No More Limps: Demand 20 MPH Before Sunnyside Bleeds Again

Jun 6 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program." Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 4 - A 31-year-old woman suffered head injuries after an SUV made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and disregarded traffic control. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, at 9:11 a.m. on Northern Boulevard, a 2024 Chevrolet SUV traveling south made a left turn and struck a 31-year-old female pedestrian crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained head injuries, including contusions and bruises, and remained conscious. The point of impact was the SUV's left front quarter panel, which also sustained damage. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not identified as a contributing factor. The collision highlights driver error in yielding during a left turn, resulting in serious injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730167 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 28 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

May 20 - Pick-up truck turning left hit e-scooter rider going straight in Queens. The rider, a 37-year-old man, suffered hip and leg abrasions. Police cite failure to yield by the truck driver as the cause.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling north on Northern Boulevard near 37th Street in Queens made a left turn and struck an e-scooter rider heading west. The 37-year-old e-scooter rider was injured, sustaining abrasions to his hip and upper leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, attributed to the pick-up truck driver. The e-scooter rider was unlicensed, but no contributing factors were assigned to him. The truck showed no damage after the crash. This collision underscores the risk to vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726159 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 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

May 14 - Two sedans collided at Northern Boulevard in Queens. Both drivers were making left turns when the crash occurred. One driver suffered head injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash happened on Northern Boulevard in Queens at 14:20. Two sedans, both making left turns, collided. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of one vehicle and the right side doors of the other. The driver of one sedan, a 38-year-old female occupant, was injured with head trauma and experienced shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and complained of pain or nausea. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both vehicles were registered in New York and had one occupant each. The collision caused damage to the right rear quarter panels of both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725585 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 25 - A 49-year-old male motorcyclist sustained knee and concussion injuries after a crash in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was following too closely. The rider was helmeted and conscious, but suffered serious lower leg trauma.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on 51 Street in Queens was involved in a crash at 15:22. The 49-year-old male driver, who was wearing a helmet, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, and suffered a concussion. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. There was no damage reported to the motorcycle at the point of impact. The police data highlights driver error—specifically failure to maintain safe distance—as the cause of the injury. No victim behavior was cited as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 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

Apr 11 - 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

Mar 29 - Cars choke the Queensbridge Baby Greenway. Police refuse to act. Residents plead for help. Council Member Julie Won calls for fencing and bollards. The Parks Department promises a barricade plan. No timeline. The greenway remains a parking lot. Pedestrians lose ground.

On March 29, 2024, Council Member Julie Won called for urgent action to stop illegal car parking on the Queensbridge Baby Greenway in Long Island City. The matter, described as 'lawlessness on the greenway,' has seen police ignore months of resident complaints. Won, through Chief of Staff Nick Gulotta, demanded the Parks Department install fencing and bollards to block cars. 'Council Member Won fully supports the call for the Parks Department to install fencing and bollards to prevent cars from illegally parking and driving through the Queensbridge Baby Park Greenway,' Gulotta said. The Parks Department claims to be working on a 'barricade plan' with NYCHA, but offers no timeline. The greenway, once a haven for pedestrians and cyclists, now serves as a parking lot. The NYPD and Parks Department pass blame. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. The system fails to protect them.

• Can We Just Keep Cars Off the Queensbridge Baby Greenway?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-29

Mar 27 - 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

Mar 20 - 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

Mar 19 - 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

Mar 12 - Lawmakers push $90 million for faster, freer buses. The plan boosts service and expands free routes. Riders win more access. The bill also funds rail links and fare breaks for low-income, seniors, and disabled. Enforcement on tolls gets softer. Streets shift for people.

On March 12, 2024, state lawmakers released a budget proposal targeting New York City transit. The bill, led by Andrea Stewart-Cousins and mentioned in the Assembly and Senate one-house budgets, calls for $90 million to increase bus frequency and expand the MTA's free bus pilot. The matter summary states: 'State lawmakers proposed spending $90 million this year to improve bus service frequency and expand the scope of the MTA's free bus pilot.' The proposal, supported by Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, also adopts the FARES Act, extending half-price MetroCards to commuter rail, and funds new discounts for seniors and people with disabilities. Lawmakers back the QueensLink rail project and recommend subway improvements. They reject tougher toll enforcement, instead supporting the Toll Payer Protection Act. The plan aims to make transit faster, cheaper, and more accessible for millions of riders.

