Bay Street bleeds: four deaths, hundreds hurt, and the clock keeps going

Jan 24 - U.S. cities stall on new rail. New York, once a leader, has not built heavy rail since 1950. Other countries race forward. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous. The gap widens. Vulnerable users pay the price for inaction.

This policy analysis, published January 24, 2023, reviews U.S. transit investment using Transit Explorer data. The article states: 'The U.S. is falling behind in transit investment while other countries are rapidly expanding their systems.' No council bill number applies; this is a report, not legislation. No committee or council member is named. The analysis highlights that New York, despite its vast rail network, has not expanded heavy rail since 1950 and has no major projects funded or under construction. In contrast, cities like Toronto and Seattle are building out their systems. The lack of transit growth leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as safe, reliable alternatives to car travel stagnate. The U.S. commitment to transit is faltering while global peers surge ahead.

• Data: Other Countries Are Building Transit While the U.S. Falls Behind, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 24 - DOT poured new sidewalk, cut a bus detour, and painted red bus lanes at Pelham Bay Park. Riders now move straighter, faster, safer. Crosswalks grew. Concrete replaced chaos. Thousands of Bronx commuters feel the change underfoot and in the ride.

On January 24, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced sidewalk expansion and new contraflow bus lanes at Pelham Bay Park station in the East Bronx. The project, begun in September 2021 and finished last fall, added 1,285 square feet of sidewalk, a new median, and red bus-only lanes on Westchester Avenue. The DOT worked with the MTA to cut a circuitous bus detour, giving Bx12 and other riders a direct path. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'DOT’s work at Pelham Bay Park... may be only one-10th of a mile, but the impact for thousands of riders will be gigantic.' New York City Transit President Richard Davey added, 'Bus lanes don't have to be miles long to deliver a huge impact.' The changes serve 64,000 daily riders, expanding space for pedestrians and shortening bus trips. More crosswalks now connect the busy transfer point, making the area less hostile for those on foot.

• DOT Widens Sidewalk, Adds Contraflow Bus Lane to Help East Bronx Commuters, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 22 - Twenty-two construction workers died last year in New York City. Lawmakers passed Carlos' Law, raising fines for negligent companies to $500,000. State Sen. Jessica Ramos calls it vital as migrants fill non-union jobs. Advocates warn: enforcement and worker awareness still lag.

Carlos' Law, passed in early 2023, raises the maximum penalty for construction companies convicted of criminal negligence leading to worker injury or death from $10,000 to $500,000. The law, named after Carlos Moncayo, aims to curb a surge in construction worker deaths—22 in the past year, the highest in five years. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, representing District 13, called the law 'critically needed' as thousands of migrants enter non-union construction jobs lacking basic safety protections. Ramos and other lawmakers supported the bill, but advocates and union officials warn that without strong enforcement and education for new arrivals, deaths and injuries will persist. The law passed after years of advocacy, but the minimum fine was removed, and nonprofits struggle to train the influx of new workers. As Ramos said, 'Behind every worker is a family expecting them to return home.'

• Construction worker deaths reach 5-year high as lawmakers seek to hold companies responsible, gothamist.com, Published 2023-01-22

Jan 18 - Traffic signs and markings promise safety but often fail. Cyclists and pedestrians pay the price. Ian Lockwood, struck while biking, blames the yellow line, not the driver. U.S. standards chase speed, not safety. True safety means fewer big roads, not more signs.

""Traffic markings create a situation where someone's right and someone's wrong," he added. "And when you're wrong, everyone knows who to blame; it's your fault that you didn't follow the rules. But in the Vision Zero way of thinking, we know that people are fallible, and they're going to make mistakes...[and] we can't confuse safety with freedom from liability."" -- Charles Fall

On January 18, 2023, Streetsblog NYC published a policy critique titled 'Counter-Intuitive Department: Sometimes, Traffic Controls Make Streets More Dangerous.' The article centers on Ian Lockwood, a sustainable transportation expert, who was hit by a truck towing a boat while cycling. Lockwood blames road markings, not the driver, saying, 'I blame it on that yellow line.' He criticizes the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for prioritizing speed over safety, stating, 'They're there to make them faster.' Lockwood argues that traffic controls shift blame onto vulnerable users and do not guarantee safety. He supports Vision Zero and shared space designs, which slow traffic and reduce crashes. The critique calls for fewer big arterials and less reliance on signage, focusing instead on eliminating dangerous road features.

