No More Dead Kids: Streets Are Killing Us, Not Saving Us

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

Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker flew through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection is known for danger. Delivery speed and city policy collide.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after being struck by an e-bike delivery worker who "sped through a stop sign" at Franklin and India streets in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene; no arrests were made as the investigation continued. The article notes that the intersection is a known trouble spot, with Collins stating, "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The report highlights systemic issues: delivery app pressures, lack of regulation, and a street design that encourages risky moves. City data shows e-bikes account for a small share of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Man, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

A 49-year-old man lay dying on Franklin Street after an unlicensed e-bike rider struck him head-on. Headlights flashed, steel met flesh, and blood pooled on the Brooklyn pavement. The night swallowed the noise. He did not rise.

A 49-year-old pedestrian was killed on Franklin Street at India Street in Brooklyn when an unlicensed e-bike rider traveling south struck him head-on, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike driver was 'unlicensed' and identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the center front end of the e-bike, causing severe head injuries and fatal bleeding to the pedestrian. The police report describes the victim as 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk' and 'not at intersection,' but the primary focus remains on the unlicensed status of the e-bike operator and the disregard for traffic control. The narrative details a quiet night interrupted by the crash, with the victim left motionless on the pavement. No other contributing factors from the pedestrian are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800420 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to cut speed limits in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to 20 mph. Residents and officials demand action after deadly crashes. DOT has yet to respond. The fight pits safety against drivers. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 6, 2025, Brooklyn Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to request a 20 mph speed limit for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The measure, supported by 40 groups and nearly all local elected officials, marks the first neighborhood-wide slow zone request since the passage of Sammy's Law. The board's action follows letters from Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. They cited CB1's high fatality rate—3.27 deaths per 10,000 residents, above the city average. The board's vote was contentious, with pro-driving members opposing the change. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno acknowledged the support and promised more information on slow zones for outer boroughs. Council Member Lincoln Restler later joined the call for lower speeds. The measure now awaits DOT action.

• Greenpoint and Williamsburg Beg DOT for 20MPH Slow Zone, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-06

Federal attack on congestion pricing draws fire in Queens. Rep. Velázquez vows court fight. Council Member Julie Won joins call for activism. Panel slams rollback of protections. The crowd demands action to defend New Yorkers from federal threats.

On February 20, 2025, Rep. Nydia Velázquez led a Queens town hall to rally opposition against Trump Administration policies, including the federal move to block New York City's congestion pricing plan. The event, held at Sunnyside Community Services, featured Council Member Julie Won (District 26) and other local officials. The panel condemned the rollback of protections for immigrants and the firing of NLRB board member Gwynne A. Wilcox. Velázquez declared, 'We’ll see him in court,' after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revoked federal approval for congestion pricing. She pledged to fight budget cuts targeting vulnerable communities and criticized tax breaks for the wealthy. Julie Won joined the call for grassroots activism. The town hall spotlighted the threat to New York’s sovereignty and the urgent need to defend city streets and programs from federal interference.

• Velázquez leads Queens town hall against Trump policies, calls for activism, amny.com, Published 2025-02-20

A man flew from his TEYIN on Manhattan Avenue. Metal buckled. Blood spilled. His knee shattered. He swerved for a car that never struck him. The street stayed hard and indifferent. He remained conscious, pain flooding the winter dusk.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man driving a TEYIN southbound near 783 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn was ejected from his vehicle after swerving in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. The narrative states, 'He swerved for a ghost — a car that never touched him.' The crash left the left front of the vehicle crumpled and resulted in the driver suffering a shattered knee and severe bleeding. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. No other vehicles made contact, and no other injuries were reported. The incident underscores the danger posed by sudden evasive maneuvers and the unpredictable hazards drivers introduce to city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 38-year-old unlicensed rider sped west on Grand Central Parkway. He passed a taxi, struck its front, and was thrown from his bike. The motorcycle shattered. He died on the asphalt. The taxi stopped. The road bore the mark.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old man riding a motorcycle westbound on Grand Central Parkway attempted to pass a taxi at high speed. The report states he was unlicensed but wore a helmet. The motorcycle struck the taxi's right front quarter panel, causing the rider to be ejected and thrown onto the roadway. The motorcycle was demolished. The taxi, operated by a licensed driver, stopped after the collision. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The rider died at the scene, suffering injuries to his entire body. The report does not cite any contributing victim behavior beyond helmet use. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when unlicensed, inexperienced drivers operate powerful vehicles on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792295 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Night on Kent Avenue. A moped barrels into a stopped sedan. The rider, helmeted, is hurled and bleeds hard onto the cold blacktop. The sedan sits untouched. The man does not. Steel and flesh meet. Only one is spared.

