DOT will build nearly a mile of protected bike lanes on Seventh Avenue in Dyker Heights. The stretch is notorious for speeding, crashes, and one recent fatality. The plan adds sidewalk space, bus islands, and closes slip lanes. Some locals protest lost parking.

On June 24, 2024, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) announced plans to install protected bike lanes on Seventh Avenue in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. The project, pitched as a school safety upgrade, will replace painted bike lanes with a two-way protected lane, add sidewalk extensions, and close two slip lanes. DOT cited 110 injury crashes and one fatality in four years along the corridor. The redesign also includes concrete bus boarding islands and pedestrian improvements near schools and hospitals. DOT staffer Alex Ussery said, 'We’ve received some concerns from the community and various elected officials specifically regarding safety around students.' Community board attendees voiced anger over the loss of 28 parking spots, but some residents and advocates praised the safety upgrades, calling them 'desperately needed.' Installation will begin this summer and finish in the fall. No council member directly sponsored or voted on this DOT action.

• Protected Bike Lanes Are (Finally) Coming To Car-Centric Dyker Heights, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-24

A taxi tore through Bowery, striking a 79-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She died on the sunlit concrete, blood pooling, engines idling. The cab’s nose crumpled. The city’s rhythm never faltered. Another life ended beneath steel and glass.

A 79-year-old woman was killed at the intersection of East 4th Street and Bowery in Manhattan when a taxi struck her as she crossed the street. According to the police report, the collision occurred at 13:37 and resulted in a fatal head wound. The report states the driver’s actions included 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting a failure to obey traffic signals. The taxi’s center front end bore the impact, its nose crumpled from the force. The pedestrian was described as 'crossing against the signal,' but this detail appears only after the driver’s error is cited. The scene was marked by blood on hot concrete and the persistent hum of engines, underscoring the relentless danger faced by those on foot. No other contributing factors were listed for the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735570, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A 46-year-old rider on a 2023 Kawasaki hit the bridge’s upper deck at unsafe speed. Thrown from the bike, helmeted but unprotected, his head struck hard. The Verrazano held him, then let him fall. He died there, alone in the morning dark.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man operating a 2023 Kawasaki motorcycle was killed on the Verrazano Bridge Upper deck at 4:58 a.m. The crash narrative states the rider 'turned left too fast,' striking head-on and being ejected from the bike. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles involved. The rider, who was helmeted, suffered fatal head injuries after being thrown from the motorcycle. The police report also notes 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed on New York City’s bridges. No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash; the focus remains on the dangers of high speed and sudden maneuvers on city infrastructure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734980, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A BMW motorcycle slammed into a pickup’s rear bumper on Clearview Expressway. The unlicensed rider, helmeted, was ejected and killed instantly. Speed and alcohol marked the scene. The night swallowed the body, torn and still.

A deadly collision unfolded on Clearview Expressway when a BMW motorcycle crashed into the left rear bumper of a pickup truck, according to the police report. The 39-year-old motorcycle rider, described as unlicensed and helmeted, was ejected from his seat and pronounced dead at the scene, his body suffering severe lacerations. The report notes that 'speed and alcohol marked the pavement,' underscoring the high-risk conditions present. Both the motorcycle and pickup truck drivers were unlicensed at the time of the crash, according to the police report. The motorcycle was traveling straight ahead while the pickup was changing lanes. The police narrative details the violence of the impact and the aftermath, but does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor beyond helmet use. The focus remains on the systemic dangers of unlicensed operation and high-speed driving on city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734986, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A Ford SUV veered off Drumgoole Road West, slammed into a parked RAM truck. The driver, 59, buckled in, lost consciousness and died behind the wheel. No skid marks. No warning. Stillness followed steel.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling west on Drumgoole Road West near 660 lost course and struck a parked RAM pick-up truck. The sole occupant, a 59-year-old male driver, was found buckled in, upright, and deceased behind the wheel. The report notes 'lost consciousness' as the contributing factor. There were no skid marks at the scene, indicating no attempt to brake or swerve before impact. The parked RAM truck was unoccupied, and no other injuries are reported. The police narrative describes the crash as sudden and final, with the driver dying alone in his seat. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor; the focus remains on the driver’s loss of consciousness and the resulting collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734791, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A parked Toyota sedan stood silent on Pennsylvania Avenue. Its left side crushed. Inside, a man unmoving. A baby beside him, lifeless. The street, heavy with loss, bore witness to sudden violence and the silence that followed.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan was parked near 656 Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn when its left side was struck and crumpled inward. Inside the vehicle, a male occupant and an infant were found. The report states the infant showed no signs of life, and the man did not move. The narrative describes the scene as silent and still, with the street 'holding its breath.' The parked sedan was not in motion at the time of the crash, and the impact targeted the left side doors. The police report does not specify any driver errors or contributing factors from the striking vehicle, listing them as 'Unspecified.' No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The data centers the violence inflicted upon vulnerable occupants by the force of a moving vehicle against a stationary car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734909, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A Porsche, chased by police, smashed into two sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 17-year-old boy, unbelted in the front seat, died instantly. The street, once roaring, fell silent in the aftermath.

