Children Bleed, Politicians Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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.

""This is the right move. My neighbors who live around LaGuardia deserve transit that is for them, not whatever that boondoggle was. I’m so proud of East Elmhurst for standing up to this bad plan. We still have to look at how to expand transit to those parts of Queens, especially if the proposed football stadium is going to be building what effectively is a new neighborhood in Queens. The 7 alone won’t be able to handle it."" -- Jessica Ramos

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

Fans told Mets owner Steve Cohen they want safe ways to reach Citi Field. They called for protected bike lanes and better pedestrian routes. Cars came last. State Sen. Ramos demanded urgent action. The message was clear: fix deadly streets, not parking lots.

On January 9, 2023, Mets owner Steve Cohen hosted a public consultation on transportation at Citi Field. Attendees demanded safer biking and walking routes, saying, "There's really no segregated [bike] lane, so that would be the main thing." State Sen. Jessica Ramos pressed for immediate bike lanes, stressing, "We need bike lanes yesterday." The event, described as a first step in listening to community priorities, showed strong opposition to car-centric infrastructure. Multiple participants left notes calling for protected bike lanes. The session highlighted the urgent need to address dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists around the stadium, with fans and officials united in demanding safer, more sustainable access.

• Fans to Mets Owner: We Don’t Want to Drive to Citi Field, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-09

A bus and an e-scooter clashed near 25-39 72nd Street. The scooter tried to pass. Metal struck. A 31-year-old woman hit head-first. Blood marked the street. She stayed conscious. Passing went wrong. The city counted another wound.

A bus and an e-scooter collided near 25-39 72nd Street in Queens. The e-scooter, operated by a 31-year-old woman, attempted to pass the bus. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was a contributing factor. The front end of the e-scooter struck, causing the rider to hit head-first and suffer severe head lacerations. She remained conscious at the scene. The bus carried two occupants, both uninjured. The report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but only after citing improper lane usage as the primary factor. The crash left the street marked by blood and silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605600 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped hit a Mercedes on 75th Street and 32nd Avenue. The rider, helmetless, struck headfirst and died on the cold asphalt. Both drivers ignored traffic control. The sedan driver survived. The street stayed silent under Queens’ night sky.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 75th Street and 32nd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a moped slammed into the side of a southbound Mercedes. The 31-year-old moped rider, not wearing a helmet, struck headfirst and died at the scene. The sedan driver was not reported injured. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor for both drivers. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before the crash. The rider’s lack of helmet is noted, but the primary cause remains the failure to obey traffic controls. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594841 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man crossed Grand Central Parkway before dawn. Two cars struck him. Metal crushed his body. He died alone in the cold. The drivers kept going straight. The street swallowed another life.

A 49-year-old man was killed while crossing Grand Central Parkway at 3:18 a.m. According to the police report, 'A 49-year-old man stepped into darkness. Two cars struck him, metal folding at the front. His body was crushed beneath them. He died there, alone, under the cold sky.' The vehicles involved were a sedan and an SUV, both traveling east and striking the pedestrian with their front ends. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left the pedestrian dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4590910 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A drunk driver killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. The driver stayed at the scene and was arrested. Local officials mourned the loss. The deadly corridor has seen little change despite repeated deaths. The toll mounts. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 27, 2022, State Senator Jessica Ramos responded to a fatal crash in Council District 13. The incident occurred when a drunk driver struck and killed a scooter rider on 37th Avenue, a Vision Zero priority corridor in Queens. The official matter summary reads: 'Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider.' Ramos urged residents, 'Please do your part to keep our neighbors safe,' and condemned drunk driving. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan called the death 'senseless.' Despite five pedestrian deaths on this stretch in the past decade, major safety improvements have not been made. Ramos’s statement highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users and the city’s failure to fix deadly streets.

• Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider, amny.com, Published 2022-11-27

A motorscooter struck a sedan’s side at 37th Avenue and 82nd Street. The unlicensed rider, without a helmet, was ejected and died on the pavement. Both drivers lacked licenses. Alcohol played a role. The street stayed cold. The loss was final.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 37th Avenue and 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a motorscooter slammed into the side of a sedan. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was ejected and died from head injuries. The sedan’s driver was also unlicensed. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The data highlights systemic failures: unlicensed operation, alcohol, and lack of protective equipment. The police report states, 'He died there, alone, on the cold Queens asphalt.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man crashed his bike on Aske Street. He hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled from his head. No helmet. No other vehicle. He stayed conscious, pain etched on his face. The cause was unknown. The street stayed silent.

