Woman Injured by Hit and Run Driver

I received this email and disturbing photo from a reader today about a pedestrian hit at the intersection of 71st Continental Ave. and Austin Street on Friday evening:

Attention Edge Of the City: 

It may interest you to know that on Friday 4/22 around 6:30pm a woman was struck by a car on Austin St. (See attached photo Hit and run) As a routine commuter using the LIRR on weekdays this intersection is crazy. People running red lights all the time, road rage, K turns etc with people piling out of the E and F trains and LIRR, school kids and shoppers many of whom step off the side walk and into the road to cross or to pass slow moving people. The volume of pedestrians and motorists are clearly in the thousands. Queens is the most deadly borough leading the way with traffic related deaths and head injuries. Why there isn't a traffic cop at this intersection is beyond comprehension. My question to Melinda Katz is this...How many people have to get hit by a car in order to put a cop on duty at this intersection? 

Sincerely yours,

Infuriated Dad

A Busy Easter for Queens Boulevard

As one reader described it, a "horrendous" accident, smack dab in the middle of the busiest intersection in our neighborhood—71st Ave. and Queens Blvd.—early Easter Sunday morning; and then there was the motorcycle gang that swarmed the Boulevard later that day (it was so loud, even I heard it and I'm quite a distance away). Thanks to Amy for sending in the (narrated) video below:

As far as the accident is concerned, by the time Matthew, who reported it to the Blog, came upon the scene, this is what he saw: "Just traffic police left blocking everything off. And two severely damaged vehicles. Car and SUV. On the car whole driver side is gone. I would imagine very serious injuries. Couldn't get any photos and traffic police were quite busy so couldn't get any more info. Position of the cars doesn't lead to any obvious indications of what happened."

Nice way to start off your Easter Sunday, eh? Tragic and so sad that after all these years our public officials are still unable to improve the safety of what I view as the only remaining Big Negative about living in Forest Hills.

But wait! There is some hope after all, as this AM New York story explains: 

Queens Boulevard, the 'Boulevard of Death,' to make room for bicycles, pedestrians

Transportation officials want the "Boulevard of Death" to finally shed its ghastly name.
A protected bicycle lane and more pedestrian space will be added to a 1.3-mile stretch of Queens Boulevard in August as part of a three-year effort to overhaul street life on the highly trafficked corridor.

Better Be Extra Careful at those Intersections...

... and I don't mean pedestrians. I'm talking about drivers, and the countless near misses I've had with them every time I try to cross Queens Blvd.

Well, the times, they are a changin':

Hitting a pedestrian or a cyclist who has the right of way is grounds for a misdemeanor charge.

 Council Passes Bills Aiding de Blasio’s Quest to End Traffic Deaths

Families for Safe Streets Announces Push to End Traffic Violence

New Group Organizes to Ensure City’s Vision Zero Goals Implemented Rapidly

Given that we Forest Hillers have to somehow coexist with Queens Blvd. in our midst, this group's formation was a long time in coming—and completely inevitable. Public officials have seemed barely concerned for years with the safety of pedestrians trying to cross Queens Blvd. In fact, it seems like there is even less time to cross Queens Blvd. today than there was several years ago—about 45 seconds, which is just insane.

Also, hasn't it been fun trying to traverse Queens Blvd. with those mountains of snow blocking the pedestrian crosswalks? How is a senior citizen or someone with a disability supposed to climb those mountains of ice? You'd think someone would be assigned to shoveling out those crosswalk paths, making it safe for pedestrians to cross this 12-lane stretch of road which cuts through our neighborhood. This is a blaring example of how cars are given the priority over the safety of pedestrians in this City and it has to stop.

Anyway, here's the statement of the new Families for Safe Streets Group:

"As families whose loved ones have been killed or maimed by reckless driving and dangerous conditions on New York City's streets, we demand an end to traffic fatalities and serious injuries. We are parents, children, partners and siblings who represent the full breadth of New York's diversity. We envision a city where pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers safely co-exist, and children and adults can travel freely without risk of harm – a city where no loss of life is acceptable. In early 2014, we came together to turn our grief into action, so that no one else will have to endure our pain. We have formed a group that will serve as a force for change, to make sure the Interagency Vision Zero Working Group’s Action Plan is implemented rapidly. We will be testifying at the City Council Transportation Committee’s oversight hearing on Vision Zero on Monday the 24th."

Neighborhood Groups Hold Candlelight Vigil for Pedestrian Safety

A Year After Ella Bandes’ Death, a Tribute to New Yorkers Killed in Crashes

On Sunday January 26th, neighborhood street safety groups will mark the one-year anniversary since 23-year-old Ella Bandes was killed by an MTA bus. The vigil will pay tribute to the approximately 286 New Yorkers killed in traffic crashes in 2013 and the 17 already been killed in 2014. Participants will express their support for Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero agenda to eliminate road fatalities and serious injuries with safer street design and better traffic enforcement.

WHAT: Candlelight Vigil for Pedestrian Safety.

WHEN: Sunday January 26, 2014 at 4:30 PM

WHERE: At the intersection of Wycoff, Palmetto and Myrtle Avenues (outside the Myrtle-Wyckoff subway station on the L line)

WHO: Family and friends of New Yorkers killed in traffic crashes. Make Brooklyn Safer, Make Queens Safer, Right of Way, Transportation Alternatives, Bay Ridge Advocates Keeping Everyone Safe (BRAKES), Clinton Hell’s Kitchen Coalition for Pedestrian Safety (CHEKPEDS), Park Slope Street Safety Partnership, Park Slope Parents, Brooklyn Heights Association, International Buddhist Progressive Society (IBPS) and Congresswoman Grace Meng.