Maspeth Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

A motorcycle rider suffered serious leg injuries after a taxi abruptly changed lanes on the Long Island Expressway. The taxi’s left front bumper struck the motorcycle, demolishing it. The motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, remained conscious but injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:35 p.m. on the Long Island Expressway. The taxi driver, traveling west, was changing lanes when the collision happened. The taxi’s left front bumper impacted the motorcycle, which was going straight ahead in the same direction. The motorcycle was demolished on impact. The motorcyclist, a 35-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Other Vehicular" factors as contributing causes, emphasizing the taxi driver's failure to maintain safe lane discipline. The motorcyclist was not ejected and remained conscious after the crash. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761389 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Governor Hochul stalls congestion pricing, leaving MTA riders in limbo. The pause threatens subway and bus service. Advocates demand any replacement funds boost operations, not highways. Riders need frequent, affordable transit—not more gridlock and pollution.

This editorial, published October 1, 2024, addresses Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing and seek alternative funding for the MTA’s $15-billion capital plan. The article states: “If the governor wants to do the MTA and riders a favor, she should use the money she finds to instead boost MTA operations.” Author Samuel Santaella criticizes Hochul’s move, arguing it jeopardizes service for working-class New Yorkers. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris are cited as proponents of fare-free buses, while Riders Alliance pushes for six-minute service. The piece urges Hochul to reject highway expansions and instead invest in frequent, affordable transit. The editorial frames this as a fight for clean air, equity, and safety for all New Yorkers who rely on public transportation.

• OPINION: Any Money Hochul Finds to ‘Replace’ Congestion Pricing Should Fund Fares and Frequency, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-01

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A motorcycle traveling west struck a parked sedan on Eliot Avenue in Queens. The motorcycle driver, a 26-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The sedan showed no damage. Police cited other vehicular factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:45 p.m. on Eliot Avenue in Queens. A 26-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured when his motorcycle, traveling west and slowing or stopping, collided with a parked sedan. The motorcycle sustained center front end damage, while the sedan showed no damage. The injured driver was conscious and suffered knee, lower leg, foot injuries, and whiplash. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors or victim behaviors. The sedan was stationary at the time of impact, indicating the motorcycle driver failed to avoid the parked vehicle. No helmet or other safety equipment was reported for the motorcycle driver. The police report does not assign fault to the injured driver or mention any victim fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757954 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck the rear of a dump truck on 63 Street in Queens. The sedan driver and two passengers suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause. No ejections occurred; all victims remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 63 Street in Queens at 18:30. A sedan traveling west struck the center back end of a dump truck also traveling west. The sedan driver, a 45-year-old female, was injured with back pain and whiplash. Two passengers, a 28-year-old female and a 25-year-old male, also sustained back injuries and whiplash. None of the occupants were ejected, and all remained conscious. The report explicitly identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the sedan driver. The dump truck driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead with no reported errors. Vehicle damage was noted on the sedan's center back end, while the dump truck showed no damage. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755316 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi traveling north struck a sedan making a left turn eastbound on Maurice Avenue. The sedan driver, a 56-year-old man, suffered contusions and bruises across his entire body. Both vehicles sustained damage on impact’s right and front sides.

According to the police report, at 9:25 a.m., a taxi traveling straight north on Maurice Avenue collided with a 2022 sedan making a left turn eastbound. The point of impact was the right side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the taxi. The sedan’s driver, a 56-year-old male occupant wearing a lap belt, was injured with contusions and bruises affecting his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver but does not specify driver errors or pedestrian involvement. The collision highlights the dangers of left-turn maneuvers in traffic and the severe injuries that can result from side-impact crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A flatbed truck turning left collided with a bicyclist traveling east on Rust Street in Queens. The 19-year-old cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the truck driver’s failure to obey traffic controls as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:01 AM on Rust Street in Queens. A flatbed truck was making a left turn westbound when it struck a bicyclist traveling eastbound. The point of impact was the truck’s left front bumper and the bike’s right side doors. The 19-year-old male bicyclist was injured with contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists “Traffic Control Disregarded” as the contributing factor, indicating the truck driver failed to yield or obey traffic signals. The bicyclist was unlicensed and riding without safety equipment, but these were not cited as contributing factors. The truck sustained no damage, highlighting the severity of the impact on the vulnerable cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754821 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver lost consciousness on 72 Street in Queens. Her sedan crashed head-on into a parked car. She suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite loss of consciousness as the cause.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old woman driving a 2013 Nissan sedan northwest on 72 Street in Queens lost consciousness at 9:52 AM. Her car struck a parked vehicle, hitting its right front bumper. The driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. The driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. No other driver errors or victim actions are noted. The crash underscores the risk when a driver becomes incapacitated behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 14-year-old girl suffered full-body contusions after a distracted SUV driver struck her at an intersection in Queens. The driver’s inattention and unsafe speed caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian in shock and injured across her entire body.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 54-41 and 69 Lane in Queens around 5:30 PM. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk when a 2014 Nissan SUV traveling straight ahead struck her with the center front end of the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises over her entire body and was in shock following the impact. The driver’s failure to maintain attention and control at an intersection directly led to the collision, highlighting systemic dangers posed by distracted driving in urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754026 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a 32-year-old man crossing Grand Avenue with the signal. The driver failed to yield and turned left, hitting the pedestrian. The impact caused serious injuries to the man's entire body.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Grand Avenue at 66 Street in Queens with the signal when a 2012 Toyota sedan made a left turn and struck him with its left front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors on the driver's part. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his entire body and was conscious after the impact. The vehicle sustained damage to its left front bumper. No contributing factors are listed for the pedestrian beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752144 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City will build protected bike lanes and new sidewalks on Cypress Avenue. Jersey barriers will shield cyclists from highway traffic. Pedestrians and riders get a safer shot at Highland Park. The stretch has seen nearly 100 injuries in three years. Danger meets concrete.

