Astoria Bleeds While Leaders Talk—Demand Safe Streets Now

Council pulled the jaywalking decriminalization bill before a vote. Advocates warned it could shield drivers who hit pedestrians. NYPD tickets mostly Black and Hispanic New Yorkers. Councilmember Cabán says the law enables biased policing. Streets remain dangerous for those on foot.

Bill to decriminalize jaywalking, sponsored by Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (District 22), was pulled for revision before a full City Council vote on September 23, 2024. The measure, under review in committee, aimed to end NYPD enforcement that disproportionately targets people of color. The bill’s summary states, 'NYPD issues hundreds of jaywalking tickets a year. Vast majority go to people of color.' Cabán, a key sponsor, argued police use jaywalking as a pretext for stop-and-frisk, calling the law archaic and motorist-centered. Advocates raised concerns that the bill’s language might let drivers escape liability for hitting pedestrians, prompting its withdrawal. The law’s enforcement remains unequal, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYPD issues hundreds of jaywalking tickets a year. Vast majority go to people of color., gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-23

A 17-year-old bicyclist struck a parked SUV on Steinway Street. He was ejected and suffered fractured, dislocated lower leg bones. Police cite failure to yield. The crash left the teen in shock.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after colliding with the left side doors of a parked 2020 Acura SUV near 25-82 Steinway Street in Queens. The crash happened at 15:40. The bicyclist suffered fractures, distortions, and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was left in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, highlighting a driver error that led to the collision. The SUV was stationary before impact. No safety equipment was noted on the bicyclist. The incident underscores the dangers of right-of-way violations and parked vehicles in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A moped traveling east struck a stationary SUV in Queens. The collision ejected a 16-year-old female passenger, causing whiplash and full-body injuries. Police cite the moped driver’s failure to yield and unsafe speed as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a moped driven by an unlicensed male driver traveling east collided with a station wagon/SUV that was starting from parking on 38-12 Broadway in Queens. The point of impact was the moped’s center front end against the SUV’s left front bumper. The crash ejected a 16-year-old female occupant from the moped, who suffered whiplash and injuries to her entire body. The report lists the contributing factors as failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed by the moped driver. The injured passenger was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling east as well. The collision highlights driver errors by the moped operator, including unsafe speed and failure to yield, which directly led to serious injury of the vulnerable passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Council yanked the jaywalking bill. Lawmakers clashed over driver liability. Advocates withdrew support after amendments weakened pedestrian protections. Speaker Adrienne Adams delayed a vote. The city’s streets remain dangerous. Enforcement falls hardest on people of color. The fight continues.

Bill 2024, aimed at decriminalizing jaywalking, stalled in the City Council on September 12, 2024. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had advanced the bill, but Speaker Adrienne Adams held it back from a full vote, citing ongoing debate. The bill’s summary: ending NYPD tickets for crossing outside crosswalks, a practice disproportionately enforced against New Yorkers of color. Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, a sponsor, condemned the law’s discriminatory impact and its failure to reduce traffic violence. After lawmakers amended the bill to shield drivers from liability in pedestrian crashes, advocates like Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives withdrew support, insisting the law should 'clearly protect [pedestrians’] right to safety and security.' The latest version still exposes jaywalkers to civil suits and mandates a city safety education campaign. The bill’s future is uncertain. Advocates demand stronger protections for people on foot.

• NYC lawmakers struggle to decriminalize jaywalking, gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-12

A 36-year-old man crossing 31 Avenue with the signal suffered facial abrasions. He was conscious. The vehicle type is unknown. No driver errors were reported. The street left him exposed.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing 31 Avenue at 51 Street in Queens at 19:14. The man was crossing with the signal when he was struck by an unspecified vehicle. He suffered abrasions to his face and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrian actions were cited as contributing factors. The data underscores the risk faced by pedestrians, even when following the law, and notes the absence of documented driver fault in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A six-year-old girl suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV struck her while she played in the roadway. The vehicle, traveling north on 45 Street, impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The child was injured but not ejected.

According to the police report, a 2021 Mercedes SUV was traveling north on 45 Street in Queens around 4:30 p.m. when it struck a six-year-old female pedestrian playing in the roadway at an intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The child sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited in the report. The vehicle sustained no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The incident highlights the dangers posed to young pedestrians in roadway areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753786 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Unlicensed SUV driver blew past traffic control, smashed a parked car, then hit a sedan. Three men in the SUV bruised and battered. Alcohol and disregard fueled the Queens crash.

