Rockaway Bleeds While City Sleeps

Jan 27 - 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 2025-09-19

Jan 22 - 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

Jan 12 - 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

Jan 10 - An e-bike rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries after colliding with a parked sedan in Queens. The crash, caused by driver inattention, left the cyclist in shock with minor bleeding. The sedan remained unoccupied and stationary at impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens at 3:10 PM. The e-bike rider, a 22-year-old male, was traveling eastbound when he struck the rear of a parked 2021 Subaru sedan. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the cyclist failed to notice the stationary vehicle ahead. The rider sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in minor bleeding and shock. The sedan was unoccupied and stationary at the time, with damage to its center back end. The e-bike's center front end was also damaged. No helmet use or victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors in the report. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction, even among cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694097 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 5 - A 63-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and concussion after a multi-vehicle crash in Queens. According to the police report, illness contributed to the incident. The driver was semiconscious but restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old male driver was injured in a collision involving multiple vehicles on Arverne Boulevard in Queens. The driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained a head injury and was semiconscious with a concussion. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating a medical condition affected the driver's control. The vehicles involved included several SUVs and a sedan, with impacts noted on various bumpers and quarter panels. The driver was not ejected from the vehicle. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash occurred around 12:50 PM, highlighting the systemic danger posed by sudden medical incapacitation behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 2 - 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

Jan 2 - 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

Dec 28 - 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 2025-09-19

Dec 28 - 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

Dec 27 - A 31-year-old moped driver was injured in Queens. The crash occurred on Norton Avenue. The driver suffered an abrasion to the elbow. Aggressive driving and unsafe speed contributed to the incident.

A moped driver, 31, was injured in a crash on Norton Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn when the incident occurred. The driver was conscious but sustained an abrasion to the elbow, classified as a severe injury. The police report cites aggressive driving and unsafe speed as contributing factors. No safety equipment was used by the driver at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692089 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 25 - Two sedans crashed head-on on Beach Channel Drive just after midnight. One passenger suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries, trapped by shock and pain. The crash involved unsafe speed and driver distraction. Damage hit both vehicles’ front ends hard.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Beach Channel Drive at 12:25 a.m. The crash involved a southbound Honda and an eastbound Toyota. A 44-year-old female passenger in the Toyota was injured, suffering upper arm and shoulder trauma. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists driver errors as unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The crash occurred as one vehicle was starting in traffic and the other was going straight ahead. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690123 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 14 - Conduit Avenue kills. Brooklyn and Queens borough presidents call it urgent. They want DOT to turn this deadly, crash-heavy road into a safe corridor. In less than two years, 1,321 crashes. Seventy pedestrians and 14 cyclists hurt. Five dead. DOT silent.

On December 14, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pressed the Department of Transportation to overhaul Conduit Avenue. Their letter called for a transformation of the avenue, described as "one of the most dangerous and non-inclusive roadways in the entire city." The officials urged DOT to prioritize traffic safety, cycling and mass transit infrastructure, pedestrian walkability, and green space. Between January 2022 and December 2023, Conduit Avenue saw 1,321 crashes, injuring 880 people—including 70 pedestrians and 14 cyclists—and killing five. Three intersections are listed as DOT pedestrian safety priorities, but the corridor itself is not. Richards and Reynoso have formed a task force and are pushing for action. DOT has not commented.

• Boob Tube: Brooklyn, Queens Leaders Want DOT to Fix Dangerous Conduit Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

Dec 12 - MTA plans $30 million for Queens bus overhaul. Eight new routes. More frequent service for thousands. Stops spaced farther apart. Most riders keep their stops. Councilmember Brooks-Powers doubts gains for her district. Borough President Richards backs the plan. Rollout not before 2025.

The MTA’s Queens Bus Network Redesign, announced December 12, 2023, proposes $30 million in service upgrades and expands local routes from 83 to 91. The plan, under review since 2020, aims to boost 10-minute-or-better service for 200,000 more residents, raising coverage from 60.1% to 68.9%. The official summary states the redesign will 'streamline and speed up service.' Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers voiced 'serious concerns' about disadvantages for her district, especially with congestion pricing. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, once critical, now supports the draft after public outreach. State Senator Leroy Comrie noted Brooks-Powers wants clarity for her community, not outright rejection. The redesign awaits further input and is expected no sooner than 2025. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• MTA’s Queens Bus Redesign: $30M in Service, 8 More Routes, Skepticism from Brooks-Powers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-12

Dec 12 - MTA revealed its final Queens bus overhaul. Routes shift. Stops thin out. Riders brace for longer walks. Council Member Brooks-Powers warns of harm to her district. The city lags on bus lanes. Public review looms. Vulnerable riders face uncertainty.

On December 12, 2023, the MTA released its final proposal for the Queens bus network redesign. The plan, shaped by two years of outreach, proposes 121 routes—eight more than before—but cuts and combines stops, aiming for straighter lines and faster trips. The matter summary states the redesign seeks 'improved travel speed and reliability.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, voiced 'serious concerns about the proposal’s impact on her constituents, especially with the looming arrival of congestion pricing.' She called for an 'equitable and balanced' approach. The plan faces backlash over wider stop spacing and fewer stops, which could force longer walks for riders—many of them elderly or disabled. The city has failed to meet its legal mandate for new bus lanes, building only 18 miles this year. The proposal enters public review ahead of a 2025 rollout.

