Ridgewood’s daily toll: bikes down, bodies up

Aug 11 - A BMW turned left on Cypress and struck a woman in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. The car’s nose took her down. She was hurt and conscious. Failure to yield in broad daylight on Palmetto’s corner.

A BMW sedan making a left at Cypress Ave and Palmetto St struck a pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The woman suffered a back injury and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a left-turn hit. The data also lists “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,” but the pedestrian was in the crosswalk with the signal. Driver errors led. This was in Queens, within the 104th Precinct, at 12:50 p.m.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 8 - Businesses sued to block protected bike lanes on 31st Street. DOT stands firm. Two killed, 190 injured here since 2020. The street stays dangerous. The fight is over space, speed, and who gets to survive.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports that Astoria businesses sued to stop a DOT project adding protected bike lanes and traffic calming to 31st Street. The suit claims the redesign would "jeopardize" safety and hinder emergency access, despite DOT data showing 190 injuries and two deaths in the area since 2020. DOT says the project targets "unpredictable vehicle movements" and double parking, with design elements "found on streets across the city." The agency says it incorporated feedback from 90% of local businesses. The legal fight spotlights tension between safety improvements and business concerns, as the corridor ranks among Queens' most crash-prone.

• Astoria Bike Lane Lawsuit Challenges Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 8 - DOT leans on a costly report and pro-car politicians to stall universal daylighting. Corners stay parked. Visibility stays poor. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a proven, system‑wide safety measure while parking is put first.

"Pro-car politicians like Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden, and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella have cited the DOT's report to oppose the bill, prioritizing parking over safety" -- Robert F. Holden

Bill: universal daylighting (no bill number listed). Status: stalled amid DOT opposition despite broad Council support. Committee: not listed. Key date: August 8, 2025 (Streetsblog NYC report). Matter title quoted: "We Told You So! DOT’s Anti-Daylighting 'Scare Tactic' Now Fuels Pro-Car Pols." DOT released a report claiming $3 billion in costs and 300,000 lost parking spots. Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella cited the report and opposed the measure. Council Member Julie Won and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the report flawed; Won asked, "It isn’t unreasonable to invest under $10k to save the lives of children and all pedestrians with daylighting?" Safety analyst: DOT's opposition undermines a proven, system-wide safety measure for pedestrians and cyclists, prioritizing parking over vulnerable road user safety and risking mode shift and equitable street access.

• We Told You So! DOT’s Anti-Daylighting ‘Scare Tactic’ Now Fuels Pro-Car Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - A pedestrian was killed on Morgan Avenue — the third in three years. Advocates call for protected bike lanes and mid-block crossings. Officials back the push. The city has not redesigned the street. Danger remains.

Bill number: none. Status: infrastructure safety advocacy with no committee action. Key date: August 7, 2025 (reporting and renewed calls). The matter: "Three Years, Three Deaths: Advocates Want DOT To Make Morgan Avenue Safe." Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez publicly backed the redesign and warned of urgency, saying, "Every single death... is 100 percentable preventable." State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher also supported the push. Advocates demand a protected bike lane, mid-block crossings, and new loading zones. The lack of significant street redesign after repeated fatalities perpetuates unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, discouraging active transportation and failing to address systemic risks. Advocates plan a community speak-out to press DOT for action.

• Three Years, Three Deaths: Advocates Want DOT To Make Morgan Avenue Safe, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - A horse named Lady died in Hell's Kitchen. Photos reignited calls to ban carriages. The City Council stalled. Unions and leaders blocked hearings. Advocates warned of more injuries. Analysts say the ban would have minimal direct effect on pedestrians and cyclists.

Bill 2025, proposed to ban horse-drawn carriages, remained stalled as of August 6, 2025. The measure sits in the City Council health committee chaired by Lynn C. Schulman. Queens Councilman Robert F. Holden is the bill's sponsor. Speaker Adrienne Adams has not publicly taken a position. The article ran under the headline "Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages." Advocates rallied and warned, "without a ban there will be more crashes, injuries, and possibly deaths." TWU Local 100 opposes the ban. The proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages may have minimal direct impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety, as these vehicles are a small share of street traffic; the primary safety risks for vulnerable road users stem from motor vehicles and street design.

• Gruesome images unlikely to sway lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - Gianaris backs Mamdani for mayor. Both pushed for subway funding and fare-free buses. Their alliance signals power in transit fights. No direct safety change yet for walkers or riders.

