Five Dead, Sixteen Broken—Queens Needs Safe Streets Now

Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

An SUV hit a 61-year-old man in Queens. He crossed with the signal. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and severe lacerations. The street ran red with danger. The system failed him.

A 61-year-old pedestrian was struck by a station wagon/SUV while crossing Maspeth Ave at 59th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the SUV, making a left turn, hit him. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and severe lacerations and was described as semiconscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2010 Nissan SUV. No injuries were reported for the driver or passenger. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers fail to yield and pay attention, even when pedestrians follow the law.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812649, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Queensboro Bridge now splits bikes and walkers. Years of shared chaos end. Cyclists get the north lane. Pedestrians get the south. Advocates fought for this. Delays angered many. Michael Gianaris welcomes the change. Safety for vulnerable users finally comes to the bridge.

On May 13, 2025, New York City completed a long-stalled plan to separate cyclists and pedestrians on the Queensboro Bridge. The project, first announced under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, faced delays after Mayor Eric Adams took office. The north outer roadway is now for cyclists, the south for pedestrians. State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, District 12, praised the completion, saying, 'After years of advocacy, many of us were excited to see [the city's Department of Transportation] complete the work to open new, dedicated pedestrian paths on the Queensboro Bridge.' Gianaris also criticized the unexplained delays. The plan ends years of conflict and danger for vulnerable road users forced to share a narrow lane. The change follows similar improvements on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2021.

• NYC completes long-stalled plan to separate bikes and pedestrians on Queensboro Bridge, gothamist.com, Published 2025-05-13

A woman in an SUV swung a U-turn on Skillman Avenue, her bumper smashing into a man riding straight. His leg was crushed. He stayed conscious. He stayed hurt. The street swallowed another cyclist in daylight.

According to the police report, a woman driving an SUV on Skillman Avenue near 43rd Street made a U-turn and struck a 45-year-old man riding a bike. The report states, 'The front bumper struck a man on a bike. He was crushed in the leg.' The cyclist, who was traveling straight ahead, suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, highlighting dangerous driver actions that led to the crash. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is noted only after the primary driver errors. The collision underscores the risks faced by cyclists when drivers disregard traffic controls and execute improper turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809294, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young rider merges west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal meets Ford’s rear bumper. The Kawasaki skids. The rider’s leg splits, blood pooling. No helmet. The Ford rolls on, untouched. The city’s highway claims another body.

A 22-year-old man riding a Kawasaki motorcycle was injured while merging westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, according to the police report. The report states, 'A Kawasaki motorcycle merges. Metal strikes left rear bumper. The rider, twenty-two, crumples to the pavement. Blood pools near his leg, torn and raw. No helmet. He is awake. The Ford shows no wounds.' The collision left the motorcyclist with severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. Police data lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The Ford car involved sustained no damage and its driver is not reported as injured. The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but does not identify this as a contributing factor. No driver errors are cited in the official record. The narrative centers on the violence of impact and the vulnerability of the rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808178, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A new study finds fare-free buses would speed up rides by 12 percent and draw 169 million more riders yearly. Faster boarding slashes dwell times. Riders save time. Streets get safer, air gets cleaner. The city must weigh the cost—and the gains.

On April 14, 2025, a policy analysis by Charles Komanoff examined the impact of fare-free buses in New York City. The report, covered by Streetsblog NYC, found that eliminating fares would cut bus trip times by 12 percent and boost annual ridership by 169 million, a 23 percent jump. The study states: 'Each dollar of city government support would produce more than two dollars worth of benefits for residents, primarily by removing the burden of fare payments while providing faster and more reliable bus service.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris, both of Queens, have pushed the MTA to consider free buses. Komanoff’s analysis shows that faster buses mean less time waiting, cleaner air, fewer crashes, and a small but real drop in car trips. The report adds fuel to the debate over city funding for free bus service.

• Free Buses Would Mean 12% Faster Rides And 20% More Riders: Study, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-14

A new study finds fare-free buses would cut trip times by 12 percent and boost ridership by 20 percent. Faster boarding slashes delays. Riders save time. Streets get safer. Senator Michael Gianaris supports the push. The city debates the next step.

On April 14, 2025, a policy analysis highlighted the impact of fare-free buses in New York City. The study, covered by Streetsblog, found that eliminating fares would speed up bus trips by 12 percent and increase annual ridership by 169 million—up 20 percent. The report states: "Fare-free buses would juice bus speeds and ridership while also bringing economic benefits to bus riders themselves." State Senator Michael Gianaris, representing District 12, is mentioned as a supporter. The analysis, led by Charles Komanoff, shows that removing fares slashes dwell times and makes service faster and more reliable. While the shift from cars to buses is modest, the benefits for bus riders are clear: less waiting, more access, and safer streets. The debate over funding and implementation continues in the council.

