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

Oct 14 - A truck driver killed Kala Santiago on a no-truck route. He passed too close, failed to yield, and faced no charges. The city lacks a three-foot passing law. A 2019 bill to fix this died in committee. Cyclists remain exposed. Justice denied.

In 2019, then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez introduced a bill requiring drivers to keep a minimum three-foot distance when overtaking cyclists. The bill, supported by NYPD and DOT, never reached a vote before Rodriguez’s term ended and has not been reassigned. The bill summary states it 'would require drivers of motor vehicles to maintain a minimum distance of three feet when overtaking a bicycle.' Rodriguez sponsored the bill. Legal experts Daniel Flanzig and Steve Vaccaro criticized the lack of enforcement and the absence of a defined safe passing law, noting that most of the country already has such protections. Flanzig called the law essential to prevent tragedies like the death of Kala Santiago, who was killed by a truck driver on Parkside Avenue. Without this law, cyclists remain at risk, and drivers rarely face consequences.

• No Charges for Truck Driver Who Killed Cyclist Despite Being on a No-Truck Route and Failing to Yield, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-14

Oct 5 - A Brooklyn woman walked to yoga. A driver struck her in a crosswalk. Metal met flesh. Pain followed. The police blamed her. The driver sent a sorry note. She joined the ranks of thousands hurt each year. Streets stay dangerous. Victims carry the weight.

On October 5, 2022, a personal testimony on pedestrian safety and traffic violence was published by Streetsblog NYC. The account details a crash: 'I was hit by a car driver while on my way to a yoga class in my Brooklyn neighborhood.' The driver struck the pedestrian in a crosswalk. Council action is not involved, but the testimony exposes systemic failure. Police blamed the victim: 'The police report blamed the victim: I caused my own pain.' The driver offered an apology, but took no responsibility. The story highlights the normalization of danger for pedestrians and the lack of driver accountability. No safety analyst assessment is available, but the narrative underscores the daily toll of car violence and the routine victim-blaming that follows.

• The Day I Was Hit By a Driver Changed My Life, And My City, Forever, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-05

Oct 3 - DC Council’s transit bill moves. Committee votes yes. Every resident gets $100 monthly for Metro. Funds target bus, streetcar, and neighborhoods left behind. Lawmakers say it’s costly, but worth it. Riders wait for better, cheaper, fairer service.

The Metro for DC Amendment Act of 2021 advanced on October 3, 2022, with a unanimous vote by the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment. The bill promises, as its summary states, to put '$100 per month on District residents' SmarTrip cards' and to invest millions in bus and streetcar improvements, especially for underserved neighborhoods. Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) introduced the bill, joined in support by Christina Henderson (At-large) and Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4). Committee Chair Mary Cheh (Ward 3) acknowledged the program’s high cost—an estimated $163 million in fiscal year 2025—but called the community benefit 'more than worth it.' The bill also creates a $10 million Transit Equity fund. The measure now heads to the Committee of the Whole for further review and two rounds of voting. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has not yet scheduled a hearing.

• DC May Soon Give Every Resident $100 Per Month For Transit, Improve Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-03

Oct 2 - Oswald Feliz halted DOT’s Fordham Road bus lane. He demanded a year’s pause. The move stalls safer, faster transit. Thousands of daily bus riders wait. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. Cars keep ruling the street. The city’s promise fades.

On October 2, 2022, Councilmember Oswald Feliz of District 15 opposed the Department of Transportation’s plan to convert segments of Fordham Road to bus and delivery-only lanes. Feliz asked DOT to pause the redesign for at least 12 months, citing concerns about traffic diversion and business impacts. The matter, reported as 'Eric Adams’ ambitious bus lane plans hit roadblock on NYC’s Fordham Road,' details how Feliz’s opposition blocks a key part of Mayor Adams’ pledge to build 20 new miles of bus lanes. DOT’s proposal aimed to restrict private vehicle traffic and prioritize buses and deliveries, a move supported by transit advocates and local polls. But Feliz’s action keeps the status quo: crowded streets, slow buses, and danger for those outside cars. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Eric Adams’ ambitious bus lane plans hit roadblock on NYC’s Fordham Road, nypost.com, Published 2022-10-02

Sep 30 - Skillman Avenue’s protected bike lane sparked outrage. Critics warned of empty shops and lost jobs. But after the lane went in, business grew. Sales rose 12 percent. Crashes fell by nearly a quarter. The street got safer. The warnings proved hollow.

