Main Street Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand Safer Streets Now

Jan 24 - State lawmakers unlocked millions from the Outer Borough Transportation Account. The money will fund toll rebates and transit projects. Some cash backs driving. Some boosts buses. Advocates push for more bus service. Riders need better, faster, safer options now.

Bill: Outer Borough Transportation Account (OBTA) funding allocation. Status: Active as of January 24, 2024. Committee: State legislature, with final approval by the Capital Program Review Board. The OBTA, created in 2018, collects a taxi surcharge as 'Phase I' of congestion pricing. The first $300 million funded subway repairs; the next $50 million now goes to projects chosen by state legislators and the governor. The bill summary notes, 'A special fund created in 2018 to pay for transportation 'carrots' intended to counteract the supposed stick of congestion pricing finally has a balance of tens of millions of dollars.' Assembly Member Nily Rozic (D-Queens) secured restored Q46 bus service. Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA called for a weekly City Ticket. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance demanded better bus service, saying, 'The most important thing is better bus service.' The fund will shape how New Yorkers travel as congestion pricing nears.

• The Money For Congestion Pricing ‘Carrots’ Is Finally Here, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-24

Jan 2 - A sedan traveling west on 45 Avenue struck two parked SUVs, injuring its driver. The collision caused head injuries and incoherence. Alcohol involvement was cited, highlighting driver impairment as a critical factor in this nighttime crash.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male driver in a 2012 sedan was traveling west on 45 Avenue in Queens around 10 p.m. when he collided with two parked SUVs. The report notes alcohol involvement as a contributing factor, indicating driver impairment. The driver sustained head injuries with minor bleeding and was incoherent at the scene. The sedan's left front bumper impacted the right front bumper and right side doors of the parked vehicles. The driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant. The report lists no other contributing factors or victim behaviors. This crash underscores the dangers of impaired driving leading to collisions with stationary vehicles, causing serious injury to the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692522 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 28 - NYPD and DOT flood streets for New Year’s. Cops target drunk, reckless drivers. Speed cameras snap violators. Senator John Liu backs tougher laws. City pushes to lower legal blood alcohol limit. The goal: fewer deaths, less carnage, safer streets.

On December 28, 2023, New York City launched an aggressive drunk driving enforcement campaign for New Year’s weekend. The effort, led by the NYPD and Department of Transportation, aims to keep inebriated motorists off the roads. Senator John Liu, representing District 16, publicly supported the crackdown and advocated for lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from .08 to .05. The campaign includes increased police patrols and active speed cameras. The official matter summary states: 'Drunk driving crackdown: NYC launches aggressive enforcement campaign for New Year’s weekend.' Liu said, 'Cracking down on drunk driving, which continues to destroy lives and families, is the right focus as New Year's approaches.' The DOT notes fatalities from drunk driving have risen nearly 30% in recent years. City lawmakers back state legislation to reduce the DWI threshold, aiming to save lives and protect vulnerable road users.

• Drunk driving crackdown: NYC launches aggressive enforcement campaign for New Year’s weekend, amny.com, Published 2023-12-28

Dec 15 - SUV turned left on Colden Street. Driver distracted. Hit 72-year-old woman crossing with signal. She suffered bruises and leg injuries. Metal crumpled. Blood on the street.

According to the police report, a 72-year-old woman was crossing Colden Street at Elder Avenue with the signal when a 2019 SUV making a left turn struck her. The impact hit the vehicle’s left front quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and traveling southeast. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688169 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - Governor Hochul killed a bill to study expanding the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway greenway. Cyclists and pedestrians lose a safe route. Lawmakers backed the plan. The veto leaves vulnerable road users with dirt paths and danger. The greenway remains unfinished.

On November 20, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have required the state Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of Mental Health to study expanding the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway greenway into Nassau County. The bill passed both the state Senate and Assembly unanimously. The matter summary called for a study to extend the greenway, which runs parallel to the hazardous Union Turnpike. State Senator John Liu sponsored the bill and vowed to keep pushing for the project, saying, 'I’m confident we’ll get there.' Hochul’s veto cited budget concerns and the risk of 'duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy.' Advocates like Joby Jacob called the veto a blow to years of organizing, noting that people are forced to walk dirt paths where sidewalks should be. The veto blocks progress on a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Hochul Vetoes Bill To Expand Eastern Queens Greenway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-20

Nov 17 - A 50-year-old man was struck by a westbound sedan making a right turn on 164 Street. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver’s right front bumper was damaged.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing against the signal on 164 Street. The collision involved a 2023 Audi sedan traveling west, making a right turn, which struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no contributing driver errors or factors. The pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal is noted, but no driver violations such as failure to yield or speeding were recorded. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - Four busways launched under de Blasio sped up buses. Adams made them permanent, but cut enforcement hours. Illegal parking still chokes lanes. Riders wait. Drivers fume. Cameras catch some, but not all. Streets stay dangerous. The city drags its feet.

