Sunnyside Bleeds While City Sleeps: Drop the Speed, Save a Life

Jul 30 - A 13-year-old girl suffered abrasions and arm injuries after a Ford SUV struck her on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian in shock with a lower arm injury and no vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 2014 Ford SUV traveling west on Roosevelt Avenue struck a 13-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was reported to be in shock. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, and despite the collision, the SUV sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. No pedestrian contributing factors were noted in the report. This incident highlights the critical danger posed by distracted driving in urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744841 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 30 - A moped rider was injured after an SUV made a left turn and struck him on Vandam Street. The rider was partially ejected, suffering full-body injuries including fractures. The crash was caused by driver inattention and distraction, according to police.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Vandam Street in Queens around 12:15 PM. A 40-year-old male moped driver, wearing a helmet, was traveling north when a 2007 Jeep SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, made a left turn and struck the moped on its right rear quarter panel. The impact caused the rider to be partially ejected and sustain injuries to his entire body, including fractures and dislocations. The police report cites driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factors to the collision. The SUV sustained no damage, while the moped's right side doors were damaged. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 28 - A 67-year-old man crossing 42 Street in Queens was struck by an e-bike traveling west. The rider’s inattention caused a center front impact. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 42 Street near Skillman Avenue in Queens at 18:25. A 67-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the street outside an intersection when he was struck by an e-bike traveling westbound. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the e-bike rider failed to maintain proper attention. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were noted. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted e-bike operators to vulnerable pedestrians crossing streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743574 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - A 37-year-old man riding an e-scooter suffered neck injuries after a carry all vehicle collided with him on 39 Street in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was cited for unsafe speed. The rider was conscious and bruised.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 39 Street near 50 Avenue in Queens at 4:30 p.m. A 37-year-old male e-scooter rider was injured with a neck contusion and bruising. The collision involved a carry all vehicle traveling south, which struck the e-scooter on its right front quarter panel. The report identifies driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The e-scooter rider was conscious and not ejected but sustained injury severity level 3. The police report also notes pedestrian/bicyclist confusion as a contributing factor, but the primary fault lies with the vehicle driver’s failure to yield and excessive speed. No safety equipment was reported on the rider. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in interactions with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - SUV made a bad turn on 43 Avenue. Bicyclist thrown, shoulder shattered. Helmet on. Impact brutal. Driver’s error clear. Queens street, another cyclist down.

According to the police report, an SUV turned improperly at 43 Avenue and 44 Street in Queens at 16:30. The SUV struck a 36-year-old male bicyclist traveling east. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors, both driver errors. The bicyclist, wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered a fractured, dislocated shoulder. The SUV’s right rear quarter panel hit the bike’s front. No contributing factors are listed for the cyclist. The report centers the SUV driver’s actions as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742367 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - A box truck swung right on Greenpoint Avenue. An e-bike rider, just 28, kept straight. She was thrown, her hip shattered. She died there, helmet on, beneath the Queens sun. Failure to yield and driver distraction ended her ride.

According to the police report, a box truck was making a right turn at Greenpoint Avenue and 43rd Street in Queens when it struck a 28-year-old woman riding an e-bike straight through the intersection. The impact ejected her from the bike, shattering her hip and causing fatal injuries. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors on the part of the truck driver. The e-bike rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver's errors. The collision occurred at 11:35 a.m., with the truck's right front bumper cited as the point of impact. The woman died at the scene, another life ended by a driver’s failure to yield and lack of attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741425 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 26 - A Ford carry-all turned left at 47th Avenue and 46th Street. The truck struck a 16-year-old girl in the center of the crosswalk. She suffered fatal head wounds. The driver’s view was obstructed. The truck showed no damage. The license remained.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 47th Avenue and 46th Street in Queens when, according to the police report, a Ford carry-all making a left turn struck a 16-year-old pedestrian in the center of the crosswalk. The report states the girl was crushed and suffered fatal head wounds. The driver’s actions are underscored by the police report’s citation of 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. The truck sustained no damage, and the driver kept his license, according to the police report. No contributing factors were attributed to the victim. The report details the systemic danger faced by pedestrians at intersections, especially when drivers proceed with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735938 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 25 - Motorcycle driver thrown from bike on 39 Street, Skillman Avenue. Suffered fractured, dislocated arm and hand. No other vehicles. Crash cause not specified.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man riding a 2016 Yamaha motorcycle was ejected and injured on 39 Street near Skillman Avenue in Queens at 16:41. The motorcycle, traveling south, crashed and struck its center front end. The rider suffered a fractured, distorted, and dislocated elbow, lower arm, and hand. Injury severity was level 3. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite any driver errors. The rider wore a helmet, as noted after the crash details. No other vehicles or people were involved. The report focuses on the crash impact and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - Queens residents gathered under the 7 train. They blasted Governor Hochul’s sudden halt of congestion pricing. Protesters called it a betrayal of millions who rely on transit. Anger burned over lost upgrades, broken promises, and a system that favors drivers over straphangers.

