Transportation Alternatives Statement After Crash Kills 73-Year-Old Pedestrian in Crosswalk in Mariners Harbor, Staten Island

Crashes have killed 223 people in 2022 — 24% more than 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero

Nearly one-third of all pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2022 are 65 and older

STATEN ISLAND, NY — On Monday, the driver of a Ford van struck and killed 73-year-old Yingqui Liu in the crosswalk at South and Forest Avenues in Mariners Harbor, Staten Island. There have now been 223 fatalities in New York City this year — including 42 New Yorkers 65 and older.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Staten Island and South Brooklyn Organizer Rose Uscianowski:

“We are heartbroken and outraged that yet another senior pedestrian was killed by a driver. Crossing the street should not be a death sentence. Yingqui Liu should be alive today. We need city officials to build safe pedestrian and bike access between the Bayonne and Goethals Bridges to slow down drivers and protect everybody on our roads. Traffic violence is preventable — we need our leaders to take action now to keep all New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable, safe.”

Additional information on background:

• Three in four New Yorkers 65 and older killed in traffic crashes this year were pedestrians.

• This is the third fatal crash on Forest Avenue since 2019.

• There have been no major safety improvements made on Forest Avenue west of Morningstar Road, according to Vision Zero View.

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Public Advocate Williams, TA, NYC Parks, NYC DOT, Elected Officials Join Families for Safe Streets to Honor Crash Victims, Dedicate New Memorial Grove for Traffic Victims at World Day of Remembrance

Memorial Grove for Victims of Traffic Violence is first-of-its-kind memorial in New York City, a commitment made by Mayor Adams at last year’s World Day of Remembrance

Crashes have killed 221 people in New York City this year — 22% more than 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero

BROOKLYN, NY — Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, city and state elections officials, and representatives from Transportation Alternatives joined with Families for Safe Streets members Sunday at Lincoln Terrace/Arthur Somers Park in Brooklyn for World Day of Remembrance to honor the 221 people who have been killed and the thousands injured in traffic violence this year in New York City.

Today’s World Day of Remembrance — one of more than 60 events happening around the country today — included the dedication of the new Memorial Grove for Victims of Traffic Violence, a living tribute to the thousands of loved ones killed or injured in traffic crashes. The Memorial Grove fulfills Mayor Adams’ commitment at last year’s World Day of Remembrance to build a first-of-its-kind memorial for traffic violence victims in New York City.

“Two years ago, my father Jerry Spriggs was killed by a driver in a hit-and-run crash in the Bronx. My father was a kind and thoughtful person who should still be here with us today doing the things he loved,” said Families for Safe Streets member Monique Williams. “Today, we call on our leaders to recommit to implementing solutions that prevent crashes and protect all New Yorkers. With investments in Vision Zero and the passage of the SAFE Streets Act, we can save lives and protect all New Yorkers from traffic violence.”

“For every New Yorker who has lost a loved one to traffic violence, the Memorial Grove says that this entire city stands with you,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “I was proud to support this memorial as borough president, and I’m even prouder to see it come to fruition as mayor. As we honor those we’ve lost, we must be as clear as ever: My administration has zero tolerance for traffic violence.”

“On this World Day of Remembrance, we honor both the traffic victims who lost their lives and those who were injured this year and all previous years,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “I commend Mayor Adams for establishing this first-of-its-kind memorial in our city and for those pushing to make our streets safer. The bottom line is that we must do more to protect all New Yorkers from traffic violence. There are several federal funding pots available to support road safety, including a new program—Safe Streets for All—I negotiated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $5 billion over five years to fund the creation of safety-action plans or the implementation of safety action plan features. With critical road safety investments, we can prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place.”

Families for Safe Streets members also unveiled their legislative agenda for 2023. The SAFE Streets (Streets Are For Everyone) Act — previously known as the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act — includes Sammy’s Law, which would allow the City of New York to set lower, safer speed limits.

Traffic fatalities in 2022 remain above pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent analysis of Vision Zero data from Transportation Alternatives. So far in 2022, crashes have killed 221 people in New York City. Traffic violence has killed 16 children under 18 this year — at least 23% higher than any full year under Vision Zero and five more children than were killed in all of 2021.

In the Bronx, 53 people have been killed in crashes this year. During the first nine months of 2022, one in four fatalities was in the Bronx. More than two-thirds of these crashes occurred in just five City Council districts in the Bronx, which all have fatality rates well above the citywide average, according to Spatial Equity NYC.

“Traffic violence is not normal. 217 deaths on our city streets is not normal. Each death is devastating, and a heartbreaking reminder of the work that must be done to get Vision Zero back on track,” said Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets. “We know how to prevent traffic violence. Albany must pass the full SAFE Streets Act this year, a common-sense package of bills to confront traffic violence across our state, including Sammy’s Law which is named after my 12-year-old son and will allow safer speed limits in New York City.”

“Trees clean our air, they make our city more livable, and in difficult times New Yorkers naturally gravitate to our greenspaces for comfort,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Parks was proud to plant 21 new trees in Lincoln Terrace Park as a living memorial to traffic victims, and we hope that this continues to be a space where families and friends can gather to reflect and heal.”

“We come together to honor and remember the families, friends and neighbors  we lost to traffic violence. Each of these deaths was preventable and we need city leaders to act now to protect New Yorkers in every neighborhood from traffic violence,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “The City of New York must complete the requirements of the NYC Streets Plan by the end of the year. Our leaders in Albany must prioritize the passage of the SAFE Streets Act to ensure all New Yorkers in our state are protected from traffic violence. With bold action at the city and state level, we can save lives and get Vision Zero back on track.”

“As this grove now powerfully reminds us, every life lost to traffic violence is an intolerable tragedy. We all grieve individually and collectively for those killed on our roads,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “To counter the epidemic of traffic violence, this administration is investing a historic $900 million to support safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation options to help end the reckless driving we have seen on our streets and across the country. We have exceeded our commitment to keep pedestrians safe by improving more than 1,200 intersections, and we remain on track to hit our marks on our bike-lane hardening initiatives and protected bike lanes. At the same time, we can and will do more to curb traffic violence and make our streets safe for all New Yorkers.”

“One life lost to traffic violence is one too many, and while we can’t bring back these lives, creating tributes can help us keep their memories alive while also demonstrating our commitment to achieve our city’s Vision Zero goals,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I share my condolences with the families of traffic victims and will continue working to realize a city where no family endures such painful loss.”

“Every New Yorker lost to traffic violence is a preventable tragedy. Today is a chance for us as a community to come together and honor these lost New Yorkers and their loved ones, and to truly recommit to the promise of Vision Zero. Today is a sad reminder that we must urgently prioritize the street safety measures necessary to make Vision Zero a reality,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes.

“We know that transportation is one of the major humanitarian issues in our city. Assembly District 43 has one of the highest reports of safety concerns due to traffic incidents.  This is why I began a transportation task force to aide in combating some of the most sensitive and dangerous concerns our city has. I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our streets are safer and New Yorkers can navigate in their communities with out fear. This past week, I signed onto a letter urging the Governor to support MTA in the next executive budget along side my colleagues in the New York State Assembly. Our safety should not be in question.  I offer my sincerest condolences to those who’ve lost their loved ones due to this crisis. Our hearts are with you and we will continue to fight for you,” said Assemblymember Brian Cunningham.

"Across the world, working-class people are the first affected by disproportionate traffic violence. Cases of harm and the loss of community members show how much progress is left to make as we build a safer New York for everyone. That is why I'm grateful to join Families for Safe Streets and the NYC Parks Department in bringing together our neighbors to honor the victims of systemic violence and look toward the future of community safety,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes.

"No one should experience the unimaginable shock and grief of losing a family member, friend or colleague to a traffic-related crash," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. "However, as we pause today to honor those who have been killed or seriously injured on the road, let's also remember that these deaths are preventable, and we have the tools at our disposal to prevent the unthinkable from happening. I am the proud new sponsor of Sammy's Law in the Assembly, and I am confident that next session we will honor the lives of those who have been killed, as well as their incredible families, by passing this extraordinarily important bill into law."

“I encourage everyone to pause on Sunday to remember the people who have been seriously injured or killed in traffic crashes. Most of us probably have either been in a serious crash or know someone who has – far too often with deadly outcomes. On this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, I want to thank our emergency workers who witness the impact of traffic crashes every day. I join the organizers in their commitment to reduce the number of people killed in traffic deaths in New York City and statewide,” said Assemblywoman Latrice Walker.

“As we work for safer streets, it’s important to stop and remember those who won’t see the fruits of our labor.” said Council Member Erik Bottcher. “Simply too many of our fellow New Yorkers have been injured or killed by traffic violence. I’m honored to join Families for Safe Streets, whose courage inspires all of us to work for a better future.”

“Every year in NYC, close to 200 lives are lost to traffic violence. My district in particular continues to have some of the most dangerous street infrastructures in Brooklyn. Far too many people have died from preventable violence caused by reckless drivers,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “True public safety is about ensuring our streets are not  only safe to walk, but to bike commute to school and work. Vision Zero must be more than a slogan but a policy prescription and moral compass to guide New York toward a time when avoidable traffic deaths are actually avoided. Today, and every day, we mourn the lives cut short by traffic violence and work toward a better, more caring NYC for all.”

"I have experienced the loss of two students to traffic violence, and those tragedies drive my commitment to working on this issue. On this World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, I am sending love and support for every family member who has lost a loved one to traffic violence. I remain committed to pursuing common-sense policies that will make our streets safe for all so fewer families have to deal with the trauma of unfairly losing a loved one to this violence,” said Council Member Rita Joseph.

“Every year, many New Yorkers become victims of car accidents on our city roads. I stand in solidarity with my colleagues in government and Families for Safe Streets to mark the World of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. We need to do everything possible to make our streets safer and to prevent future tragedies on our roads,” said Council Member Ari Kagan.

"On this World Day of Remembrance, we remind ourselves that if we are going to save lives and protect our children, we must create safer streets. We must calm traffic using speed cameras, curb extensions, and other smart design features. And wherever possible, we must create spaces that are for people and not cars,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.

“Today I stand with my colleagues to honor the lives that have been tragically lost and pledge to channel that memory into effective policy that makes our streets safer. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council to create a more robust Vision Zero and to prevent these devastating casualties from traffic violence,” said Council Member Julie Menin.

“Traffic fatalities and injuries are still too common, despite efforts by government and communities to make streets safer. New York City has an opportunity to lead in safe streets for all — pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. We must dramatically speed up street redesigns and use all of the tools at our disposal to continue to bring safer streets to New York City, including but not limited to piloting and implementing new technology and shared street designs, pedestrianizing open spaces, and increasing bus and bike lane networks,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera.

“We should not fear commuting in any capacity, and we surely should not be losing loved ones to crashes. Our Uptown community has felt this pain deeply, some of those fears reflected in a transportation town hall we held yesterday in the wake of these crashes,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “Our communities deserve safe streets, and I am committed to continuing the work to protect our New Yorkers from traffic violence.”

“As street safety concerns continue to rise across New York City, we must come together as a community to identify solutions to curb the number of traffic-related fatalities. In my district alone, there have been several traffic fatalities involving people of all ages, pedestrians, and motorists, and enough is enough. Our communities cannot continue to be impacted by traffic violence, and through healthy conversations and community engagement, we will see change. For the families affected by traffic violence, Memorial Grove serves as a place for families to honor their loved ones while bringing awareness to the need for traffic violence advocacy and achieving Vision Zero,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez.