On August 4, 2025, State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor. The two worked together on the 'Fix the MTA Act,' which invested in subways and piloted fare-free buses. Gianaris said Mamdani 'provides the energy and ideas' New Yorkers need. Mamdani thanked Gianaris for helping secure 'historic investments in subway and bus services.' This event, reported by City & State NY, shows political unity on transit. However, as no specific policy action or outcome is detailed, analysts find no direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Mike Gianaris backs Zohran Mamdani for mayor, City & State NY, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 3 - Driver swung a U-turn across Fresh Pond Road at Linden. Hit a moped going straight. Rider, 30, bled from a leg and was partly ejected. Police recorded Turning Improperly and Failure to Yield.

A driver in an SUV made a U-turn on Fresh Pond Road at Linden Street in Queens and hit a southbound moped going straight. The moped driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered a serious leg injury with severe bleeding and was partially ejected. "According to the police report, the SUV driver was making a U-turn when he hit the moped." Police recorded Turning Improperly and Failure to Yield Right-of-Way by the driver. Impact was to the SUV’s front and the rear of the moped. Records show the SUV driver held a permit. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833584 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 3 - A man crossed Broadway. A driver hit him. The driver sped off. The man died on the street. Police hunt for the vehicle, possibly a garbage truck. The city’s roads claim another life.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports a 47-year-old pedestrian was killed crossing Broadway at Suydam St. in Brooklyn. The driver, possibly operating a garbage truck, left the scene. Police said, "A driver struck and killed a 47-year-old pedestrian... then left the scene." The victim died before help arrived. The driver’s failure to remain highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the persistent issue of hit-and-runs in New York City.

• Driver Flees After Brooklyn Pedestrian Death, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 2 - Two drivers crashed at Putnam and Fresh Pond at midnight. A 41-year-old front passenger was hurt. Neck pain. Whiplash. Shock. Police listed the cause as unspecified.

Two drivers in sedans crashed at Putnam Ave and Fresh Pond Rd in Queens at midnight. A 41-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat was injured. She reported neck pain and whiplash and showed signs of shock. According to the police report, the contributing factor was recorded as "Unspecified," and no specific driver errors were listed. One vehicle was listed as parked before impact. The report does not cite helmet or signal use. The 104th Precinct took the case. The record offers no account of how the crash began.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 25 - Thin string, nearly invisible, sliced at necks and faces. Cyclists struck crossing Marine Parkway Bridge. Injuries mount. No answers. Danger lingers. System fails to clear the path.

Gothamist (2025-07-25) reports multiple cyclists injured by string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge walkway. Victims described sudden pain and red marks. One cyclist landed in intensive care in June. The NYPD said no criminality was suspected and has not identified the source. The MTA forbids cycling on the path, but most riders do not dismount due to the narrow walkway. The article quotes Angel Montalvo: "I felt pain, but I didn't know what it was." The recurring hazard exposes gaps in bridge safety and enforcement, leaving vulnerable users at risk.

• Cyclists Injured By Hidden String On Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two dead on Third Avenue. A hit-and-run. Leaders call for change. The city promised a fix. The street stays deadly. Demands grow. Blood stains the corridor. Action lags.

CBS New York (2025-07-24) reports Brooklyn leaders urge the city to redesign Third Avenue after a fatal hit-and-run killed two. The article states, "Traffic safety leaders are calling on New York City to keep its promise to redesign Brooklyn's Third Avenue corridor." The crash highlights ongoing danger and unmet city commitments. Driver fled the scene. Advocates press for swift redesign to prevent more deaths.

• Brooklyn Leaders Demand Third Avenue Redesign, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Dozens rallied at City Hall. They demanded Ryder's Law. Council Member Holden led. NYCLASS joined. The call was sharp: end horse carriages. The industry faces fierce opposition. The council stalls. The danger remains.

"The fact that a visibly sick horse like Ryder was allowed to work at all is unbelievable and inexcusable. This case proves that current regulations don't protect the horses, and it's time for the City Council to act." -- Robert F. Holden

On July 23, 2025, Council Member Robert Holden and animal advocates rallied at City Hall, demanding passage of Ryder's Law to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Holden, has not yet reached a council vote or hearing. The rally followed a 'not guilty' verdict in a high-profile horse abuse case. The matter, described as a push 'to end the horse carriage industry in NYC,' drew support from NYCLASS and others. Holden blasted city oversight as 'inexcusable.' Despite the outcry, a safety analyst notes: ending horse carriages will not significantly improve safety for pedestrians or cyclists, since carriages are a small part of street traffic and their removal does not fix systemic road dangers.

