DOT aims to close a deadly gap on Queens Boulevard. The plan cuts car lanes, adds parking-protected bike lanes, and shortens crossings. Advocates and locals back the move. Cyclists and pedestrians face daily danger here. The city finally acts.

On May 14, 2024, the Department of Transportation proposed protected bike lanes for the westernmost mile of Queens Boulevard, between Skillman Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue. The plan, covered by Streetsblog NYC, would reduce car lanes from five to three in each direction, making room for eight-foot parking-protected bike lanes. Painted islands would shield cyclists at intersections and shorten pedestrian crossings. The proposal responds to years of crashes and injuries in a high-traffic area. Community advocates, including Laura Shepard of Transportation Alternatives and Joby Jacob of LaGuardia Community College, voiced strong support. Jacob called it 'absolutely necessary,' while Shepard said, 'This has been a missing link for a really long time.' The Thomson Avenue extension remains in early planning, with ongoing advocacy for more sidewalk space and safer access. Vision Zero funds are allocated, but advocates push for more. The city’s move follows years of criticism over insufficient safety measures.

• DOT Proposes Protected Bike Lane To Fill Crucial Gap In Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-14

Swedish cities cut car traffic with congestion pricing. Streets grew quiet. Bike lanes widened. Pedestrians took space. Crashes fell. Air cleared. Shops thrived. Stockholm’s crash rate is a third of New York’s. The lesson is blunt: fewer cars, safer streets, more life.

This opinion piece, published May 13, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, draws on Sweden’s decade of congestion pricing. The article, titled 'Congestion Pricing Will Make New York a World-Class City,' details how Gothenburg and Stockholm used tolls to reduce car traffic, fund transit, and reclaim streets for people. Per Bergström-Jonsson, a Swedish official, says, 'Congestion pricing improved travel times far more than all other road investments.' Stockholm’s crash deaths are a third of New York’s. Council members are not directly named, as this is an advocacy article, but the stance is clear: support for congestion pricing, bike infrastructure, transit, and pedestrianization. The Swedish experience shows that fewer cars mean safer, more vibrant streets for all vulnerable road users.

• LETTER FROM SWEDEN: Congestion Pricing Will Make New York a World-Class City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-13

A Nissan SUV slammed head-on into stillness on Jerome Avenue. The driver, alone, drifted asleep and never woke. Smoke curled above the wreck. No other lives touched. The morning street bore witness to a solitary fatal mistake.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old man driving a Nissan SUV on Jerome Avenue near 1709 lost control of his vehicle after he 'fell asleep at the wheel.' The SUV struck head-on, resulting in the driver’s death. The report states the crash occurred in the early morning, with the street described as 'still' and 'nothing moved but the smoke.' The only person involved was the driver, who died alone in the vehicle. The police report explicitly lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor, underscoring the critical role of driver inattention and fatigue in this fatal incident. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists were involved or harmed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724137, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A 33-year-old woman died beneath the steel of an eastbound SUV on Grand Central Parkway. Her skull was crushed. She was walking outside the crosswalk, alone, in the darkness, when the vehicle hit her head-on. She died there.

A 33-year-old woman was killed on Grand Central Parkway near exit 24 when she was struck head-on by an eastbound SUV, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'walking outside the crosswalk' and was hit by the 'center front end' of a 2018 Toyota SUV. Her injuries were fatal, with the report noting her skull was crushed and she died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the available data. The narrative describes the woman as being alone and in the dark at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the impact and the deadly consequences of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723692, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A northbound Mazda, driven by an unlicensed man, struck a 71-year-old woman crossing Eldert Street in a marked crosswalk. She suffered fatal crush injuries. The driver disregarded traffic control. She never regained consciousness. Brooklyn pavement claimed another life.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was crossing Eldert Street near Knickerbocker Avenue in a marked crosswalk when she was struck head-on by a northbound Mazda sedan. The report states the driver was unlicensed and disregarded traffic control. The impact caused fatal crush wounds across her body, and she never regained consciousness. The crash occurred at 17:02 in Brooklyn. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The victim was crossing without a signal but within a marked crosswalk, as documented in the report. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s failure to yield and disregard for traffic control, underscoring the lethal consequences when drivers ignore basic rules and operate vehicles without a license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723690, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

Bronx Community Board 5 voted to ban parking near crosswalks. The board urged the city to replace corner parking with curb extensions. Members cited deadly intersections. They want daylighting enforced. The vote was nearly unanimous. The goal: protect people, not parking.

