Ridgewood Bleeds—But Still They Wait

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 2023-12-06

Republicans attack Democrats for backing Manhattan’s $15 congestion toll. Michael Gianaris shrugs off GOP outrage. The fight centers on drivers, but the city’s streets remain deadly for those on foot and bike. The toll’s impact on safety goes unmentioned.

On December 3, 2023, partisan lines hardened over New York’s congestion pricing law. The $15 toll, set to hit drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, became a political weapon. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, mentioned in the debate, dismissed Republican attacks as ineffective. The measure, approved in 2019 by Democrats, aims to raise $1 billion for mass transit and reduce traffic. GOP figures like Nicole Malliotakis and Michael Lawler call it a 'burdensome tax' and 'outrageous cash grab.' Mayor Eric Adams seeks exemptions for medical trips. The bill’s matter title frames it as a major election issue: 'NY GOP eager to pin $15 congestion tax on Democrats in 2024 elections.' No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The debate centers on drivers and politics, not on the lives at risk in city crosswalks.

• NY GOP eager to pin $15 congestion tax on Democrats in 2024 elections, nypost.com, Published 2023-12-03

Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

A motorcycle and sedan collided on Flushing Avenue in Queens. The unlicensed motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries. The sedan driver made a U-turn. Unsafe lane changing and driver distraction contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan making a U-turn collided with a motorcycle traveling straight on Flushing Avenue in Queens. The motorcyclist, who was unlicensed, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan driver was cited for unsafe lane changing and driver inattention or distraction. The motorcycle driver’s lack of license was noted, but the primary contributing factors were the sedan driver’s unsafe lane change and distraction. The motorcyclist was conscious but seriously injured. The crash caused damage to the front ends of both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council Member Alexa Avilés calls for a full redesign of the city’s truck route map. Trucks flood neighborhoods, endanger lives, and choke streets. Introduction 708 demands safer, smarter routes. The bill has strong support. The city’s map has not changed since the 1970s.

Introduction 708, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, seeks a sweeping overhaul of New York City’s outdated truck route map. The bill, now before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was highlighted in an op-ed published November 13, 2023. Avilés, as committee chair, wrote, 'An overhaul of our truck route map is long overdue. We must pass Introduction 708 for the sake of our communities and all New Yorkers.' The measure would require the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to improve safety, visibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. It also mandates input from neighborhoods, environmental groups, and industry. Avilés leads a coalition of 40 co-sponsors, with support from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The bill responds to the surge in freight traffic, which has battered streets and put vulnerable communities—often communities of color—at risk. The current map, unchanged since the 1970s, routes heavy trucks through residential areas, increasing danger for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Op-Ed | NYC’s truck routes haven’t changed since the 1970s. It’s time for an overhaul., amny.com, Published 2023-11-13

A 46-year-old woman was struck while crossing Woodward Avenue at Gates Avenue in Queens. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The pedestrian was conscious and crossing with the signal when hit by an unspecified vehicle.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Gates Avenue in Queens. She was crossing with the signal when struck by an unspecified vehicle. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No details about the vehicle or driver were provided. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even when crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two SUVs collided on Seneca Avenue in Queens. Three occupants suffered head and neck injuries. Drivers were wearing seat belts. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way. Impact damaged left front bumpers and center front end of parked SUV.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling east on Seneca Avenue collided, striking a parked SUV facing north. The crash injured three occupants: a 37-year-old female driver with a concussion, a 64-year-old male driver with whiplash, and a 36-year-old male passenger with whiplash. All were restrained by lap belts and harnesses except the passenger who wore no safety equipment. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. Both moving vehicles sustained damage to their left front bumpers; the parked SUV was damaged at the center front end. The collision caused head and neck injuries but no ejections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A moped carrying two women struck an SUV making a U-turn on Metropolitan Avenue. Both moped occupants suffered bruises and injuries to legs and back. The SUV driver was distracted. The crash left two injured, no ejections reported.

According to the police report, a moped traveling westbound on Metropolitan Avenue collided with a 2017 Subaru SUV making a U-turn eastbound. The moped carried two female occupants, ages 20 and 29, both wearing helmets. The driver of the moped sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, while the passenger suffered back injuries. Both reported contusions and bruises. The SUV driver was licensed and male. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The point of impact was the moped's center front end and the SUV's right front bumper. No ejections occurred. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678437 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Manhattan Community Board 6 shot down Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill. The board called it broad, incomplete, and toothless. Members said it would not fix safety. They warned it could push cyclists off the street while ignoring illegal mopeds.