According to the police report, a Porsche sedan fleeing police at unsafe speed crashed into two other sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. The report states the Porsche's 'right front crumpled' on impact. A 17-year-old boy, riding as a front passenger in the Porsche, died at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The Porsche was engaged in a 'Police Pursuit' at the time of the crash. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the street in silence, underscoring the lethal consequences of reckless driving and high-speed pursuits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734553, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

Fifty-five pedestrians dead. Over 4,000 injured. Brooklyn and Queens hit hardest. Drivers cause over 92 percent of injuries. City response lags. Streets remain deadly. Advocates demand raised crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and turn calming. Congestion pricing canceled. Danger grows.

On June 20, 2024, advocates and city officials confronted a surge in pedestrian deaths and injuries. The matter, titled 'There Is A Pedestrian Injury and Death Crisis Going On,' highlights 55 pedestrian deaths and more than 4,000 injuries this year. Brooklyn and Queens are most affected. Over 92 percent of injuries come from drivers of cars, trucks, and heavy vehicles. Council members and advocates, including Alexa Sledge of Transportation Alternatives and Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance, called for urgent safety upgrades: raised crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and turn calming. Jon Orcutt, a former DOT official, blamed slow city action, weak enforcement, and bigger vehicles. The cancellation of congestion pricing—expected to cut 100,000 cars a day—removes a key safety measure. The Department of Transportation did not comment. Advocates stress: the crisis is driver-caused, not the fault of cyclists or e-mobility users.

• There Is A Pedestrian Injury and Death Crisis Going On, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-20

A motorcycle tore down Morningstar Road, colliding with a turning SUV. The rider, helmeted, was thrown and crushed. Five inside the SUV survived. Speed and failure to yield left one young man dead, silence settling over the street.

A violent crash unfolded on Morningstar Road near Dixon Avenue when a 25-year-old motorcyclist collided with a turning SUV, according to the police report. The report states the motorcyclist was traveling at an unsafe speed before slamming into the SUV, which was carrying five occupants. The impact ejected the motorcyclist from his bike, crushing his chest. He was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The narrative details that 'speed and failure to yield left silence in the street.' The police report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. No actions or behaviors by the SUV occupants are cited as contributing factors. The collision left the motorcyclist dead at the scene, while the five SUV occupants survived. The crash underscores the deadly consequences when speed and failure to yield intersect on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733879, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A Dodge pickup truck hit a 67-year-old man head-on at 54th Street and 15th Avenue. The man died beneath the truck’s front end, his head broken, the vehicle’s lights casting harsh shadows over stillness.