• Free Buses Would Mean 12% Faster Rides And 20% More Riders: Study, streetsblog.org, Published 2025-04-14

A Ford pickup struck a man on an e-scooter at 42nd Street and 30th Avenue. He flew. His head bled. He stayed conscious. The truck showed no damage. The man’s skull told another story. A baby watched.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck traveling south on 42nd Street collided with a 42-year-old man riding an e-scooter eastbound at 30th Avenue. The report states the man was ejected from the scooter, suffering a severe head injury with bleeding, though he remained conscious. The narrative describes the impact: 'He flew. No helmet. Head bleeding. Conscious. Forty-two years old. A baby watched.' The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pickup truck showed no damage, but the man’s injuries were grave. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor, only noting the absence of a helmet after describing the driver’s inattention. The crash underscores the danger posed by inattentive drivers to vulnerable road users in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805222, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Activists marched the Queensboro Bridge, demanding space for people on foot. The city ignored them. Nine lanes for cars, one cramped path for everyone else. The mayor delayed the fix. The danger remains. The lane went back to cars.

On April 12, 2025, activists and elected officials gathered on the Queensboro Bridge to protest the city’s failure to restore the South Outer Roadway for pedestrians. The Department of Transportation had planned a ribbon-cutting for March 16, but Mayor Adams canceled it. Council Member Julie Won and State Senator Michael Gianaris attended, both supporting the reconfiguration. Won said, 'I have received no new information since Mayor Adams canceled the March 16 ribbon-cutting.' The protest highlighted the ongoing crisis: nine lanes for cars, one narrow, shared lane for cyclists and pedestrians. Crashes and near-misses are common. City Hall claims the project will impact several communities, but offers no timeline. The lane reverted to car use after the protest, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• Activists Walk the Queensboro Bridge to Demand More Space for Pedestrians, But Lane Reverts to Cars Anyway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-12

Seven lawmakers demand Mayor Adams open the Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The project sits finished. Cyclists and walkers still cram into a narrow, crash-prone lane. Delays keep thousands at risk. City Hall stalls. Advocates plan protest. Danger lingers.

On April 9, 2025, seven elected officials—including Council Members Julie Won and Julie Menin—sent a public letter demanding Mayor Adams open the long-promised Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The Department of Transportation had planned to open the dedicated walkway on March 16, but the mayor's office intervened, citing the need for a briefing. The lawmakers wrote, 'The reasons given for this delay are not satisfactory, as all communications from the DOT have indicated that the project is complete and ready to open to the public.' They warned, 'Any further delays to this project that is otherwise ready to open will unnecessarily put at risk the thousands of New Yorkers who cycle and walk the current shared path every day.' The project, in the works since at least 2017, remains stalled. Cyclists and pedestrians are forced to share a cramped, hazardous lane. City Hall insists on more review, while advocates plan a protest ribbon-cutting.

• Pols Demand Adams Open Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-09

Metal screams on Woodhaven Boulevard. A sedan, SUV, and motorcycle collide. The motorcycle is crushed, its rider ejected, lifeless on the street. Dazed survivors crawl from twisted wrecks. Failure to yield leaves silence and broken bodies behind.

A violent collision unfolded at Woodhaven Boulevard and 60th Drive in Queens, involving a sedan, motorcycle, and SUV. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:22 a.m. when all vehicles were traveling south. The report states 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The motorcycle was 'demolished,' and its 55-year-old male rider was 'ejected' and killed, suffering 'crush injuries' to his entire body. The narrative describes the scene: 'A sedan, motorcycle, and SUV collide, metal shrieks. The motorcycle is crushed. A 55-year-old man, ejected, dies on the street. Others crawl from wrecks, dazed, bodies aching.' The police report makes no mention of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the cited driver error—failure to yield—which set off a chain of destruction, ending in death and injury for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803498, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 39-year-old man crossed Ditmars Boulevard before dawn. An eastbound Toyota SUV hit him with its left front bumper. Blood pooled from his head. The street was empty. He remained conscious, wounded and alone in the early morning dark.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old pedestrian was crossing Ditmars Boulevard near 35th Street in Queens when a 2013 Toyota SUV, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. The crash occurred before dawn, on an empty street. The report states the man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but was conscious at the scene. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing with no signal or crosswalk present. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and pedestrian, providing no further detail on driver actions. The impact location and vehicle trajectory underscore the danger faced by pedestrians on wide, empty streets, especially when driver errors are left unaddressed or unreported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792677, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi swung right on Fresh Pond Road. A cyclist turned left. Steel struck flesh. A 23-year-old man’s leg shattered on cold pavement. No helmet, no warning, just the sharp snap of bone and the city’s indifference.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at Fresh Pond Road and Gates Avenue in Queens when a taxi made a right turn and a cyclist turned left. The report states, 'A taxi turned right. A bike turned left. Steel struck bone.' The 23-year-old cyclist was thrown to the pavement, suffering crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'his leg crushed. No helmet. No horn. Just pain, shock, and cold January light.' The only contributing factor cited in the report is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but lists no driver errors or additional contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when turning vehicles and vulnerable road users cross paths in New York City’s chaotic streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787570, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pick-up truck hit a baby girl in the road outside 32-72 Steinway Street. Blood pooled from her head as she lay conscious in the cold night. The truck’s left side bore the mark of impact. The city’s danger pressed close.

