Mar 28 - A bridge collapse draws national action. Car crashes kill thousands, but get shrugs. The system blames individuals, not failures in design. The toll is steady, silent, and ignored. Urgency is missing. Vulnerable lives pay the price.

This March 28, 2024, Streetsblog commentary highlights the stark difference in national response between the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse and routine car crashes. The article asks, 'What if we treated our national epidemic of car crashes with that same degree of urgency—not to mention that same holistic approach to saving lives?' No council bill number or committee applies; this is a media analysis, not legislation. The piece criticizes how officials and media leap into action for rare infrastructure disasters, but ignore the daily, deadly toll of car violence. It notes that highway expansion is prioritized over repair, and that systemic failures—not individual mistakes—drive the crisis. The commentary urges a shift to a Safe System Approach, demanding the same scrutiny and coordinated action for traffic violence as for headline-grabbing catastrophes. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while the system looks away.

• Why We Care About Some Transportation Tragedies More Than Others, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-28

Mar 28 - A sedan traveling west struck a northbound moped at Forest Avenue. The moped driver, unlicensed, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan driver was distracted, causing the collision. Both vehicles sustained left front bumper damage in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling westbound on Forest Avenue collided with a northbound moped. The moped driver, a 36-year-old male, was injured with knee and lower leg trauma and was not ejected from the vehicle. The sedan driver, also male and licensed, was the sole occupant of his vehicle. The point of impact on both vehicles was the left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain proper attention. The moped driver was unlicensed, but no other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left front bumpers. The collision resulted in injury severity level 3 for the moped driver, who was reported to be in shock.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 26 - Four Brooklyn neighborhoods see no new protected bike lanes. City promised 75 miles by 2022. Cyclist injuries and deaths stay high. Council Members Joseph and Ossé demand action. City Hall and DOT blamed for delay. Equity and safety ignored. Riders remain exposed.

""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 March 26, 2024, the City Council scrutinized DOT’s failure to deliver protected bike lanes in Borough Park, Midwood, Flatbush, and Bedford-Stuyvesant—Vision Zero ‘Bike Priority Areas’ since 2017. The city pledged 75 miles of new or improved bike routes by 2022. As of now, none have been built. Council Member Rita Joseph, representing Flatbush and Midwood, introduced legislation to speed up construction, stating, “My community has been asking for it. The Commissioner has made a commitment. He needs to step up and do it now.” Council Member Chi Ossé condemned the administration’s inaction, calling it “yet another glaring example” of broken promises. Advocates and residents cite safety and equity concerns, noting these districts suffer more cyclist injuries and deaths but get fewer protected lanes. The Council is now considering oversight to enforce legal benchmarks and ensure fair distribution of bike infrastructure.

• SAFETY LAST: DOT Added No New Protected Bike Lanes in Four ‘Priority Districts’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-26

Mar 26 - The city’s commercial waste zone plan crawls forward. Only one Queens zone launches this fall. Nineteen more wait in limbo. Oversight is absent. Haulers with deadly records win contracts. Advocates demand speed, transparency, and real safety for streets choked by trucks.

Council Bill for commercial waste zone reform, passed in 2019, remains stalled. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will launch only one zone in central Queens after September 3, 2024. The oversight task force has not met in two years. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who authored the law as a Council member, called DSNY’s rollout a 'missed opportunity' for clarity and accountability. Justin Wood of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest warned, 'The system cannot achieve transformational change if it is treated as a limited pilot program.' The city’s goal to cut truck miles falls short of original promises. Action Carting, whose driver killed a cyclist in 2017, secured contracts for 14 zones. Advocates say the lack of outreach, oversight, and clear safety benchmarks leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Commercial Waste Zone Rollout Too Slow and Unclear: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-26

Mar 24 - A 17-year-old sedan driver blacked out and slammed into a parked SUV on Goethals Road North. The impact left him with head injuries and shock. No one else was hurt. Sudden medical crisis turned a quiet street dangerous.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male driving a 2015 Infiniti sedan eastbound near 637 Goethals Road North lost consciousness at 19:24. His car struck the left front bumper of a parked 2018 Mercedes SUV. The driver, alone in the car and wearing a lap belt, suffered head injuries and shock, reporting pain and nausea. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' and 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The crash shows the risk when a driver becomes incapacitated behind the wheel, turning a parked vehicle into a hazard in an instant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712187 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 21 - A 14-year-old girl suffered shoulder injuries after a vehicle made an improper right turn on Amador Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the crash occurred. The driver’s failure to execute a proper turn caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 3:00 PM on Amador Street. A vehicle traveling south was making a right turn when it turned improperly, striking a 14-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the time. The impact caused contusions and bruising to her upper arm and shoulder, resulting in injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor twice, emphasizing the driver’s error. No other vehicle or driver details were provided. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. This incident highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to execute proper turns, directly causing harm to vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 13 - A 19-year-old pedestrian suffered severe leg fractures after being struck by a northbound SUV distracted by an object in the roadway. The impact occurred away from an intersection, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2020 Audi SUV traveling north struck him off an intersection on Eunice Place. The pedestrian sustained fractures to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as distorted and dislocated injuries. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a primary contributing factor, with the driver attempting to avoid an object in the roadway prior to the collision. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and the risks to pedestrians outside of crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709339 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 13 - Speaker Adrienne Adams called out city failures. She demanded action on bike lanes, bus lanes, and housing. She pressed for tracking DOT progress. She blasted budget cuts. She wants deeper affordability. She put vulnerable New Yorkers at the center.