On November 8, 2023, Manhattan Community Board 6 voted on Council Member Bob Holden’s e-bike registration bill. The bill, before the Transportation Committee, would require licensing and visible plates for all e-bikes, scooters, and legal motorized vehicles not already registered with the DMV. The board opposed the measure, passing a resolution 21-15 (with five abstentions), calling it 'overly broad and ineffective at addressing safety concerns.' The matter summary reads: 'Require registration and licensing for all e-bikes and legal motorized vehicles.' Board members Brian Van Nieuwenhoven and Jason Froimowitz criticized the bill as incomplete and unrealistic, noting it would not solve dangerous operation or enforcement issues. Holden dismissed the board’s opposition as unrepresentative. The board also passed a separate resolution supporting daylighting at intersections.

• Manhattan CB6 Rejects E-Bike Registration Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-09

City and Lyft will double e-bikes and cap prices, but leave most neighborhoods stranded. No new public money. Electrification pilot starts. Advocates slam lack of expansion. Riders outside core zones stay shut out. System grows in power, not reach.

On November 6, 2023, the Adams Administration and Lyft announced amendments to the Citi Bike contract, which runs through 2029. The deal, covered in Streetsblog NYC, doubles e-bikes from 10,000 to 20,000 and adds new and replacement classic bikes. The matter summary states, 'No system expansion... you're not going to be able to ride the bikes anywhere new because system expansion was not part of the amendment agreement.' Council members were not directly named, but Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso praised electrification, saying, 'This is exactly the direction we should be moving in—toward greener, safer, and more accessible micromobility options for New Yorkers.' John Tomac of Bike South Brooklyn condemned the lack of expansion: 'We're disappointed that you still can’t ride a Citi Bike in most of New York City.' The contract introduces price caps but avoids public funding. The city’s refusal to expand or subsidize Citi Bike leaves many vulnerable road users in transit deserts, with safer, greener options still out of reach.

• What We Get — And Don’t Get — In The New Citi Bike Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-06

A town hall to attack Vision Zero was scrapped after a tow truck driver killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Hudson withdrew, saying the meeting would send the wrong message. The church canceled. Grief and anger filled the street.

On October 27, 2023, a planned anti-Vision Zero town hall was canceled in Brooklyn. The event, organized by Vision Zero opponents, was set to criticize the city's road safety program. But after a tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes near Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Crystal Hudson withdrew. In their open letter, they wrote, 'Holding a forum where Vision Zero will be criticized in the neighborhood next to where a young boy’s life was lost to traffic violence sends the wrong message to the community and to our borough.' The church, led by Rev. Anthony Trufant, canceled the meeting. Local residents called for more enforcement against reckless drivers. The tragedy underscored the stakes: pedestrian deaths are down, but the toll of traffic violence remains high.

• Anti-Vision Zero Town Hall Postponed After Pols Bail Following Little Boy’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A child died under the wheels of an NYPD tow truck. The mayor dodged questions. He said, “I love New York.” He left. Grieving parents and officials demanded action. The city’s promises rang hollow. Trust in leadership cracked. Streets stayed dangerous.

On October 27, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams faced questions after a 7-year-old was killed by an NYPD tow-truck driver. The event followed his administration’s interruption of several safe street projects. When pressed by a Streetsblog reporter—'Why should New Yorkers trust you to make the city’s streets safer?'—Adams replied, 'I love New York, I love New York,' and left without a substantive answer. The matter, as reported, centers on public frustration: 'Adams had previously promised to do "whatever it takes to keep our streets safe" after the child’s death.' Council Member Crystal Hudson and Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for urgent safety improvements. A Brooklyn parent’s letter demanding action drew 1,800 signatures in days. The mayor’s silence deepened distrust. The city’s vulnerable remain at risk.

• Asked About Street Safety After Child’s Death, Mayor Says, ‘I Love New York!’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A police tow truck driver struck and killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes in Fort Greene. Witnesses say the driver used a phone. Charges followed. Councilmember Hudson called to expand, not question, street safety programs. A community meeting was postponed after the tragedy.

