No Deaths, No Excuses: Injured Lives Demand Action Now

Sep 10 - Two drivers crashed on Lafayette Ave at Van Buren, Staten Island. A 28-year-old front passenger suffered a head injury and whiplash. Others had unspecified injuries. Police recorded no contributing factors.

Two drivers in sedans collided on Lafayette Ave at Van Buren St in Staten Island at 5 p.m. Both were going straight, one east, one west. A 28-year-old front passenger was injured. She had a head wound and whiplash and was in shock. Other occupants reported unspecified injuries. “According to the police report, the impact was to the right front on both cars, and officers recorded no specific contributing factors.” The crash involved a 2024 sedan with one occupant and a 2021 sedan with four. Police noted right-front bumper damage on the westbound car and no listed damage on the eastbound car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842186 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 29 - The driver of an SUV hit a parked bus on Victory Boulevard. A 25-year-old woman aboard the bus suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries and complained of whiplash. Police recorded driver inexperience.

A driver in an SUV hit a parked bus near 115 Victory Boulevard in Staten Island. One bus passenger, a 25-year-old woman, was injured. She suffered shoulder and upper-arm trauma and complained of whiplash. According to the police report, the contributing factor was Driver Inexperience. Police list both vehicles as parked before the collision. The bus took impact on its left rear quarter panel; the SUV took impact on its left front bumper. Damage was noted to the bus's left rear bumper and the SUV's left front quarter panel. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - An 11-year-old boy on a bike was struck where Brook meets Westervelt. He went down hard. Abrasions. Conscious. The sedan kept straight. Staten Island night. Another child thrown by a car’s front end.

An 11-year-old bicyclist traveling west was struck by a northbound Subaru sedan at Brook St and Westervelt Ave in Staten Island. He was ejected and suffered lower-leg abrasions but was conscious. According to the police report, vehicle types were “Sedan, Bike” and both were “Going Straight Ahead,” with “Center Front End” impact noted. The report lists contributing factors as “Unspecified,” offering no driver error codes such as Failure to Yield or Unsafe Speed. The bicyclist was recorded with “None” for safety equipment, noted after the driver information, but the report still provides no specific driver violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837453 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 23 - The driver of a northbound sedan hit a 26‑year‑old man getting on or off a vehicle on Richmond Terrace. He suffered knee and lower‑leg injuries and was conscious at the scene. Police listed Driver Inattention/Distraction.

A northbound sedan struck a 26-year-old male pedestrian who was getting on or off a vehicle on Richmond Terrace. The man suffered knee and lower-leg injuries and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the primary factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver. The driver was going straight ahead; the listed point of impact was the vehicle's right rear bumper and the vehicle showed no damage. The report lists no pedestrian errors or helmet or signal factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837452 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 19 - Two high-profile office dining spots — Lodi at Rockefeller Center and Three Eighty Ate at Citigroup’s Tribeca headquarters — will close this fall. Workers lose desk-side restaurants. Buildings lose a perk. Streets lose foot traffic tied to those lunchtime crowds.

Bill/Bureau: Not a bill — a business closure report. Date: 2025-08-19. Source: Crain’s New York Business. Matter title quoted: "Two restaurants-as-amenities in Midtown and Tribeca to shutter this fall." No council bill number or committee applies. Assembly Member Charles Fall is mentioned noting Midtown restaurant amenity closures affecting tenants. The report records layoff filings and shuttering this fall. Safety impact: none recorded; no safety analyst note provided. The coverage centers on tenant amenities, employee layoffs, and commercial turnover rather than traffic-safety measures.

• Two restaurants-as-amenities in Midtown and Tribeca to shutter this fall, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-19

Aug 9 - Coney Island casino plan means thousands more cars. Roads will clog. Parking will vanish. Environmental review shows danger for anyone not behind the wheel.

On August 9, 2025, an environmental impact assessment flagged the proposed Coney Island casino as a threat to street safety. The report, filed with the casino’s license bid, warns: 'The proposed Coney Island casino would likely clog local roads with heavy traffic and overwhelm public parking.' Reporter Kirstyn Brendlen covered the findings. No council members sponsored or voted, but the review shows the casino could bring thousands of cars daily. The safety analyst notes: increased car traffic and parking demand will heighten risks for pedestrians and cyclists, discourage active transportation, and undermine street safety and equity. The system tips toward drivers. The vulnerable pay the price.

• Proposed Coney Island casino could bring heavy traffic, overwhelm parking, according to environmental impact study, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 8 - DOT drops speed limit, narrows lanes, and adds barriers at Canal Street after deadly crash. Pedestrians and cyclists get overdue protection. Full redesign still lags.

