Brooklyn Bleeds: Elderly Killed, Promises Broken, Streets Still Deadly

A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning Mack truck on Washington Avenue. The rider, helmeted and conscious, was half-flung from the bike, his leg shattered. Both vehicles moved south. The crash left the motorcyclist with crushing injuries.

According to the police report, a motorcycle collided with the rear of a Mack tractor truck making a right turn on Washington Avenue near Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The crash occurred as both vehicles traveled south. The report states the motorcycle 'slammed into the rear' of the turning truck, resulting in the 34-year-old rider being 'crushed,' his leg shattered, and partially ejected from the bike. The rider was helmeted and conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The impact left the motorcyclist with severe lower leg injuries, underscoring the dangers posed by close following and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797441, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chrysler sedan slammed into the rear quarter of an oversized vehicle at St Johns Place and Franklin Avenue. The young driver, alone and belted, suffered crushing neck injuries as the front of his car crumpled. He remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 2007 Chrysler sedan traveling south on Franklin Avenue struck the left rear quarter panel of an oversized vehicle at the corner of St Johns Place. The 24-year-old male driver, who was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness, was crushed at the neck but stayed conscious. The report states the front of the sedan folded on impact. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The collision resulted in severe crush injuries to the driver. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by oversized vehicles and driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796372, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Delivery workers rallied against Hochul’s e-bike crackdown. Council weighs bills to license e-bikes, raise pay, and study conditions. DOT opposes registration. Advocates warn of criminalization. City Hall silent. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot and bike.

On February 27, 2025, the City Council considered three bills: Intro 606 (register and license all e-bikes), Intro 1133 (expand minimum wage, study delivery worker conditions), and Intro 1135 (set minimum pay for grocery delivery). Intro 606 faces opposition from DOT, which says, 'there is no evidence that registration improves safety.' The matter’s summary warns that Hochul’s plan would let NYPD enforce bike lane speed limits and reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds, requiring licenses and registration. Council members are split: Brad Lander supports regulation targeting app companies, not workers; Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani call for better street design; Michael Blake urges targeted safety solutions and more infrastructure. Advocates like Ligia Guallpa say these measures would criminalize delivery workers and create a 'ticketing-to-deportation pipeline.' The Council press office did not comment. The debate exposes a city divided on how to protect its most vulnerable road users.

• Leadership Vacuum: Delivery Workers Oppose Hochul’s E-Bike Plan as Adams Goes AWOL, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-27

Trump killed congestion pricing. The MTA sued. Advocates warn: more cars, more crashes, dirtier air. Transit funding gutted. Disabled riders lose elevators. Streets grow deadlier. Politicians vow to fight. The city braces for gridlock and loss.

On February 19, 2025, the Trump administration withdrew federal approval for New York City's congestion pricing program. U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy cited burdens on working-class drivers and questioned the legality of using toll revenue for transit. The MTA immediately filed a lawsuit to challenge the move, arguing the program is settled law and already reduces congestion. State Senators Andrew Gounardes and Zellnor Myrie condemned the action, warning, 'Trump will be directly responsible for more traffic, more crashes, more polluted air, slower buses and less funding for our transit system.' The withdrawal aligns with New Jersey's opposition and threatens transit upgrades like elevators for elderly and disabled riders. Local officials and advocates say ending congestion pricing will harm vulnerable road users and worsen street danger.

• Trump Withdraws Federal Approval for Congestion Pricing, Blowing Hole in Transit Budget, as MTA Files Lawsuit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-19

At a heated mayoral forum, Zellnor Myrie demanded a dedicated busway for Flatbush Avenue. Candidates slammed slow buses and empty promises. They called for more bus lanes, free rides, and less fare policing. Riders want action, not talk. Streets remain dangerous.

On December 6, 2024, a mayoral candidate forum spotlighted New York City's broken bus service. State Senator Zellnor Myrie, representing District 20, called for a dedicated busway on Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue, echoing the success of Manhattan's 14th Street. The forum, hosted by Riders Alliance, saw candidates—including Myrie, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—debate urgent transit reforms. The matter: 'improving NYC's slow bus service.' Myrie and others backed more bus lanes, fare-free buses, and expanding Fair Fares for low-income riders. Mamdani vowed not to cave to local opposition. All criticized Mayor Adams for stalled bus projects. The forum exposed deep frustration with city inaction and highlighted the need for bold, street-level changes to protect riders and speed up commutes.