• MTA unveils final proposal for Queens bus network redesign, amny.com, Published 2023-12-12

Dec 9 - An unlicensed e-bike driver, partially ejected, hit the right rear quarter of a stopped SUV on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The 35-year-old man suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Alcohol and driver inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male e-bike driver collided with the right rear quarter panel of a stopped Jeep SUV on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The e-bike driver was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists alcohol involvement and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The e-bike driver was unlicensed. The SUV driver was licensed and stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The collision caused damage to the left side doors of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685633 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 1 - Mayor Adams will ban parking near 1,000 intersections each year. The city aims to clear corners, boost sightlines, and protect people on foot. Advocates pushed for this. The plan outpaces current law but leaves thousands of corners untouched for decades.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive policy: New York City will remove car parking near 1,000 intersections annually, far exceeding the 100 intersections required by recent Council law. The effort, known as daylighting, aims to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. Adams said, 'Protecting New Yorkers is my most sacred responsibility as mayor.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers praised daylighting as 'a proven safety measure.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stressed that daylighting must include physical infrastructure to prevent reckless turns. The Department of Transportation will also add raised crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and leading pedestrian signals at 1,000 intersections next year. The city will expand speed restriction technology in its fleet and increase data transparency. Advocates and community boards have long called for these changes. With nearly 47,000 intersections citywide, the plan will take decades to reach every corner.

• Adams Says He’ll Ban Parking Near 1,000 Intersections Every Year To Make Corners Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

Dec 1 - Mayor Adams wavers on congestion pricing. He questions the $15 toll, stirring opposition. Experts slam his stance. Councilmember Brooks-Powers voices concern for drivers, but data shows most benefit. The mayor’s shift weakens support for safer, saner streets.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams publicly questioned New York City’s incoming congestion pricing plan, specifically the proposed $15 peak toll. The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, quotes Adams: the fee is 'the beginning of the conversation' and exemptions must be considered. Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, echoed concerns, saying the toll 'is going to put definitely a hardship on many of my constituents.' Experts Bruce Schaller and Danny Pearlstein criticized Adams, urging him to champion the program’s benefits for transit riders and the environment. The mayor’s office later clarified his comments focused on city workers in city vehicles. The article notes that while a small fraction of Brooks-Powers’s constituents drive into Manhattan, all would benefit from improved transit. Adams’s wavering undermines momentum for a policy proven to reduce traffic and protect vulnerable road users.

• Cycle of Rage: Mayor is Failing the Leadership Test on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

Nov 9 - A motorcycle collided with a sedan making a left turn on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The 21-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and suffered a serious head injury. The rider was unconscious and wearing a helmet. The sedan struck the motorcycle’s front end.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling westbound on Rockaway Beach Boulevard collided with a southbound sedan making a left turn. The motorcycle driver, a 21-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a severe head injury, resulting in unconsciousness. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The sedan was damaged on its left rear quarter panel, indicating impact during the turn. The motorcycle sustained front-end damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the motorcyclist and notes the sedan driver was licensed. No explicit driver errors such as failure to yield were recorded, but the collision occurred during the sedan’s left turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 3 - Revel pulls the plug on shared mopeds. The company pivots to electric taxis. Car-free travel options shrink. Riders lose a fast, nimble way to move. Revel’s exit marks another blow to micro-mobility in New York. Streets grow less free.

On November 3, 2023, Revel, the Brooklyn-based electric moped company, announced it will end its moped rental service in New York City and San Francisco. The company’s founders, Frank Reig and Paul Suhey, shared the news, citing a 30 percent drop in ridership and financial strain. Revel’s mopeds, once hailed as a lifeline during transit disruptions, will disappear from city streets by November 18. The company now focuses on its growing electric taxi fleet, boasting 500 Teslas and over 1,500 drivers. Advocates mourned the loss, calling it a bad day for car-free travel. Revel’s mopeds were legal, registered, and barred from bike lanes by geo-fencing. Their departure leaves fewer options for vulnerable road users seeking safe, efficient alternatives to cars.

• Electric Moped Company Revel Bails on Two Wheelers in Full Transition to Taxis, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-03

Nov 1 - A boy died. The city promises change. Officials tout daylighting and new signals. Critics say action comes too late. Nine children dead this year. Cyclist deaths set records. The mayor defends his record. Parents and advocates demand more. The street stays dangerous.

On November 1, 2023, following the death of 7-year-old Kamari Hughes, Mayor Adams and his administration announced plans to redesign the fatal Brooklyn intersection. The Department of Transportation adjusted signal timing and promised more robust changes, including daylighting and loading zones. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers called daylighting 'a proven safety measure.' Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said the city will target high-crash and school-adjacent corners, using barriers to keep cars from blocking sightlines. Critics like Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives condemned the city’s reactive approach, demanding daylighting at every intersection. Officials claim 299 intersections have been daylighted this year, surpassing Council mandates. Despite these steps, advocates argue the city acts only after tragedy, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Mayor Boasts of His Record — However Spotty — As He Vows to Fix Corner Where Boy Was Killed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-01