Far Rockaway Bleeds While Leaders Stall

A sedan traveling south struck a northbound e-scooter on Beach 22 Street. The e-scooter driver, a 61-year-old woman, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause. The victim was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:25 on Beach 22 Street involving a southbound sedan and a northbound e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 61-year-old female, was injured with contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain attention. The e-scooter was impacted at its center front end, sustaining damage there. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The focus remains on the sedan driver's distraction as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769734 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped and sedan collided on Rockaway Freeway in Queens. The moped driver, a 24-year-old woman, was partially ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:20 on Rockaway Freeway near Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. A 24-year-old female moped driver was partially ejected during the collision with a sedan traveling north. The moped driver sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, indicating a failure by one or both drivers to obey traffic signals or signs. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment at the time. The sedan, carrying three occupants, struck the moped's center front end with its right front bumper, causing damage to both vehicles. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing instead on driver error related to traffic control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV struck a 33-year-old woman crossing Beach 35 Street. She suffered facial abrasions. The driver kept going straight. No vehicle damage. Police list unspecified factors. No driver errors cited.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old woman was crossing Beach 35 Street in Queens when a westbound Jeep SUV hit her with its front end. The crash happened at 2:25 AM. The woman suffered abrasions to her face and was conscious after impact. The SUV showed no damage. Police list unspecified contributing factors but do not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and traveling straight before the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768271 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making a left turn. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her lower leg and foot but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Beach 21 Street struck a 16-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection near Cornaga Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, making a left turn, hit her with its left front bumper. The report cites driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The driver was licensed and operating a 2020 Toyota sedan. The collision highlights critical driver failures in yielding to pedestrians legally crossing the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 59-year-old woman was injured crossing a marked crosswalk on Grassmere Terrace in Queens. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way and was distracted, striking the pedestrian and causing abrasions to her elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, at 6:36 AM on Grassmere Terrace near Cornaga Avenue in Queens, a 59-year-old female pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk when she was struck by a northbound SUV. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The SUV, a 2020 Chevrolet SUV operated by a licensed female driver, showed no damage upon impact. The pedestrian's crossing without a signal was noted, but the primary causes were driver errors: failure to yield and distraction. No victim fault was recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761612 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sedan veered on Beach Channel Drive. Driver fell asleep. Car struck head-on. Nineteen-year-old woman in front seat suffered broken leg and foot. Impact was brutal. Passenger conscious, trapped by harm.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southwest on Beach Channel Drive in Queens crashed at 11:24 PM when the driver fell asleep. The front passenger, a 19-year-old woman, suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the sole contributing factor. No other causes or passenger actions are noted. The crash left the vehicle's front end mangled and the passenger seriously hurt. Driver fatigue stands out as the direct cause in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV driver lost focus. Struck a 53-year-old bicyclist. Cyclist ejected. Arm fractured. Night crash. Metal and bone broke on Beach 19 Street. System failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 21:17 near Beach 19 Street in Queens. A 53-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured and dislocated lower arm and hand after being struck by a westbound Mercedes SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The SUV's left front bumper was damaged. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but the report lists no cyclist errors. The driver held only a permit license. The collision left the cyclist injured and exposed the danger faced by those outside steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761600 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan making a left turn struck a westbound bicyclist on Plainview Avenue in Queens. The 74-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Driver inattention was cited as a contributing factor in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:46 on Plainview Avenue near Beach 19 Street in Queens. A sedan traveling north was making a left turn when it collided with a westbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 74-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor to the crash. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment and was the sole occupant of the bike. The sedan sustained damage to its center front end, while the bike was damaged on its left side doors. The driver errors, specifically the failure to maintain attention while making a left turn, directly contributed to the collision and the bicyclist’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759840 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Two SUVs collided on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The driver making a left turn was injured, suffering hip and upper leg contusions. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained left-side damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:04 AM on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. A 28-year-old female driver of a 2020 Nissan SUV was making a left turn when her vehicle's left front bumper struck the left side doors of a 2019 Honda SUV traveling straight south. The injured driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained contusions to her hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles suffered damage primarily to their left sides. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behavior in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

A deadly seven-way tangle in the Rockaways will get $25 million in upgrades. Protected bike lanes. Bigger pedestrian islands. Raised crosswalks. City officials promise change after 112 crashes since 2019. Construction starts 2027. No more waiting for blood on the asphalt.

