Aug 14 - Int 1358-2025 yanks city parking permits from drivers with obscured or defaced plates. It also targets placard misuse and unpaid fines over $350. The move restores camera enforcement. Pedestrians and cyclists gain space and accountability.

Int 1358-2025. Status: Sponsorship, referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on August 14, 2025. The bill seeks the “revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” Primary sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. Co-sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The measure would revoke permits after three misuse violations, any §19-166 offense, unpaid violations over $350, or operating with an obscured plate. Revoking city-issued parking permits for obscured/defaced plates and placard misuse increases accountability, restores automated enforcement, and deters illegal parking. This reduces bike lane and crosswalk blocking and curbs impunity among placard holders, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Int. No. 1362 strips city definitions and benchmarks for protected bicycle lanes and protected bus lanes. It removes targets and accountability. The change will slow deployment of separated bike and bus infrastructure and erode safety and equity for pedestrians and cyclists.

Int. No. 1362 (filed Aug. 14, 2025; stage: SPONSORSHIP) was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The matter is titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes and repealing certain definitions in relation thereto." Council Member Robert F. Holden is the primary sponsor. Co-sponsors are Vickie Paladino, Joann Ariola, and Inna Vernikov. The bill repeals the definitions of "protected bicycle lane" and "protected bus lane" and removes benchmark requirements from the streets master plan. Safety analysts note that removing explicit benchmarks and definitions weakens accountability for building separated cycling and bus infrastructure, likely decreasing street equity and safety-in-numbers for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Int 1362 strips definitions for protected bus and bike lanes and removes benchmarks from the streets master plan. It guts measurable targets. Safe space for pedestrians and cyclists is at risk. The city could slow needed separated infrastructure.

Bill: Int. No. 1362 (Int 1362-2025). Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Event date: 2025-08-14. The matter reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes from the streets master plan and repealing certain definitions in relation thereto." Council Member Robert F. Holden is the primary sponsor. Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino are co-sponsors. The draft repeals the definitions of "protected bicycle lane" and "protected bus lane" and removes explicit benchmarks tied to transit signal priority, bus stop upgrades, accessible pedestrian signals and intersection redesigns. Removing those benchmarks weakens commitments to high‑quality separated infrastructure and measurable mode‑shift targets, likely slowing deployment of safe space for pedestrians and cyclists and undermining equitable street redesigns.

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Int 1362 repeals the definitions of “protected bicycle lane” and “protected bus lane” and strips explicit benchmarks for protected lanes from the streets master plan. It preserves signal and pedestrian targets but weakens commitments to physical protection, threatening safety and equity.

Bill Int 1362-2025. Status: Sponsorship, introduced Aug 14, 2025. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The measure, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes from the streets master plan and repealing certain definitions in relation thereto," repeals the definitions of "protected bicycle lane" and "protected bus lane" and removes related benchmarks in the master plan (master plan dates referenced include Dec. 1, 2021 and Dec. 1, 2026). Primary sponsor: Robert F. Holden. Co-sponsors: Inna Vernikov, Joann Ariola, Chris Banks, Vickie Paladino. Safety analysts warn: "Removing explicit benchmarks and definitions for protected bus and bicycle lanes weakens commitments to physically protected infrastructure... likely reducing mode shift to walking and cycling and worsening equity and safety-in-numbers; the retained measures focus on signals and pedestrian amenities but do not replace the protective effect of designated protected lanes."

• File Int 1362-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 12 - A speeding car tore through a stop sign in Astoria, struck a parked coffee truck, killed two men on foot, and left wreckage and grief behind.

ABC7 reported on August 12, 2025, that an 84-year-old driver sped through a stop sign at 19th Avenue and 42nd Street, crashing into a parked coffee truck and striking two men. Both pedestrians, ages 41 and 70, died. The Toyota then spun and hit a Volvo making a U-turn. Witness George Giakoumis said the car was "going at least 60+ miles an hour just right through the stop sign." The crash highlights persistent speeding and dangerous driving at this Astoria intersection. The article notes the area is "prone to speeding and racing," raising questions about street safety and enforcement.

• Speeding Car Slams Coffee Truck, Kills Two, ABC7, Published 2025-08-12

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 - City scales back Creedmoor plan. Density cut 27%. The car-free model dies. Walkers and cyclists lose safety and 'safety in numbers'. Local pols beat back bold urban design. Streets stay hostile. The chance for a people-first, low-car neighborhood vanishes.