• Could a new mayor fix New York City's terrible bus service?, gothamist.com, Published 2024-12-06

Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They promised bus lanes, free buses, and fair fares. Each slammed the mayor’s record. They called for less fare enforcement, more service. Riders, not drivers, took center stage. Words flew. Streets stayed dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, six candidates for New York City mayor—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—spoke at a Riders Alliance forum. The event focused on transit policy. Candidates pledged support for bus lanes, free buses, expanded Fair Fares, and shifting gas tax funds to mass transit. Lander vowed to end subway and street homelessness for the severely mentally ill by connecting them to stable housing. Mamdani promised a world-class bus network. Myrie pushed for citywide bus lanes. Ramos called for automatic Fair Fares registration. Stringer backed more bus routes. Walden opposed fare evasion crackdowns, urging resources go to service instead. All criticized Mayor Adams’ record on bus lanes and congestion pricing. The forum highlighted a united front for safer, more accessible transit, but offered no immediate relief for vulnerable road users.

• Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-03

Mayoral hopefuls hammered Eric Adams for broken bus lane promises. At a transit forum, they called out City Hall’s slow pace. The law demands 30 miles a year. Adams delivered half. Candidates pledged pro-transit reforms. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, a mayoral candidate forum on NYC bus service and transportation policy spotlighted City Hall’s failures. The event, organized by Riders Alliance, saw candidates attack Mayor Eric Adams for not meeting the Streets Master Plan law, which mandates 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. Adams’ administration installed only 15.7 miles last fiscal year. State Sen. Jessica Ramos said, 'The current mayor promised 150 miles of bus lanes and hasn't delivered.' Comptroller Brad Lander promised a 'professional, world-class DOT commissioner.' Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani vowed to resist business interests blocking bus projects. Sen. Zellnor Myrie, mentioned at the forum, made pro-transit promises. The forum exposed how political inaction and broken promises keep streets unsafe for bus riders and pedestrians.

• Mayoral candidates hit Adams on failed promises to boost NYC's bus service, gothamist.com, Published 2024-12-03

Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They clashed over congestion pricing, bus expansion, and subway safety. Zellnor Myrie pledged to defend congestion pricing. Others called for more police, more buses, and mental health teams. Streets and subways remain battlegrounds.

On December 3, 2024, at a Riders Alliance forum, six Democratic mayoral candidates—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—debated New York City transit policy. The event focused on congestion pricing, set to begin January 5, and subway safety. The matter summary reads: 'NYC mayoral candidates participated in a transit-focused forum... discussing congestion pricing, subway safety, and transit upgrades.' Zellnor Myrie, representing District 20, criticized Mayor Adams for not defending congestion pricing and promised to support it regardless of federal politics. Ramos pushed for congestion pricing revenue to fund the MTA. Stringer called for bus expansion and DOT reform. Walden wanted more police and exemptions for seniors and disabled riders. Lander and Mamdani argued for housing and outreach teams over policing. The forum highlighted sharp divides on how to protect vulnerable New Yorkers on streets and subways.

• 2025 NYC mayoral candidates sound off on congestion pricing, subway safety, amny.com, Published 2024-12-03

A Toyota surged off Eastern Parkway. The 88-year-old driver, semiconscious, lost control. Metal shrieked. A 58-year-old man, standing clear of the road, was crushed. Both bodies broken. The car lay wrecked, silent under the streetlight.

According to the police report, an 88-year-old man driving a 1998 Toyota sedan veered west off Eastern Parkway near 85th Street. The driver was described as 'semiconscious' and 'trapped in metal,' suffering crush injuries to his entire body. The report states that 'illness' was the sole contributing factor, listed twice for both the driver and the pedestrian. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a 58-year-old man who was 'not in roadway,' standing off the road. The pedestrian was also left with crush injuries to his entire body. The police narrative describes the car as demolished, its shell silent under the streetlight. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian; the focus remains on the driver's medical condition and loss of control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773784, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge sedan turned left at Winthrop and New York. Its bumper cracked the head of a 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled on the street. The car rolled on, unscathed. She did not.

