Queens Streets, Blood on Their Hands: Demand 20 MPH Now

A sedan sped down 23rd Avenue and slammed into a parked car near 91st Street. Metal shrieked. The driver, fifty, bled from the head. Sirens cut the air. The street bore witness to speed and steel.

A crash on 23rd Avenue near 91st Street in Queens left a 50-year-old driver injured. According to the police report, a speeding sedan struck a parked car with force. The driver suffered severe head lacerations and was found conscious, belted, with the airbag deployed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact also rocked a nearby bus. The data shows no errors by other road users. The only listed cause is the sedan's unsafe speed, which led to the violent collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673176, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council calls for scramble crosswalks at school zones. The move aims to cut deadly conflict between cars and kids. Filed at session’s end, the resolution targets peak arrival and dismissal. Sponsors push Albany to act. Streets remain risky.

Resolution 0792-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 28, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urges the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B, which would require scramble crosswalks at intersections near schools during student arrival and dismissal. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5001-A/S.2515-B, in relation to establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of student arrival and dismissal.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Lincoln Restler, and Kevin C. Riley sponsored the measure. The bill responds to persistent crashes near schools and the loss of hundreds of crossing guards. Scramble crosswalks, also called Barnes Dances, stop all traffic so pedestrians cross in every direction. The council’s action highlights the ongoing danger children face on city streets.

• File Res 0792-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-09-28

A Honda SUV hit a 43-year-old man on an e-bike near 84th Street in Queens. The bike crumpled. The rider slammed to the pavement. He died there, alone, before dawn. Police cite driver inattention. No helmet listed. The street stayed silent.

A 43-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed when a Honda SUV struck him on Roosevelt Avenue near 84th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'the bike folded. His body hit the street. No helmet. No sound. He died there, alone in the early dark.' The crash involved a westbound SUV and a westbound e-bike. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report also notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The victim suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The crash left the street quiet, marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661989, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW crashed into a GMC SUV on the Long Island Expressway. Metal twisted. Glass flew. The BMW driver, 37, suffered a torn head and deep cuts. Police cite inexperience and tailgating. The night echoed with the sound of impact.

A westbound BMW sedan struck the rear of a GMC SUV on the Long Island Expressway at 2:20 a.m. The 37-year-old BMW driver, the only occupant, was injured with severe head lacerations but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'A westbound BMW slammed into the back of a GMC SUV. Metal folded. Glass scattered. The 37-year-old driver, belted but bleeding, sat conscious behind the wheel, his head torn open by speed and inexperience.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The BMW’s front end and the SUV’s rear were both damaged. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers lack experience and follow too closely at speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660960, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Lexus SUV hit an 18-year-old boy on the Long Island Expressway. He crossed in darkness, no crosswalk, no signal. The impact was head-on. He died alone on the asphalt. The driver kept going straight. The street stayed silent.

An 18-year-old pedestrian was killed when a Lexus SUV struck him head-on on the Long Island Expressway at 3:20 a.m. According to the police report, the boy was crossing outside a crosswalk and without a signal when the SUV hit him. The impact shattered his head and tore his organs. The driver, a licensed woman, was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with the right front bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657170, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council and advocates clash over mopeds, e-bikes, and delivery safety. Cars still kill most. Workers ride illegal mopeds for survival. Tech giants dodge blame. Council calls for more bike lanes, charging stations, and corporate accountability. Enforcement alone cannot fix broken streets.

On August 23, 2023, Council Member Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47) and others debated New York City’s so-called 'moped crisis.' The matter, titled 'The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants,' exposes how delivery workers, squeezed by low pay and unsafe roads, turn to illegal mopeds. Council Member Alexa Aviles demanded rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and resources for workers. State Sen. Jessica Ramos blamed app companies for shifting costs onto underpaid deliveristas. Advocacy leaders like Carl Mahaney rejected crackdowns, calling for dedicated space instead. Jon Orcutt criticized City Hall’s blindspot on traffic rules. The debate centered on expanding bike lanes, building charging infrastructure, holding tech companies accountable, and buyback programs for unsafe batteries. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided, but the discussion highlights deep systemic failures endangering vulnerable road users.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-08-23

Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

A man rode his motorscooter into the dark on 97th Street. He struck head-on. The Honda’s bumper crushed his skull. He died there, helmetless, thrown from the seat. The street stayed quiet. Only the machines remained.

