Ridgewood’s daily toll: bikes down, bodies up

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - A moped struck a 90-year-old crossing Avenue U. Blood on the street. The rider sped off. The man now fights for life in a Brooklyn hospital. Police hunt for the masked driver.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-08), a 90-year-old man was critically injured when a moped rider hit him at Avenue U and E. 14th St. in Brooklyn. The rider fled the scene. An eyewitness said, "He was laid out on the floor. His head was wide open." Police are searching for surveillance footage to identify the masked rider. The article notes, "He hit the guy and he left." The incident highlights the ongoing danger of hit-and-runs and the challenge of tracking unregistered or masked moped operators on city streets.

• Moped Rider Hits Elderly Man, Flees, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 5 - A 13-year-old cyclist struck by a sedan on Jefferson Ave. He suffered a bruised shoulder. Police cite unsafe speed. The car’s right rear took the hit. System failed to protect the young rider.

A 13-year-old boy riding his bike was injured when a sedan struck him on Jefferson Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the crash involved a sedan making a left turn and a cyclist going straight. The cyclist suffered a contusion to his upper arm. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The sedan’s right rear quarter panel was damaged. The police also note 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver or a listed vehicle occupant. The system allowed speed to threaten a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825240 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jul 3 - NYC Parks moves to let e-bikes and e-scooters roll in greenways. Mopeds stay out. The plan aims for safer, fairer access. More riders, more eyes. Danger shifts, but numbers protect.

On July 3, 2025, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation proposed to permanently allow e-bikes and e-scooters in select park areas, extending a 2023 pilot. The policy, not yet law, would 'integrate the same micromobility devices allowed on NYC streets into parks, while continuing to ban mopeds and other heavy vehicles.' Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon backs the move. The plan faces debate in committee and public hearings. A safety analyst notes: 'Allowing e-scooters and e-bikes in parks supports mode shift and equitable access to low-impact mobility, encouraging more people to choose active transportation and increasing safety in numbers for all vulnerable users.'

• Parks and rides: NYC plans to permanently allow e-bikes and e-scooters on park drives, greenways, AMNY, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 2 - Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - An SUV hit and killed an eight-year-old boy as he crossed Eastern Parkway with his sister. The driver stayed. Blood washed from the street. The boy died at the hospital. The crash left a family and a community shattered.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-29), an eight-year-old boy was killed by a black Honda Pilot while crossing Eastern Parkway at Albany Street in Crown Heights. The article states, "A black Honda Pilot slammed into eight-year-old Mordechai Keller as he crossed Eastern Parkway at Albany Street at 5:33 p.m." The 69-year-old driver remained at the scene and was not arrested. The crash is under investigation. The incident highlights the ongoing danger for pedestrians in Brooklyn, especially at busy intersections. No charges have been filed, and officials cleaned the scene in accordance with religious customs.

• SUV Strikes Boy Crossing Eastern Parkway, New York Post, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 29 - Queens rolled out its new bus network. Riders lined up at the Q12 stop on Northern Boulevard. No chaos. No crashes. Just buses and bodies in the heat. Fewer cars, safer streets for all.

On June 29, 2025, the Queens bus network redesign launched, marking the first major overhaul since the 1950s. The event, covered by AMNY, saw new routes and stops, including changes to the Q12 and Q13. Assembly Member Claire Valdez praised the redesign, calling buses a 'critical lifeline.' Transit advocates split: Riders Alliance applauded the move, while Passengers United warned of harm to vulnerable riders. A safety analyst noted, 'Bus network redesigns that improve transit access can encourage mode shift away from private vehicles, reducing traffic volumes and crash risk for pedestrians and cyclists while supporting street equity.' The redesign aims to shift trips from cars to buses, making streets less deadly for those outside vehicles.

• First day of massive Queens bus network redesign goes off mostly glitch-free in Flushing, AMNY, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 28 - A sedan slammed parked cars on Harman Street. An unlicensed driver, 18, was injured. Fatigue listed as a cause. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash on Harman Street in Queens left an 18-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, a sedan driven by an unlicensed driver struck parked vehicles. The report lists 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as a contributing factor. The driver was described as incoherent after the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The data shows no helmet or signal issues. The crash highlights the risk when drivers operate vehicles while fatigued and unlicensed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 26 - A moped rider suffered a head injury on Metropolitan Ave after an unsafe lane change. The crash left the driver conscious but hurt. No other vehicles were involved. Streets stayed dangerous.

