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

A sedan driven by a woman with a learner's permit struck a parked sedan’s left rear bumper. The driver suffered neck contusions but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The crash occurred near College Avenue under unclear conditions.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southwest driven by a 50-year-old woman with a learner's permit collided with a parked sedan at the left rear bumper. The driver was injured, sustaining neck contusions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The parked vehicle was unoccupied at the time of impact. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The crash highlights risks posed by inexperienced drivers operating vehicles with learner permits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684891 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 70-year-old man driving a sedan on Clove Road suffered a shoulder abrasion. The crash struck the vehicle’s right front bumper. The driver was conscious and restrained. Distraction outside the car and glare contributed to the collision.

According to the police report, a 70-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Clove Road, Staten Island. The driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, sustained an abrasion to his shoulder and upper arm. The vehicle, a 2011 Honda sedan, was impacted on the right front bumper while traveling southeast. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Glare' as contributing factors. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver was conscious and not ejected. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and environmental conditions affecting visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683617 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV and sedan crashed head-on on Watchogue Road. Two front-seat passengers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite traffic control disregard. Both vehicles took heavy front-end damage.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV and a Honda sedan collided head-on on Watchogue Road near Livermore Avenue. Two front-seat passengers, a 27-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy, were injured with neck trauma and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, showing a driver failed to obey signals or signs. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage. No ejections occurred. The injuries were classified as severity level 3.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680583 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV slammed into right front bumper. Elderly driver hurt in arm and shoulder. Shock set in. Police blamed driver distraction. No one else involved. Metal and flesh took the blow.

According to the police report, a 79-year-old woman driving a 2010 Honda SUV southbound on Jewett Avenue crashed, striking with the right front bumper. She suffered injuries to her upper arm and shoulder and went into shock, also reporting pain and nausea. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash underscores the risk posed by driver distraction, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV veered on Forest Avenue. Driver distracted. Slammed into pickup’s rear. Nineteen-year-old woman in front seat hurt. Neck scraped. Lap belt and harness held her. Streets stayed loud. Danger did not blink.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling east on Forest Avenue changed lanes and struck the left rear quarter panel of a pickup truck moving in the same direction. The SUV driver was inattentive and distracted, listed as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" in the report. A 19-year-old female passenger in the SUV suffered neck abrasions. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash left her injured while both drivers held valid licenses and operated their vehicles legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Portland’s council slammed the brakes on the Gorham Connector. They demand transit options get a fair shot before bulldozers roll. Critics say the highway will fuel sprawl, worsen air, and ignore climate goals. The Turnpike Authority pushes ahead. Lives hang in the balance.

On November 16, 2023, the Portland City Council unanimously passed a resolution targeting the Gorham Connector highway project. The matter, described as a call to 'stop its work on the highway until rapid transit options have been properly examined,' urges the Maine Turnpike Authority to pause construction. Council members cited climate change and Maine’s emissions goals, demanding transit and land-use reforms come first. The council’s action follows a 2012 study warning that new roads alone won’t fix traffic. Local groups like GrowSmart Maine and businesses such as Smiling Hill Farm oppose the project, fearing it will worsen sprawl and pollution. Despite council opposition and federal funding for transit studies, the Turnpike Authority continues land acquisition and environmental reviews. Vulnerable road users face increased risk if the highway moves forward without transit alternatives.

• Highway Boondoggles 2023: The Pain in Maine Falls Mainly in … Gorham, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

New York calls its buses rapid, but the lanes clog with cars. Riders wait. Promises break. Advocates demand real bus rapid transit: center lanes, fast boarding, tough enforcement. Without action, the city’s buses crawl. Vulnerable riders pay the price in time and danger.

This Streetsblog NYC analysis, published November 13, 2023, examines New York’s failure to deliver true Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The article, titled 'Want More Rapid Bus Transit? Build Real Bus Rapid Transit,' criticizes Mayor Adams for not following through on campaign pledges to expand bus lanes and implement full BRT. Advocates like Annie Weinstock and JP Patafio argue that dedicated center-running lanes, off-board fare collection, and strict enforcement are needed to speed up buses and protect riders. The piece notes, 'Current bus lanes, like on Utica [Avenue], really it’s almost like a parking lot, because they cover the plates and there’s no enforcement.' The report highlights that without strong leadership and commitment, bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—remain exposed to slow service and street danger. No council bill number or committee is attached; this is a policy analysis and advocacy call to action.

• Want More Rapid Bus Transit? Build Real Bus Rapid Transit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-13

Brad Hoylman-Sigal calls for new laws on e-bikes. He says streets brim with fast machines. Pedestrians, especially elders and children, face rising risk. The council member demands action. He wants rules to protect those on foot. The city must not wait.

On November 12, 2023, Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47) publicly called for legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers, including e-bikes. The editorial, titled 'Hitting the brakes on e-bikes: New York needs legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers,' stresses, 'the vulnerable pedestrian, especially seniors and kids, must remain king and queen. Do more to protect them.' Hoylman-Sigal is mentioned as a key advocate. The statement supports both regulation of e-bikes and greater protection for pedestrians. No formal bill has been introduced yet, and no committee has taken up the matter. The editorial highlights the urgent need for city action to shield those most at risk on New York’s streets.

