Blood on the Asphalt: Deadly Streets, Empty Promises

A moped slammed into a turning pickup at Grand and Graham. The rider, helmeted, flew and landed hard. His head was crushed. He died at 45. The pickup’s side was dented. The street fell silent. Another life lost to traffic violence.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Grand Street and Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a man riding a moped struck the side of a pickup truck as it turned. The moped rider, age 45, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. He wore a helmet. The pickup’s right side doors were dented. The driver of the pickup, age 28, was not reported injured. Both vehicles were traveling west; the pickup was making a right turn. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. The crash left one man dead and a city street quiet once more.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593865, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council members push Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. The resolution died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Resolution 0441-2022, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. This would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. The matter, titled 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass...S.315/A.1416, which would authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program,' was sponsored by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Amanda Farías, Julie Won, Carlina Rivera, and Crystal Hudson. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The measure aimed to protect pedestrians and cyclists by slowing traffic where people gather. But with the bill stalled, Open Streets remain at risk from fast-moving vehicles.

• File Res 0441-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Steel screamed on the BQE. A box truck rammed another, stopped cold in traffic. A 19-year-old, belted in the middle seat, took the force. His legs crushed. He stayed awake. The trucks buckled. The road did not forgive.

Two box trucks collided westbound on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. According to the police report, one truck struck another that was stopped in traffic. A 19-year-old passenger, belted in the middle seat, suffered crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and uninjured. The impact crumpled steel and left one young passenger hurt. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when heavy trucks fail to keep distance in dense city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586338, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young cyclist hit the back of a stopped SUV on Central Avenue. He flew forward, face first. Blood on the street. The SUV’s brakes were defective. The rider stayed conscious. His face split open. No helmet. The driver was unhurt.

A 24-year-old cyclist was injured after crashing into the rear of a stopped SUV at Central Avenue and Menahan Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A bike slammed into the rear of a stopped SUV. The rider, 24, flew forward. No helmet. His face split open on impact. The SUV’s brakes were defective. He stayed conscious.' The cyclist suffered severe facial lacerations and was ejected from his bike. The SUV’s brakes were listed as defective, a critical contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV’s driver or occupant. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the mechanical failure of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4564974, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Senator Julia Salazar’s Ride Clean bill passed the New York Senate 60-3. It offers up to $1,100 for e-bike purchases. The bill aims to cut car use and emissions. It stalled in the Assembly. Lawmakers say it makes e-bikes accessible for working New Yorkers.

Senate Bill S7703, known as the Ride Clean rebate, passed the New York State Senate on June 2022 by a 60-3 vote. The bill sits stalled in the Assembly committee since January. The measure, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar, would require NYSERDA to cover half the cost of e-bike purchases, up to $1,100. Salazar said, 'When the federal government falls short, it really does fall on the state to step up and take responsibility.' Assembly sponsor Robert Carroll added, 'This is not a luxury item.' The bill’s summary states it aims to make e-bikes accessible and reduce car dependence. If enacted, New York would join a handful of states offering direct e-bike subsidies, targeting emissions and car use in daily trips.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-30

Lawmakers push for e-bike rebates. Senate passes, Assembly stalls. Salazar and Carroll lead. Up to $1,100 for buyers. Critics call it a luxury. Carroll disagrees. Program aims for working-class riders. Cars keep killing. E-bikes offer a way out.

Senate Bill 'Ride Clean' proposes up to $1,100 rebates for e-bike purchases, covering half the cost. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly as of August 30, 2022. The measure, led by State Senator Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Robert Carroll, aims to make e-bikes accessible to working-class New Yorkers. Salazar says, 'With the Ride Clean rebate, [e-bikes] really would be much more accessible to working New Yorkers.' Carroll pushes back on critics who call e-bikes a luxury, stating, 'They don’t realize that this is not a luxury item.' The program would use NYSERDA funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, mirroring the Drive Clean program for electric cars. Advocates cite European and U.S. models. The bill’s fate now rests with the Assembly.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-30

A man rode south on Maspeth. A turning vehicle struck him. He flew. Steel crushed his leg. The helmet stayed on. The street held its breath. Brooklyn stayed silent.