On August 23, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a project to install protected bike lanes and new sidewalks along Cypress Avenue, connecting to Ridgewood Reservoir. The plan, presented to Queens Community Board 5 in June, calls for a two-way cycle path protected by jersey barriers and sidewalk expansions between Cooper Avenue and Cypress Hills Street. The matter summary states: 'Protected bike lanes and built-out sidewalks are coming to Cypress Avenue to provide a safe connection to Highland Park.' Council Member Bob Holden, usually a cycling skeptic, supports the project. His spokesperson said, 'This particular lane benefits those biking to and from the Ridgewood Reservoir and addresses a broader quality of life issue along Cypress Avenue.' Advocates like Bree Mobley of Ridgewood Riders back the plan, citing the area's crash history—166 crashes, 99 injuries in three years. The project targets a corridor marked by high injury and death rates, aiming to shield vulnerable road users from relentless traffic.

• New Protected Bike Lanes Will Connect to Ridgewood Reservoir, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-23

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 55-year-old woman suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries after an SUV making a left turn hit her at a Queens intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Borden Avenue and Hamilton Place in Queens around 5:45 a.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2018 Jeep SUV, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her on the left side doors. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and complained of whiplash but was conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report emphasizes driver errors, specifically failure to yield and distraction, as the cause of the collision, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 22-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected after striking debris on the Long Island Expressway. The crash caused severe hip and leg injuries, fracturing and dislocating joints. The rider was helmeted and conscious but seriously hurt.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver on a 2019 Kawasaki motorcycle was traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway when he collided with obstruction or debris on the roadway. The impact, described as center front end damage to the motorcycle, caused the rider to be ejected from the vehicle. The rider sustained severe injuries including fractures, distortions, and dislocations to the hip and upper leg. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' as the primary contributing factor to the crash, indicating a hazardous condition in the roadway that directly led to the collision. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the crash. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited, but the presence of debris created a systemic danger that resulted in serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck the rear of a pickup truck stopped in traffic on 69 Street. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both vehicles traveled northbound, colliding center to center.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 69 Street at 7:55 AM involving a 2020 Ford sedan and a 2019 Ford pickup truck, both traveling north. The sedan driver, a licensed female occupant restrained by a lap belt and harness, rear-ended the pickup truck that was stopped in traffic. The point of impact was the center back end of the pickup and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan driver sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the sedan operator. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The pickup truck driver was a licensed male, traveling straight ahead, and was not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling east struck an 11-year-old boy riding a bike north on 55 Avenue in Queens. The boy suffered a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. Police cite bicyclist confusion and other vehicular factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:06 on 55 Avenue near Hamilton Place in Queens. A sedan driven by a licensed female driver traveling east collided with a northbound bike ridden by an 11-year-old boy. The point of impact was the sedan's right front quarter panel and the bike's left front bumper. The bicyclist was injured with a back contusion and remained conscious. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors, highlighting confusion on the part of the bicyclist and unspecified vehicular factors. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The sedan driver was going straight ahead, while the bicyclist was merging. The report does not assign fault to the victim but emphasizes driver and systemic dangers involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

SUVs crashed into a sedan on the Long Island Expressway. A 21-year-old front passenger took the hit. He suffered bruises and full-body injuries. Drivers followed too close. One bad reaction set off the chain.

According to the police report, a crash unfolded at 20:16 on the Long Island Expressway. A sedan was struck from behind by two SUVs, all heading west. The report lists "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle" and "Following Too Closely"—cited twice—as driver errors. The impact left a 21-year-old male front passenger injured with contusions and trauma to his entire body. He was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. No contributing factors were attributed to the passenger. The crash highlights driver failures to keep safe distance and react to traffic ahead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling south struck a 17-year-old e-scooter driver making a right turn on 66 Street. The e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries. Police cite driver failure to obey traffic control as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:40 on 66 Street involving a 2021 Honda sedan traveling south and a female 17-year-old e-scooter driver making a right turn northwest. The sedan impacted the left side doors of the e-scooter, causing the rider to be ejected and sustain a shoulder and upper arm injury classified as severity level 3. The police report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The e-scooter rider was conscious and wearing no safety equipment at the time of the crash. The sedan sustained damage to its left front quarter panel. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver disregard for traffic controls in interactions with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731350 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04