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

A taxi door swung open on Park Avenue. A young cyclist slammed into steel. His arm crushed. Blood pooled on the midnight street. He lay conscious, hurt, under the city’s harsh lights. Driver inattention left him broken in Manhattan.

A cyclist, age 23, was injured when a taxi door opened into his path on Park Avenue near East 34th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A taxi door flung open. A young cyclist hit steel. His arm crushed.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary cause cited is driver inattention. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers or passengers fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666719 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

A man rode his e-bike north on 1st Avenue. He struck something head-on. He flew from the bike. His abdomen crushed. He died on the street. Distraction and alcohol played their part. The city stayed silent. The street claimed another life.

A 46-year-old man riding an e-bike northbound on 1st Avenue near East 47th Street was killed in a crash just before dawn. According to the police report, the rider struck something head-on, was ejected from the bike, and suffered fatal abdominal injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The man was alone at the time of the crash. No helmet was used, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver errors. The crash left the street cold and empty, another life lost to distraction and danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667965 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams approved a diluted redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will come, but car lanes stay open during peak hours. The plan falls short of full safety measures. The road remains dangerous. Victims still count. No one is satisfied.

On August 16, 2023, Mayor Adams announced a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard, a notorious Brooklyn corridor. The Department of Transportation will install curbside protected bike lanes and reduce car lanes from two to one in each direction on most of the strip. However, north of Calyer Street, two lanes for cars will remain open during weekdays, reverting to parking lanes at night and on weekends. The plan, shaped after lobbying by business interests and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, mixes two previous DOT proposals. Mayoral spokesman Charles Lutvak said, 'Traffic safety is a key priority for Mayor Adams, and we are delivering with a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard that will make this corridor safer for all road users.' Local officials, including Council Member Lincoln Restler, called it a 'critical step' but noted it lacks key safety elements. The compromise leaves gaps. Since 2021, 62 people have been injured on this stretch. The carnage continues.

• Mayor Adams Signs Off On Compromise for Deadly McGuinness Blvd.; No One Truly Happy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-16

A driver struck a moped rider on McGuinness Boulevard. The rider’s leg broke. Politicians and neighbors demand the mayor act. The city delays a safety plan. The street stays deadly. The call is clear: fix McGuinness now.

On August 11, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other Northern Brooklyn officials responded to a crash on McGuinness Boulevard, where a driver hit and injured a moped rider. The incident happened near Meeker Avenue, one block from where teacher Matthew Jensen was killed in 2021. The matter, titled 'Locals call for mayor to take immediate action after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard,' highlights the urgent need for the Department of Transportation’s proposed safety redesign. Restler, along with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, issued a joint statement: 'Lives are being put at risk. We need immediate action by the Mayor's office to implement the Department of Transportation's proposed safety improvements so that everyone in our community can feel confident that McGuinness Boulevard will not cause more tragedies.' The safety plan remains blocked, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing danger.

• Locals call for mayor to take ‘immediate action’ after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-11

A Toyota SUV hit a young e-bike rider from behind on Meeker Avenue. The crash tore open his leg. Blood pooled on the street. Speed fueled the violence. The rider wore no helmet. The SUV’s front end did the damage.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-bike southbound on Meeker Avenue near Humboldt Street was struck from behind by a Toyota SUV. According to the police report, 'A Toyota SUV slammed into the rear of a southbound e-bike. The 20-year-old rider hit the pavement hard. His leg split open. Blood pooled on hot asphalt. Speed did the damage.' The crash left the e-bike rider with severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The SUV’s center front end struck the e-bike’s rear, causing the rider to fall. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause was the SUV driver’s unsafe speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW SUV tore down 34th Avenue before dawn. Metal screamed. The front end crumpled. The 24-year-old driver died alone in the wreck. No passengers. No bystanders. Only twisted steel and silence remained.

A 2021 BMW SUV crashed on 34th Avenue at 3:30 a.m. The sole occupant, a 24-year-old male driver, was killed. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was the contributing factor. The SUV’s front end was demolished. No other vehicles or people were involved. The driver was licensed and traveling west. The report lists no other errors or factors. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash left only wreckage and one life lost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A man on a bike struck the roof of a parked sedan. Blood spilled from his head onto Astoria Boulevard. He lay silent in the summer heat. Shock and injury marked the scene. No moving vehicles involved.

A 50-year-old cyclist suffered a severe head injury after colliding with the roof of a parked Acura sedan on Astoria Boulevard near 35th Street. According to the police report, blood spilled from his head onto the pavement as he lay silent, eyes wide, in shock. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors or moving vehicle violations are recorded in the data. The cyclist’s use of safety equipment is unknown. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647264 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Tesla slammed into a woman on an e-scooter at Franklin and Milton. Blood spilled from her leg. Her helmet stayed on. The car’s bumper cracked. The street gave no room. She was left hurt, the city cold.

A Tesla sedan struck a 27-year-old woman riding an e-scooter at the corner of Franklin Street and Milton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the woman suffered severe bleeding from her leg and remained conscious at the scene. The Tesla’s left front bumper was damaged. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The driver of the Tesla was a 37-year-old man. The e-scooter rider wore a helmet, which stayed on during the crash. The data shows no errors attributed to the e-scooter rider. The helmet is noted only after the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647860 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist rode east on North 7th. A woman stepped from behind a parked car. His front wheel hit her. She fell. Her head struck the pavement. Blood pooled. The cyclist kept riding. She lay still, unconscious.