On April 26, 2024, Bronx Community Board 5 passed a resolution supporting a citywide ban on parking near crosswalks—known as daylighting. The board called on the Department of Transportation to replace corner parking with physical infrastructure like curb extensions. The matter summary: 'Enforcing the Daylighting Law in our community would significantly increase visibility, which would protect pedestrians, drivers, cyclists and all other road users.' Lucia Deng, chair of the Municipal Services committee, led the push, saying, 'The focus was on intersections and why they are the most dangerous for car crashes and how this just benefits everybody.' The board’s vote was nearly unanimous, with no dissent and one abstention. The resolution highlights that more than half of pedestrian deaths and nearly eight in ten injuries occur at intersections. The board’s action joins a growing citywide movement to prioritize people over parking at dangerous corners.

• Daylight Again: Bronx Community Board Backs Parking Ban at Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-26

A parked BMW broke loose on Ocean Avenue. It struck a sedan, then slammed into a Subaru. Inside, a 77-year-old man was crushed and killed. The runaway car turned a quiet street into a deadly trap.

According to the police report, a parked BMW on Ocean Avenue became a 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle.' The report states the BMW 'broke free,' first striking a sedan and then slamming into a Subaru. Inside the Subaru, a 77-year-old man was 'crushed.' He suffered fatal head injuries and was 'partially ejected' from his seat. The police report notes he was 'unbelted.' The incident unfolded at 16:24, transforming a line of parked and stopped vehicles into a scene of sudden violence. The primary contributing factor listed is 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle,' highlighting the systemic danger posed when a parked car is not properly secured or malfunctions. No contributing factors are attributed to the victim. The report details the impact sequence and the fatal consequences for the elderly driver, underscoring the lethal risk when control of a vehicle is lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720212, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A man crossed Roosevelt Avenue before dawn. A Ford SUV hit him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.

A 38-year-old man was killed while crossing Roosevelt Avenue near 70th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 a.m. when a 2011 Ford SUV, traveling east, struck the pedestrian in the chest with its center front end. The report states the man was crossing outside an intersection, with no signal or crosswalk present. The narrative notes, 'A man crossed alone before dawn. A 2011 Ford SUV struck him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further explanation for the fatal impact. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of vehicle movement through pedestrian space in the early morning hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A 39-year-old taxi driver died behind the wheel on West 47th Street. No crash, no screech, just silence and a worn seat. The police report cites driver inexperience. The city’s streets claim another life, quietly, in the evening rush.

According to the police report, a taxi was parked on West 47th Street near Sixth Avenue when its 39-year-old driver died behind the wheel at 17:10. The report states, "No crash, no screech, no struggle. Just a lap belt, a worn seat, and the quiet failure of inexperience." The only contributing factor listed is "Driver Inexperience." The driver was found in the parked vehicle, wearing a lap belt, and was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists involved in the incident. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic risks and challenges faced by drivers on New York City streets, as underscored by the official attribution of inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719883, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A 74-year-old man was found dead inside a parked BMW SUV on East 18th Street. The left rear of the vehicle was crushed, glass shattered, seatbelt unused. Afternoon sun glinted on the wreckage. No movement, only silence remained.

