As Schools Open and Deadly Crashes Increase, Queens Coalition Calls for Major Safety Improvements on Northern Boulevard
Delivery Workers and Pedestrians Demand Better Infrastructure
Queens Borough President Offers Funding Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
As delivery workers and e-bike riders are involved in more fatal collisions and the City is rethinking bus infrastructure and regulations for e-bikes and mopeds, a coalition of local and city-wide advocacy organizations, neighbors and elected officials are calling on the New York City Department of Transportation to redesign Northern Boulevard along the Jackson Heights corridor to include a dedicated micro-mobility lane for delivery workers, also known as Deliveristas.
The proposal would create a safer, more efficient corridor for the thousands of delivery workers who rely on Northern Boulevard each day, while reducing conflicts with pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. In addition, the coalition is advocating for supportive infrastructure such as charging stations, rest areas tailored to the needs of delivery workers, and dedicated parking or loading zones for deliveries, on Northern as well as on North/South running cross streets.
Northern Boulevard is one of five corridors being built as "next-generation rapid bus routes" under Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul’s "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service" initiative unveiled on July 8, 2026, alongside four other corridors: Flatbush Avenue, Utica Avenue, the Tremont/Cross Bronx corridor, and the Kensington-to-JFK corridor.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced at the news conference that he would be dedicating capital funding to the redesign of Northern, adding "I’m proud to join in this call for safer, more sensible streets for all who use them — specifically, a safer Northern Boulevard, which we have seen become the new Boulevard of Death in recent years. Every single person who navigates this street deserves to not just feel safe, but be safe as they go about their day. That’s especially true for our deliveristas, who use this corridor every day to bring us the food or goods we want. That’s why we’re calling on the Department of Transportation to redesign Northern Boulevard to better serve this community, with a big piece of that redesign as a dedicated micro-mobility lane for our deliveristas," said Richards.
“Deliveristas deserve infrastructure that recognizes their contributions and keeps them safe on the job,” said Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project, which co-organized the event, “This is about dignity, safety, and common-sense street design.”
“Delivery workers are essential to the daily life and economy of Jackson Heights and neighborhoods across New York City,” said Dawn Siff of Alliance for Paseo Park, which spearheaded the coalition. “Our streets should reflect that reality. A dedicated micro-mobility lane on Northern Boulevard is a practical, forward-looking solution, running through the heart of Queens, improving safety for everyone. Providing Deliveristas with a dedicated lane will also protect neighboring spaces, such as Paseo Park / 34th Avenue where 7,000 school children, including my own, commute daily to school.”
The news conference included community members sharing their personal experiences.
Molly Lister Weissman, a Jackson Heights parent said, "My three-year-old son was hit by a moped in Paseo Park. It could have been any child here. Every parent I talk to worries about this, and we all know why: the current setup leaves riders and kids competing for the same space. A dedicated lane on Northern Boulevard is a chance to finally give everyone a safe place to be.”
Dudley Stewart, co-owner of the Queensboro restaurant on Northern Boulevard referenced the December 2024 crash in which a car injured two pedestrians and nearly crashed into the front of his restaurant. “This initiative will make it a lot safer for delivery workers to do their job. I fully support it and hope that it becomes a reality very quickly,” Stewart said.
Council Member Shekar Krishnan said, “We’re New Yorkers: we’re used to cramped subway cars at rush hour and small apartments— but we can’t compromise when it comes to having enough space on our streets to travel safely. I’m proud to join a strong coalition of local partners to call on the DOT to prioritize building a safer Northern Boulevard, including a dedicated micro-mobility lane. As Paseo Park becomes a gold standard of open streets— we must do everything we can to keep surrounding streets safe for the thousands of kids, deliveristas, and bikers that travel along them every day.”
“As back-to-school season ramps up and our streets get busier, we need to ensure that every New Yorker—whether that’s pedestrians or e-bike riders—has the ability to move safely around the city,” said Speaker Julie Menin. "Adding a micromobility lane along Northern Boulevard is a perfect example of how we can design smarter, safer streets with all modes of transport in mind. Thank you to Council Member Krishnan, the Alliance for Paseo Park, and Los Deliveristas Unidos for their leadership on this initiative, and I'm proud to join them in calling on the Department of Transportation to invest in safer streets."
