Astoria Bleeds While Leaders Talk—Demand Safe Streets Now

Jul 21 - A left-turning SUV collided with a northbound sedan on 25 Ave at Steinway St in Queens. The sedan driver, 35, suffered elbow, lower-arm and internal injuries and was in shock. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.

A left-turning SUV collided with a northbound sedan at 25 Ave and Steinway St in Queens. The sedan driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered elbow, lower-arm and hand injuries, internal complaints, and was reported in shock. Air bag deployment is recorded for the sedan. Two other occupants, ages 41 and 85, sustained unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the driver of the SUV was making a left turn when the collision occurred, and the report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. No other contributing factors are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 21 - SUV turned left on Steinway. Sedan struck front end. Driver hurt. Elderly woman and man in cars. Police cite failure to yield. Metal and flesh met in Queens night.

A sedan and an SUV collided at 25 Ave and Steinway St in Queens. One driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered arm and internal injuries. An 85-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man, both vehicle occupants, were also involved. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The SUV was making a left turn when the collision occurred. No other contributing factors were listed in the report. The impact struck the center front ends of both vehicles. The report does not specify injuries for the other occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832191 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 18 - A sedan hit a man getting off a vehicle on 43rd Street. He suffered a bruised leg. The driver kept going straight. Police list the cause as unspecified.

A 34-year-old man was struck by a sedan while getting off a vehicle on 43rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a contusion to his lower leg and was conscious at the scene. The sedan, driven by a licensed male, was traveling north and struck the pedestrian with its left front quarter panel. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 17 - A 64-year-old woman was struck at the intersection of 51st Street and 31st Avenue in Queens. She suffered a head injury, had minor bleeding, and was in shock. Police listed no driver errors in the report.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old female pedestrian suffered a head injury, minor bleeding, and was in shock after a driver hit her at the intersection of 51st Street and 31st Avenue in Queens. The report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. No vehicle make, model, driver identity, travel direction, or point of impact was recorded in the crash record. Responding officers documented the pedestrian’s injuries and condition. The police report offers no listed cause attributable to the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828501 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 12 - A sedan rear-ended a moped on 47 St at 34 Ave in Queens. The 23-year-old moped driver suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries and abrasions. Police cited a hand-held cell phone as a contributing factor.

A sedan struck a moped from behind on 47th Street at 34th Avenue in Queens. The moped driver, 23, was injured with abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg and foot. According to the police report, "Cell Phone (hand-Held)" was a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling west. The sedan’s center front end hit the moped’s center back end. The report notes the moped rider wore a helmet. Police recorded driver distraction by a cell phone as a factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - A driver in an SUV turned left on Steinway Street and hit a northbound motorcycle. The 24-year-old rider was ejected and left unconscious with a fractured upper arm. Police cited unsafe lane changing by the driver.

A left-turning SUV collided with a northbound motorcycle on Steinway Street at 35th Avenue in Queens. The motorcycle rider, a 24-year-old man, was ejected, left unconscious and suffered a fractured shoulder/upper arm. According to the police report, "Unsafe Lane Changing" was a contributing factor. Police recorded unsafe lane changing by the driver. The SUV sustained left-front quarter damage; the motorcycle sustained center-front damage. The report notes the motorcycle rider was not using safety equipment, mentioned only after listing driver error. The report records injuries to occupants; no pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826496 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 7 - A distracted driver slammed into a pick-up on 45th Street. Ejected. Bruised. Back injury. No safety gear. Streets in Queens stay dangerous for the unprotected.

A 22-year-old man driving a motorized vehicle was ejected and injured after colliding with a pick-up truck at 45th Street and 25th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were involved due to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The injured driver suffered a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report also cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. No safety equipment was used by the injured driver. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by vulnerable road users in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 5 - A sedan turned left on 31 Ave, striking a 16-year-old cyclist. The teen suffered a hip bruise. Police cite failure to yield. The driver was unhurt. The cyclist wore a helmet.