According to the police report, a 74-year-old man was discovered lifeless in a parked 2023 BMW SUV on East 18th Street near Avenue U in Brooklyn. The report describes the left rear of the vehicle as 'crushed,' with 'shattered glass' and 'no sound.' The man was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred in the afternoon, at 16:03. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified' and does not identify any specific driver errors or actions by other vehicles. The victim's behavior—seatbelt nonuse—is noted in the report, but no evidence is provided that this contributed to the fatality. The circumstances surrounding the impact and the source of the collision remain unaddressed in the police report, leaving the systemic dangers of parked-vehicle crashes and the vulnerability of occupants in the urban landscape starkly evident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722200, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A 58-year-old man lay bleeding and unconscious on 37th Avenue, struck head-on by a Hurley e-scooter. The unlicensed rider failed to yield. The man died on the pavement. The crash ended a life in the crosswalk.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 37th Avenue and 73rd Street in Queens, according to the police report. At 11:26 a.m., a 58-year-old pedestrian was crossing the intersection when an unlicensed man riding a Hurley e-scooter struck him head-on. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The e-scooter’s center front end hit the pedestrian, who suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious. He died at the scene. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but this is listed after the driver’s errors. The unlicensed status of the e-scooter operator and the failure to yield are central to the crash, underscoring the systemic dangers facing people on foot in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718703, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A 2007 Jeep sped north on Bronx River Parkway. The unlicensed driver lost control at unsafe speed. Ejected from the SUV, she died with shattered pelvis and torn flesh. The vehicle lay demolished, a brutal testament to reckless velocity.

According to the police report, a 2007 Jeep SUV driven by an unlicensed 30-year-old woman crashed on Bronx River Parkway at 3:17 AM. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The driver was traveling northbound and lost control, resulting in a catastrophic impact that demolished the vehicle and twisted its frame beyond saving. The driver, who wore no seat belt, was ejected from the SUV and suffered fatal injuries including a shattered pelvis and severe lacerations. The police report explicitly notes the driver's unlicensed status and unsafe speed as causes of the crash. A front-seat passenger, a 34-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, was injured with internal complaints and shoulder-upper arm trauma but was not ejected. No victim behaviors contributed to the crash according to the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718704, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

Federal officials warn NYPD: stop blocking sidewalks or face a lawsuit. Cops’ cars choke crosswalks, force people—especially the disabled—into traffic. Streetsblog’s reporting sparked the probe. NYPD shrugs. Sidewalks stay blocked. Danger remains. Justice demands change. Lives hang in the balance.

On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a stern warning to the NYPD, demanding an end to illegal sidewalk and crosswalk parking around stationhouses. The DOJ’s letter, prompted by Streetsblog’s reporting, states: “NYPD vehicles and the personal vehicles of NYPD employees frequently obstruct sidewalks and crosswalks in the vicinity of NYPD precincts... the city’s pedestrian grid is not readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams led the charge, citing widespread violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and a lack of enforcement against placard abuse. The DOJ threatened a civil rights lawsuit if the NYPD fails to act. The NYPD has not announced new enforcement. Sidewalks remain blocked, endangering pedestrians and especially people with disabilities, who are forced into the street and exposed to traffic injuries.

• Justice Dept., Citing Streetsblog, Threatens to Sue NYPD Over Cops’ Sidewalk Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-19

A BMW slammed into a young man turning left on his e-bike. The impact hurled him to the pavement. His head struck, his life ended. The street bore witness to the violence. One turn, one crash, one life erased.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed when a BMW SUV struck him head-on on Neptune Avenue near Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. The collision occurred as the e-bike rider was making a left turn, while the BMW was traveling straight ahead. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor in the crash. The impact ejected the cyclist, causing fatal head injuries described as 'crush injuries.' The police report notes the victim was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The violence of the crash and the fatal outcome underscore the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield or turn improperly. The report makes no mention of any contributing actions by the cyclist beyond his direction of travel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718424, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

Albany will let New York City drop speed limits to 20 mph. The law, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a driver in 2013, carves out wide, fast roads in the outer boroughs. Advocates call it progress, but not enough. Danger remains.