According to the police report, a 2012 Honda SUV driven by an unlicensed 31-year-old man disregarded traffic control on 34 Avenue in Queens at 1:55 a.m. The SUV struck the right side doors of an eastbound sedan and hit the rear of a parked Subaru SUV. Three men inside the Honda, all 31, suffered head and pelvic contusions. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a driver error and 'Alcohol Involvement' for two occupants. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight. Damage hit the SUV's right side and the sedan's front. Systemic dangers: driver error and alcohol.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754033 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

State lawmakers cut funding. The MTA ends its free bus pilot. Ridership soared. Assaults on drivers fell. Assemblymember Mamdani pushed for more funding. The state said no. Riders and workers lose. The streets stay dangerous. The fight continues.

The MTA free bus pilot, funded by the state in 2023, ends August 31, 2024, after lawmakers dropped support in the latest budget. The pilot let riders skip fares on one route per borough. According to the bill summary, 'the program mainly benefitted existing riders.' Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a strong proponent, pushed for more funding but faced MTA opposition. He said, 'When you see fare evasion at levels of 48%, that speaks to an economic issue where working-class New Yorkers are being priced out of public transit.' The pilot saw weekday ridership jump 35% and assaults on drivers drop 39% on free routes. Despite these gains, the state did not renew funding. Mamdani pledged to keep fighting for free bus service, as the MTA faces deeper funding woes.

• MTA free bus pilot ends on Sunday after state lawmakers nix funding, gothamist.com, Published 2024-08-31

A 60-year-old woman suffered a back contusion after an e-scooter collided with her while she crossed a marked crosswalk without a signal. The scooter, traveling northeast, struck her center front, causing shock and injury. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old female pedestrian was injured in Queens at 43rd Street around 16:33. The pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal when an e-scooter traveling northeast struck her at the center front end. The pedestrian sustained a back contusion and was in shock. The e-scooter driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any pedestrian fault. The vehicle sustained no damage. The collision highlights the dangers posed by e-scooters to pedestrians crossing outside signal control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753778 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A motorcycle making a left turn struck a sedan entering a parked position on 35 Avenue in Queens. The female motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 12:49 PM on 35 Avenue in Queens, a 34-year-old female motorcyclist was making a left turn when her motorcycle collided with a sedan entering a parked position. The motorcycle's left front bumper impacted the sedan's left front bumper. The motorcyclist was ejected from her vehicle and sustained a fracture, distortion, and dislocation to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in serious injury and shock. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and operating vehicles traveling south. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time. The collision highlights driver errors related to speed management and vehicle maneuvering in a complex urban environment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759567 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 41-year-old woman suffered a fractured, dislocated injury to her entire body after being struck by an SUV traveling north on Steinway Street in Queens. The pedestrian was conscious but severely hurt at the intersection.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Steinway Street and Broadway in Queens around 2:20 AM. She sustained fractures and dislocations to her entire body and remained conscious after the collision. The vehicle involved was a Mercedes SUV traveling north on Steinway Street. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding, nor does it indicate any pedestrian actions contributing to the crash. The pedestrian was located at the intersection when struck. No information on driver license status or vehicle damage was provided. The focus remains on the severe injuries sustained by the pedestrian following impact with the northbound SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750207 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Councilwoman Joann Ariola called out Tiffany Cabán for racking up school-zone speeding tickets while pushing to cut car use. Cabán’s platform promised safer streets and fewer cars. Ariola and others say the tickets show a gap between words and actions.

On August 10, 2024, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (District 32) publicly criticized Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán after media reports revealed Cabán received four school-zone speeding tickets and three other violations since November 2022. The matter, covered by the New York Post, states: 'Cabán—who was elected to office on a platform advocating less car use and cracking down on dangerous driving—received four tickets in the past 13 months for speeding her vehicle in school zones.' Ariola, joined by Councilman Robert Holden, accused Cabán of hypocrisy, highlighting the disconnect between Cabán’s advocacy for street safety and her own driving record. Cabán’s policy platform includes converting 25% of city roadways for people, building 1,000 miles of car-free streets, and expanding bus and bike lanes. No formal council bill or committee action is attached to this event, but the public dispute underscores tensions in the city’s push for safer, less car-dominated streets.

