Astoria Bleeds While Leaders Talk—Demand Safe Streets Now

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

A moped traveling north collided with the left side doors of a parked sedan on Steinway Street in Queens. The 22-year-old moped driver suffered knee and lower leg contusions but was conscious and wearing a helmet. Improper lane usage was cited.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:20 on Steinway Street in Queens. A moped traveling straight ahead northbound struck the left side doors of a parked 2024 Honda sedan. The sedan was stationary before impact, and the collision caused damage to its left side doors. The moped driver, a 22-year-old male, was wearing a helmet and sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The police report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error on the moped operator's part. The sedan driver was licensed and parked at the time, with no injuries reported. The moped sustained no damage. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Sedan struck a 37-year-old e-bike rider on Broadway. Cyclist suffered head injury and whiplash. Police cite driver’s failure to yield. Impact hit bike’s front. Rider stayed conscious.

A sedan collided with a 37-year-old male e-bike rider on Broadway in Queens, injuring the cyclist. According to the police report, the sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way, striking the e-bike’s center front end with the car’s left side doors. The cyclist suffered a head injury and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor. The cyclist wore a helmet. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash underscores the danger when drivers do not yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722767 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

New York City can cut speed limits to 20 mph this summer. Council members and advocates demand urgency. The mayor and DOT hesitate. Traffic deaths mount. The city faces a choice: act fast or let danger linger on its streets.

On May 3, 2024, the City Council debated a new policy allowing New York City to lower speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph on most streets, following a recent state budget measure. The measure, discussed in committee, requires a Council vote for citywide changes and a six-month warning period for drivers. Kamillah Hanks (District 49) was mentioned in the debate. Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas stressed urgency, citing recent deaths. Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler pledged to push the measure forward. Advocates like Transportation Alternatives called for a citywide approach, not piecemeal action. The Department of Transportation thanked lawmakers but did not commit to a timeline. The debate highlights the tension between urgent safety needs and political delays. Vulnerable road users remain at risk until the city acts.

• NYC can reduce speed limits this summer, but is Mayor Adams ready?, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-03

A 24-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and lost consciousness after his sedan rear-ended another vehicle on 42 Street in Queens. The crash occurred in stopped traffic. Police cite following too closely as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 42 Street in Queens at 8:15 PM. A 24-year-old male driver in a 2023 Chevrolet sedan was stopped in traffic when he rear-ended the vehicle ahead. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the other vehicle. The driver was injured, sustaining a head injury and was unconscious at the scene. He was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The police report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of inadequate vehicle spacing in traffic, resulting in serious injury to the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721684 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A Nissan sedan tore into a parked box truck on 28th Avenue. The driver, 57, was left semiconscious, bleeding from the head. The truck stood still. Speed did not. Metal crumpled. Blood pooled. The street bore witness.

According to the police report, a Nissan sedan traveling east on 28th Avenue near 44-10 collided with the rear of a parked box truck. The driver, a 57-year-old man, was held by his seatbelt but suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious. The report states the box truck was stationary at the time of impact. 'Unsafe Speed' is listed as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The sedan's center front end struck the truck's back, crumpling metal and leaving the driver injured. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Albany sends $12 million to expand city bus service. The free bus pilot dies. Riders get more buses but lose free rides. Councilmember Hanks pushes for more OMNY machines. The city moves, but not all riders win.

On April 26, 2024, New York State lawmakers approved over $12 million to increase bus service across New York City. The decision ended funding for the MTA's pilot program that made one bus route in each borough free. The matter, titled 'NYC to get a boost in bus service, but pilot program for free routes ends,' highlights the trade-off: more buses, but no more free rides. Councilmember Kamillah Hanks of District 49 introduced a resolution urging the MTA to install at least 30 OMNY card vending machines in every borough, noting not all riders can pay by smartphone. The bill is not tied to a specific council committee or number. Hanks is mentioned for her advocacy on OMNY access. The move increases bus frequency but leaves low-income and cash riders behind. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was assessed.

• NYC to get a boost in bus service, but pilot program for free routes ends, gothamist.com, Published 2024-04-26

Albany killed the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. No more free rides. Lawmakers gave $12 million for better service, but not enough. Riders lose a lifeline. The city’s poorest feel the blow. Congestion pricing looms. Buses stay crowded, fares return.

On April 21, 2024, the New York State budget ended the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. The pilot, which began in September 2023, made one bus in each borough free. Lawmakers, including Senator Michael Gianaris, pushed to expand it to 15 lines. The budget did not include this. Instead, $12.3 million was set aside to improve bus frequency, far short of the $45 million needed for expansion. The bill’s summary states, 'The MTA's experiment in fare-less city bus service will soon end after Albany lawmakers did not reauthorize it.' Gianaris pledged to keep fighting for affordable transit. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the pilot 'crucial' for working-class New Yorkers. The MTA’s Janno Lieber criticized the program. No safety analyst reviewed the impact on vulnerable road users. The loss hits riders who depend on buses most.

• MTA’s free bus experiment will end after not being reauthorized in state budget, amny.com, Published 2024-04-21

Albany killed the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. No more free rides. Lawmakers gave $12 million for better service, but not enough. Riders lose a lifeline. The city’s poorest feel the blow. Congestion pricing looms. Buses stay crowded, fares return.

