Woodside’s kill zones: Queens Blvd, Roosevelt, and the BQE

May 27 - An SUV hit a moped at Roosevelt Avenue and 63rd Street. The moped driver, a young man, suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. The SUV and moped both traveled east. Metal met flesh. The street did not forgive.

A collision between a Ford SUV and a ZHILO moped occurred at Roosevelt Avenue and 63rd Street in Queens. The crash left the 24-year-old moped driver injured, with abrasions to his leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The SUV was passing when it struck the moped, which was making a left turn. The moped driver was unlicensed but wore a helmet. The SUV had two occupants, including a 30-year-old male passenger. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The police report does not list any errors for the moped driver. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, especially where vulnerable road users share space with heavy vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 27 - Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard in Queens. One driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite following too closely as the cause. The crash left a passenger and another driver shaken. Metal twisted. The street stayed busy. The danger was clear.

Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard near 57th Street in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when one sedan struck the other from behind. One driver, a 36-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and was in shock. A passenger and another driver were also involved but did not report specific injuries. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor in the crash. The impact damaged the center front end of one sedan and the center back end of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816794 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 24 - A sedan slammed into the back of another car on Queens Boulevard. One driver suffered internal injuries. Police cited following too closely and driver distraction. The crash left pain and confusion in the early morning dark.

A crash on Queens Boulevard near 72nd Street in Queens involved a sedan rear-ending another vehicle. According to the police report, the driver of the striking car was injured, suffering internal injuries to the entire body. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The second occupant, a registrant, had unspecified injuries. The police report makes clear that driver error—specifically tailgating and distraction—led to the collision. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815738 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 22 - A cyclist rode south on 69th Street. A vehicle turned left, struck him. He flew from his bike. His leg broke. Blood pooled on the street. The driver failed to yield. The city failed to protect him.

A 45-year-old male bicyclist was injured at 69th Street and 47th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the cyclist was heading straight when a vehicle making a left turn struck him. The impact ejected the cyclist, causing a fractured and dislocated lower leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. No safety equipment was noted. The crash highlights a clear driver error: the failure to yield to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814938 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 19 - SUV veered on the BQE. Motorcycle struck. Rider hurt. Unsafe lane change listed. Metal and flesh met on Queens asphalt.

A crash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Queens involved a motorcycle and an SUV. The 28-year-old motorcyclist suffered a leg injury and bruising. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was a contributing factor. The SUV was changing lanes when the collision occurred. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814552 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 17 - A driver making a left turn struck a 47-year-old woman crossing 67th Street. She suffered arm injuries. Police cite failure to yield. The street saw shock and pain. The system failed her.

A 47-year-old woman was hit and injured while crossing 67th Street at 48th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her arm and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other causes or safety equipment are mentioned. The crash underscores the danger faced by people on foot when drivers do not yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813467 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 13 - A moped hit a 29-year-old man on 60th Street in Queens. The pedestrian suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield.

A 29-year-old pedestrian was injured when a moped struck him on 60th Street near 43rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was emerging from in front of a parked vehicle when the moped, traveling north, hit him. The pedestrian suffered an abrasion to his lower leg and foot. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The moped driver, a 19-year-old man, was not injured. No other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 10 - Two sedans crashed on Queens Blvd. One driver suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention. Steel met steel. Streets demand focus. Distraction leaves scars.

Two sedans collided at 61st Street and Queens Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, one driver, a 50-year-old woman, suffered a head injury and whiplash. Both vehicles were going straight. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 2 - An SUV hit a man crossing against the signal on Roosevelt Avenue. The impact struck his head. He suffered a concussion. The driver kept straight. No driver error listed. The street stayed busy. The man stayed conscious.

A 40-year-old man was hit by an SUV while crossing Roosevelt Avenue at 69th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing against the signal and suffered a head injury and concussion but remained conscious. The SUV, a 2024 Toyota, was traveling west and struck the man with its right front quarter panel. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The driver was licensed and wore a lap belt. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810241 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 2 - Two SUVs crashed on 47th Avenue. A child and an elderly woman were hurt. Police cite illegal drugs as a factor. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The street stayed dangerous.

Two SUVs collided on 47th Avenue in Queens. A 10-year-old boy riding as a passenger and a 70-year-old woman driving were injured. The boy suffered unspecified injuries; the woman had back pain. Another driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered a fractured hip and leg. According to the police report, 'Drugs (illegal)' contributed to the crash. No other contributing factors were listed. The crash involved a sedan and multiple SUVs. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 23 - A Brooklyn man lost control on Belt Parkway. His SUV struck a tree near JFK. Emergency crews arrived but could not save him. The road stayed quiet. Police kept watch. The investigation continues.

The Brooklyn Paper reported on April 23, 2025, that a 57-year-old Brooklyn man died after crashing his SUV on the Belt Parkway near JFK Airport. Police said the driver "failed to navigate the roadway and struck a tree." Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene. The NYPD's Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is handling the case, and no arrests have been made. The article highlights the crash location—westbound Belt Parkway, just west of 130th Street—and notes the ongoing investigation. The incident underscores the dangers present on high-speed parkways and the unforgiving design of tree-lined medians.