On October 27, 2023, a fatal crash in Council District 35 left a 7-year-old boy dead. The driver, an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, faces charges for failing to yield and exercise due care. The incident drew swift response from Councilmember Crystal Hudson, who, alongside Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, withdrew from a planned community meeting meant to critique Open Streets and Vision Zero. Their joint statement read, 'this is not the time to rethink a street safety program that has brought traffic deaths to historic lows in New York City,' and called for expanding, not reconsidering, safety measures. The meeting was postponed out of respect for the victim and to underscore the need for stronger protections for vulnerable road users.

• NYPD tow truck driver arrested after fatally striking 7-year-old boy in Fort Greene, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-10-27

A city tow truck driver struck and killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Witnesses saw reckless driving. The city exempts itself from daylighting laws. Council Member Hudson and residents demand action. The district faces high crash rates and weak safety measures.

On October 26, 2023, a 7-year-old boy was killed by an NYPD tow truck driver in Brooklyn. The crash happened near Fort Greene Park, where witnesses reported the driver was speeding, using her phone, and dragged the child before stopping. The intersection’s visibility was blocked by a legally parked car, as New York City exempts itself from state daylighting rules. Council Member Crystal Hudson visited the scene, spoke with police and residents, and acknowledged a pattern of reckless tow truck driving. Hudson said, 'This is the worst possible outcome, and, yet, we are forced to reckon with the worst possible outcome at the hands of the NYPD all too often.' Residents demanded speed bumps and crossing guards. The crash came as the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired and crossing guard positions were cut. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for an end to 'senseless traffic violence.' The district has a high rate of crashes and a history of resistance to safety improvements.

• Every Parent’s Nightmare: Child Killed by NYPD Tow Truck Driver in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-26

A 59-year-old woman was struck by an SUV turning left on Fresh Pond Road in Queens. She was crossing with the signal when the vehicle failed to yield. The impact fractured her elbow and lower arm. The driver caused the crash by not yielding right-of-way.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Fresh Pond Road at an intersection in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 GMC SUV, traveling north and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor for the driver. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally but failed to yield to the pedestrian crossing with the signal. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or pedestrian error were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672642 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Mayor Adams left Ashland Place unfinished. Cyclists lost a safe route. Advocates, officials, and residents rallied. They blamed City Hall for caving to a developer. The most dangerous block remains untouched. Eighty-eight crashes scar the street. Safety took a back seat.

On October 13, 2023, local officials and advocates criticized Mayor Adams for halting the Ashland Place redesign. The project, led by the Department of Transportation, aimed to create a protected bike lane from the Manhattan Bridge to Barclays Center. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, "New York City is regressing on meeting its Vision Zero goals ... and stalled street safety improvements, like those slated for Ashland Place, are a part of the reason why." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Council Member Crystal Hudson joined the outcry, with Hudson lamenting the incomplete corridor for cyclists. The DOT confirmed the southernmost block would not be converted, following objections from developer Two Trees Management. Advocates cited 88 crashes and multiple injuries in two years, with the most dangerous block excluded from improvements. Residents and advocates rallied, accusing the mayor of prioritizing business over public safety. City Hall deflected, blaming e-bikes for rising cyclist deaths.

• Pols, Advocates Slam Mayor Adams for Unfinished Ashland Place, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

A taxi struck a moped rider on Cypress Avenue in Queens. The moped driver was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries. The taxi’s left front bumper was damaged. Driver distraction was cited as a contributing factor. The moped rider wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north on Cypress Avenue collided with a moped traveling east. The moped driver, a 22-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a shoulder and upper arm injury classified as severe. The taxi’s left front bumper struck the center front end of the moped. The taxi driver was licensed, while the moped driver was unlicensed. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors were specified. The moped rider was conscious after the crash and suffered contusions and bruises. The taxi had two occupants at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669936 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

A 49-year-old man was struck while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Willoughby Avenue. The vehicle hit him head-on, causing bruises and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, ignoring traffic controls.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Willoughby Avenue and Onderdonk Avenue in Queens. The 49-year-old man was crossing in a marked crosswalk when a vehicle traveling east struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The vehicle was going straight ahead with two occupants. No other vehicle details or driver information were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662042 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07