“In the past 12 months, reckless drivers caused 5 deaths and 1,167 injuries in my district alone. Our City’s Department of Transportation needs to redesign our streets to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe from traffic violence,” said Council Member Julie Won. “On this World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, we honor those we’ve lost and continue to push for streets that are safe for our community.”

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Transportation Alternatives Statement Congratulating Gov. Hochul on Election Victory

NEW YORK — In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s projected victory in the New York gubernatorial election, Transportation Alternatives released the following statement:

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“On behalf of Transportation Alternatives we congratulate Governor Kathy Hochul on her victory in the governor’s race. With rising levels of traffic violence, the threat of climate change, challenges to our public transit system, and record congestion in New York City, we need a governor who will take action to address these intersecting challenges.

In her first year as governor, Gov. Hochul has been a leader on safe streets. From committing to implementing congestion pricing to expanding the use of life-saving speed safety cameras to authorizing municipalities across the state to set lower speed limits, Gov. Hochul has taken action that will save lives. We look forward to continuing to work with the governor and state legislature to make our streets safe, livable, and equitable for all New Yorkers.” 

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New Data Shows Traffic Fatalities 20% Above Pre-Pandemic Levels Through First Nine Months of 2022, Action Needed from City Leaders to Get Vision Zero Back on Track

Crashes killed 188 people during the first nine months of 2022.

16 children were killed in traffic crashes in the first nine months of 2022 — the most of any full year under Vision Zero.

One in four deaths occurred in the Bronx during the first nine months of 2022. 

Report comes on the heels of Spatial Equity NYC, which reveals significant inequities in the distribution of public space and its effects on air pollution, crashes, asthma, and more in New York City.

NEW YORK — Traffic crashes continue to rise across New York City, according to new data released today by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets. Crashes have killed 188 people in New York City — a 27% increase over the same point in 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero. 

“Vision Zero works when our leaders scale proven solutions that prevent traffic violence. Mayor Adams’ completion of more than 1,200 intersection safety upgrades is proof that this administration can deliver on its goals,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Now, we need the Adams administration to demonstrate the same commitment to meet and exceed other requirements, like the NYC Streets Plan, in order to make NYC 25x25 a reality and ensure that no one needs to fear death or injury when crossing the street in New York.”

“No other year under Vision Zero has been as deadly for our children as 2022. My 9-year-old son Cooper Stock deserved to grow up. The 16 children killed this year deserved to grow up. Traffic violence is preventable — and we know that we can achieve Vision Zero with investments in physical street redesigns,” said Families for Safe Streets member Dana Lerner. “With just two months left in 2022, the time is now for Mayor Adams and DOT to finish the requirements of the NYC Streets Plan to make walking, biking, and taking transit safe for everyone.”

Key takeaways from the third quarter of 2022

Hit-and-runs involving critical injury nearly doubled compared to Q2 2022. New York City’s epidemic of hit-and-runs continued into the third quarter. In some years, it would take nine months to reach 30 reported hit-and-runs resulting in death or critical injury. In the third quarter of 2022 alone, there were 30.

Children continue to die in crashes at an alarming rate. Traffic violence killed 16 children under 18 in the first nine months of 2022 — at least 23% higher than any full year under Vision Zero and five more children than were killed in all of 2021. Of those 16 children, 13 were killed by large vehicles, including SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, or buses. 

Traffic fatalities in the Bronx continue to set tragic records. In the Bronx, crashes killed 47 people during the first nine months of 2022 — up 31% from the same period in 2021 and 47% above the Vision Zero-era average for the first nine months of the year. In 2014, when Vision Zero began, one of out every seven fatalities in New York City was in the Bronx. During the first nine months of 2022, one in four was. More than two-thirds of these crashes occurred in just five City Council districts in the Bronx (11, 13, 14, 17, and 18), which all have fatality rates well above the citywide average, according to Spatial Equity NYC.

Here’s what the Adams administration and the City Council can do to prevent traffic violence and reach Vision Zero

Fast-track the installation of the NYC Streets Plan requirements. With less than eight weeks left in 2022, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must scale up installation of bus and bike lanes in all five boroughs, among other street safety requirements. The City of New York is legally required to build 20 miles of bus lanes and 30 miles of bike lanes in 2022. Implementing the NYC Streets Plan is how New York City can repurpose car space to make streets safe and make NYC 25x25 a reality.

Prioritize street safety investments in areas that have experienced historical disinvestment. In the 10 City Council districts with the most traffic fatalities, 32 percent of residents are Black, compared to 23 percent citywide, according to Spatial Equity NYC. Further, in the 10 City Council districts with the most traffic injuries, 87 percent of residents are people of color, compared to 67 percent citywide. Street safety investments should be prioritized in low-income communities and communities of color. 

Convert vehicle-use taxes for passenger cars to a weight-based system. SUVs and pickup trucks are 2.5 to 3x more likely to kill or seriously injure people during a crash than smaller passenger cars because of their size and weight. This change would be consistent with the majority of counties in New York state and reflect the greater impact of heavier cars on road surfaces, crash fatality rates, and carbon emissions. 

What others are saying

“The loss of one life to traffic violence is one too many and is a call to action for us to do more to keep our roads safe,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “As we are seeing more traffic fatalities than prior to the pandemic, it is a reminder that dedicated bus and bike lanes, enhancing pedestrian plazas and crosswalks and expediting capital projects can save lives and are a necessity. I want to thank the Administration, Transportation Alternatives and all of the other advocates for their work on this issue and it is clear that there is more that needs to be done to ensure our shared streets are safe for everyone.”

“The safety of all New Yorkers is paramount to the social fabric of our city, which is why it’s so disheartening to know that our streets have become increasingly more dangerous since the start of the pandemic. If we’re going to have honest discussions about safety in New York City, we must come to terms with the fact that cars injure more people than all forms of crime combined. Making Vision Zero a reality requires building high-quality infrastructure, comprehensive street safety policies, and following through on the commitments of the NYC Streets Plan and programs like Dangerous Vehicle Abatement and Open Streets,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

“Every traffic death is preventable, and it’s heartbreaking and infuriating that even more New Yorkers are being killed by cars than before the pandemic,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Implementing 24/7 speed cameras will protect countless pedestrians, bikers, and other drivers, but it’s time to do more to redesign our streets to protect our neighbors. We must take steps now to save lives in the future.”

“We can’t call ourselves a city of walkers without ensuring the safety of the people and families who fill our streets,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “In the face of a climate crisis, New Yorkers are striving to make better transportation decisions – opting to walk, bike, or take public transit over driving cars that congest our streets and pollute our air. We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to facilitate this and guarantee safe streets that put people first. With this stunning report, Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets are reminding us of the work we have ahead to get Vision Zero back on track and turn the tide on these rising traffic fatalities.”

"It is simply unacceptable that traffic deaths not only haven't fallen to pre-pandemic levels, but also increased since then. This somber report shows us just how much work we have left to do to put an end to traffic violence in our city," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "I'm committed to working with DOT, safety advocates and all our community stakeholders to ensure that our streets are safe for all who use them — whether they're driving, bicycling or walking. It’s what all New Yorkers deserve."

“Traffic fatalities and injuries are still too common, despite efforts by government and communities to make streets safer. New York City has an opportunity to lead in safe streets for all — pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. We must dramatically speed up street redesigns and use all of the tools at our disposal to continue to bring safer streets to New York City, including but not limited to piloting and implementing new technology and shared street designs, pedestrianizing open spaces, and increasing bus and bike lane networks,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera.

“I’m incredibly concerned by the increase in traffic fatalities represented in the latest report from Transportation Alternatives. Not only is the city moving in the wrong direction regarding our Vision Zero initiative, but we also know that this increase in fatalities is disproportionately felt by Black and Brown communities. We must do better in priorizing street safety investments in these marginalized communities that have seen decades of disinvestment and neglect, and I’ll be working with my colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to ensure that we do,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis.

"As a Bronxite and longtime transit equity advocate, I know how deep the divestment and disenfranchisement of our borough goes. We cannot continue to divest and ignore the very real problems in our Black and Brown communities. This data shows why it is crucial that my colleagues in government and I continue to prioritize street safety investments and greater access to multi-modal transit hubs in my district and around the borough. The Bronx continues to have one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities in the  City, with more than two-thirds of the crashes in 2022 occurring in our borough. This is not only a huge tragedy, but an unacceptable pattern that must come to an end. We have to do more. I look forward to working with Transportation Alternatives and my colleagues to ensure we keep Bronxites safe,” said Council Member Amanda Farías.

“We are experiencing a spike in deadly traffic violence in 2022 that has killed 188 of our neighbors. We know what needs to be done to prevent traffic violence and call on the Adams Administration and Department of Transportation to expedite implementation of these proven solutions,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.

"These numbers show that New York City is not doing enough to stem the rising wave of traffic violence. Our streets and sidewalks are still designed to cater to vehicles, especially in marginalized areas, and it has created a deadly environment. Everyone needs to do their part - the Mayor, department leaders, local officials, community board members, drivers - to reverse this public health crisis. We need swift action and collaboration to create bold street redesigns, reliable transit options, and accessible pedestrian spaces,” said Sara Lind, Chief Strategy Officer at Open Plans.

"Public transit riders need to be safe walking to and from subway stations and bus stops, as well as while waiting and on board," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "Tragically, traffic fatalities are still 20% above what they were before the pandemic -- that's not something New Yorkers can accept as part of our new normal. Just as riders want safety in transit, we want it on our streets and we urge Mayor Eric Adams to put aside NIMBYism, cut through bureaucracy, and expedite the NYC Streets Plan to make safe and equitable streets a reality as quickly as possible."

New Analysis From Transportation Alternatives and MIT Details How Inequities in Public Space Contribute to Racial and Economic Disparities Across New York City Neighborhoods

Spatial Equity NYC, a New Online Data Tool Released by Transportation Alternatives and the Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism at MIT Reveals the Impact of Car-Centric Planning and Policies on Public Health, the Environment and Mobility

Spatial Equity NYC 2022 Report Card delivers an in-depth analysis — with rankings across 51 Council Districts and 59 Community Boards — of how different communities benefit or suffer from the distribution of bus lanes, park access, car traffic, air pollution, and more. 

Transportation Alternatives and partners call on New York City’s elected leaders to immediately correct the legacy of spatial inequity and disinvestment by implementing NYC 25x25 and converting space dedicated to cars into space that prioritizes people. 

NEW YORK — There is an alarming inequity in how public space is used across New York City and how this results in vast disparities for the public health, environmental resilience, and mobility of different neighborhoods, according to Spatial Equity NYC, a groundbreaking new online tool and report card released today by Transportation Alternatives and the Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism (LCAU) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

As just one example from the new report card, compared to the 10 City Council districts with the largest white populations, in the 10 City Council districts with the largest populations of people of color:

• Asthma rates are 96 percent higher.

• 83 percent fewer streets with protected bike lanes.

• 64 percent fewer bike parking spaces.

• 57 percent fewer streets with bus lanes. 

• Traffic injury rates are 58 percent higher.

Spatial Equity NYC analyzes publicly-available data to measure, compare, and visualize how different uses of public space — from high-traffic volume streets to bus lanes to parks — impact residents across New York City neighborhoods. Through 15 initial data sets, with more to be released in coming months, Spatial Equity NYC makes clear the dramatic and deadly results of years of inequitable use of public space by the City of New York.  Pulling in raw data provided by the US Census Bureau and the City of New York, Spatial Equity NYC is a one stop shop for policymakers and the public to get a clear look at disparities and provides concrete solutions to fix these inequities.