This report examines four busways implemented in 2020 and 2021 during Mayor de Blasio’s final years. The projects—Jay Street, West 181st Street, Flushing Main Street, and Archer/Jamaica avenues—were made permanent by Mayor Adams, though enforcement hours were reduced on most. The article notes: “Four busways announced and implemented in 2020 and 2021 during the latter days of the de Blasio administration appear to have sped up service for transit riders, according to official MTA bus speed data.” Bus operators like Orlando Tejeda and Anita Mealy describe persistent illegal parking and double-parking, which slows buses and endangers riders. Despite camera enforcement, violations remain rampant. Council Member Peter Koo opposed the Flushing busway, but it survived legal and political attacks. Riders and drivers report faster trips, but the city’s weak enforcement leaves vulnerable road users at risk. The city’s promise of safer, faster streets is only half-kept.

• Eyes on the Street: How Are De Blasio’s Pandemic Era Busways Doing?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-17

Nov 14 - City traffic chokes bus service. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Costs soar. Lawmakers push for more service, but congestion and double-parked cars stall progress. ABLE cameras help, but Mayor Adams drags feet on bus lanes. Riders pay the price. Streets stay dangerous.

This report, published November 14, 2023, details the ongoing crisis in New York City bus service. The article, titled "City Traffic Helps Make Bus Service Unbearable, Expensive And Difficult To Improve," highlights how traffic congestion, double-parking, and outdated routes cripple bus efficiency. State Sen. John Liu urges more service in neighborhoods where buses can move. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance says, "With better service, the path to more service is a much clearer one." ABLE cameras have improved bus speeds by 5 percent on enforced routes. Despite promises, Mayor Eric Adams has not delivered on expanding bus lanes. The MTA and advocates call for more funding and better service. Riders remain stuck, exposed to traffic danger, while systemic failures persist.

• City Traffic Helps Make Bus Service Unbearable, Expensive And Difficult To Improve, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-14

Oct 22 - A 37-year-old man driving a sedan was injured when an SUV struck the right rear bumper. The driver suffered abrasions and leg injuries. Tire failure contributed to the crash. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on the Long Island Expressway involving a sedan and an SUV, both traveling east. The SUV struck the right rear bumper of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists tire failure as a contributing factor, along with other vehicular factors. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness, and the airbag deployed. The SUV was going straight ahead while the sedan was slowing or stopping. No ejection occurred. The crash caused center back end damage to the sedan and front center damage to the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682643 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 3 - A 47-year-old male bicyclist crashed on 58 Road in Queens. He suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The rider was unconscious and not wearing safety equipment. The bike sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on 58 Road in Queens crashed his bike, sustaining serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The rider was unconscious at the scene and was not wearing any safety equipment. The bike showed damage to the center front end. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The crash resulted in significant injury to the bicyclist, who was not ejected from the bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667860 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 2 - Box truck hit sedan from behind on Main Street. Woman driver hurt. Neck pain, whiplash. Truck followed too close. Both vehicles headed north. Impact crushed sedan’s rear.

According to the police report, a box truck rear-ended a sedan on Main Street while both vehicles traveled north. The sedan’s 32-year-old woman driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, showing the truck driver failed to keep safe distance. The truck struck the sedan’s center back end, damaging both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667145 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 27 - A 17-year-old e-bike rider crashed into a turning SUV on 164 Street near Booth Memorial Avenue. The driver fractured his hip and upper leg. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause. The e-bike struck the SUV’s right rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male e-bike driver traveling north on 164 Street collided with a 2004 Honda SUV making a left turn eastbound near Booth Memorial Avenue in Queens. The e-bike struck the right rear quarter panel of the SUV. The e-bike driver suffered a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to his hip and upper leg. The police identified "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor to the crash. The e-bike driver was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and traveling legally. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers fail to obey traffic controls during turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666059 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - Council Member Marte and others push to exempt dollar vans from Manhattan congestion tolls. They argue the vans are vital for Asian communities. Without exemption, fares rise. Commutes get harder. The MTA has not taken a side.