A pick-up truck traveling south struck a baby girl outside 32-72 Steinway Street in Queens just before 1 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the child was in the roadway and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, remaining conscious at the scene. The truck’s left side doors showed damage consistent with the collision. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was listed as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited in the report. The incident occurred away from an intersection, with the child described as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The report does not mention any additional contributing factors related to the driver. The focus remains on the impact and the resulting injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785367, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A lane change cut too close on the Long Island Expressway. Steel slammed steel. Two taxi passengers suffered head injuries amid shattered glass. Shock and bruises followed. The crash exposed dangerous driver errors and left victims broken and silent.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the eastbound Long Island Expressway around 8:30. The collision resulted from an 'Unsafe Lane Changing' maneuver by a vehicle, which cut too close and struck a taxi. The taxi sustained damage to its left side doors, while the SUV hit the taxi with its right front bumper. Two passengers in the taxi’s rear seats, a 33-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, both suffered head injuries including a concussion and contusions. Both were not wearing safety equipment and were left in shock. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Other Vehicular' factors as causes. The violent impact shattered glass and caused serious injuries. The police report clearly attributes the crash to driver errors, with no fault assigned to the injured passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785052, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 24-year-old woman riding an e-scooter on Queens Boulevard was struck head-on. She was ejected, her head split and bleeding, but she stayed conscious as traffic thundered by. Driver inattention left her broken in the street.

A 24-year-old woman operating an e-scooter was struck head-on near 59-11 Queens Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The impact ejected her from the scooter, causing severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The police report states that she remained conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' highlighting a systemic danger on city streets. The report notes the absence of helmet use, but only after emphasizing the role of driver distraction. The collision underscores the peril faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781101, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Just after midnight on Grand Central Parkway, a speeding sedan slammed into the rear of an SUV. The impact crushed metal and left a 19-year-old passenger bleeding from a severe head wound, conscious but seriously injured in the back seat.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling at unsafe speed collided with the left rear bumper of a sport utility vehicle on Grand Central Parkway shortly after midnight. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The sedan's right front bumper struck the SUV's rear, crushing metal and causing significant damage. Inside the SUV, a 19-year-old male passenger suffered severe head lacerations; he remained conscious but was bleeding heavily. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations but was not ejected and had safety equipment deployed. No victim behaviors or safety equipment issues were cited as contributing factors. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speed and inexperience behind the wheel on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776248, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pickup truck slammed into a taxi on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The impact struck a 75-year-old man seated in the taxi’s back seat. He suffered fatal head and internal injuries. The pickup driver lost consciousness during the crash.

According to the police report, a pickup truck traveling westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway collided with a taxi. The pickup's center front end struck the taxi's right rear bumper. Inside the taxi, a 75-year-old man seated in the middle rear seat took the blow to his head. The report states, "A pickup struck a taxi. A 75-year-old man in the back seat took the blow with his head. He did not fly through glass. He stayed in place. His body broke inside. He died there." The contributing factor cited is "Lost Consciousness" by the pickup driver. No victim behavior was listed as contributing. The crash caused fatal internal and head injuries to the passenger, highlighting the deadly consequences of driver incapacitation behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773163, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Police chases in Astoria’s 114 Precinct have surged. Cyclists and pedestrians pay the price. One cyclist is dead. NYPD ignores its own rules. Dangerous drivers face no real penalty. Officials and residents demand action. The city stalls. Streets stay deadly.

This report covers the sharp rise in high-speed police chases in the NYPD’s 114th Precinct, Astoria, Queens. The article, published October 28, 2024, details community outrage after a cyclist’s death and repeated injuries. NYPD policy says chases should end when risk outweighs reward, but enforcement fails. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, which once forced repeat offenders into safety courses, has expired. Comptroller Brad Lander says, 'Drivers who are repeatedly caught by speed and red-light cameras currently face no consequences other than a fine in the mail. Repeat reckless drivers must be held to account.' State Senator Michael Gianaris calls for stronger penalties, including suspending registrations. The NYPD has not adopted reforms. Residents and advocates demand legislative action and transparency. Without it, vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• Reckless: The 114 Precinct is an Island of High-Speed Chases In Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-28

A cyclist’s front wheel slams into a 17-year-old crossing 31st Avenue. Her knee splits open. Blood stains the street. She lies conscious, torn and bleeding in the evening light. The crash leaves pain and silence in its wake.

According to the police report, a cyclist traveling east on 31st Avenue near 51st Street struck a 17-year-old girl as she crossed the roadway. The report details that the bike’s front wheel impacted her leg, causing severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg. The victim remained conscious but was left bleeding on the asphalt. Police cite 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The victim was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but the report explicitly lists driver inattention and obstructed view as primary causes. The collision underscores the dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets when drivers—regardless of vehicle type—fail to maintain awareness and visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765119, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14