City Hall stalled bike lanes. Council let safety laws lapse. Projects for walkers and riders died on the vine. Car storage won. Vision Zero faded. The mayor and lawmakers bowed to pressure. Streets stayed deadly. Vulnerable New Yorkers paid the price.

This report, published December 28, 2023, reviews the year’s biggest failures in New York City transportation policy. The article, titled '… And the Biggest Failures and Disappointments of 2023,' slams the Adams administration and City Council for undermining street safety. It cites missed legal benchmarks for bike and bus lanes, interference with DOT projects, and the prioritization of car storage over safety. The mayor and his chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, are named for derailing safety efforts. The Council failed to renew the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program and weakened the outdoor dining program. Delays on the Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path and flawed bike lane designs left vulnerable road users exposed. The article’s verdict is clear: powerful interests won, while pedestrians and cyclists lost ground. No council member took a stand for safety. The city’s most at-risk residents bore the brunt of these failures.

• … And the Biggest Failures and Disappointments of 2023, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-28

A 75-year-old man crossed Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike sped west. The man fell hard. His head hit the street. Bones snapped. He faded, silent, as traffic rolled on. The city moved. He did not.

A 75-year-old pedestrian was killed on Roosevelt Avenue near Broadway in Queens. According to the police report, the man stepped into the crosswalk as an e-bike traveled westbound. He fell, struck his head, and suffered severe fractures and dislocations. The report states he was semiconscious before becoming unresponsive. The police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the data. The e-bike sustained no damage. The victim was crossing at an intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695751, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A man lost control on Bruckner Boulevard. His sedan slammed into two parked cars. Metal crumpled. Glass flew. He died alone in the driver’s seat. The Bronx kept moving. No other injuries reported.

A 69-year-old man died after losing consciousness behind the wheel on Bruckner Boulevard near 653. According to the police report, his sedan veered into two parked vehicles. The impact folded metal and scattered glass. The driver died at the scene. No pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers were hurt. The police report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left two parked cars damaged but no other injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690552, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

States hold the power. They set speed limits, design roads, control funding. Most choose cars over people. Texas and Georgia rank low. California and Massachusetts push safety. Without state action, deaths rise. Locals demand change. States must act or step aside.

This policy analysis, published December 26, 2023, reviews state-level action on Vision Zero and traffic safety. The article, 'States, We Need Your Vision to Get to ‘Zero’,' highlights how state Departments of Transportation shape safety outcomes. Texas and Georgia prioritize fast car travel, leading to more crashes and deaths. California and Massachusetts invest in transit and set design standards for pedestrians and cyclists. The piece states, 'States must lead. Whether it’s lowering speed limits, re-designing roadways to encourage safer speeds, adding speed safety cameras, or other proven safety countermeasures; states are usually loath to make change.' Advocates and local leaders push for accountability. The analysis finds that without state leadership, vulnerable road users remain at risk. States must lower speeds, redesign roads, and fund transit—or let cities act.

• States, We Need Your Vision to Get to ‘Zero’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-26

A BMW slammed into a moped on Thomas S Boyland Street. The rider flew from the seat, struck a parked Ford, and died. Christmas morning. The street was empty. The crash broke his body and left silence behind.

A deadly crash unfolded on Thomas S Boyland Street near Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a BMW sedan struck a ZHILONG moped. The moped rider, a 30-year-old man, was ejected and hit a parked Ford SUV. He suffered fatal crush injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet, but the primary error cited is the disregard of traffic control. The impact was severe. The crash left one man dead and a community shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690318, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A BMW slammed into a Lexus at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman died. Speed killed. Metal bent. Life ended. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Utopia Parkway and Peck Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a BMW struck the side of a Lexus SUV. The Lexus driver, a 72-year-old woman, was killed. The report states, “A BMW struck fast from the front. The Lexus took the blow in its side. Inside, a 72-year-old woman sat belted. Her body broke. She never woke.” The police list 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The victim was wearing a lap belt and harness. The crash left one dead and exposed the lethal risk of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690257, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A BMW SUV hit a 68-year-old woman before dawn on Jamaica Avenue. She died on the cold street. The SUV struck her head-on. Darkness lingered. The crash left her lifeless, the city unchanged.