A 36-year-old man riding a ZAIZHOU motorscooter was killed in a head-on crash with a Honda SUV on 97th Street near 50th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was unlicensed and wore no helmet. He was thrown from his seat and suffered fatal crush injuries to the head beneath the SUV’s left front bumper. The SUV driver held a permit. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The victim’s lack of helmet and license are noted only after the absence of driver errors. The crash left one dead at the scene, marking another fatal collision on Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651852, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan cut lanes fast on Northern Boulevard. It hit a 17-year-old on a bike. The boy flew, hit the ground. Blood pooled from his head. The bike twisted. The street fell silent. Heat shimmered. No one moved.

A sedan traveling at unsafe speed struck a 17-year-old bicyclist on Northern Boulevard near 103rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan cut lanes and hit the cyclist, who was ejected and landed on the pavement, semiconscious and bleeding from the head. The bike was left twisted, and the car’s bumper was dented. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe head injuries. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned in the report. The crash highlights the danger posed by speeding vehicles to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648674, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a Ford’s side on 80th Street. The 21-year-old rider died, head split open. His 17-year-old passenger lay unconscious, bleeding. Both were thrown from the bike. Neither wore helmets. Traffic control was ignored. Blood pooled on the street.

A Yamaha motorcycle crashed into the side of a Ford at 80th Street and 34th Avenue in Queens. The 21-year-old rider was killed, his head split open. His 17-year-old passenger was ejected, left unconscious and bleeding from the head. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. Both victims were thrown from the motorcycle. The report states neither wore helmets, but this is noted only after the driver error. The crash left one dead and one seriously injured, marking another violent night on Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643896, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Subaru turned left on Roosevelt Avenue. An e-bike went straight. Steel hit flesh. Two men flew from the saddle. Legs torn, blood pooled. Both conscious. Both broken. The street showed no mercy.

Two men riding an e-bike were injured when a Subaru SUV turned left into their path on Roosevelt Avenue near 126th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the Subaru was making a left turn while the e-bike was going straight. Both e-bike riders were ejected and suffered severe lacerations to their legs. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No helmets were worn, but this is noted only after the driver errors. The crash left both men conscious but badly hurt. The impact was brutal. The street did not forgive.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639931, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup struck an e-scooter from behind on Northern Boulevard. The rider flew. His head hit the street. Blood pooled. He did not rise. The truck followed too close. The city kept moving. The street stayed silent.

A pickup truck rear-ended an e-scooter at Northern Boulevard and 84th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, the pickup was 'Following Too Closely' and traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are the driver’s errors. Both vehicles were moving east when the crash happened. The report describes the rider as conscious but bleeding on the asphalt after the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633300, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan, moving too fast, smashed into an SUV’s rear on Grand Central Parkway near midnight. Metal twisted. A woman in the front seat bled from the head, semiconscious. The crash left the night scarred and silent.

A 2010 Infiniti sedan, traveling at unsafe speed, slammed into the rear of a KIA SUV on Grand Central Parkway just before midnight. According to the police report, 'A 2010 Infiniti sedan, speeding west, slammed into the rear of a KIA SUV. Metal crumpled. A 46-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, bled from the head. Semiconscious.' The woman, a front-seat passenger, suffered severe head bleeding and was semiconscious at the scene. Both vehicles were demolished. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or contributing factors are noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624273, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW SUV struck a man on Broadway. The left front bumper crushed his head. He died there, alone under the dark April sky. The driver kept going straight. No driver errors listed. The street claimed another life.

A 48-year-old man walking in the roadway on Broadway was struck and killed by a BMW SUV traveling south. According to the police report, 'A BMW SUV going south struck a 48-year-old man in the road. The left front bumper crushed his head. He died there, alone on the pavement, under the dark April sky.' The crash happened away from an intersection. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620869, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan veered on Grand Central Parkway. Metal twisted. The driver, twenty, died at the wheel. His head crushed. A passenger, same age, hurt and conscious. An SUV lay wrecked. The road stayed silent after the crash.

A deadly crash struck Grand Central Parkway near 40.767765°N, 73.86499°W. According to the police report, a 20-year-old man driving a sedan swerved in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. His car crumpled. He suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. A 20-year-old male passenger was injured, reporting pain and nausea but remained conscious. An SUV was also demolished in the collision. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the main contributing factor. The driver was not wearing any safety equipment. No other driver errors or contributing factors are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619316, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 12-year-old girl crossed 80th Street. An eastbound SUV struck her hard. Her hip broke. The driver, holding only a permit, kept going straight. The SUV showed no damage. Daylight. The girl stayed conscious. Failure to yield left her broken.