This report covers the installation of a protected bike lane on Skillman Avenue in Queens, completed in fall 2018. The project faced fierce opposition, with critics predicting economic ruin for local businesses. Streetsblog obtained sales tax data from the Department of Finance, showing that, after the bike lane went in, Skillman Avenue’s main commercial stretch saw a 12 percent increase in sales and a net gain of three businesses. The article states: 'The economy of Skillman Avenue grew after the city built the new lane.' Department of Transportation spokeswoman Mona Bruno praised the redesign, saying, 'It's thrilling to see the neighborhood flourish with safer and more sustainable streets.' Crash data show a 24 percent drop in crashes and a 28 percent drop in injuries after installation. The findings challenge the myth that bike lanes hurt business and highlight the safety gains for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Business Grew After Controversial Bike Lane Installed, Data Show, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-30

Sep 28 - Council Speaker Adrienne Adams rejects outdoor dining in parking lanes. She calls for sidewalk-only setups, ignoring cramped sidewalks and city data. Her stance favors car storage over public space. Council Member Bottcher and advocates push back, demanding streets for people.

On September 28, 2022, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams made a public statement opposing the use of parking lanes for outdoor dining. The matter, discussed at a Citizens Union breakfast, centered on the future of the Open Restaurants program. Adams said, "Outdoor dining, in my perspective, should be sidewalk. The street extensions were designed to be temporary." The City Council is currently developing legislation to allow restaurants to use parking lanes, but Adams’s comments signal resistance. Council Member Erik Bottcher countered, calling the use of road space for dining "an overall positive development." Adams’s stance ignores the reality that most city sidewalks are too narrow for sidewalk-only dining, squeezing pedestrians and limiting restaurant survival. Advocates and groups like Transportation Alternatives and Open Plans criticized her position, urging the Council to reclaim public space from cars and support vibrant, safe streets for all.

• Council Speaker Makes Her Choice: Car Storage over Diners and Restauranteurs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-28

Sep 28 - D.C. council moved to ban right turns on red. The Safer Intersections Act passed a unanimous preliminary vote. Cyclists could yield at lights. Pedestrians and cyclists face fewer deadly turns. The law targets a decades-old danger. Final approval and Congressional sign-off still needed.

Bill B22-0000, known as the Safer Intersections Act, advanced in the Washington, D.C. council with a unanimous preliminary vote on September 28, 2022. The bill, under committee review, would prohibit right turns on red except at designated intersections and allow cyclists to treat stoplights as yield signs. The matter summary states the act 'will prohibit right-on-reds except at designated intersections.' Council Member Christina Henderson acknowledged the controversy, highlighting that 'the vast majority of [traffic violence] incidents are occurring in communities of color.' Advocates and council members argue the ban will reduce deadly 'right-hook' crashes, especially as large vehicles create blind zones. The bill awaits a final vote and Congressional approval, aiming to protect vulnerable road users and address longstanding inequities in traffic violence.

• Advocates Hope D.C.’s Proposed Right-On-Red Ban Will Inspire National Reform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-28

Sep 27 - Sanitation’s ‘Clean Curbs’ bins land on Staten Island. Trash moves off sidewalks. Curb space shifts from cars to public use. The city eyes more locations. Streets get less cluttered. Pedestrians gain room. The program grows, block by block.

