Transportation Alternatives Statement After Cement Truck Driver Kills Woman Riding a Citi Bike in Astoria, Queens
This is the fourth bike rider fatality in four years in Astoria.
QUEENS, NY — On Thursday evening, the driver of a cement truck struck and killed 62-year-old Tamara Chuchi Kao at the intersection of 24th Avenue and 29th Street. She was riding a Citi Bike less than a mile from her home in Astoria.
There are no bike lanes on either street of the intersection where the crash happened. In this City Council district, only 1.44% of streets have a protected bike lane, according to Spatial Equity NYC.
This crash occurred between two promised protected bike lanes that the City has still failed to build. According to the NYC Streets Plan, Astoria Boulevard and Ditmars Boulevard were 2022 project locations for bike lanes. Yet, the administration did not complete these and also missed the 30-mile requirement for 2022.
In 2020, then-Council Member Costa Constantinides called on the City of New York to address dangerous conditions on the “piecemeal highway” of 24th Avenue following the death of a delivery worker.
To prevent future crashes like this, New York City’s leaders must commit to providing greater intersection visibility by daylighting every intersection, retiming traffic lights to the speed limit, passing Intro 417-2022 (which would allow DOT to expedite life-saving projects), and meeting the requirements of the NYC Streets Plan on time.
Statement from Council Member Shahana Hanif:
“This week, our City lost two of its own to senseless traffic violence. These are more than just tragedies; they are abject policy failures. Year after year, New York ranks as one of the most dangerous cities for cycling in the world, and that is in part because of our subpar cycling infrastructure. I look forward to working with DOT in the coming weeks to ensure we’re moving forward with more miles of protected bike lanes and prioritizing safety across the known dangerous corridors in my district. Cycling should not be a death sentence in our community, and I will work diligently to ensure street safety is more than a slogan but a reality in our City.”
Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:
“We are heartbroken to hear that the driver of a massive truck struck and killed 62-year-old Tamara Chuchi Kao as she rode a Citi Bike. All New Yorkers should be able to ride a bike on our streets without fear of death or injury.”
“In New York City, we have the tools to end traffic violence and stop more deaths. Now, we need the political will to make that a reality. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must scale proven street safety redesigns, including protected bike lanes, to every neighborhood across every borough without delay. With the NYC Streets Plan, the administration has the mandate, resources, and tools to get this stuff done. However, failing to meet these requirements will continue to have deadly consequences for New Yorkers. ”
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