“Safety must always be a top priority in our communities and that includes upgrading our local infrastructure for crucial roads like Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights,” said U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens). “Establishing a dedicated lane for deliveristas along this busy and dangerous corridor would help keep these dedicated workers out of harm’s way when making deliveries in the area. I’m pleased to join those calling for this dedicated micro-mobility lane, which would improve safety not just for deliveristas, but all who use our streets.”
“Deliveristas are an essential part of our communities and our local economy, yet too often they are forced to navigate streets that were not designed with their safety in mind. Northern Boulevard is an important opportunity to create safer, more efficient infrastructure that works for delivery workers, pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and local businesses alike. I have long called for making Northern Boulevard a safer corridor, and to ensure that we create dedicated lanes for different modes of travel. We should be investing in dedicated space and critical safety infrastructure that allows deliveristas to do their jobs safely and ensures that everyone who uses Northern Boulevard can get where they need to go safely,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.
"As an immigrant, I know the weight of unseen labor that keeps our City running — and our deliveristas carry that weight every day as they bring food to our community and work to put food on their own tables. They deserve safe passage, not danger. The DOT has made real strides toward safer streets, and dedicated infrastructure for delivery workers here on Northern Boulevard, in our immigrant-rich community could show the rest of New York City what's possible, building streets for the future," said Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.
"For too long Northern Boulevard has been known as the Boulevard of Death. I join my neighbors, elected officials, and Los Deliveristas in saying that it is past time that we change that. Because no matter whether you are a pedestrian, driver, or cyclist everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets and we have the design expertise and evidence-backed ideas to make that more of a reality today. We also have a street safety advocate and cyclist in our Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who we will work with to ensure that a micromobility lane comes to Northern Blvd. Our deliveristas deserve safety and dignity and with these solutions we can deliver that for all of us," said Brian Romero, Democratic Nominee for Assembly District 34.
“Delivery workers are part of the heartbeat of our neighborhoods and the small businesses that keep Queens moving,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry. We have a responsibility to listen to the workers who know these streets firsthand and make sure our infrastructure reflects what they need to get home safely. I’m proud to stand with our neighbors and colleagues in calling for a safer Northern Boulevard because good government should meet people where they are,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry.
"The redesign and safety improvements on Northern Boulevard would not only provide safety to delivery workers but also enhance neighborhood safety for both pedestrians and cyclists. Our seniors using Love Wins programs to access fresh produce need to cross these streets safely. Our children walking to school deserve sidewalks where they aren't dodging bikes and vehicles. When we create dedicated, protected spaces for micro-mobility, we create safer streets for everyone, especially older adults and young people navigating our neighborhood,” said Daniel Puerto, Love Wins NYC, Founder and Executive Director
“34th Avenue has shown what’s possible when we put people first, creating a safer, more vibrant, and more livable public space for the Jackson Heights community. We need to bring that same approach to Northern Boulevard and ensure it is safe for the essential workers who rely on this corridor every day,” said Emily Chingay, Advocacy & Engagement Associate at Open Plans. “Deliveristas are a key part of how our city functions and they deserve better than the status quo. New York needs to protect these essential workers and all people biking by upgrading Northern Boulevard with enhanced cycling and mobility infrastructure. This corridor can be a model for creating a safe corridor for all road users, reducing crashes while facilitating a more seamless, efficient bike network and a more livable and vibrant community for all.”
“Queens residents deserve a protected bike lane on Northern Boulevard to reduce crashes and keep everyone on the street safe. This corridor is both one of the deadliest in the borough and heavily used by deliveristas, and it needs the infrastructure to match, so that essential workers can do their jobs safely and smoothly, with space to rest, recharge, and load/unload,” said Mae Francke, Queens Organizer for Transportation Alternatives.
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About Alliance for Paseo Park
Alliance for Paseo Park is a community-based nonprofit formed by Jackson Heights volunteers to advocate for Paseo Park as a permanent, green, pedestrian-first linear park.
About Workers Justice Project
Workers Justice Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving working conditions for low-wage workers in New York City, including delivery workers.
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