Blood in the Crosswalk: No More Excuses, No More Deaths

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

NYPD claimed bike lane enforcement soared. Data showed the opposite. Tickets for blocking bike lanes fell. Truck violations dropped. Council pressed for answers. NYPD dodged specifics. Vulnerable road users left exposed. Accountability missing. The numbers do not lie.

On May 11, 2022, the City Council's Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on NYPD traffic enforcement. NYPD Transportation Bureau Chief Kim Royster testified, stating, "So far this year, bike lane enforcement is up 148 percent." Streetsblog fact-checked this claim and found enforcement was actually down 6.4 percent from the previous year. Royster later clarified she referred only to tickets for driving in bike lanes, a small slice of total enforcement. Combined, bike lane enforcement was still down over 4 percent. Brooks-Powers questioned enforcement against illegally parked tractor-trailers. Royster cited fine amounts but gave no enforcement numbers. Data showed code 78 and code 6 violations both dropped sharply. Royster's answers were vague, lacking specifics on enforcement or safety. The hearing exposed a gap between NYPD claims and reality, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• CYCLE OF RAGE: On Hearing Day, Fact-Checking the NYPD is Job One, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-11

A 68-year-old man was hit by a northbound bus in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The bus struck him on the left front quarter panel. The man suffered a hip and upper leg contusion but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a northbound bus in Queens at 145-40 155 Street. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk and without a signal when the bus hit him on the left front quarter panel. The report lists glare as a contributing factor, which may have impaired the driver's visibility. The pedestrian suffered contusions to his hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The bus driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other driver errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524686 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Mayor Adams launched a $4-million Vision Zero ad blitz. Critics slammed it. They say billboards don’t save lives. Streets need redesign, not slogans. Council Member Brooks-Powers called for real infrastructure. Studies show education campaigns can backfire. DOT offered no proof this works.

On May 3, 2022, Mayor Adams announced a $4-million public education campaign called 'Speeding Ruins Lives, Slow Down.' The effort, not tied to a council bill, was revealed as city policy. The campaign aims to cut traffic violence through billboards and media buys. The official summary states it targets driver behavior. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, acknowledged the need for infrastructure investments over media campaigns. Jessie Singer, journalist and author, called the campaign a waste, arguing the city should focus on redesigning intersections. A recent study found similar efforts in Texas increased crash risk. The Department of Transportation could not provide evidence of effectiveness. Advocates agree education matters, but stress that engineering and infrastructure are more crucial for safety.

• City Launches a New Vision Zero Billboard Campaign — With Little Proof that Such Things Work, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-03

Council and advocates demand action. Delays in commercial waste zones keep deadly trucks on city streets. Overlapping routes, reckless haulers, and missing side guards kill and injure. Reform stalls while lives hang in the balance. Urgency grows. No more excuses.

On May 2, 2022, the City Council’s Sanitation Committee, chaired by Council Member Sandy Nurse, held a hearing on the delayed implementation of commercial waste zones, a reform established by a 2019 law. The matter, titled 'Advocates Warn Against Further Delays on Commercial Waste Zones,' drew sharp criticism after the Department of Sanitation granted private carters a three-month extension to comply with new requirements. Nurse stated, 'Our communities cannot afford any more delays.' Advocates and Families for Safe Streets highlighted the deadly toll: reckless commercial haulers have killed more than two dozen people in recent years. The reform aims to cut truck traffic, reduce pollution, and require life-saving side guards on heavy trucks by 2024. Lauren Pine, a crash survivor, said, 'Commercial waste zone reform can not come fast enough.' The hearing underscored that every delay keeps vulnerable New Yorkers at risk.

• TRASH TALK: Advocates Warn Against Further Delays on Commercial Waste Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-02

Council members demand bike education in every school. Few students get lessons now. The Department of Education drags its feet. Advocates want more: protected lanes, safe routes. Drivers hold the real power. Kids need more than lessons. They need safe streets.

