Mamdani proposal would lower speed limit in New York City to cut pedestrian deaths

New York City's speed limit would be lowered to 20 mph in certain neighborhoods, and more areas designated pedestrian-only zones, under a street safety plan unveiled Tuesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Currently, the default speed limit is 25 mph and is lower only in limited areas, such as near schools. Mamdani wants to expand the slower speed limit in more places, he announced at a news conference in Queens.

"Only action can ensure that no more of our neighbors are taken from us," Mamdani, flanked by loved ones of those who have died in traffic crashes, said at an announcement of his Vision Zero Reimagined plan, which aims to cut traffic injuries and deaths. The plan is a successor to Vision Zero, unveiled in 2014 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio in a bid to decrease traffic deaths. Mamdani's plan also would tweak e-bike rules, discourage oversized automobiles, redesign streets and remove illegal e-bikes from the street.

Mamdani did not say which neighborhoods are being eyed for the lower speed limits or the pedestrian-only zones.

Earlier this year, Mamdani announced plans to expand the 15 mph speed limit currently in place near some schools to hundreds more, with school locations citywide getting the lower limit by 2029.

Crashes at slower speeds are less dangerous and less deadly. Even factoring in drivers who exceed the speed limit, lower speed limits reduce the overall average speed, according to a 2016 research meta analysis published in the Transportation Research Record, a publication of the Transportation Research Board. With each 5 mph speed reduction, average speeds typically go down about 1 to 2 mph, but "even 1 to 2 mph reductions in average speed are estimated to yield substantial fatal and injury crash reductions," according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research synthesis.

The plan would also target chronic traffic scofflaws, including those who run red lights, speed repeatedly and are most likely to cause crashes. A number of parking spots could be cut by "daylighting" more intersections, to eliminate blind spots caused by vehicles parked on the corner, a law implemented elsewhere in the state, including on Long Island, so drivers can see pedestrians more clearly. 

Newsday reported in April that under Mamdani — an avowed cyclist, bus rider and subway passenger who still rides a Citi Bike — the city's war on cars has kicked into high gear, with slower speed limits, fewer parking spots, fewer driving traffic lanes and more lanes reserved for buses. 

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.