A fatal collision occurred at the corner of 54th Street and 15th Avenue when a southbound Dodge pickup truck struck a 67-year-old man, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the truck hit him head-on. The man died at the scene, suffering severe head injuries beneath the vehicle’s front end. The police report lists the contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian as 'Unspecified.' The truck’s point of impact was the center front end, and the vehicle sustained damage to the left front quarter panel. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'his head broken, the truck’s lights shining down on stillness.' No specific driver errors are cited in the report, and no additional contributing factors are attributed to the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733755, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A 34-year-old man, unlicensed and alone, was ejected from his motorcycle on the 145th Street Bridge. His helmet split. Blood pooled on the pavement. He struck headfirst and died in the eastbound lane, the wind his only witness.

A fatal crash occurred on the 145th Street Bridge involving a single motorcycle, according to the police report. The 34-year-old male driver, riding a 2004 Kawasaki, was unlicensed and traveling eastbound when he was ejected from the vehicle. The report states the helmet cracked upon impact, and the man suffered severe head trauma, dying at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor, underscoring the systemic danger when unlicensed, inexperienced individuals operate powerful vehicles. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The victim was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail follows the primary driver error cited. The crash left the eastbound lane silent, marked by blood and shattered gear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733552, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

Congress opened a federal investigation into why massive cars kill so many pedestrians and cyclists. Rep. Jamie Raskin demanded answers. The probe targets vehicle size, blind zones, and weak safety rules. U.S. deaths keep rising. Regulators have failed to act.

On June 17, 2024, Congress, at the request of Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), launched a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into vehicle safety standards and their deadly impact on pedestrians and cyclists. The probe, not tied to a specific bill number, follows record-high deaths among vulnerable road users in the U.S. The matter summary states: 'Congress has launched an investigation into whether America's limited vehicle safety standards are driving the rise in deaths of vulnerable road users.' Raskin, citing personal and constituent tragedies, criticized federal agencies for ignoring design flaws like high hoods, large blind zones, and the lack of side-underride guards. He called out regulators for focusing on advanced tech over basic, life-saving design changes. Raskin said, 'Nobody should be killed on our highways and roadways. That should not be some acceptable cost of doing business.' The GAO will examine vehicle design and international safety approaches, aiming to force overdue change.

• Congressional Watchdog Launches Probe Into Why Massive Cars Kill So Many Pedestrians and Cyclists, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-17

A woman riding rear on a bike was thrown to the pavement when an e-bike struck. Her head hit the street. She lay unconscious, lifeless under the city’s lights. Sirens came too late. Driver inattention shadowed the crash.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 7th Avenue and 68th Street when an e-bike hit a bike, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:06. A 48-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries after striking the pavement. The police report states she was 'unconscious' and 'lifeless beneath the streetlights.' The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a failure by the e-bike operator to remain alert. No helmet was worn by the victim, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The report makes clear that the crash’s deadly outcome stemmed from the e-bike driver’s lack of attention, not the actions of the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732852, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A 78-year-old woman, crossing with the signal at East 93rd and 2nd Avenue, was struck and killed by a left-turning SUV. The impact crushed her body. She died there, in the street, beneath the gray June sky.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old woman was crossing 2nd Avenue at East 93rd Street with the pedestrian signal when she was struck by a southbound SUV making a left turn. The report states the point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, which caused fatal crush injuries to the pedestrian's entire body. The driver was cited for 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way,' a critical error that directly contributed to the collision. The woman was in the crosswalk, obeying the signal, when the SUV turned into her path. The police report lists no contributing factors related to the victim's behavior, underscoring that driver inattention and failure to yield were the sole causes named in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732741, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A Ford lift boom turned right on Dahlgren Place. Its front end crushed an 86-year-old man at the intersection. The man lost his head, his leg, his life. The truck did not stop. The street swallowed another life.

An 86-year-old man was killed when a Ford lift boom made a right turn at Dahlgren Place and 92nd Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The truck’s center front end struck the pedestrian at the intersection, resulting in fatal head trauma and amputation. The police report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way, a critical error that directly led to the crash. The report notes the truck did not sustain damage and did not stop after the collision. No contributing factors are listed for the pedestrian. The only cited cause is the driver’s failure to yield, underscoring the systemic danger faced by people walking in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732463, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A 72-year-old man died beneath the front of a westbound SUV on Washington Bridge near Amsterdam Avenue. The night was silent. No crosswalk. No stoplight. The impact shattered his body and ended his life in the roadway darkness.