A 68-year-old woman was killed when a westbound BMW SUV struck her head-on as she crossed Jamaica Avenue near 215th Street before sunrise. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The SUV's center front end hit the woman, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data. The woman died at the scene. The crash highlights the lethal risk faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially outside marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690316, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

Parents and advocates gathered in Fort Greene. They mourned Kamari Hughes, age seven, killed by an NYPD tow truck. They demanded Mayor Adams reverse cuts to crossing guard funding. Cardboard cutouts marked the shortage. Real guards, they said, could save lives. City Hall stayed silent.

On December 20, 2023, parents, teachers, and residents rallied at the Brooklyn intersection where a city tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamari Hughes. The event, organized by the Brooklyn Street Safety Coalition, called on Mayor Adams to restore funding for school crossing guards. The Adams administration had announced an 18-percent reduction in crossing guard positions, aiming to save $7.5 million. Kay White, PTSO Co-Chair at Brooklyn Prospect Downtown Elementary, said, “With expanded city funding, real crossing guards could be protecting our children as they walk to school.” She described the process of securing a guard as slow and dependent on connections. Despite a brief increase in staffing after the crash, numbers have dropped again. Investigations show higher crash and injury rates near schools. Crossing guards face daily danger from drivers. City Hall did not respond to requests for comment.

• Parents Call on Mayor to Restore Crossing Guard Funding After 7-Year-Old’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-20

A 31-year-old man rode his e-scooter east on Queens Boulevard. The front end crumpled. He struck head-first, was ejected, and died alone in shock on the cold pavement. No helmet. No other vehicles listed. The street stayed silent.

A 31-year-old man riding an e-scooter east on Queens Boulevard near 73rd Street was killed. According to the police report, he struck head-first, was ejected, and died in shock on the pavement. The report states, 'The front end crumpled. He died in shock, alone on the cold pavement.' The only vehicle involved was the e-scooter. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were named in the report. The man was not wearing a helmet, as noted after the absence of any specified driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692319, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A Dodge truck, driver unlicensed, tore into a Chevy sedan on Brewer Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 71-year-old man died alone in the dark. Police cite traffic control ignored. The street swallowed another life.

A deadly crash unfolded on Brewer Boulevard near South Conduit Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a 71-year-old man driving a 2002 Chevy sedan was struck head-on by a Dodge truck. The Dodge driver was unlicensed. The impact crushed the Chevy and killed its driver at the scene. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report also notes 'Unsafe Speed' as a factor for the deceased driver. The Dodge truck's unlicensed status and disregard for traffic control are central to the crash. The man in the Chevy wore no seatbelt, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690317, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A Land Rover crashed into a parked taxi on Bleecker Street near Sixth Avenue. The SUV driver, age 40, died at the scene. The night was cold and silent. Police cited distraction as the cause. The street stood still after impact.

A Land Rover SUV struck the rear of a parked taxi on Bleecker Street near Avenue of the Americas. The driver of the SUV, a 40-year-old man, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A Land Rover slammed into the back of a parked taxi. The driver, 40, died behind the wheel. The street was still. The cause: distraction.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the taxi occupant. The crash left the street quiet, marked by the consequences of a moment’s distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

An SUV reversed on 76th Street. Its bumper struck an 83-year-old woman standing in the road. She fell. She died there. The driver did not see her. The street was empty. No crosswalk nearby. Silence followed.

An 83-year-old woman was killed near 1326 76th Street in Brooklyn when a 2007 Honda SUV backed west and struck her legs. According to the police report, 'The bumper struck her legs. She collapsed, silent. The driver did not see.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered fatal injuries to her lower body and died at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The SUV sustained no damage. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver inattention, especially when reversing in areas without marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687579, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

Queens Boulevard, long a death trap, gets $29.75 million in federal cash. The grant funds lane cuts and a protected bike lane. The city claims big drops in injuries where redesigns happened. The final phase targets a 1.2-mile stretch still soaked in blood.

On December 14, 2023, Queens Boulevard’s redesign secured $29.75 million from the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grants. The project, titled 'Implementation of Queens Boulevard Great Streets Transformation and Supplemental Planning for Vision Zero,' aims to fix a deadly, car-dominated corridor. The final phase will remove one lane in each direction and add a protected bike lane along 1.2 miles between Union Turnpike and Hillside Avenue. According to city DOT data, 'pedestrian injuries decreased by 41 percent and total injuries by 22 percent on redesigned stretches.' Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the grant, calling for 'urgent action' on the nation’s roads. Queens Boulevard is one of four Great Streets projects in New York City, all focused on protected bike lanes and capital improvements.