“Spatial inequity results in worse health outcomes, longer commutes, and higher rates of traffic violence — and the harm disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “With streets being New York City’s largest public space, our leaders must enact NYC 25x25, a plan to reclaim 25 percent of street space for better use by 2025. Transforming car space into space that prioritizes people would improve public health, mobility, and the environment across the five boroughs. Our public spaces should improve our lives, not harm them, and this new tool equips our elected leaders to finally do something about it.”

“The City of New York produces an almost limitless supply of open data, but most of it is difficult for the average person to find and use. When building Spatial Equity NYC, we wanted everyday New Yorkers and policy-makers alike to have a tool that makes data more accessible, creating a pathway to make more informed decisions to improve our streets and neighborhoods. Spatial Equity NYC combines analysis with real-world solutions creating a guide for policymakers, advocates, and local residents to take action to achieve spatial equity in their communities,” said Professor Sarah E. Williams, Director of the Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism at MIT.

“Poll after poll makes clear that projects that put better space to better use — whether with protected bike lanes or dedicated busways — are supported by the large majority of New Yorkers,” said Philip Miatkowski, Director of Research at Transportation Alternatives. “Through Spatial Equity NYC, we make clear exactly where these popular investments are needed most, and how they can correct the destructive consequences of spatial inequity. Equity is a critical priority of the Adams administration and City Council, and through the solutions presented on our site and in NYC 25x25, policymakers have an actionable toolkit to make neighborhoods more equitable across the five boroughs. Spatial Equity NYC should be a clarion call to make these investments without delay.”

What is Spatial Equity?

In New York City, streets and sidewalks make up the majority of public spaces — and the overwhelming majority of this space (76 percent) is devoted to parking and moving cars. Devoting so much of New York City’s finite public space to car traffic has created widespread and deeply inequitable harms, especially to already vulnerable populations. 

Spatial equity is a way to understand how public space — including streets, sidewalks, and green spaces — is distributed, restricted, used, and made unusable, and the different outcomes that result for different communities. Public space can be used positively — such as a bus lane that speeds up commutes — or negatively — such as impermeable asphalt that makes flooding worse.

Key Findings in Spatial Equity NYC 2022 Report Card:

The new online data tool allows analysis of spatial equity across fifteen categories, including: mobility (bike parking, bus speeds, bus lanes and busways, protected bike lanes, public seating, and traffic density), environment (including excess heat, park access, surface permeability, and tree canopy cover), and public health (including asthma rates, air pollution, noise pollution, traffic fatalities, and traffic injuries). It also includes demographic data from the US Census, allowing spatial analysis of these factors alongside race and ethnicity, poverty level, vehicle ownership, and commute mode.

Data for each of these categories is mapped and ranked across community boards and City Council districts. Each map can also be compared side-by-side with data pulled directly from the US Census. 

Examples of analysis by demographic:

As just one example from the new report card, compared to the citywide average, in the top 10 City Council districts with the highest percent of households living below the poverty line:

• There are 58 percent fewer streets with protected bike lanes

• Asthma rates are 53 percent higher

• Buses are 12 percent slower

• Residents bike to work at roughly the same rate, are 22 percent more likely to ride transit, and are 30 percent less likely to drive to work.

Example of analysis by indicator:

In the 10 City Council districts with the highest daytime surface temperatures, 91 percent of residents are people of color, compared to 67 percent citywide.

In Council District 4 (population 155,199), the single City Council district which has the most streets with bus lanes, there are more miles of bus lanes than in the bottom 25 districts combined (combined population 3.98 million). 

In Council District 3 (population 173,254), the single City Council district which has the most streets with protected bike lanes, there are more miles of protected bike lanes than in the bottom 23 districts combined (combined population 3.65 million).

Example of district-level analysis comparing two indicators:

Of the 10 districts with the highest levels of particulate matter 2.5 air pollution (PM 2.5):

• Nine have less tree canopy cover than the citywide average

• Nine have higher traffic volumes than the citywide average

• Eight have slower bus speeds than the citywide average

Recommendations 

To correct these inequities, TA recommends that New York City’s leaders convert car space into space that prioritizes people. This starts with enacting NYC 25x25, a vision endorsed by Mayor Adams in 2021. NYC 25x25 aims to convert 25 percent of car space into space for people by 2025, including new parkland, public plazas with seating, expansive tree canopy cover, car-free busways, and protected bike lanes — prioritized in communities that have born the brunt of historic disinvestment and racist planning.

By giving a meaningful percentage of the street back to people, the City of New York will save lives, improve air quality, build climate resilience into every roadbed, and set the tone for the future of New York as a vibrant and fair city with accessible, efficient transportation and robust, thriving street culture. 

As part of the Spatial Equity NYC launch, Transportation Alternatives has launched a new petition, where New Yorkers can call on their City Council member to publicly commit to NYC 25x25 and combating spatial inequity by converting space for cars into space for people.

What Others Are Saying:

“Today, Transportation Alternatives and MIT unveiled a key new dataset for our city: Spatial Equity NYC. This new website offers a bird’s eye view into inequities in our city that cannot go ignored," said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. "Every New Yorker deserves green space, clean air, fast buses, safe streets, and everything they need to thrive. With this new data, we have a guidebook on how to make every intersection, block, and neighborhood in our city a safer and better place to live. I look forward to working with my partners in government to turn this data into policy solutions.”

“Spatial inequity impacts the way we move, breathe, and survive in our city. This data shows how critical it is to expand our protected bike lanes, grow our tree canopies, and extend our dedicated bus ways to ensure our city’s built environment is more just and equitable. We cannot leave any neighborhood behind if we want to achieve climate and transportation justice across our whole city,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.

“Our city should be safe and healthy for the people who call it home, but right now we have primarily poor, Black and Brown communities where air pollution is soaring, asthma rates are high, and the streets are filled with fast-moving trucks and private vehicles that endanger our neighbors,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “We must be willing to regulate and redesign how transportation intersects with our environment and public health. Spatial Equity NYC’s 2022 Report Card underscores the intense inequity and environmental racism facing communities of color while empowering our city to take immediate and long-term action. I’m grateful for Transportation Alternatives’ work and the efforts of so many advocates in this space who are building a movement to re-envision what a city of and for the people really looks like.”

"I commend Transportation Alternatives and MIT for creating this vital tool that will allow leaders and policy makers to not only understand the spatial inequity in our communities, but also address those inequities head-on," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "The Spatial Equity report shows that Queens has by far the most districts with the highest rated spatial inequity — and that is simply unacceptable. Our families deserve access to quality open space and our streets should belong to all our residents, regardless of their ZIP code or mode of transportation."

“As the author of New York City’s Open Data bill, I commend Transportation Alternatives for leveraging available information to identify patterns and trends regarding equity in public space. Inequities in the public realm contribute to adverse health and quality of life impacts, and most often harm historically marginalized communities. All New Yorkers deserve access to good public transit, clean air, and recreational space, and I will hold the Department of Transportation and others accountable to their promises and data,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer.

“Spatial Equity NYC will provide my community with the tools to fight for more investment, better resources and ensure equity across New York City,” said NYC Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks Powers. “This new online resource mapping tool provides local residents, community stakeholders, policymakers, and elected officials with a roadmap to advocate for better health, transportation, and environmental outcomes, in an accessible format to alleviate the disparities of the past. I applaud Transportation Alternatives and the Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism for developing a centralized tool to create a more equitable future for all New Yorkers.”

"Spatial equity is one of our most vital objectives toward making this city as safe and healthy as it can be," said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. "We know that with streets that are safer for pedestrians and cyclists, more reliable and comprehensive mass transit coverage, and abundant clean air to breathe, we will achieve public safety and public health outcomes that are impossible under such dramatic spatial inequity. I'm proud to support this initiative, and want to extend my congratulations to Transportation Alternatives, Public Advocate Williams, the research team, and advocacy partners on releasing this critical data."

"The quality of our public spaces — their size and proximity to people, the amount of tree cover — have a direct effect on our health and wellbeing. Thanks to this new tool from Transportation Alternatives and MIT, we can now see clearly how rates of asthma, traffic deaths, and even heat deaths are the result of spatial inequity across our communities. The work of creating clean, green, open spaces for all is more urgent than ever,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.

“The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York’s (CIDNY) goal is to ensure full integration, independence, and equal opportunity for all people with disabilities by removing barriers to the social, economic, cultural, and civic life of the community. “This means that all New Yorkers with disabilities have the right to safe, accessible, healthy, green space that promotes physical and mental wellbeing. We support initiatives that foster health inclusion to public space for people with disabilities. We advocate for accessible spaces and cleaner air which allows people with disabilities to live, work, play, and love while living in New York City,” said Sharon McLennon-Wier, PH.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC, Executive Director of CIDNY.

“350Brooklyn was honored to review and participate in the launch of the Spatial Equity NYC. This tool fills a critical gap between data and actionable insights that will help us better ground our priorities in climate justice, focusing advocacy where it is needed most,” said Georgi Page, Sr. Organizer, 350Brooklyn, City Action Committee.

“Spatial Equity NYC is deeply a community service, putting actionable information into the hands of New Yorkers. It will be a powerful resource for community organizers and decision-makers who navigate critical questions of equity into the future. BetaNYC is honored to call TA an ally and we support this impressive effort to make public data accessible and actionable. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, these visualizations are a modern day encyclopedia, enabling anyone to navigate spatial equity in NYC,” said Jazzy Smith, Civic Innovation Fellowship Manager, BetaNYC.

"Community wellness depends on viable and accessible public space", said Matthew Clarke, Executive Director of the Design Trust for Public Space. “Given that a person's zip code is one of the best predictors of health, urban planners and city leaders must center health equity in the built environment. Transparency tools like Spatial Equity NYC are an important first step to disrupting the inequities driven by the relative quality of our neighborhoods’ spaces."

“To-date, crashes have killed more than 200 people on New York City streets in 2022. As Spatial Equity NYC makes clear, traffic violence doesn't impact every community equally. In City Council districts where the majority of residents are Black, there are 68 percent fewer streets with a protected bike lane, and a 39 percent higher rate of traffic injuries. This is unacceptable. Spatial inequity is deadly and we need our elected officials to take action now to save lives and make our streets more fair," said Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, member of Families for Safe Streets, whose 5-year-old son Bryan was killed in a car crash in October 2006.

“NYC-EJA congratulates Transportation Alternatives for this report, which echoes many of the same challenges, solutions, and themes NYC-EJA and our members have championed for years. This report supports our calls for targeted investments and interventions to mitigate air pollution, increase nature-based solutions, and electrify the transportation sector," said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.

“Having access to Equity Data is essential to the work of organizing. Spatial Equity NYC allows you to compare communities throughout the city and can support communities' campaign for infrastructure projects, bicycle lanes, park and Greenway Development. The Harlem River Working Group will be glad to have access to these resources in our work to develop a Harlem River Greenway in the Bronx and to create publicly accessible on-water access,” said Chauncy Young, Coordinator for the Harlem River Working Group.

“Every so often a tool comes along that allows people to understand their surroundings and approach issues with fresh eyes, and that is exactly what Spatial Equity NYC does,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “From heat islands to asthma rates, from protected bike lanes to traffic fatalities, Spatial Equity NYC enables us to connect the dots from the inequitable conditions New Yorkers are forced to live with and the environment we, as a city, choose to create. We are grateful to Transportation Alternatives and MIT’s Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism for bringing this data to life.”  