• Driver Dies After Belt Parkway Crash, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 21 - Metal bolts crashed through a windshield in Queens. Glass exploded over the passenger. The No. 7 train rumbled above. Danger rained down. This was not the first time. The system failed to shield those below.

ABC7 reported on April 21, 2025, that debris from the No. 7 subway train fell onto a car at Queens Plaza, shattering the windshield and denting the hood. Rahimi, the driver, said, "We were driving right off here. Something fell off the train, damaging the windshield." Passenger Malnick described, "A bolt hit and then right away just the sound of glass exploding and glass all over me." The incident echoes previous cases: in 2019, falling debris from elevated tracks struck vehicles three times in a month. The MTA responded then by intensifying inspections, but the problem persists. The agency now says it is investigating and will inspect the area. The repeated incidents highlight ongoing risks from aging infrastructure above city streets.

• Falling Subway Debris Strikes Car In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-21

Apr 20 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. The driver struck a man on a bicycle. He died at the scene. Police closed the street. Another life ended in the crosswalk’s shadow. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 20, 2025, that an FDNY truck struck and killed a bicyclist in Middle Village, Queens. The crash happened as the truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street. According to police, 'the truck was turning onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street in Middle Village when the collision occurred.' The cyclist, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The NYPD is investigating. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists at intersections and the dangers of large vehicles turning across paths. Policy questions remain about intersection design and vehicle operation in dense neighborhoods.

• FDNY Truck Turns, Cyclist Killed In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-20

Apr 19 - A firetruck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. The wheels crushed a cyclist. Sirens wailed. Sheets covered the scene. Two firefighters stood stunned. The body lay beneath the truck. One life ended. The street stayed silent.

According to the New York Post (April 19, 2025), an FDNY Rescue Company 4 firetruck struck and killed a cyclist while turning onto Juniper Boulevard near Juniper Valley Park in Queens. The truck was responding to a call with lights and sirens. The victim, reportedly in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene after being trapped under the rear wheels. Photos showed the aftermath, with sheets covering the truck’s back wheels. A witness told the Post, “We stopped at the red light and there was the FDNY truck... One of them seemed concerned, like shaken, like shocked.” The incident is under investigation. The article highlights the risks at intersections and the dangers large emergency vehicles pose to vulnerable road users in city traffic.

• Firetruck Kills Cyclist Near Queens Park, New York Post, Published 2025-04-19

Apr 14 - A new study finds fare-free buses would speed up rides by 12 percent and draw 169 million more riders yearly. Faster boarding slashes dwell times. Riders save time. Streets get safer, air gets cleaner. The city must weigh the cost—and the gains.

On April 14, 2025, a policy analysis by Charles Komanoff examined the impact of fare-free buses in New York City. The report, covered by Streetsblog NYC, found that eliminating fares would cut bus trip times by 12 percent and boost annual ridership by 169 million, a 23 percent jump. The study states: 'Each dollar of city government support would produce more than two dollars worth of benefits for residents, primarily by removing the burden of fare payments while providing faster and more reliable bus service.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris, both of Queens, have pushed the MTA to consider free buses. Komanoff’s analysis shows that faster buses mean less time waiting, cleaner air, fewer crashes, and a small but real drop in car trips. The report adds fuel to the debate over city funding for free bus service.

• Free Buses Would Mean 12% Faster Rides And 20% More Riders: Study, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-14

Apr 13 - Two sedans crashed on 65th Street. Passengers bled. Shock followed. Driver inattention and failure to yield cut through Queens before dawn.

Two sedans collided on 65th Street near Laurel Hill Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way caused the crash. Two male passengers, both 34, suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding. Both were in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the front and rear of the vehicles damaged. No further details on other injuries were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805890 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Apr 12 - Activists marched the Queensboro Bridge, demanding space for people on foot. The city ignored them. Nine lanes for cars, one cramped path for everyone else. The mayor delayed the fix. The danger remains. The lane went back to cars.

On April 12, 2025, activists and elected officials gathered on the Queensboro Bridge to protest the city’s failure to restore the South Outer Roadway for pedestrians. The Department of Transportation had planned a ribbon-cutting for March 16, but Mayor Adams canceled it. Council Member Julie Won and State Senator Michael Gianaris attended, both supporting the reconfiguration. Won said, 'I have received no new information since Mayor Adams canceled the March 16 ribbon-cutting.' The protest highlighted the ongoing crisis: nine lanes for cars, one narrow, shared lane for cyclists and pedestrians. Crashes and near-misses are common. City Hall claims the project will impact several communities, but offers no timeline. The lane reverted to car use after the protest, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• Activists Walk the Queensboro Bridge to Demand More Space for Pedestrians, But Lane Reverts to Cars Anyway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-12