Left Turning, Life Ending: Queens Streets Demand Action

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

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

A northbound SUV struck on its left side by an eastbound van on Hillside Avenue in Queens left the SUV driver injured with back pain and whiplash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Hillside Avenue in Queens involving a northbound Jeep SUV and an eastbound Ford van. The SUV was impacted on its left side doors by the van's center front end. The SUV driver, a 41-year-old male occupant wearing a lap belt, sustained back injuries and complained of whiplash. Both drivers were licensed in New York and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error or vehicle interaction issues. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The SUV driver was not ejected and remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan driver in Queens failed to yield right-of-way, colliding with a northbound city bus. The impact struck the sedan’s left side doors, injuring the driver with whiplash and whole-body trauma. The bus sustained damage to its right side doors.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old female sedan driver, traveling north on Springfield Boulevard near Hempstead Avenue in Queens, was starting from a parking position when she failed to yield right-of-way to a northbound city bus going straight ahead. The collision occurred at 3:00 p.m., impacting the left side doors of the sedan and the right side doors of the bus. The sedan driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained injuries described as whiplash and entire body trauma but was conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The bus driver was licensed and operating the vehicle properly. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding, causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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

A station wagon sport utility vehicle struck the rear of a sedan traveling northbound on Cross Island Parkway. Six occupants in the SUV and the sedan driver suffered full-body injuries. Police cite unsafe speed as the primary contributing factor.

According to the police report, at 8:50 AM on Cross Island Parkway, a station wagon sport utility vehicle traveling northbound collided with the center back end of a sedan also traveling northbound. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. The report lists unsafe speed as the contributing factor for the crash. The sedan driver and six occupants in the SUV, all restrained with lap belts and harnesses, sustained injuries to their entire bodies and were in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The report does not indicate any contributing factors from the victims. The collision caused significant vehicle damage, with the SUV's center front end and the sedan's center back end impacted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726422 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling south on Hempstead Avenue struck another vehicle from behind. The driver, a 37-year-old man, suffered a neck injury described as whiplash. The crash caused center back end damage to the sedan. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male driver was involved in a rear-end collision on Hempstead Avenue at 22:15. The sedan, traveling straight ahead southbound, impacted the center back end of another vehicle. The driver was injured, sustaining a neck injury classified as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. The crash resulted in center back end damage to the sedan. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726109 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Pickup slammed into a convertible’s right side as it turned left on Hillside Avenue. The convertible driver, age 33, suffered bruises to his knee and leg. Impact shows danger for turning vehicles at busy Queens intersections.

According to the police report, a pickup truck traveling straight struck a convertible making a left turn on Hillside Avenue at 21:10 in Queens. The impact hit the convertible’s right side doors. The 33-year-old convertible driver was injured, suffering contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The pickup had two occupants and was registered in New Jersey, driven by a licensed New York male. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not detail specific driver errors. The crash highlights the risks faced by turning vehicles at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727873 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A collision between an SUV and a sedan on 223 Street in Queens left the sedan driver injured with neck trauma. Police cite traffic control disregard and unsafe speed as key factors. The sedan driver suffered whiplash but remained conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:15 on 223 Street near 112 Avenue in Queens. The vehicles involved were a Station Wagon/SUV traveling west and a sedan traveling north. The sedan driver, a 28-year-old male, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash, remaining conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, indicating driver errors in obeying traffic signals and controlling speed. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the sedan and an unspecified area on the SUV, suggesting a collision at or near the intersection. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers of disregarding traffic controls and unsafe driving speeds in Queens intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

An 11-year-old boy suffered head injuries and shock after being hit by an SUV traveling north on 213 Street in Queens. The collision occurred while the boy crossed outside an intersection. The vehicle's left front bumper struck the pedestrian's head.

According to the police report, an 11-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2015 Nissan SUV traveling north on 213 Street in Queens struck him with the vehicle's center front end, impacting the left front bumper. The boy was crossing the street outside of an intersection or crosswalk, described as "Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk." The pedestrian sustained a head injury classified as a contusion or bruise and was reported to be in shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the pedestrian. The driver, a licensed female from New York, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. No explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited, but the collision with a pedestrian outside a crosswalk highlights systemic dangers posed by vehicle movements in uncontrolled crossing areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718111 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 24-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries after a vehicle struck her at an intersection on 216 Street. The driver failed to yield and was distracted, hitting the pedestrian crossing with the signal. Impact was at the vehicle’s front center.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing an intersection on 216 Street at 10 p.m. She was crossing with the signal when a northbound vehicle traveling straight ahead struck her at the center front end. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The report explicitly cites driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as contributing factors. There is no indication of any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713207 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Two sedans met head-on in Queens. Metal crumpled. Both drivers hurt—neck, back, blood on the skin. Night air thick with sirens. No pedestrians. No clear cause. Just steel, speed, and pain.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on Hillside Avenue in Queens collided head-on at 21:16. Both drivers, a 22-year-old man from Michigan and a 69-year-old man from New York, suffered abrasions and neck or back injuries. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No pedestrians were involved. Both vehicles took heavy damage to their front bumpers. The crash involved only licensed drivers, both going straight. The report does not cite any driver error or victim action, leaving the cause undetermined.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711702 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20