• Hitting the brakes on e-bikes: New York needs legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-11-12

Older adults die first in disasters. Heat, floods, storms hit them hardest. The pattern is clear. The toll is high. No change in twenty years. The system fails them. The city looks away. The danger grows. The deaths mount.

On November 9, 2023, the Talking Headways Podcast spotlighted the deadly impact of climate emergencies on older adults. Danielle Arigoni, managing director at the National Housing Trust, discussed her book, 'Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation.' She said, 'time and time again, older adults are the majority of deaths in disasters.' The episode detailed how, from Hurricane Katrina to the Lahaina wildfires, seniors bear the brunt of heat, floods, and storms. Host Jeff Wood pressed on the need for policy that protects the vulnerable. The discussion made clear: the system ignores the predictable, mounting toll on older adults. No council bill or vote was involved, but the call for action was urgent. The city cannot keep looking away.

• Talking Headways Podcast: Aging Adults and Climate Emergencies, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-09

Two SUVs stopped in traffic collided on Crystal Avenue. The rear vehicle struck the front vehicle’s back end. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided while stopped in traffic on Crystal Avenue. The rear SUV struck the center back end of the front SUV. Both drivers, a 44-year-old and a 31-year-old male, were injured with neck pain and whiplash but remained conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained damage at the points of impact. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677685 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council Member Chi Ossé condemned DOT for stalling the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The lane, long promised and long dangerous, remains unbuilt. Ossé demanded action. Cyclists keep dying. DOT offered no timeline. The city’s failure leaves lives at risk.

""The bike lane has strong community support, and its benefits are obvious. 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 November 2, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the protected bike lane project on Bedford Avenue. The project, which was supposed to upgrade a painted lane to a parking-protected lane, has been pushed to at least next spring. Ossé wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, calling the delay 'unacceptable' and demanding a firm installation date. He stated, 'The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected.' Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, echoed his frustration, citing record cyclist deaths and urgent need for safety. The DOT has not responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights the city’s repeated failures to deliver promised street safety improvements.

• Council Member Chi Ossé Blasts DOT For Delaying — And Maybe Killing — Bedford Ave Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-02

Mayor Adams shrugged off legal targets for new bike and bus lanes. He told DOT staffers he cares more about community input than hard numbers. His stance leaves city law unmet. Advocates warn: vague promises, little accountability, danger for those outside cars.

On November 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams dismissed the city’s legal requirements to build 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of bus lanes each year, as mandated by the Streets Master Plan. In a closed-door meeting with the Department of Transportation, Adams said, "My legacy is not how many bike miles I do. My legacy is not how many bus lanes I do." He signaled a shift from measurable safety benchmarks to a focus on community input, a move DOT staffers called "extremely micromanaged." Adams’s administration has failed to meet even the minimum legal standards for new lanes. A mayoral spokesman claimed the city still delivers "safe, efficient streets," but advocates say Adams’s approach relies on vague metrics and lacks accountability. No council members are directly involved; this is a mayoral policy stance. The result: fewer protected spaces for vulnerable road users, more risk on city streets.

• Adams Dismisses Bus, Bike Lane Mile Requirements At DOT Meeting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-01

A Ford SUV and a bus crashed on Staten Island’s Clove Road. The SUV driver, a 23-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Alcohol and improper lane usage contributed to the collision. Both vehicles hit front-right quarters.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Clove Road involving a 2014 Ford SUV and a 2019 Eldorado Axess bus. The SUV driver, a 23-year-old male occupant, was injured with abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists alcohol involvement and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel, and the bus was damaged at its right front bumper. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights driver errors related to alcohol use and lane misuse.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 68-year-old woman died after an SUV ran her down in a chaotic Williamsburg intersection. Police blamed her for tripping. The driver, with a record of speeding and red-light violations, faced no charges. Blood stained the street. The system failed again.

On October 19, 2023, police responded to a fatal crash at Broadway and Flushing Avenue in Williamsburg. The NYPD said a 68-year-old woman 'tripped and fell in front of an SUV driver who then ran right over her, dragging her body across a notoriously treacherous intersection.' The driver, a 72-year-old woman, did not stop until witnesses intervened. Despite the Jeep’s record—two school-zone speeding tickets and a red-light violation since August—police let her go without charges. The NYPD blamed the victim, Aurora Soto, for her own death. Streetsblog reports this is part of a 'long and sordid history of victim-blaming.' The intersection has seen 197 crashes and 49 cyclist and pedestrian injuries since 2019. The Department of Transportation did not comment.