On September 24, 2023, Council Member Christopher Marte joined eight other elected officials in urging the MTA to exempt dollar vans from the upcoming congestion pricing plan. The letter, signed by Marte and state legislators, was sent to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. The officials wrote, 'Commuter vans offer the Chinese communities in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn a much-needed service that is not being provided by other forms of public transportation: safe, language-accessible, and culturally competent means for people to access jobs, resources, and family.' They argue that tolling these vans—serving Flatbush Avenue, eastern Queens, and the city’s Chinatowns—would raise fares and cut off vital connections for Asian New Yorkers. Assembly Member Grace Lee said, 'They should be exempt from tolls under the congestion pricing plan.' The MTA has not taken a position on the exemption.

• Chinatown pols seek to exempt dollar vans from congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2023-09-24

Sep 24 - Council Member Marte and others push to exempt dollar vans from Manhattan congestion tolls. They argue the vans are vital for Asian communities. Without exemption, fares rise. Commutes get harder. The MTA has not taken a side.

On September 24, 2023, Council Member Christopher Marte joined eight other elected officials in urging the MTA to exempt dollar vans from the upcoming congestion pricing plan. The letter, signed by Marte and state legislators, was sent to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. The officials wrote, 'Commuter vans offer the Chinese communities in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn a much-needed service that is not being provided by other forms of public transportation: safe, language-accessible, and culturally competent means for people to access jobs, resources, and family.' They argue that tolling these vans—serving Flatbush Avenue, eastern Queens, and the city’s Chinatowns—would raise fares and cut off vital connections for Asian New Yorkers. Assembly Member Grace Lee said, 'They should be exempt from tolls under the congestion pricing plan.' The MTA has not taken a position on the exemption.

• Chinatown pols seek to exempt dollar vans from congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2023-09-24

Sep 15 - A 67-year-old male bicyclist was struck by an SUV traveling south on 59 Avenue. The cyclist suffered head injuries but remained conscious. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and disregarded traffic control as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 59 Avenue in Queens involving a 2015 Toyota SUV and a 67-year-old male bicyclist. The SUV was traveling south, and the bicyclist was going west. The bicyclist sustained head injuries and was conscious at the scene. The report lists driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and disregarding traffic control. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV showed no damage, while the bike had front-end damage. The bicyclist was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663069 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 4 - A sedan turning right struck a 30-year-old e-scooter driver going straight. The rider suffered knee and lower leg fractures. The crash left the rider in shock with serious injuries. The sedan’s front center bore the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn collided with an e-scooter traveling straight on Kissena Boulevard. The e-scooter driver, a 30-year-old man, was injured with fractures to his knee and lower leg, resulting in shock. The report lists driver errors including Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Turning Improperly by the sedan driver. The e-scooter driver was not at fault and was not ejected or wearing any safety equipment. The sedan sustained front center damage at the point of impact. This crash highlights the dangers posed by improper turning and failure to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651548 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - Two SUVs collided on Horace Harding Expressway. One driver made a right turn. The other struck the rear center of the turning vehicle. The turning driver, a 42-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Horace Harding Expressway. One SUV was making a right turn while the other was traveling straight westbound. The straight-moving SUV struck the center back end of the turning vehicle. The driver of the turning SUV, a 42-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648351 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 21 - Two SUVs crashed on Parsons Boulevard in Queens. One driver turned improperly and sped. The other was stopped in traffic. The turning driver suffered internal injuries to abdomen and pelvis. Both vehicles damaged on left sides. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Parsons Boulevard in Queens. One driver, a 47-year-old woman, was making a left turn improperly and at unsafe speed when the crash occurred. The other vehicle was stopped in traffic. The turning driver sustained internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The collision damaged the left front bumper of the turning SUV and the left side doors of the stopped SUV. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No ejections occurred. The driver who was stopped in traffic was not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652083 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 20 - A 20-year-old woman was injured while getting on or off a vehicle on Horace Harding Expressway. The sedan involved showed no damage. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The driver was changing lanes at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Horace Harding Expressway while getting on or off a vehicle. The vehicle involved was a 2014 Hyundai sedan traveling east, driven by a licensed male driver who was changing lanes before the collision. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan, which showed no damage. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No safety equipment or helmet was noted. The incident occurred away from an intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 4 - A 5-year-old girl emerged from behind a parked vehicle on Colden Street. A southbound sedan struck her center front end. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her entire body. The driver showed no damage to the vehicle. The child remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 5-year-old female pedestrian was injured while emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle on Colden Street. The pedestrian was struck by a southbound 2011 Chevrolet sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The sedan showed no damage after the collision. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian's location and action were noted as 'Pedestrian Not at Intersection' and 'Emerging from in Front of/Behind Parked Vehicle.' No helmet or signaling factors were mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19