestrian + bike safety.' Online organizing, especially on the MicromobilityNYC subreddit, brought new voices to the table and pressured NYPD to take traffic enforcement seriously. The area lacks protected bike lanes—only 3 percent of streets have them—while most residents do not own cars and rely on walking, biking, or transit. The activism is diverse, persistent, and focused on ending traffic violence.

• Astoria Organizers Lead the Way on Street Safety with a Reddit Strategy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-03

Sep 29 - A sedan hit a 10-year-old girl on 30 Avenue in Queens. The child suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian was conscious and injured outside an intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on 30 Avenue in Queens struck a 10-year-old female pedestrian who was not at an intersection. The child sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its left front bumper. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. No vehicle damage was reported. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way directly contributed to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667316 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 27 - A 15-year-old boy on a moped slammed hard on 30th Avenue. He flew from the seat. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. The crash left him conscious but cut deep. Outside distraction behind the wheel set the scene.

A 15-year-old boy riding a moped east on 30th Avenue in Queens was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, 'A glance outside the car, a flash of motion, and then the boy flew.' The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped's front end crumpled on impact. The boy was not wearing a helmet, but the primary cause cited is driver distraction outside the vehicle. The crash left the teen conscious but badly hurt, his blood on the street. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666278 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - MTA rolls out free bus routes in all five boroughs. Digital signs mark the buses. Riders board without paying. The pilot covers 44,000 daily trips. Lawmakers say this is a step toward greener, fairer transit. The agency will study the results.

On September 24, 2023, the MTA launched a free bus pilot in every New York City borough. The pilot, part of a state budget deal, makes one route per borough fare-free for up to a year. The official summary states: 'One MTA bus route will be free in each New York City borough starting Sunday.' Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, mentioned in the coverage, said, 'Getting more New Yorkers on to public transit must be at the forefront of our plan for a greener NY.' The pilot covers the B60 in Brooklyn, M116 in Manhattan, Q4 in Queens, S46/S96 in Staten Island, and BX18 in the Bronx. About 44,000 weekday riders are affected. The MTA will monitor ridership and study the impact. Progressive lawmakers back the move to help low-income New Yorkers. No direct safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• Every NYC borough gets a free MTA bus route starting Sunday, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-24

Sep 21 - A bus turning left struck a moped rider going straight on 30 Avenue in Queens. The moped driver suffered knee and lower leg fractures. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. The rider was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 2014 bus making a left turn on 30 Avenue in Queens collided with a moped traveling north. The moped driver, a 31-year-old man, sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor, indicating the bus driver did not yield to the moped rider. The moped driver was conscious and remained inside his vehicle, with no safety equipment noted. The bus sustained damage to its center front end, and the moped was struck on its left front bumper. No other factors or victim errors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664319 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 18 - Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 18 - Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 18 - Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

Aug 16 - Mayor Adams approved a diluted redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will come, but car lanes stay open during peak hours. The plan falls short of full safety measures. The road remains dangerous. Victims still count. No one is satisfied.

On August 16, 2023, Mayor Adams announced a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard, a notorious Brooklyn corridor. The Department of Transportation will install curbside protected bike lanes and reduce car lanes from two to one in each direction on most of the strip. However, north of Calyer Street, two lanes for cars will remain open during weekdays, reverting to parking lanes at night and on weekends. The plan, shaped after lobbying by business interests and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, mixes two previous DOT proposals. Mayoral spokesman Charles Lutvak said, 'Traffic safety is a key priority for Mayor Adams, and we are delivering with a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard that will make this corridor safer for all road users.' Local officials, including Council Member Lincoln Restler, called it a 'critical step' but noted it lacks key safety elements. The compromise leaves gaps. Since 2021, 62 people have been injured on this stretch. The carnage continues.

• Mayor Adams Signs Off On Compromise for Deadly McGuinness Blvd.; No One Truly Happy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-16

Aug 11 - A driver struck a moped rider on McGuinness Boulevard. The rider’s leg broke. Politicians and neighbors demand the mayor act. The city delays a safety plan. The street stays deadly. The call is clear: fix McGuinness now.

On August 11, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other Northern Brooklyn officials responded to a crash on McGuinness Boulevard, where a driver hit and injured a moped rider. The incident happened near Meeker Avenue, one block from where teacher Matthew Jensen was killed in 2021. The matter, titled 'Locals call for mayor to take immediate action after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard,' highlights the urgent need for the Department of Transportation’s proposed safety redesign. Restler, along with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, issued a joint statement: 'Lives are being put at risk. We need immediate action by the Mayor's office to implement the Department of Transportation's proposed safety improvements so that everyone in our community can feel confident that McGuinness Boulevard will not cause more tragedies.' The safety plan remains blocked, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing danger.

• Locals call for mayor to take ‘immediate action’ after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-11