On April 18, 2024, Governor Hochul announced a deal to pass Sammy’s Law in the state budget. The bill, named after 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, lets New York City lower its maximum speed limit from 25 to 20 miles per hour. The measure, described as a 'hard-fought rule change,' exempts roads with three or more lanes outside Manhattan and requires 60 days of community notice before changes. Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother and Families for Safe Streets co-founder, called the bill 'a step forward, though not perfect.' Sara Lind of Open Plans called it 'a huge victory,' but noted the carve-outs leave many dangerous streets untouched. Mayor Adams’s office praised the law, citing the need for more tools to protect New Yorkers. The law’s passage marks progress for vulnerable road users, but leaves key gaps where speed and risk remain high.

• Deal Reached: Hochul Says ‘Sammy’s Law’ Will Pass, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-18

A 34-year-old unlicensed moped rider struck a parked SUV on Waring Avenue. Thrown from his vehicle, chest crushed, he died alone beneath the streetlight. The police cite traffic control disregarded. No helmet. The Bronx pavement claimed another life.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old man riding a moped northbound on Waring Avenue collided with the left front bumper of a parked SUV near Barker Avenue in the Bronx. The crash occurred at 21:22. The rider, who was unlicensed and wore no helmet, was ejected from the moped and suffered fatal chest injuries. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a parked SUV. The unlicensed rider, 34, wore no helmet. Thrown hard, chest crushed. He died under the streetlight, alone on the cold pavement.' Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped rider's lack of helmet use and license status are noted in the report after the primary driver error. No other injuries were reported. The parked SUV was unoccupied at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717868, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A Buick SUV turned left through a Brooklyn crosswalk, crushing a 10-year-old girl as she crossed with the signal. The driver failed to yield. Her body broke beneath the front end. She died at the scene. Systemic danger, unyielding metal.

According to the police report, a Buick SUV traveling south on Wallabout Street near Franklin Avenue struck and killed a 10-year-old girl at approximately 14:33. The vehicle was making a left turn through the crosswalk when it hit the child. The report states the girl was 'crossing with the signal' at the intersection. The driver failed to yield the right-of-way and was also cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The impact crushed the girl beneath the front end of the SUV, resulting in fatal injuries to her entire body. The police report highlights 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver error and inattention. The victim’s lawful crossing is noted only after the driver’s failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717867, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A sedan turned left on New York Avenue and struck a 74-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She died in the crosswalk, the impact sudden and final. The driver failed to yield. The street kept moving.

According to the police report, a 74-year-old woman was crossing New York Avenue at Avenue D, in Brooklyn, when a sedan making a left turn struck her head-on. The report states she was 'crossing with the light' and was in the crosswalk at the time of impact. The collision resulted in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor on the part of the sedan driver. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, matching the narrative of a direct, forceful collision. The victim's behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to yield. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard pedestrian right-of-way at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717810, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A moped struck a 78-year-old woman in a Queens crosswalk. Her hip shattered. She died on Grand Avenue. The rider, distracted, did not stop. The morning stayed silent. Systemic danger lingered at the intersection.

A 78-year-old woman was killed while crossing Grand Avenue at 80th Street in Queens. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a northbound moped struck her head-on. The report states the rider was 'distracted' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact broke her hip and caused fatal injuries. The narrative notes the rider did not stop. No driver errors other than inattention are cited. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection; the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and systemic threats facing those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

A 56-year-old man lost his life on Jamaica Bay Greenway. Ejected from his e-scooter, he suffered fatal head trauma. No other vehicles, no crash debris—just silence, blood, and the aftermath of inexperience on a city path.

A 56-year-old man riding an e-scooter on Jamaica Bay Greenway near Pennsylvania Avenue was killed, according to the police report. The report states he was 'ejected and killed,' suffering head trauma and severe bleeding. There was no evidence of a collision with another vehicle or object, and no crash wreckage was found. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the primary contributing factor in the incident. The victim was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is noted only after the driver error cited by police. The path was left quiet, marked only by the presence of a body and the consequences of systemic vulnerability on New York City’s greenways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719665, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19