Port Richmond Bleeds While City Leaders Look Away

A moving SUV struck the rear of a parked SUV on Trantor Place. The driver of the parked vehicle suffered a back injury but remained conscious. Driver inattention caused the crash. Both vehicles sustained damage to bumpers.

According to the police report, a 2018 Jeep SUV was parked facing north on Trantor Place when it was rear-ended by a 2020 SUV traveling north. The driver of the parked vehicle, a 45-year-old man, was injured in the back and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. The moving SUV impacted the center back end of the parked vehicle, damaging its right rear bumper, while the striking vehicle sustained damage to its left front bumper. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Two sedans slammed together on Port Richmond Avenue. Both drivers hurt. Neck injuries. Whiplash. Alcohol played a role. Metal twisted. Streets stained. System failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Port Richmond Avenue at Palmer Avenue. One driver made a left turn while the other went straight. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor. The report also cites unsafe speed. Both vehicles took heavy front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Both occupants wore lap belts and were not ejected. The crash left two people injured and exposed the ongoing danger of impaired and reckless driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4554994 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Senate nears a climate deal. Bill pours billions into electric cars, skips bikes and transit. Big SUVs get a boost. No new money for high-speed rail. Advocates warn: heavy vehicles mean danger. Vulnerable road users left in the cold.

The Senate’s climate bill, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, is close to passage as of July 29, 2022. It allocates $369 billion to decarbonize sectors like power plants and HVAC, aiming for a 40% emissions cut by 2030. The bill continues the $7,500 federal EV tax credit and adds a $4,000 credit for used EVs, but omits dedicated funding for electric transit, freight, or e-bikes. Advocates like Yonah Freemark, David Zipper, and Noa Banayan criticize the focus on large electric SUVs and trucks, calling them dangerous for people outside cars. Zipper says, “We’re actually inducing people to buy heavier, more dangerous electric automobiles.” The bill introduces a $3.4 billion Neighborhood Equity and Access Grant, but skips high-speed rail and transit. Advocates urge more action, warning that the bill leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• What’s in the New ‘Climate’ Deal for Sustainable Transport — And What’s Not, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-29

The MTA faces a $4 billion shortfall as ridership stalls. Without new state funding, service cuts or fare hikes loom. Advocates slam the gas-tax holiday for boosting driving. Riders, especially those without cars, stand to lose the most.

This event details the MTA's looming fiscal crisis, as described in the July 26, 2022 Streetsblog NYC report. The agency projects only 74% of pre-pandemic riders will return by 2024, leaving a $4 billion revenue gap through 2026. The matter summary warns, 'Without a new funding stream, the MTA faces a fiscal cliff after 2023.' MTA Chief Financial Officer Kevin Willens urged state legislators to act, saying, 'If we start working together and start solving the deficit by 2023, we can lower the fiscal cliff by a billion dollars a year.' Advocates like Rachael Fauss criticized the state's gas-tax holiday, arguing it incentivized driving over transit funding. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli warned of looming service changes. The bill is not tied to a specific council number or committee, but the call for recurring, dedicated state revenue is clear. Without intervention, vulnerable transit riders face reduced service and higher fares, deepening the city's transportation divide.

• Without New Funding, the MTA Faces a Fiscal Cliff After 2023, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-26

Elon Musk’s promises on self-driving cars and tunnels ring hollow. Crashes mount. Safety claims collapse. Planners and officials keep buying the hype. The toll grows. Vulnerable road users pay the price. It’s time to stop believing and start questioning.

This opinion piece, published July 22, 2022, by Kea Wilson in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Elon Musk’s record on transportation technology. The article, titled 'Opinion: Stop Trusting Elon Musk on Tunnels, on Teslas, on Everything,' cites damning crash data and exposes false safety claims around Tesla’s 'Full Self-Driving' feature. At least 273 crashes have been linked to the technology, contradicting Musk’s public statements. The piece urges planners and policymakers to reject Musk’s unproven solutions, including the Boring Company and Hyperloop, and instead focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled. The author warns that uncritical adoption of these technologies endangers vulnerable road users and worsens congestion and pollution. No council bill or vote is involved, but the message is clear: stop trusting tech hype that puts lives at risk.

• Opinion: Stop Trusting Elon Musk — on Tunnels, on Teslas, on Everything, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-22

MTA ridership lags. Budget gaps loom. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli rejects service cuts. He urges smarter, flexible schedules. The MTA drags its feet. Riders wait. Transit remains a lifeline. Without change, the city’s most vulnerable face longer waits and harsher streets.