A 12-year-old girl was hit by an eastbound SUV while crossing 80th Street. Her hip shattered from the impact. According to the police report, 'A 12-year-old girl stepped into the road. An eastbound SUV hit her square. Her hip shattered. The driver, a woman with only a permit, kept going straight.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s error. The driver held only a learner’s permit at the time. The SUV showed no visible damage. The girl remained conscious after the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616705, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Governor Hochul killed the costly LaGuardia AirTrain. Two new bus routes will replace it. Jessica Ramos cheered the move. The AirTrain’s high price and twisted route drew fire. Buses promise faster, cheaper, cleaner rides for millions. Queens riders win. Cars lose.

On March 13, 2023, Governor Hochul canceled the Cuomo-era LaGuardia AirTrain project after an expert panel review. The panel found the $2-billion monorail would not outperform improved bus service. Instead, two new bus routes will serve the airport: an upgraded Q70 Select Bus Service with a dedicated BQE lane, and a new non-stop bus rapid transit line from Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard using electric buses and transit signal priority. The total cost is about $500 million, far less than any rail option. State Senator Jessica Ramos, district 13, praised the decision, saying, 'My neighbors who live around LaGuardia deserve transit that is for them, not whatever that boondoggle was.' The AirTrain faced mounting opposition for its cost, indirect route, and lack of transparency. The new bus plan aims to serve millions of riders annually and can be implemented within two to five years.

• Hochul Scraps ‘Wrong Way’ AirTrain for Thrilling New Tech — The Bus!, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-03-13

Governor Hochul killed the costly LaGuardia AirTrain. She chose faster, cheaper bus routes instead. The new plan brings electric buses, dedicated lanes, and direct service. Advocates cheered. Queens riders win. The AirTrain dies. Buses roll on.

On March 13, 2023, Governor Hochul and the Port Authority canceled the Cuomo-era LaGuardia AirTrain project. The decision followed an expert panel review, which found the $2 billion monorail would not outperform expanded bus service. Instead, the panel recommended two new bus routes: an upgraded Q70 Select Bus Service with a dedicated BQE lane, and a nonstop bus rapid transit line from Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard to all LaGuardia terminals, using electric buses and transit signal priority. The matter summary states: 'Gov. Hochul and the Port Authority have canceled the controversial Cuomo-era LaGuardia AirTrain project, opting instead for two new, improved bus connections to the airport.' State Senator Jessica Ramos welcomed the move, saying, 'My neighbors who live around LaGuardia deserve transit that is for them, not whatever that boondoggle was.' Advocates and elected officials praised the shift, though some called for even stronger bus priority and further transit expansion in Queens.

• Hochul Scraps ‘Wrong Way’ AirTrain for Thrilling New Tech — The Bus!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-13

State senators pressed DOTs to fight e-bike stigma and protect riders. They called for education, better battery rules, and fair treatment for delivery workers. City Hall’s inaction leaves e-bike users exposed. Bans loom while agencies stall. Vulnerable riders pay the price.

On March 2, 2023, State Sen. Jessica Ramos and colleagues sent a letter to city and state DOTs urging action against the 'demonization' of e-bikes and e-scooters. The letter, signed by Ramos and State Sen. Liz Krueger, demanded more education on safe riding and battery use, warning, 'We cannot allow a narrative to build against a vital, green, and growing mode of transportation.' Ramos criticized City Hall for failing to post speed limits and design streets for e-mobility. Krueger backed battery safety bills, while Councilman Bob Holden pushed for outright bans, citing deaths and injuries. The senators warned that inaction could lead to blanket bans, hitting delivery workers hardest. The city’s plan for safe charging hubs faces local opposition. DOT claims a 'holistic approach,' but vulnerable riders remain at risk as agencies drag their feet.

• State Pols Call on DOTs to Counter E-Bike ‘Demonization’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-10

Lawmakers push two bills. One widens legal cargo bikes. One reins in dirty warehouses. Both target truck traffic choking city streets. Sponsors say the measures will cut pollution, asthma, and danger for people outside cars. Albany momentum grows.

Bills S6106 (Sen. Jessica Ramos) and A6968 (Asm. Marcela Mitaynes) are active in the New York State legislature. S6106 would expand the legal width of cargo bikes from 36 to 48 inches, making them more useful for deliveries. A6968 would let the Department of Environmental Conservation regulate emissions from last-mile warehouses and require plans to cut transportation pollution, including by using zero-emission vehicles like cargo bikes. The matter summary notes, 'The bills complement each other.' Ramos and Mitaynes sponsor the measures. Their staff and advocates say the bills will help replace polluting vans with cleaner cargo bikes, especially in low-income areas hit hard by asthma. Both bills are gaining support in Albany.

• V-DAY SPECIAL: Bigger Cargo Bikes and Last-Mile Warehouse Regulation is a Match Made In Heaven, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-14