May 18 - Two sedans collided on S Conduit Ave. One driver suffered chest injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal and glass met. The street bore the mark.

Two sedans crashed on S Conduit Avenue near 230 Place in Queens. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' One driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured with a chest contusion. The other occupants, including both drivers and passengers, had unspecified or no reported injuries. Both vehicles sustained damage, with one hit in the center back end and the other in the center front. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813792 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - A taxi struck a sedan’s rear on Belt Parkway. Three people suffered injuries—two passengers, one driver. The crash left bruises and whiplash. Metal crumpled. Sirens followed. Pain lingered.

A taxi crashed into the back of a sedan on Belt Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, three people were injured: a 22-year-old male passenger and a 64-year-old female passenger suffered back and head injuries, while a 26-year-old male driver reported whiplash. The sedan was stopped in traffic when the taxi, heading east, struck it from behind. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front and rear ends. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813790 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - Two drivers hurt on Belt Parkway. Taxi and sedan crash head-on. Both men in shock. Police cite traffic control ignored. Metal, glass, pain. System failed again.

A taxi and a sedan collided on Belt Parkway in Queens. Both drivers, men aged 37 and 50, were injured and reported in shock. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The taxi was parked before the crash; the sedan was moving straight ahead. Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not specify injuries for other occupants. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813943 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - Five dead. Forty badly hurt. The Conduit slices through Queens and Brooklyn, fast and wide. DOT will study a fix. Borough presidents called for urgent change. The city will listen to neighbors. The old highway’s days are numbered. Lives hang in the balance.

""The current state of the Conduit falls significantly short of meeting the needs of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. It's confusing, it's poorly designed ... and we know the lack of sufficient pedestrian and bike infrastructure makes it even more dangerous for the neighbors of Queens and Brooklyn."" -- Donovan J. Richards

On May 13, 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a city-funded public engagement process for a major safety redesign of Conduit Boulevard, a three-mile corridor linking Atlantic Avenue to the Belt Parkway and JFK Airport. The project follows urgent requests in 2023 from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Brooklyn and Queens deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life, not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk and physically divides entire neighborhoods." The corridor has seen five deaths and 40 severe injuries in five years. The median’s dirt paths show heavy pedestrian use, but only 15 crosswalks span the stretch. The public process begins in June and may run into 2026. The redesign aims to end decades of danger for vulnerable road users.

• Can New York City Fix Its Deadly ‘Conduit’ to JFK Airport?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-13

May 10 - Two SUVs collided on Guy R Brewer Blvd. A rear passenger suffered head wounds and severe bleeding. Another driver complained of pain. Police cite following too closely as the cause.

Two SUVs crashed on Guy R Brewer Blvd at 146 Dr in Queens. A 61-year-old rear passenger suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. A 35-year-old driver reported pain across his body. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' No other contributing factors were listed. The impact left two people injured. The report does not mention pedestrians or cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812513 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - NYPD targets cyclists with criminal summonses. Minor infractions become court cases. Riders face fear, confusion, and entrapment. Streets grow hostile. Enforcement is uneven. Safety suffers. The crackdown punishes the vulnerable. City leaders question the policy.

On May 6, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported on the NYPD's new traffic enforcement policy targeting cyclists and e-bike riders. The policy, supported by Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch, escalates minor cycling infractions to criminal court summonses. The article, titled 'As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims,' details complaints of overzealous, inconsistent enforcement and alleged entrapment. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the need for criminal court involvement, while Comptroller Brad Lander called the crackdown 'performative' and dangerous. The safety analyst notes: 'Policies that empower discretionary or punitive enforcement against cyclists can deter active transportation, increase fear and mistrust, and shift responsibility away from systemic safety improvements, ultimately undermining population-level safety for vulnerable road users.' The crackdown draws widespread criticism for endangering those outside cars.

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - NYPD targets cyclists with criminal summonses for minor offenses. Riders face tickets for headphones, stop line slips. Complaints of entrapment rise. Advocates and lawmakers slam the crackdown. Data shows e-bikes rarely harm pedestrians. Council eyes hearings. Streets stay dangerous.

