Jamaica Estates–Holliswood: Two pedestrians gone, hundreds hurt, and speed still wins

Jul 26 - On 188th Street in Queens, a southbound driver hit stopped SUVs. Children were hurt. A teen suffered a concussion. A baby was injured. Police cite driver inattention and drowsiness. Faces bruised. Heads rocked. Shock followed.

Three SUV drivers crashed near 87-18 188th Street in Queens. Two drivers were stopped in traffic. Police recorded a center-front impact by the southbound driver and rear impacts to the stopped SUVs. Multiple people were injured, including a 7-year-old girl with facial bruises, a 13-year-old girl with a concussion, and an infant with unknown injuries. A 41-year-old woman suffered head trauma and whiplash. Other adults and teens were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, drivers were inattentive and drowsy. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Fatigued/Drowsy by the drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and park in bus lanes. Double-parking allowed to help passengers. Streets grow tighter. Danger for walkers and riders rises.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Members Julie Menin and Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' The bill grants ambulettes the right to drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes while helping passengers. Menin and Lee sponsor the measure, which was referred to committee on July 14. No safety analysis was provided. The change would squeeze vulnerable road users, making sidewalks and crossings riskier.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes use bus lanes and double-park to help passengers. More vehicles in bus lanes, more double-parking. Vulnerable road users face tighter, riskier streets.

Int 1339-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced July 14, 2025 by Council Member Linda Lee. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Lee sponsored the bill. If passed, more vehicles will block bus lanes and sidewalks, squeezing pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s most vulnerable will face more danger at the curb.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Streets narrow. Danger grows for walkers and riders. Vulnerable users pay the price.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced July 14, 2025, by Council Member Linda Lee, it would 'exempt ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allow them to double park to assist passengers.' Lee sponsored the measure, which was referred to committee the same day. The bill lets ambulettes drive, park, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers board and deboard. No safety review was provided. The move risks more blocked lanes and sightlines, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 8 - Hillside Avenue chokes on cars. Buses crawl at four miles per hour. New lanes promise relief for 215,000 riders. Space shifts from cars to buses. Streets change. Riders wait.

Gothamist (2025-07-08) reports new bus lanes are coming to Hillside Avenue, Queens. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the corridor suffers from 'an inconsistent, patchwork design' and blocked lanes. Buses crawl at four miles per hour due to congestion. Only a third of road space serves buses, though 83% of transit users ride them. The project adds camera-enforced bus lanes, parking, and loading zones. Policy shifts road space from private cars to public transit, aiming to speed up service for 215,000 daily riders.

• Bus Lanes Target Congestion On Hillside Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 5 - A sedan took a hit on Grand Central Parkway. Two occupants injured. Police cite other vehicular factors. Metal twisted. Neck pain. The city’s roads stay ruthless.

A sedan was struck on Grand Central Parkway near 188 Street in Queens. Two people inside were injured. According to the police report, both the driver and a passenger suffered harm, with the driver reporting neck pain. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor. The sedan was hit at the center back end. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the persistent dangers on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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

Jul 3 - A motorized driver was ejected and suffered a head injury on Francis Lewis Blvd. The crash left him semiconscious, with pain and nausea. No safety equipment was used. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A 37-year-old male driver of a motorized vehicle was ejected and suffered a head injury on Francis Lewis Blvd at Mc Laughlin Ave in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was semiconscious and complained of pain or nausea. No safety equipment was used. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other injuries were reported. The vehicle was going straight ahead before the crash. The data does not specify further details about the crash circumstances or other involved parties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825299 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 2 - SUV and sedan collided on Hillside Ave. Elderly woman and young passenger hurt. Police cite unsafe lane changing. Metal and glass, pain and chaos. System failed to protect.

Two vehicles, a Lexus SUV and a Honda sedan, crashed at 182-15 Hillside Ave in Queens. An 83-year-old woman driving the SUV suffered neck injuries. A 32-year-old woman, front passenger in the sedan, was hurt in the back. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling west. The report lists no pedestrian or cyclist victims. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left two people injured and exposed the danger of lane changes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 23 - A sedan and SUV collided on Grand Central Parkway. A six-year-old boy suffered a facial abrasion. Police cite reaction to an uninvolved vehicle as the cause. Metal, glass, and fear in Queens night.

A sedan and an SUV crashed on Grand Central Parkway at Utopia Parkway in Queens. A six-year-old boy, riding as a passenger, was injured with a facial abrasion. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' Both vehicles were traveling west. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The child’s injury stands out in a crash that left others with unspecified or no injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 23 - Eleven city lawmakers voted no on speed cameras. Their votes keep streets exposed. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a shield. Reckless drivers win. The city’s most basic defense—rejected. The toll will be measured in blood, not words.

On June 13 and June 17, 2025, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted on reauthorizing New York City's school zone speed camera program. The Senate passed the measure 38-21; three city senators—Stephen Chan, Andrew Lanza, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton—voted no. The Assembly passed it 110-31, with nine city lawmakers—Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang, Simcha Eichenstein, Michael Novakhov, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Reilly, David Weprin, Kalman Yeger—opposing. The Streetsblog NYC article, 'Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program,' quotes lawmakers dismissing speed cameras as revenue grabs or burdens. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be assessed.' Still, the votes signal disregard for proven tools that protect those outside cars.

• Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 21 - Two cars crashed on Grand Central Parkway. Eight people inside. Two hurt. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Passengers shaken. System failed to protect them.

A station wagon and a sedan collided on Grand Central Parkway at Midland Parkway in Queens. Eight people were inside the vehicles. According to the police report, two were injured: a 43-year-old male driver with neck injuries and a 10-year-old boy with leg injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No other causes are cited. The crash left metal bent and passengers hurt. The system allowed distraction to endanger everyone inside.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16