Another Child Dead. Leaders Shrug. How Many More Before They Act?

Two SUVs collided on Crowell Avenue in Staten Island. A 63-year-old female driver suffered chest injuries and whiplash. The crash involved driver inattention, with impact on front and side vehicle panels. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:26 on Crowell Avenue, Staten Island, involving two SUVs traveling east and north respectively. The 63-year-old female driver of the northbound SUV was injured, sustaining chest trauma and whiplash. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the collision. The eastbound SUV struck the left side doors of the northbound vehicle, with damage concentrated on the center front end and left side doors. Both drivers were licensed in New York and were going straight ahead prior to impact. The injured driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and airbag deployment. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725244 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A new study shows electrifying every diesel bus in America would slash pollution and greenhouse gases. The biggest gains come in dense city neighborhoods. Diesel buses choke streets with toxic air. Electric buses could clear the air and save lives.

On May 14, 2024, a Carnegie Mellon University study analyzed the impact of electrifying America’s bus fleet. The report, highlighted in Streetsblog NYC, found that replacing diesel buses with electric models could cut 40 million metric tons of greenhouse gases by 2035. The study summary states, 'America would reap massive public health and emissions-reduction benefits from electrifying its bus fleet.' Researcher Sofia Martinez said, 'We definitely need to be advocates for electrification, and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants in any way we can.' The study urges more federal subsidies to speed up the transition. Even replacing aging diesel buses as they retire would cut 35 million tons of CO2. The report stresses the greatest public health gains would come from electrifying buses in the most densely populated neighborhoods, where diesel pollution hits hardest. The study calls for urgent action to protect city dwellers from toxic air.

• What Would Happen if We Electrified Every Bus in America?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-14

Two sedans crashed at Bradley Avenue after one driver failed to yield right-of-way. Both drivers suffered head and chest injuries with whiplash. The impact damaged front ends, highlighting driver error as the key cause in this collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 136 Bradley Avenue involving two sedans traveling north and west. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for one driver. Both drivers were injured: a 59-year-old male suffered head injuries and whiplash, and a 27-year-old male sustained chest injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The vehicles collided front-to-front, with damage to the left front bumper of the Jeep and the center front end of the Lexus. The report explicitly identifies the failure to yield right-of-way by one driver as the primary driver error leading to the crash. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams backs lower speed limits but calls crashes ‘accidents.’ He urges drivers to slow down, yet hedges on citywide changes. The Council and DOT hold the power. Advocates say language matters. Streets remain deadly. Action lags. Lives hang in balance.

On May 8, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams publicly supported lowering speed limits after the passage of 'Sammy’s Law,' which allows New York City to reduce limits to 20 mph on most roads. The law, passed in the state budget, excludes wide, multi-lane roads in the outer boroughs. Adams said, 'I do believe as New Yorkers we need to slow down,' but repeatedly referred to preventable crashes as 'accidents,' a term advocates reject for removing driver responsibility. The City Council must legislate any citywide speed limit change, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) can adjust limits on specific streets after community input. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Speaker Adrienne Adams pledged to 'collaborate and negotiate' with City Hall. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi stressed the need for street redesign and legal reform, noting, 'This is not a problem that goes away on its own.' Despite new authority, the Adams administration has lagged on safe street infrastructure. The city faces its deadliest start to a year in the Vision Zero era, with 60 killed in the first quarter.

• Adams Backs Lower Speed Limits, Calls Crashes ‘Accidents’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-08

Fifty low-income New Yorkers now tap OMNY for Fair Fares. The 90-day pilot brings discounted rides to the MTA’s tap-and-go system. Officials promise wider rollout. Riders get easier access. The city inches toward all-door bus boarding. Barriers remain for many.

On May 1, 2024, the MTA and city officials launched a 90-day OMNY pilot for 50 Fair Fares participants. The pilot, announced by MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara, aims to expand OMNY access for low-income riders. Fair Fares gives half-priced rides to New Yorkers earning up to 120 percent of the federal poverty line. The bill’s matter: 'New Yorkers who participate in the city's half-priced transit program Fair Fares will finally be able to use OMNY.' Mayor Adams and the City Council raised eligibility last year, but advocates want broader access. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber called OMNY key for proof-of-payment checks. David Jones, Community Service Society CEO and MTA Board member, supports OMNY for Fair Fares and urges non-police fare enforcement. The pilot follows delays tied to vending machine deployment. About 800,000 New Yorkers qualify for Fair Fares, but only 331,000 are enrolled. The city and MTA plan to expand OMNY to all Fair Fares users by year’s end.

• EXCLUSIVE: OMNY Debuts on Fair Fares After Delays, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-01

A northbound sedan collided with a parked vehicle on Forest Avenue. The impact struck the sedan’s left side doors, injuring the driver and two passengers. All occupants wore lap belts and remained conscious despite contusions and internal injuries.