“Spatial Equity NYC is an important tool that will help New Yorkers visualize and reinforce the disparities that advocates on the ground are intimately aware of and present the policy and place-based solutions to eliminate them. When we seek to improve public spaces—their distribution, funding, prioritization, administration, management, design, and function—we also improve the livability of the city. Spatial Equity NYC reminds us of the urgency and opportunity to transform our public spaces to create a just, healthy, resilient, and equitable city,” said Spencer Williams, AICP, Assoc. AIA, Director of Advocacy, The Municipal Art Society of New York.

“The City collects enormous amounts of information about its streets and public spaces, including with respect to accessibility and environmental impacts. The NYC Spatial Equity Index marshals that data and unlocks its potential to benefit all New Yorkers, including people with disabilities and those belonging to environmental justice communities,” said Christopher Schuyler, Senior Staff Attorney with the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. “This tool will aid the work of NYLPI, and other advocacy groups, as we serve our client communities.”

"Public space is a public health issue, and Spatial Equity NYC makes that all too clear. Communities with less investment suffer the consequences — poorer physical and mental health outcomes, less livability, more dangerous streets.This tool should be an alarm bell and a blueprint; we urge our elected officials to immediately begin prioritizing investment in safe, joyful and well-managed public space for the most harmed communities," said Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy and Organizing at Open Plans.

"Providing clear, accessible, and actionable data to elected officials, stakeholders, and the general public is essential to creating a more open and equitable city," said Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President for Regional Plan Association. "RPA congratulates Transportation Alternatives and their partners for advancing the Spatial Equity NYC tool. We look forward to working with them to help drive public space investment in communities in order to improve access to open space and public health."

"Spatial Equity NYC is a powerful online tool that shows how open data can be leveraged to make the case for systemic change. We thank Transportation Alternatives and MIT for developing the platform and encourage government agencies, including the NYC Department of Transportation and others, to expand their open data offerings and ensure timely updates so that tools like Spatial Equity NYC can be as robust as possible," said Rachael Fauss, Senior Policy Advisor for Reinvent Albany. Reinvent Albany championed passage of NYC's landmark 2012 Open Data Law.

"Spatial Equity NYC is quickly becoming an essential tool in the fight for safe and equitable streets for all New Yorkers," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "With a couple of clicks, bus riders can find out how our communities stack up and hold officials accountable for change. Just one example: The Council District along Northern Boulevard whose member is opposing a new bus lane currently has no bus lanes anywhere in the district, tying for dead last among 51 districts in the City. This inequity alone should prompt Mayor Adams to immediately proceed with the project. Kudos to Transportation Alternatives for this important work." 

“In a dense urban environment like NYC, nothing is more valuable than having safe and accessible public spaces. Spatial Equity NYC is a critical step to ensure equitable public spaces that prioritize New Yorkers, their families, and their communities,” said Scott Short, CEO of RiseBoro Community Partnership. “We commend Transportation Alternatives and MIT for creating a tool that can be utilized to invest in the future of our city and will allow New Yorkers to reclaim their communities.”

“Street Lab is very excited to use and share this important tool, which will help us all target our efforts and resources where they are needed most," said Leslie Davol, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Street Lab.

"Spatial Equity NYC, by taking difficult-to-parse city data and making it easy for anyone to analyze and compare, provides elected officials, planning entities, and all New Yorkers with an incredibly important and useful tool for visualizing and understanding –– and most importantly, beginning to rectify –– the stark inequity in our public spaces. We’re grateful to Transportation Alternatives and MIT for developing this invaluable resource,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC.

"As New York City and New York State prepare to apply for billions of dollars of federal transportation and infrastructure funds newly available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Spatial Equity NYC website shows us, using data not slogans, exactly where those investments are most needed," said Felicia Park-Rogers, Director of Regional Infrastructure Projects for Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "This website provides a critical tool for policy makers and planners to target where our investment dollars will have the most impact on improving health, equity, and project outcomes across our city."

“In Jackson Heights we have 7,000 kids who all attend title one-eligible schools in around 34 Avenue who now benefit from open space on our open streets. We have exchanged pollution, noise and injuries for fresh air, tranquility and safety. In one of NYC’s densest and most diverse neighborhoods we have harnessed the power of open space to build & strengthen our community,” said Jim Burke, Co-Founder of the 34th Avenue Open Street Coalition.

“Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and Central Harlem has not been allowed to progress because elected and unelected government officials haven’t made the 80% of people who do not drive in Harlem a priority,” said TA Bronx/Uptown Committee Member Chris Sanders, campaign lead for the Central Harlem Bikeway Campaign. “The Spatial Equity Tool puts data and numbers behind what many people were already feeling in Central Harlem. It highlights the need for the Central Harlem Bikeway on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.”

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About Transportation Alternatives 

For nearly 50 years, Transportation Alternatives has led the movement for safe, equitable streets in New York City because streets belong to the people of New York City. TA uses a combination of neighborhood-level grassroots organizing and citywide advocacy to push for changes in public policy, street design, enforcement, and resource allocation that transform our city’s streets for the better.

About MIT Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism

Urbanism constitutes one of the most complex societal challenges of today’s world. MIT's Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism (LCAU) is motivated by the radical changes in our urbanizing environment, and focuses on the design and planning of large-scale, complex, metropolitan environments. The LCAU’s mission is to establish a new theoretical and applied research platform to create knowledge that can be used to transform the quality of life throughout the urbanized world. LCAU is committed to achieving this goal through collaborative interdisciplinary research projects using design as a mode of inquiry, intellectual discourse, and dissemination through leadership forums, conferences, publications, and teaching.

Statements from Council Member Rita Joseph, Transportation Alternatives, and Families for Safe Streets After Tractor-Trailer Driver Kills 25-Year-Old Woman Riding Bike in Flatbush

So far in 2022, 193 people have been killed in crashes, more than this point in every year under Vision Zero except for 2014 and 2021.

BROOKLYN, NY — This morning, the driver of a tractor-trailer struck and killed a 25-year-old woman who was riding her bike on Parkside Avenue, which is not a designated truck route. 

Along Parkside Avenue between Coney Island and Ocean Avenues, 161 people have been injured in the past five years — including 28 bike riders and 25 pedestrians. From 2014 to 2018, nearly 10 people were killed or seriously injured per mile on Parkside Avenue, putting it in the top-third of Brooklyn’s most dangerous corridors.

Statement from District 40 Council Member Rita Joseph:

“The tragic death of yet another cyclist in our city, this time in my own neighborhood, shows how far we need to come to address traffic violence. We’re sick and tired of seeing our neighbors, friends, and family being needlessly killed on our roads, and I am going to continue doing everything in my power to make our streets as safe as possible.”

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“We are outraged and heartbroken that another New Yorker was killed riding a bike. We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the woman killed this morning.”

“Asking multi-ton tractor trailers and people riding bikes to share space on our streets results in preventable tragedies such as this one.”

“People riding bikes deserve safe streets, free of the threats posed by massive tractor-trailers. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must fast-track the construction of protected bike lanes across the city and meet the requirements of the NYC Streets Plan to build 30 new miles this year. Lives are on the line. We cannot afford to miss this deadline.”

Statement from Families for Safe Streets member Nina Sabghir:

“Our hearts break for the loved ones of the 25-year-old woman killed by a tractor-trailer in Flatbush this morning. As someone who bikes on Parkside often, I was furious when I saw the aftermath of this crash. We cannot continue to accept these deaths as normal. They are not.”

“Eight years ago, I was seriously injured in a crash while biking in Brooklyn. Yet these crashes are still happening. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must take immediate and concrete action now to invest in proven solutions that save lives. We know how to end traffic violence. We know how to make our streets safe for everyone. It’s time our leaders have the will to do so.”

Statement from Flatbush resident Liz Denys, volunteer campaign lead for Flatbush Streets for People, a Transportation Alternatives campaign:

“Massive tractor trailers simply do not fit on streets in Flatbush. They regularly endanger people walking and biking. We need real measures to keep deadly monster trucks out of our neighborhood.” 

“Five years ago, DOT reported that Flatbush and the surrounding area has a deadly combination for people biking: a high number of bicyclist fatalities but little bike infrastructure. Five years later, our neighborhood is still waiting on a comprehensive network of lifesaving protected bike lanes. Senseless tragedies like this are preventable. We demand action now."

Additional information on background:

• Just one percent of streets in Council District 40, represented by Council Member Joseph, have protected bike lanes.

• Traffic violence has killed 15 bike riders this year — a 50 percent increase over this point in 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero — and 193 people total, higher than every year under Vision Zero except 2014 and 2021.

• The NYC Streets Plan requires the City of New York to build 30 miles of protected bike lanes in 2022 and 250 miles by the end of 2026. As of today, the Adams administration has completed just 8.3 miles of protected bike lanes with less than three months until the end of the year.

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One Week Before One Million Kids Return to School, Driver of Dodge Ram Pickup Kills Five-Year-Old Jonathan Martinez on Dangerous Street in Queens

Drivers have killed 14 children age 17 and under in 2022, 2.3x higher than the six children killed by this point in 2021, which was the deadliest year overall since Vision Zero began

11 out of the 14 children killed in 2022 were hit by drivers of SUVs, pickups, trucks, vans, or school buses. Only three were killed by drivers of smaller cars like sedans 

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of injurious death for children under age 14 in New York City

172 people have been killed in crashes so far this year

QUEENS, NY — On Thursday evening, five-year-old Jonathan Martinez was walking home with his father and siblings from a nearby park when he was struck and killed by the driver of a Dodge Ram pickup in a hit-and-run.

This murder of a child by a reckless driver on a dangerous street happened one block from PS 127, Aerospace Magnet School, and two day care centers,  underscoring the need for immediate street safety improvements to protect the more than 1 million New York City students returning to school next week.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“Mayor Adams: Cars are killing a record number of children on our streets. We need you to take action now to protect our children before school starts next week.”

“Our hearts are broken for the family and friends of Jonathan Martinez and we extend our deepest condolences to them. Jonathan deserved a future, just like the 171 other New Yorkers killed in preventable crashes this year. Until we prioritize the health and safety of New Yorkers over the movement of multi-ton vehicles, drivers will continue to kill our children.”

“As over one million children head back to school, Mayor Adams and NYC DOT have a solemn responsibility to do everything in their power to protect them from traffic violence. The Adams Administration must expedite the expansion of the Open Streets for Schools program by closing roads adjacent to schools to cars. They must also prioritize areas surrounding schools for comprehensive street redesigns, just as these areas have been the focus of the speed safety camera program.”

“Just look at the intersection where Jonathan was killed. It’s a huge, confusing expanse of asphalt and begs to be designed more safely. We urge the Adams Administration to work quickly to fix this intersection — and other dangerous slip lanes like it — to prevent more deaths.”

“The health and safety of our kids depends on the actions taken now. No more studies, no more plans, no more future promises, Mayor Adams must act now to prevent future tragedies from occurring.” 

Statement from Families for Safe Streets member Raul Ampuero, whose 9-year-old son Giovanni was killed by an SUV driver in Jackson Heights in 2018:

“How many more kids need to be crushed by cars before our leaders act? In 2018, my own son was killed in the neighborhood next door. Years later, the driver of another huge car has killed a young child. When the same acts of traffic violence keep occurring, our leaders have failed. It’s time to make streets safe from cars, especially near schools. It’s time to limit the deadliest big cars on streets citywide, as Senator Hoylman’s new bill aims to achieve. Doing so will save lives and prevent the heartbreak that has touched my family and countless others New Yorkers whose loved ones have been killed in a preventable act of traffic violence.” 

