May 31 - Governor Murphy wants to widen the Turnpike. The plan costs billions. It will flood streets with cars and trucks. Pollution will rise. Transit riders pay more. Local families breathe dirtier air. The state ignores safer, greener options. Communities suffer. The project must stop.

On May 31, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published an opinion piece opposing Governor Phil Murphy’s $10.7 billion plan to widen the New Jersey Turnpike. The project, led by the NJ Turnpike Authority, faces criticism for ignoring alternatives like mass transit, greenways, and bikeways. The article states: 'Gov. Phil Murphy wants to spend over $10 billion to widen a highway in an environmental justice community while asking transit riders to shoulder a 15 percent fare hike. That is unjust and unacceptable.' The Turnpike Authority held limited public sessions, excluded on-the-record comments, and failed to address induced demand or environmental justice. The piece urges federal agencies to reject the project, arguing it will worsen pollution, noise, and health outcomes for vulnerable residents. The author calls for investment in safer, more sustainable transportation instead.

• OPINION: Stop Phil Murphy’s Brazen Turnpike Widening Trap, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-31

May 31 - DOT will turn 1.1 miles of 31st Avenue into a bike boulevard. Two-way protected lanes. One-way for cars. Painted islands. Curb extensions. Car-free plaza possible. The plan cuts car traffic. It gives space to people. Residents demand safety after deadly crashes.

On May 31, 2024, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a redesign for 31st Avenue in Astoria, Queens. The proposal, revealed by DOT Director Ted Wright, creates a 'bike boulevard' with two-way protected bike lanes from Steinway Street to Vernon Boulevard. The plan shifts the avenue to one-way car traffic, adds painted pedestrian islands, curb extensions, and may include a car-free plaza. DOT aims to reduce vehicle presence and traffic violence, responding to local advocacy after several high-profile crashes. Residents and organizers, including Alana Herlands and John Surico, voiced strong support: 'We are going to advocate for the most ambitious plan that not only adds more space for the community... but also reduces traffic violence.' Implementation is set for summer and fall, with an extension east to 51st Street planned next year.

• City Officials Unveil ‘Bike Boulevard’ Design for 31st Avenue in Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-31

May 30 - A cyclist died on the Washington Bridge. His family demands the city finish the promised protected bike lane. DOT delays leave riders exposed. Advocates say working-class immigrants and delivery workers face daily danger. The city’s promises remain unkept. The calls grow louder.

On May 30, 2024, the family of Zenaido Rosas-Pinzon, killed by a driver on the Washington Bridge, demanded the Department of Transportation (DOT) complete its long-delayed protected bike lane. The DOT had pledged to convert a car lane into a two-way protected bike path by fall 2023, but the project remains unfinished. The matter centers on the urgent need for safe cycling infrastructure: 'It's a crowded route, people are coming to and from work. It’s necessary to have a lane that is especially for the bikes,' said Cruz Rosas-Ponzon. Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, and delivery worker organizations highlight the deadly risk for working-class immigrants and deliveristas. DOT spokesman Vin Barone claims progress, but delays persist. The family’s demand is clear: finish the lane, prevent more deaths.

• Family of Killed Bronx Cyclist Demands DOT Finish Washington Bridge Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-30

May 29 - A 41-year-old male driver suffered head injuries after his SUV collided with a parked SUV on Walker Street. Slippery pavement caused loss of control. The driver was restrained and experienced shock with minor bleeding.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male driver operating a 2017 Honda SUV was making a left turn on Walker Street at 9:30 p.m. when his vehicle's left front bumper struck the center back end of a parked 2023 Jeep SUV. The report cites slippery pavement as the contributing factor to the crash, indicating loss of control rather than driver error such as failure to yield. The driver was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness; the air bag deployed. He sustained head injuries classified as severity level 3, experienced shock, and had minor bleeding. No other occupants or pedestrians were involved. The collision highlights the dangers posed by road conditions impacting vehicle control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728686 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes trigger a mandatory safety course. Ignore the course, lose your bike. DOT will track results. Three-year pilot. Enforcement, not education, leads.

Int 0874-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Ariola (primary), Hanks, Hudson, Louis, Mealy, and Banks, the bill orders DOT to launch a pilot abatement program for unsafe pedal-assist bicycle operators. The bill summary states: 'Pedal-assist bicycle operators who accrue 3 or more moving violations under city law would be required to take a safe pedal-assist bicycle operation course offered by DOT.' Noncompliance means bike impoundment. DOT must report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. The pilot sunsets after three years. The bill aims to curb reckless riding through strict enforcement.

• File Int 0874-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 14 - 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

May 9 - A bus traveling east struck a sedan making a left turn northbound on Emeric Court. Both drivers, a 41-year-old man and an 18-year-old passenger, suffered injuries and shock. Driver distraction was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:44 a.m. on Emeric Court involving a 2016 Prevo bus and a 2023 Kia sedan. The bus was traveling straight ahead eastbound when it impacted the left rear quarter panel of the sedan, which was making a left turn northbound. The point of impact was the bus's center front end and the sedan's left rear quarter panel. The bus driver and an 18-year-old front passenger in the sedan were both injured and in shock. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report identifies driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor to the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The damage was primarily to the left front bumper of the bus and the left rear quarter panel of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 8 - 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

May 2 - Senate bill S 9162 aims to kill congestion pricing, shake up the MTA board, and order a forensic audit. Streets stay clogged. Riders and walkers face more danger. Sponsor: Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.

Senate bill S 9162 was introduced on May 2, 2024, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill's title: '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).' Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23) is the primary sponsor. The bill would repeal congestion pricing, expand the MTA board, and require a forensic audit. No safety analysis was provided, but repealing congestion pricing keeps traffic thick and streets hostile for New York’s most vulnerable.

• File S 9162, Open States, Published 2024-05-02

May 1 - 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

Apr 24 - Two sedans slammed together on Forest Avenue. Both drivers were distracted. One man suffered neck pain and whiplash. Metal twisted. The crash laid bare the danger of inattention behind the wheel.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 14:02 on Forest Avenue near Goethals Road North. Both vehicles were moving straight when they struck—one at the center front, the other at the right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. A 23-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash, but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The female driver of the other sedan was licensed and also sustained front-end damage. The crash underscores the systemic risk posed by driver distraction, even when both drivers are properly licensed and traveling straight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 24 - 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

Apr 18 - 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

Apr 17 - 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

Apr 16 - A sedan collided with an e-scooter traveling north on Morningstar Road. The e-scooter driver suffered upper arm contusions. Police cite driver inattention and improper lane usage by the sedan driver as primary causes of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:27 on Morningstar Road involving a sedan and an e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 24-year-old male, was making a left turn when the sedan, traveling straight north, struck the left front quarter panel of the scooter with its right front quarter panel. The e-scooter driver sustained contusions and bruises to the shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to the left side doors of the e-scooter and the right front bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 15 - 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

Apr 9 - 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

Apr 7 - A 33-year-old man crossing an intersection was hit by a GMC SUV traveling west. The impact struck the pedestrian’s head, causing abrasions and moderate injury. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously hurt at the scene.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male pedestrian was crossing at an intersection on South Avenue when he was struck by a 2016 GMC SUV traveling west, which was going straight ahead. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious after the collision. The report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver contributing factors were explicitly recorded. The driver’s actions leading to the collision remain unclear, but the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk indication. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face at intersections even when crossing, with driver errors or systemic issues not detailed in the available data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 2 - 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