Port Richmond Bleeds While City Leaders Look Away

Mayor Adams pledged $900 million for protected bike and bus lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it a dramatic step for street safety. The sum falls short of Council’s ask, but promises hardened lanes and real barriers for cyclists and bus riders.

On April 23, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced a $900 million budget proposal for street safety infrastructure. The plan, part of ongoing budget talks, aims to fund hundreds of miles of protected bike and bus lanes, plus concrete barriers. Council Member Lincoln Restler of District 33, a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, praised the move as 'a very clear commitment to addressing street safety across the five boroughs.' The proposal supports the Streets Master Plan, which mandates 250 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of protected bus lanes in five years. Restler emphasized that the funding will harden bike lanes, replacing paint with physical barriers to keep cars out and protect cyclists. The Council had requested $3.1 billion, but Restler called the $900 million a dramatic investment. The budget must be finalized by June 30.

• Mayor Adams pledges more than $900 million to enhancing traffic safety, gothamist.com, Published 2022-04-23

City Hall adds 21 new Open Streets but offers little funding. Volunteers still shoulder the burden. Mayor Adams calls his commitment 'steadfast.' Car owners protest. Residents and businesses cling to rare safe space. Equity promised, but city support remains thin.

On April 22, 2022, the city announced an expansion of the Open Streets program, adding 21 new locations to the existing 156. Mayor Adams, in a statement, called his commitment to the program 'steadfast.' The announcement pledges up to $20,000 per site for non-profits to cover costs like barriers and signage. The program, launched during the pandemic, lets residents walk and gather in streets closed to cars. Council action is not specified, but the mayor's office leads. The city promises to focus on underserved neighborhoods, aiming for equity. Still, most operations rely on volunteers, not city workers. Car owners protest the loss of parking. The Horticultural Society of New York will assist with management and upkeep. The city’s support is real but limited. Vulnerable road users get space, but the system leans on unpaid labor.

• City Announces New Open Streets Coming This Summer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

More cars do not mean faster commutes for Black workers. Decades of rising car ownership brought longer, not shorter, trips. Streets stay dangerous. Pollution and risk fall hardest on communities of color. The answer is not more cars. It is safer streets.

This policy analysis, released April 20, 2022, reviews a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The report, titled 'Study: Car Ownership Doesn’t Always Cut Black Workers’ Commutes,' finds that despite an increase in car ownership among Black workers—from 76% in 1980 to 85% in 2019—average commute times grew longer, not shorter. The study states, 'it may not be possible to speed up city commutes with automotive strategies alone.' The gap in commute times between Black and White workers persists, especially in large, segregated cities. The article warns that subsidizing driving will make streets more polluted and dangerous, with the heaviest toll on communities of color. It calls for investment in bus rapid transit, trains, and active transportation, and for building communities where jobs and housing are close. No council member is named; this is a research release, not a legislative action.

• Study: Car Ownership Doesn’t Always Cut Black Workers’ Commutes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-20

A Jeep SUV traveling east struck a pickup truck making a left turn. The impact hit the SUV’s left front quarter panel and the truck’s left front bumper. A front-seat passenger in the SUV suffered whiplash and was injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a 2014 Jeep SUV was going straight east on Castleton Avenue when it collided with a pickup truck making a left turn. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the SUV and the left front bumper of the truck. The crash injured a 45-year-old female front-seat passenger in the SUV, who complained of whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error. The injured passenger was restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or helmet use were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4519124 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A moving SUV struck a parked SUV on Decker Avenue. Two female passengers, ages 0 and 7, suffered whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained. The crash involved following too closely. Damage hit center back and front ends of the vehicles.

