Aug 8 - Businesses sued to block protected bike lanes on 31st Street. DOT stands firm. Two killed, 190 injured here since 2020. The street stays dangerous. The fight is over space, speed, and who gets to survive.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports that Astoria businesses sued to stop a DOT project adding protected bike lanes and traffic calming to 31st Street. The suit claims the redesign would "jeopardize" safety and hinder emergency access, despite DOT data showing 190 injuries and two deaths in the area since 2020. DOT says the project targets "unpredictable vehicle movements" and double parking, with design elements "found on streets across the city." The agency says it incorporated feedback from 90% of local businesses. The legal fight spotlights tension between safety improvements and business concerns, as the corridor ranks among Queens' most crash-prone.

• Astoria Bike Lane Lawsuit Challenges Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - City scales back Creedmoor plan. Density cut 27%. The car-free model dies. Walkers and cyclists lose safety and 'safety in numbers'. Local pols beat back bold urban design. Streets stay hostile. The chance for a people-first, low-car neighborhood vanishes.

Bill number: none — this is a policy statement, not legislation. Status: announced August 7, 2025; no committee review. Matter quoted: "NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols)." Eastern Queens Greenway condemned the decision to downscale the Creedmoor redevelopment from 2,775 units by 27 percent. Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and Council Member Joann Ariola opposed higher density and pressed the rollback. Empire State Development framed the change as a compromise. Safety impact: the cut reduces potential mode shift, walkability, and "safety in numbers" for pedestrians and cyclists, preserving car dependence and dangerous streets.

• NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - The driver of a motorcycle hit the center rear of an SUV on Pitkin Avenue. The 23-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and injured. Police recorded "Following Too Closely" and "Other Vehicular" as contributing factors.

According to the police report, the driver of a motorcycle struck the center rear of an SUV on Pitkin Avenue in Queens. The 23-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to his entire body. The SUV carried a single driver who was listed with unspecified injuries in the report. Police listed "Following Too Closely" and "Other Vehicular" as contributing factors. The report notes center-front damage to the motorcycle and center-back damage to the SUV. The account in the report focuses on those driver errors and the physical damage; it does not list helmet use or signaling as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 19 - SUV ran the light at 97th Street and 133rd Avenue. The sedan took the hit. One driver hurt, leg smashed. Metal twisted. Sirens cut the night.

A sedan and an SUV collided at 97th Street and 133rd Avenue in Queens. One driver, a 51-year-old man, suffered a leg injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The SUV struck the sedan's right rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829177 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jul 13 - A Lexus driver with a suspended license struck and killed a 15-year-old on an e-bike in Nassau County. The driver fled but was caught. The teen died at the scene. The car had dozens of prior violations.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-13), a 15-year-old fleeing police on an e-bike was killed by a Lexus driver with a suspended license and a long record of violations. The driver, Ruyan Ali, crossed into oncoming traffic to pass a stopped car and struck the teen, then tried to flee. Police said Ali had 'at least three license suspensions' and the Lexus had '53 speeding camera violations.' Ali faces charges for leaving the scene and unlicensed operation. The NYPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Teen On E-Bike, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-13

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

Jun 30 - A sedan hit a woman crossing Cross Bay Blvd with the signal. She suffered leg injuries and burns. The driver and passenger were unhurt. The police report lists no clear cause.

A woman, age 24, was struck by a sedan while crossing Cross Bay Blvd at Liberty Ave in Queens. She was crossing with the signal and suffered injuries to her leg and a moderate burn. According to the police report, the driver and passenger, both 24-year-old women, were not injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited. The impact point was the sedan's left front bumper. The pedestrian was left in shock.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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 30 - A van turned left at rush hour. The scooter rider flew from his device. He died at the hospital. The street stayed open. The investigation continues.

According to amny (2025-06-30), Shaun Lagredelle, 39, was riding a stand-up scooter west on 116th Avenue when a Ford Transit van, driven by a 43-year-old woman, turned left onto Nashville Boulevard and struck him. Police said, "As the van attempted to turn left onto Nashville Boulevard, it collided with the scooter, immediately propelling Lagredelle off the device." Lagredelle suffered fatal injuries. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. The crash highlights ongoing risks at intersections for scooter riders.

• Scooter Rider Killed In Queens Collision, amny, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 27 - Two SUVs slammed together on Pitkin Avenue. A 70-year-old woman suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control ignored. Children and adults shaken. Steel and glass, chaos and pain.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at Pitkin Avenue and 78th Street in Queens. A 70-year-old female passenger sustained a neck injury and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' contributed to the crash. Multiple passengers, including children as young as four, were involved. All wore lap belts or child restraints. The impact struck the right side doors of one SUV and the front end of the other. No pedestrians were involved. The report lists driver errors as the primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 24 - A pickup tore through Astoria. It struck Amanda Servedio, a cyclist with the right of way. She flew from her bike. The driver fled. Police found the truck later. Servedio died at Elmhurst Hospital. The city lost another rider.

Gothamist reported on June 24, 2025, that Bekim Fiseku was indicted for murder and manslaughter after fatally striking cyclist Amanda Servedio in Astoria. Prosecutors say Fiseku, fleeing police after an attempted burglary, sped through red lights and bike lanes, ultimately hitting Servedio at 37th Street and 34th Avenue. Surveillance captured the chase. The indictment states, 'The defendant allegedly led police on a 10-minute chase through the crowded streets.' Servedio, 36, was returning from a cycling event and had the right of way. Fiseku abandoned his truck and evaded arrest until February. The case highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless drivers and high-speed police pursuits on city streets.

• Cyclist Killed In Astoria Police Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-24

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 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 22 - Two sedans crashed in Queens. Five men hurt. One suffered neck and crush injuries. Police cite inattention and inexperience. Impact tore metal. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans crashed at 96th Street and 149th Avenue in Queens. Five men were injured, including one with neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The impact struck the left front bumper and left side doors, damaging both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822057 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 18 - A black SUV struck a man on 101st Avenue. The driver fled. The man lay unresponsive. Sirens cut the night. Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital. Police searched for answers. The street stayed silent. The danger did not.

ABC7 reported on June 18, 2025, that a man in his 50s was critically injured in a hit-and-run at 101st Avenue and 116th Street in Ozone Park, Queens. The article states, 'Police say the victim was struck by a black SUV traveling eastbound on 101st Avenue that kept going.' Officers found the man unresponsive; he was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition. The driver failed to remain at the scene, a violation of New York law. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent problem of drivers fleeing crash sites in New York City.

• Hit-and-Run Leaves Pedestrian Critical in Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-06-18

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