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

E-bike incentives spread as Congress stalls. States and cities move ahead with rebates. Local action grows as federal tax credits shrink. Car trips remain king. Streets stay deadly for walkers and riders. Lawmakers talk, but danger endures.

This policy analysis, published March 28, 2022, reviews the E-BIKE Act and related state bills. The E-BIKE Act, once part of the Build Back Better Act, proposed a federal tax credit for e-bike buyers. Congress reduced the credit from $1,500 to $900 and limited eligibility, stalling progress. The article states, 'By replacing car trips, e-bikes can simultaneously lower emissions, improve street safety, and boost riders' health.' John MacArthur, a transportation program manager, notes that local and state lawmakers now lead with rebates and incentives. Council members and legislators in Vermont, Colorado, California, Washington, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma have introduced or supported bills for e-bike rebates. Despite the momentum, no current state proposal pairs incentives with new bike infrastructure. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians and cyclists—remain at risk as car dominance continues and federal action lags.

• Electric Bicycle Incentives Go Local, But Feds Can Do More, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-28

DOT unveiled three plans for Fordham Road. Two would ban cars on key stretches. Bus riders suffer slow trips. Most shoppers walk or ride transit. Advocates back a full busway. Businesses worry about lost drivers. DOT will refine designs by fall.

On March 21, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced three proposals to improve bus service on Fordham Road, the Bronx’s main transit artery. The plans include painted bus lanes, a partial car-free busway, and a full car-free busway between Morris and Webster avenues. DOT aims to finalize designs by early fall and implement changes by mid-fall 2022. The matter summary states, 'Bus speeds are among the slowest in the city.' Council members are not named, but transit advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance and Juan Restrepo of Transportation Alternatives support the full busway, citing faster buses and safer streets for the majority who walk or ride. Local businesses fear losing car customers. DOT will study traffic impacts before moving forward.

• DOT Offers Three Proposals to Finally Improve Bus Service on Fordham Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-21

Two sedans collided on Slosson Avenue in Staten Island. One driver suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash involved a parked vehicle struck on its left front bumper and a moving vehicle hitting the rear left bumper. Both drivers were male adults.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Slosson Avenue in Staten Island involving two sedans traveling east. One vehicle was parked and was struck on its left front bumper. The other vehicle was moving straight ahead and impacted the left rear bumper of the other car. The injured party was a 28-year-old male driver who suffered neck injuries and was in shock. He was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the driver. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the parked vehicle and the left rear bumper of the moving vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4510758 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Cracked asphalt splits the Ocean Parkway bike path. Cyclists dodge hazards. Advocates warn of worsening danger. Repairs crawl. City agencies stall. A fatal crash haunts the route. Groups demand urgent fixes, safer slip lanes, and real maintenance. City officials stay silent.

On March 2, 2022, cycling groups Bike New York and Bike South Brooklyn sounded the alarm over the crumbling Ocean Parkway bike path in Brooklyn. In a letter to the Parks Department and Department of Transportation, they wrote: "Asphalt is heaving and cracking at many points from the northern end of the bikeway to Avenue R... These conditions will worsen as long as they are not repaired or addressed." The advocates criticized the slow pace of repairs, noting the southern section will not be fixed until 2023. Jon Orcutt, Bike New York Advocacy Director, said, "Parks' inability to move projects like these or stay ahead of decay poses big problems for an expanded citywide greenway system." The letter urges long-term maintenance plans and calls for safer slip street designs, demanding drivers stop before crossing bike lanes. No city officials responded. The advocates cite a recent cyclist fatality as proof of the deadly risk.

• Cycling Groups Sound Alarm that More of Ocean Parkway Bike Path is Falling Apart, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-02

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.

Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.

• File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

A sunken road on 40th Drive killed Lin Wen-Chiang, 77, after months of ignored complaints. City agencies patched the hole only after his death. The repair was rushed and uneven. The hazard remains. The city failed to protect cyclists. No answers given.

On February 28, 2022, city agencies responded to the death of Lin Wen-Chiang, 77, who was killed after his bike struck a caved-in section of 40th Drive in Elmhurst, Queens. The matter, titled 'City Covers Up Failure After Cyclist Death, With Hastily Made Repairs After Months of 311 Complaints,' details how residents filed at least eight 311 complaints to the Department of Transportation and 14 to the Department of Environmental Protection since 2019. Both agencies failed to fix the hazard. Only after Wen-Chiang’s death did city workers patch the road, but the repair was rushed and left uneven, creating a new danger. DOT spokesman Vin Barone called it 'a tragedy' and said an investigation is underway. DEP claimed the subsurface infrastructure was sound. No council members are named. The city’s neglect cost a life and left the street unsafe for cyclists.

• City Covers Up Failure After Cyclist Death, With Hastily Made Repairs After Months of 311 Complaints, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-28

Mayor Adams named new climate chiefs. Advocates want less talk, more action. They demand bus lanes, bike lanes, and fewer cars. Transportation emissions barely dropped in 15 years. Car ownership climbs. The city’s climate targets slip further away.

On February 2, 2022, Mayor Adams announced his new climate team, appointing Rohit Aggarwala as Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner and Chief Climate Officer, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. The announcement, covered by Streetsblog NYC, focused on broad climate issues. Advocates, including Jaqi Cohen and Kevin Garcia, pressed the new office to prioritize transportation emissions, quoting, 'improving transit options and creating access for environmental justice communities, while also curbing harmful diesel emissions.' Aggarwala voiced support for congestion pricing, pedestrianization, and bus lanes, promising collaboration with the Department of Transportation. Transportation emissions have dropped only 5% since 2007, while car ownership rises. Advocates urge the climate team to work with DOT on bus and bike lanes, last-mile delivery, and cargo bikes to meet climate and justice goals.