On July 21, 2022, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a policy report warning of an existential crisis for the MTA. The report, reviewed by the relevant state oversight committees, states: "the MTA doesn't actually have to cut service to find its footing, and instead has to get creative with service patterns and get serious with riders about what new service could look like." DiNapoli opposes service cuts and supports realigning schedules to match shifting demand, especially off-peak and weekends. MTA Chief External Relations John McCarthy echoed the need for a post-COVID plan. The report stresses that mass transit is essential for New Yorkers. No council members are directly involved, but the recommendations push the MTA to act. The agency’s slow response leaves vulnerable riders exposed to longer waits and increased danger on city streets.

• Nausea: The MTA Is Facing An Existential Crisis, Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-21

Bus driver shortages choke transit. Agencies slash service. Low pay, abuse, brutal hours, and neglect drive workers away. Riders wait longer. Streets grow more dangerous for those on foot and bike. Solutions exist. Agencies must act. Lives depend on it.

On July 20, 2022, Streetsblog NYC published a report titled 'Four Factors Driving the Bus Operator Shortage (And What to Do About Them).' The analysis highlights that over 90% of transit agencies struggle to hire bus drivers, forcing 71% to cut or delay service. The report cites low pay, workplace assaults, harsh schedules, and lack of basic facilities as root causes. It urges agencies to raise pay, cut hiring barriers, protect drivers, and provide humane schedules and facilities. The article states, 'Bus driver shortages are undermining transit agencies' efforts to recover from the pandemic and become the front-line mobility option that American cities need.' The report does not name specific council members or legislative actions, but it calls for systemic change to protect workers and restore reliable service for vulnerable road users.

• Four Factors Driving the Bus Operator Shortage (And What to Do About Them), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-20

Steel-and-bamboo trash bins in Times Square leak, overflow, and attract rats. Doors stay unlocked. Garbage juice pools on sidewalks. The $1.3 million Clean Curbs pilot strains under heavy use. Sanitation vows more cleaning, better maintenance, and fixes. Streets stay cluttered.

The Clean Curbs pilot, launched by the Sanitation Department and Times Square Alliance, rolled out steel-and-bamboo trash enclosures at Eighth Avenue and 43rd Street in April 2022. By July 20, bins showed leaks, unlocked doors, and garbage overflow. The pilot, costing $1.3 million, aims to 'test methods for getting garbage bags off the streets.' Sanitation spokesman Vincent Gragnani promised daily cleaning and improved maintenance, saying, 'If this is a recurring issue, it will be taken into account as we expand the program.' CITIBIN owner Liz Picarazzi admitted the bins are over-capacity and need more frequent cleaning. Critics call the pilot too small for New York’s scale. Streets remain hazardous for walkers, who still dodge trash and puddles.

• GROSS: ‘Clean Curbs’ Bins Show Growing Pains in Times Square, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-20

Gas prices rise. Driving falls. State fuel tax receipts show a sharp drop. Fewer cars on the road mean less danger for those on foot or bike. The link is clear. Pricing shapes streets. The numbers do not lie.

This editorial, published July 20, 2022, by Charles Komanoff in Streetsblog NYC, examines the effect of high gas prices on driving in New York State. Komanoff, a longtime advocate for congestion pricing and carbon taxes, analyzes state motor fuel tax receipts from 2019 to 2022. He finds a 16 percent drop in fuel sales, with April 2022 showing a stark 40 percent decline compared to April 2019. The piece, titled 'High Gas Prices Are Reducing Driving!', challenges claims that Americans are immune to price signals. Komanoff writes, 'Pricing has power. Changes in the prices of goods and services affect demand for those items.' No council bill or vote is involved. The analysis underscores that fewer cars mean safer streets for vulnerable road users, though no formal safety assessment is provided.

• KOMANOFF: High Gas Prices <i>Are</i> Reducing Driving!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-20

Doyers Street in Chinatown will close to cars and become a permanent pedestrian plaza. The city will add gravel, markings, and planters. The move follows years of temporary closures. Locals and businesses welcome the change. Streets once deadly for walkers now belong to them.