According to the police report, a 2015 Nissan sedan traveling north on Forest Avenue struck a parked 2006 Chevrolet vehicle. The point of impact was the sedan’s left side doors, with damage to the left front quarter panel. The sedan carried three occupants: a 26-year-old female driver, a 24-year-old female front passenger, and a 29-year-old male rear passenger. All three were injured, suffering contusions and internal injuries to the neck and entire body. Each occupant was conscious and restrained by lap belts at the time of the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no direct driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding cited. The collision’s cause remains unclear, but the impact and injuries highlight the dangers posed by parked vehicles and side impacts in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719964 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 9877 seeks to kill congestion pricing. Sponsors want more MTA board seats and a forensic audit. No mention of safety for people on foot or bike. The car threat grows unchecked.

Assembly bill A 9877 was introduced on April 24, 2024. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill aims to repeal congestion pricing, add a new MTA board seat for each city borough, and force a forensic audit of the MTA. The matter title reads: 'Relates to repealing congestion pricing (Part A); commissioning an independent audit of the metropolitan transportation authority (Part B); and conducting an environmental impact study (Part C).' Assembly Members Michael Tannousis (primary), Mike Reilly, Samuel Pirozzolo, Michael Novakhov, Lester Chang, and Alec Brook-Krasny sponsor the bill. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided. The bill ignores the deadly risk cars pose to New Yorkers outside vehicles.

• File A 9877, Open States, Published 2024-04-24

A 28-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a vehicle backing unsafely struck her. The crash occurred near Victory Boulevard. Driver inattention and unsafe backing caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian in shock and pain.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:54 near 1774 Victory Boulevard in Staten Island. A vehicle traveling east was backing when it struck a 28-year-old female pedestrian who was emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The point of impact was the center back end of the vehicle. The data does not indicate any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions or safety equipment. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during vehicle backing maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719600 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 73-year-old man lost consciousness behind the wheel on Slosson Avenue. His sedan struck three parked cars. He suffered head abrasions. The crash left heavy damage to all vehicles. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a 73-year-old male driver was heading north on Slosson Avenue when he lost consciousness. His 2022 Honda sedan collided with three parked sedans, damaging his car's left side and the parked vehicles' front and rear ends. The driver suffered head abrasions but remained conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' and 'Illness' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or other occupants were injured. The driver was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The data points to a medical emergency as the cause, with no external driver error or victim fault cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Landmarks officials cleared a new e-bike hub for delivery workers outside City Hall. The vote was 8-1. The hub replaces an empty newsstand. It offers charging, rest, and repairs. Community Board 1 objected. The project moves forward after delays and pushback.

On April 17, 2024, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved a delivery worker e-bike hub outside City Hall by a vote of 8-1. The matter, described as a 'federally funded delivery worker charging station and rest stop,' required LPC review due to its location in a historic district. The project is backed by federal funds secured by Sen. Chuck Schumer. Commissioner Jeanne Lutfy said, 'People need to make a living, they need to make a safe living, and they need to be able to recharge batteries, they need to be able to rest.' Vice Chair Frederick Bland voiced support for the hub's function and design. Commissioner Mark Ginsberg suggested minor design changes. Manhattan Community Board 1 opposed the plan, citing sidewalk encroachment and lack of restrooms. The Parks Department will contract the Workers Justice Project to staff the hub. The project faced delays but is now set to open in late fall. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Landmarks Officials OK Delivery Worker Hub Outside City Hall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-17

Manhattan’s bike network is broken. Eleven miles of missing lanes leave cyclists exposed. Most deaths happen outside protected lanes. The city promised more, but progress stalls. Riders want safety, not scattered paint. The call: connect the gaps, save lives.

This opinion piece, published April 15, 2024, urges the city to address gaps in Manhattan’s protected bike lane network. The article highlights that only 3 percent of streets have protected lanes, and 94 percent of cyclist deaths occur outside them. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is required to build 50 miles of protected lanes per year but has missed targets. The author writes, 'quality matters over quantity,' arguing that well-integrated lanes save more lives than disconnected stretches. The piece maps 11.7 miles of missing protected lanes below 60th Street, calling for a one-time investment to connect the Central Business District. The author urges DOT to prioritize quality infrastructure, not just numbers. No council members are named; this is a public call to action.

• Opinion: Connect the Dots of Manhattan’s Missing Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-15

The FARES Act would slash commuter rail fares for low-income New Yorkers. Riders trapped by high prices could reach Manhattan or Brooklyn in half the time. The bill targets the city’s transit deserts, unlocking faster, fairer travel for working-class families.

The FARES Act, now in the State Senate’s one-house budget, aims to expand Fair Fares to the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North within New York City. The bill would create a weekly CityTicket and extend discounts for seniors and people with disabilities. The matter summary reads: 'Expand Half-Priced Fares to Unlock Commuter Rail for Working Class New Yorkers.' Samuel Santaella, an eastern Queens resident, voices strong support: 'Expanding Fair Fares to include the LIRR would revolutionize my options.' The proposal is backed by Riders Alliance and other advocates. No formal council vote has occurred. The act would cut trip times for outerborough residents and make fast, safe rail travel affordable for thousands.

