Ridgewood Bleeds—But Still They Wait

A 37-year-old bicyclist was ejected and injured when an SUV making a left turn struck him on Fresh Pond Road. The cyclist suffered upper arm injuries and bruises. Driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:17 on Fresh Pond Road in Queens. A 37-year-old male bicyclist, wearing a helmet, was riding northwest when he was struck by a westbound SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV's center front end. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained upper arm injuries and contusions. The report cites driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The SUV driver, a licensed male, failed to yield while turning left, directly causing the collision. The bicyclist's helmet use is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771967 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Private trash trucks still maim and kill. Five years after reform, chaos rules. Only one waste zone runs. No citywide plan. Streets stay dangerous. Lawmakers and survivors demand action. The city stalls. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

""If done right, CWZs can eliminate millions of truck miles traveled from our streets, keep workers and pedestrians safe, and ensure quality service for all customers. The city's goal right now should be to prevent bad implementation from undermining a good bill."" -- Antonio Reynoso

The 2019 commercial waste zone reform aimed to cut truck carnage by dividing New York City into 20 zones, each served by specific haulers. As of October 30, 2024, only one zone is active. No timeline exists for citywide rollout. The Department of Sanitation claims caution is needed to avoid price hikes and ensure effective change, but offers no clear metrics or deadlines. Lauren Pine, a crash survivor, pleads, 'We can't wait another day to enforce truck safety requirements.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso warns, 'The city's goal right now should be to prevent bad implementation from undermining a good bill.' Delays keep streets deadly for workers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The law’s promise remains unfulfilled. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

• Private Trash Haulers Are Still Killing and Injuring New Yorkers As Long-Awaited Reforms Lag, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-30

Police chases in Astoria’s 114 Precinct have surged. Cyclists and pedestrians pay the price. One cyclist is dead. NYPD ignores its own rules. Dangerous drivers face no real penalty. Officials and residents demand action. The city stalls. Streets stay deadly.

This report covers the sharp rise in high-speed police chases in the NYPD’s 114th Precinct, Astoria, Queens. The article, published October 28, 2024, details community outrage after a cyclist’s death and repeated injuries. NYPD policy says chases should end when risk outweighs reward, but enforcement fails. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, which once forced repeat offenders into safety courses, has expired. Comptroller Brad Lander says, 'Drivers who are repeatedly caught by speed and red-light cameras currently face no consequences other than a fine in the mail. Repeat reckless drivers must be held to account.' State Senator Michael Gianaris calls for stronger penalties, including suspending registrations. The NYPD has not adopted reforms. Residents and advocates demand legislative action and transparency. Without it, vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• Reckless: The 114 Precinct is an Island of High-Speed Chases In Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-28

A moped rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries when an SUV made an improper left turn and struck him on Fresh Pond Road. The impact damaged the SUV’s right front quarter panel and the moped’s front end. The moped driver remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:10 on Fresh Pond Road near Menahan Street. The SUV, traveling east, was making a left turn when it collided with a moped traveling south that was stopped in traffic. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor for the SUV driver’s actions. The moped rider, a 39-year-old male with a permit license, was wearing a helmet and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel, and the moped’s center front end was damaged. The moped driver was not ejected and remained conscious after the collision. The report highlights the SUV driver’s failure to execute a proper turn as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764162 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 13-year-old boy riding east on Woodward Avenue was injured when an SUV struck him from behind. The impact caused abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The SUV driver followed too closely and was inattentive, according to the police report.

According to the police report, at 18:08 on Woodward Avenue in Queens, an SUV traveling east struck a 13-year-old bicyclist from behind. The bicyclist, who was wearing a helmet, suffered abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites the SUV driver's errors as 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The collision point was the center front end of the SUV and the center front end of the bike. The bicyclist was the sole occupant of his vehicle and was injured but not critically. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers who fail to maintain safe distances and remain attentive on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a bicyclist from behind on Myrtle Avenue in Queens. The 52-year-old rider was partially ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the sedan driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:46 AM on Myrtle Avenue in Queens. A 52-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected after being struck in the center back end by a 2021 Toyota sedan traveling westbound. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The sedan driver, also male and licensed in New York, was traveling straight ahead and impacted the bicyclist's rear. The report explicitly lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the bicyclist. No safety equipment was noted for the bicyclist, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The sedan sustained no damage despite the impact. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver inattention to spacing behind vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV pulled from parking, failed to yield. Motorcycle struck its side. Passenger, helmeted, took the blow. She left with bruised knee and leg. The street stayed silent. Metal and flesh met. System failed her.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 1:35 AM on Metropolitan Avenue involving a motorcycle and an SUV. The SUV started from parking and failed to yield right-of-way, causing the motorcycle, traveling east, to strike its side. A 25-year-old female passenger riding on the outside of the motorcycle was injured. She wore a helmet and remained conscious, suffering contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites the SUV driver's failure to yield as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were listed. The motorcycle driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761393 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City reverses its own reversal. DOT will cut a traffic lane and add parking-protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard’s southern half. Local officials and advocates forced the city’s hand. The northern half stays unchanged. Vulnerable road users get a win.

