Children Bleed While Politicians Wait: Demand 20 MPH Now

Two sedans collided on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens. The striking vehicle disregarded traffic control and followed too closely, hitting the stopped car from behind. Five occupants suffered whiplash and back injuries, all conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, at 12:44 PM on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens, a sedan traveling south struck another sedan stopped in traffic from behind. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the striking vehicle. The impact occurred at the center front end of the striking vehicle and the center back end of the struck vehicle. Five occupants were injured: the striking vehicle's driver and four passengers in the struck vehicle. Injuries included whiplash and back pain, with bodily injuries to the head, back, and elbow-lower-arm-hand areas. All injured parties were conscious and none were ejected. Safety equipment use varied, with some passengers wearing lap belts and harnesses. The crash highlights driver errors in traffic control compliance and maintaining safe following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

MTA claims fewer cars and faster buses after congestion pricing. Councilwoman Joann Ariola calls the numbers fake. Critics say January is slow anyway. Some streets clear, others jammed. The toll divides the city. Vulnerable road users watch from the curb.

On January 13, 2025, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (District 32) publicly challenged the MTA’s first-week report on New York City’s congestion pricing plan. The MTA claimed, 'There is less traffic and quicker streets,' citing a 16% drop in Midtown traffic and faster bus times. Ariola dismissed the data as 'fugazi.' The plan, imposed by the state, began January 5 with a $9 toll per car. Critics, including Ariola, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, questioned the numbers and economic impact. Susan Lee of New Yorkers Against Congestion Taxes noted, 'January is usually the slowest month,' and warned that some areas saw more congestion as drivers dodged tolls. The council’s debate highlights deep skepticism about the plan’s real effect on city streets and the daily safety of those outside cars.

• MTA touts success of first week of NYC congestion pricing plan — but do their numbers back up claims?, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-13

Steel buckled on Cross Bay Boulevard. A Chevy SUV, driver inattentive, rammed a stopped Jeep. The Jeep’s driver, thirty-four, strapped in, crushed and stunned, hurt everywhere. The crash left pain and shock in its wake.

A 2010 Chevy SUV struck a stopped Jeep from behind near 125th on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The report states that the Chevy SUV was 'going straight ahead' when it collided with the Jeep, which was 'stopped in traffic.' The impact crumpled steel and left the 34-year-old Jeep driver with crush injuries to his entire body. He was found in shock, still strapped in his seat. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving. No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing factor on the part of the injured Jeep driver. The collision highlights the risks posed by distracted drivers to everyone on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

A 50-year-old woman crossing without signal was struck by a sedan backing up with limited visibility. The impact caused upper leg and hip injuries, leaving her in shock and pain. The driver’s obstructed view was a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south in Queens was backing up near Beach 129th Street at 16:21 when it struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk and suffered upper leg and hip injuries, resulting in shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report identifies the driver’s failure to see the pedestrian due to a "View Obstructed/Limited" contributing factor. The vehicle sustained no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian’s crossing without signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger posed by limited driver visibility during backing maneuvers in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787675 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 38-year-old woman driving a sedan on Cross Bay Blvd suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The driver was conscious and restrained, sustaining moderate injury in a front-end collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens was involved in a crash at 18:41. The driver, a 38-year-old female occupant, was injured with back trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained center front-end damage. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver’s actions under the influence represent a critical element in the collision, underscoring the systemic danger posed by impaired driving. The report does not assign fault to any other party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789912 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Five days. Five attacks. Blood on the subway rails. Cops, National Guard, Guardian Angels—none stopped the violence. Council members blast failed safety plans. Riders pay the price. City Hall promises change. Riders wait. Danger rides the rails.

On January 2, 2025, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (District 48) joined other city officials responding to a spike in subway violence. The event, covered by nypost.com, details five consecutive days of stabbings, slashings, and a fatal arson, despite increased NYPD, National Guard, and Guardian Angels patrols. The matter summary reads: 'NYC subways have experienced five consecutive days of violent attacks, including stabbings, slashings, and a fatal arson, despite increased patrols.' Council members Joann Ariola, Robert Holden, and Joe Borelli criticized current safety measures and leadership, calling for stronger action. Mayor Eric Adams backed more police and mental health interventions, while Governor Hochul's National Guard deployment drew fire. City Hall pledged to work with Albany on the Supportive Interventions Act. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NYC subways have seen attacks for 5 days in a row — despite cops, National Guard and even the Guardian Angels on patrol, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-02

New York rolls out sweeping traffic laws for 2025. Charter bus seatbelts, lower speed limits, and congestion pricing hit the streets. Senator Sanders and Governor Hochul push for safer roads. School zones, bridges, and bus riders see new protections. Change comes fast.

On December 31, 2024, New York announced new transportation laws for 2025. Senator James Sanders sponsored a ban on car lease turn-in fees, stating, "The legislation prohibits charging a turn-in fee at the expiration of the term of a vehicle lease, the basis of which is solely for administrative, handling or clerical charges." Governor Kathy Hochul signed this and other safety bills into law. Charter bus passengers ages 8 to 16 must now wear seatbelts, a response to a fatal crash in Orange County. Sammy's Law, enacted in 2024, lets the city lower speed limits to 20 mph, and even 10 mph on redesigned streets. The Department of Transportation will target 250 locations, focusing on school zones. The MTA launches congestion pricing in Manhattan, with funds set for transit upgrades. Hochul said, "These enhancements to our roads and bridges will improve mobility for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike."