• New City Hall Climate Teams Must Focus On Transportation Emissions Reductions, Advocates Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-02

Cities and states rip out parking minimums. Planners shift focus. Streets change. Fewer cars, more homes. Demand-based pricing rises. Public space gets new life. The old rules crumble. The car’s grip loosens. Vulnerable road users watch the system bend.

This policy analysis, published January 31, 2022, reviews the swift rollback of mandatory parking minimums across U.S. cities and states. The article, 'Analysis: The Decline and Fall of Mandatory Parking Minimums,' highlights reforms like removing off-street parking requirements, charging demand-based prices, and investing parking revenue in public services. Cities such as South Bend, Sacramento, Berkeley, Minneapolis, and others lead the charge. State-level changes in Oregon, California, and Connecticut follow. The analysis credits UCLA Professor Donald Shoup’s influence. No council bill number or committee is cited, as this is a legislative trend, not a single bill. The piece notes, 'Minimum parking requirements are on the way out.' These reforms embed parking changes within broader housing and zoning efforts, aiming to cut car dependency and boost affordable housing. No direct safety analyst note is included, but the trend signals a shift in urban priorities that could reshape streets for all users.

• Analysis: The Decline and Fall of Mandatory Parking Minimums, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-31

Charles Komanoff’s model shows a $13 congestion toll falls short. The real number for maximum benefit is $80. Politicians settle low. The city leaves billions on the table. Transit, air, and streets stay dangerous. Cars keep winning. Vulnerable lives pay.

This editorial, published January 27, 2022, argues for a much higher congestion pricing toll than the $13–$15 range under discussion. Contributor Charles Komanoff, using his Balanced Transportation Analyzer, finds that an $80 toll would maximize net societal benefit, nearly $10 billion yearly. The article states: 'A $13 or $15 congestion toll might be all the politicians think they can achieve, but such a low fee will fail to maximize the net societal benefit.' Komanoff’s analysis shows the current plan extracts only half the possible benefit while charging less than a fifth of the optimal toll. No council member is named; this is an expert’s call to action. The piece notes that higher tolls could fund subway safety upgrades and faster trains, but the city’s political will remains weak. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as cars dominate.

• OPINION: The Congestion Pricing Toll Really Should Be $80, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-27

A 75-year-old woman lies in critical condition after a driver struck her on McGuinness Boulevard. The wide, fast road has long endangered walkers. Assemblymember Emily Gallagher calls for urgent safety changes. Neighbors demand a road diet, bike lanes, and traffic calming.

On January 25, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher responded to a severe crash on McGuinness Boulevard in Council District 50. A 75-year-old pedestrian was hit midblock by a driver in a Lincoln Corsair. Gallagher wrote, 'Extremely distressing to see another serious crash injuring a pedestrian on McGuinness. I’m thinking about the victim and continuing to fight for our improvements, which can’t come soon enough.' The street, notorious for speeding and poor crossings, is slated for a $39 million redesign after years of advocacy and deadly crashes. The Make McGuinness Safe Coalition and residents have pushed for a road diet, bike lanes, and traffic calming. The Department of Transportation is gathering public feedback, with construction expected later this year. Gallagher’s stance and the community’s demands highlight the urgent need to protect vulnerable road users on this dangerous stretch.

• Elderly pedestrian in critical condition after being hit by car in Greenpoint, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-01-25

A 34-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected on Clove Road, Staten Island. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash happened during a right turn on slippery pavement. The rider remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male driver on a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was making a right turn on Clove Road, Staten Island, when he lost control due to slippery pavement. The rider was ejected from the motorcycle, sustaining abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. The motorcycle struck the right side doors of another vehicle at the undercarriage. The driver was licensed and conscious after the crash. No other driver errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Tesla’s ‘assertive’ self-driving mode lets cars tailgate, roll stops, and break laws. The company programs machines to endanger people. U.S. law targets drivers, not automakers. Regulators stall. Vulnerable road users pay the price. No one holds Tesla to account.

On January 12, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported on Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) ‘assertive’ mode. The article, titled “Why Tesla Can Program Its Cars to Break Road Safety Laws,” exposes how Tesla’s October 2021 software update lets drivers select aggressive profiles. In ‘assertive’ mode, Teslas tailgate, perform unsafe passes, and roll through stops—illegal actions in most states. Phil Koopman, an autonomous vehicle expert, said, “Basically, Tesla is programming its cars to break laws.” The report highlights a regulatory gap: U.S. law punishes drivers, not manufacturers. Some states shield automakers, while others seek accountability. NHTSA investigates, but action lags. Tesla faces no immediate recall. The result: automated vehicles threaten pedestrians and cyclists, while lawmakers and regulators look away.

• Why Tesla Can Program Its Cars to Break Road Safety Laws, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-12

Transit leaders debated how boards handle homelessness. They challenged policing as a fix. They called for social services, not crackdowns. Riders and the unhoused share the system. Boards shape whether transit is safe for all, or just some.

On January 6, 2022, a panel at the Railvolution conference, moderated by former BART GM Grace Crunican, brought together Monica Tibbits-Nutt (former MBTA board) and Christof Spieler (former Houston Metro board) to discuss transit board policy. The session, titled 'Building a Better Transit Board,' focused on how agencies address homelessness. Tibbits-Nutt argued, 'as long as we continue to have these discussions in just that safety standpoint... we’re not going to be able to address any of these issues.' Spieler added, 'they have a right to be on the bus as much as anyone else.' Both opposed policing as the main response and urged boards to involve social services. The discussion underscored that transit boards can either foster inclusive safety or reinforce exclusion and danger for vulnerable riders.

• Talking Headways Podcast: Building a Better Transit Board, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-06