• Horse carriages: Animal advocates rally at City Hall to end industry after ‘not guilty’ verdict in horse abuse case, AMNY, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 20 - A moped and sedan collided on Rene Ct near Metropolitan Ave. The moped driver suffered crush injuries. Both vehicles showed front-end damage. Streets in Queens again prove unforgiving.

A moped and a sedan crashed on Rene Ct off Metropolitan Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the moped was traveling east and the sedan was making a left turn westbound. The 25-year-old moped driver was partially ejected and suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and foot. He was wearing a helmet. The sedan driver, age 85, was not ejected and reported no injuries. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 18 - A drunk driver killed a man in East Flatbush. Another driver struck a 95-year-old woman in Bensonhurst. Both drivers stayed. Both now face charges. The city counts sixty pedestrians dead this year.

NY Daily News (2025-07-18) reports two Brooklyn drivers face charges after fatal crashes. Winston Reid, accused of drunk driving, struck a man in an East Flatbush crosswalk. Police charged him with vehicular manslaughter. In a separate January crash, Timothe Andre hit Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Bensonhurst. Gil died from her injuries. After a six-month probe, Andre was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The article notes, 'As of Thursday, 60 pedestrians had been killed by vehicles across the city this year.' Both drivers remained at the scene. The cases highlight ongoing risks for city pedestrians and the legal consequences for driver negligence.

• Brooklyn Drivers Charged In Deadly Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 17 - A distracted SUV driver struck a child on Myrtle Ave in Queens. The child suffered arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention as the cause.

A station wagon/SUV traveling east on Myrtle Ave in Queens struck a child who was walking or riding along the highway with traffic. The child, a male infant, sustained injuries to his arm, including a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor. The driver, a 71-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No other vehicle damage was reported. The report does not mention any errors by the child. The crash highlights the danger posed by driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 15 - A judge stopped city crews from tearing out Bedford Ave’s only protected bike lane. The lane, shielded by parked cars, now waits for a court fight. Cyclists and advocates hold their ground.

NY Daily News reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge blocked New York City from removing the protected Bedford Ave bike lane in Williamsburg. The city planned to move cyclists next to car traffic, but the court granted an emergency restraining order after advocates appealed. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called the lane a 'critical safety project.' City Hall insists the reconfiguration is legal and claims the appeal delays 'easing the safety concerns plaguing Williamsburg parents.' The protected lane, installed in October 2024, separates cyclists from moving vehicles. The ruling highlights ongoing policy battles over street design and cyclist safety.

• Judge Halts Bedford Ave Bike Lane Removal, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 13 - Council moves to shield delivery workers. Wage floors, tipping rules, and safety gear on the line. Workers face street danger daily. New rules aim to cut risk and boost dignity.

On July 14, 2025, the NYC Council will vote on bills to protect delivery workers. The agenda includes wage floors, tipping requirements, and safety measures. Council Members Shaun Abreu, Jennifer Gutierrez, and Sandy Nurse sponsor key bills. Barbara Russo-Lennon supports the package. The matter summary states: 'Council members will vote on a list of legislative items that would benefit delivery app workers.' These protections can improve worker well-being and bargaining power, reducing pressure to take unsafe risks. The council’s action targets the daily hazards faced by delivery workers on city streets.

• NYC Council expected to vote Monday on wage and workplace protections for delivery workers, AMNY, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 13 - A Lexus driver with a suspended license struck and killed a 15-year-old on an e-bike in Nassau County. The driver fled but was caught. The teen died at the scene. The car had dozens of prior violations.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-13), a 15-year-old fleeing police on an e-bike was killed by a Lexus driver with a suspended license and a long record of violations. The driver, Ruyan Ali, crossed into oncoming traffic to pass a stopped car and struck the teen, then tried to flee. Police said Ali had 'at least three license suspensions' and the Lexus had '53 speeding camera violations.' Ali faces charges for leaving the scene and unlicensed operation. The NYPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Teen On E-Bike, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 12 - A BMW sped through a Brooklyn red light at dawn. Two men crossing 3rd Avenue fell. Both died on the street. The driver fled. Police caught him. Charges followed. The toll of cars grows.

Gothamist (2025-07-12) reports a Staten Island man "blew through a red light and killed two pedestrians" at 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street, Brooklyn. Police say the driver, 23, struck Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59, then fled. Both victims died at the scene. The suspect faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. NYPD data shows 98 citywide traffic deaths this year, nearly half pedestrians. The crash highlights the lethal risk at intersections and the deadly impact of ignoring signals.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-12