Comprehensive policy initiative targets traffic violence through daylighting and protected bike lanes
Multi-Pronged Legislative Approach to Public Safety
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez released a 14-page Manhattan Community Safety Plan on December 15, addressing multiple dimensions of public safety including street safety, behavioral health, housing access, and firearm policy. The document’s first section focuses specifically on traffic violence, calling for passage of several pending bills at both state and city levels. According to Streetsblog NYC, the plan represents a comprehensive approach to redefining public safety beyond traditional criminal justice measures. Gonzalez argues that city and state governments must understand traffic violence as a fundamental threat to public safety rather than treating it as separate from other safety concerns. Manhattan Community Board 6, which covers most of Gonzalez’s district, has experienced 614 reported crashes since January 2025, injuring 144 cyclists and 159 pedestrians. Car drivers killed at least four people in the district, including an actress from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel who had been walking in a crosswalk.
Key Legislative Proposals
The safety plan endorses four specific pieces of legislation currently pending in Albany and City Hall. Senate Bill S4045A, known as the Stop Super Speeder bill, would require installation of speed-limiting devices in vehicles of drivers who receive 16 or more speed camera tickets within 12 months. Senate Bill S5008A would establish a bicycle lane safety program using cameras to ticket drivers who park in protected bike lanes, addressing a persistent enforcement challenge. Senate Bill S445 would eliminate New York City’s exemption from the state law mandating daylighting at intersections, a measure that improves visibility by prohibiting parking near crosswalks. The city version, Intro 1138, will not pass this year due to opposition from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. According to Vision Zero Network, daylighting represents one of the most effective low-cost interventions for preventing pedestrian and cyclist injuries. Finally, City Council bill Intro 1431 would limit high-speed police chases for suspects of non-violent offenses, addressing concerns about collateral damage from pursuit driving.
Challenging City Administration’s Punitive Approach
The safety plan arrives amid a shift in the Adams administration’s street safety policies, which have increasingly focused on enforcement against cyclists rather than addressing driver behavior. Beginning in April 2025, Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch decided to issue criminal summonses to cyclists who break minor traffic rules instead of typical traffic tickets. This policy change occurred despite data showing e-bike crashes were declining before the NYPD crackdown. Gonzalez acknowledged hearing complaints about e-bikes at community board meetings, the same grievances that inspired Tisch to begin the city’s crackdown. However, the state senator emphasized that holistic measures like daylighting should take priority. According to the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, infrastructure improvements consistently prove more effective than enforcement alone in reducing traffic casualties. Research shows that universal daylighting results in decreased traffic violence and pedestrian deaths, making such measures more impactful than punitive enforcement focused on vulnerable road users.
Political Opposition to Safety Measures
The daylighting legislation faces significant political obstacles despite strong safety evidence. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has opposed the city version of the law, effectively blocking its passage during the current legislative session. Her opposition reflects broader resistance to street safety measures that reduce parking availability, even when those measures demonstrably save lives. Nearly 2,000 New Yorkers have been killed or seriously injured at intersections where daylighting could have improved visibility. State Senator Gonzalez expressed frustration that common-sense measures with proven track records face political opposition while the city pursues less effective enforcement strategies. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths have increased nationally in recent years, making evidence-based interventions increasingly urgent. Gonzalez stated that constituents should have a feeling of safety fostered by positive experiences walking down the street, extending to both criminal justice and traffic violence considerations. The comprehensive approach outlined in her plan reflects growing recognition among progressive lawmakers that public safety encompasses multiple domains requiring coordinated policy responses rather than singular focus on traditional law enforcement.