• Counter-Intuitive Department: Sometimes, Traffic Controls Make Streets More Dangerous, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-18

Jan 9 - The Adams administration built just 11.95 of 20 mandated bus lane miles in 2022. Riders wait. Buses crawl. The city shrugs. Council’s law goes unmet. Advocates demand urgency. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price for political inaction and empty promises.

In 2019, the City Council passed the Streets Plan, requiring 20 miles of new protected bus lanes in 2022. By January 9, 2023, the Adams administration had delivered only 11.95 miles—67 percent of the mandate. The Department of Transportation already signaled it cannot meet future targets. The matter title reads: 'Adams Administration’s Failure to Reach Bus Lane Requirement Angers Bus Riders.' Council members and advocates, including Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein, criticized the administration’s slow pace and lack of urgency. Bus riders like Holly and Frank voiced frustration at stagnant speeds and unmet promises. The Council has not set consequences for missing the requirement. The mayor’s office touts other safety efforts but sidesteps the bus lane shortfall. Riders and advocates demand real investment and action to protect vulnerable New Yorkers who rely on buses.

• ‘Disgraceful’: Adams Administration’s Failure to Reach Bus Lane Requirement Angers Bus Riders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-09

Dec 30 - Brooklynites want Grand Army Plaza to serve people, not cars. Hundreds called for car-free space, protected bike lanes, and safer crossings. The plaza’s chaotic traffic traps pedestrians. The city’s paint-and-plastic fixes have failed. Residents demand bold change. The city must listen.

On December 30, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released survey results on the future of Grand Army Plaza. The public consultation, held in November, drew 1,270 in-person responses. The DOT summarized: 'the majority of respondents were interested in options to unify the public spaces.' Council members are not directly named, but city officials like Terra Ishee, DOT Pedestrian Unit Director, acknowledged the limits of past efforts: 'We really need to bump it up and make it a full blown capital project.' Brooklyn organizer Kathy Park-Price of Transportation Alternatives said, 'After decades of car-centric planning, it's time to return Grand Army Plaza to people.' Residents’ top demands: more protected pedestrian space, protected bike lanes, and overhauled traffic operations. The DOT plans a capital project design in fall 2023. The survey shows clear public support for bold, systemic safety improvements for vulnerable road users.

• Survey Says: Make Grand Army Plaza a <I>Great</I> Army Plaza, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-30

Dec 30 - A reckless driver crashed an Audi SUV through a barrier onto LIRR tracks in Brooklyn. One man died. His passenger suffered critical injuries. The SUV had 13 speeding tickets. Police blamed a 'medical episode,' but witnesses saw a u-turn and high speed.

On December 30, 2022, a fatal crash occurred when a driver steered an Audi SUV from Vanderbilt Avenue onto the Long Island Rail Road tracks at Atlantic Avenue. The incident, reported by Streetsblog NYC, involved a 70-year-old man who died and a critically injured passenger. Witnesses described the SUV smashing through a concrete barrier and fence before falling onto the tracks, estimating speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour. The NYPD initially suggested a 'medical episode' but later dropped this claim, despite a pattern of police blaming unexplained crashes on health issues. The vehicle’s license plate had 13 speeding violations since 2019, including four in the past year. No council bill or committee action is attached to this event. The case highlights systemic failures: weak enforcement against repeat reckless drivers, barriers that fail to protect, and police narratives that obscure driver responsibility.

• SUV Plummets onto LIRR Tracks in Brooklyn, Killing One, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-30

Dec 29 - A Hyundai rolled forward on Bay Street. The driver, a 57-year-old woman, lost consciousness. Her car struck a parked Alfa. Metal crumpled. She died at the scene. The street fell silent. No other injuries reported.

A 57-year-old woman died after losing consciousness behind the wheel of her Hyundai near 680 Bay Street, Staten Island. According to the police report, her car rolled forward and struck a parked Alfa sedan. The Hyundai’s front crumpled, and the Alfa’s rear dented. The driver was found dead at the scene, seatbelt fastened. Police list 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians, cyclists, or other occupants were reported injured. The parked Alfa was unoccupied. The data does not list any other driver errors or contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 28 - A pickup driver with 17 school-zone speeding tickets killed Gerardo Cielo Ahuatl on a Williamsburg corner known for danger. The truck, owned by JCDecaux, kept rolling despite 30 violations. No charges. Paint and plastic flappers offered no shield. Concrete came too late.