"The council will also pursue legislation requiring the city Department of Transportation to track progress on projects that fall under its Streets Master Plan, passed by the council in 2019, which requires the agency complete construction on a certain number of bike and bus lanes each year." -- Charles Fall

On March 13, 2024, Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28) delivered her State of the City address at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She called for new legislation to require the Department of Transportation to track progress on the Streets Master Plan, which mandates yearly construction of bike and bus lanes. Adams criticized the mayor for failing to meet these benchmarks and for cutting funding to vital services. She said, 'Our duty is to turn these ideas into effective laws and to conduct oversight... But laws and policies are only as good as their implementation.' Adams also proposed using city land for affordable housing and expressed conditional support for zoning reforms, insisting on deeper affordability. Her speech centered the needs of low-income and working-class New Yorkers, especially in Black and brown communities.

• State of the City: Speaker Adams lays out vision for boosting government effectiveness, building more affordable housing, amny.com, Published 2024-03-13

Mar 11 - A BMW slams nose-first on Goethals Road North. The right rear door bursts open. A 26-year-old man is thrown from the car, striking his head on the street. He dies there, under the late-night sky.

A fatal crash unfolded on Goethals Road North when a 2011 BMW sedan, traveling west, struck nose-first, according to the police report. The impact forced the right rear door open, ejecting a 26-year-old male passenger into the street. The police report states, 'A 2011 BMW slams nose-first. The right rear door flings open. A 26-year-old man, no belt, is hurled into the dark. His head hits hard. He dies there, on the cold street.' The victim suffered fatal head injuries and apparent death was noted at the scene. No driver errors or contributing factors are listed in the police report, and no mention is made of other vehicles being involved. The narrative centers on the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of passengers in such crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 4 - Car-first policies kill. Denialists stall bike lanes, street redesigns, and e-bike freedom. Fake experts, endless meetings, and bad laws keep streets deadly. Advocates must expose these tactics. The fight is for life, not convenience.

This opinion piece, published March 4, 2024 by Streetsblog NYC, dissects how denialist tactics undermine safety reforms in New York City. The article, titled 'Understanding Car Culture ‘Denialism’ Can Help Safety Advocates Respond,' details how fake experts, logical fallacies, and shifting demands block alternatives to car-centric streets. Council Member Robert Holden is named for pushing e-bike licensing, a move described as 'extremely harmful' for vulnerable road users. The article criticizes engineers and community boards who resist bike lanes and street redesigns. It urges advocates to call out denialist rhetoric and challenge the roots of car-first policies. The piece stands firmly for bike lanes, e-bikes, and safer streets, and against delays that keep New Yorkers in danger.

• Understanding Car Culture ‘Denialism’ Can Help Safety Advocates Respond, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-04

Mar 4 - Council Member Holden pushes e-bike licensing. Advocates warn: this move will slash e-bike use, boost car traffic, and choke the city with more danger. Denialism shields car dominance. The fight for safer streets grows sharper, louder, urgent.

On March 4, 2024, Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30) was spotlighted for proposing legislation to require licensing and registration for all e-bikes. The measure, discussed in an advocacy article, has not advanced to committee or vote. The article states: 'Council Member Robert Holden has proposed legislation to require licensing and registration for all e-bikes. This legislation will be extremely harmful if it becomes law—likely cutting e-bike use, increasing motorcycle and car emissions and traffic, and forfeiting economic benefits associated with micro-mobility.' Holden’s push aligns with car-centric policy, drawing sharp criticism from safety advocates. They argue the bill would endanger vulnerable road users by forcing more people into cars and away from safer, sustainable options. The piece calls for direct confrontation of denialist rhetoric and a shift from car dependency to protect lives on city streets.

• Understanding Car Culture 'Denialism' Can Help Safety Advocates Respond, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-03-04

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes demand-based parking in crowded boroughs. DOT must set rates, tweak with notice. Exempt vehicles dodge new fees. Streets may shift. Pedestrians and cyclists watch the curb.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, Farías, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates rising or falling by real-time demand. DOT must set the range before launch and give a week’s notice for changes. Vehicles with special permits stay exempt. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes DOT to set surge-priced parking in every borough. Rates rise or fall with demand. Exempt cars keep their perks. Streets may shift, but the curb stays contested.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates that change by real-time demand. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' Council Members Julie Won (primary), Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, and Farías (by request of the Brooklyn Borough President) sponsor the bill. Vehicles with special permits remain exempt from new fees. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes DOT to set surge-priced parking in every borough. Rates rise or fall with demand. Exempt cars keep their perks. Streets may shift, but the curb stays contested.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates that change by real-time demand. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' Council Members Julie Won (primary), Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, and Farías (by request of the Brooklyn Borough President) sponsor the bill. Vehicles with special permits remain exempt from new fees. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council wants 500 solar-lit crosswalks in five years. Bright signals cut through the dark. The bill demands action and a study. Safety for walkers, not drivers. No more hiding in the shadows.

Int 0301-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law...in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and others. The bill also requires a study comparing these devices to standard signs. The city must report findings within two years. The goal: more visible crossings, fewer deadly impacts.

• File Int 0301-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council eyes bigger NYPD tow pounds. Bill demands enough space to haul away law-breaking cars. Public reports would track towing. Committee shelves action. Streets wait.

Int 0179-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, would require the NYPD to run tow pounds with enough capacity to deter illegal driving. The bill, introduced February 28, 2024, and discussed again on April 28, 2025, reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to police department tow pound capacity.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Farías, Narcisse, Restler, Hudson, Louis, and Holden. The bill also calls for public reports on towing operations. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0179-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28