A 45-year-old man riding a bike south on Maspeth Avenue at Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn was struck by a vehicle making an improper turn. According to the police report, 'A vehicle turned into him. He flew. His leg crushed beneath steel.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. The crash report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was ejected from his bike. The report notes he wore a helmet, but the primary cause remains the driver's improper turn. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557237, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a cyclist head-on on Kent Avenue. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head first. Blood pooled. He was conscious, barely. Traffic control was ignored. The street was quiet. The man bled in the sun.

A sedan collided head-on with a cyclist on Kent Avenue. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was ejected and landed head first, suffering severe bleeding and a head injury. According to the police report, 'Traffic control was ignored.' The sedan's driver and another occupant were not reported injured. The crash data lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver's failure to obey traffic controls. The impact left the cyclist conscious but gravely hurt, bleeding on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556016, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW SUV tore down Myrtle Avenue. The driver moved too fast. A 74-year-old man tried to cross. The front end hit him. His body broke on the asphalt. He died there, under the streetlights. The driver did not slow down.

A BMW SUV struck and killed a 74-year-old man crossing Myrtle Avenue. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling east at unsafe speed when its front end hit the pedestrian, who was not in a crosswalk. The man suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by speeding drivers to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555865, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on a motorbike crashed into a turning truck on Morgan Avenue. He was thrown from the bike. His head hit the pavement. He died at the scene. The truck kept moving. The crash left one dead. Streets stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded on Morgan Avenue. According to the police report, a man riding a motorbike collided with a truck that was making a left turn. The rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, was ejected from his bike. His head struck the pavement, resulting in fatal injuries. The truck, a large carry-all, sustained no damage and its driver was not hurt. Police cited 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor in the crash. The report notes the rider had no helmet, but only after listing the driver error. No other injuries were reported. The impact ended one life and left the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552549, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan crashed into a KIA SUV’s rear on Harman Street. Metal buckled. A 64-year-old woman in the back seat bled from torn legs. She wore a harness. She sat silent, in shock. The driver suffered a head wound. Streets stayed loud.

A sedan struck the back of a KIA SUV on Harman Street near Central Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan slammed into the back of a KIA SUV. In the rear seat, a 64-year-old woman bled from torn legs. She wore a harness. She did not scream. She sat in silence.' The crash left the woman, a rear passenger, with severe leg lacerations and in shock. The SUV’s driver, a 44-year-old man, suffered a head injury and minor bleeding. Both were not ejected and wore lap belts and harnesses. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No blame is placed on those injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550775, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two sedans slammed head-on near Etna Street. Steel twisted. A man clutched his chest. A woman gripped her neck. Both conscious. Both trapped. Lane markings failed. Speed ruled. The street bore the scars.

Two sedans collided head-on on Crescent Street near Etna Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 57-year-old man suffered chest crush injuries and a 56-year-old woman endured neck crush injuries. Both were conscious at the scene. Another driver, age 26, had minor facial bleeding. The report lists 'Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. These systemic failures set the stage for the violent impact. The police report describes steel screaming and bodies crushed. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash left the street marked by pain and metal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546144, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle sped down Fulton. An old man stepped into its path. The machine struck him head-on. Blood pooled from his head. He stayed awake. The street echoed with silence after the crash.

An 83-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a motorcycle near 3154 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the motorcycle was traveling at an unsafe speed and hit the man head-on as he crossed the street. The report notes the pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Driver errors listed in the data include 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The crash did not occur at an intersection or crosswalk. No mention of helmet use or signals appears in the contributing factors. The impact left the street marked by silence and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540344, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck turned left on Central Avenue. An e-bike passed. Metal caught the rider. He flew, crushed at the pelvis. His helmet split. The truck stood untouched. The e-bike rider, 49, died in the street.

A box truck and an e-bike collided near Central Avenue and Palmetto Street in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider, a 49-year-old man, was killed. According to the police report, 'A box truck turned left. An e-bike passed. Metal caught man. He flew, crushed at the pelvis. His helmet split. The truck stood untouched. The rider, 49, lay still.' The truck was making a left turn while the e-bike was passing. No specific driver errors were listed in the data. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal crush injuries to the pelvis. The helmet split on impact, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the truck occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537612, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

North Brooklyn leaders and advocates demand real protection for cyclists on Grand Street. Plastic posts failed. Cars park in the lane. Crashes mount. They want Jersey barriers, hardened entrances, and an end to chaos. The city must act before more lives are lost.