According to the police report, a 72-year-old man was killed when a westbound SUV struck him on Washington Bridge near Amsterdam Avenue. The report describes the victim as lying 'broken under the front of a westbound SUV,' with his head struck and body crushed. The collision occurred at 12:33 a.m. The pedestrian was not at an intersection, and there was no crosswalk or stoplight at the location. The vehicle, a 2020 Nissan SUV, was traveling straight ahead when its center front end hit the pedestrian. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The victim was killed by the impact, suffering head and crush injuries. The report does not cite any driver errors or specific contributing factors beyond the absence of intersection controls, nor does it mention any victim behavior as a cause. The focus remains on the lethal interaction between a vulnerable pedestrian and a moving SUV in an unprotected stretch of road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732462, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A motorcycle, throttle stuck, careened off 37th Avenue and struck a woman on the sidewalk. Metal crushed bone. She died, conscious, legs shattered. The street spat her out. She never had a chance. The machine did not stop.

According to the police report, a motorcycle with a defective accelerator veered off 37th Avenue near 90th Street in Queens and struck a 44-year-old woman who was standing on the sidewalk. The impact hit her center-front, shattering her legs and causing fatal injuries. The report states she was conscious after the collision but ultimately died from her wounds. Police cite 'Accelerator Defective' as the contributing factor, pointing to a mechanical failure that led to the loss of control. The pedestrian was not in the roadway and was not crossing at an intersection, according to the report. No driver errors by the victim are listed. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when vehicle defects intersect with public space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731762, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

A Ford SUV turned left at Bowne Street and 41st Avenue. A woman on a bike, age sixty-three, pedaled west. Steel struck flesh. She flew, her head hit pavement. She died alone, her bicycle twisted beside her.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 41st Avenue and Bowne Street in Queens when it struck a 63-year-old woman riding her bicycle westbound. The report states the SUV's driver was inattentive or distracted at the moment of impact. The cyclist was ejected from her bike, suffering fatal head injuries. The narrative notes, 'Her head struck pavement. She died there, alone on the asphalt, her bike crumpled beside her.' The contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to pay attention, especially during turning movements at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731666, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18

Governor Hochul killed congestion pricing. She listened to wealthy diner owners, not city residents. The move keeps cars flowing, pollution rising, and streets dangerous. Cyclists and pedestrians lose. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price for political theater.

On June 9, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul canceled New York’s congestion pricing plan. The decision, covered in Streetsblog NYC, bypassed the voices of everyday New Yorkers. Hochul cited feedback from wealthy business owners, not the city’s transit riders or street users. The article quotes Hochul: "That is all I need to know." Council members were not directly involved, but the move drew sharp criticism from advocates and residents. The matter title: 'Cycle of Rage: Hochul’s ‘Diner Diplomacy’ is the Worst Kind of Lie.' The cancellation blocks a policy designed to cut traffic, reduce crashes, and fund transit. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders—lose safer streets and cleaner air. The governor’s action protects drivers and business interests, leaving the city’s most exposed at risk.

• Cycle of Rage: Hochul’s ‘Diner Diplomacy’ is the Worst Kind of Lie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-09

A sedan veered straight on Manor Road, smashing head-on. The driver, a 78-year-old woman, died from arm injuries. Distraction behind the wheel sealed her fate. The car did not swerve, did not stop, just kept going.

A fatal crash occurred on Manor Road near College Avenue when a 2006 Hyundai sedan, traveling south, struck head-on. According to the police report, the driver, a 78-year-old woman, was alone in the vehicle and wearing a seatbelt. She suffered fatal injuries to her arm and was conscious at the scene. The report states, 'Distraction behind the wheel ended her life. The car kept going straight.' The primary contributing factor listed is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the vehicle did not deviate or attempt to avoid the collision. No other vehicles or vulnerable road users were involved. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on driver distraction as the direct cause of this deadly incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730906, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18