Maspeth Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

Council moves to stop drivers from hogging curb. No more saving spots with cars. No more leaving vehicles parked for weeks. Streets clear, rules tight. Holden leads the charge. Committee weighs the bill.

Bill Int 0223-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Robert F. Holden, it bans using a car to reserve a public parking space and blocks parking in one spot for over five days. The matter title: 'prohibiting the use of a vehicle to reserve a parking space and prohibiting the continuous parking of a vehicle in the same location for more than five consecutive days.' Holden sponsored the bill, now under committee review. The Department of Transportation must alert vehicle owners and stakeholders. No safety analyst has yet assessed the impact on pedestrians or cyclists.

• File Int 0223-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to check 100 speed camera spots a year for raised speed bumps. If possible, bumps go in within a year. DOT must track and report on driver behavior changes. No delay. No loopholes.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Louis (primary), Carr, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino, and Morano. The bill orders DOT to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. If feasible, DOT must install the bump within a year. The law demands annual reports on these checks and on shifts in dangerous driving at treated sites. The bill summary reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council aims to force physical changes where cameras alone fail.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to stop drivers from hogging curb. No more saving spots with cars. No more leaving vehicles parked for weeks. Streets clear, rules tight. Holden leads the charge. Committee weighs the bill.

Bill Int 0223-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Robert F. Holden, it bans using a car to reserve a public parking space and blocks parking in one spot for over five days. The matter title: 'prohibiting the use of a vehicle to reserve a parking space and prohibiting the continuous parking of a vehicle in the same location for more than five consecutive days.' Holden sponsored the bill, now under committee review. The Department of Transportation must alert vehicle owners and stakeholders. No safety analyst has yet assessed the impact on pedestrians or cyclists.

• File Int 0223-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to stop drivers from using cars as barricades. No more saving spots. No more leaving cars idle for days. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Bill Int 0223-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Robert F. Holden, it bans using vehicles to reserve parking and blocks cars from sitting in one spot over five days. The matter title reads: 'prohibiting the use of a vehicle to reserve a parking space and prohibiting the continuous parking of a vehicle in the same location for more than five consecutive days.' Holden sponsored the bill, which also requires DOT outreach to alert drivers and stakeholders. No votes yet. The bill aims to keep curb space moving and cut hazards for people outside cars.

• File Int 0223-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to stop drivers from using cars as barricades. No more saving spots. No more leaving cars idle for days. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Bill Int 0223-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Robert F. Holden, it bans using vehicles to reserve parking and blocks cars from sitting in one spot over five days. The matter title reads: 'prohibiting the use of a vehicle to reserve a parking space and prohibiting the continuous parking of a vehicle in the same location for more than five consecutive days.' Holden sponsored the bill, which also requires DOT outreach to alert drivers and stakeholders. No votes yet. The bill aims to keep curb space moving and cut hazards for people outside cars.

• File Int 0223-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Senate bill S 8658 orders $90 million for faster, more reliable buses and fare-free rides. Sponsors push MTA to act. Riders wait for relief. Streets choke on traffic. The city holds its breath.

Senate bill S 8658, introduced on February 27, 2024, sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'get congestion pricing right act,' directs the MTA to spend $45 million to boost bus frequency and reliability, and another $45 million to expand fare-free bus pilots in New York City. Senators Michael Gianaris (primary sponsor), Jabari Brisport, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Julia Salazar back the measure. The bill demands reporting on these investments. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File S 8658, Open States, Published 2024-02-27

Danielle Aber died on Nassau Avenue. The driver, Stanley Manel, had 26 speed camera tickets. He faced minor charges. Officials demand action: lower speed limits, force repeat offenders to install speed controls, and redesign deadly streets. The city’s inaction kills.

"Assembly Member Gallagher carries legislation requiring drivers with six or more speeding tickets in a year – or with 11 or more points on their license in 18 months – to install an intelligent speed assistance device in their car that prevents speeding." -- Dennis P. Gallagher

On February 25, 2024, after Danielle Aber was killed by a repeat speeding driver in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a coalition of elected officials demanded sweeping changes. The group—Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Council Member Lincoln Restler, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez—called for passage of two state bills: one mandating intelligent speed assistance devices for drivers with six or more speeding tickets in a year, and 'Sammy’s Law,' which would let the City Council lower speed limits. Their statement read, 'We’re calling on the New York State legislature to pass two critical bills that would lead to fewer incidents of traffic violence.' They also urged the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting at intersections, and to convert Nassau and Norman avenues to one-way streets. The officials’ push highlights the deadly gap in accountability and infrastructure that leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Greenpoint Woman Dies from Injuries Sustained in Crash, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-25

A box truck struck a 47-year-old man on a bike, crushing him. He was thrown, suffered fatal head trauma, and died on the cold street. The truck kept straight. The man did not move again.