On September 27, 2022, the Department of Sanitation announced the expansion of its 'Clean Curbs' pilot program to Staten Island, with a new installation at 704 Bay St. The initiative, previously launched in Times Square and Brooklyn, containerizes commercial trash to clear sidewalks of leaky bags. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce received a $3,500 grant for the project, which uses bins from CITIBIN, a Brooklyn-based woman-owned business. DSNY spokesman Vincent Gragnani said, 'Use of bins in these two different locations...will improve quality of life in these locations, while helping us learn more about containerized trash in a variety of New York City settings.' The program also repurposes curbside space for public use—like loading zones and parklets—instead of private car storage, freeing up sidewalks for pedestrians.

• Sanitation Dept’s ‘Clean Curbs’ Program Spreads to Staten Island, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-27

Sep 26 - City Hall missed the mark. Only 6.9 of 30 promised bike lane miles built. Just 2 of 20 bus lane miles delivered. Advocates say the Bronx is left behind. Riders and walkers wait. Promises broken. Streets stay dangerous. Progress stalls. Lives at risk.

On September 26, 2022, advocacy groups Transportation Alternatives and Riders Alliance released a report slamming the Adams administration for failing to meet the NYC Streets Master Plan’s legal mandates. The report states, 'the city is at only 23% of its bike lane goal and 10% of its bus lane goal for the year.' Elizabeth Adams called for protected bike lanes, saying, 'For the future of our climate and the safety on our streets, protected bike lanes need to be a priority.' Danny Pearlstein demanded faster action on bus lanes. Michael Kaess highlighted the Bronx’s lack of progress. The Department of Transportation disputed the numbers, but advocates pointed to missed deadlines and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and political interference are blamed. Vulnerable road users—cyclists, bus riders, pedestrians—remain exposed as the city drags its feet.

• New Report Shows Mayor Does Not ‘Get Stuff Done’ for Bus Riders, Cyclists, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-26

Sep 26 - Electric cars promise cleaner air. But the rise of pickups and SUVs drowns out progress. Heavier, dirtier vehicles clog streets and pump out carbon. Loopholes let automakers dodge real cuts. The climate and city air pay the price.

This policy analysis, published September 26, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, examines how surging sales of pickups and SUVs undermine carbon reductions from electric vehicles. The report states, 'sales of gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs are also surging. This other face of the market subverts electric cars’ carbon-cutting progress.' No council bill number or committee is attached, as this is a policy report, not legislation. The analysis highlights that regulatory loopholes and weaker standards for larger vehicles allow automakers to offset EV gains by selling more polluting trucks and SUVs. The author urges tightening greenhouse gas standards, especially for large gasoline-powered vehicles, and closing loopholes that let automakers evade meaningful carbon cuts. The report warns that unless regulators act, excessive emissions from pickups and SUVs will harm the climate and city air for years, stalling the benefits of electric vehicles for all road users.

• How Surging Pickup and SUV Sales Are Undermining Carbon Reductions From EVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-26

Sep 26 - Amtrak slashed trains in the pandemic. Riders still wait. The Adirondack route sits idle. Hudson Valley service lags. Trains run packed. Passengers get stranded. The state and Amtrak point fingers. Riders want action. The city needs more trains now.

This advocacy opinion, published September 26, 2022, calls for immediate restoration of Amtrak’s Adirondack service and expanded Hudson Valley trains. The matter, titled 'Opinion: Amtrak Must Restore Adirondack Service Now!', urges Amtrak and the New York State Department of Transportation to act. Steve Strauss and the Empire State Passengers Association press for more trains, added cars, and restored bike and baggage capacity. The piece blames state and Amtrak inaction for packed trains and stranded riders. It highlights that New York funds all Amtrak service north of the city, making state officials as responsible as Amtrak. The opinion demands urgent action to fill service gaps and meet rider demand.

• Opinion: Amtrak Must Restore Adirondack Service Now!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-26

Sep 23 - Mayor Adams promised hundreds of miles of bike and bus lanes. The city is far behind. Only a trickle of new lanes appear. Councilman Restler demands faster action. Riders and walkers wait. Streets stay dangerous. Progress crawls. The toll mounts.

