Richmond Hill Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

Jul 3 - Two men suffered neck injuries in a multi-sedan crash on 121 Street in Queens. Both drivers were conscious and wearing seat belts. The collision involved rear-end impacts caused by following too closely, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:40 on 121 Street in Queens involving three sedans traveling southbound. The report cites "Following Too Closely" as the primary contributing factor. Two male drivers, ages 37 and 66, were injured with neck injuries described as whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses at the time of the collision. The vehicles sustained center front and center back-end damage consistent with a rear-end chain reaction. The report explicitly notes driver error in maintaining unsafe following distances, leading to the pileup. No pedestrian or cyclist involvement was reported. The focus remains on driver failure to keep proper spacing, which triggered the crash and subsequent injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 1 - A moped driver traveling east on Jamaica Avenue collided with a backing sedan. The moped driver, unlicensed and speeding, was ejected and suffered a severe hip and upper leg injury. The sedan was damaged on its rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:14 AM on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The moped driver, a 24-year-old male, was traveling east and struck a sedan that was backing up. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Other Vehicular' factors as contributing causes. The moped driver was unlicensed and was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg injury. The sedan, a 2022 Tesla, sustained damage to its center back end and right rear quarter panel. The sedan had no occupants at the time. The report highlights driver errors on the moped operator’s part, specifically unsafe speed and lack of a valid license, as central to the crash. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737055 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - A taxi traveling north struck a sedan entering a parked position in Queens. The impact hit the sedan’s center back end, injuring a 20-year-old rear passenger. Driver distraction contributed to the crash, leaving the passenger with hip and leg injuries.

According to the police report, a collision occurred in Queens at 2:10 AM involving a northbound taxi and an eastbound sedan entering a parked position. The taxi’s right front quarter panel struck the sedan’s center back end. The sedan carried no driver or occupants, but a 20-year-old male rear passenger was injured, sustaining hip and upper leg injuries and whiplash. The passenger was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles. The sedan driver’s distraction while entering a parked position and the taxi driver’s inattention while traveling straight ahead led to the impact. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights systemic risks from driver distraction in vehicle interactions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736943 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 24 - SUV swung right. E-bike rolled east. Metal hit flesh. Rider slammed, head scraped, stayed awake. Driver’s blocked view, bad lane use led to pain. Jamaica Avenue, Queens. Another cyclist down.

According to the police report, an SUV making a right turn on Jamaica Avenue collided with an eastbound e-bike at 7:58 AM. The SUV’s center front end struck the right side of the e-bike. The 27-year-old male e-bike rider suffered head abrasions but remained conscious. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, both pointing to driver error by the SUV operator. No contributing factors were attributed to the e-bike rider. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers fail to maintain proper lane use and visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A 27-year-old woman was injured crossing 134 Street at Atlantic Avenue. The sedan, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way and struck her in the knee and lower leg. Driver inattention and distraction contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 134 Street was making a left turn onto Atlantic Avenue at 21:19 when it struck a 27-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end, yet the sedan sustained no damage. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The report explicitly identifies driver errors—failure to yield and distraction—as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733911 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A moped rider making a left turn collided with a parked sedan on 91-29 98 Street in Queens. The rider was ejected, suffering neck abrasions but remained conscious. Police cite failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:20 on 91-29 98 Street in Queens. A moped traveling southeast was making a left turn when it struck the left side doors of a parked sedan. The moped rider, a 41-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained neck abrasions. He was conscious at the scene. The report identifies the contributing factor as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the moped driver. The sedan was stationary and parked at the time of impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The moped sustained damage to its left front bumper, and the sedan's left side doors were damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732678 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 10 - A taxi and a sedan collided head-on at 1:56 AM on 112 Street in Queens. The taxi driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited traffic control disregard as the primary cause. Both drivers were licensed men traveling straight ahead.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 1:56 AM on 112 Street in Queens involving a 2020 Toyota taxi and a 2013 Volkswagen sedan. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the crash happened. The taxi was hit on its left front quarter panel, while the sedan sustained damage to its center front end. The taxi driver, a 28-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor twice, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision highlights the dangers of disregarding traffic controls in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732663 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - 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

Jun 7 - 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

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Governor Hochul scrapped congestion pricing. The MTA lost a billion a year. Lawmakers scrambled. Senator Liz Krueger rejected a payroll tax hike. The MTA faces a funding cliff. Subway upgrades, elevators, and clean buses now hang in the balance.

""The [payroll] mobility tax is one, we see that as a possibility,"" -- David Weprin

On June 6, 2024, Governor Hochul’s sudden reversal on Manhattan congestion pricing sparked chaos in Albany. The plan, set to start June 30, would have charged drivers $15 to enter below 60th Street, raising $1 billion yearly for transit. Hochul proposed a payroll tax hike instead, but State Senator Liz Krueger opposed it, saying, "I do not think we have an appetite for that in the Senate." The bill’s fate is uncertain as the legislative session ends. The MTA board, city officials, and business groups all voiced concern. Projects like the Second Avenue Subway, subway accessibility, and zero-emission buses now face cancellation. No alternative funding plan exists. Vulnerable riders—those who rely on transit—stand to lose the most.

• Gov. Hochul’s congestion toll flip-flop spurs mad scramble at NY Capitol, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Council members slam Hochul’s last-minute NYC tax hike to replace congestion pricing. Transit funding hangs in limbo. Liz Krueger says the tax lacks support. Riders and workers face uncertainty as lawmakers reject new burdens and demand fairer solutions.

On June 6, 2024, State Sen. Liz Krueger (District 28) and other lawmakers responded to a proposed New York City tax hike meant to replace the indefinitely postponed $15 congestion pricing tolls. The measure, debated as Bill 28, has not advanced in committee and faces strong opposition. The matter, described as 'a last-minute funding move that drew fierce opposition,' has Krueger stating, 'I think it does not have support.' Assemblyman Brian Cunningham echoed, 'No new taxes.' The proposal would raise the payroll mobility tax, already increased last year, to fund the MTA. Rep. Jerry Nadler and business groups argue the tax unfairly targets NYC, while congestion pricing would have spread costs regionally. With the legislative session ending, MTA projects remain at risk. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Outrage mounts as Hochul pushes last-minute NYC tax hike to replace congestion tolls: ‘Insulting joke’, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 28 - A moped driver making a left turn collided with a sedan traveling east on Atlantic Avenue. The moped struck the sedan’s right side doors. The unlicensed driver suffered knee and lower leg fractures. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Atlantic Avenue in Queens at 9:20 p.m. A moped, driven by a 31-year-old unlicensed male, was making a left turn when it collided with a sedan traveling straight east. The point of impact was the right side doors of the moped and the center front end of the sedan. The moped driver was injured, sustaining fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor twice, indicating errors on the part of the moped driver. The sedan showed no damage and had no occupants. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728237 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

May 24 - A sedan lunged from its spot on Park Lane South. Metal met flesh. A woman on her bike crashed, her body torn, blood spilling. She stayed awake. The car bore no mark. The street swallowed the pain and kept moving.

According to the police report, a sedan pulled from parking on Park Lane South near Myrtle Avenue as a woman rode her bike eastbound. The report states: 'A sedan pulled from parking. A woman rode east on her bike. Metal struck flesh. Her body broke open, bleeding.' The cyclist, a 38-year-old woman, suffered severe bleeding and injuries to her entire body. She was conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan, driven by a man with a permit, showed no visible damage. The report notes the cyclist wore no helmet, but this is mentioned after the driver actions and only because it appears in the official record. The crash underscores the danger when vehicles enter traffic from parking, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727668 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19