On December 28, 2022, in Brooklyn’s 34th Council District, a pickup truck driver with 17 school-zone speeding tickets fatally struck moped rider Gerardo Cielo Ahuatl at Grand Street and Graham Avenue. The truck, owned by JCDecaux, had racked up 30 violations since 2017. Despite this, the driver escaped charges, and the vehicle never triggered the city’s Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, which requires safety courses for drivers with repeated violations. The intersection had only paint and plastic flappers—ignored by drivers—until officials added some concrete barriers in the fall. Local council members had pushed for stronger protection. The DOT said it would review safety practices with JCDecaux. The 34th District has one of Brooklyn’s highest truck-related fatality rates. Vulnerable road users remain exposed by weak enforcement and flimsy infrastructure.

• Driver of Truck With 17 Speeding Tickets Fatally Hits Moped Rider In Williamsburg, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-28

Dec 28 - The Streetsie Awards spotlight films that show how cities can save lives. Eckerson’s camera finds danger and hope. Protected bike lanes, open streets, and car-free living get the focus. Jersey City and Hoboken show what’s possible: zero deaths. New York lags. The films demand better.

On December 28, 2022, Streetsblog launched the Streetsie Awards, inviting the public to vote for the year’s best Streetfilm. The event, titled 'The Streetsie Awards: Vote for Your Favorite Streetfilm of the Year!', showcases Clarence Eckerson Jr.’s work documenting the fight for safer streets. The films cover cargo bikes, school streets, women’s rides, and international comparisons. They highlight how protected bike lanes and open streets reduce danger for children and families. Jersey City and Hoboken, featured in one film, have reached zero road deaths by redesigning streets for people, not cars. Council action is not involved, but the advocacy is clear: safer infrastructure saves lives. The films make the case—New York can do better for its most vulnerable.

• The Streetsie Awards: Vote for Your Favorite Streetfilm of the Year!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-28

Dec 27 - DOT failed to build required bike and bus lanes in 2022. Riders and advocates condemned the shortfall. Staff shortages fueled the lapse. City Council demanded action. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. The city’s promise to protect them remains unkept.

On December 27, 2022, the Department of Transportation confirmed it would not meet the legal mandate to build 30 miles of protected bike lanes and 20 miles of dedicated bus lanes, as required by the Streets Plan. The agency completed only 25 miles of bike lanes and 11.95 miles of bus lanes. The matter, titled 'DOT Will Not Reach Required Bike and Bus Lane Requirements This Year,' drew sharp criticism from Riders Alliance and Transportation Alternatives. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance said, 'The Adams administration is many miles wide of the mark when it comes to complying with the Streets Plan and keeping the mayor's promise to millions of riders.' Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives added, 'The city needs to meet these goals without delay or excuse and stop leaving New Yorkers who walk, bike, and bus behind.' A City Council spokesperson blamed staff shortages and unfilled vacancies, calling the situation 'unacceptable.' The Council urged the administration to fill key roles and meet legal requirements. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders—bear the brunt of these failures.

• BREAKING: DOT Will Not Reach Required Bike and Bus Lane Requirements This Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-27

Dec 27 - Pedestrian deaths hit a forty-year high in 2021. SUVs kill more walkers, especially children. Vehicle-into-building crashes devastate. Autonomous cars fail to solve the crisis. Marginalized communities bear the brunt. The car culture’s toll grows. The numbers are grim. The danger is real.

The Streetsie Awards 2022, published December 27, 2022 by Streetsblog NYC, highlights the year’s worst setbacks for vulnerable road users. The commentary notes, 'the stats on 2021's pedestrian death crisis came out not too long ago, and they were awful. As in, the-worst-they-been-in-40-years awful.' No council bill or vote is attached, but the piece draws on federal data and expert analysis. It singles out SUVs as a main threat: drivers are four times more likely to strike pedestrians while turning, and children hit by SUVs are eight times more likely to die than if struck by smaller cars. The article also exposes the frequency and devastation of vehicle-into-building crashes and the false promise of autonomous vehicles. It underscores how car culture’s burdens fall hardest on marginalized communities. The message is clear: systemic danger persists, and the most vulnerable pay the price.

• The Streetsie Awards 2022: The Biggest Bummers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-27

Dec 22 - A 52-year-old woman was struck at a Staten Island intersection. She suffered a fractured, dislocated head injury and was semiconscious. The pickup truck showed no damage. Police list unspecified factors but no driver errors. The victim was in the roadway.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old female pedestrian was injured at an intersection on Bay Street, Staten Island. She sustained a severe head injury described as a fracture and dislocation and was semiconscious after the crash. The vehicle involved was a 2022 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling south, with one licensed male driver from Connecticut. The truck struck the pedestrian with its center front end but showed no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian and driver but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was in the roadway performing other actions at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593235 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 22 - Congress set aside $45 million for bike lanes, sidewalks, and trails. The sum falls short. Advocates wanted more. Only big projects qualify. Most communities see nothing. Lawmakers call it a start. The need is vast. The money is not.

