Transportation Alternatives, Families for Safe Streets Statements After Pickup Truck Driver Kills Bike Rider in Brooklyn, Marking Deadliest Start to Year Under Vision Zero

This is the eighth cyclist fatality of 2024. There have been 33% more cyclist fatalities this year than the average year under Vision Zero. 

Throughout 2022 and 2023, there were 43 serious injuries along Fourth Avenue, including 10 bike riders, and four fatalities, including three pedestrians.

BROOKLYN, NY — On Wednesday morning, a pickup truck driver making a left turn struck and killed an e-bike rider riding southbound along Fourth Avenue and 53rd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. 

Fourth Avenue is a crucial corridor that connects southern Brooklyn to Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan, but it’s also proven to be dangerous. Since 2022, there have been 31 serious injuries along Fourth Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to 64th Street – including 12 serious cyclist injuries. 

In response to these issues, TA’s Brooklyn Activist Committee and Bike New York launched the Fix Fourth Avenue campaign in May 2023. The campaign calls for improvements along the street, as well as a cleared and extended protected bike lane, and fully accessible pedestrian islands. Together with Bay Ridge Environmental Group and Bike South Brooklyn, TA has called for the City to Finish Fourth Avenue by extending the protected bike lane and street safety improvements to Bay Ridge. 

On June 30, 2023, the Fix Fourth Avenue coalition sent a letter asking DOT to reinstate the Fourth Avenue protected bike lane during the avenue’s reconstruction, as required by law. It was co-signed by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, several city council members, and many local groups. Fix Fourth Avenue did not receive any response from DOT, and blocks of the bike lane are still missing.

Statement from Elizabeth Adams, Deputy Executive Director for Public Affairs at Transportation Alternatives:

“We are devastated to hear that a bike rider was killed in preventable traffic violence. We send our deepest condolences to their loved ones.”

“No one should fear death or injury just for riding a bike in New York City. We know how to prevent crashes from happening and yet a lack of political will to implement proven solutions is putting New Yorkers in danger.”

“Mayor Adams must immediately finish Fourth Avenue by completing long-promised safety upgrades that slow down drivers and increase visibility at intersections along the entire corridor. We can’t afford to wait. We need action now.”

Statement from Deb Harden, member of Families for Safe Streets:

“I am so outraged and saddened for this cyclist's family and friends. I was also hit in a crash on my bike by a school bus driver turning right at a dangerous intersection and fortunately survived my injury.”

“Crashes like these are a continuing failure of our mayor to provide safety at dangerous intersections like protected daylighting and leading ‘walk’ signal intervals for pedestrians and cyclists to avoid turning drivers. This is one of the biggest dangers on our city’s streets, including on Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn which has a somewhat protected bike lane that needs intersection safety improvements now.”

“Mayor Adams can and must prevent crashes from happening. We need to see a real commitment from this administration to deliver a safe Fourth Avenue.”