The planned overhaul targets the chaotic intersection of Beach 35th Street, Seagirt Boulevard, Rockaway Freeway, and Beach Channel Drive. Announced September 11, 2024, the $24.8 million project includes protected bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, and safer crossings. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $500,000, saying, "We're not waiting until someone loses their life to take action." Since 2019, 112 crashes have injured 54 people here—five of them pedestrians. The intersection currently favors cars, forcing pedestrians on long detours. The redesign will dead-end Beach 35th Street, add raised bike lanes, and expand pedestrian space. Final design is due next year, with construction set for 2027 and completion by 2029. The project includes a $2.6 million federal grant and is tied to Edgemere sewer upgrades.

• Chaotic Rockaways Intersection to Get Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades in 2027, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-11

A motorcycle driver was ejected and injured after defective brakes caused a crash on Mott Avenue in Queens. The rider, wearing a helmet, suffered abrasions and abdominal-pelvic injuries. The vehicle's undercarriage was damaged in the impact.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured and ejected due to defective brakes while traveling northwest on Mott Avenue in Queens at 11:59. The report states the primary contributing factor was 'Brakes Defective,' which led to the crash. The driver, who was wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions and injuries to the abdomen and pelvis. The motorcycle's undercarriage was damaged at the point of impact. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

A Ford pickup slammed into a parked SUV on Beach 19th. The woman inside, forty-five, died in her seat. Police cite driver distraction. The truck showed no damage. The road stayed quiet, but the toll was final.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck struck a parked SUV near 233 Beach 19th Street in Queens at 3:45 p.m. The SUV's occupant, a 45-year-old woman, was killed in the crash. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck a parked SUV. The woman inside, 45, wore no seatbelt. She died there, still in her seat.' Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck showed no damage, while the SUV was struck on the left rear quarter panel. The woman was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact underscores the consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

Queens Borough President Richards backs Adams’s housing plan but blocks citywide parking reform. He wants parking mandates gone in dense, transit-rich hubs but kept in car-dependent outer Queens. The split stance leaves vulnerable road users exposed in sprawling, car-heavy neighborhoods.

On August 27, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a statement on Mayor Adams’s ‘City of Yes’ zoning proposal. Richards supports removing parking mandates in high-density, transit-rich areas—like downtown Jamaica, Flushing, and Long Island City—saying, “Parking mandates in major transit hubs... should be eliminated, in order to increase housing opportunities there.” But he opposes ending parking mandates citywide, insisting they remain in low-density, outer transit-oriented development areas (OTODAs) due to infrequent Long Island Rail Road service and car dependence. Richards claims, “This is the reality of living in a transit desert.” The move splits the city, keeping car-centric policies in place for much of Queens. Housing advocates and the mayor’s office argue that citywide parking reform is needed to spur housing and reduce car reliance, but Richards’s stance preserves systemic danger for vulnerable road users in sprawling neighborhoods.

• Queens BP Says ‘Yes’ to Adams Zoning Plan, But ‘No’ to Ending Costly Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

A male pedestrian crossing Cornaga Avenue in a marked crosswalk was struck by a westbound SUV. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, resulting in a contusion to the pedestrian’s elbow and lower arm. The pedestrian remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured while crossing Cornaga Avenue at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The collision occurred at 1:59 PM in Queens. The vehicle involved was a 2019 Toyota SUV traveling westbound, driven by a licensed male driver. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and bruising to the elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in areas with pedestrian crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15