Ridgewood Bleeds—But Still They Wait

A Chevy sedan veered off course on Forest Avenue, smashing headlong into a parked Honda. Metal twisted. Glass bloodied. The driver, 38, conscious but bleeding, suffered deep wounds. The Honda never moved. The street stayed silent.

According to the police report, a Chevy sedan traveling southeast on Forest Avenue near Woodbine Street veered from its path and struck a parked Honda sedan head-on. The report describes the incident as 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' highlighting a clear driver error. The Honda was stationary and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The impact left the Chevy's driver, a 38-year-old man, conscious but with severe lacerations to the head and bleeding, as detailed in the report: 'Metal crumpled. Blood on glass.' No contributing factors are attributed to the parked vehicle or any other party. The collision underscores the consequences of improper lane usage and loss of vehicle control, with all harm falling on the driver responsible for the errant maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729454 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

SUV veered on Seneca Avenue. Hit a motorcycle head-on. Rider’s leg shattered. Alcohol involved. Metal twisted. Blood on the street. System failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, an SUV changed lanes on Seneca Avenue in Queens and struck a southbound motorcycle at 17:43. The 29-year-old woman riding the motorcycle suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' for the SUV and 'Alcohol Involvement' for the motorcyclist as contributing factors. The SUV’s left front bumper hit the motorcycle’s center front end. The rider wore a helmet and was not ejected. This crash shows the danger of improper lane changes and impaired operation on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727643 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Abandoned poles and wires block sidewalks, trap walkers, and threaten cyclists. This bill sets strict deadlines for removal and transfer. Delay ends. Streets clear. Danger cut.

Int 0921-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 23, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Justin L. Brannan with Holden, Vernikov, Marmorato, and Paladino, demands owners remove abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances within 60 days—or immediately if dangerous. Transfers to new poles must happen in 30 days. The matter title reads: 'timelines for the removal of abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances, and the transfer of appurtenances to newly erected poles.' Swift action means fewer sidewalk traps and less risk for those on foot or bike.

• File Int 0921-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-23

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Council bill redefines major transit projects. Bike lanes, busways, and bus lanes now trigger community board notice. DOT must present plans, boards get sixty days to respond. Progress reports go public. Holden and Ariola sponsor.

Int 0880-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Joann Ariola and Robert F. Holden, it amends city code to require community notification for any bus lane, busway, or bike lane project, no matter the size. The bill states: 'construction or removal of a bus lane, busway, or bike lane' counts as a major project. DOT must present plans to affected boards, who get sixty days to comment. DOT must post quarterly updates online. Ariola is the primary sponsor; Holden co-sponsors. The bill aims to increase transparency and community input on street changes that shape safety for all.

• File Int 0880-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

City wants waste haulers to report every crash, injury, and reckless move. The rule targets companies with deadly records. Data will track harm, expose danger, and force accountability. Streets and lives hang in the balance. The city must act.

On May 7, 2024, the Department of Sanitation proposed amendments to the Commercial Waste Zones program. The rule, not yet law, would require all contracted waste haulers to submit detailed crash and driving data twice a year. The matter targets companies like Action Carting, linked to at least five traffic deaths. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who led the original reforms as a council member, said, 'Crash data from [commercial waste zone] awardees is good, but crash data from CWZ applicants would have been even better.' The bill aims to end the 'Wild West' of private waste hauling, which killed seven New Yorkers in a single year. The new rules demand real-time telematics, immediate injury reports, and full transparency on crashes. Advocates say the data could help redesign streets and hold dangerous drivers to account. The city must prevent weak enforcement from gutting the law’s promise.

• Waste Reforms Could Require Data on Crashes, Dangerous Driving, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-07

A sedan driver suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries in a Queens crash. The collision occurred at Flushing Avenue around 12:50 PM. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as key factors in the crash, which caused significant vehicle damage.

According to the police report, the crash happened near 1819 Flushing Avenue in Queens at 12:50 PM. Two sedans traveling north collided, with impact on the left front quarter panel and left side doors of one vehicle. The driver of the damaged sedan, a 35-year-old male, sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and complained of whiplash. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721390 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Sedan with permit driver hit e-scooter on Linden Street. Rider, 42, thrown and hurt in abdomen and pelvis. Police cite driver inexperience. Morning crash exposes risk to vulnerable road users.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by a permit-holder struck a 42-year-old man riding an e-scooter on Linden Street in Queens at 7:10 a.m. The rider was partially ejected and suffered injuries to his abdomen and pelvis, entering shock. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the contributing factor. The sedan and e-scooter collided head-on, both impacting at their center front ends. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted. The crash highlights the danger posed by inexperienced drivers to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722461 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Sedan lost control from tire failure on Stephen Street. Driver and rear passenger both semiconscious, bodies battered. Metal twisted at the front. No pedestrians. Systemic maintenance failure exposed.