A sedan making a left turn on 31 Ave at 46 St in Queens struck a 16-year-old bicyclist traveling straight. The teen suffered a contusion to the hip and upper leg. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor. The sedan driver, a 67-year-old man, was not injured. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger left-turning drivers pose to people on bikes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 5 - SUV slammed parked cars on 56th Street. Driver lost consciousness. One man hurt, arm bruised. Metal twisted. Sirens wailed. Streets stayed dangerous.

A Jeep SUV traveling north on 56th Street in Queens struck two parked sedans. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Lost Consciousness.' One male occupant, age 59, suffered a contusion to his arm. The driver was conscious after the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or helmet or signal issues were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jul 2 - Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Jul 2 - Mamdani fights for fast, free buses. He builds coalitions. He wins a pilot. More buses, fewer cars. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

This review, published July 2, 2025 by Streetsblog NYC, examines Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s record on MTA policy. There is no formal bill number or committee, but the focus is his push for 'fast and free buses,' fare freezes, and bus lane enforcement. Mamdani led efforts in Albany for a fare-free bus pilot and more frequent service. Sen. Mike Gianaris credits Mamdani for getting free buses done. Safety analysts note: 'Policies promoting fast and free buses encourage mode shift from private vehicles to public transit, reducing traffic volumes and improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists through lower exposure to motor vehicle risk.'

• How Will Mamdani Govern? His Earlier MTA Advocacy Gives Some Hints, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02

Jul 2 - Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Albany lawmakers killed a bill to make apps insure delivery workers. DoorDash lobbied hard. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. No coverage. Profits protected. Safety denied.

Bill to require app companies to provide $50,000 insurance for delivery workers, pedestrians, and cyclists was introduced by Assembly Member Robert Carroll. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly on June 30, 2025, after DoorDash called it 'costly.' Amy Sohn reported the defeat. The bill aimed to cover injuries from crashes and bar retaliation against workers filing claims. DoorDash lobbied against it, backing a weaker bill. The safety analyst notes this defeat reduces accountability and weakens protections for pedestrians and cyclists. Corporate pressure won. Vulnerable road users lost.

• DoorDash Lobbying Sunk Bill to Require Apps to Insure Delivery Workers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 26 - Zohran Mamdani beat Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic mayoral nod. He vows faster buses, more bike lanes, and car-free space. Streets remain deadly. Change hinges on action.

Bill number not assigned. On June 26, 2025, Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. The matter, as reported by Sophia Lebowitz, states Mamdani's platform: 'make buses fast and free, add more protected bike lanes, and increase car-free public space.' Mamdani promises political will for proven safety measures. No specific legislation or committee action yet. The safety analyst notes: 'The event describes a political nomination outcome without reference to any specific transportation policy or legislation, so it has no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.'

• Here’s What Mamdani Can Steal From Other Candidates To Strengthen His Livable Streets Platform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-26

Jun 25 - Voters chose candidates who back bike lanes, open streets, and transit. Opponents lost. The message is clear: New Yorkers want safer roads. No new laws yet, but the council’s direction is set. Vulnerable road users watch and wait.

""A life of dignity should not be reserved for a fortunate few," said Mamdani, who has called for pedestrianizing streets in the congestion relief zone, expanding protected bike infrastructure, and cracking down on NYPD parking abuse." -- Zohran Mamdani

On June 25, 2025, New York City held local elections with major implications for street safety. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, saw candidates who championed 'the importance of bike lanes, public transit, and open streets' win across the city. Council members Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, Shekar Krishnan, Chi Oss, Crystal Hudson, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams all prevailed on platforms supporting safer streets. Mark Levine, who called for bold highway changes, won the Comptroller race. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text is a vague statement of support for livable streets but does not describe a specific policy action or legislative change, so its direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists cannot be determined.' The victories signal a mandate for people-first streets, but concrete safety gains depend on future action.

• Down-Ballot Recap: A Great Night for the Livable Streets Movement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23