• These are new traffic laws in New York slated for 2025, amny.com, Published 2024-12-31

Two sedans collided at Beach 116 Street in Queens. A male driver turning left suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 23:07 on Beach 116 Street in Queens. One sedan was traveling east, going straight. The other, heading west, was making a left turn. The impact struck the center front end of the eastbound car and the right front quarter panel of the westbound car. The male driver making the left turn was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. He wore a lap belt. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite explicit driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784527 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel met skull on Beach 116th. A sedan reversed. A 79-year-old man stepped from behind a parked car. He fell, head torn open, blood pooling on cold Queens pavement. The car showed no damage. The man stayed conscious, wounded and alone.

A 79-year-old pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations when a sedan reversed and struck him near Beach 116th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man 'stepped from behind a parked car.' The report states the sedan was 'backing unsafely,' directly citing this driver action as a contributing factor. The narrative details, 'Steel struck skull. He fell. Blood spread on the cold street.' Despite the impact, the vehicle showed 'no damage.' The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene, his 'head torn open.' The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe reversing maneuver by the driver. The collision underscores the lethal risk posed when drivers back unsafely, especially in areas with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan collided head-on with a bicyclist traveling west on Newport Avenue in Queens. The 36-year-old cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided at the center front ends on Newport Avenue near Beach 121 Street in Queens at 7:40 p.m. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old male, was riding westbound and was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma, classified as injury severity level 3. The cyclist was not ejected but experienced shock and complained of pain or nausea. The report notes the bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan sustained other damage to its front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, providing no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights systemic dangers for vulnerable road users where driver errors remain unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill Intro 103 forces DOT to notify members for every parking change. Critics say it slows life-saving street redesigns. Advocates warn it props up car culture and blocks safer bike lanes. The bill risks more sidewalk riding and fewer safe crossings.

Intro 103, now before the City Council, would require the Department of Transportation to notify Council members every time a single parking spot is repurposed—for car-share, bike corrals, or Citi Bike docks. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Joann Ariola, claims residents need notice before losing parking. But DOT and street safety advocates slam the measure as a bureaucratic drag on urgent safety fixes. Council Member Lincoln Restler calls it 'additional hoops and hurdles' for street safety. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso says, 'I don’t know why we entertain any effort to stop or slow-roll safe street design.' Open Plans and StreetsPAC argue the bill props up car dominance and blocks safer, more sustainable streets. The bill could make it harder to move bike infrastructure off sidewalks, risking more sidewalk riding and fewer safe crossings for pedestrians. Similar bills (Intro 606, Intro 104) face the same criticism.

• Council Members Want To Be Notified When City Repurposes ‘Their’ Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Two sedans collided on Beach 128 St in Queens under conditions of glare and limited visibility. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved a westbound sedan striking a southbound sedan making a left turn, damaging both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:07 AM on Beach 128 St in Queens. A westbound sedan driven by a 63-year-old man was traveling straight when it collided with a southbound sedan making a left turn. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the westbound vehicle and the right side doors of the southbound vehicle. The report cites 'Glare' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors, indicating driver visibility issues. The male driver of the westbound sedan sustained neck injuries and whiplash, was conscious, and was wearing a lap belt. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by environmental conditions impairing driver sight and decision-making.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A rear-end crash on Cross Bay Blvd sent a 29-year-old driver and two young passengers in an SUV to shock and neck injuries. The SUV was struck from behind by a sedan traveling southbound, causing whiplash and pain complaints among the occupants.

According to the police report, at 13:23 in Queens on Cross Bay Blvd, a sedan traveling southbound struck the rear of a southbound SUV. The impact was centered on the front end of the sedan and the back end of the SUV. The SUV carried a licensed female driver aged 29 and three occupants, including two children aged 3 and 5. All three SUV occupants suffered neck injuries and were in shock. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' factors and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing causes, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The injured passengers were restrained with child restraints and seat belts. The collision caused whiplash and complaints of pain or nausea but no ejections. The report highlights driver error in maintaining distance as the key factor in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a 12-year-old girl crossing Rockaway Beach Boulevard. Driver inattention caused the crash. The girl suffered arm abrasions but stayed conscious. The impact came mid-block, far from safety.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old girl was injured when a sedan hit her as she crossed Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens at 16:10. The crash happened outside an intersection. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main cause. The girl suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She remained conscious after the impact. The sedan, a 2019 Nissan, was traveling east and struck her with its center front end. The driver was licensed and going straight. No pedestrian error or helmet use was listed as a factor. The report underscores the risk distracted drivers pose to people crossing city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765275 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs slammed together on Beach Channel Drive, glare burning through the windshield. A woman, 47, was pinned and crushed behind the wheel, her body shattered but her mind alert. Metal and sunlight conspired to trap her in agony.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided at Beach Channel Drive and Beach 140th Street in Queens. The crash occurred in blinding sunlight, with 'glare' cited as a contributing factor. One SUV was making a left turn while the other traveled straight ahead. The report describes how a 47-year-old woman, driving one of the vehicles, was crushed behind the wheel, suffering injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious as she was trapped by the wreckage. The police report states that both drivers were licensed and that the blinding sun played a direct role in the collision. No specific driver error beyond the environmental condition of glare is listed in the official data. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761743 - 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 2024-09-26