• State lawmakers propose $90 million for more frequent buses, fare-free pilot in budget response, amny.com, Published 2024-03-12

Mar 12 - Albany lawmakers want more buses and cheaper fares. They propose $90 million for frequent service and 15 new free routes. The plan targets gridlock and aims to boost ridership before congestion pricing hits. Riders in every borough stand to gain.

Bill proposals in the New York State Assembly and Senate, introduced in February 2024 by State Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, seek $90 million for increased bus service and 15 more free bus routes. These measures, part of the 'Get Congestion Pricing Right' package, appear in both houses’ 'one-house' budgets as of March 12, 2024. The matter summary states: 'City buses would run more frequently under new proposals from state legislators in Albany, who included increased bus services and new fare discounts in budget proposals.' Mamdani and Gianaris led the push, citing the need for better transit before congestion pricing launches this summer. Their plan includes expanded Fair Fares, new discounts for seniors and disabled riders, and a weekly CityTicket for unlimited intracity rail travel. Advocates and lawmakers argue these steps are critical for equity and access, especially as the city prepares to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The proposals now enter negotiations with Governor Hochul.

• Legislators Propose More Bus Service, Transit Discounts In State Budget Negotiations, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-12

Mar 10 - An ambulance struck the left side of an SUV traveling south on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The SUV driver, a 49-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:53 on Northern Boulevard in Queens. An ambulance traveling west collided with the left side doors of a southbound SUV. The SUV driver, a 49-year-old male occupant, was injured with contusions and upper arm and shoulder injuries but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error in yielding. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The ambulance sustained front-end damage, and the SUV had damage to its left side doors. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behavior was cited as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709220 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 9 - Motorcycle slammed into SUV on Northern Boulevard. Rider ejected. Back injured. Whiplash. Police cite failure to yield and improper lane use. SUV driver licensed. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and an SUV collided at 11:48 AM on Northern Boulevard near Newtown Road in Queens. The unlicensed male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and making a right turn. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709174 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 7 - A 26-year-old unlicensed moped driver suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a right front bumper impact while making a right turn in Queens. The driver was conscious and not ejected, sustaining moderate injuries without safety equipment.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 37 Avenue near Northern Boulevard in Queens at 8:20 PM. The moped, driven by a 26-year-old male without a license, was making a right turn when it was struck on the right front bumper. The driver, who was not wearing any safety equipment, sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report notes the driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or driver errors were explicitly cited in the report. The incident highlights the risks posed by unlicensed operation and the impact of collisions involving mopeds in the borough.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709425 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 4 - Lawmakers push to triple fare-free bus lines. Fifteen routes, more buses, faster rides. Focus on low-income neighborhoods. The move aims to shift New Yorkers from cars to transit. Congestion pricing looms. Riders want speed, reliability, and access.

Senator Michael Gianaris introduced the 'Congestion Pricing Done Right' bill on March 4, 2024. The bill, now before the legislature, seeks to expand New York City's fare-free bus pilot from five to fifteen lines, with three in each borough. The measure promises $45 million for better bus reliability and frequency, targeting low-income and disadvantaged communities. The bill summary states: 'expand and extend New York City's fare-free bus pilot program.' Gianaris, as sponsor, aims to boost mass transit before congestion pricing takes effect. Supporters, including Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Riders Alliance, and the Transport Workers Union, stress that affordable, frequent buses are vital for safety and equity. MTA Chair Janno Lieber backs more service but warns that bus lanes lag behind. The bill focuses on routes that can handle more buses without new infrastructure, aiming to make public transit a real alternative to cars.

• More free rides? State lawmakers look to triple size of NYC fare-free bus pilot, increase frequency ahead of congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2024-03-04