Glendale Bleeds: Demand Safe Streets Now

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

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

SUV struck motorcycle on Woodhaven Boulevard. Rider thrown, suffered back injury and shock. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Lives changed in a blink.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and an SUV collided at 15:53 on Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. The SUV, driven by a licensed Pennsylvania woman, struck the motorcycle's center front, damaging its right rear quarter panel. The 52-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected, suffering a back injury and entering shock, with complaints of pain and nausea. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, but the report does not cite victim behavior as a cause. This crash underscores the danger driver distraction poses to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754688 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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 2024-09-10

A moped traveling south struck an e-scooter making a left turn on 62 Street in Queens. The e-scooter driver, a 20-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:20 AM on 62 Street near Myrtle Avenue in Queens. A moped traveling straight south collided with an e-scooter making a left turn. The e-scooter driver, a 20-year-old female, was ejected from her vehicle and sustained a shoulder and upper arm injury classified as severity 3. The police report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. The e-scooter driver was wearing a helmet, but no victim behavior was listed as a contributing factor. Vehicle damage was noted on the moped's center front end and the e-scooter's left side doors. This collision highlights the dangers when drivers disregard traffic controls, resulting in serious injury to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Lawmakers say Hochul broke the law. They filed a brief. They argue the governor has no right to halt congestion pricing. The MTA Board, not Albany, holds the power. The pause sows confusion. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On August 23, 2024, a group of New York State legislators—Assembly Members Phil Steck and Andrew Hevesi, State Senator Julia Salazar, and former Assembly Member Dick Gottfried—filed a legal brief against Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing. The matter, as described: “the legislature never gave her or any governor the power to do away with the traffic toll.” The brief cites the 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, arguing only the Traffic Mobility Review Board and the MTA can make such decisions. The lawmakers warn that letting the governor override the MTA would “make impossibly opaque the actual responsibility for MTA decisions.” Their action supports the MTA Board’s independence and opposes executive interference. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the legislators’ stance highlights the risk of political meddling in life-and-death street policy.

• State Legislators Say They Never Gave Hochul the Power to Pause Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-23

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 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

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

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

Councilwoman Joann Ariola called out Tiffany Cabán for racking up school-zone speeding tickets while pushing to cut car use. Cabán’s platform promised safer streets and fewer cars. Ariola and others say the tickets show a gap between words and actions.

On August 10, 2024, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (District 32) publicly criticized Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán after media reports revealed Cabán received four school-zone speeding tickets and three other violations since November 2022. The matter, covered by the New York Post, states: 'Cabán—who was elected to office on a platform advocating less car use and cracking down on dangerous driving—received four tickets in the past 13 months for speeding her vehicle in school zones.' Ariola, joined by Councilman Robert Holden, accused Cabán of hypocrisy, highlighting the disconnect between Cabán’s advocacy for street safety and her own driving record. Cabán’s policy platform includes converting 25% of city roadways for people, building 1,000 miles of car-free streets, and expanding bus and bike lanes. No formal council bill or committee action is attached to this event, but the public dispute underscores tensions in the city’s push for safer, less car-dominated streets.

• Socialist NYC Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán has amassed nearly $500 in traffic tickets despite pushing anti-car agenda: ‘Hypocrisy’, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-10

A sedan ran a traffic control. It hit a 49-year-old man on a bike. The cyclist bled from his leg and went into shock. The street stayed quiet. The driver kept going straight. The system failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Cypress Hills Street in Queens struck a 49-year-old male bicyclist heading west. The crash happened at 11:32 PM. The bicyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with minor bleeding and shock. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor, showing the driver failed to obey signals or signs. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The bicyclist was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The sedan driver was licensed and continued straight. No other factors were cited for the bicyclist. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744395 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Low-density districts block City of Yes. Most community boards vote no. High-density areas back the plan. The fight centers on housing, parking, and who bears the city’s growth. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait as politics stall change.

Bill: City of Yes housing proposal. Status: Community board votes and public testimony as of July 22, 2024. Of 57 boards, 38 opposed the plan, 20 supported it, mostly in denser neighborhoods. The proposal, described as aiming to build 'a little more housing in every neighborhood,' faces resistance in low-density areas. Council Member Joann Ariola (R-Woodhaven) opposed more housing in her district, calling it 'suburbs.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized neighborhoods that refuse new housing, saying it increases pressure on poorer areas. Arlene Schlesinger, a Queens resident, voiced strong opposition, especially to lifting parking mandates and adding accessory dwelling units. Community boards, often older and whiter, resist change, leaving the city’s most vulnerable to bear the brunt of housing and transportation inequity.

