Eight Dead in Elmhurst—How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

A 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a right turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing knee and lower leg abrasions. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact at a Queens intersection.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at the intersection of 73 Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, made a right turn and struck her. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the driver. The impact occurred at the vehicle's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This crash highlights the critical danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750786 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A man drowned off Rockaway Beach. He is the fifth this summer. Council Member Justin Brannan and others call for more lifeguards, longer hours, and more pools. The city refuses. Drones and patrols replace real protection. Swimmers keep dying.

On July 22, 2024, after a fifth drowning at a New York City beach, Council Member Justin Brannan (District 47) joined other officials to demand urgent action. The group called for expanded lifeguard hours, more staff, and new public pools. The Adams administration rejected these measures, relying instead on NYPD drones and Parks Enforcement Patrols. The matter, described as 'Body found in fifth apparent drowning off NYC beach as pols call for more lifeguard hours,' highlights the deadly gap in city safety policy. Brannan, along with Council Member Shekar Krishnan and Borough Presidents Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso, urged the city to extend the beach season, increase lifeguard shifts, and offer universal swimming lessons. The city has only 870 lifeguards, far short of the 1,500 needed. Vulnerable swimmers remain at risk while officials debate. The toll mounts.

• Body found in fifth apparent drowning off NYC beach as pols call for more lifeguard hours: ‘Going to get worse’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-22

A 46-year-old e-scooter rider suffered a severe shoulder injury when an SUV making a right turn struck him from behind. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and followed too closely, causing a violent collision on Grand Avenue.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:03 on Grand Avenue involving a 2022 Dodge SUV and a male e-scooter rider aged 46. The SUV driver, licensed in New York, was making a right turn when the collision happened. The e-scooter rider was traveling straight ahead. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors attributed to the SUV driver. The impact occurred at the SUV's center front end and the e-scooter's center back end. The rider sustained a fractured, dislocated upper arm and was not ejected but was in shock. The e-scooter driver was unlicensed. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights driver errors and systemic risks faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739888 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

New state law forces moped and e-bike sellers to register vehicles, educate buyers, and ban unsafe batteries. Lawmakers say this closes loopholes, shifts blame from workers, and aims to cut rising crashes. Streets see more mopeds, more injuries, more tension.

On July 12, 2024, Governor Hochul signed a package of eight bills into law, including new moped and e-bike safety regulations. The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Alex Bores, requires retailers to register mopeds at the point of sale, provide safety information, and prohibit the sale of substandard lithium-ion batteries. The law also mandates crash reporting and new safety training for first responders. Hoylman-Sigal said, 'I've received more complaints about the hazards these mopeds cause than just about any other issue.' Bores added, 'By requiring the registration of mopeds at point of sale and the collection of e-bike collision data, we are making our streets safer and increasing accountability.' The law shifts accountability to retailers, aiming to improve street safety without penalizing delivery workers. Council Member Shekar Krishnan and State Senator Liz Kruger also voiced support, highlighting the dangers of unregistered mopeds and the need for better buyer education. The law responds to a sharp rise in moped-related injuries and community complaints across New York City.

• Moped and E-Bike Safety Legislation Becomes State Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-12

A 50-year-old man crossing Roosevelt Avenue with the signal was struck by a backing pick-up truck. The vehicle hit him with its right rear bumper. The pedestrian suffered an upper arm abrasion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling west on Roosevelt Avenue was backing when it struck a 50-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection near 76 Street in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the truck's right rear bumper, which caused an abrasion to the pedestrian's shoulder and upper arm. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The driver's failure to safely back the vehicle and lack of attention directly led to the collision. No victim behavior was listed as a contributing factor beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans collided on 76 Street in Queens. One driver suffered a head injury and whiplash, left shaken and injured. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The impact damaged both vehicles’ front and rear bumpers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 76 Street in Queens at 11:20 AM. Two sedans traveling east collided, with one vehicle making a left turn and the other previously parked. The driver of one sedan, a 22-year-old male, sustained a head injury and whiplash, was not ejected, and was reported to be in shock. The police identified unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the collision. The impact points were the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other, causing damage to the right rear bumper and left front bumper respectively. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans collided at a Queens intersection. One driver, a 37-year-old woman, suffered an arm abrasion. The crash struck both cars’ front ends. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Streets remain hazardous.