The 2022 federal funding bill, part of the $1.7-trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act, allocates $45 million to the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program. The bill awaits final passage to avoid a government shutdown. The measure aims to 'address gaps in bike lane, sidewalk, and multi-use trail networks.' Brandi Horton of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy called it 'a major victory' but stressed the need for more funding. Congress authorized up to $200 million per year, but only $45 million was delivered for 2023—less than 10 percent of what advocates requested. Projects must cost over $15 million to qualify, leaving most communities behind. A survey found $7 billion in unmet needs for active transportation. Lawmakers included $1.6 billion in transportation earmarks, but most funds still go to highways. Vulnerable road users remain underserved.

• Federal Funding Bill Contains $45M for New Active Transportation Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-22

Dec 22 - MTA leaders warn: no new money, no full service. Peak hour cuts, longer waits. Riders and workers brace for frustration. Advocates and lawmakers push Albany to fill the gap. The board’s budget opens the door to fare hikes and more pain.

""In order to ensure New Yorkers have a transit system that works for them, we have to fill the MTA's financial shortfall and ensure against service cuts and or fare hikes. We have to fix the rot at the heart of the transit system, which means we have to pass the package of bills known as the 'Fix the MTA.'"" -- Charles Fall

On December 22, 2022, MTA leaders announced that without recurring state funding, service cuts are inevitable. The MTA Board approved a 2023 budget allowing fare hikes and service changes, pending Albany’s action. Chairman Janno Lieber said, "All good things can happen if people are willing to pay for them, or help figure out recurring funding sources, which is what MTA needs to achieve fiscal stability." New York City Transit President Richard Davey explained that peak hour service would be trimmed, with modest increases in wait times, while some weekend service would expand. Transit advocates and union leaders, including Richard Davis, condemned the cuts, warning of increased rider frustration and assaults on workers. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani urged passage of bills to freeze fares and fill the MTA’s fiscal gap, stating, "We have to fix the rot at the heart of the transit system." No formal safety analyst assessment was provided, but the debate centers on the risk to riders and workers if service shrinks.

• MTA Bosses Say Albany Can Pay to Keep Full Service Five Days Per Week, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-22

Dec 20 - For decades, Albany has siphoned nearly $5 billion from the MTA. The state calls transit taxes its own contribution, shortchanging riders. Lawmakers and watchdogs demand an end to the shell game. The governor stalls. Riders pay the price in service and safety.

This state budgetary action, revealed December 20, 2022, exposes New York’s long-running diversion of dedicated transit funds from the MTA. Under the 1975 18-b law, the state must match local funding for public transit. Instead, since 1995, Albany has counted regional transit taxes as its own share, leaving a $4.9 billion shortfall. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli criticizes the practice: 'the state has used a portion of these resources... rather than using General Fund revenues as originally intended.' Assembly Member Amy Paulin, chair of the Corporations Committee, insists, 'we don’t have to justify funding the MTA adequately. It is very justified.' Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany calls for an end to 'raiding dedicated funds.' The governor’s office has not pledged to stop. The result: less money for transit, more danger for those who rely on it.

• Revealed: State Pols Underfund Transit With Underhanded Move, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-20

Dec 15 - A Nova bus hit a 69-year-old man on Bay Street. He crossed without a crosswalk or signal. The bus struck him head-on. He died in the street, pain in his legs, awake until the end. Darkness and confusion ruled the scene.

A 69-year-old man was killed on Bay Street near Canal Street in Staten Island when a southbound Nova bus struck him head-on. According to the police report, the man crossed the street in the dark, with no crosswalk or signal. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The bus was slowing or stopping when the impact occurred, hitting the man at the center front end. The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his lower legs and remained conscious until his death. No other injuries were reported among the bus occupants. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of street design and visibility at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 14 - A sedan lost control on wet pavement near Front Street. The car struck an object. The driver suffered a head abrasion. No other people were hurt. Pavement conditions played a role.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old man driving a 2015 Ford sedan was injured when his car slipped on wet pavement near 305 Front Street in Staten Island. The sedan, traveling east, struck an object with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. The driver, the only occupant, suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious and was not ejected. He was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18