At the intersection of Winthrop Street and New York Avenue in Brooklyn, a Dodge sedan making a left turn struck a 75-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the collision occurred when the sedan's left front bumper hit the pedestrian's head, causing severe bleeding. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, explicitly citing the driver's error in not yielding to a pedestrian lawfully crossing. 'View Obstructed/Limited' is also listed as a contributing factor. The police narrative states, 'A Dodge sedan turned left. A 75-year-old woman crossed with the signal. The bumper struck her head. She bled on the street. The car was fine. She was not.' The pedestrian was conscious but suffered a head injury. The vehicle sustained no damage, underscoring the disparity in harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775697, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on a moped sped down Albany Avenue. He lost control, was thrown, and struck his head. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The streetlights blinked. He lay unconscious, alone, while traffic moved past in the Brooklyn night.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old man was traveling south on Albany Avenue near Prospect Place on a moped when he lost control and was ejected from the vehicle. The report states the driver was 'helmetless,' and suffered a severe head injury, bleeding on the roadway and rendered unconscious. The police cite 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The report notes the driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the incident. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'He was thrown, struck his head, and bled on the asphalt. Unconscious. Alone. The streetlights blinked. The traffic kept moving.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769310, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman pedaled west on Union Street. She missed the sign. Head met pavement. Blood pooled. Her helmet held, but her body broke. She stayed awake as the street fell silent. The bike survived. She did not, not fully.

A 41-year-old woman riding a bicycle westbound near 901 Union Street in Brooklyn was ejected from her bike and suffered a head injury, according to the police report. The report states the cyclist 'disregarded traffic control,' leading to the crash. She was described as 'conscious' but suffered 'severe bleeding' from the head. The narrative notes, 'The sign was missed. She flew, struck head-first. Her helmet held. Blood pooled.' The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. No other vehicles were involved, and the report does not cite any other contributing behaviors. The focus remains on the failure to observe traffic control devices, as documented by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764626, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 41-year-old man riding east on an e-bike tore open his hip near East 40th Street. Blood soaked his leg. He stayed upright as streetlights flickered. The night continued. The crash left him injured and unlicensed, the danger undiminished.

A 41-year-old man was injured while riding an e-bike eastbound on Clarkson Avenue near East 40th Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states the rider was unlicensed and suffered severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. 'His hip split open. Blood soaked his leg. He stayed upright. The streetlights flickered. The night did not stop,' the narrative reads. No other vehicles or persons were listed as involved. The police report does not cite any driver errors or contributing factors beyond the rider's unlicensed status. There is no mention of helmet use or other victim behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the persistent risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764822, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An 85-year-old man crossing Albany Avenue fell beneath a Ford pickup’s right front. Blood pooled as dusk settled. The truck’s force left him semiconscious, his head crushed, the street marked by violence and steel.

An 85-year-old pedestrian was struck by a northbound Ford pickup truck on Albany Avenue near Hawthorne Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states the man was crossing without a signal when the vehicle’s right front quarter panel struck his head, causing crush injuries and leaving him semiconscious and bleeding on the pavement. The police narrative describes the scene: 'The truck’s right front crushed his head. He lay semiconscious on the pavement, bleeding into the dusk.' The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further details on driver behavior. The only mention of the pedestrian’s actions is that he was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' which is included after the account of the vehicle’s impact. The focus remains on the devastating outcome of the collision and the lethal force of the truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760959, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An SUV made a left turn on Bedford Avenue, colliding with a southbound motorcycle. The rider was thrown face-first, suffering severe lacerations and bleeding heavily. He remained conscious despite the brutal impact and extensive injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bedford Avenue at 17:30 involving a 2020 Toyota SUV and a 2023 Fengyuan motorcycle. The SUV was making a left turn while the motorcycle was traveling straight south. The motorcycle rider, a 35-year-old male, was struck on the center front end and thrown face-first, sustaining severe facial lacerations and bleeding. The report states, 'An SUV turned left. A motorcycle came straight. No helmet. The rider flew, face-first. Flesh tore. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed awake. Eyes open.' The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' but the sequence clearly shows the SUV turning left into the motorcycle's path. The rider was not wearing a helmet, noted after the driver actions. The driver of the SUV was a 32-year-old male, wearing a lap belt and harness, and suffered minor abrasions. This collision highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles crossing the path of oncoming motorcycles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754242, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound motorcycle crashed into a turning Audi on Linden Boulevard at East 51st. Metal shrieked. The rider’s arm was crushed. No helmet. Morning broke with pain and sirens. The street bore witness to another wound.