On August 8, 2025, the NYC DOT announced new safety measures at the Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street terminus. The agency will lower the speed limit from 35 to 20 mph, narrow two travel lanes, and install concrete barriers after a driver killed a cyclist and pedestrian. David Meyer reported the announcement. No council member sponsored or voted. DOT says it will fast-track community engagement for a full redesign. Lowering speed limits reduces crash severity and likelihood, especially for pedestrians and cyclists near busy bridge exits, and follows best safety practices.

• Friday’s Headlines: Fixing Canal Street Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - Kea Wilson spotlights Canada’s safer roads. U.S. deaths climb. Canada cuts bloodshed. Enforcement works there. Politics block change here. Vulnerable users pay the price.

On August 7, 2025, Kea Wilson published a policy analysis in Streetsblog NYC. The piece, 'Northern Disclosure: Canada’s Road Laws Could Help Save U.S. Lives,' reviews a study showing Canada’s enforcement—like speed cameras and seat belt laws—cuts road deaths. Wilson urges the U.S. to learn from Canada but notes political barriers. No council bill or vote is attached. The statement is too vague to assess specific safety impacts, as it does not identify which Canadian roadway laws would be implemented or how they would affect pedestrians and cyclists. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while proven fixes stall.

• Northern Disclosure: Canada’s Road Laws Could Help Save U.S. Lives, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - A driver in a pickup hit a 70-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk on Bay Street near 155. The driver hit her with the right front bumper. She suffered a neck injury and shock. Police recorded no specific driver errors.

A driver in a pickup going straight northwest hit a 70-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk on Bay Street near 155 Bay Street in Staten Island. The driver hit her with the right front bumper. She suffered a neck injury and went into shock. According to the police report, she was crossing in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the driver was traveling straight ahead and the point of impact was the right front bumper. Police recorded no specific driver errors and listed contributing factors as Unspecified. The driver was licensed. The vehicle was recorded with no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 23 - Police flood cyclists with criminal summonses. Nearly 6,000 tickets in months. Riders face courts for minor moves. Cars escape harsher scrutiny. Streets stay dangerous. Frustration mounts.

ABC7 reported on July 23, 2025, that NYPD issued nearly 6,000 tickets to cyclists in recent months, up from 561 earlier in the year. These are not simple fines but criminal summonses, forcing court appearances for violations like riding the wrong way or in bus lanes. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, "New Yorkers are telling us that even as crime falls, that they still don't feel safe." Critics, including Transportation Alternatives, argue that cyclists face harsher penalties than drivers, with Charlie Baker noting, "A 50-pound bike gets a criminal court date, a 6,000-pound car gets a ticket." The crackdown highlights enforcement gaps and calls for more protected bike lanes and better regulation of delivery vehicles.

• NYPD Targets Cyclists With Ticket Surge, ABC7, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 17 - Mayor Adams stalled Third Avenue’s redesign. He once called it urgent. Now, cyclists and walkers face the same deadly street. Cars dominate. Promises break. Blood stains linger.

On July 17, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams delayed Brooklyn’s Third Avenue safety redesign. The project, once 'at the top of our list,' now sits idle. Streetsblog NYC reported the mayor’s reversal. No council vote or committee action is recorded. Adams’s move keeps pedestrians and cyclists exposed to known hazards. A safety analyst notes: Delaying redesign postpones critical improvements, keeps dangers in place, and discourages walking and biking. The city’s inaction leaves Third Avenue deadly for all outside a car.

• Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 17 - A DOT worker fixing a sign near a bike lane was slashed by an e-bike rider with a box cutter. Blood on Broadway. The rider fled. The worker survived. No arrests. The city keeps moving.

According to amny (2025-07-17), a DOT worker was attacked by an e-bike rider at Broadway and Cedar Street while repairing a street sign. Police said the worker backed up his truck, nearly causing a crash with the cyclist. The rider then "whipped out a box cutter and slashed the worker in his left arm and back." The assailant fled. DOT condemned the attack, calling it "abhorrent." No arrests have been made. The incident highlights tensions at work sites near bike lanes and underscores the need for safe conditions for street workers.

• DOT Worker Slashed By E-Biker Downtown, amny, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - Ex-Commissioner Tom Donlon says Adams insiders fueled deadly NYPD chases. Cyclists, kids, and bystanders paid. Streets turned chaotic. Policy ignored. Trust shattered. Vulnerable road users left exposed.

