Park or Perish: Blood on Flushing Meadows’ Streets Demands Action Now

Transit advocates and unions demand a Flatbush Avenue bus lane. Mayor Adams stalls. Council Members Hudson and Joseph back the plan. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Working-class New Yorkers bear the brunt. The city delays. Streets stay dangerous. Justice deferred.

On July 10, 2024, a coalition of transit advocates and labor unions renewed calls for a Flatbush Avenue bus lane. The campaign, not tied to a specific council bill, has drawn support from Council Members Crystal Hudson and Rita Joseph. The matter, described as a 'no-brainer solution,' highlights slow bus speeds—often under 5 mph—and the urgent need for safer, faster transit. Jolyse Race of Riders Alliance stressed the economic justice at stake, noting bus riders earn half as much as car owners. Mayor Eric Adams has withheld support, citing community engagement and raising concerns about gentrification. The Department of Transportation's plans have stalled under his administration. Healthcare workers and union leaders spoke of missed shifts and unreliable service. Advocates now plan to survey bus riders to show support. No formal safety analysis was provided, but the campaign centers the needs of vulnerable bus riders and pedestrians.

• Bus Advocates Renew Push For Flatbush Avenue Bus Lane Despite Mayor’s Lack of Support, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-10

A sedan struck the rear of a motorized home on Van Wyck Expressway. Three male occupants in the sedan suffered injuries including back and arm wounds. Police cite unsafe lane changing and failure to yield as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:25 on Van Wyck Expressway involving a 2014 sedan and a 2023 motorized home, both traveling north. The sedan's driver failed to yield right-of-way and engaged in unsafe lane changing, causing the sedan to impact the left rear bumper of the motorized home. The sedan sustained damage to its left rear bumper, while the motorized home showed no damage. Three male occupants in the sedan were injured: the 32-year-old driver with back injuries, a 37-year-old front passenger with elbow and lower arm injuries, and a 30-year-old rear passenger also with back injuries. All occupants were wearing lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report highlights driver errors—unsafe lane changing and failure to yield right-of-way—as the primary contributing factors, with no victim behaviors cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739075 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A taxi and bicyclist collided on the Van Wyck Expressway. The 32-year-old female cyclist was ejected and suffered head injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as key factors in the crash, highlighting systemic dangers on this route.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:59 on the Van Wyck Expressway involving a taxi and a bicycle traveling southbound. The bicyclist, a 32-year-old woman, was ejected from her bike and sustained head injuries classified as severity level 3, including abrasions. The taxi, driven by a licensed male driver, struck the cyclist on its right front quarter panel while both vehicles were going straight ahead. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor twice, indicating lapses in focus by the drivers involved. The bicyclist's own contributing factor is noted as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the primary cause centers on driver errors. No safety equipment use was recorded. The collision's impact and injuries underscore the dangers posed by distracted driving on busy roadways like the Van Wyck Expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738240 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A box truck struck the rear of a sedan traveling south on Van Wyck Expressway. The sedan’s female driver and a male passenger suffered neck and back injuries. Police cited the truck driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Van Wyck Expressway at 6:41 AM. A box truck traveling south rear-ended a sedan also moving south. The sedan’s female driver, age 20, was injured with internal neck trauma and experienced shock. A 23-year-old male passenger sustained back injuries and shock. The report identifies the contributing factor as "Following Too Closely" by the box truck driver. The truck’s right front bumper struck the sedan’s center back end. Both vehicles were going straight ahead prior to impact. The sedan driver held a permit license, while the truck driver was licensed. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the danger of tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737417 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two sedans smashed on Grand Central Parkway. Metal twisted. Two male passengers hurt—fractures, dislocations. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe lane change. Night, speed, and carelessness cut deep.