A 34-year-old moped rider was severely injured after crashing into a stopped sedan near 157 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:00 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the moped 'slams a stopped sedan,' with the rider 'thrown, helmeted, bleeding hard from the arm.' The police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped's front end struck the right side doors of the sedan, which was stopped in traffic and sustained no damage. The moped rider was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding to the lower arm. According to the police, the sedan remained stationary and was not physically impacted, while the moped absorbed the full force. The report notes the rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Glass burst at E 34th and 1st. A convertible struck a sedan’s rear. A young woman, seatbelted, bled from the face. Police flagged alcohol and traffic control disregard. The city’s night offered no mercy.

A crash at the corner of East 34th Street and 1st Avenue left a 22-year-old woman with severe facial lacerations, according to the police report. The incident involved a convertible traveling north striking the right rear bumper of a westbound sedan. The police report states, 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The woman, riding as a front passenger and secured by a lap belt and harness, was injured when the convertible hit the sedan, shattering glass. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on driver actions: alcohol use and failure to obey traffic controls. The crash, late at night, underscores the ongoing danger posed by reckless driving and systemic failures on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786302 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man on a motorcycle slammed into the back of a Jeep on Freeman Street. His leg shattered, helmet still on, pain raw and immediate. The street bore witness as distraction and close following left him broken, breathing, and awake.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old unlicensed motorcycle rider struck the rear of a Jeep SUV on Freeman Street in Brooklyn. The report states the rider was 'partially ejected' and suffered 'crush injuries' to his leg, remaining conscious at the scene. The police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors in the crash. The motorcycle's point of impact was the left front bumper, colliding with the Jeep's center back end. The rider was wearing a helmet, as documented in the report. No contributing factors are attributed to the Jeep driver. The collision underscores the dangers when driver attention lapses and following distances vanish, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to devastating harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

Metal screamed on Queens Plaza North. Two parked cars collided head-on. A 29-year-old man was pinned, neck broken but conscious. The wrong turn twisted steel and bone. The street fell silent, holding the weight of one driver’s error.

A violent collision unfolded on Queens Plaza North near 21st Street at 4:33 a.m., according to the police report. Two parked vehicles—a taxi and an SUV—collided head-on. The report states a 29-year-old male driver was pinned inside, suffering a broken neck and crush injuries, though he remained conscious. Police cite 'Turning Improperly' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative describes metal groaning and the wrong turn that led to the crash. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage. The police report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the improper turn that set the stage for this devastating impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783679 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi’s right bumper tore into a woman’s pelvis as she walked southbound with traffic on FDR Drive. She bled and stayed conscious. The cab kept moving. No one stopped. The city’s arteries pulsed on, indifferent to the wound.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling southbound on FDR Drive struck a woman walking with traffic. The impact from the taxi’s right front bumper caused severe lacerations to her pelvis. The report states she remained conscious and bleeding at the scene. The narrative notes, 'The cab kept straight. The road kept moving. No one stopped.' Driver inattention or distraction is listed as a contributing factor, highlighting systemic danger for pedestrians on high-speed corridors. The police report also cites 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but only after noting the driver’s inattention. The woman was not at an intersection, according to the report. The collision underscores the lethal risks faced by those on foot when drivers fail to notice or yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771255 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 52-year-old man on a Fly motorcycle struck the rear of a vehicle on the Koch Bridge bike path. He flew from the bike, torn and bleeding, his whole body injured. The crash left the path silent, the man conscious but battered.

A violent collision unfolded on the Koch Bridge pedestrian and bike path when a 52-year-old man riding a 2023 Fly motorcycle struck the rear of another vehicle, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 21:45, with the motorcycle traveling east. The report states the rider was 'partially ejected,' suffering severe lacerations and injuries to his entire body. He was conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, placing responsibility on the motorcycle operator for failing to maintain a safe distance. The report notes the rider wore no helmet or armor. The rear impact left the path silent, the man torn open and bleeding. No contributing factors are listed for the other vehicle or any pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769124 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep turned right on McGuinness. A moped slammed into its side. The rider, thirty-three, chest crushed, partly thrown, breathing but battered. Steel and flesh collided. The street fell silent, danger written in bent metal.