A 66-year-old woman was struck by a man riding a bike on North 7th Street. According to the police report, the cyclist rode east as the woman stepped from behind a parked car. His front wheel hit her, causing her to fall and strike her head on the pavement. Blood pooled as she lay unconscious. The cyclist did not stop. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The woman suffered head injuries and was left motionless at the scene. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Night on Vernon Boulevard. A woman on a bike hits an SUV’s side. She flies off, head bleeding, still conscious. Her wheel twists. The SUV’s door buckles. Darkness and confusion fill the street. The crash leaves scars and questions.

A 32-year-old woman riding north on Vernon Boulevard collided with the side of a station wagon/SUV near midnight. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected from her bike and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. She remained conscious at the scene. The report notes, 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The SUV’s left side doors were crumpled by the impact, and the cyclist’s front wheel was twisted. The report also states the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the listed contributing factors. The crash unfolded in darkness, with limited visibility and confusion playing a role.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642535 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan sped through the corner of East 21st and 3rd. It struck a 23-year-old man on an e-bike. His head was crushed. Blood pooled on the street. The car did not stop. Alcohol fueled the crash. The cyclist died at the scene.

A 23-year-old man riding an e-bike was struck and killed by a speeding sedan at the corner of East 21st Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A 23-year-old man on an e-bike was struck and killed by a speeding sedan. His head was crushed. Blood spread on the asphalt. The car kept moving. Alcohol was involved.' The crash involved a sedan traveling north and an e-bike stopped in traffic. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver did not remain at the scene. The cyclist suffered fatal head injuries and died on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634861 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist slammed into a parked SUV on East 28th. Metal shrieked. He flew, hit the pavement, blood streaking his arm. His hand split open. He lay conscious, torn, in the sun. The street stood silent, marked by pain and steel.

A 38-year-old cyclist crashed into a parked SUV on East 28th Street near Third Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision occurred at 11:10 a.m. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered severe lacerations to his arm and hand. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The SUV was parked at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant. The aftermath was blood, torn flesh, and twisted metal on a sunlit city street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4632017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car tore down Jackson Avenue. It hit a 58-year-old man crossing at 50th. The impact was head-on. He died on the street. The night was silent. The driver moved too fast. The man never rose.

A 58-year-old man was killed at the corner of Jackson Avenue and 50th Avenue. According to the police report, he was crossing the intersection when a car, traveling at unsafe speed, struck him head-on. The report states: "A car came fast, struck him head-on. He died there, alone on the asphalt." The contributing factor listed is "Unsafe Speed." The data shows the driver was going straight ahead and hit the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. No other contributing factors are listed. The man suffered fatal head injuries. No information is provided about the driver or vehicle type.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624213 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus struck an e-bike head-on near Jackson Avenue. The rider flew from his seat. His helmet landed on the street. His head struck hard. He died there. The lights blinked. The city moved on.

A bus collided head-on with an e-bike on Queens Boulevard near Jackson Avenue in Queens. The 43-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and killed. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The bus, traveling east, struck the e-bike, which was heading south. The rider's helmet came off in the crash. The report notes the rider suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. Other bus occupants were not seriously hurt. The crash underscores the deadly risk when drivers disregard traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623702 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda SUV backed south on Astoria Boulevard. Steel met flesh. A 29-year-old woman walking was crushed in the leg. She stayed conscious. The driver backed unsafely. The street did not give.

A 29-year-old woman walking near 1-05 Astoria Boulevard in Queens was struck by a Honda SUV reversing southbound. According to the police report, the SUV backed unsafely, crushing her leg. The report states, “Backing Unsafely” was the contributing factor. The woman suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The driver, a licensed 54-year-old man, was uninjured. The data lists no error or action by the pedestrian. This crash shows the danger when drivers reverse into shared space.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617608 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lexus reversed on East 21st Street. It struck an 80-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her leg shattered. Her skin burned. She stayed conscious. The car was untouched. The woman was not.

An 80-year-old woman was crossing East 21st Street near 2nd Avenue with the signal when a Lexus sedan backed into her. According to the police report, 'A Lexus backed into an 80-year-old woman crossing with the light. Her leg shattered. Her skin burned. She stayed awake through it. The car was fine. She was not.' The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered severe injuries to her leg and burns but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The driver’s unsafe backing led directly to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 51-year-old man rode his e-bike down Kent Avenue. He struck a parked trailer. His head hit hard. He wore a helmet. He was crushed and thrown. He died alone in the dark. The street stayed silent.

A 51-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed after colliding with a parked trailer on Kent Avenue. According to the police report, the man 'hit a parked trailer. He wore a helmet. His head struck hard. He was crushed, half-thrown from the seat. He died alone in the dark.' The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was unlicensed and partially ejected from his seat, suffering fatal head and crush injuries. The trailer was parked at the time of the crash and had no occupants. The police report notes the rider wore a helmet, but the primary factors remain the collision and the parked trailer.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda sedan struck a 74-year-old man on FDR Drive. The car’s right front bumper ripped open his head. He stayed conscious. Blood pooled on the highway. The crash left the road raw and silent.

A 74-year-old man was hit by a southbound Honda sedan while walking with traffic on FDR Drive. According to the police report, 'A 74-year-old man walked with traffic on the highway. A southbound Honda struck him with its right front bumper. He stayed conscious. His head was torn open. The cuts ran deep.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his head but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No specific driver errors are cited. No other injuries were reported among the car’s occupants. The impact and aftermath show the brutal risks pedestrians face on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607427 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04