Additional information on background:

• Just two weeks ago, an SUV driver killed four-year-old Demonte McDonald in South Jamaica, Queens.  

• So far in 2022, 67 pedestrians have been killed across the city. 17 pedestrians have been killed in Queens, in line with 2021's numbers. 

• Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) has introduced legislation that would require the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles to set rules for large vehicles like SUVs and pick-up trucks, ensuring that they have clear visibility of pedestrians. This measure would make big cars, which are the deadliest cars, safer on our streets. 

• Last year, Transportation Alternatives released a policy agenda for the Adams Administration, urging them to set higher taxes for big, deadly cars, disincentivizing their ownership and making streets safer.

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‘This Is the Result of Inequitable Street Design’: Statement After Bike Rider Killed By Driver of Tractor-Trailer in East New York, Brooklyn

More people were injured in crashes in this district in the past two years than any other, with 3,209 injuries and 17 fatalities. City Council District 42 is 97 percent non-white and more than one in every four residents lives below the poverty line.

In the past five years, 128 people have been injured in traffic violence at this intersection.

Crashes have killed 171 people so far in 2022 — a 15 percent increase over the Vision Zero average, and just shy of 2021’s record-breaking fatalities.

BROOKLYN, NY — On Tuesday afternoon, the driver of a tractor-trailer struck and killed a 44-year-old person on a bike on Pennsylvania Avenue and Linden Boulevard in East New York, Brooklyn.

In the past five years alone, 128 people have been injured at this intersection, and a pedestrian was killed at this location in March 2022. Both streets are known to be among the city’s most dangerous, labeled by the city as Vision Zero Priority Corridors.

This is the result of inequitable street design. No other council district had more injuries in the past two years than the 3,209 in District 42 — where more than three-quarters of residents are Black and 97 percent are non-white, and where more than one in four residents lives below the poverty line.

Despite this, the city has not made the 11-lane, 150-foot-wide Linden Boulevard or the 7-lane, 78-f00t-wide Pennsylvania Boulevard safe. Despite the known dangers, there are no turn-calming measures installed, no leading pedestrian intervals, and no bike lanes at the intersection.

With this crash, traffic violence has now killed 171 people in 2022 — nearly even with 2021, the deadliest year under Vision Zero, and a 44 percent increase over 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero. This preventable fatality follows July 2022, the deadliest month in eight years of Vision Zero. In Brooklyn, 48 people have been killed in crashes. Citywide, 31 people on bikes, e-bikes, and other micromobility devices have been killed.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“All New Yorkers should be able to ride a bike without fear of death or serious injury on our streets. Yet as long as our streets are designed like highways, prioritizing the movement and storage of private vehicles above all else, people will continue to die.”

“The solutions to the crisis of traffic violence are simple – prioritize people over cars. Our city’s leaders must demonstrate the political will to repurpose space from cars and trucks and build physical infrastructure that protects all street users, and gives every New Yorker safe, equitable and sustainable options to travel around the five boroughs. ”

“We send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the bike rider killed in East New York yesterday.”

Statement from Families for Safe Streets member Jessica Santana, whose brother Jose Ramos was killed by a driver in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn:

“Our hearts break for the loved ones of the bike rider killed in a crash with a giant tractor-trailer yesterday afternoon.”

“While nothing can erase the pain brought to our families because of preventable traffic violence, our city leaders can take concrete action today to stop traffic violence from happening in the future. By making the investments in street safety required by the NYC Streets Plan, our leaders can get Vision Zero back on track and protect more New Yorkers from the unspeakable pain of traffic violence.”

“We can prevent future crashes from happening when we expand what works. Mayor Adams, take action today to save lives.”

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Statement After 4-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Struck by SUV Driver in South Jamaica

More children 18 and under have been killed in traffic violence in 2022 than any full calendar year since at least 2013.

QUEENS, NY — On Saturday night, a 4-year-old boy on a bike died after the driver of an SUV struck him in South Jamaica, Queens, on 147th Street.

Traffic violence has killed 17 children 18 and under in 2022 — more than any full calendar year since at least 2013. This is a more than 2.5x increase over last year and more than double the average during the Vision Zero-era.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“We are heartbroken and angry over the preventable loss of another child on New York City streets. So far in 2022, more children have died due to traffic violence than in any year since 2013,
and the death rate for children is now 2.6x higher than last year.”

“New York City has the proven tools to keep our children safe from traffic violence, we require leaders with the political will to quickly scale these measures to every corner of the city, and prioritize our most vulnerable communities.”

"Mayor Adams has made a historic investment of $904 million in street safety. Now, he must deliver these projects without delay, and before more children are killed on his streets.”

‘Walking on the sidewalk should not be a death sentence’: Statement After Crash Kills Two Pedestrians Walking on Sidewalk in Inwood

In the past five years, 36 people have been injured in traffic violence at this intersection, including 12 pedestrians and two cyclists.

Crashes have killed 149 people so far in 2022 — a 15 percent increase over the Vision Zero average, and just shy of 2021’s record-breaking fatalities

NEW YORK — Early Wednesday morning, two drivers crashed into each other, sending one car onto the sidewalk, killing two pedestrians on Sherman Avenue near W. 207th Street and injuring five others.

According to news reports, video shows one driver sped through a red light. There are no red-light cameras in this ZIP code and only one red-light camera north of 96th Street in Manhattan. 

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“Earlier this week, speed safety cameras began 24/7 operation. While this is a significant win for street safety, Vision Zero has always depended on a multi-layered approach to keeping people safe.”

“To reach Vision Zero, we need the Adams administration to redesign streets for safety and for Albany to let us expand additional automated enforcement tools.  Right now, state law only allows red light cameras at 1 percent of signalized intersections in all five boroughs. This restriction is deadly, and we demand that Albany legislators lift the limits on the red light camera program to start saving lives.”

“Walking on the sidewalk should not be a death sentence, yet, today, like too many other days in this city, it was. We send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the two people killed in the preventable crash uptown this morning.”

Additional information on background:

• New York City’s red-light camera program reduced injuries from T-bone crashes by 58 percent.

• Citywide, crashes have killed 149 people in 2022 — as many as this point in 2014, the first year of Vision Zero.

• In Manhattan, traffic fatalities have killed 23 people in 2022, a 92 percent increase over 2018, the safest year in recent history. Ten of those 23 were pedestrians, two-thirds higher than in 2018.

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Crash Kills 99-Year-Old Pedestrian in the Bronx

50 percent increase in traffic deaths in the Bronx over 2021

This year, 25 seniors aged 65 and older have been killed in New York City —  two of them 99-years-old and five of them in the Bronx.

BRONX, NY — On Wednesday morning, 99-year-old Bernice Schwartz was struck and killed by the driver of a Mazda SUV at W. 235 Street and Oxford Avenue in Riverdale, Bronx.

Traffic deaths are spiking in the Bronx. This crash comes days after Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets released new data showing fatalities in the Bronx are at their highest levels since Vision Zero began in 2014. Crashes have killed 144 people citywide so far in 2022 — just shy of this point in 2021, which was the deadliest year under Vision Zero.

Bernice was not the only 99-year-old who was denied their 100th birthday: in February 2022, Holocaust survivor Jack Mikulincer was on his way to synagogue in an electric wheelchair when an SUV driver ran over and killed him in Brooklyn.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“We are heartbroken and outraged that 99-year-old Bernice Schwartz was struck and killed by a driver in the Bronx. We offer our deepest condolences to Bernice’s loved ones.”

“Traffic violence is a public safety crisis, and the Bronx is bearing the brunt. All New Yorkers — especially our most vulnerable — deserve safe streets, free from the threat of death or serious injury from drivers. Mayor Adams and DOT must take immediate action to expand investments in safe crossings, physical infrastructure that increases visibility and slows down drivers, and car-free streets. These investments must prioritize areas, like the Bronx, most at risk of traffic violence, and fast-track NYC DOT's 17-step action plan to address senior pedestrian safety.” 

Statement from Families for Safe Streets Member Irma Rosenblatt:

“Eight years ago my 88-year-old mother Ida was killed by a speeding SUV driver making a left turn in Riverdale. It is heartbreaking and appalling that eight years later, seniors are still being killed on dangerous streets in Riverdale and across New York City.”

“We cannot afford to wait any longer. We need action today from Mayor Adams, DOT, and our local elected officials in Riverdale to protect all New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable neighbors. We know how to prevent the horrors of traffic violence. 

“How many more seniors have to die? Our leaders must have the courage to act now.”

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Statement After Tractor-Trailer Driver Kills 28-Year-Old Woman Riding a Citi Bike on the Upper East Side

Tuesday’s crash is yet another Upper East Side fatality caused by the driver of a gigantic truck, after a box truck driver killed two on the Upper East Side on Christmas Eve 2021

NEW YORK — On Tuesday morning, a 28-year-old woman riding a Citi Bike died from severe head trauma after being struck by the driver of a large tractor-trailer on East 85th Street, which is not a designated truck route, has a large sign reading “passenger cars only” at the entrance to the block, and is dozens of blocks from the closest crosstown protected bike lane.

Statement from Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives:

“Another New Yorker is dead while trying to ride a bicycle on the Upper East Side. Despite decades of advocacy, New York City has failed to build adequate crosstown protected bike lanes in this neighborhood.  The absence of safe biking infrastructure on the Upper East Side is deadly.”

“The New York City Streets Plan requires 20 miles of protected bike lanes to be built citywide this year. We need quick action from the Adams administration to meet this benchmark. Failing to do so will keep bike riders in danger and more people will be killed by cars and trucks.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the young woman killed riding her bike today. We will continue to work tirelessly so no New Yorker needs to fear death as they move around our city.”

Additional information on background:

• To date in 2022, crashes have killed 142 people citywide, the exact same number of fatalities by this point last year, which was the deadliest since Vision Zero began. This is 38 percent higher than the number of people killed by this point in 2018, the safest year on record. 

• To date in 2022, crashes killed 11 people riding bikes citywide.

• To date in 2022, drivers of large trucks and tractor trailers have killed at least 19 people citywide. 

• In the past two years, City Council District 4, which includes the Upper East Side, has ranked the second-most dangerous district for people biking, with 455 cyclist injuries and 2 (now 3) cyclist fatalities.

New Data Reveals Traffic Violence Crisis in the Bronx as Fatalities Reach Highest Levels Since 2014, More Action Needed to Reach Vision Zero Citywide

Compared to first half of 2021, Bronx is only borough where traffic fatalities increased; 28 fatalities are the highest since Vision Zero began in 2014 

People killed while using bikes, e-bikes, and scooters have more than tripled in Brooklyn compared to the first six months of 2021

129 percent increase in hit-and-runs in second quarter 2022 compared to pre-pandemic

Eleven percent of people killed in crashes were young New Yorkers aged 18 and younger, the highest share ever since Vision Zero began, a rate twice as high as the Vision Zero era-average 

NEW YORK — Traffic fatalities are spiking in the Bronx and New York City must take aggressive steps to reach Vision Zero citywide, according to new data through the first six months of 2022, released today by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets. While 2022 is no longer on track to be the deadliest year since Vision Zero began, traffic fatalities citywide are still 29 percent higher than 2018, the safest year of the Vision Zero-era.