A violent collision unfolded on Linden Boulevard at East 51st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a westbound motorcycle 'slammed into the front of a turning Audi.' The 38-year-old motorcycle rider, who wore no helmet, suffered a crushed arm. The report describes the moment: 'Metal groaned. Morning broke with the sound of bone and the echo of pain.' The Audi, a 2020 SUV, was making a left turn when the crash occurred. Police data lists the pre-crash actions as 'Going Straight Ahead' for the motorcycle and 'Making Left Turn' for the Audi. Contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified,' and the report does not cite any specific driver errors. The only victim behavior noted is the absence of a helmet, mentioned after the sequence of driver actions. The crash highlights the persistent dangers at intersections where turning vehicles and through traffic collide.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751506, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Mayor Adams’s DOT has proposed just seven miles of new bus lanes for 2024. The law requires thirty. Riders wait. Buses crawl. Advocates rage. The city drags its feet. Streets stay dangerous. The promise of safer, faster transit goes unmet.

On August 5, 2024, the Department of Transportation revealed it has proposed only seven miles of bus priority lanes for the year—less than a quarter of the thirty miles required annually by the Streets Master Plan law. This marks the lowest bus lane mileage since 2018. The matter, titled 'Adams Has Proposed Just 7 Miles of Bus Lanes This Year — Less Than 1/4 of Requirement,' has drawn sharp criticism. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie called it 'unacceptable that Mayor Adams has not prioritized improving bus speeds, service, and reliability.' Scott Stringer accused the administration of using 'community engagement as an excuse to not get things done.' Brad Lander pledged to push for more dedicated bus lanes. Riders like Alex Gean described daily gridlock. The DOT claims more lanes are coming, but offers no details. Vulnerable road users—bus riders, pedestrians—remain at risk as the city fails to meet its own safety and mobility targets.

• Adams Has Proposed Just 7 Miles of Bus Lanes This Year — Less Than 1/4 of Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-05

A 57-year-old man, helmeted but unlicensed, rode his motorcycle straight into a parked Hino van on Saint Johns Place. The van did not move. He struck headfirst and died there. The crash report cites driver inattention or distraction.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old man operating a Jiajue motorcycle collided headfirst with the center back end of a parked Hino refrigerated van on Saint Johns Place near Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The report states the motorcyclist was helmeted but unlicensed. The van was stationary and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The narrative describes the motorcycle crumpling on impact and the rider dying at the scene from head injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. No actions by the van or its driver contributed to the incident, as the vehicle was parked. The report notes the rider's helmet use and unlicensed status, but cites driver inattention as the primary factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745063, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman crossed Rogers Avenue with the signal. A vehicle hit her, crushing her arm. She stood bleeding beneath the streetlight. The street fell silent. The night did not move. Shock and injury marked the intersection.

At the corner of Rogers Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn, a 40-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle while crossing with the signal, according to the police report. The report states, 'A woman, 40, crossed with the signal. A vehicle struck her. Her arm crushed.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her arm and was described as being in shock, standing beneath the streetlight, bleeding and still. The police report notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal' at the intersection. No driver contributing factors are listed in the report, but the narrative makes clear that the victim was lawfully crossing when struck. The vehicle type and other driver details remain unspecified in the report. The focus remains on the impact and the harm suffered by the pedestrian in a space where she had the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740115, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man rode north at dawn on Rochester Avenue. His bike struck something. His face hit the street. Blood pooled. He stayed upright, wounded but alive. The city’s silence swallowed the crash.

A 35-year-old man riding a bike northbound on Rochester Avenue near Saint Johns Place was injured in a crash, according to the police report. The report states, 'A man rode north at dawn. No helmet. His bike struck something. His face met the street. Blood pooled.' The cyclist suffered severe bleeding to his face but survived the impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of other vehicles or driver errors, and no evidence of victim behavior contributing to the crash beyond the note that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, which is mentioned only after the sequence of events. The incident underscores the vulnerability of cyclists navigating city streets, especially when the cause of the crash remains unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739829, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15