Ozone Park Bleeds While Politicians Stall

May 25 - Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.

Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.

• File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 20 - A sedan and an e-bike collided on 149 Avenue in Queens. The e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as a factor. The e-bike rider remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 149 Avenue in Queens involving a 2019 sedan and an e-bike. The e-bike driver, a 25-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor to the crash. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, struck the e-bike on the right front quarter panel. The e-bike driver was operating with a permit. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529578 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 18 - A 22-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected on North Conduit Avenue. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The crash involved confusion or error by a pedestrian or bicyclist. The rider was conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling west on North Conduit Avenue struck an unspecified party, resulting in the rider being ejected. The 22-year-old male driver sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The motorcycle's point of impact was the center front end, indicating a frontal collision. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash. No driver errors by the motorcyclist were noted. The rider's safety equipment status is unknown. The crash highlights the dangers posed by pedestrian or bicyclist confusion in traffic interactions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4529126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

May 16 - Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

May 16 - A motorscooter traveling east struck the front of a northbound SUV making a left turn on 100 Street near Liberty Avenue. The scooter driver, a 38-year-old man, suffered full-body injuries and shock. Police cited driver distraction as a factor.

According to the police report, a motorscooter traveling east on 100 Street collided with a northbound SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the center front ends of both vehicles. The motorscooter driver, a 38-year-old male occupant, was injured with full-body trauma and experienced shock. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The SUV was a 2016 Nissan SUV. The scooter driver was not ejected but complained of pain and nausea. The report does not specify helmet use or other safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4528322 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 1 - A left-turning SUV hit a man on an e-bike on Pitkin Avenue. He flew from the saddle, head first. Blood pooled under the streetlamp. His skull was torn open. He lay conscious, gasping, as the driver sat unharmed.

A 33-year-old man riding an e-bike was struck by a left-turning SUV on Pitkin Avenue near Sutter Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, 'A left-turning SUV struck a 33-year-old man on an e-bike. He flew from the saddle, head first. No helmet. Blood pooled beneath the streetlamp. He lay conscious, gasping, his skull torn open.' The crash left the e-bike rider with severe head injuries and lacerations. The SUV driver, a 64-year-old woman, was not injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 17 - Two vehicles crashed on Pitkin Avenue. A 43-year-old woman driving a sedan was injured, unconscious, with a fractured shoulder and dislocation. Both vehicles struck front-left bumpers. Driver distraction and traffic control disregard caused the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Pitkin Avenue involving a 2010 SUV making a right turn and a 2005 sedan traveling straight. The sedan driver, a 43-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries including a fractured shoulder and dislocation and was unconscious at the scene. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with traffic control disregard. Both vehicles sustained front-left bumper damage. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The crash highlights driver errors such as inattention and failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511969 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 16 - A sedan changing lanes struck a motorcycle traveling west on North Conduit Avenue. The motorcycle’s left rear passenger and driver suffered bruises and neck and hip injuries. Both were conscious and not ejected. The sedan’s right side doors were damaged.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on North Conduit Avenue was changing lanes when it collided with a motorcycle also traveling west. The motorcycle carried two occupants: a male driver and a female left rear passenger. Both occupants were injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to the neck and hip areas. Neither occupant was ejected from the motorcycle, and both remained conscious. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver’s lane change caused the crash. The sedan’s right side doors and the motorcycle’s left front bumper were damaged. No safety equipment was noted for the motorcycle occupants. The driver of the sedan was licensed in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 2 - A motorcycle struck a 10-year-old boy crossing Sutter Avenue in Queens. The child suffered head injuries and contusions. The driver disregarded traffic control and failed to yield right-of-way. The boy was in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling west on Sutter Avenue collided with a 10-year-old pedestrian crossing at an intersection. The child, who was crossing with the signal, sustained head injuries and bruises. The report lists driver errors including 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The impact occurred at the motorcycle's center front end. The pedestrian was not at fault. The child was found in shock and injured but not ejected. No mention of helmet or safety equipment was noted. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers ignore traffic signals and fail to yield to pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506863 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 27 - A pick-up truck collided with an e-bike on Liberty Avenue in Queens. The bicyclist suffered a fractured and dislocated knee and lower leg. The truck was making a right turn. The rider remained conscious and was not ejected from the bike.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling east on Liberty Avenue was making a right turn when it struck an eastbound e-bike. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old man, sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg. The point of impact was the truck's right front quarter panel and the bike's left front quarter panel. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error on the truck operator's part. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors were specified. The crash caused serious injury to the vulnerable road user, the e-bike rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506121 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 19 - A sedan turning left struck a 38-year-old man crossing Glenmore Avenue at a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his knee and lower leg. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, ignoring traffic control signals.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Glenmore Avenue made a left turn and struck a 38-year-old male pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was conscious but sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The driver’s left front bumper was the point of impact, and no vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal but within the marked crosswalk. The crash highlights a driver error in yielding and obeying traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 13 - Two sedans crashed head-on at 96 Street and Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. Both drivers were conscious but injured. The female driver suffered internal injuries to her entire body. Alcohol was involved. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on on 96 Street near Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The female driver, age 50, was injured with internal injuries affecting her entire body but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles had front-end damage. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. Both drivers were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other contributing factors were specified. The male driver was licensed in New York; the female driver was licensed in South Carolina. The crash occurred just after midnight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4494120 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19