According to the police report, a 2017 Toyota sedan heading north on Stephen Street in Queens crashed after suffering tire failure. The crash left the 25-year-old male driver and a 27-year-old male rear passenger semiconscious with injuries across their bodies. Both remained inside the vehicle. The report lists 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as the sole contributing factor. The car's right front bumper took the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed. This crash highlights the danger when vehicle maintenance fails.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722460 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Queens bicyclist suffered a fractured arm after a 2024 SUV made a left turn and struck him head-on. The collision occurred on Myrtle Avenue. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male bicyclist traveling westbound on Myrtle Avenue was struck by a 2024 Honda SUV making a left turn eastbound. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the SUV and the center front end of the bike. The bicyclist sustained a fractured, dislocated injury to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly states the contributing factor as "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" by the SUV driver. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, but no other contributing factors were listed. The driver of the SUV was licensed and operating with three occupants in the vehicle. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by turning vehicles failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720985 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV struck a 45-year-old man crossing Fresh Pond Road. Impact to his lower leg left him injured and in shock. No driver errors listed. No vehicle damage. The street became a danger zone.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male pedestrian was injured when an SUV traveling south on Fresh Pond Road struck him with its right front bumper. The man was crossing outside a crosswalk and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, along with shock. The driver, a licensed woman, was going straight ahead. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash underscores the risk pedestrians face when crossing busy roads, even when no driver violations are recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Albany killed the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. No more free rides. Lawmakers gave $12 million for better service, but not enough. Riders lose a lifeline. The city’s poorest feel the blow. Congestion pricing looms. Buses stay crowded, fares return.

On April 21, 2024, the New York State budget ended the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot. The pilot, which began in September 2023, made one bus in each borough free. Lawmakers, including Senator Michael Gianaris, pushed to expand it to 15 lines. The budget did not include this. Instead, $12.3 million was set aside to improve bus frequency, far short of the $45 million needed for expansion. The bill’s summary states, 'The MTA's experiment in fare-less city bus service will soon end after Albany lawmakers did not reauthorize it.' Gianaris pledged to keep fighting for affordable transit. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the pilot 'crucial' for working-class New Yorkers. The MTA’s Janno Lieber criticized the program. No safety analyst reviewed the impact on vulnerable road users. The loss hits riders who depend on buses most.

• MTA’s free bus experiment will end after not being reauthorized in state budget, amny.com, Published 2024-04-21

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council targets hidden plates. Bill makes it a crime to park, stop, or drive with covered tags. Fines reach $1,000. Jail time possible. Committee weighs action. Streets demand accountability.

Int 0766-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 11, 2024. The bill reads: “prohibiting the parking, standing, stopping, or operation of a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates.” Council Member Oswald Feliz leads, joined by Holden, Bottcher, Gennaro, Marte, Restler, Ung, and Paladino. The bill sets fines up to $1,000 and possible jail for violators. Each offense is a misdemeanor. The council aims to strip cover for reckless drivers, making it harder to dodge tickets and accountability. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear: end the shield for lawless driving.

• File Int 0766-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Assembly Member Rajkumar pushes harsh e-bike rules. Her own car racks up 10 school-zone speeding tickets. She calls e-bikes a menace, but city data shows cars injure far more. Vulnerable road users face danger from both policy and reckless driving.

Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar introduced bills A9092 and A9114, aiming to require e-bike registration, insurance, and inspections. The bills are not yet law and have not advanced through committee. Rajkumar, a close ally of Mayor Adams, claims e-bikes are a 'singular threat' and a 'safety hazard,' citing injury numbers that city data does not support. She stated, 'We have to get rid of the e-bike problem.' Despite her focus on e-bikes, a car used by Rajkumar’s office received 10 school-zone speeding tickets in under a year. Her spokesperson denied she drives the car, later confirmed to belong to her chief of staff. Rajkumar declined further comment. The push for e-bike regulation comes as cars continue to inflict the greatest harm on New York’s streets.

• Reckless with Rajkumar! Queens Pol and Adams Ally Was Driven In Car Slapped with 10 Speeding Tix, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-11

Mayor Adams dodged questions on e-bike registration and battery swap rollout. City Hall offered no answers. Delivery workers wait. Council Member Powers grows impatient. Advocates warn registration could hurt cycling. The city stalls. Streets stay dangerous for riders and walkers.

On April 2, 2024, Mayor Adams faced questions about Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar's bill to require e-bike registration and the city’s delay in launching a mandated battery swap program. The mayor called both topics 'off topic' at a press conference. City Hall later said it is reviewing the Rajkumar bill and that the Department of Transportation would oversee the battery swap program, but provided no timeline. The bill, based on disputed injury statistics, has drawn criticism from street safety advocates who argue registration would suppress cycling and sustainable transit. Local Law 131, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, requires the battery swap program, but the city has not acted. Powers voiced frustration, noting the Council plans to allocate $3 million for the program. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as city action stalls.

• Mayor Mum on E-Bike Registration Bill, Battery Swap Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-02

A moped tore through the noon silence on 60th Street, smashing into a sedan. Blood pooled on the pavement. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was thrown and conscious, head split. Speed and disregard for control left the street scarred.

At the corner of 60th Street and 70th Avenue in Queens, a violent collision unfolded between a moped and a sedan, according to the police report. The moped, traveling west, struck the sedan's left front quarter panel with force, folding in the car's side. The moped rider, a 31-year-old man, suffered severe head injuries and was partially ejected, bleeding heavily but conscious. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, underscoring the moped driver's dangerous actions. The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the report, but these details follow the primary driver errors. The sedan driver, licensed and traveling south, was also involved. Noon sun, silent street—speed and disregard for traffic rules turned routine movement into trauma.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714982 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06