Rockaway Bleeds While City Sleeps

DOT missed legal targets for protected lanes. Council mostly silent. Mayor cut funds. Projects stalled. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable New Yorkers left exposed. Leadership absent. Promises broken. Change delayed. The city’s most fragile pay the price.

On February 28, 2024, the conflict between the City Council and Department of Transportation over the Streets Master Plan erupted. The DOT failed to meet 2023’s legal benchmarks: just 5.2 miles of protected bus lanes built out of 30 required, and 32 miles of protected bike lanes out of 50 mandated by 2019 law. Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) was mentioned, but only six of 51 council members responded to DOT’s call for safety project suggestions. The matter centers on the DOT’s report and council inaction: 'Out of 51 City Council members, only six responded to a request from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for recommended locations where street safety improvements should be made in their districts.' Mayor Adams slashed DOT’s budget and weakened projects, while council leaders deflected responsibility. Advocates like Jon Orcutt and Elizabeth Adams demanded decisive action, warning that delays and excuses cost lives. More than half of New Yorkers remain far from protected bike lanes as daily cycling surges. The city’s vulnerable road users remain at risk while officials pass the buck.

• Divorce NY Style: The Council and DOT Have Moved to Splitsville, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-28

Council targets fake and expired plates. Bill sets fines. Ten-day grace for expired tags. Crackdown aims at cars that dodge law and endanger streets. Committee on Public Safety holds the measure.

Int 0177-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates,' makes it illegal to drive with fake or expired plates, including temporary ones. Civil penalties apply, but drivers with expired plates get a 10-day cure period. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Restler, Won, Brewer, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Avilés, De La Rosa, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill targets drivers who hide behind illegal plates, a tactic often linked to hit-and-runs and reckless driving.

• File Int 0177-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

DOT missed legal targets for bike and bus lanes. Only 58.2 miles of bike lanes and 9.6 miles of bus lanes built. Council and advocates slam the agency. Vulnerable road users left exposed. The law demands more. DOT promises effort, not results.

On February 26, 2024, the Department of Transportation released its status report on the NYC Streets Plan, a law passed in 2019. The plan required 80 miles of protected bike lanes and 50 miles of protected bus lanes in the first two years of the Adams administration. DOT delivered only 58.2 miles of bike lanes (72%) and 9.6 miles of bus lanes (19%). Only 68 of 1,000 bus stop upgrades were completed. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, "The Streets Plan is the law, and the Department of Transportation is still failing to fulfill its legal obligations." DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called the benchmarks "aggressive" but promised to keep trying. Mayor Adams has refused to be bound by the law’s targets. Riders Alliance demanded a real plan for bus lanes. The city’s failure leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders at risk.

• DOT Spins Bus- and Bike-Lane Failure as ‘Streets Plan’ Success, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-26

For the second year, DOT failed to meet legal targets for new protected bike and bus lanes. Council Member Brooks-Powers slammed the slow pace. Cyclist deaths hit a 21st-century high. Promises broken. Streets remain deadly. Progress stalls. Riders pay the price.

On February 25, 2024, the City Council, led by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for missing legal mandates on new bus and bike lane construction. The matter, titled 'Spinning wheels: Adams admin misses legal benchmarks for new bus, bike lanes for second year in a row, DOT data shows,' revealed DOT built only 31.9 miles of protected bike lanes and 5.2 miles of protected bus lanes in 2023—far short of the 50 and 30 miles required by the Streets Master Plan. Brooks-Powers stated, 'The Streets Plan is the law, and the Department of Transportation is still failing to fulfill its legal obligations.' She promised to hold DOT accountable at an upcoming budget hearing. The city also lagged on bus stop upgrades, completing just 54 out of 500 required. Cyclist fatalities soared to 30 in 2023, the highest this century. Advocates and council members warn that continued delays and weakened projects put vulnerable road users at greater risk.

• Spinning wheels: Adams admin misses legal benchmarks for new bus, bike lanes for second year in a row, DOT data shows, amny.com, Published 2024-02-25

Councilwoman Brooks-Powers, head of the Transportation Committee, backs speed cameras and safer streets. Her family car racked up 25 tickets in 16 months—20 for speeding near schools. Critics call her actions hypocritical. Advocates say public trust and lives are at stake.

On February 17, 2024, Councilwoman Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), chair of the City Council’s Transportation Committee, came under fire after media reports revealed her family car received 25 traffic tickets in 16 months, including 20 for speeding near schools. The controversy centers on officials’ personal compliance with traffic laws while publicly supporting measures like speed cameras and congestion pricing. Brooks-Powers, who has promoted speed cameras and legislation to reward reporting hit-and-run drivers, claims her husband was responsible for the violations and that she has not used the car in over a year. Councilman Robert Holden called her a 'hypocrite,' while safe streets advocate Adam White stressed, 'Public officials and their families need to abide by speed cameras and red lights... people’s lives are at risk.' The incident highlights the gap between public safety advocacy and personal conduct, raising questions about accountability and public trust.