• Socialist NYC Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán has amassed nearly $500 in traffic tickets despite pushing anti-car agenda: ‘Hypocrisy’, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-10

A sedan making a right turn struck a 20-year-old female bicyclist traveling straight on 42 Street in Queens. The cyclist suffered a fractured knee, lower leg, and foot. Police cited driver failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 42 Street in Queens around 1 p.m. A sedan traveling west was making a right turn when it collided with a southbound bicyclist going straight ahead. The bicyclist, a 20-year-old female, was injured with fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The police report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, pointing to the sedan driver's error. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected but sustained serious injuries. No other contributing factors such as victim behavior or helmet use were noted in the report. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper of the sedan and the right front bumper of the bike, confirming the point of impact. This crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741931 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A late-night collision on 49 Street in Queens injured a 32-year-old male driver. The SUV struck the sedan’s right side, causing contusions and arm injuries. Police cite traffic control disregard and other vehicular factors as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:45 a.m. on 49 Street near 25 Avenue in Queens. A 2023 Ford SUV traveling west collided with a 2021 Toyota sedan traveling north. The SUV impacted the sedan’s right side doors with its center front end. The sedan’s 32-year-old male driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The police report identifies "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Other Vehicular" factors as contributing causes. The driver of the sedan was conscious and not ejected. The report highlights driver errors related to disregarding traffic controls and other vehicular factors, without attributing fault to the injured occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A young driver crashed at unsafe speed in Queens. His sedan struck parked cars near 50-34 Broadway. He suffered head wounds and shock. Police cite speed and traffic control disregard as causes.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male driver crashed his sedan near 50-34 Broadway in Queens at 1:04 a.m. The collision involved two other sedans, one parked and one slowing or stopping. The driver suffered head injuries and minor bleeding, and was in shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The injured driver was not ejected and his air bag deployed. Vehicle damage included impact to the left rear quarter panel and center back end. No contributing factors are attributed to the victim's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735012 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called out the surge of reckless mopeds and e-bikes on 34th Avenue. Residents spoke of fear, injury, and death. City officials promised enforcement and education. Advocates demanded safer streets, not criminalization. The crisis rolls on. Action lags.

On June 11, 2024, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (District 25) convened a town hall in Jackson Heights to address what he called a 'moped crisis.' The meeting followed a deadly year: a 75-year-old man killed by an e-bike, two injured in a dirt bike crash. Residents described near-misses and constant danger on the 34th Avenue open street. The matter, titled 'On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle,' drew city officials, including DOT and Mayor Adams, who backed enforcement and moped registration. Krishnan slammed DOT’s reliance on signage, pushing instead for a dedicated micromobility lane. Delivery worker advocates opposed criminalization, demanding labor protections and safe infrastructure. Despite new signs and vehicle seizures, mopeds still speed through. The call for urgent, systemic change grows louder.

• On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-11

Council Member Shekar Krishnan blasted DOT for chaos on 34th Avenue’s Paseo Park. He called it a ‘moped highway’ and demanded a redesign. Pedestrians dodge speeding mopeds. Painted bike lanes fail. DOT touts safety, but danger remains for those on foot.

On June 11, 2024, Council Member Shekar Krishnan publicly condemned the Department of Transportation’s design of Paseo Park, also known as the 34th Avenue open street. At a 'Moped Crisis' town hall, Krishnan called the area a 'moped highway' and said, 'The biggest problem that we have is poor design by the DOT.' He demanded a redesign that separates speeding vehicles from people and creates safe corridors for mopeds away from recreational spaces. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas echoed the call for engineering solutions, stating, 'We must design the roads to ensure that mopeds are not getting on [Paseo Park], and are not driving recklessly.' DOT staff highlighted enforcement efforts, but Krishnan and others insisted that design, not enforcement, must come first. DOT claims a drop in pedestrian crashes, but the current layout leaves pedestrians and cyclists exposed to danger.

• Queens Pol: DOT Needs to Solve ‘Moped Crisis’ in Paseo Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-11

Albany scrambles after Governor Hochul kills congestion pricing. Lawmakers float a $1 billion IOU for the MTA. No clear funding. Transit riders left in limbo. Streets stay clogged. Subways wait for repairs. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

On June 7, 2024, state lawmakers, led by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, responded to Governor Hochul’s sudden suspension of Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan. The Legislature rejected Hochul’s push for a payroll tax hike, then considered a vague $1 billion IOU for the MTA, with no funding source. Gianaris told reporters the proposal would simply promise a billion dollars for the next year’s budget, but offered no details. The bill has not been introduced or assigned to committee. Betsy Plum of the Riders Alliance warned, 'The proposal on the table will not fix the subway. A billion dollar IOU is not nearly enough money nor is it nearly secure enough to build trust and rebuild our critical infrastructure.' With no new revenue, the MTA’s ability to fund repairs and upgrades remains in doubt. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders—face continued danger as safe, reliable alternatives to driving are left unfunded.

• NY lawmakers considering $1B IOU after Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing flip-flop, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-07

Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07