On May 6, 2025, the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists and e-bike riders for low-level traffic offenses drew sharp criticism. The policy, backed by Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch, claims to target 'quality of life' offenses. Cyclists report tickets for minor or fabricated infractions, including headphone use and stopping ahead of painted lines. Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander called the crackdown 'performative,' urging alternatives like the Idaho Stop and stricter delivery app regulation. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the need for criminal court involvement and signaled interest in a hearing. The article notes e-bike riders cause few pedestrian injuries. The City Council previously limited criminal summonses for minor infractions over racial profiling concerns. Critics say the crackdown punishes vulnerable road users while failing to improve street safety.

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 2 - A driver ran a red. He sped through Queens. He hit Justin Diaz, heading to work. Diaz died. The driver, Michael Peña, faced jail, then release. The family mourns. The street remains dangerous. The system moves on.

NY Daily News reported on May 2, 2025, that Michael Peña, a former firefighter, was released from jail after being charged in a fatal crash. Police said Peña drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and ran a red light, t-boning Justin Diaz near LaGuardia Airport. Peña had a history of 25 school-zone speeding tickets. The article quotes Diaz's brother: "We're sick, angry, disgusted." Peña was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusing a breath test. The release followed an appellate judge's decision, despite community outrage. The case highlights persistent dangers from high-speed driving and repeated violations, raising questions about enforcement and bail decisions.

• Red Light Crash Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-02

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - A man crossed Linden Boulevard. A black car hit him and fled. Another car ran over him. He died in the hospital. The first driver vanished. The second stayed. Police search. The street stayed open. Blood on the asphalt.

Patch reported on May 1, 2025, that Christopher Gayton, 62, was killed at Linden Boulevard and 166 Street in Queens. He was struck by an eastbound black vehicle whose driver fled, then run over by a 2024 Ford Edge. The Ford's driver remained at the scene. Police said, 'Police are still searching for the first driver who fled the scene.' No charges have been filed. The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The crash highlights the dangers of multi-lane arterial roads and the ongoing risks for pedestrians in Queens. No arrests have been made.

• Pedestrian Killed In Queens Double Collision, Patch, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 25 - A Yamaha motorcycle hit Breanna Henderson as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard before dawn. She died at Jamaica Hospital. The rider stayed. The street stayed open. The city stayed dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 25, 2025, that Breanna Henderson, 23, was killed crossing Myrtle Avenue at Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens around 2:20 a.m. A 34-year-old man riding a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle northbound in the center lane struck her. Police said, "The motorcyclist remained at the scene." Henderson was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. The crash highlights the persistent risk for pedestrians on wide, high-speed corridors like Woodhaven Boulevard. No information was provided about charges or contributing factors, but the fatal impact underscores the dangers faced by people crossing major city streets.

• Motorcycle Kills Pedestrian On Woodhaven Blvd, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-25

Apr 24 - Parks Department blocks bikes from Rockaway Boardwalk, closes Hudson River Greenway, and lets cars back into Silver Lake Park. Cyclists, kids, and seniors lose safe routes. Council Member Brooks-Powers and residents protest. Advocates demand better maintenance and real transportation focus.

On April 24, 2025, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation faced backlash for policies affecting key bike infrastructure. The department banned bikes from a major stretch of the Rockaway Boardwalk, closed parts of the Hudson River Greenway, and allowed cars back into Silver Lake Park. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, speaking for local families, condemned the boardwalk ban: "It was about the children that take advantage of biking on the boardwalk...We’re now shifting them into the street." Residents and advocates argue these moves ignore years of complaints about poor maintenance and lack of coordination with DOT. They highlight that car-free conditions in Silver Lake Park improved safety, especially for children. Advocates call for shifting road maintenance from Parks to DOT and demand structural changes. The Parks Department’s focus on recreation, not transportation, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and frustrated.