On April 21, 2024, the New York State budget ended the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. The pilot, which began in September 2023, made one bus in each borough free. Lawmakers, including Senator Michael Gianaris, pushed to expand it to 15 lines. The budget did not include this. Instead, $12.3 million was set aside to improve bus frequency, far short of the $45 million needed for expansion. The bill’s summary states, 'The MTA's experiment in fare-less city bus service will soon end after Albany lawmakers did not reauthorize it.' Gianaris pledged to keep fighting for affordable transit. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the pilot 'crucial' for working-class New Yorkers. The MTA’s Janno Lieber criticized the program. No safety analyst reviewed the impact on vulnerable road users. The loss hits riders who depend on buses most.

• MTA’s free bus experiment will end after not being reauthorized in state budget, amny.com, Published 2024-04-21

A 23-year-old man on an e-scooter crashed on Hobart Street in Queens. He suffered bruises to his knee, leg, and foot. The scooter’s front end took the hit. No other injuries reported. Police list no clear cause.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash on Hobart Street, Queens, just after midnight. The rider, unlicensed, was heading east when the scooter’s center front end struck an object or vehicle. He suffered contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police report lists 'unspecified' contributing factors and does not assign fault. The data notes the driver was unlicensed, which is a key factor in the crash. No other people were hurt. The driver was conscious and not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718475 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Mayor Adams wants Randy Mastro, a foe of bike lanes and congestion pricing, to lead the Law Department. Council members push back. Mastro’s record signals danger for pedestrians and cyclists. His history favors cars. The fight over his confirmation has begun.

""No way in hell I vote to confirm Randy Mastro."" -- Tiffany Cabán

On April 18, 2024, a New York Times report revealed Mayor Adams’s intent to appoint Randy Mastro, former Giuliani deputy mayor, as head of the city’s Law Department. Mastro is known for opposing bike lanes and congestion pricing, having fought the Prospect Park West bike lane and represented New Jersey against congestion pricing. Council Members Sandy Nurse and Tiffany Caban voiced strong opposition, with Caban declaring, 'No way in hell I vote to confirm Randy Mastro.' Joe Borelli, a congestion pricing opponent, supported the move, saying, 'I want more people who think like me on congestion pricing in City Hall.' The appointment signals a car-first agenda. Council resistance is fierce. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders—face greater risk if Mastro’s priorities shape city policy.

• Randy Mastro Aspires to Join Mayor’s Inner Circle of Congestion Pricing Foes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...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, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Mayor Adams broke the law. He built too few bus lanes. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Council Member Mamdani calls him out. City Hall dodges. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. The city drags its feet. The danger grows.

This is not a bill, but a policy failure. In 2022, city law required 20 miles of new bus lanes. Adams built 12.9. In 2023, the law demanded 30 miles. Only 7.8 appeared. Council Member Zohran Kwame Mamdani slammed the mayor: 'How can he call himself a law and order mayor, when New Yorkers can’t trust him to follow the law?' The Adams administration, through spokesperson Liz Garcia, claimed progress: 'We continue to work with our partners in the MTA and with communities across the city to build on this record of success.' But the numbers tell a harsher story. Bus speeds have dropped since Adams took office. Riders, many with no other option, face longer waits and slower trips. The city’s failure to build bus lanes leaves streets more dangerous for those outside cars.

• Wednesday’s Headlines: Get the Buses Moving Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-10

A sedan struck the rear of a box truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan driver and front passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited the driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause. No ejections occurred.

According to the police report, at 8:30 AM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, a 2011 Nissan sedan traveling north rear-ended a box truck also heading north. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan, which sustained damage, while the truck showed no damage. The sedan driver, a 23-year-old female with a permit license, was cited for "Following Too Closely," a critical driver error leading to the collision. The front passenger, a 22-year-old male, and the driver both sustained back injuries and whiplash but were conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victims’ behavior, focusing solely on the driver’s failure to maintain a safe following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717693 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

A pick-up truck parked on 45 Street struck a northbound bicyclist. The cyclist was ejected, suffering knee and lower leg injuries. Police cite the truck driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 45 Street in Queens at 18:10. A northbound bicyclist collided with a parked pick-up truck, impacting the truck’s left side doors. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old male, was ejected and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The report explicitly identifies the truck driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the collision. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the truck’s left side doors and the bike’s center front end. No other contributing factors were specified. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver errors involving yielding in interactions with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712827 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Congestion pricing is coming. Advocates want more than fewer cars. They demand free transit, faster buses, wide bike lanes, and car-free school streets. The plan targets space now wasted on traffic. The goal: safer, freer movement for all New Yorkers.

This opinion statement, published March 21, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, lays out a vision for maximizing the impact of congestion pricing in New York City. Sara Lind, speaking for her organization, urges city and state leaders to seize the moment. She calls for free bus and ferry rides during the first week, dedicated bus lanes, double-wide bike lanes on major avenues, and car-free streets near schools. The statement reads: 'Congestion pricing isn't important only because it will reduce the number of cars below 60th Street in Manhattan; its true value lies in what else we can get when that happens.' No council bill number or committee is attached, as this is an advocacy statement. The proposals center vulnerable road users—children, cyclists, bus riders—by demanding space and safety where cars once ruled.

• Opinion: Here’s How to Get Congestion Pricing Right, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-21

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 2024-03-20

Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19