Two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at 1:38 a.m. According to the police report, the BMW was 'demolished' and the Honda suffered heavy front damage. Two male passengers were injured: a 30-year-old front passenger with fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and a 23-year-old rear passenger with fractures and dislocations to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. Both were conscious and restrained. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the main causes. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A sedan driver suffered a severe leg fracture after an SUV made an unsafe lane change on Grand Central Parkway. The SUV passed too closely and at unsafe speed, striking the sedan’s left rear bumper. The driver remained conscious but injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:26 AM on Grand Central Parkway involving a station wagon/SUV and a sedan. The SUV driver committed multiple errors: unsafe speed, unsafe lane changing, and passing too closely. These actions led to a collision impacting the sedan’s left rear bumper. The sedan driver, a 35-year-old male occupant, was injured with a fractured knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report explicitly cites the SUV driver’s unsafe lane changing and passing too closely as contributing factors. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of aggressive and careless driving maneuvers on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City hall wants to strip red tape from open streets. The plan slashes insurance demands and trains new groups. Advocates say high costs and paperwork choke car-free events. The move could revive lost corridors and let more New Yorkers reclaim the road.

On June 18, 2024, Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu released a report proposing major reforms to New York City's open streets program. The plan, highlighted in the report 'Realm of Possibility,' aims to 'lift some of the bureaucratic and cost hurdles faced by the largely volunteer open streets groups.' Key elements include lowering or waiving liability insurance for small events, standardizing maintenance agreements, and launching a 'Public Space Academy' to train organizers. Jim Burke, organizer for 34th Avenue, called for removing barriers to make the program equitable. Gib Veconi of Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council and Jackson Chabot of Open Plans both praised the reforms, citing burdensome permit processes and high costs as threats to open streets. The proposal responds to advocates' warnings that city policies have stifled car-free spaces, risking the loss of vital corridors for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Someday, You May be Able to Activate Open Streets with Fewer City Hurdles, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-18

Four passengers and one driver suffered whiplash and back injuries in a chain collision on Grand Central Parkway. Police cite repeated driver inattention and distraction as key factors. All occupants were conscious and restrained during impact.

At 3:44 AM on Grand Central Parkway, a multi-vehicle crash involved several SUVs and a sedan, according to the police report. The collision caused injuries to five vehicle occupants, including one driver and four passengers, all conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. Injuries reported include whiplash and back pain, with severity rated as moderate (3). The police report identifies driver errors as the primary cause, specifically 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' repeated multiple times and 'Other Vehicular' factors. No victims were ejected. The point of impact on involved vehicles ranged from center front ends to center back ends, indicating a chain reaction collision. The report does not list any contributing victim behaviors, focusing blame on driver distraction and inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731102 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Top city officials broke ranks with Mayor Adams. They demanded congestion pricing after Governor Hochul’s sudden halt. MTA board members, planners, and transit chiefs warned of lost funding and stalled projects. They called the suspension a blow to transit and public safety.

On June 6, 2024, New York City officials issued strong statements supporting congestion pricing after Governor Hochul suspended the plan. The matter, titled 'City Officials Demand Congestion Pricing Despite Eric Adams’s Deference to Hochul,' saw Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, MTA board member Midori Valdivia, City Planning Chair Dan Garodnick, DOT Chief of Staff Ryan Lynch, and public space czar Ya-Ting Liu all speak out. Valdivia warned, 'today it was announced, without MTA Board consultation, the cancellation of projects such as the Second Avenue Subway Phase II, our accessibility program... and a fully zero-emission bus fleet.' Joshi declared, 'It needs to happen now.' Garodnick cited a 'significant hole' in the MTA budget. Liu called congestion pricing 'the only policy' for transit and traffic. The New York City Independent Budget Office also warned of economic harm and delayed improvements. Mayor Adams, once a supporter, deferred to the governor, leaving vulnerable road users without promised transit upgrades.

• City Officials Demand Congestion Pricing Despite Eric Adams’s Deference to Hochul, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Taxi struck a man crossing Grand Central Parkway. The impact left him with head wounds and bruises. He stayed conscious. No driver errors listed. The street became a danger zone.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured when a 2021 Toyota taxi, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper on Grand Central Parkway at 1:43 a.m. The pedestrian was crossing outside any crosswalk or signal. He suffered head injuries and bruises but remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, marking them as "Unspecified." The taxi driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The crash underscores the risk pedestrians face when vehicles cross their path, even without clear driver violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05