• Parks Dept. Controls Vital Bike Infrastructure But Treats Riders Like An Afterthought, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - A van backed into a 7-year-old boy crossing 146th Terrace. The child suffered a bruised leg. Police cite unsafe backing and driver distraction. The street bore the weight. The boy bore the bruise.

A van struck a 7-year-old boy as he crossed 146th Terrace in Queens. The child, walking in a marked crosswalk, suffered a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, the driver backed unsafely and was inattentive or distracted. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupant. The crash highlights the danger when drivers reverse without care and lose focus, especially near intersections where children walk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807592 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 23 - Council members push to revive year-round outdoor dining. They slam the seasonal ban as a blow to street life. Lawmakers blame high fees and red tape for empty curb lanes. The fight pits parking against people. The debate rages on.

On April 23, 2025, the City Council debated a new bill to bring back year-round roadway dining. The measure, still in committee, follows the 2023 law that limited outdoor dining to April through November. Council Member Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) leads the charge, calling the current law a 'failure' that 'prioritized parking spots over vibrant streets.' Restler, who voted against the seasonal restriction, now seeks broader support. Council Member Chi Ossé (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant) and Carlina Rivera (Lower East Side) also back the change, though both previously supported the seasonal law to keep some form of the program alive. Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens) is open to the idea, while Council Member Julie Menin (D-Upper East Side) criticizes DOT's management, urging a shift to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Lawmakers and advocates agree: high costs, bureaucracy, and seasonality block participation and hurt street life. The bill's fate remains undecided.

• Year-Round Roadway Dining Could Come Back Under ‘Do-Over’ Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 21 - Metal bolts crashed through a windshield in Queens. Glass exploded over the passenger. The No. 7 train rumbled above. Danger rained down. This was not the first time. The system failed to shield those below.

ABC7 reported on April 21, 2025, that debris from the No. 7 subway train fell onto a car at Queens Plaza, shattering the windshield and denting the hood. Rahimi, the driver, said, "We were driving right off here. Something fell off the train, damaging the windshield." Passenger Malnick described, "A bolt hit and then right away just the sound of glass exploding and glass all over me." The incident echoes previous cases: in 2019, falling debris from elevated tracks struck vehicles three times in a month. The MTA responded then by intensifying inspections, but the problem persists. The agency now says it is investigating and will inspect the area. The repeated incidents highlight ongoing risks from aging infrastructure above city streets.

• Falling Subway Debris Strikes Car In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-21

Apr 20 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard. The driver struck a man on a bicycle. He died at the scene. Police closed the street. Another life ended in the crosswalk’s shadow. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 20, 2025, that an FDNY truck struck and killed a bicyclist in Middle Village, Queens. The crash happened as the truck turned onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street. According to police, 'the truck was turning onto Juniper Boulevard from 80th Street in Middle Village when the collision occurred.' The cyclist, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The NYPD is investigating. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists at intersections and the dangers of large vehicles turning across paths. Policy questions remain about intersection design and vehicle operation in dense neighborhoods.

• FDNY Truck Turns, Cyclist Killed In Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-04-20

Apr 19 - Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. One driver suffered neck injury. Police cite following too closely. Metal struck metal. System failed to protect. Pain followed.

Two sedans crashed on Belt Parkway at Springfield Blvd in Queens. One driver, a 28-year-old man, was injured with neck pain. According to the police report, the cause was 'Following Too Closely.' The front of one sedan struck the rear of the other. Three other occupants, including a child, were involved but not reported injured. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806912 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - A fire truck turned onto Juniper Blvd North. It struck a cyclist. The crash happened by the park. The man died at the scene. No arrests. The investigation continues. The street stayed quiet. The loss is final.

According to NY Daily News (April 19, 2025), an FDNY fire truck collided with a cyclist near 80th St. and Juniper Blvd North in Middle Village, Queens. The article states, "An FDNY fire truck fatally struck a cyclist Saturday afternoon in Queens, police said." The cyclist, an unidentified man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not made any arrests. It remains unclear if the fire truck was responding to an emergency call. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the dangers faced by cyclists near large vehicles, especially in busy city corridors.

• Fire Truck Kills Cyclist Near Queens Park, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-19