On October 2, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a policy reversal on McGuinness Boulevard. The original lane reduction and protected bike lane plan, previously scrapped, will now move forward for the southern half of the street, between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The matter, described as a return to 'the road diet it had previously finalized and then rejected,' follows months of community outcry and advocacy. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and other local officials celebrated the move, crediting the Make McGuinness Safe coalition for relentless pressure. Restler stated, 'this is a decision that enhances safety in our community, and that's what matters.' The northern half of the boulevard remains unchanged, with two traffic lanes and barrier-protected bike lanes. The city’s action signals a renewed commitment to street safety after repeated delays and political interference.

• Another U-turn on McGuinness Boulevard as city returns to original lane reduction plan, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-10-02

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

A tow truck struck a bicyclist traveling west on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens. The cyclist was ejected and suffered contusions and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver error and bicyclist confusion as contributing factors in the collision.

According to the police report, a tow truck and a bicycle collided on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens at 13:38. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error and bicyclist confusion in the incident. The tow truck was traveling west, going straight ahead, with no reported damage, while the bicycle suffered damage to its left rear quarter panel. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The collision's point of impact was the left rear bumper of the bicycle and the right rear quarter panel of the tow truck. The report does not assign blame to the bicyclist but emphasizes the role of driver error and confusion in causing the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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 sedan struck a motorcycle on Forest Avenue. The rider, age 33, was thrown and hurt. He suffered leg injuries and shock. Police list no clear cause. The street turned violent. The system failed to protect.

According to the police report, a sedan and a motorcycle collided on Forest Avenue in Queens. The motorcycle driver, a 33-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He entered shock. The sedan hit the motorcycle’s left rear quarter panel; the motorcycle’s center front end took the impact. Injury severity was moderate. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and does not detail any driver errors. No actions by the motorcycle rider contributed to the crash. The report focuses on the collision and injuries, offering no blame to the injured rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756025 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A van struck the rear of a sedan on Cypress Avenue in Queens. Both male occupants in the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved defective brakes, contributing to the collision and injuries sustained.

According to the police report, a van traveling south on Cypress Avenue rear-ended a sedan also traveling south. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the van. Both drivers were licensed males from New York. The sedan carried two occupants: a 38-year-old male driver and a 34-year-old male front passenger. Both occupants were conscious but suffered neck injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated at level 3. The report cites 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating vehicle malfunction played a key role. Both vehicles were slowing or stopping prior to impact. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing pedestrian or cyclist factors. The collision highlights the danger of mechanical failure in vehicle braking systems on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck driver, distracted, rear-ended two stopped SUVs on Fresh Pond Road. Six women, drivers and passengers, suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. The crash hammered home the cost of inattention behind the wheel.

According to the police report, a GMC box truck struck two SUVs stopped in traffic on Fresh Pond Road in Queens at 5:30 p.m. The truck's center front end hit the center back ends of both SUVs. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor. Six women—drivers and passengers—were injured, all conscious, all suffering whiplash and full-body pain. All were restrained and none were ejected. The data shows no fault by the injured; the crash stemmed from the truck driver's failure to pay attention, causing a chain rear-end collision in dense city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751774 - 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 pushes ahead with a scaled-back McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Protected bike lanes come, but dangerous elements stay. Councilmember Restler slams the compromise. Advocates and officials say safety is sacrificed for politics. DOT claims improvements, but critics remain unsatisfied.

On August 20, 2024, the city announced it will proceed with a controversial redesign of McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The plan, not a council bill but a Department of Transportation decision, extends parking-protected bike lanes from Calyer Street to Meeker Avenue. Councilmember Lincoln Restler, representing District 33, criticized the move, saying, 'The mayor has put forward a compromise that nobody likes.' A coalition of elected officials—including Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Comptroller Brad Lander, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso—called for a more thorough redesign, arguing the current plan preserves dangerous elements. DOT spokesperson Vincent Barone claimed the redesign will make the corridor safer for all users, with new bike lanes and sidewalk extensions. Despite these claims, advocates and local leaders argue the plan fails to address core dangers and puts vulnerable road users at continued risk.

• City proceeds with controversial McGuinness Boulevard redesign despite opposition, gothamist.com, Published 2024-08-20

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