According to the police report, two sedans collided near 86-10 Grand Avenue in Queens at 8:51 AM. A male driver turned left while a 37-year-old female driver went straight. The impact hit the left front bumper of the turning sedan and the right front bumper of the other. The female driver suffered an abrasion to her elbow and lower arm. She was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers held valid licenses. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the female driver. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the danger of left turns and vehicle impact at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two female bicyclists collided head-on on Queens Boulevard in Queens. Both suffered hip and upper leg injuries with contusions. Obstruction or debris on the roadway contributed to the crash, causing impact to the center front ends of both bikes.

According to the police report, two female bicyclists, ages 24 and 25, collided on Queens Boulevard at 5:15 AM. Both bicyclists were helmeted and conscious but sustained contusions and injuries to their hips and upper legs. The crash involved two bikes traveling in opposite directions, each striking the other's center front end. The report cites obstruction or debris on the roadway as a contributing factor to the collision. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted, but the presence of roadway hazards played a critical role. Both bicyclists were not ejected and were driving their respective bikes at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 23-year-old male bicyclist suffered head abrasions after a sedan making a left turn collided with him on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. The impact hit the bike’s right side doors. The cyclist was conscious and not ejected from his bike.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:45 AM on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. A sedan traveling east was making a left turn when it struck a westbound bicyclist. The point of impact was the bike’s right side doors, with damage to the sedan’s center front end. The bicyclist, a 23-year-old male, sustained head abrasions and was conscious after the collision. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver or bicyclist, but the sedan’s left turn maneuver directly caused the collision. The bicyclist was not ejected and was riding without safety equipment. The driver’s left turn into the path of the bicyclist created a hazardous situation resulting in injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called out the surge of reckless mopeds and e-bikes on 34th Avenue. Residents spoke of fear, injury, and death. City officials promised enforcement and education. Advocates demanded safer streets, not criminalization. The crisis rolls on. Action lags.

On June 11, 2024, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (District 25) convened a town hall in Jackson Heights to address what he called a 'moped crisis.' The meeting followed a deadly year: a 75-year-old man killed by an e-bike, two injured in a dirt bike crash. Residents described near-misses and constant danger on the 34th Avenue open street. The matter, titled 'On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle,' drew city officials, including DOT and Mayor Adams, who backed enforcement and moped registration. Krishnan slammed DOT’s reliance on signage, pushing instead for a dedicated micromobility lane. Delivery worker advocates opposed criminalization, demanding labor protections and safe infrastructure. Despite new signs and vehicle seizures, mopeds still speed through. The call for urgent, systemic change grows louder.

• On Jackson Heights’ open street, NYC’s ‘moped crisis’ is in full throttle, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-11

Council Member Shekar Krishnan blasted DOT for chaos on 34th Avenue’s Paseo Park. He called it a ‘moped highway’ and demanded a redesign. Pedestrians dodge speeding mopeds. Painted bike lanes fail. DOT touts safety, but danger remains for those on foot.

On June 11, 2024, Council Member Shekar Krishnan publicly condemned the Department of Transportation’s design of Paseo Park, also known as the 34th Avenue open street. At a 'Moped Crisis' town hall, Krishnan called the area a 'moped highway' and said, 'The biggest problem that we have is poor design by the DOT.' He demanded a redesign that separates speeding vehicles from people and creates safe corridors for mopeds away from recreational spaces. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas echoed the call for engineering solutions, stating, 'We must design the roads to ensure that mopeds are not getting on [Paseo Park], and are not driving recklessly.' DOT staff highlighted enforcement efforts, but Krishnan and others insisted that design, not enforcement, must come first. DOT claims a drop in pedestrian crashes, but the current layout leaves pedestrians and cyclists exposed to danger.

• Queens Pol: DOT Needs to Solve ‘Moped Crisis’ in Paseo Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-11

A 31-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered serious lower leg injuries on Ithaca Street in Queens. The crash caused center front end damage to the motorcycle. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured and ejected from his vehicle on Ithaca Street in Queens at 5:11 AM. The motorcycle, a 2016 HD model, was traveling east and sustained center front end damage upon impact. The driver, who was wearing a helmet, suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any other vehicles or pedestrians involved. The driver was licensed in New York and was the sole occupant of the motorcycle. The crash narrative does not specify the exact cause, but the ejection and injury severity highlight the high-risk nature of the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732139 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

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 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

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

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

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