In the first six months of this year, the Bronx has been disproportionately impacted by traffic violence, where fatalities are higher than any year of the Vision Zero era, and double the number of fatalities by this point in 2014, the year that Vision Zero began. The crisis has also particularly devastated people on bikes, e-bikes, or scooters in Brooklyn, where more than three times as many people on bikes, e-bikes, and scooters have died in 2022 as compared to the first six months of 2021. The percentage of people aged 18 and younger killed in crashes is also at its highest level since Vision Zero began. 

“New York City remains far from reaching Vision Zero. Fatalities have decreased compared to the horrific records set in 2021, but more must be done to save lives on our streets — especially in the Bronx,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternative. “To make more progress in combating traffic violence, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must urgently implement the NYC Streets Plan and reclaim space from cars as we’ve outlined in NYC 25x25. With bold action to physically redesign streets, and speed safety cameras soon operating 24/7, we can prevent traffic violence and ensure no New Yorker experiences death or serious injury while moving around the five boroughs.”

“It’s unacceptable that eight years into Vision Zero, traffic deaths in the Bronx are double what they were when the program began. This is the clear outcome of decades of unequal investment in street redesigns. Every borough deserves safe streets and the Bronx is no exception,” said Families for Safe Streets member Monique Williams, a Bronx resident whose father was killed in a hit-and-run in 2020. “Nobody should experience the pain of losing a loved one to traffic violence. With traffic fatalities in the Bronx at record levels under Vision Zero, our leaders must invest in proven measures that protect pedestrians, bike riders, and drivers here. Families for Safe Streets members know that traffic violence is preventable. Our city’s leaders must act now to save lives.”

“I am both alarmed and concerned with the new data produced by Transportation Alternatives showing there were 28 traffic fatalities in the Bronx, making it the highest figure ever by this point in the year since Vision Zero began in 2014,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “While Vision Zero, implemented 8 years ago, was effective in reducing traffic deaths, it is also clear that we must do more to protect the safety and well-being of our residents, pedestrians and cyclists. I look forward over the coming months to working closely with Transportation Alternatives and with Mayor Adams to support them in making our streets safer for everyone in our borough.”

“Investments in safety mechanisms, like daylighting and jersey barriers, and additional funding towards Vision Zero will help keep all New Yorkers safe,” said NYC Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Skyrocketing fatalities in the first half of the year are an alarming trend that needs to be curbed with the implementation of a robust suite of speed-reducing technologies. We must implement the NYC Streets Plan to ensure we don’t have another Davina Afokoba - a 10-year-old girl killed by an unlicensed erratic driver - or innocent child die.”

Key takeaways from the first half of 2022:

Overall Crash Data: During the first six months of 2022, traffic violence killed 113 people on New York City streets, an increase of 29 percent over 2018, the safest year on record. The greatest share of victims were pedestrians, 50 killed, followed by 48 motorists killed, and 15 people on bikes, e-bikes, or scooters. The overall number of fatalities, 113, is a seven percent decrease from 2021, the deadliest year of the Vision Zero era, when 121 people were killed in the first six months of the year. More specifically, pedestrian fatalities are down 21 percent and motorist fatalities are down 7 percent, while fatalities involving people on bikes, e-bikes, or scooters are down 6 percent compared to this point in 2021.  

Deadly Traffic Violence Breaking Records in the Bronx : During the first six months of 2022, traffic violence killed 28 people in the Bronx, an increase of 22 percent over 2021. This number is double the number killed in 2014 when Vision Zero began. The Bronx is a significant outlier, as it is the only borough where fatalities increased from the first half of 2021 to the first half of 2022.

Motorists Deaths Spiking in Manhattan, Micromobility Deaths Spiking in Brooklyn: During the first six months of 2022, crashes killed ten people in cars in Manhattan, five times more than this point last year. In Brooklyn, crashes killed seven people on bikes, e-bikes, or scooters in the first half of this year — more than three times more than this point last year.  

Hit-And-Runs Spiking Since Pandemic Began: New data revealed that hit-and-runs involving critical injury more than doubled, up 129 percent, in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2019 — with just one case solved. While the numbers of hit-and-runs have declined 33 percent compared to last year’s horrific peak, they are still up 50 percent year-to-date over 2019. There were more hit-and-runs involving critical injury in each quarter during the pandemic — from Q2 2020 to Q2 2022 — compared to the pre-pandemic quarter in 2018, 2019, and the first quarter of 2020.

Increasing Number of Victims are Young New Yorkers: Even before the July 10 Staten Island crash that killed three teenagers, 2022 has had an alarming number of young people killed in crashes. For the first six months of 2022, 11 percent – 12 in total – were aged 18 or under when killed by traffic violence. This includes 15-year-old Antonina Zatulovska, 5-year-old Yaakov Farhi, and 20-month-old Lian Mashni. Looking at the Vision Zero era prior to 2022, the average share of fatalities aged 18 and under is only 5 percent.  

100th Fatality of the Year reached on June 5, Tied for Earliest: On June 5, New York City hit 100 fatalities for the year. This was the earliest the city had hit 100 fatalities since 2014, the year Vision Zero began and five days earlier than 2021, the deadliest year under Vision Zero.

Here’s what the Adams administration and the City Council can do to prevent traffic violence and reach Vision Zero: 

The measures detailed below are not only good policy, they are good politics too. Polling by the Siena College Research Institute found that street improvements are uniformly popular among New York City voters in every borough, and of nearly every age, race, and income group - even if it would mean less space for street parking. Polling by NYC DOT found, as one example, 64 percent support citywide for protected bike lanes.

Implement NYC 25x25:: Reducing the number of cars on New York City streets — and the space on our streets devoted to cars — is central to achieving Vision Zero. NYC 25x25 is a campaign endorsed by over 200 local organizations and Mayor Adams during his 2021 campaign that challenges NYC leaders to repurpose 25 percent of car space into safe space for people. Simply put, the rules of induced demand tell us that less space for cars equals fewer people choosing to own cars equals less traffic violence, just as more space for people — in the form of wide sidewalks, green space, busways and bike lanes — equals a safe, healthier city. Helping shift New Yorkers out of cars and into other, safer, reliable transportation alternatives will reduce the number of cars on the road, and reduce the risk for every road user. 

Bronx-specific Interventions: Just six percent of New York City’s on-street protected bike lanes are in the Bronx, compared to the 75 percent located in Manhattan and Queens, even though roughly an equal percentage of residents in every borough ride bikes. Bike lane equity here would save lives, and protected bike lane installation as part of the NYC Streets Plan should be prioritized in this borough. Transportation Alternatives members are also advancing multiple campaigns to overhaul dangerous corridors in the Bronx, including a Safe Boston Road and Complete the Concourse. 

Expedite investments in the NYC Streets Plan: Mayor Adams has committed $904 million to achieve the NYC Streets Plan and build a required 250 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles dedicated bus lanes over five years. But as the Riders Alliance has recently tracked, just 3.4 miles of the required 20 miles of bus lanes in year one have been implemented. These vital street improvements are not only required by law — they will save lives and they must be completed without delay. They should be especially prioritized in areas that have been historically under-resourced and areas that have particularly high rates of traffic violence now, like the Bronx. 

Open Streets, Safe Streets: A Transportation Alternatives report from summer 2021 found that Open Streets have had significant safety benefits for the city as a whole. Looking at the twelve months before the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the 12 months after Open Streets first began, cyclist injuries increased 20 percent citywide, cyclist injuries decreased 17 percent on Open Streets. Looking at individual Open Streets provides even more proof of their safety benefit. As one example, crashes and injuries have fallen 80 percent on Berry Street in Williamsburg since this Open Street was created.

Streets For Students, Not Speeders: Create “School Streets” by closing streets to car traffic adjacent to every New York City school, making drop-off and pick-up safer, encouraging parents and students to walk, bike, or take public transit to school, creating a bubble of cleaner air outside schools, and giving every school-age child in New York City access to new and safe public space for active play and outdoor learning.

Clear Every Curb: Universal daylighting — the practice of removing the parking spot closest to an intersection to improve visibility at crosswalks — with physical infrastructure, such as curb extensions, benches, planters, or bike parking, makes it safer to cross the street. The conversion of car space at 124 high-risk intersections near schools in New York City into daylighting, sidewalk widening, and pedestrian safety islands brought a 44 percent decrease in injuries for school-age children during school travel hours at those intersections.

Go After Large Vehicles: Convert vehicle-use taxes for passengers to a weight-based system, consistent with the majority of counties in New York state, reflecting the greater impact of heavier cars on road surfaces, crash fatality rates, and carbon emissions. This would raise an estimated $36 million, according to a 2018 analysis by the New York City Independent Budget Office.

Strengthen the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program: To make the program more effective and reduce repeat offenders, Mayor Adams and the City Council must strengthen the law, as we called for in our Seven Steps agenda for the Adams Administration. This could include lowering the number of red light or speed safety camera violations needed before being required to complete a safety course and impounding and towing offending vehicles. 

What Elected Officials and Partners Are Saying:

“We’ve lost too many of our neighbors to traffic violence, and this report makes clear that our city is trending in the wrong direction,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “While 24/7 speed cameras are an essential first step, we need to do more to keep New Yorkers safe. Our street design must imagine and create safe streets for everyone — from drivers to pedestrians to our neighbors who rely on mobility devices. Action today can build a safer, greener, and more livable city tomorrow.”

“The continuation of this second and overlooked pandemic – the pandemic of traffic violence that also began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – needs to stop,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “We have mourned the loss of too many loved ones and it is especially painful when it is the result of preventable traffic crashes. DOT must double down on known interventions that increase safety such as traffic calming and the installation of curb extensions and protected bike lanes and must expedite the commitments made in the Streets Master Plan. And as I discussed yesterday, we must expedite congestion pricing. Thank you to Transportation Alternatives for producing this crucial report and continuing to fight to stop preventable traffic deaths.”

"Any death due to traffic violence is a tragedy, but the news that 113 people were killed by such violence on New York City streets in the first half of this year is shocking and extremely troubling,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This increase in traffic fatalities is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for both immediate and long-term solutions to make our streets dramatically safer. The implementation of the street and intersection redesigns called for in the NYC Streets Plan is one way we can save lives, and I will advocate for any kind of action that will protect Queens families. I am committed to making our streets safer for all who use them.”

“We must continue to prioritize the ideals of Vision Zero into physical policies like clear every curb and placement of protective bike lanes, starting in the boroughs with the highest fatalities – like my home borough of The Bronx. We have seen the highest level of traffic fatalities since 2014, with one happening in my district earlier this July when a cyclist was hit by a speeding car in Soundview. It is both alarming and disheartening to learn that just six percent of New York City’s on-street protected bike lanes are in the Bronx, compared to the 75 percent located in Manhattan and Queens, even though roughly an equal percentage of residents in every borough ride bikes,” said Council Member Amanda Farías. “We need to start investing in the safety of Bronxites yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I thank Transportation Alternatives for collecting and sharing this critical data and I will continue to work to get more safety infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter riders.”

“The safety of pedestrians and cyclists should be of the utmost importance in our city. We must aggressively protect these vulnerable New Yorkers, particularly during the summer months when many young people and others are out on our thoroughfares. We must reaffirm our commitment to Vision Zero, and endeavor to end all fatalities and serious injuries stemming from traffic accidents on our city’s streets, and enact common sense policies that protect all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse.