According to the police report, a 2021 SUV driven by a licensed female driver traveling south rear-ended a parked 2019 SUV on Decker Avenue. The impact was at the center back end of the parked vehicle and the center front end of the moving vehicle. Two female passengers, ages 0 and 7, were injured with whiplash but remained conscious and were restrained by child safety equipment. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The collision caused damage to both vehicles at the points of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4517941 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Councilmember Rita Joseph opens the door. Residents in District 40 and four other Brooklyn districts can vote on local projects. Ballots close April 10. The process funds parks, schools, and public spaces. The city lets people decide. Streets may change.

Participatory Budgeting voting opened in Brooklyn District 40 on April 7, 2022. Councilmember Rita Joseph announced the cycle, which runs until April 10. The process lets residents as young as 11 vote on capital and expense projects. The official matter title: 'Voting for Participatory Budgeting is open in five Brooklyn districts until April 10.' Joseph, along with councilmembers Jennifer Gutiérrez (34), Chi Ossé (36), Alexa Avilés (38), and Shahana Hanif (39), offers in-person and online voting. Projects range from park upgrades to school improvements. Final results will be announced the week of April 17. Participatory Budgeting shapes how public money is spent, but the safety impact for vulnerable road users depends on which projects win. No direct safety assessment was provided.

• Voting for Participatory Budgeting is open in five Brooklyn districts until April 10, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-04-07

Yankee Stadium blocks cyclists. No bike racks. No protected lanes. Helmets banned inside. Painted lanes blocked by cars. The last stretch is a gauntlet. The team pushes trains, ignores bikes. Cyclists left exposed, unwelcome, and at risk.

This media commentary, published April 6, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, exposes the lack of safe bike access at Yankee Stadium. The article states: 'The Bombers do nothing to promote—and, in fact, discourage—fans from visiting Yankee Stadium by bicycle.' There are no bike racks at the stadium. Helmets are banned inside. Painted bike lanes are blocked by double-parked cars. No protected bike lanes exist near the stadium. The Macombs Dam Bridge approach is hazardous. The Yankees promote transit but ignore cycling. No council members are directly involved. The piece highlights systemic neglect and danger for cyclists, leaving vulnerable road users exposed and unsupported.

• Streetsblog’s Annual MLB Opening Day Preview! Yankee Stadium Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-06

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams demands $3.1 billion for bike lanes, bus lanes, and car-free busways. The plan dwarfs past efforts. It would rip out car space, open streets to people, and speed up buses. The mayor’s budget cuts face fierce resistance.

On April 3, 2022, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams led the City Council in calling for a $3.1 billion investment in street redesign. The proposal, part of the council’s response to the mayor’s $98.5 billion preliminary budget, seeks to expand protected bike lanes to 500 miles, bus lanes to 500 miles, and add 38 million feet of pedestrian space. The council’s plan also introduces 40 miles of car-free busways, a benchmark not found in the mayor’s plan or previous legislation. Adams and other council leaders argue this funding is vital, stating, 'To secure an equitable recovery for our city and improve public safety, we must focus on robust investments.' Transit advocates back the plan, urging the mayor to support safer, more accessible streets for all New Yorkers.

• Council calls for 'unprecedented' $3.1 billion streets plan commitment, gothamist.com, Published 2022-04-03

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

A man on a Harley crashed turning left on Henderson Avenue. He was thrown from the bike. Bruises covered his body. Police cite traffic control ignored and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old man riding a 2007 Harley-Davidson motorbike was injured while making a left turn on Henderson Avenue, Staten Island. He was partially ejected and suffered bruises over his entire body. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The impact and damage were noted as 'Other,' pointing to a non-standard collision site or damage type.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

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

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

A 31-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash after a sedan struck his vehicle’s right side doors. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The crash involved other vehicular factors, with no ejection reported.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male driver was injured when a 2015 Chevrolet sedan traveling south struck the right side doors of his vehicle on Martin Luther King Jr. The driver, restrained by a lap belt, sustained back injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to vehicle operation. No specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The injured person was the driver and occupant of the struck vehicle. The crash caused damage to the right side doors of the sedan. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

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

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