• NYC transportation bigwigs rack up speeding tickets, traffic violations while backing anti-car agenda, congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-17

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 2024-02-13

An unlicensed male driver made a left turn and struck an 80-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered serious leg injuries. The crash exposed driver failure to yield and inattention, underscoring systemic dangers at intersections.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rockaway Beach Boulevard near Beach 73 Street in Queens at 5:50 PM. A 2010 Nissan sedan, driven by an unlicensed male driver making a left turn, struck an 80-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated injury to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end, yet the vehicle sustained no damage. The driver’s unlicensed status and distracted left turn created a hazardous condition that led to serious injury, highlighting systemic risks posed by driver errors at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Restler’s bill puts power in the hands of New Yorkers. Citizen reporters can ticket drivers blocking bike and bus lanes. The 25% bounty returns. No more hoops. Streets could clear. Cyclists and pedestrians stand to gain. NYPD loses its grip.

Council Member Lincoln Restler has re-introduced his bill to restore a 25% bounty for New Yorkers who report drivers blocking bike and bus lanes. The bill, announced on February 8, 2024, removes prior compromises—no phased rollout, no mandatory training, no ID hurdles. The measure, previously stripped down in committee, now returns to its original form. The matter title: 'Prophet Motive: Restler Bill Would Restore 25% Bounty for Blocked Bike and Bus Lane Tickets.' Restler vows to push hard for passage, saying, 'This bill would make a tremendous difference in making our streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.' Activists like Sara Lind back the bounty, arguing, 'More reporting, more enforcement, will lead to fewer violations.' The bill’s fate is uncertain after Restler’s removal from the Transportation Committee, but the intent is clear: shift enforcement from NYPD to the people, and clear the way for vulnerable road users.

• Prophet Motive: Restler Bill Would Restore 25% Bounty for Blocked Bike and Bus Lane Tickets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-08

Vision Zero made streets safer, but not for all. Black and Latino neighborhoods saw deaths rise. White, wealthy areas got more bike lanes, better Open Streets. Council Member Brooks-Powers calls out the disparity. DOT claims new plans target equity, but gaps remain.

On February 6, 2024, Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), chair of the Transportation Committee, criticized Vision Zero’s uneven impact. The report, titled "NYC streets have gotten safer under Vision Zero – especially if you live in a white neighborhood," found that while traffic fatalities dropped citywide, majority-Black communities saw a 13% increase and Latino areas a 30% rise. Brooks-Powers said, "It is deeply concerning that communities of color are experiencing fatalities at higher rates." The report states, "It's clear the program has not been fully or effectively implemented in neighborhoods of color and with lower incomes." DOT spokesperson Anna Correa responded that recent plans focus more resources on high-poverty, non-white neighborhoods, but the safety gap persists. The data shows Vision Zero’s benefits depend on where you live—and who the city prioritizes.

• NYC streets have gotten safer under Vision Zero – especially you live in a white neighborhood, report says, amny.com, Published 2024-02-06

A Queens crash on Rockaway Freeway injured a 42-year-old female SUV driver. Both vehicles collided frontally as the SUV traveled east and the sedan turned right northbound. The SUV driver suffered fractures and pelvic injuries, trapped in her vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 47 Street in Queens at 13:48. A 42-year-old female driver of a 2020 Nissan SUV traveling east collided with a 2015 Mitsubishi sedan making a right turn northbound. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The SUV driver was injured with fractures, dislocations, and abdomen-pelvis trauma, trapped inside her vehicle despite wearing a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the SUV driver. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The sedan had three occupants, and its male driver was licensed in New York. The crash highlights driver errors, particularly inattention and unsafe speed, as central causes of this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699797 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A speeding sedan collided with a parked vehicle on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The impact struck the left side doors of the parked car, injuring a 32-year-old female passenger with hip and upper leg trauma and whiplash.

According to the police report, at 20:21 on Beach Channel Drive in Queens, a 2022 Honda sedan traveling east struck a parked sedan on its left side doors. The collision was caused by the driver's unsafe speed, as noted in the contributing factors. The parked vehicle had two occupants, including a 32-year-old female passenger who sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg and complained of whiplash. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the moving sedan was licensed and traveling straight ahead before impact. The damage was concentrated on the right side doors of the moving sedan and the left side doors of the parked car. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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 2024-01-30

SUV struck a 48-year-old man crossing Beach Channel Drive with the signal. Driver failed to yield. Pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his leg and foot. Pavement was slippery. He remained conscious.

According to the police report, at 5:25 AM on Beach Channel Drive in Queens, an SUV traveling west struck a 48-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the driver as a contributing factor. Slippery pavement is also noted. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The SUV's left front bumper hit the pedestrian and was damaged. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other occupants were in the vehicle. Driver error and hazardous road conditions are cited as key factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Small cities like Clarkston, Georgia, are landing million-dollar federal grants to fight deadly streets. With help from Bloomberg-backed advisors, they outpace larger rivals. Grants target pedestrian danger. Local leaders credit technical aid and strong stories. More small towns now chase life-saving funds.