On April 29, 2022, Council Members Erik Bottcher, Rita Joseph, and Selvena Brooks-Powers introduced a resolution urging the Department of Education to teach bicycle safety in all New York City public schools. The resolution states: 'Providing instruction in bicycle and traffic safety in schools, starting at an early age and continuing throughout students' years in school, would be an effective measure to both promote cycling and prevent bicycle accidents and other safety incidents.' Bottcher criticized the Department of Education for failing to follow the law, noting only a handful of schools offer bike lessons. Bottcher said, 'We want to see that program enlarged significantly.' Advocates support the push but warn that education alone is not enough. Julie Huntington stressed, 'This announcement must come with an investment in building protected bike lanes and safe routes to school to keep our new riders safe.' Bottcher put the responsibility on drivers: 'Drivers are in the vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds... if they hit someone with their car, it’s very likely they could take their life.' The council’s action highlights a gap between policy and real safety for children on city streets.

• Pols Want Every Kid in NYC to Learn How to Ride a Bike, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-29

Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers racked up 17 school zone speeding tickets in 11 months. Her car has 22 violations since 2020, plus a red light ticket. She admits fault. Southeast Queens, her district, faces high rates of pedestrian death.

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the NYC Council's Transportation Committee, received 17 school zone speeding tickets in 11 months, totaling 22 since May 2020, plus one red light violation. The violations occurred in Southeast Queens, an area with high pedestrian and motorist injury rates. Under the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, Brooks-Powers must take a safety course or risk her car being impounded. She admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and pledged to improve her driving, stating, 'I absolutely pledge to do better as public safety is very important to me.' All tickets have been paid, so her car has not been towed. The article notes that camera-issued tickets do not affect a driver's license. Brooks-Powers has advocated for pedestrian safety and bus accessibility, but her driving record highlights the ongoing danger on streets not designed for safety, especially in communities of color.

• EXCLU: Council Transportation Chair’s Car Sped Through School Zones 17 Times in a Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-26

A 27-year-old male motorbike driver was ejected and suffered full-body contusions on Belt Parkway. The crash caused right-side damage to the bike. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. The rider was conscious but injured.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male motorbike driver was traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway when the crash occurred. The driver was ejected from the motorcycle and sustained contusions and bruises across his entire body. The vehicle sustained damage to the right side doors and front quarter panel. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the sole contributing factors. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness but was still ejected. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver was conscious after the crash but suffered injury severity level 3. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4521352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Council members and advocates rallied at City Hall. They demanded $3.1 billion for the Streets Master Plan. Traffic deaths surged 44 percent in early 2022. The mayor’s budget falls short. The city stalls. Streets remain deadly. The call: fund safety now.

On April 22, 2022, more than a dozen City Council members and advocates gathered at City Hall to demand full funding for the Streets Master Plan. The plan, passed in 2019, requires hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and safer sidewalks. Council Member Alexa Avilés led the call: "We want $3.1 billion, a little tiny fraction of the [nearly $100-billion] city budget, to make sure our streets belong to us, and to make sure New Yorkers are safe." Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers, Carlina Rivera, Lincoln Restler, Sandy Nurse, Chi Ossé, Crystal Hudson, Shekar Krishnan, and Amanda Farías joined her. Traffic fatalities rose 44 percent in the first quarter of 2022, the deadliest start since Vision Zero began. The mayor’s proposed $98.5-billion budget did not allocate significant funds for the plan. Advocates say the city must act now to stem the bloodshed on its streets.

• Pols and Advocates to Mayor: Put More Money Into the Streets Master Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

MTA will add 60 electric buses to its 6,000-vehicle fleet by year’s end. The buses will serve all five boroughs, targeting neighborhoods with high asthma rates. Officials praise the move, but progress remains slow. Charging stations will be built at several depots.

""Fully electrifying our bus fleet is a critical step forward to preserving our environment and protecting our families, and I am grateful to the MTA for its commitment to rolling out more electric buses in Queens this fall."" -- Donovan J. Richards

On April 22, 2022, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced it will add 60 electric buses to its 6,000-bus fleet by the end of the year. The new vehicles will be deployed to six depots across all five boroughs, focusing on 'environmental justice communities' with high asthma rates. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, 'Fully electrifying our bus fleet is a critical step forward to preserving our environment and protecting our families.' MTA Chairman Janno Lieber called mass transit 'the antidote to climate change.' The rollout, however, is slow. High electricity costs and limited charging infrastructure stall progress. New York State has budgeted $1.1 billion for 500 electric buses in its 2020-2024 capital plan. The MTA aims for a zero-emissions fleet by 2040, but today’s step is small—just 1% of the fleet.

