No More Blood on Northern Boulevard

Nov 20 - A 2019 Range Rover slammed headfirst on Union Street. Metal folded. Two young men pinned in front. Necks broken. Crush injuries. Sirens cut the silence. The street held its breath. Both survived, belts locked, eyes open.

Two young men were seriously injured when a 2019 Range Rover crashed headfirst on Union Street near District 20. According to the police report, 'A 2019 Range Rover slammed headfirst. Two young men pinned in the front. Belts locked. Necks broken. Eyes open. The metal folded inward. The street held its breath. No sound but the sirens.' The driver, 23, and the front passenger, 21, both suffered neck and crush injuries but remained conscious. No contributing driver errors were listed in the report. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. The impact crushed the left front quarter panel, pinning the men inside the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A 12-year-old boy was struck while crossing College Point Boulevard with the signal. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way during a right turn. The boy suffered an upper arm abrasion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old male pedestrian was injured on College Point Boulevard in Queens. The boy was crossing with the signal when a female driver in a 2018 SUV made a right turn and struck him. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered an abrasion and upper arm injury but was conscious after the crash. The vehicle showed no damage. The driver was licensed in Connecticut and was the sole occupant. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680704 - 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 41-year-old man was struck by a sedan while crossing Barclay Avenue with the signal. The impact fractured his knee and lower leg. The driver hit the pedestrian with the vehicle’s center front end. The victim remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Barclay Avenue at an intersection with the signal. He suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The collision involved a sedan traveling east that struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The driver’s actions leading to the collision remain unspecified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680699 - 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 16 - A 27-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and suffered head injuries after a collision with a Jeep sedan making a right turn on Roosevelt Avenue. The rider was in shock and complained of pain and nausea. Driver distraction was a key factor.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Roosevelt Avenue involving a 2014 Jeep sedan and an e-bike. The e-bike rider, a 27-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained head injuries. He was in shock and complained of pain and nausea. The Jeep driver was making a right turn while the e-bike was traveling straight east. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash. The e-bike rider was not wearing any safety equipment. The impact occurred at the center front end of the e-bike and the left front bumper of the sedan. No other injuries or factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680663 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

Nov 12 - A 51-year-old woman was hit by a sedan making a U-turn on Bowne Street in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her entire body. The vehicle showed no damage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Bowne Street in Queens made a U-turn and struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s contributing factor. The vehicle had no visible damage despite the impact at its center front end. No other contributing factors or safety equipment were noted. The pedestrian was not at fault; the crash resulted from the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678578 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - A sedan veered on College Point Boulevard. Its bumper slammed into an e-bike. The unlicensed rider flew from the frame. He hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled in the dark. He was awake, broken, and bleeding.

A sedan struck an e-bike on College Point Boulevard. The sedan changed lanes and hit the e-bike’s center front end. The 42-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries across his body. According to the police report, 'A sedan veered while changing lanes, its bumper crushing into an e-bike. The unlicensed rider, 42, flew from the frame. No helmet. He landed hard, broken across the pavement, awake and bleeding in the dark.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were unlicensed. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The primary cause was the sedan driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - Midnight. College Point Boulevard. A Ford SUV hit a turning Honda. Steel bent. Blood spilled. A 39-year-old man gripped his head, bleeding but awake. The belt held him. Speed did not. The street stayed silent, except for pain.

A Ford SUV struck a Honda sedan on College Point Boulevard just after midnight. The SUV was heading straight. The Honda was turning left. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV slammed into a turning Honda. Steel twisted. A 39-year-old man in the front seat clutched his head. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The belt held him. Speed did not.' The 39-year-old front passenger in the Honda suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors were cited. The injured man was wearing a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 31 - A 57-year-old woman was struck by a bike while crossing Sanford Avenue in Queens. She suffered chest contusions and remained conscious. The bike showed no damage. The crash involved pedestrian confusion, not driver error.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a bike traveling southwest on Sanford Avenue struck her at the center front end. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and suffered chest contusions. The bike sustained no damage. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as the contributing factor, with no driver errors noted. The cyclist was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No helmet or signaling issues were reported. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675379 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 31 - A 69-year-old man was hit by an SUV while crossing Parsons Boulevard. The vehicle struck him head-on. He suffered fractures and dislocations. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian was conscious but severely injured.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2005 SUV traveling north on Parsons Boulevard struck him at the center front end. The pedestrian was crossing outside an intersection without a signal or crosswalk. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his entire body and was conscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and going straight ahead at the time of impact. Vehicle damage was centered on the front end. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 29 - A 39-year-old man was injured when a sedan starting from parking struck him near Blossom Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian suffered fractures to his knee and lower leg. The driver’s view was obstructed, contributing to the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by a licensed female driver was starting from parking when it struck a 39-year-old male pedestrian near 132-29 Blossom Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian was not in the roadway but was injured, sustaining fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 24 - A 44-year-old moped driver was injured after an SUV made a left turn and struck the moped on Main Street in Queens. The moped rider was ejected and suffered leg injuries. Police cited failure to yield as the cause.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male moped driver was injured when a 2017 SUV made a left turn on Main Street in Queens and collided with the moped traveling north. The moped driver was ejected and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. The SUV struck the left side doors of the moped with its left front bumper. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. The collision caused damage to the left front bumper of the SUV and the left side doors of the moped.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - A 32-year-old man driving a sedan in Queens suffered a neck injury after a collision. The impact struck the right front bumper. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. No contributing driver errors were noted in the report.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male driver was involved in a crash on College Point Boulevard in Queens. The sedan, traveling south, was struck at the right front bumper. The driver, wearing a lap belt, sustained a neck injury described as whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. The collision caused damage to the vehicle's right front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported injured or involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - A driver hit a 53-year-old man crossing Franklin Avenue in Queens. The driver failed to yield. The man suffered a back injury but stayed conscious. The crash exposed danger at a city crosswalk.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Franklin Avenue at an intersection in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver failed to yield right-of-way, as listed in the report's contributing factors. The man suffered a back injury and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle involved was unspecified, with one occupant. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were noted. The incident highlights a driver error that endangered a vulnerable road user at a marked crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669740 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 27 - Sixteen-year-old driver crashed a sedan on Whitestone Expressway. Left front bumper struck an object during lane change. Driver suffered knee and leg injuries. No other vehicles or people hurt.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male driver was injured on Whitestone Expressway at 8 p.m. while changing lanes in a 2023 sedan. The vehicle struck an object with its left front bumper, damaging the center front end. The driver sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious, not ejected, and was the sole occupant. Police list driver inexperience and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759251 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - A sedan stopped in traffic on College Point Boulevard was struck from behind. The driver, a 44-year-old woman, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Police cited aggressive driving and road rage as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old female driver was stopped in traffic on College Point Boulevard in Queens when her sedan was hit in the right rear bumper by another vehicle involved in a police pursuit. The driver was injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to her shoulder and upper arm. The report lists aggressive driving and road rage as contributing factors to the collision. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The crash involved a Lexus sedan and a Toyota vehicle traveling southbound. The impact occurred at the right rear bumper of the stopped sedan and the left front bumper of the pursuing vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665571 - 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