This progress report, dated September 23, 2022, highlights the city’s failure to meet Mayor Adams’ pledge for 300 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of bus lanes in four years. The Mayor’s Management Report shows only 32 protected bike lane miles and 2 bus lane miles added in fiscal year 2022—far short of the annual targets. Councilman Lincoln Restler, District 33, is quoted: “We’ve approved $904 million for better bus lanes, more pedestrian space, and protected bike lanes and now we need to pick up the pace on implementation.” Restler pledges robust oversight and accountability, pressing the Department of Transportation to deliver. The report details frustration from council members and advocates over missed deadlines, slow progress, and persistent dangers for vulnerable road users. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Mayor Adams’ pledge to build bike and bus lanes falling short, gothamist.com, Published 2022-09-23

Sep 22 - DOT bleeds talent. One in five top jobs sit empty. Projects stall. Safety work slows. Leadership wobbles. Staff burn out. Promises break. Streets stay dangerous. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price. The lights stay on, but hope flickers.

This report, published September 22, 2022, exposes a staffing crisis inside the New York City Department of Transportation. Nearly 20% of top agency positions are vacant. The article, titled 'Just Keeping the Lights On,' details how these gaps cripple street safety and improvement projects. Key leadership roles—chief of staff, general counsel, communications director—remain unfilled. Employees blame city hiring policies, pandemic resignations, and weak leadership from Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. One former staffer says, 'We couldn't produce anything new. We were just keeping the lights on.' Another warns, 'The agency's ability to respond to severe injuries and fatalities is also limited and slow.' Political interference and lack of expertise at the top deepen the crisis. The result: fewer bus lanes, stalled bike infrastructure, and a city where vulnerable road users face mounting danger.

• ‘Just Keeping the Lights On’: Low Morale, High Staff Vacancy Rate Hobble Department of Transportation, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-22

Sep 17 - An unlicensed male e-bike driver struck his female passenger on Bay Street, Staten Island. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The bike’s front center end was damaged. The passenger remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a male driver operating an e-bike without a license was traveling south on Bay Street in Staten Island. The vehicle’s center front end collided, injuring a 27-year-old female occupant. She sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific contributing factors beyond the driver’s unlicensed status. The passenger’s role was classified as 'Other' with 'Other Actions in Roadway' noted, but no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were specified. The e-bike sustained damage to its center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 13 - Council Members push a bill to swap wailing sirens for hi-lo tones and vibrating tech. The aim: less noise, fewer health harms. Sirens will still clear streets, but without the shriek. The city’s nights could finally quiet down.

On September 13, 2022, Council Member Carlina Rivera, joined by Gale Brewer and seven others, sponsored a bill to mandate hi-lo, 'two-tone' sirens for emergency vehicles. The bill, discussed in committee, would cap siren volume at 90 decibels and encourage use of vibrating, low-frequency siren technology. The matter title calls for 'mandating the use of hi-lo, "two-tone" sirens by emergency response vehicles.' Brewer wrote, 'the city should mandate that emergency responders use hi-lo as their default siren and cap sirens at 90 decibels—as required by the proposed legislation—and scale up their use of vibrating siren technology.' The bill seeks to cut the health harms of constant siren noise, which studies link to hypertension and heart disease. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was noted.

• OPINION: Let’s Turn Down the Noise on Sirens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-13

Sep 7 - Car culture drains wallets and endangers lives. Oil, auto, and insurance giants profit while public transit withers. Politicians suspend gas taxes, starving transit funds. Predatory loans and high insurance rates bleed drivers. Vulnerable road users pay the price in blood and dollars.

