Sidewalks Aren’t Safe—Blood on Astoria Streets, Silence from City Hall

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

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

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

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

A 31-year-old man was hit crossing Newtown Avenue in Queens. He suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg. No driver errors reported. The vehicle type is unknown. The man was conscious but badly hurt.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male pedestrian was struck while crossing Newtown Avenue at a marked crosswalk, not at an intersection, near 30 Street in Queens. He suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield, distraction, or speeding. The vehicle involved is unspecified, and no details about the driver are provided. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No helmet or signaling issues are mentioned. The crash occurred at 18:53.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A motorcycle making a U-turn struck a 14-year-old e-bike rider in Queens. The boy suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious. Police cited failure to yield and unsafe speed as causes. The e-bike rider wore no helmet.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling northwest while making a U-turn collided with an e-bike traveling south on 31st Street in Queens. The 14-year-old e-bike rider sustained a head abrasion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed. The e-bike rider also contributed factors of unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction. The motorcycle impacted the right rear quarter panel of the e-bike, damaging both vehicles. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet. No ejection occurred. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during complex maneuvers like U-turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate bill S 7621 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets trigger mandatory speed control tech. Sponsors push to curb repeat danger. No votes yet. Streets stay tense.

Senate bill S 7621, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed August 2, 2023, it 'relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill forces drivers with eleven points in eighteen months, or six speed/red light camera tickets in a year, to install speed-limiting devices. No safety analyst note yet. The measure aims to cut repeat speeding and protect those outside the car.

• File S 7621, Open States, Published 2023-08-02

Manhattan lawmakers want electric cars to pay less under congestion pricing. They argue EVs cut smog, so drivers deserve a break. Critics warn this move keeps streets clogged. Fewer cars mean fewer crashes. The fight pits clean air against crowded roads.

On July 31, 2023, a group of Manhattan elected officials—including Assembly Members Alex Bores, Eddie Gibbs, Deborah Glick, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright; State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Kristen Gonzalez; and Borough President Mark Levine—sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. They urged a congestion pricing discount for electric vehicles, claiming EVs 'do not contribute significantly to the smog and pollution of the Central Business District.' Assembly Member Bores led the effort, stating, 'when it comes to the environmental case, an electric vehicle is just a different profile than a gas-guzzling one.' The officials oppose credits for bridge and tunnel crossings. Congestion pricing advocates and environmental groups counter that EV discounts undermine the core goal: fewer cars, less traffic, safer streets. They note other cities are ending such breaks. The proposal highlights a tension—cleaner air versus safer, less crowded roads for all.

• Manhattan Elected Officials Urge Congestion Pricing Discount For Electric Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-31

A sedan struck an e-bike on Crescent Street in Queens. The e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed. The e-bike rider was conscious and bruised but not ejected.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Crescent Street in Queens involving a sedan and an e-bike. The e-bike driver, a 30-year-old man, was injured with contusions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling west, while the e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling south. The point of impact was the sedan's center front end and the e-bike's left side doors. The e-bike rider was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No safety equipment was noted for the e-bike driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647858 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A 25-year-old woman on an e-scooter struck a parked sedan on 30 Avenue. The scooter driver suffered abrasions over her entire body. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The sedan was damaged on its left side doors.

According to the police report, a female e-scooter driver traveling west on 30 Avenue collided with a parked sedan. The sedan was stationary when the impact occurred on its left side doors, causing visible damage. The e-scooter driver, a 25-year-old woman, was injured with abrasions covering her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors are noted. The e-scooter driver was wearing a helmet. The sedan driver was licensed and the vehicle was registered in New York. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction even when vehicles are parked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647263 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A motorcycle struck a sedan turning improperly on 31-46 31 Street in Queens. The unlicensed motorcyclist was ejected and suffered back injuries and minor burns. The sedan driver was distracted. Both vehicles damaged at front ends.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south collided with a sedan making an improper U-turn on 31-46 31 Street in Queens. The motorcycle driver, unlicensed and going straight ahead, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained back injuries and minor burns. The sedan driver, licensed and making the U-turn, was distracted at the time of the crash. Contributing factors include turning improperly and driver inattention or distraction. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the sedan and the center front end of the motorcycle, causing damage to both vehicles. The motorcycle driver was the only injured occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUVs kill. Their bulk crushes bodies and streets. Lawmakers want heavier vehicles to pay more. Revenue would fund safer roads. The bill follows a grim rise in deaths, especially among children. The city bleeds. The council moves. The fight is on.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill to increase registration fees for heavy vehicles and SUVs in New York. The proposal, announced June 23, 2023, aims to direct new revenue toward street safety projects. The report behind the bill states: 'Injuries from crashes involving large vehicles increased by 91 percent and fatalities by 75 percent between 2016 and 2019.' Mamdani said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes called out the public cost of 'mini-tanks.' The bill responds to data showing nearly half of children killed on city streets were struck by drivers of large vehicles, rising to 80 percent in 2022. Lawmakers call this common-sense action to address the deadly toll of oversized cars.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani pushes a bill to raise registration fees for heavy vehicles. The move comes as injuries and deaths from SUVs surge. Lawmakers say the fees will fund safer streets. The city’s children pay the price for oversized cars.

Assembly Bill (no number cited) was introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes on June 23, 2023. The bill, now under consideration, would 'raise the existing by-weight registration fees to make them more likely to disincentivize the purchase of larger cars.' The proposal responds to a Transportation Alternatives report showing a 91% jump in injuries and a 75% rise in fatalities from large vehicle crashes between 2016 and 2019. Mamdani, at a press conference, said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes added, 'We the public has had to bear the cost of people's decisions to drive these mini-tanks.' The bill earmarks new revenue for street safety projects, aiming to protect vulnerable road users from the growing threat of oversized vehicles.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-23

A 23-year-old moped driver was ejected after colliding with an SUV on 32 Street near 34 Avenue in Queens. The moped struck the SUV’s right front quarter panel while making a left turn. The driver suffered bruises and full-body injuries.

According to the police report, a moped driver, unlicensed and wearing a helmet, was making a left turn when he collided with a station wagon/SUV traveling straight westbound on 32 Street. The point of impact was the left side doors of the moped and the right front quarter panel of the SUV. The moped driver was ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight. The moped driver’s unlicensed status and disregard for traffic control were key factors in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two sedans collided on 35 Avenue in Queens. The BMW made a U-turn and struck the Ford going straight. Both male occupants, driver and front passenger of the Ford, suffered bruises and contusions. Airbags deployed. Failure to yield caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 2021 BMW sedan was making a U-turn on 35 Avenue in Queens when it collided with a 2018 Ford sedan traveling straight south. The impact occurred at the front bumpers of both vehicles. The Ford's driver, 23, and front passenger, 25, were injured with contusions and bruises to the head and lower leg areas. Both men were conscious and restrained with lap belts and airbags deployed. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash caused moderate injuries but no ejections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637739 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-08

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06