A 33-year-old man suffered a head injury while riding his bike on Aske Street near Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, he was found bleeding from the head, conscious but in pain, with no other vehicles or crash partners involved. The report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or outside causes were identified in the data. The man was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report only after the absence of any driver or vehicle error. The crash left the cyclist injured and the cause remains undetermined.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575021 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Volkswagen hit a man crossing Northern Boulevard. Blood ran from his head. He stayed conscious. The street fell silent. The crash left the man injured and the city colder.

A westbound Volkswagen sedan struck a 43-year-old man crossing Northern Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, 'a man stepped into the dark road against the light. A westbound Volkswagen struck him head-on. Blood poured from his head. He stayed conscious.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. No driver errors were listed in the data. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but does not cite any contributing factors for the driver. No other injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A parked Ford sedan on Britton Avenue. Rear crushed by a motorcycle. A man, 46, lifeless in the driver’s seat. Morning light on twisted metal. No sound. No movement. Just the aftermath on a quiet Queens street.

A fatal crash unfolded on Britton Avenue near Judge Street in Queens. According to the police report, a parked Ford sedan was struck in the rear by a motorcycle. The impact left the rear of the car crumpled. Inside the sedan, officers found a 46-year-old man, the driver, dead at the scene. The report states, 'A man, 46, found lifeless in a Ford sedan. A parked motorcycle struck. Rear of the car crumpled.' No contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the police data. The crash involved both a sedan and a motorcycle, both listed as parked before the collision. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4560846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep sped east on 37th Avenue. The driver looked away. Two men walked against traffic. The SUV struck them. Both were ejected. Blood pooled. One man’s head split open. Both lay unconscious. The street turned silent. The driver was distracted.

Two pedestrians were struck by a Jeep SUV traveling east on 37th Avenue near 106th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive and distracted. The SUV hit two men walking against traffic, ejecting both from the roadway. One suffered severe head trauma and bleeding, the other sustained internal injuries. Both were found unconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. Neither pedestrian was blamed in the report. The data notes that neither injured pedestrian used safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The crash left both men broken on the blacktop, victims of a moment’s distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543297 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 13-year-old girl rode her bike down 111th Street. She struck something head-on. She flew from the seat. Her head hit the pavement. Blood pooled. She was conscious but hurt. Police blamed inexperience. No helmet. The street stayed quiet.

A 13-year-old girl riding a bike alone near 53-51 111th Street in Queens crashed head-on and was ejected from her bike, suffering a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'A 13-year-old girl, unlicensed and alone on a bike, struck head-on. Thrown to the pavement, bleeding from the head. No helmet. Conscious. Still. The cause: inexperience.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the primary contributing factor. The girl was unlicensed and wore no helmet, as noted in the data. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash left the young cyclist injured and the street marked by silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537011 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a bike slammed into a parked SUV on 104th Street. His body flew. His arm split open. Blood spilled onto the street. He lay conscious, bleeding, as the SUV stood still. No helmet. No warning. The street stayed silent.

A 40-year-old man riding a bike crashed into a parked SUV near 46th Avenue and 104th Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'A man on a bike hit a parked SUV. His body flew. His arm split open. Blood poured. No helmet. No warning. The SUV stood still. He lay in the street, conscious, and bleeding.' The cyclist suffered severe bleeding and arm injuries. No contributing driver errors were listed in the data. The SUV was parked and undamaged. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but no helmet use was listed as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534363 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a bike hit the street hard. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious. The bike flipped. The cause: failure to yield. Queens fell silent. The crash left pain and questions. The city moved on. The wound stayed.

A 40-year-old man riding a bike on 84th Street near 25th Avenue in Queens was ejected and severely injured. According to the police report, 'A 40-year-old man was thrown from his bike, bleeding and semiconscious. His body struck the pavement. The bike overturned. The cause: failure to yield.' The crash data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The cyclist suffered injuries to his entire body and was left semiconscious with severe bleeding. No other vehicle damage was reported. The report does not specify helmet use or other safety equipment. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4533435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04