""The NYPD is led by the best, brightest and most honorable professionals in the nation — and their results speak for themselves: crime continues to fall across the city, with shootings at the lowest level in recorded history. We will respond in court, where we are confident these absurd claims will be disproven."" -- Charles Fall

On July 16, 2025, former NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon filed a civil racketeering suit, alleging 'deadly and unconstitutional high-speed vehicle chases' under Mayor Adams. The complaint, reported by Streetsblog NYC, claims the NYPD's Community Response Team operated as a rogue unit, answerable only to City Hall, with Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry allowing reckless pursuits. Donlon cites deaths and injuries, including cyclist Amanda Servedio. The suit alleges 398 crashes and 315 injuries in 2024—a 47% jump. Donlon's allegations highlight how high-speed chases increase risk to pedestrians and cyclists, introducing unpredictable, dangerous driving and eroding public trust in safe, equitable enforcement. No council bill or committee action is tied to this event.

• Former NYPD Boss Says Deadly High Speed Chases Were Result Of ‘Rogue’ Adams Insiders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 11 - Years pass. Bus speeds crawl. City dodges real bus rapid transit. Riders wait. Streets choke. Vulnerable users stuck with slow, crowded, unsafe options. Nothing changes. Safety stands still.

On July 11, 2025, Dave Colon spotlighted two reports slamming New York City’s failure to deliver real bus rapid transit. The reports state, 'Years of bus priority projects have barely improved speeds because New York City leaders have not implemented real bus rapid transit (BRT).' Colon, reporting for Streetsblog NYC, supports comprehensive BRT and opposes the city’s piecemeal fixes. Mayor Adams and city agencies have not acted on key recommendations. The safety analyst notes: the lack of real BRT means missed chances for mode shift and street equity, but does not directly worsen conditions for pedestrians and cyclists; the status quo remains unchanged.

• Why No BRT For NYC? Two New Reports Tackle Why Your Bus Service Sucks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 6 - A car turned across Bay Street. The motorcycle struck the door. Jeremy Claudio died. The driver stayed. No arrests. The street stayed open. The city counted another loss.

According to amny (2025-07-06), Jeremy Claudio, 34, died after his motorcycle hit the driver-side door of a Toyota Rav 4 making a K-turn on Bay Street, Staten Island. Police said the driver was "making a K-turn from the northbound lane... into its southbound lane when the collision occurred." The driver remained at the scene and was uninjured. No arrests were made. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks when drivers turn across traffic, especially on busy city streets.

• Motorcyclist Dies In Staten Island K-Turn Crash, amny, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 3 - Mayor Adams halts 34th Street busway. Streets stay clogged. Pedestrians and bus riders lose. Car dominance remains. Safety and equity stalled.

On July 3, 2025, the Adams administration paused the 34th Street busway project, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The matter, described as a 'highly-anticipated 34th Street busway,' had support from Council Members Erik Bottcher, Keith Powers, and others. Bottcher called it 'transformative,' promising fewer crashes and faster buses. Powers slammed the last-minute reversal. Safety analysts warn: canceling the busway preserves car dominance, discourages transit, and keeps streets unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The project’s future is uncertain. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 23 - Eleven city lawmakers voted no on speed cameras. Their votes keep streets exposed. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a shield. Reckless drivers win. The city’s most basic defense—rejected. The toll will be measured in blood, not words.

On June 13 and June 17, 2025, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted on reauthorizing New York City's school zone speed camera program. The Senate passed the measure 38-21; three city senators—Stephen Chan, Andrew Lanza, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton—voted no. The Assembly passed it 110-31, with nine city lawmakers—Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang, Simcha Eichenstein, Michael Novakhov, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Reilly, David Weprin, Kalman Yeger—opposing. The Streetsblog NYC article, 'Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program,' quotes lawmakers dismissing speed cameras as revenue grabs or burdens. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be assessed.' Still, the votes signal disregard for proven tools that protect those outside cars.

• Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 18 - Congestion pricing cuts traffic jams across Manhattan and the metro. Streets clear. Delays drop. Fewer cars mean more space for people. The city breathes. Vulnerable road users gain ground. Data shows real relief, not empty promises.

On June 18, 2025, the Regional Plan Association released a report on congestion pricing’s impact. The study, covered by Barbara Russo-Lennon, found a 25% drop in Manhattan traffic jams, with smaller but real declines in the Bronx and New Jersey. The report states: 'Congestion pricing is delivering clear benefits, saving people time and the aggravation of being stuck in traffic.' Council Member Frank Morano and State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton criticized the program, citing Staten Island’s smaller gains and health concerns. MTA Chair Janno Lieber defended the policy, pointing to improved drive times and transit use. Safety analysts note congestion pricing reduces car traffic, lowers crash risk for pedestrians and cyclists, encourages mode shift, and supports safer, more equitable streets. The program’s future now rests with the federal courts.

• Real road relief: Latest congestion pricing research shows fewer traffic jams and delays across NYC metro area, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-06-18