• Police Blame Woman for Her Own Death After She Trips in Front of SUV, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-19

A 61-year-old woman was hit on Clove Road while crossing with the signal. The sedan, making a left turn, failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered hip and upper leg injuries but remained conscious. The driver showed inattention and distraction.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southeast on Clove Road struck a 61-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The driver was making a left turn and failed to yield right-of-way, contributing to the crash. Driver inattention and distraction were also listed as factors. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle showed no damage despite striking the pedestrian with its center front end. The report highlights driver errors without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671525 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Mayor Adams slammed his own DOT’s outreach, stalling bike and bus lane projects. He says communities need more input. Advocates warn this lets small groups block life-saving changes. The city falls behind on safety targets. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

On October 17, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams made a public statement criticizing the Department of Transportation’s community outreach for street redesigns. No council bill number applies; this is a mayoral policy stance. Adams said, “We have not done a good job of speaking to long-term residents on how they want the shaping of their streets to change.” He announced a new door-to-door engagement strategy on Underhill Avenue, after stalling a bike network project for over a year. Adams’s comments came as he defended delays and rollbacks of approved street safety improvements, citing the need for more community input. Advocates like Jon Orcutt (Bike New York) and Juan Restrepo (Transportation Alternatives) condemned the mayor’s approach, warning it gives veto power to small groups and leaves the city “rudderless” on street safety. DOT outreach has dropped to its lowest since Vision Zero began. The city is on pace to miss its bike and bus lane goals for the second year running. Vulnerable road users face continued danger as life-saving projects stall.

• Mayor Adams Blasts Mayor Adams’s DOT Community Outreach Efforts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-17

Mayor Adams orders lidded bins for small buildings. No more loose bags on sidewalks. The rule hits next fall. Bins stay on sidewalks, not in the curb. Advocates say it’s better, but not enough. Pedestrians still dodge obstacles. The curb remains for cars.

On October 11, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new sanitation rule: buildings with nine or fewer units must use lidded trash bins starting next fall. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) leads the rollout. The plan covers about 41% of city housing. The official summary states, 'New Yorkers living in smaller residential buildings will have to set out their garbage in lidded bins.' DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended sidewalk placement, saying, 'It is standard practice around the world to put wheelie bins out on the sidewalk rather than in the parking lane.' Advocate Christine Berthet countered, 'While the bags will be easy to move between cars, containers will be much harder. And therefore having them in the parking lane would be a major benefit.' The city will retrofit trucks for the new bins. For now, pedestrians must still navigate bins on crowded sidewalks. The curb stays reserved for parked cars.

• It’s Starting: City Unveils Trash Containerization for Smaller Buildings, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-11

Mayor Adams backs taking 150,000 parking spots for garbage containers. He calls it a small price for cleaner streets. The plan shifts trash from sidewalks to bins, clearing paths for pedestrians. Council member Abreu supports the West Harlem pilot. Resistance remains.

On October 11, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced support for the Sanitation Department's plan to repurpose 150,000 parking spaces for containerized garbage collection. The policy, unveiled by DSNY, aims to move trash from sidewalks into closed bins, targeting cleaner streets and less sidewalk clutter. The mayor said, 'Everyday New Yorkers are tired of the rodents, they’re tired of the trash, and this is a small price to pay on ensuring that you can have cleaner streets.' Council member Shaun Abreu, representing West Harlem, voiced strong support, citing visible improvements from the local pilot. The plan requires smaller buildings to use wheeled bins on sidewalks, while larger buildings would get shared curbside containers. The city faces pushback from some residents, but Adams insists street cleanliness is a top concern. No formal safety analysis was provided, but the move could clear sidewalks for pedestrians and reduce hazards from trash piles.

• Adams: Eliminating ‘Parking’ for Trash is ‘Small Price to Pay’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-11

Council Member Holden’s e-bike license bill piles red tape on riders but leaves pedestrians exposed. The proposal skips real fixes—wider sidewalks, protected lanes, safer work rules. It targets e-bikes, not the cars and street chaos that truly endanger walkers.

Council Member Robert Holden introduced a bill, co-sponsored by a Council majority, to require licenses for all e-bikes. The bill, discussed in October 2023, has not specified a streamlined process for licensing. The matter’s summary states: 'Holden's bill does nothing to rectify the fundamental issues of inadequate space and dangerous workplace practices.' Holden and his colleagues push regulation, but critics say the bill ignores the real threats: narrow sidewalks, blocked crosswalks, and unsafe delivery work. The proposal would burden riders and discourage micromobility, while failing to address illegal mopeds or car dominance. State Senator Brad Hoylman’s employer-provided ID plan is cited as a better alternative. The opinion calls for protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and fair enforcement, not more bureaucracy. Holden’s bill, critics argue, misses the mark for pedestrian safety.

• Opinion: Holden’s E-Bike License Proposal Misses the Mark on Pedestrian Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-11

Two sedans crashed on Forest Avenue. Both drivers were men, licensed in New York. Impact hit left side doors of one car and front center of the other. One driver suffered chest injuries and whiplash. Both distracted at the wheel. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Forest Avenue. The first vehicle, a 2017 Ford traveling east, was struck on its left side doors. The second, a 2014 Nissan heading south, hit the front center of the Ford. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. One driver, age 36, was injured with chest trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor for both drivers. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles, with no ejections or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06