• OPINION: Expand Half-Priced Fares to Unlock Commuter Rail for Working Class New Yorkers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-09

An 82-year-old man driving a sedan suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision on Clove Road. The crash involved two parked cars and was caused by driver inattention. The victim was trapped but protected by an airbag deployment.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Clove Road in Staten Island at 8:30 p.m. The injured party was an 82-year-old male driver who sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the collision. The crash involved the victim’s sedan striking two parked vehicles, damaging their rear quarter panels and bumpers. The victim was trapped in his vehicle but was protected by an airbag deployment. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The overturned damage to the victim’s vehicle indicates the severity of the impact caused by the distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

NHTSA’s new data shows a grim record: 1,105 cyclists and 7,522 pedestrians killed in 2022. Deaths outside cars now make up 36 percent of all road fatalities. Regulators tout small gains, but the bloodshed for vulnerable users deepens. Hit-and-runs surge. Systemic failure persists.

On April 2, 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released final 2022 and preliminary 2023 traffic fatality numbers. The agency’s summary highlights a modest dip in overall deaths, but the details are stark: 'drivers had killed more cyclists (1,105) than they had in any single year in the entire history of the reporting system—and pedestrian deaths (7,522) were the highest since 1981.' Vulnerable road users now account for 36 percent of all fatalities, up from 20 percent in 1996. Hit-and-run deaths and serious injuries for pedestrians and cyclists both rose 11 percent. Tami Friedrich of the Truck Safety Coalition demanded urgent federal action, stating, 'No one else needs to die because of bureaucratic inaction.' Advocates and Vision Zero supporters call for systemic reforms—speed limiters, automatic braking, safer trucks, and better infrastructure. Until agencies act, the carnage continues, masked by official optimism.

• Latest Pedestrian and Cyclist Fatality Stats Are Deadly Déja-Vu, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-02

A bridge collapse draws national action. Car crashes kill thousands, but get shrugs. The system blames individuals, not failures in design. The toll is steady, silent, and ignored. Urgency is missing. Vulnerable lives pay the price.

This March 28, 2024, Streetsblog commentary highlights the stark difference in national response between the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse and routine car crashes. The article asks, 'What if we treated our national epidemic of car crashes with that same degree of urgency—not to mention that same holistic approach to saving lives?' No council bill number or committee applies; this is a media analysis, not legislation. The piece criticizes how officials and media leap into action for rare infrastructure disasters, but ignore the daily, deadly toll of car violence. It notes that highway expansion is prioritized over repair, and that systemic failures—not individual mistakes—drive the crisis. The commentary urges a shift to a Safe System Approach, demanding the same scrutiny and coordinated action for traffic violence as for headline-grabbing catastrophes. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while the system looks away.

• Why We Care About Some Transportation Tragedies More Than Others, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-28

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Four Brooklyn neighborhoods see no new protected bike lanes. City promised 75 miles by 2022. Cyclist injuries and deaths stay high. Council Members Joseph and Ossé demand action. City Hall and DOT blamed for delay. Equity and safety ignored. Riders remain exposed.

""This failure is yet another glaring example of the administration falling far behind on its commitments to develop bicycle infrastructure in our city,"" -- Charles Fall

On March 26, 2024, the City Council scrutinized DOT’s failure to deliver protected bike lanes in Borough Park, Midwood, Flatbush, and Bedford-Stuyvesant—Vision Zero ‘Bike Priority Areas’ since 2017. The city pledged 75 miles of new or improved bike routes by 2022. As of now, none have been built. Council Member Rita Joseph, representing Flatbush and Midwood, introduced legislation to speed up construction, stating, “My community has been asking for it. The Commissioner has made a commitment. He needs to step up and do it now.” Council Member Chi Ossé condemned the administration’s inaction, calling it “yet another glaring example” of broken promises. Advocates and residents cite safety and equity concerns, noting these districts suffer more cyclist injuries and deaths but get fewer protected lanes. The Council is now considering oversight to enforce legal benchmarks and ensure fair distribution of bike infrastructure.

• SAFETY LAST: DOT Added No New Protected Bike Lanes in Four ‘Priority Districts’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-26

The city’s commercial waste zone plan crawls forward. Only one Queens zone launches this fall. Nineteen more wait in limbo. Oversight is absent. Haulers with deadly records win contracts. Advocates demand speed, transparency, and real safety for streets choked by trucks.

Council Bill for commercial waste zone reform, passed in 2019, remains stalled. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will launch only one zone in central Queens after September 3, 2024. The oversight task force has not met in two years. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who authored the law as a Council member, called DSNY’s rollout a 'missed opportunity' for clarity and accountability. Justin Wood of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest warned, 'The system cannot achieve transformational change if it is treated as a limited pilot program.' The city’s goal to cut truck miles falls short of original promises. Action Carting, whose driver killed a cyclist in 2017, secured contracts for 14 zones. Advocates say the lack of outreach, oversight, and clear safety benchmarks leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Commercial Waste Zone Rollout Too Slow and Unclear: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-26

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20