Bill number: none — this is a policy statement, not legislation. Status: announced August 7, 2025; no committee review. Matter quoted: "NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols)." Eastern Queens Greenway condemned the decision to downscale the Creedmoor redevelopment from 2,775 units by 27 percent. Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and Council Member Joann Ariola opposed higher density and pressed the rollback. Empire State Development framed the change as a compromise. Safety impact: the cut reduces potential mode shift, walkability, and "safety in numbers" for pedestrians and cyclists, preserving car dependence and dangerous streets.

• NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols), 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 2 - A driver in a sedan struck the left rear bumper of a parked Jeep on Central Ave in Queens. A 29-year-old male driver suffered neck pain and complained of whiplash. Police listed driver inattention/distraction.

A driver in a sedan struck the left rear bumper of a parked Jeep at 64-17 Central Ave in Queens. One 29-year-old man, a driver, was injured and complained of whiplash to his neck. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was listed as a contributing factor. Police recorded that the moving sedan was traveling straight ahead and made contact with the parked vehicle with its right front bumper. Damage was reported to the parked Jeep's left rear bumper and the moving sedan's right front bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 2 - The driver of an eastbound SUV and the driver of a westbound SUV collided on Metropolitan Ave near Cooper Ave. Drivers and passengers, including a 7‑year‑old, suffered whiplash and other injuries.

A crash on Metropolitan Ave injured drivers and passengers, including a 7‑year‑old child. According to the police report, the drivers of a 2021 Acura SUV and a 2007 Honda SUV were involved while a 2018 Subaru SUV was parked and also sustained impact. Police list "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Unsafe Speed" as contributing factors. Occupants reported whole‑body complaints and whiplash. Damage records show front‑end damage to the Honda, left rear‑quarter damage to the Acura, and rear impact to the parked Subaru. The report attributes the crash to the driver errors recorded by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832178 - 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 27 - A left-turn driver hit a 23-year-old cyclist at Cooper and Metropolitan in Queens. The rider suffered arm abrasions and was conscious. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.

A 23-year-old bicyclist was hurt when a driver making a left turn collided with him at Cooper Avenue and Metropolitan Avenue in Queens. The rider suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the crash involved a left-turning vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver; the report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor. The cyclist was traveling straight. The victim wore a helmet. No vehicle damage was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 27 - A driver hit the back of a northeastbound motorcycle near 73-25 Woodhaven Boulevard. The 28-year-old rider suffered abrasions and an upper-arm injury. Police listed no contributing driver errors. The other vehicle's right front bumper was damaged.

A driver hit the center rear of a motorcycle traveling northeast near 73-25 Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. The rider, a 28-year-old man, suffered abrasions and an upper-arm injury. According to the police report, the motorcycle's point of impact was the center back end and the other vehicle's was the right front bumper. The report lists no contributing driver errors. The other vehicle was registered in New Jersey and sustained right-front bumper damage. No other injuries were reported. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832574 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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 19 - A speeding SUV rear-ended a stopped SUV on 73rd Place in Queens around 12:30 a.m. A 46-year-old woman driving the stopped vehicle suffered whiplash and whole-body injuries. Police listed unsafe speed.

Two SUVs collided at 78-53 73rd Place in Queens. A 46-year-old woman driving the stopped SUV was injured and complained of whiplash and entire-body pain. According to the police report, "one SUV was stopped in traffic when another, traveling straight ahead, struck it from behind." Police recorded unsafe speed by the driver as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Damage struck the center back end of the stopped SUV and the center front end of the striking SUV. One occupant was treated for injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 17 - SUV turned left into cyclist on Myrtle Ave. Rider thrown, bruised, hurt in the back. Police cite failure to yield. The street stays dangerous for those on two wheels.

A 23-year-old cyclist was injured when an SUV making a left turn struck him on Myrtle Ave at 65 Pl in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV failed to yield right-of-way. The cyclist, traveling straight, was partially ejected and suffered a back contusion. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s contributing factor. No helmet use or cyclist error is cited. The crash highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers ignore basic traffic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828590 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 14 - A bus struck an SUV turning right on Woodhaven Boulevard. One man suffered back injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Pain followed. Streets stayed dangerous.

A bus and an SUV collided at Woodhaven Boulevard and 82 Avenue in Queens. One man, age 37, driving the SUV, suffered back injuries and shock. According to the police report, both drivers were inattentive or distracted. The SUV was making a right turn when the bus, traveling straight, struck its right side. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal bent and a driver hurt, underscoring the risk when focus slips behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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