A collision unfolded on McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn when, according to the police report, a Jeep made a right turn and a northbound moped struck its side. The moped rider, a 33-year-old man, suffered chest crush injuries and was partially ejected from his vehicle. He remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors in the crash. The Jeep’s right side doors bore the brunt of the impact. The moped’s front end was destroyed. The moped rider was unlicensed, but the report centers driver error—failure to yield—as a primary cause. The violence of the crash left the street quiet, the aftermath marked by twisted metal and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770347 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lincoln taxi, its driver distracted, crashed into a slowing Ford SUV on East 34th Street. The SUV driver, 52, stayed conscious as his knees were crushed. The cab plowed forward. The street offered no mercy.

According to the police report, a Lincoln taxi traveling east on East 34th Street struck the center rear end of a Ford SUV that was slowing or stopping. The SUV driver, a 52-year-old man, was belted and remained conscious but suffered crush injuries to his knees and lower legs. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to pay attention to the road. The narrative states, 'A Lincoln taxi plowed into a slowing Ford SUV. The cabbie was distracted.' No contributing factors are attributed to the SUV driver. The impact left the Ford driver injured and the vehicles damaged at their respective front and rear ends. The collision underscores the consequences of driver distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge pickup hit a 36-year-old woman riding her bike on 34th Avenue near 37th Street. Her body was thrown. The bike was crushed. A parked BMW was scarred. She wore a helmet. She died there, under the streetlights.

According to the police report, a Dodge pickup truck traveling straight struck a 36-year-old woman riding a bicycle on 34th Avenue near 37th Street in Queens. The report states, 'Her body was thrown. The bike lay crushed. A parked BMW scarred.' The collision resulted in the cyclist's death at the scene. The report notes the cyclist was wearing a helmet. The parked BMW sustained damage to its left front bumper. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The report does not cite any cyclist behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the impact and the lethal force of the pickup truck, which was moving straight ahead when it struck the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist cut through Gramercy dusk and struck a man crossing with the light. Blood spilled on the crosswalk. The rider looked away. The man did not. Flesh torn, arm gashed, the city kept moving.

A man crossing Gramercy Park South and 17th Street with the signal was struck by a cyclist, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 p.m. The report states the cyclist was traveling east and hit the pedestrian’s arm with the front wheel, causing severe lacerations. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The narrative details: 'A man stepped into the crosswalk, light in his favor. A bike cut through the dusk. Its front wheel struck his arm. Skin tore. Blood spilled.' The pedestrian, age 38, suffered injuries to the elbow and lower arm and remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal.' The focus remains on the cyclist’s failure to yield and inattention, which led to the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep struck a northbound Vespa on East 26th near FDR. The rider, 28, was ejected, his leg crushed. He lay helmeted, conscious, on the pavement. Right bumper met scooter’s front. Failure to yield left blood and metal on the street.

According to the police report, a Jeep traveling on East 26th Street near FDR Drive collided with a northbound Vespa. The crash occurred at 17:27. The report states, 'A Jeep struck a northbound Vespa. The rider, 28, was ejected. His leg crushed. He lay conscious, helmeted, on the pavement. Right bumper met scooter’s front quarter. Failure to yield.' The Vespa rider suffered crush injuries to his lower leg and foot and was ejected from his motorcycle. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The SUV’s right front bumper struck the Vespa’s front quarter, confirming the impact location. The Vespa rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but helmet use is not cited as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the Jeep driver’s failure to yield, which led directly to the violent collision and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist tore up 3rd Avenue, speed unchecked. He flew from his bike, face smashing hard on East 24th’s pavement. Blood pooled. The night held its breath. He lay semiconscious, helmetless, broken and still.

A 28-year-old cyclist suffered severe facial injuries after crashing on 3rd Avenue at East 24th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when he struck at high speed, his bike’s front end crushed. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, with additional mention of 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was ejected from the bike, landing face-first on the pavement, and was found semiconscious and bleeding. No helmet was worn, as noted in the police report, but the primary causes cited are the rider’s aggressive actions and unsafe velocity. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when speed and aggression combine on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04