On July 19, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation announced the full pedestrianization of Doyers Street in Chinatown, formalizing its status as a car-free plaza. The project builds on the success of Covid-era open streets and seasonal closures. DOT spokesman Vin Barone said, "DOT is proud to build on the success of our Open Streets with proposals to formalize spaces like the Doyers Open Street as a permanent pedestrian plaza." Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown Partnership, praised the move, calling it "healthier and safer for both shopkeepers and customers." The plan includes new plaza features and changes to nearby parking for commercial loading. The effort is part of a broader city push, with BIDs leading similar projects across New York. The conversion gives crowded Chinatown a rare, needed refuge for pedestrians and local businesses.

• Chinatown’s Doyers Open Street to Become a Car-Free Plaza, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-19

Amtrak killed bike service on the Maple Leaf line. Cyclists lost a vital link to upstate trails. Riders scrambled. Advocates fumed. Officials demanded action. Amtrak blamed equipment. No timeline for return. Cyclists now face fewer options, higher costs, and more barriers.

On July 1, 2022, Amtrak abruptly ended bike service on its Maple Leaf line from New York to Toronto. The move left cyclists without a key route to upstate destinations and the Empire State Trail. The matter, described as 'an unexpected blow to cyclists statewide,' drew sharp criticism. Senator Tim Kennedy, chair of the state Senate Transportation Committee, urged Amtrak to reverse the decision and expand bike services. Bike New York’s Jon Orcutt called the cut symptomatic of a national failure to support sustainable transit. Amtrak cited equipment needs for longer trips but gave no date for restoring service. Cyclists now face fewer travel options, higher costs, and new barriers to safe, car-free mobility.

• Amtrak Abruptly Stops Bike Service on ‘Maple Leaf’ to Upstate and Canada, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-15

New Yorkers keep driving. Gas use climbs. May 2022 saw 235 million gallons burned. The state’s gas tax holiday cuts revenue, hides true fuel use. More driving means more death, more congestion, more poison in the air. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

This report, published July 14, 2022, highlights the impact of New York State’s gas tax holiday, which started June 1 and runs through year’s end. The article states: 'New York State residents continued to drive heavily despite high gas prices, with fuel consumption increasing from March to May 2022.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance slams the tax holiday as 'an outrageous windfall for oil profiteers' and warns it deprives New Yorkers of essential services. The article ties increased driving to sprawl and transit neglect, noting, 'Decades of sprawl planning and disinvestment in transit has made it more difficult to get around without a car—at a cost of our lungs, our bodies and our planet.' The surge in driving means more road deaths, more congestion, and more pollution. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—face greater danger as car dependency deepens.

• Update: New Yorkers are Still Driving Like Crazy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-14

Manhattan’s leaders want Broadway closed to cars. They cite 429 injuries and four deaths from 14th to 42nd streets. They demand a real plan, not piecemeal fixes. The city’s slow pace angers them. Victims wait. Traffic keeps killing.

On July 12, 2022, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Council Members Carlina Rivera, Erik Bottcher, and Keith Powers urged the Department of Transportation to declare Broadway from 14th to 34th streets a 'limited access open street.' They called for a comprehensive pedestrianization plan, referencing 429 injuries and four pedestrian deaths along the corridor since 2011. Their letter states, 'This stretch of Broadway needs to be made safer, and we believe pedestrianization... could be a way to positively transform the area.' The officials want a tangible plan by fall and concrete actions by early 2023. Business leaders, including Dan Biederman, now support the move, citing economic benefits. The recent taxi crash at Broadway and 29th, injuring six, has fueled urgency. The city’s Broadway Vision plan promises pedestrianization from Union Square to Columbus Circle, but advocates and victims’ families demand more, faster.

• ANALYSIS: Electeds Seek Much More than Piecemeal Pedestrianization on Broadway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-12

Council Member Keith Powers and allies demand Broadway’s full pedestrianization. They cite 429 injuries, four deaths. They want a corridor-wide plan, not scattered fixes. Business leaders now back the move. Recent crashes fuel urgency. The city promises action.

On July 12, 2022, Council Member Keith Powers (District 4) joined Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Council Members Carlina Rivera and Erik Bottcher to urge the Department of Transportation to pedestrianize Broadway from 14th to 34th streets, with plans to extend up to 42nd Street. Their letter cites 429 injuries and four pedestrian deaths along Broadway between August 2011 and May 2022. The officials wrote, 'This stretch of Broadway needs to be made safer, and we believe pedestrianization, with limited necessary entries for vehicles that must access certain points along Broadway, could be a way to positively transform the area and benefit all New Yorkers.' Business leaders, including Dan Biederman of the 34th Street Partnership, now support the plan, calling it good for economic development. The push follows a recent taxi crash at Broadway and 29th Street that injured six. The city’s Broadway Vision plan promises to pedestrianize much of the corridor from Union Square to Columbus Circle.