This opinion piece, published September 7, 2022, on Streetsblog NYC, attacks the narrative that congestion pricing is a 'cash grab.' Author Nicole A. Murray argues the true financial and social burden comes from car culture itself. The article highlights how automotive, oil, and insurance industries siphon money from the public, while political decisions—like Governor Hochul's gas tax suspension—undercut transit funding. The piece states: 'The real cash grab: the silent hands that the automotive and subsidiary industries have in our pockets—all of our pockets—every day.' Murray calls out the hypocrisy of congestion pricing opponents who ignore the needs of transit-dependent New Yorkers. No council bill number or committee is involved; this is a public statement, not legislation. The article exposes how car dependency and predatory lending practices trap working families, while public transportation offers a path to freedom and safety.

• OPINION: The Real ‘Cash Grab’ Isn’t Congestion Pricing — It’s Car Culture, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-07

Sep 5 - Two sedans collided on Hannah Street. A female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash involved a rear-end impact while one vehicle was stopped in traffic.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling east on Hannah Street collided in a rear-end crash. The female driver of the struck vehicle was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The striking vehicle was moving straight ahead, while the struck vehicle was stopped in traffic. No specific driver errors were listed in the report. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The impact occurred at the center back end of the stopped sedan and the center front end of the moving sedan. The report does not specify contributing factors or blame.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4561157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 31 - DOT will daylight intersections, ban left turns, and add pedestrian space on McGuinness Boulevard. Eleven pedestrians and four cyclists have died here since 1995. Advocates demand a full redesign. The city promises more action after these quick fixes.

On August 31, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced interim safety improvements for McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint. The street has seen 1,594 crashes, 44 cyclist injuries, 67 pedestrian injuries, and three deaths since 2013. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced the changes, which include daylighting intersections, banning left turns at key avenues, and adding painted pedestrian extensions. Gallagher said, 'Quick, iterative incremental changes will be a great way to reduce injuries and fatalities rather than waiting for an entire overhaul.' Council Member Lincoln Restler praised the upgrades as 'a step in the right direction.' Bronwyn Breitner of Make McGuinness Safe Coalition called for a full-scale redesign, reallocating space from cars to people. The city will revisit the corridor plan this winter after installing these measures in the fall.

• DOT Will Give Deadly McGuinness Boulevard Some Safety Fixes Before Full Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-31

Aug 30 - Senator Julia Salazar’s Ride Clean bill passed the New York Senate 60-3. It offers up to $1,100 for e-bike purchases. The bill aims to cut car use and emissions. It stalled in the Assembly. Lawmakers say it makes e-bikes accessible for working New Yorkers.

Senate Bill S7703, known as the Ride Clean rebate, passed the New York State Senate on June 2022 by a 60-3 vote. The bill sits stalled in the Assembly committee since January. The measure, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar, would require NYSERDA to cover half the cost of e-bike purchases, up to $1,100. Salazar said, 'When the federal government falls short, it really does fall on the state to step up and take responsibility.' Assembly sponsor Robert Carroll added, 'This is not a luxury item.' The bill’s summary states it aims to make e-bikes accessible and reduce car dependence. If enacted, New York would join a handful of states offering direct e-bike subsidies, targeting emissions and car use in daily trips.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-30

Aug 26 - Congestion pricing cuts traffic in Manhattan. Air grows cleaner in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Hudson County. Truck diversions raise miles driven, but fine particle pollution drops. Health improves. Advocates push for electric buses, cleaner trucks, and strict air monitoring.

This policy analysis, published August 26, 2022, reviews the impact of congestion pricing on air quality, focusing on the Bronx. The report states: 'Air quality and public health in the Bronx will receive a boost from congestion pricing, even under a toll scenario that diverts substantial truck traffic.' The analysis draws from the MTA's environmental assessment, especially Toll Scenario A, which projects less particulate matter (PM2.5) in Bronx air despite increased vehicle miles. The health benefits for Bronx residents match those in Queens, Brooklyn, and Hudson County. Environmental justice and transportation advocates call for rapid electrification of buses and trucks, capping highways, and rigorous air monitoring to prevent new pollution hot spots. The analysis values total health benefits at $20.8 million for 2023. No council members are named in this report.

• ANALYSIS: Congestion Pricing Will Lead to Better Air Quality in The Bronx, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-26