• MTA To Add 60 Electric Buses by Year’s End (That’s 1% of the Entire Fleet), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

City will shift Q60 buses to a mainline lane on Queens Boulevard. New bus lanes, bike upgrades, and a linear park are coming. Officials say it will speed buses and protect walkers and cyclists. But construction lags. Riders and residents wait. Danger persists.

On April 22, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a plan to move Q60 buses from the service road to a dedicated mainline lane along Queens Boulevard, between Roosevelt Avenue and Union Turnpike. The project, under the 'Great Streets' program, is split into four phases, with construction for later phases delayed until at least 2024. The matter summary states: 'transform the currently barren median into a linear park to create a safe and easy way of traversing neighborhoods.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $1 million to the first phase, stating, 'it really creates an unsafe scenario, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.' DOT spokesman Vin Barone said the redesign 'greatly improv[es] pedestrian safety while also drawing a huge number of new cyclists.' Laura Shepard of Transportation Alternatives called the delays 'unacceptable.' The plan includes upgraded bike lanes, bus stops, and bus-only lanes, but also adds curbside parking, which could increase congestion. Vulnerable road users remain at risk until the city acts.

• WAIT FOR IT: City To Move Buses To Dedicated Lane on Queens Boulevard — Eventually, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers sped through school zones 17 times in 11 months. She racked up 22 speed violations and one red light ticket. Her district sees high rates of pedestrian deaths. She pledges to do better. Tickets paid. No license impact.

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the NYC Council's Transportation Committee, was cited for speeding in school zones 17 times in less than a year. The violations occurred between May 2020 and April 2022. Brooks-Powers represents Southeast Queens, an area plagued by pedestrian and motorist fatalities. The matter surfaced in April 2022, with Brooks-Powers admitting responsibility for most tickets. She stated, 'public safety is very important to me,' and pledged to improve. Under the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, she must complete a safety course or risk car impoundment. Her tickets have been paid, so her car was not towed. Camera tickets do not affect her license. Brooks-Powers says she is working with advocates to address traffic violence and congestion, but her record highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users in her district.

• EXCLUSIVE: Council’s Transportation Chair’s Car Sped Through School Zones 17 Times in a Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-13

A 27-year-old front passenger suffered a head contusion in a Belt Parkway crash. An SUV struck the sedan’s right front bumper with its left rear. Driver distraction caused the collision. Airbags deployed; the passenger was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling east on Belt Parkway rear-ended a sedan also traveling east. The point of impact was the SUV’s left rear bumper hitting the sedan’s right front bumper. The front passenger in the sedan, a 27-year-old woman, sustained a head injury described as a contusion and was conscious after the crash. She was wearing a lap belt and the airbag deployed. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No ejections occurred. The collision caused damage to both vehicles at the points of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4517563 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

City Council pushes Mayor Adams for $3.1 billion more for the Streets Master Plan. They want double the protected lanes and more pedestrian space. Advocates cheer. The mayor reviews. The fight is over money, but the stakes are lives.

On April 4, 2022, the City Council called on Mayor Adams to add $3.1 billion to the Streets Master Plan. The plan, passed in 2019, aims for 250 protected bike lanes and 150 bus lanes. The Council wants to double these targets: 500 miles each of protected bike and bus lanes, plus 38 million square feet of new pedestrian plazas. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said the goal is 'to make our thoroughfares safer and more accessible, while increasing New York's pedestrian plazas footprint.' The Council’s proposal comes as the mayor’s $98.5-billion budget lacks dedicated funding for these safety upgrades. Advocates for bus and bike infrastructure support the Council’s push. The mayor says he is reviewing the proposal and remains committed to street safety and transit improvements.

• Council to Mayor: Put a Lot More Money into the Streets Master Plan!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-04

MTA unveils a new Queens bus plan. More routes, fewer stops. Faster trips promised. Community voices shape the draft. Officials urge more input, more funding. Advocates demand equity. The redesign aims to fix old mistakes and speed up service for all.

""So, yeah, I'm here as a salesperson to say, 'Let's get this done.' Of course, there's a lot more community input, but there's no such thing as a perfect plan and we should not let perfect be the enemy of good as well."" -- Donovan J. Richards

On March 30, 2022, the MTA released a second draft of its Queens bus network redesign. The plan, not tied to a bill number, is a policy proposal under review. It follows backlash to the 2019 draft and pandemic delays. The redesign boosts routes from 77 to 85, adds 20 new lines, and drops the revenue-neutral rule. Hundreds of stops will be cut to speed service. The MTA and NYC DOT picked 49 corridors for upgrades like bus lanes. The official summary states the plan 'incorporates feedback from over 11,000 customer comments and aims to address previous criticisms.' MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'We know we need to get it right this time.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and advocates like Riders Alliance back the effort but call for more equity and engagement. The plan’s impact on vulnerable road users is not yet assessed.