• ANALYSIS: Electeds Seek Much More than Piecemeal Pedestrianization on Broadway, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-07-12

DOT plans to turn Underhill Avenue into a bike boulevard and add traffic-calming on Vanderbilt. The city will close blocks, add bike lanes, and carve out more space for people. Locals pushed for safer streets. Construction may start this fall.

On July 5, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a proposal to overhaul Underhill and Vanderbilt Avenues in Prospect Heights. The plan, described as a 'traffic network and public realm plan,' aims to convert Underhill Avenue into a bike boulevard and upgrade Vanderbilt Avenue with new bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and traffic-calming features. The proposal follows community workshops where residents demanded safer, people-first streets and dedicated loading zones. DOT will close the northern-most block of Underhill to cars, add two-way bike lanes, and install pinch-points to slow drivers. On Vanderbilt, sharrows become painted bike lanes, and new pedestrian islands and turn lanes will protect cyclists and walkers. DOT hopes to begin construction in the fall and is reviewing the neighborhood for further changes. Gib Veconi, a local advocate, said, 'The changes will help force drivers to slow down 24/7.'

• City Proposes Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades to Two Prospect Heights Avenues, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-05

A sedan struck a bicyclist from behind on Richmond Terrace. The cyclist suffered head injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The sedan driver was unlicensed and distracted. Both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Richmond Terrace slowed or stopped and rear-ended a bicyclist also traveling west. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old man, sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan driver, a woman, was unlicensed and distracted, contributing to the crash. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the bike. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 9-year-old girl was struck by a sedan on Staten Island’s Castleton Avenue. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and whiplash. The vehicle showed no damage. The child was conscious and injured outside an intersection.

According to the police report, a 9-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Castleton Avenue in Staten Island after being struck by a 2010 Honda sedan traveling east. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, along with whiplash. The vehicle had no visible damage and was moving straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors or violations were noted. The child was conscious at the scene. The collision occurred away from an intersection, and no other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

DOT and MTA start work on Flatbush Avenue. Seven miles of danger for walkers and cyclists. Bus lanes, signals, and bold changes on the table. Community split. Businesses fear lost parking. Advocates push for safety. No fixes before 2023.

On July 1, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and MTA kicked off a public process to overhaul bus service and pedestrian safety along Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue. The project, part of the Streets Master Plan, faces committee review and community outreach through summer and fall, with implementation not expected before 2023. DOT Director of Bus Priority Kyle Gebhart said, “Everything is on the table.” The agency’s data shows slow buses and high rates of pedestrian and cyclist injuries. The plan divides the corridor into three segments for tailored solutions, including curbside and center-running bus lanes, transit signal priority, and busways. Some business groups voiced anger over possible parking loss, but transit advocates countered that most shoppers do not drive. Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein said, “Busways are great for business, bringing more customers from more neighborhoods more efficiently and affordably.” The project’s outcome will shape safety for thousands who walk, bike, and ride.

• DOT Begins Flatbush Ave. Bus Improvement Project With Everything on the Table, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-01

Over 2,500 neighbors demand a safer McGuinness Boulevard. The petition calls for fewer lanes, wider sidewalks, and a protected bike lane. Community anger follows deadly crashes. The city’s DOT faces pressure to act. The street remains a danger zone.

On June 28, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and over 2,500 residents backed a petition urging a full redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation will present its draft plan to Brooklyn Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee on June 30. The petition, described as a call for 'wider sidewalks and a wider median, a protected bike lane, and eliminating one lane of traffic in each direction,' follows the hit-and-run death of teacher Matthew Jensen. Gallagher stated, 'Our community is speaking loud and clear: no more deaths on McGuinness.' The campaign has support from Councilmember Lincoln Restler and Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The street, a busy four-lane truck route, has seen dozens of crashes and injuries in recent years. Organizers and residents demand urgent action to end the deadly toll on vulnerable road users.

• EXCLUSIVE: More than 2,500 sign petition supporting McGuinness Boulevard redesign ahead of DOT presentation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-06-28

A 57-year-old woman was struck by a pick-up truck while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Grove Avenue. The driver, distracted and inattentive, hit her with the truck’s front center. She suffered a fractured hip and upper leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing a marked crosswalk on Grove Avenue near Port Richmond Avenue. The driver of a 2007 Toyota pick-up truck was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the truck’s center front end. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg injury. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14