• Queens Blvd. Gets Beaucoup Biden Bucks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

A Toyota sedan tore down Cross Bay Boulevard. It hit hard, left side first. The driver, alone, was thrown from the car. Chest crushed. Unsafe speed and alcohol fueled the crash. He died on the street, harness strapped, darkness all around.

A 27-year-old man driving a 1993 Toyota sedan on Cross Bay Boulevard near East 1st Road in Queens was killed after his car struck left-side first and he was ejected from the vehicle. According to the police report, 'Speed and alcohol behind the wheel. Dead on the street.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The driver was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness. The impact crushed his chest. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of unsafe speed, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686524, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A 66-year-old man crossed Hempstead Avenue. Two cars hit him. Both drivers were distracted. His head struck the pavement. He died in the street. The crash left no room for survival. Metal and speed met flesh. The city claimed another life.

A 66-year-old man was killed while crossing Hempstead Avenue. According to the police report, he was struck first by a Chevy SUV, then by a Toyota sedan. Both vehicles hit him head-on. The report states, “Both drivers were distracted.” The man suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. The pedestrian was not at a crosswalk or signal, but the report does not cite this as a cause. The deadly sequence unfolded in seconds. Systemic danger and driver distraction left a pedestrian dead on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686523, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A man rode north on Rogers Avenue. The pavement broke beneath him. He flew from his e-bike. His head struck the street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He died there, alone, in the morning light.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike north on Rogers Avenue was killed after hitting defective pavement. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his bike, struck his head, and died from severe bleeding. The report lists 'Pavement Defective' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The crash caused fatal head injuries. The police note the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the systemic hazard of broken pavement. No other vehicles or people were involved. The street failed him. The city failed him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692318, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A 20-year-old on a moped hit a tanker’s side at Greenpoint and Kingsland. He was thrown from the seat, head struck the pavement. No helmet. He died alone. The tanker rolled on, untouched. The street stayed cold and silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Greenpoint Avenue and Kingsland Avenue. A 20-year-old moped rider struck the side of a turning tanker truck. According to the police report, the moped operator was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The tanker sustained no damage and continued on. No other injuries were reported. The crash left one young life ended in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685506, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

A sedan hit a man crossing Soundview Avenue. The car smashed into him head-on. His skull broke. His organs bled. He died in the street. The driver stayed. The night was cold. The air reeked of alcohol and metal.

A 41-year-old man was killed when a northbound Hyundai sedan struck him head-on as he crossed Soundview Avenue near Fteley Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A 41-year-old man stepped into the street. A northbound Hyundai struck him head-on. His skull broke. His organs bled. He died there. The driver stayed. The night smelled of alcohol and cold metal.' The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor, along with 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. No other contributing factors are noted. The driver remained at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685031, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

Steel met steel on 10th Avenue. A left turn ran the light. Fire tore through the wreck. In the front seat, a young woman died, burned and broken. The street glowed with flame and loss.

A deadly crash unfolded at 10th Avenue and West 213th Street in Manhattan. Two vehicles collided after one made a left turn and disregarded a traffic signal. According to the police report, 'A left turn ignored the signal. Steel struck steel. Fire bloomed.' The front passenger, a 21-year-old woman, suffered fatal burns and died at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors are noted for the drivers. The victim was a passenger and played no role in the crash. The police report does not specify if safety equipment was used.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685068, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21

An unlicensed teen on a motorcycle slammed into an SUV on the Cross Bronx Expressway. He flew from the bike and died on the asphalt. His helmet stayed on. Three other vehicles kept moving. The crash left one dead and a city unchanged.

An 18-year-old unlicensed male motorcyclist was killed after striking the left rear bumper of a Honda SUV on the Cross Bronx Expressway. According to the police report, 'An unlicensed 18-year-old on a motorcycle hit a Honda SUV at speed, flew from the bike, and died on the asphalt. His helmet stayed on. Three other vehicles kept going. His body did not.' The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The data notes that his helmet remained on, but no helmet use is listed as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the occupants of the SUV or the other vehicles involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684769, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-21