No Deaths, No Excuses: Injured Lives Demand Action Now

Jun 9 - DOT wants a center-running bus lane on Flatbush Avenue. Council members back it. The plan could cut car lanes, add bus islands, and calm deadly traffic. The mayor must decide. Pedestrians and riders wait. The street’s future hangs in the balance.

On June 9, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported the NYC DOT’s proposal for a center-running bus lane on Flatbush Avenue from Grand Army Plaza to Livingston Street. The plan, supported by Council Members Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, and Rita Joseph, aims to improve transit and pedestrian safety. The matter summary states: 'A proposed center-running bus lane on Flatbush Avenue... is being considered by the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) as a way to improve transit, calm traffic, and enhance pedestrian safety.' The project faces delays and political pushback, including the removal of a protected bike lane after developer objections. A safety analyst notes: 'Center-running bus lanes typically reduce conflicts between buses, cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, calm traffic, and can enable street redesigns that improve safety and comfort for vulnerable road users.' The DOT will present a detailed plan in the fall. The final decision rests with Mayor Adams.

• Flatbush Ave. Could Be Brooklyn’s First Great Transitway (If It’s Done Right), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 20 - Citi Bike workers back Brad Lander for mayor. Their bosses at Lyft fund Andrew Cuomo’s PAC. The split exposes fault lines in city transit. Riders and workers watch. Streets remain dangerous. The fight for safer roads grinds on.

On May 20, 2025, Citi Bike workers endorsed Brad Lander for mayor, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The article states: “Citi Bike's workers are backing Brad Lander for mayor while their bosses at Lyft chip in on Andrew Cuomo's PAC.” This is not a council bill, but a political endorsement. Local 320 President Edwin Aviles called Lander 'the one and only person in NYC government who has ever publicly recognized and championed safety, fair wages, and a fair Collective Bargaining Agreement.' No council member sponsored or voted on this action. The endorsement signals a push for leadership that may prioritize safer streets and better conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. According to safety analysts, this event concerns political endorsements and campaign contributions, not a policy or legislative change affecting pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Share the Love Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-20

May 12 - A man in a Nissan crashed into a police car on Staten Island. He fired a gun through his windshield. Officers dodged the bullet but landed in the hospital, cut by glass. Police found two guns. The driver was arrested.

According to the New York Post (May 12, 2025), a 31-year-old man fled a traffic stop on Staten Island, crashed his Nissan SUV into a police cruiser, and fired a gun through his own windshield, striking the vehicle but missing the officers. The article states, “The gunman smashed his Nissan into the police car and then opened fire on the vehicle, striking it but missing the officers inside.” Officers were hospitalized for injuries from shattered glass. Police recovered two guns from the vehicle. The suspect, on parole for a prior assault, was arrested at the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed flight and armed confrontations during routine traffic enforcement.

• Driver Rams Police, Fires Through Windshield, New York Post, Published 2025-05-12

May 6 - Mayoral hopefuls vow to overhaul city streets. They promise more protected bike lanes, daylighting, and bus lanes. Each pledges to close deadly gaps and enforce Vision Zero. Their words center safety for people walking, biking, and riding transit.

On May 6, 2025, Streetsblog NYC published 'Decision 2025: Mayoral Candidates Answer Our Question 3.' The piece asked candidates how they would make streets safer for walking and biking. Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, and Zohran Mamdani all responded. Stringer highlighted his push for protected bike lanes and daylighting. Myrie promised to meet or exceed the Streets Master Plan’s 50-mile annual bike lane goal and to end delays. Ramos pledged 200 miles of physically separated bike lanes and to close network gaps. Lander committed to the Streets Master Plan and fixing greenway connections. Mamdani vowed to use all mayoral powers for Vision Zero. Each candidate supports redesigning streets to protect vulnerable road users. Their plans focus on proven changes—protected lanes, pedestrian islands, daylighting, and bus lanes—to cut injuries and deaths.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Candidates Answer Our Question 3, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 19 - SUV and sedan collided on St Marks Place. Two women, ages 89 and 91, suffered injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass, bodies in shock.