On June 11, 2024, three dozen Queens residents rallied against Governor Hochul’s last-minute decision to pause congestion pricing. The protest, organized by Laura Shepard of Transportation Alternatives, took place under the 7 train. Jaqi Cohen of Tri-State Transportation Campaign declared, “She can't ignore the needs of New York's eight million transit riders.” Restaurant owner Michael Fuquay said, “You want to know how my employees get to work? They walk, they bike, they take the bus.” State Assembly candidate Claire Valdez called the move “a slap in the face to millions who use public transit.” The MTA’s capital plan, including long-awaited elevator upgrades at 46 St-Bliss St and 33 St-Rawson, now hangs in the balance. Protesters condemned the governor’s action as a blow to vulnerable New Yorkers who depend on safe, reliable transit.

• Queens Residents Rally Against Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Flip Flop, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-11

Jun 7 - 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

Jun 7 - 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

Jun 7 - Albany scrambles after Hochul kills congestion pricing. Lawmakers float a $1 billion-a-year promise for the MTA. No details. No guarantees. Michael Gianaris calls it a stopgap. Riders and streets hang in the balance. The future stays uncertain.

On June 7, 2024, Albany lawmakers responded to Governor Hochul’s cancellation of NYC congestion pricing. The proposed measure, still without a bill number or final language, would guarantee $1 billion annually for the MTA over 15 years. State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris explained, “It’s very simply something that just says there will be a billion dollars for the MTA in the following year’s budget, but without any specifics as to what that means.” Gianaris and others are working with Hochul and the MTA to keep capital projects alive. The bill’s fate is unclear, with some lawmakers already planning to vote no. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The measure’s details and its effect on street safety remain unknown.

• Albany lawmakers considering last-minute bailout for lost congestion toll revenue, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - A 39-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and injured on the Long Island Expressway. The motorcycle overturned after impact. The rider suffered chest contusions and bruises, remaining conscious despite the severity of the crash.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old male driver operating a 2022 Honda motorcycle was traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway at 11:55. The motorcycle overturned, ejecting the rider who sustained chest injuries including contusions and bruises. The rider was conscious after the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors related to the driver. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver was licensed in New York. The point of impact was categorized as 'Other,' and the motorcycle was going straight ahead at the time. The report does not specify any pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors. The crash highlights the dangers motorcyclists face when ejected and overturned on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730614 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - A motorcyclist suffered knee and leg injuries after a vehicle backed unsafely into her on Greenpoint Avenue. The driver was partially ejected and experienced shock. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Greenpoint Avenue at 9:10 AM. A vehicle making a U-turn backed unsafely, striking the left rear bumper of a motorcycle traveling west. The motorcyclist, a 28-year-old female driver, was partially ejected and sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with minor bleeding and shock reported. The report identifies the vehicle driver's errors as backing unsafely and driver inattention or distraction. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. Vehicle damage was noted on the left rear quarter panel of the motorcycle and the center back end of the other vehicle. The crash highlights the dangers of unsafe backing maneuvers combined with driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731358 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

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 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