• Map: How Did Community Boards Vote on ‘City of Yes’ Housing Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-22

A sedan traveling south struck an e-scooter passenger riding on the outside. The 17-year-old female was ejected, suffering head injuries and shock. The driver disregarded traffic control, causing the violent collision and serious injury.

According to the police report, a 2018 Hyundai sedan was traveling south on Woodhaven Boulevard when it collided with an eastbound e-scooter carrying two occupants. The impact occurred at the center front end of both vehicles. The 17-year-old female passenger on the e-scooter was riding or hanging on the outside and was ejected during the crash. She sustained head injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. Additionally, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was noted but the primary fault lies with the vehicle driver’s disregard for traffic control. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead, highlighting a systemic danger in driver compliance with traffic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743650 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A motorcycle traveling west struck the right rear quarter panel of a northbound SUV on Central Avenue in Queens. The motorcyclist, a 55-year-old man, suffered a serious head injury and lost consciousness. The crash involved disregard of traffic controls.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Central Avenue near 66 Place in Queens at 2:40 a.m. A motorcycle traveling west collided with the right rear quarter panel of a northbound 2015 Jeep SUV. The motorcyclist, a 55-year-old male occupant wearing a helmet, sustained a severe head injury and was unconscious following the impact. The report cites "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to ignoring traffic signals or signs. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The motorcycle's front center end and the SUV's right rear quarter panel were damaged. No ejection occurred. The data does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers disregarding traffic controls, resulting in serious injury to a vulnerable motorcyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Queens council members slammed the City of Yes plan. They called new housing near transit a threat. They fought against ending parking mandates. Most public testimony backed the reforms. But Queens officials stood firm, defending car-centric streets and single-family homes.

On July 11, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on the City of Yes zoning reforms. The proposal aims to increase housing near transit, allow mixed-use zoning, and eliminate parking mandates. Council Members Joann Ariola and Vicki Paladino led opposition, calling the plan an 'unmitigated disaster' and disputing housing data. Ariola argued, 'That's what they bought in the suburbs for.' Other Queens officials and residents echoed fears for single-family homeowners and suburban 'character.' In contrast, Borough President Donovan Richards's spokesperson and some residents supported the reforms, citing the city's affordability crisis. The majority of public testimony favored the proposal, but entrenched opposition from Queens officials remains strong. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• ‘Suburban’ Queens Stalwarts Take Hard Line Against Housing — To Rest of City’s Detriment, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-11

A 23-year-old man riding west on 72 Street crashed. He hit hard. Abrasions tore his arm and hand. He stayed conscious. The street left him bloodied. No other vehicles listed. No driver errors named.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male bicyclist riding westbound on 72 Street in Queens was injured in a crash. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report states the impact struck the left front bumper and left side doors of the bike. No other vehicles or people were involved. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but no helmet or signal use is cited as a factor. The crash left the cyclist conscious but hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737254 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two SUVs collided on Rutledge Avenue in Queens. A southbound SUV going straight struck the right rear quarter panel of another SUV making a right turn. Both drivers suffered back injuries and whiplash, sustaining moderate trauma in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rutledge Avenue near Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens at 16:50. A 2021 Mercedes SUV traveling southbound going straight ahead impacted the right rear quarter panel of a 2018 Ford SUV that was making a right turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the Mercedes and the right rear quarter panel of the Ford. Both vehicles sustained damage at these points. The Ford carried two occupants, including a 28-year-old front passenger and a 31-year-old male driver, both conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. Both suffered back injuries and whiplash with injury severity rated as moderate (3). The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified, but the collision dynamics indicate a failure to yield or misjudgment by the SUV making the right turn or the one traveling straight. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733561 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 25-year-old male driver suffered a concussion and head injury after a high-speed crash on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The sedan’s front end was demolished. The driver was conscious and restrained, but unsafe speed caused the violent impact.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male driver operating a 2023 Tesla sedan on Jackie Robinson Parkway was injured in a crash at 6:40 AM. The vehicle, traveling west and going straight ahead, struck an object or barrier with its center front end, which was demolished. The driver sustained a head injury and concussion but was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness; the airbag deployed. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver was licensed in New York and alone in the vehicle. This collision highlights the dangers of excessive speed on city roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730919 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07