""The Cities signing up are smaller and often less well-resourced, and they’re drawing down bigger-than-average grants as a result of the technical assistance they’re getting. We’re really proud to be converting ambitions and dreams into winning applications and real safety on the ground."" -- Khaleel Anderson

On January 22, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported that small cities are securing major federal grants for street safety. Clarkston, Georgia, with high traffic-fatality rates, won $1 million from the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to craft a safety plan. The Local Infrastructure Hub, co-led by Bloomberg Philanthropies, provides technical help, boosting applications. Mayor Beverley Burks of Clarkston said, "You have to be willing to invest in yourself as a city... Having someone who had the skillset to be able to help write the narrative – that’s very crucial for the reviewers to understand the needs in your community." James Anderson, also quoted, highlighted how technical assistance turns ambition into real safety. Other small cities, like Globe, Arizona, and Gladewater, Texas, have also won grants for pedestrian safety. These wins show federal money can reach vulnerable road users in overlooked places.

• How Small Cities Are Winning Big Money for Street Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-22

Concrete barriers on Park Avenue bike lanes promised safety. Drivers ignored them. Cars block both ends. Cyclists forced into traffic. Police rarely ticket. Council stalls on citizen reporting. The city’s fix failed. Cyclists pay the price.

On January 12, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported on the failure of new concrete barriers meant to protect bike lanes on Park Avenue in the Bronx. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, installed these barriers in fall 2023, aiming to 'harden' bike lanes in a borough with few safe cycling routes. Cyclists like Joseph Rienti say the barriers are better than nothing, but drivers now park at both ends, forcing riders into car traffic. Rienti urges better design or enforcement, not removal. Police enforcement is almost nonexistent: less than 2 percent of 76,000 complaints led to tickets. City Council, including Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, has not advanced a bill allowing citizen reporting of blocked lanes, despite majority support. DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno promises to work with police, but for now, the barriers fail to protect vulnerable cyclists.

• Barriers Fail To Keep Drivers From Blocking Bronx Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-12

Mayor Adams missed the law’s targets for protected bike and bus lanes in 2023. Projects stalled. Promises broken. Streets stayed dangerous. City Council called out the failure. Vulnerable road users paid the price. The plan sits ignored. Lives remain at risk.

""Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

In 2023, under Mayor Adams, New York City failed to meet the Streets Master Plan’s legal mandate: 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected or enhanced bus lanes. This was the second year of missed targets since the law’s 2019 passage. The plan, created by then-Council Speaker Corey Johnson, aimed to make streets safer and more equitable. Key projects—like McGuinness Boulevard bike lanes and Fordham Road bus lanes—were delayed or canceled. The Department of Transportation blamed staff shortages and budget cuts. Transportation Committee Chairwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' She also criticized the DOT’s lack of transparency. Speaker Adrienne Adams joined calls for compliance but admitted the Council’s enforcement tools are limited. Without mayoral commitment, the plan’s promise for safer streets remains unfulfilled.

• In 2023, Mayor Adams Basically Erased the ‘Streets Master Plan’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-02

Mayor Adams missed legal targets for protected bike and bus lanes in 2023. Projects were delayed or canceled. The city cited staff shortages and budget cuts. Council members condemned the failures. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Promises faded. Danger persists.

""Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

In 2023, Mayor Adams failed to meet the mandates of the 2019 Streets Master Plan, which required 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected or enhanced bus lanes. The law, championed by then-Speaker Corey Johnson, aimed for safer, more equitable streets. Key projects, including bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard and Ashland Place, and bus lanes on Fordham Road, were stalled or abandoned. The Department of Transportation blamed staff shortages and budget cuts. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other members voiced frustration but admitted limited power to enforce compliance. Council Member Chi Ossé was mentioned in coverage. Without mayoral commitment, the plan’s promise to protect vulnerable road users remains unfulfilled. The city’s vision for safer streets is at risk.

• In 2023, Mayor Adams Basically Erased the 'Streets Master Plan', streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-02

A 56-year-old man was injured in a crash on Rockaway Freeway. The driver, a male, suffered a concussion. He was conscious but hurt. Distraction was a factor in the collision.

A collision occurred on Rockaway Freeway in Queens, injuring a 56-year-old male driver. According to the police report, the driver experienced a concussion and was conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor was driver inattention and distraction. The driver was operating a 2013 Mazda SUV, traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred at the right front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved in the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A hit-and-run truck killed an 82-year-old cyclist on Northern Boulevard. The driver fled. This marks the 29th cyclist death in 2023. Councilmember Brooks-Powers blasted DOT for missing legal bike lane targets. Streets remain deadly. Progress is slow. Accountability is lacking.

On December 28, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers responded to the death of an 82-year-old cyclist killed by a hit-and-run truck on Northern Boulevard. This incident marked the 29th cyclist fatality in 2023, a grim milestone in a year of rising traffic violence. Brooks-Powers criticized the Adams administration and the Department of Transportation for failing to meet the Streets Plan's legal requirement of 50 miles of protected bike lanes, achieving only about 30 miles. She stated, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Brooks-Powers also condemned the missed bus lane targets and called out DOT's lack of transparency, pledging to hold the agency accountable and push for safer, more equitable streets. The city faces more cars, more crashes, and more injuries, while vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Another Cyclist Killed in One of the Deadliest Years on Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-28