Two vehicles, a 2023 SUV and a 2013 sedan, collided at 320 St Marks Place in Staten Island. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. Two women, aged 89 and 91, were injured—one a driver, the other a front passenger. Both suffered injuries to their entire bodies. Another two occupants, both women, had unspecified injuries. The report lists no other contributing factors. The sedan occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 17 - Sedan struck motorcycle at Jersey and Benziger. One rider hurt. Police cite failure to yield and improper turn. Streets stay dangerous. Metal meets flesh. Pain follows.

A sedan and a motorcycle collided at Jersey Street and Benziger Avenue in Staten Island. The motorcycle driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly.' These driver errors led to the impact. The report lists no helmet or signal issues as contributing factors. The toll fell hardest on the motorcycle rider, underscoring the risks faced by those outside a car's shell.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806439 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 10 - Two sedans. One stops to park. The other fails to brake. Metal folds, plastic shatters. A woman, fifty, clutches her neck. Whiplash. The street holds the sound.

A rear-end collision unfolded on Hamilton Ave near St Marks Pl. Two sedans were involved. According to the police report, one sedan stopped to park when the other struck it from behind. A 50-year-old woman driving the parked vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Passengers, including a 13-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were present but not seriously hurt. The crash highlights the danger of inattention and tailgating on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - Federal lawyers bark. The MTA stands firm. The U.S. DOT demands New York end congestion pricing by April 20. The state refuses. Threats fly. No action lands. Meanwhile, Manhattan streets see fewer crashes, faster buses, and more people on foot.

On April 9, 2025, federal lawyers told Judge Lewis Liman that the U.S. Department of Transportation still demands New York stop congestion pricing by April 20. The case, rooted in the MTA’s lawsuit against the feds, remains unresolved. The DOT’s attorney, Dominika Tarczynska, said, "The Department of Transportation maintains the position that New York City should stop charging tolls by April 20." MTA attorney Robert Kaplan countered, "Congestion pricing is in effect, we believe it's working, and ... we don't intend to turn it off unless there's an order from your honor." Governor Hochul and the MTA refuse to comply. The federal government threatens vague consequences but takes no concrete steps. The MTA’s November agreement with the Biden-era DOT did not allow for unilateral federal withdrawal. As the legal fight drags on, congestion pricing continues. Streets south of 60th Street see fewer crashes. Bus speeds rise. Foot traffic grows. Vulnerable road users benefit while politicians bicker.

• Feds Insist They’ll Find A Way To Enforce Fake 4/20 Congestion Pricing Deadline, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 8 - Community Board 3 backed the Canal Street open street, but hours got slashed. Residents packed the meeting. Supporters spoke of safety, space, and life without cars. Detractors cited noise and mess. The board voted 13-1 to keep the street open.

""In response to listening to our community, we ve made meaningful changes to the program over this year."" -- Charles Fall

On April 8, 2025, Manhattan Community Board 3 voted 13-1 to continue the Canal Street open street program, despite a reduction in its operating hours and days. The matter, discussed in the Transportation, Public Safety, Sanitation & Environment Committee, drew strong turnout. The meeting's summary: 'A large number of Lower Manhattan residents turned out to support the Canal Street open street, but organizers reduced the program's operating times in response to complaints from some residents.' Chairperson Vincent Cirrito said, 'This is an open space for our residents, for our kids... where they don’t have to worry about vehicles and cars.' Council Member Chris Marte and some residents pushed for further cutbacks, while others defended the open street as vital for safety, accessibility, and local business. The board sided with vulnerable road users, keeping two blocks of Canal Street open to people, not cars.

• Supporters of Open Street Come Out in Droves to Fight Canal Street Cutback, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-08

Apr 3 - Open Streets faces cuts. Federal funds are gone. Mayor Adams offers no city money. DOT warns of shrinking hours and scope. Council Member Krishnan blasts the move. Streets once safe for walkers and riders now risk return to cars. The future is uncertain.

On April 3, 2025, New York City’s Open Streets program entered crisis. The program, legislated by the City Council, lost its federal Covid funding. Mayor Adams has not allocated city funds. The Department of Transportation (DOT) says $5 million is needed to maintain current operations, but the Council’s preliminary budget omits this. DOT Chief of Staff Ryan Lynch told advocates the agency is lobbying for replacement funds. Council Member Shekar Krishnan criticized the mayor’s stance, saying, “It’s deeply misguided to cut funds from the open street program, especially at this moment.” The City Comptroller’s office also faulted the administration for poor planning. The funding gap has already led to reduced hours and fewer open streets. Council members are pushing for restoration, but the program’s future hangs in the balance.