A fatal collision occurred on Maurice Avenue when a box truck struck a 47-year-old male cyclist, according to the police report. The narrative states the cyclist was thrown, crushed, and killed, suffering head trauma. The police report notes the truck 'kept straight' as it struck the cyclist, who lay still after impact. The contributing factor listed by police is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but no specific driver error is cited in the data. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as recorded in the report, but this is not listed as a contributing factor to the crash. The violence of the impact and the truck's continued path underscore the danger faced by cyclists sharing streets with large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705063 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A sedan struck a northbound bicyclist on 69 Street. Driver inattention sent the rider flying. The cyclist suffered fractured and dislocated leg and foot. Another case of distraction maiming the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a sedan struck a 22-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on 69 Street just after midnight. The sedan, initially parked, hit the cyclist with its left rear bumper. The impact ejected the rider, causing serious injuries: fractures, dislocations, and distortions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The bicyclist was not using safety equipment at the time, but no other factors were cited. This crash shows how a moment of driver distraction can inflict lasting harm on people outside the car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A sedan struck the rear of a carry all vehicle on the Long Island Expressway. The front passenger in the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:10 on the Long Island Expressway. A 2019 sedan traveling west struck the center back end of a 2016 carry all vehicle also traveling west. The sedan was slowing or stopping before impact, while the carry all was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the sedan's center back end and the carry all's center front end. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the collision. A 25-year-old male front passenger in the sedan was injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. The passenger was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The drivers of both vehicles were licensed in New York. The crash highlights driver error in maintaining safe following distance on a busy expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

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 2024-02-13

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 2024-02-13

A 67-year-old woman driving an SUV was injured when another vehicle made a right turn and struck her right rear quarter panel. The impact caused a fracture and dislocation to her elbow and lower arm. The crash happened on Maurice Avenue in Queens.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:15 on Maurice Avenue in Queens. The 67-year-old female driver of a 2016 SUV was traveling northeast, going straight ahead, when she was struck on the right rear quarter panel by another vehicle making a right turn. The report cites "Unsafe Lane Changing" as a contributing factor to the collision. The SUV driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained a fracture and dislocation to her elbow and lower arm, classified as injury severity 3. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The collision caused damage to the right rear bumper of the SUV. No contributing factors related to the victim were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Lawmakers want $90 million for more buses as congestion pricing nears. Gianaris and Mamdani lead the charge. Critics say it’s late. Riders on free bus lines surged. The plan faces union warnings and legal threats. Streets wait for relief.

On February 8, 2024, State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani called for $90 million to expand MTA bus service before the $15 congestion pricing toll begins. Their proposal seeks $45 million in this year’s budget to boost bus frequency, with another $45 million to triple free buses citywide. The lawmakers’ push follows a successful fare-free pilot, which Mamdani says increased ridership by over 20%. Gianaris admitted, 'It should have been done sooner.' Critics argue the move is too late, as congestion pricing was approved in 2019. Some unions warn of possible driver shortages, but Mamdani insists existing buses and operators can handle the expansion. The funding proposal comes as the congestion toll faces lawsuits and could launch by mid-June. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers ripped over push for $90M bus service expansion as $15 congestion pricing looms: ‘Covering their a—s’, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-08

A 63-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury after a sedan traveling east on Flushing Avenue struck her outside an intersection. The vehicle’s right front quarter panel bore the damage. The pedestrian was conscious but fractured and dislocated.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old female pedestrian was injured by a 2020 Toyota sedan traveling eastbound on Flushing Avenue at 22:36. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right front quarter panel, which sustained damage. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and suffered a head injury classified as severe, including fracture and dislocation. She remained conscious after the crash. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors explicitly cited. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead prior to impact. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the danger posed by vehicles striking pedestrians outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700271 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

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 2024-01-30

A Queens crash on 53 Street sent a 30-year-old female driver to the hospital with neck injuries. Two sedans traveling east collided, with one striking the other's center back end. Driver distraction played a key role in the impact.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling east on 53 Street in Queens collided around 3:50 PM. The impact occurred at the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. The 30-year-old female driver of the rear vehicle, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious after the crash. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The front vehicle was driven by a male with an unlicensed status. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing behaviors from the injured driver. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and unlicensed driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698386 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 24-year-old woman was injured crossing Eliot Avenue with the signal when a bus made a right turn and struck her. She suffered upper leg and hip injuries and was semiconscious at the scene. The bus showed no visible damage after impact.

According to the police report, a bus traveling southwest on Eliot Avenue made a right turn and struck a 24-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg and was semiconscious following the collision. The bus's point of impact was the right front quarter panel, and notably, the vehicle showed no damage. The report does not list any contributing driver errors or pedestrian factors beyond the pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian's injury severity was rated as 3, indicating significant injury. The bus driver was licensed and operating a 2009 Orion bus. The incident highlights the dangers posed by turning buses to pedestrians legally crossing the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Council Member Holden pushed a helmet law for all cyclists. The bill died in committee. Riders faced a $50 fine. No change for city streets. The danger remains. Cars still rule the road.

"A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear" -- Robert F. Holden

Int 1259-2023, introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden, aimed to require every bicyclist in New York City to wear protective headgear. The bill was filed at the end of session by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with key dates on December 6 and December 31, 2023. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Holden sponsored the bill, which would have fined unhelmeted riders up to $50. The bill stalled and did not become law. No systemic change for vulnerable road users. The threat from cars remains unaddressed.

• File Int 1259-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31

Council backs harsher penalties for drivers who hide plates. Obscured tags let reckless motorists dodge cameras and tickets. The bill aims to stop evasion and protect people on city streets.

Resolution 0866-2023, filed by the Committee on Public Safety, urges Albany to pass S.2447/A.5234. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Robert F. Holden, calls for increased penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates. The resolution states: 'increase the penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates.' It was introduced and voted on in December 2023. The bill would let authorities confiscate plate coverings, suspend registrations, and block VINs. Obscured plates let drivers evade speed and red-light cameras, putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The council wants tougher enforcement to keep streets safer for all.

• File Res 0866-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31