“The increase in traffic fatalities among minors, Bronx residents, and micro-mobility users is unacceptable. Traffic violence is as tragic as it is avoidable and we need urgent and swift implementation of the record investments in the NYC Streets Plan to ensure that New Yorkers can safely walk and bike in our communities,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.

“The tragic increase of fatal traffic violence in the Bronx so far this year is a testament to the immense work that still must be done to ensure all New York City streets are safe for all,” said New York City Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “We must ensure that all Vision Zero supported initiatives, street safety programs, and critical investments have equitable outreach that includes all communities, especially those that are disproportionately affected. We cannot sit on the sidelines waiting for vehicular fatality rates to continue to rise. It is important for us to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to safer streets,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley.

“This new data proves that the City’s implementation of Vision Zero is inadequate. We need the Mayor to put as much energy into saving lives on our streets as he’s putting into other urgent public safety needs,” said Sara Lind, Director of Policy at Open Plans. “In addition to the solutions outlined in the Streets Plan, the city can make our streets safer with curb reform, better management of public space, and by eliminating programs that incentivize driving, like placards and parking minimums. There are straight-forward solutions available and the City must turn to them immediately.”

"Street safety is public safety. Just as with gun violence, one death, one injury from traffic is one too many. Mayor Adams must act decisively to protect New Yorkers from cars and trucks and dangerous driving," said Riders Alliance Policy and Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "The mayor should embrace all of the transformative elements of the Streets Plan and speed up their implementation, just as he has promised to do with bus and bike lanes. Whatever it takes, City Hall must cut through the red tape and muster the political will to reengineer our streets for safety first. There's no amount of convenience worth the lives of New Yorkers."

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New Hit-and-Run Data Reveal 129 Percent Increase Compared to Pre-Pandemic as Another Pedestrian Is Killed on Houston Street

Thursday’s hit-and-run occurred just one block away from where NYU student Raife Milligan was killed in May and just blocks away from where hit-and-run driver killed  23-year-old delivery cyclist Borkot Ullah in 2021

At least one person has been injured in a crash on Houston Street every three days for the last five years

Despite repeated deadly crashes on Houston, street design that prioritizes speeding drivers, endangers people walking and biking remains

NEW YORK — On Thursday morning, a speeding driver struck and killed 21-year-old Andy Eduardo Gil as he crossed East Houston Street at Forsyth Streets in a hit-and-run. This deadly crash comes after new data revealed that hit-and-runs involving critical injury more than doubled, up 129 percent, in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2019 — with just one case solved. While the numbers of hit-and-runs declined from last year’s deadly peak, they remain above their pre-pandemic numbers.

Houston Street is a notoriously dangerous corridor, with four, wide travel lanes encouraging deadly speeding. This can be seen in a nearby speed safety camera, at East Houston and Avenue C, which gave 18,870 tickets in Fiscal Year 21, a ticket every 13.2 minutes of operation. Despite this known danger, and a street design which clearly induces speeding, when New York City redesigned Houston Street between the greenway and Second Avenue, it actually increased the width of travel lanes — encouraging even faster speeds.

In late 2020, the City also promised to install “enhanced crossings” for pedestrian safety, but this has not occured. In fact, despite a deadly safety record, the whole of East Houston Street has only three leading pedestrian intervals, three turn-calming improvements, and no enhanced crossings or 25 mph signal retiming.

In the past five years, 585 people have been injured, including 128 pedestrians and 115 people biking on East and West Houston Streets. This means that at least one person has been injured on Houston Street every three days for the last five years. Three people have now been killed.

With this fatality, crashes have now killed 125 people in 2022, a 26 percent increase over this time in 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero. Crashes have killed 20 people in Manhattan this year. There have been 13 fatalities in the first 14 days of July, nearly one each day.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“Our hearts break for yet another person killed crossing  Houston Street. We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Andy Eduardo Gil.”

“Crossing the street should not be a death sentence, yet time and time again we’ve seen the deadly consequences of government inaction on known-dangerous streets and street designs that prioritize the movement of vehicles at any cost. 

“Our leaders must urgently invest in street design that puts people and their safety before the movement of car traffic. We can’t afford any more half measures. We need to fast-track the implementation of the NYC Streets Plan and expand traffic-calming measures such as protected intersections and curb extensions with daylighting.”

“We demand justice for the loved ones of Andy Eduardo Gil, and all New Yorkers who have lost loved ones or been injured by drivers who attempt to escape accountability by fleeing the scene. We must never accept the high number of hit-and-runs and traffic deaths as normal.”

Statement from Assemblymember Harvey Epstein:

“I stand with Transportation Alternatives in outrage at another senseless death on our streets. Too many of our policies and too much of our physical infrastructure prioritizes cars over pedestrians and cyclists. As a cyclist and pedestrian who crosses Houston street almost every day, I know how dangerous our streets are. The result continues to be deadly. I look forward to working with Transportation Alternatives and other advocates to make our streets safer. My deepest condolences to the family of Andy Eduardo Gil.”

Additional information on background:

Hit-and-runs involving critical injury continue to be above pre-pandemic numbers. While they have declined 33% compared to last year, they are still up 50% year-to-date over 2019.

There were more hit-and-runs involving critical injury in each quarter during the pandemic — from Q2 2020 to Q2 2022 — compared to the pre-pandemic quarter in 2018, 2019, and the first quarter of 2020.

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Transportation Alternatives Statement After Three Teenagers Are Killed in Staten Island Crash

Yesterday’s crash results in most children killed in traffic violence on any single day or in any single week since Vision Zero began

Fifteen New Yorkers aged 18-and-under have been killed in traffic violence this year, the most by this point in any year since Vision Zero began and a 2.5x increase over last year  

123 traffic deaths citywide so far in 2022, a 29 percent increase from this point in 2018, which was the safest year of the Vision Zero era

STATEN ISLAND — On Sunday evening in Tottenville, a teenage driver of a Ford Mustang crashed into an SUV, killing his three teenage passengers. This crash occurred at the end of a deadly weekend when a pedestrian in Prospect Heights and motorcyclist on the BQE were killed in hit-and-runs, and an e-bike rider was also killed on the Upper East Side. 

Sunday’s horrific crash and the death of 15-year-old Ashey Rodriguez, 15-year-old Jesie Gil, and 16-year-old Fernanda Gil means that Sunday, July 10, had the most children killed by traffic violence of any day since Vision Zero began.

Statement from Rose Uscianowski, Transportation Alternatives Staten Island and South Brooklyn Organizer:

“We are absolutely heartbroken that three young lives have been taken by deadly traffic violence. We send our deepest condolences to the families of Jesie Gil, Fernanda Gil, Ashey Rodriguez, and all who knew them. These three deserved a bright future. Now, like 120 other New Yorkers this year, their lives have been lost too soon as a result of a fatal car crash. This incident is devastating for all of us on Staten Island and New Yorkers citywide.”

“In the wake of this tragedy, we expect our leaders to step up and take action to prevent more senseless traffic deaths on Staten Island. Today’s announcement by Commissioner Rodriguez that the Hylan Boulevard road diet will be expedited is an important first step. But the administration must expand this project to cover the site of yesterday’s crash, and elected leaders on Staten Island must stop standing in the way of its implementation and other infrastructure changes that will slow down drivers and make our streets safer in the borough. A guiding principle of Vision Zero is that streets should be designed in a way that makes speeding impossible in the first place.”

“This crash took place on a Sunday, when speed safety cameras were turned off. When cameras are off, there is an open invitation to speed — and speeding kills. On August 1, speed safety cameras are finally going to be on every hour of every day, and we will have an effective tool to prevent these horrific crashes from happening.”

“Hylan Boulevard is Staten Island’s Boulevard of Death. Basic safety reforms should have been prioritized here years ago. Projects cannot just be expedited or implemented after tragedies. We must get Vision Zero back on track, make streets safe on Staten Island, and save lives citywide.”

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Transportation Alternatives Statement After Crashes Kill Three People in One Week in the Bronx

So far this year, crashes have killed more than twice as many people in the Bronx than at this point in 2014, the year Vision Zero started.

BRONX, NY — In one week, drivers have killed three people in the Bronx — two bike riders and one pedestrian — and seriously injured at least six others.

Last Thursday, a driver killed 26-year-old deliverista Jose Angel Victoriano in Mott Haven. Then, on Friday, a woman crossing the street in West Farms was killed by a hit-and-run driver. On Sunday afternoon, a hit-and-run SUV driver struck and killed a bike rider in Soundview. Both bike riders were killed on streets without protected bike lanes. 

This year, traffic fatalities are up a full 58 percent in the Bronx over the Vision Zero-era average and up 131 percent over 2019, the safest year in the Bronx’s recent history. Just six percent of New York City’s on-street protected bike lanes are in the Bronx, compared to the 75 percent located in Manhattan and Queens, even though roughly an equal percentage of residents in every borough ride bikes. 

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“Last week's fatal crashes are the direct consequence of infrastructure built to move cars at the expense of pedestrians and micromobility users — and New York City’s decades-long disregard for building safe infrastructure for biking and walking in the Bronx. We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed in recent traffic violence in the Bronx.”

“It is an outrage that in 2022 — eight years into Vision Zero — fatalities in the Bronx are double what they were by this point in 2014. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must urgently implement the NYC Streets Plan and expand traffic-calming infrastructure that slows drivers down and increases safety for vulnerable street users. These investments must be equitable and prioritized in historically under-resourced communities.”

“Urgent investment is needed in the Bronx to combat the crisis of traffic violence and save lives. We can’t afford to wait any longer.”

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Transportation Alternatives Statement After Traffic Violence Kills Bike Rider in Mott Haven and E-Scooter Rider in Borough Park

112 traffic deaths citywide in 2022, a 29 percent increase from 2018 — the safest year of the Vision Zero era

2022 is deadliest year in Bronx since launch of Vision Zero 

NEW YORK CITY — Early Thursday morning, a driver killed 26-year-old e-bike rider Victoriano Angeles in Mott Haven in the Bronx, along a known dangerous Vision Zero priority corridor. On Thursday afternoon the driver of a USPS tractor-trailer killed a 57-year-old woman on an e-scooter in Borough Park, in an area so dangerous it shares overlapping priority distinctions: a Vision Zero priority area; a Safe Streets for Seniors priority area; and a bike priority district known for high rates of cyclist fatalities. These deaths come after a horrific weekend when traffic violence seriously injured at least four children and killed three people including a grandmother in Bedford-Stuyvesant and an elderly unhoused man in East New York.

This year, crashes have killed 20 people using micromobility devices, such as bicycles, scooters, and mopeds. Six of these crashes have been in the Bronx and nine in Brooklyn. 112 people have been killed walking, riding, and driving in New York City so far this year, up 29 percent from 2018, the safest year in Vision Zero’s history.

So far in 2022, the Bronx is having its most dangerous year since the launch of Vision Zero, with 28 people killed in crashes, 47 percent higher than the Vision Zero-era average and 22 percent higher than at this point last year.  In Brooklyn, this June has been the most dangerous for people using micromobility devices since the launch of Vision Zero, with four deaths in only one month.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“Drivers killed two more New Yorkers today. We are heartbroken and outraged that a man on an e-bike in the Bronx and a woman on a scooter in Sunset Park are not going home to their families because of preventable traffic violence. We send their families and friends our deepest condolences.

“The status quo on our streets is not working. Getting around without a car should not end in a death sentence.”