On March 4, 2022, North Brooklyn officials and activists sent a letter to the Department of Transportation demanding a true protected bike lane on Grand Street. The letter, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Members Lincoln Restler and Jennifer Gutierrez, called for 'protective jersey barricades and measures taken at each intersection to stop cars from entering the protected bike lane.' The group condemned the current plastic delineators, noting, 'From day one, the Grand Street bike lane has failed to keep people safe.' Since 2019, 67 cyclists have been injured and 196 crashes reported. The letter urges the city to replace weak barriers, fix dangerous entrances, and finally deliver safety for vulnerable road users. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Adams are now under pressure to act.

• North Brooklyn Seeks Some of that Jersey Barrier Magic on Grand Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

Cyclists dodge cars on Grand Street. Plastic bollards fail. Drivers block lanes. Restler and activists push for concrete barriers. Seventy injuries since 2019. DOT delays. Riders wait. Danger remains. Lives at risk until real protection arrives.

On March 3, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined activists to demand the Department of Transportation install concrete barriers on the Grand Street bike lane. The push follows years of crashes—67 cyclist injuries and 196 total crashes since 2019—despite so-called 'protected' lanes. The matter, titled 'Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane,' highlights how plastic bollards fail to stop drivers from blocking lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic. Restler, along with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter urging Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez to act. The DOT has started hardening some lanes citywide, but Grand Street remains unprotected. Activists say, 'We knew the omission of protective jersey barriers would lead to dangerous conditions back in 2019 and we have witnessed that prediction come tragically true throughout 2021.' The call is clear: real barriers, not broken promises.

• Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-03

A 21-year-old e-bike rider crashed on Evergreen Avenue near Linden Street. He swerved, lost control, and hit the ground. His leg tore open. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. He screamed, conscious, pain sharp in the winter dusk.

A 21-year-old man riding an e-bike on Evergreen Avenue near Linden Street in Brooklyn was injured after swerving and crashing. According to the police report, 'Evergreen Avenue near Linden Street — A 21-year-old man on an e-bike swerved to avoid nothing, hit the ground hard. No helmet. Torn leg. Blood on the asphalt. He screamed, awake and hurting, as the cold February dusk closed in.' The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor. The rider was partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his leg. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The police noted the absence of a helmet, but only after the contributing factor of reaction to an uninvolved vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504339, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

State officials want answers from cyclists. They ask how, where, and why people ride. The survey digs into barriers, habits, and needs. Planners say the data will shape safer, fairer streets. Results will go public. Cyclists’ voices count.

On February 17, 2022, New York State launched the first New York Bike Census, a voluntary survey led by NYSERDA and Urban Cycling Solutions. The effort is described as 'an unprecedented effort to collect detailed data on bicycle transportation across the state.' The survey asks about riding frequency, infrastructure, barriers, and connections to transit. Assembly Member Robert Carroll and State Senator Julia Salazar have backed related legislation for an e-bike rebate program. The survey’s results will be shared with governments and advocacy groups. Officials say the data will help planners and policymakers 'invest in safer, more equitable multimodal streets.' No direct safety impact assessment was provided, but the project aims to inform future improvements for vulnerable road users.

• New York State Wants To Know Everything About Your Cycling Habits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-17

Two SUVs turned left at Cypress and Cooper. A man, 57, crossed with the light. Both vehicles struck him. He bled in the street, his whole body hurt. He stayed conscious, broken, as dusk fell over Queens.

A 57-year-old man was struck by two SUVs while crossing Cypress Avenue at Cooper Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were making left turns when they hit the pedestrian, who was crossing with the signal. The man suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted, but the primary fault cited is driver failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4502260, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a parked SUV on Bushwick Place. Metal met stillness. A 27-year-old man, riding outside, took the blow. His leg crushed. He stayed conscious. Driver inattention and inexperience set the scene. The street bore the mark.

A sedan traveling east on Bushwick Place crashed into a parked SUV. According to the police report, a 27-year-old man riding outside the sedan suffered crush injuries to his leg but remained conscious. Several other passengers, including young adults and a child, were involved but did not report serious injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The sedan’s front end struck the SUV’s rear. No safety equipment was used by those riding outside. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus and lack experience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493867, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15