• Chastened MTA Tries to Redesign the Queens Bus Network, Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-30

A Honda tore down Belt Parkway at 4 a.m. The driver looked away. A tire failed. The car smashed into a parked Infiniti. Blood pooled in the back seat. Three women hurt. Metal twisted. The night held its breath.

On Belt Parkway, a 2008 Honda sedan crashed into a parked Infiniti at 4 a.m. Several passengers were injured, including a 20-year-old woman with severe head bleeding and two others with pain across their bodies. According to the police report, 'A 2008 Honda slammed into a parked Infiniti. A tire failed. The driver looked away.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as contributing factors. Multiple passengers suffered injuries, but all remained conscious. Lap belts were in use. The crash left the Honda’s front end crushed and the Infiniti’s rear smashed. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513784 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Queens residents and officials clashed over 14 transit plans for LaGuardia. Subway, bus, light rail, and ferry all on the table. Council Member Larinda Hooks backed the AirTrain and ferry. No decision. The city waits. Danger and delay remain.

"The only one that makes sense is the train from 30th street straight from LaGuardia. You want to get to LaGuardia fast. We wouldn’t be here if the buses worked. Chicago has it, why can’t we have it?" -- Khaleel Anderson

On March 27, 2022, a public consultation in Queens reviewed 14 alternatives for LaGuardia Airport transit access. The session followed Governor Hochul’s cancellation of the Willets Point AirTrain. The event, covered by the media and led by a panel including Janette Sadik-Khan, drew strong opinions. The matter summary: 'In Astoria, Queens, 14 possible transit options for connecting to LaGuardia Airport were presented at a public comment session.' Council Member Larinda Hooks (District 35) voiced support for the original AirTrain, ferry service, and other mass transit options, but opposed removing parking or traffic lanes. Hooks said, 'The original plan is still the best plan... It doesn’t go near anybody’s house.' The process continues. No final plan. Vulnerable road users still face risk as traffic and confusion persist.

• In Queens, everything is on the table for Hochul’s LaGuardia connection, gothamist.com, Published 2022-03-27

A 21-year-old man driving a BMW sedan crashed on North Conduit Avenue in Queens. The driver was injured with facial abrasions. Police cited unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors. The driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on North Conduit Avenue in Queens. The driver, operating a 2016 BMW sedan, suffered facial abrasions but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing as the primary contributing factors. The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end after going straight ahead. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers engaging in risky maneuvers at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

An SUV merging eastbound on Belt Parkway struck the right rear of a sedan also traveling east. The sedan’s female driver, 26, suffered a shoulder and upper arm contusion. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, an SUV merging on Belt Parkway collided with the right rear bumper of a sedan traveling straight ahead in the same direction. The sedan’s 26-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining contusions to her shoulder and upper arm. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The sedan was equipped with a lap belt and harness, and the driver was not ejected. The SUV’s driver was male, with no license status provided. Both vehicles had damage concentrated at their center ends. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Council passed a law forcing DOT to install stop signs or signals at every school intersection by 2024. Lawmakers slam DOT for slow action and hiding behind federal rules. Families wait. Streets stay dangerous. Children cross. Cars speed by.

Bill introduced by Council Member Inez Barron in 2018 requires the Department of Transportation to install traffic control devices at every intersection next to a school by September 30, 2024. The law passed the City Council, but implementation drags. The matter summary: 'It requires the city to make sure that every intersection on a block where there is a school, has a traffic sign or a stop signal.' Council Members Justin Brannan and Bob Holden, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, all criticized DOT’s slow pace and reliance on federal MUTCD guidelines. Community Board 14 in Brooklyn faced years of denials before a stop sign appeared. DOT promises compliance, but critics say the agency only acts after tragedy. The law aims to protect children, but bureaucratic inertia keeps danger in the crosswalk.

• New Law May Make School Zones Safer — But Why Does DOT Act So Slowly, Pols Ask, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-16