“We need immediate government action to prevent more preventable traffic deaths in New York City. Most importantly, Mayor Adams must move more quickly to implement the NYC Streets Plan and expand traffic calming infrastructure proven to slow drivers, increase visibility, and make walking and biking safe. These investments must be prioritized along the most-dangerous corridors and in areas that have not received equitable investments in safe streets.”

“Vision Zero cannot just be a slogan. Lives are at stake and we need those in power to take every possible step now to prevent further acts of carnage on our streets.” 

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Local Residents Deliver More than 2,500 Petition Signatures Supporting McGuinness Boulevard Redesign that Reduces Speeding, Expands Space for Pedestrians and Bike Riders Ahead of NYC DOT Presentation

At least two people have been killed and 40 injured on McGuinness Boulevard in the last five years, including beloved P.S. 110 teacher Matthew Jensen

‘Make McGuinness Safe’ campaign also launches new video with Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Lincoln Restler urging Adams administration to redesign street to reduce speeding and expand pedestrian, bicyclist safety

Thousands of petition signatures show groundswell of support in lead up to June 30 Community Board meeting where NYC DOT is slated to present data and proposals on McGuinness 

BROOKLYN, NY — A year since a promise was made to redesign McGuinness Boulevard, local residents have delivered more than 2,500 petition signatures urging the Adams administration to finally implement changes to this corridor that will reduce speeding and increase safety for everyone. After a hit-and-run driver killed beloved P.S. 110 teacher Matthew Jensen last year, former Mayor Bill de Blasio committed $39 million toward a comprehensive redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. More than one year later, on June 30, NYC DOT will present its proposals for a redesign of the street. 

McGuinness Boulevard is a known dangerous road within Greenpoint. With four travel lanes, two parking lanes, narrow sidewalks, and no bike infrastructure, two people have been killed while 29 pedestrians and 21 cyclists have been injured along the boulevard within the last five years. Within a quarter-mile of McGuinness Boulevard, there are 18 schools and childcare facilities. More than 3,000 children under age 18 live within a quarter-mile of the street.

“The despair felt by the North Brooklyn community after the hit-and-run crash that killed beloved P.S. 110 teacher, Matthew Jensen, was met with hope one year ago when the city announced a $39 million commitment to a full redesign of McGuinness Boulevard,” said Bronwyn Breitner, Coordinator for the Make McGuinness Safe Coalition. “But McGuinness is still unsafe and we need this death trap to be fixed urgently. Over 2,500 of our neighbors support removing travel lanes on McGuinness, which will convert this 5-lane highway back to the scale of a local street. We finally have the money to make McGuinness safe, and Greenpoint can’t wait any longer. DOT must implement this life-saving improvement. There is no time to waste.”

“After more than a decade of advocacy for a McGuinness Boulevard redesign, and after a horrific hit-and-run, the City pledged $39 million to prevent further tragedies along this deadly corridor.,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “We know how to make streets safe for all of us, and it requires political leadership to put human lives ahead of moving and storing vehicles. More than 2,500 North Brooklyn neighbors agree: We must break ground on McGuinness Boulevard’s redesign without delay.”

"Our community is speaking loud and clear: no more deaths on McGuinness. Over the past year, our neighbors have turned their profound grief over the death of a beloved local teacher into action and purpose. They mobilized thousands of Greenpointers to demand the transformative redesign New York City promised us one year ago. I've been grateful for the Department of Transportation's thoughtful engagement as they've worked on a proposal but now it's time to see the results,” said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher.

"For too many years our community has been demanding to do something about the highway on McGuinness that divides Greenpoint. The longer we wait for action, the worse the traffic violence gets. I am fully committed to swift implementation of a comprehensive plan to slow down traffic and make McGuinness safe,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.

“I was a student at P.S. 110 and losing one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Jensen, was really sad. Let’s make McGuinness Boulevard safe so we can prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” said sixth grader Maru Matsuura. “Also, although I ride a bicycle, I don’t ride it on McGuinness Boulevard because it seems to be life-threatening to do so. But if we had protected bike lanes, I think people including myself can ride their bicycles safely.”

After Jensen’s tragic death last year, the City of New York committed $39 million in capital funding toward a comprehensive redesign of the street. Greenpoint can’t wait. Thousands of residents have signed a petition calling for a comprehensive redesign of McGuinness Boulevard, showing the broad community support for a proposal that reduces speeding and expands space for bike riders and pedestrians, that includes:

1. Wider sidewalks to help pedestrians as they cross the street;

2. A protected bike lane to protect cyclists and make the street safer for all road users;

3. Eliminating one lane of traffic in each direction so traffic is slowed and these safety improvements can be installed.

“Having to wait a year after the tragic crash and initial announcement to redesign has been disheartening. The community has made itself heard: 2,500 local residents have signed a petition calling for a comprehensive redesign of McGuinness Boulevard that prevents future tragedies from happening. We look forward to seeing a redesign proposal that the community so desperately deserves,” said North Brooklyn State Senator Julia Salazar (SD-18).

“There is overwhelming support and need for a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard and we should make it happen as quickly as possible,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Our city should be prioritizing plans to make our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, especially in areas with high instances of injuries and deaths. I support Transportation Alternatives and the Make McGuinness Safe Coalition in their advocacy.”

“McGuinness Boulevard is a highway that cuts through Greenpoint — making walking, biking, and crossing the street dangerous and deadly,” said Families for Safe Streets Steering Committee Member Rita Barravecchio. “We shouldn’t have to accept this as a reality in our neighborhood. Our leaders must remove lanes from cars to widen sidewalks and install protected bike lanes. We can make McGuinness safe and our leaders must do so without delay.”

"McGuinness Boulevard is an over-built speedway that has caused the deaths of countless pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. For decades the community has advocated for this space to safely serve all community members and DOT has a moral obligation to create a safer environment for the thousands of school children, senior citizens, and community members who cross the street each day,” said Juan Ignacio Serra, Co-Chair of the TA North Brooklyn Activist Committee. “The road that has split the Greenpoint community for decades needs to serve the people of Greenpoint better by being designed for locals, not motorists using McGuinness as a shortcut.”

“Enough is enough. Dozens of our neighbors have been killed and untold numbers injured because of a choice made by this city to have a highway running through our neighborhood. McGuinness Boulevard has cut Greenpoint in half for 70 years,” said Kevin LaCherra, Coordinator for North Brooklyn Mutual Aid. “DOT must act now to institute a road diet and reverse this injustice. We can not bring our neighbors back, but we can protect our community today and build a road that is an investment in North Brooklyn’s climate future.”

"Since Robert Moses forced this highway through Greenpoint, against community will, in the middle of last century, residents of North Brooklyn have suffered greatly, a result of dangerous traffic conditions and local pollution. We now have city funding and a clear vision for a safer, cleaner, human centric roadway,” said Lisa Bloodgood, Interim Director of North Brooklyn Neighbors. “We are calling on the Department of Transportation to implement a robust road diet with reduced space for private vehicles, full of greenery, and safe space for pedestrians and cyclists. We are squarely in the 21st Century and McGuinness Boulevard still cuts through the heart of our beloved Greenpoint community; the time to fix it is now."

“No one should have to fear crossing a street to get to school, yet that’s exactly the situation with the hundreds of students who attend P.S. 110 and P.S. 34. The comprehensive redesign of McGuinness Boulevard, including providing more space for cyclists and pedestrians, can not come soon enough to keep our community safe. We are counting on the DOT to propose meaningful and comprehensive changes, including removing travel lanes, on McGuinness, and soon,” said Shannon Roop, PTA President at P.S. 110.

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‘A Car-Free Broadway Would Have Prevented This Crash’: Statement from Transportation Alternatives After Taxi Crash Injures Bike Rider, Numerous Pedestrians on Broadway

‘A Car-Free Broadway Would Have Prevented This Crash’

Statement from Transportation Alternatives After Taxi Crash Injures Bike Rider, Numerous Pedestrians on Broadway

Traffic violence continues citywide with crashes killing 45 pedestrians so far this year. 

In Manhattan, crashes have killed six pedestrians, up 50 percent over 2018, the safest year of the Vision Zero era

MANHATTAN, NY — Yesterday, a taxi driver of an SUV struck a cyclist on Broadway and 29th Street before accelerating into multiple tourists eating bagels. Today, the four victims on the street and the person riding a bike are recovering from gruesome, life-altering injuries. 

Statement from Executive Director Danny Harris

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of yesterday’s horrific car crash on Broadway. Visiting New York City, going to lunch or biking across town should not lead to gruesome, permanent injury.”

“This was no accident. This crash was entirely preventable. This crash occurred adjacent to a part of Broadway where the bike lane is only marked by paint. The taxi driven in this crash had amassed eight speed safety camera violations and two red light violations since November 2019. This block was also an Open Street last year, when the threat of gruesome car crashes was eliminated entirely.”

“Whether it’s building truly protected bike lanes, cracking down on reckless drivers, or building car-free streets, New York City has the tools to keep our streets safe. But when elected leaders hold back these tools or lack the political will to get these done, the consequences on our streets are horrific.”    

“A car-free Broadway would have prevented this heinous crash.” 

“We know that prioritizing people over cars on our streets is good for our climate, economy, and safety. This can become a reality by taking concrete steps to implement NYC 25x25. We just need political courage to make it happen.” 

“We are also extremely alarmed by numerous reports that have victim-blamed the bike rider for causing this crash. A cyclist did not hit and severely injure pedestrians. This heinous incident was caused by a driver, and made worse by an unsafe street without a concrete-protected bike lane. This bike rider, along with four pedestrians, now face life-altering injuries because the driver of a multi-ton vehicle barreled into them. These reports retraumatize victims and distract from the root cause of traffic violence on our streets.”

“Our streets are in crisis. We are demanding aggressive efforts to make New York City streets safe. Don’t waste time and resources with more studies. Use the proven tools that work now.”

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NYS Safe Streets Coalition Statement After NYS Legislature Advances Two Key Measures in Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act

Senate passage of complete streets funding bill follows unanimous passage in Assembly

Assembly passes bill allowing 25 mph speed limits outside of New York City unanimously

ALBANY, NY — Safe streets advocates celebrated today following the NYS Senate’s passage of S3897, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kennedy, which increases state funding when municipalities implement complete streets features — these include elements such as bike lanes, pedestrian space, and traffic calming measures — and the NYS Assembly’s passage of A01007, which allows municipalities outside of New York City to lower speed limits on streets to 25 mph. 

On May 23, the New York State Assembly unanimously passed A8936, the Assembly version of the complete streets funding bill in a strong show of support for combatting rising traffic crashes across the state. This measure will now go to Governor Hochul’s desk.

Statement from Justin Booth, Executive Director of GObike Buffalo:

“Today’s vote by the New York State Senate is a huge victory for complete streets across New York State. By passing the complete streets funding bill from the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, municipalities across the state can access more funding to build safe, healthy streets. We urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law without delay and for the New York State Legislature to advance and pass the full package before the session ends this week.”

Statement from Margaret Johnson, Director of Bike Walk Tompkins:

“With the Assembly’s passage of A01007, we’re one step closer to empowering communities across New York State to lower their speed limits to 25 mph. With bike and pedestrian crashes on the rise across the state, lower speed limits will save lives. When New York City was given permission by Albany in 2014 to lower the speed limit to 25 mph, pedestrian fatalities fell by more than 25 percent in the first year of the change. Now, it's Upstate's turn. We urge the NYS Senate to advance and pass this bill, and the entire legislature to pass the full Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, before the session ends this week.”