• Open Street Program in Jeopardy As Mayor Adams Is Not Funding It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 31 - A Ford sedan struck an 8-year-old boy playing in the road on Hendricks Avenue, Staten Island. The child suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries. He was left in shock after the impact.

According to the police report, at 20:26 on Hendricks Avenue in Staten Island, a westbound Ford sedan struck an 8-year-old boy who was playing in the roadway, outside an intersection. The vehicle hit the child with its center front end, causing abrasions and significant injuries to his abdomen and pelvis. The boy was reported to be in shock after the crash. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803025 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 26 - DOT scraps waterfront promise. Bronx greenway will run on streets, not riverside. Seven miles of protected bike lanes, road diets. Advocates praise progress, mourn lost oasis. Cars still close. Bronx stays cut off from river. Public input ongoing.

On March 26, 2025, the Department of Transportation unveiled its plan for the Bronx portion of the Harlem River Greenway. The plan, not a council bill but a DOT action, covers a seven-mile route along Bailey Avenue, Sedgwick Avenue, Depot Place, Exterior Street, E. 135th Street, Lincoln Avenue, and Bruckner Boulevard. The DOT cited access issues with state and private landowners, abandoning Mayor Adams’s earlier promise of a true waterfront path. The official summary states: 'protected bike lanes on streets near the waterfront, rather than a true waterfront greenway.' Advocates like Chauncy Young and Laura Solis welcomed protected lanes but lamented the loss of a car-free riverside route. Mayor Adams claimed the project would help undo highway devastation in the Bronx. Still, the plan leaves vulnerable road users exposed to traffic, not shielded by water’s edge. Public workshops are ongoing.

• Off the Waterfront: Bronx Part of ‘Harlem River Greenway’ Will Be Bike Lanes on Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-26

Mar 25 - Andrea Stewart-Cousins joined Hochul and Heastie to demand more federal cash for the MTA. They say New York carries the nation’s riders but gets shortchanged. Without funds, transit projects stall. Riders—millions—hang in the balance. The plea is blunt. The stakes are high.

On March 25, 2025, State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, with Governor Kathy Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, sent a letter to President Trump and federal officials. They called for increased federal funding for the MTA’s $68.4 billion capital plan, citing that New York’s transit system carries 43% of U.S. riders but receives only 17% of federal formula funds. The letter urges, 'Mass transit must be federally funded at a level commensurate to its importance.' Stewart-Cousins, mentioned as a key signatory, previously rejected the capital plan due to a $35 billion shortfall. The group asks for $14 billion in federal support, up from $13 billion in the last plan. The MTA warns that without this funding, critical infrastructure—power, signaling, accessibility—remains at risk. The request is urgent. The city’s transit future depends on it.

• Hochul pens letter Trump asking for more federal funding for the MTA amid ongoing congestion pricing lawsuit, amny.com, Published 2025-03-25

Mar 21 - Albany faces a $33.4-billion MTA gap. The Citizens Budget Commission urges deep cuts, fare hikes, and more city and state cash. Expansion projects like the Interborough Express may die. Riders risk worse service if lawmakers stall. The clock ticks.

On March 21, 2025, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released a warning about the MTA’s $33.4-billion capital budget gap for 2025–2029. The CBC recommends slashing $17 billion, scrapping expansion plans like the Interborough Express, and boosting city and state contributions by $9 billion. The CBC calls for a 6 percent hike in fares, tolls, and vehicle fees—higher than the planned 4 percent. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said tax hikes are on the table. Governor Hochul’s office backs a payroll tax hike, but the CBC wants it regionalized. The CBC’s Andrew Rein said, “We have to prioritize state-of-good-repair, basic modernization, and delay some of the system expansions.” The report warns that failing to fund maintenance will gut service, repeating past crises. No direct safety analysis was provided, but cuts threaten transit reliability for millions.

• Albany Running Out of Options to Close MTA Funding Gap: Watchdog, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-21