A 39-year-old moped driver was injured on Metropolitan Ave at Starr St in Queens. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe lane changing. The rider suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious. No other vehicles or people were listed as involved. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the main contributing factor. No mention was made of helmet use or other safety equipment. The streets of Queens again proved hazardous for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 25 - Voters chose candidates who back bike lanes, open streets, and transit. Opponents lost. The message is clear: New Yorkers want safer roads. No new laws yet, but the council’s direction is set. Vulnerable road users watch and wait.

On June 25, 2025, New York City held local elections with major implications for street safety. The event, covered by Streetsblog NYC, saw candidates who championed 'the importance of bike lanes, public transit, and open streets' win across the city. Council members Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, Shekar Krishnan, Chi Oss, Crystal Hudson, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams all prevailed on platforms supporting safer streets. Mark Levine, who called for bold highway changes, won the Comptroller race. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text is a vague statement of support for livable streets but does not describe a specific policy action or legislative change, so its direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists cannot be determined.' The victories signal a mandate for people-first streets, but concrete safety gains depend on future action.

• Down-Ballot Recap: A Great Night for the Livable Streets Movement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 24 - A teen on a moped slammed into a turning car in Midwood. He flew off, struck hard, died at the hospital. His passenger survived, hurt. The driver stayed. No arrests. Another moped rider died days before. Streets remain deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-06-24) reports a 17-year-old died after his moped collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn on East 8th St. in Brooklyn. Police said the moped 'slammed into' the car, then hit a parked Honda Odyssey. Both the teen and his passenger suffered trauma; the teen died at Maimonides Medical Center. The car driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made, and the NYPD Highway District Collision Squad is investigating. The article also notes a separate fatal moped crash days earlier involving a drunk, unlicensed driver. These incidents highlight persistent risks for vulnerable road users and ongoing gaps in street safety.

• Teen Killed, Man Critical In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 22 - A moped rider died in Bay Ridge. A driver, drunk and unlicensed, struck him at dawn. The crash left another man broken. The street ran red. The city counts its dead. The system failed to keep danger off the road.

Gothamist (2025-06-22) reports a fatal crash at Third Avenue and 67th Street in Brooklyn. Police say Leslie Moreno, 29, drove intoxicated and without a license when her Acura collided with a moped carrying two men. Joel Mota, 22, died from head and torso injuries. His passenger suffered multiple fractures. Moreno was arrested and hospitalized in stable condition. The article notes, 'Moreno was driving west on 67th Street while Mota was driving south on Third Avenue, and he hit her passenger-side door.' NYPD data shows 13 motorized two-wheeler deaths citywide so far this year. The crash highlights persistent risks from unlicensed, impaired drivers and the vulnerability of riders on city streets.

• Unlicensed Drunk Driver Kills Moped Rider, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-22

Jun 18 - A stolen Chevy struck Tiffany Cifuni’s car in Brooklyn. She stepped out to confront the driver. The driver ran her down and fled. Cifuni, twelve weeks pregnant, died on the street. Police arrested the suspect weeks later.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Chaquasia Pigford was arrested for killing Tiffany Cifuni in a Brooklyn hit-and-run. Pigford, driving a stolen Chevy Trax, rear-ended Cifuni’s Toyota late at night on May 24. When Cifuni, pregnant and 32, exited her vehicle to exchange information, Pigford sped off. Cifuni followed for two blocks, confronted Pigford, and was then run over. Prosecutors described the incident in court, noting Pigford refused to engage before fleeing. The article quotes Cifuni’s family and Assistant District Attorney Tara Kelly: 'Pigford was driving a stolen 2016 Chevy Trax... when she rear-ended Cifuni’s 2021 Toyota 4Runner.' The case highlights the lethal risk of hit-and-run drivers and the dangers posed by stolen vehicles on city streets.

• Pregnant Woman Killed After Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17