Blood on the Crosswalk: Demand 20 MPH, Not More Excuses

A garbage truck backed down Cornelia Street. Its right rear bumper struck a man. The truck’s wheels crushed his skull. He died alone in the street before dawn. The driver’s unsafe backing left no chance for survival.

A 35-year-old man was killed on Cornelia Street in the early morning when a garbage truck, traveling south, backed unsafely and struck him with its right rear bumper. According to the police report, the truck’s wheels crushed the pedestrian’s skull, causing fatal injuries at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The victim was not at an intersection and was described as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a cause. The focus remains on the driver’s action: reversing a large refuse vehicle without adequate care, as documented by police. This crash underscores the lethal consequences when heavy vehicles back unsafely on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725065, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young woman pedaled straight down Washington Street. Her bike snapped at the front. Flesh tore. Blood pooled fast. She lay silent, stunned, the city indifferent. Metal failed. The street swallowed her pain.

A 27-year-old woman suffered severe lacerations to her leg when her bicycle broke at the front while riding straight on Washington Street near Canal, according to the police report. The report describes how her 'bike broke at the front,' causing her to sustain a deep leg wound and enter a state of shock, with 'blood pooled on the pavement.' The narrative notes she wore no helmet, but the police report does not list helmet use as a contributing factor. No other vehicles or driver errors are cited in the report. The data underscores the vulnerability of cyclists to equipment failure and the harsh consequences when infrastructure or machinery fails. The city moved on as she lay injured, her pain unnoticed by the passing world.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726950, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 19-year-old cyclist hurled forward on East 12th Street, blood streaming from his eye, after another bike struck him from behind. He lay conscious, bleeding on the darkened pavement. The crash left the street marked by violence and error.

According to the police report, two cyclists were traveling eastbound on East 12th Street near 2nd Avenue when one bike struck the other from behind. The report states the 19-year-old rider was ejected, landing hard on the asphalt, bleeding severely from his eye but remaining conscious. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor in the collision. The rear cyclist's failure to maintain a safe distance led directly to the violent impact, sending the victim forward onto the street. The report describes the point of impact as the right rear bumper of the lead bike and the left front quarter panel of the trailing bike. No information is provided about helmet use or other victim behaviors. The crash highlights the persistent danger when riders are not given adequate space, even on city streets dominated by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721227, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly bill A 9462 would hike fines for drivers caught speeding by cameras more than once. The bill targets repeat offenders in New York City. Lawmakers say it will hit reckless drivers in the wallet. No safety analysis yet.

Assembly bill A 9462 was introduced on March 15, 2024, and is now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, sponsored by Deborah Glick (District 66) and co-sponsored by Tony Simone (District 75), aims to 'impose increasing fines for subsequent speed camera violations in the city of New York.' The legislation has not yet moved to committee or a vote. Glick and Simone back the measure to penalize repeat speeders. There is no formal safety analyst note or impact assessment yet. The bill’s intent is clear: punish drivers who ignore speed cameras, and try to slow them down. Vulnerable road users wait to see if it will make streets safer.

• File A 9462, Open States, Published 2024-03-15

Council members push Albany to require scramble crosswalks at school zones. They cite deadly crashes and lost crossing guards. The resolution aims to cut conflict between cars and kids at arrival and dismissal. The bill sits in committee. Action is pending.

Resolution 0060-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor, District 39) and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (co-sponsor, District 31). The measure urges the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5001-A/S.2515-B, which would mandate scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The resolution states: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of student arrival and dismissal.' The council cites a surge in crashes near schools and the loss of 486 crossing guards. The bill highlights that intersections are the site of most pedestrian deaths and injuries. The sponsors call for action to protect children where cars and kids meet.

• File Res 0060-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

At a Manhattan forum, MTA officials defended congestion pricing. Council Member Marte and Assembly Member Glick pressed for answers. Residents doubted government motives. The toll’s impact on traffic, revenue, and safety hung in the air. No easy answers. Streets stay dangerous.

On February 20, 2024, a public forum at Borough of Manhattan Community College brought congestion pricing to the front lines. The event, covered by Charles Komanoff, featured MTA specialists Julia Kite-Laidlaw and Daniel Randell, with State Senator Brian Kavanagh moderating. Council Member Christopher Marte questioned the zone’s boundaries. Assembly Member Deborah Glick demanded action on toll theft. The MTA repeated the need for revenue and warned that exemptions would push more traffic into environmental-justice neighborhoods. The forum’s matter title: 'What Was Left Unsaid to Congestion Pricing Opponents.' The debate exposed deep mistrust and skepticism about government promises. No direct safety analysis was provided, but the stakes for vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders—remain high as congestion pricing inches forward.

• Komanoff: What Was Left Unsaid to Congestion Pricing Opponents, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-20

A sedan reversed on Avenue of the Americas. Steel struck a man’s head as he crossed with the signal. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. He stood, dazed, upright. The car’s rear bore the mark. The city’s danger was plain.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Avenue of the Americas at Spring Street backed unsafely and struck a 35-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. The report states the pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious and upright after the impact. The narrative describes the car’s rear end bearing the mark of the collision, with blood pooling on the crosswalk. The police report explicitly lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was located at the intersection and was crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The focus remains on the driver’s unsafe backing and inattention, which led to the pedestrian’s injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694173, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Land Rover crashed into a parked taxi on Bleecker Street near Sixth Avenue. The SUV driver, age 40, died at the scene. The night was cold and silent. Police cited distraction as the cause. The street stood still after impact.

A Land Rover SUV struck the rear of a parked taxi on Bleecker Street near Avenue of the Americas. The driver of the SUV, a 40-year-old man, died behind the wheel. According to the police report, 'A Land Rover slammed into the back of a parked taxi. The driver, 40, died behind the wheel. The street was still. The cause: distraction.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the taxi occupant. The crash left the street quiet, marked by the consequences of a moment’s distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Chevy sedan turned left at West 10th and Greenwich. The driver hit a 76-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She bled on the pavement. Semiconscious, then still. The car’s front end took the impact. She died at the scene.

A 76-year-old woman was killed at the corner of West 10th Street and Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a Chevy sedan made a left turn and struck the pedestrian head-on as she crossed with the signal. The report states, 'The light was with her. She was 76. She crossed with the signal. The car struck her head-on.' The driver’s action is listed as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The impact was to the center front end of the vehicle. The woman suffered severe head injuries and was semiconscious before succumbing to her wounds. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667744, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council calls for scramble crosswalks at school zones. The move aims to cut deadly conflict between cars and kids. Filed at session’s end, the resolution targets peak arrival and dismissal. Sponsors push Albany to act. Streets remain risky.

Resolution 0792-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 28, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urges the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B, which would require scramble crosswalks at intersections near schools during student arrival and dismissal. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5001-A/S.2515-B, in relation to establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of student arrival and dismissal.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Lincoln Restler, and Kevin C. Riley sponsored the measure. The bill responds to persistent crashes near schools and the loss of hundreds of crossing guards. Scramble crosswalks, also called Barnes Dances, stop all traffic so pedestrians cross in every direction. The council’s action highlights the ongoing danger children face on city streets.

• File Res 0792-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-09-28

A 28-year-old man sat lifeless in a parked Ford truck on Sullivan Street. No crash. No screech. Just the stillness of death and the city’s noise rolling past. The seatbelt hung unused. Manhattan moved on.

A 28-year-old man was found dead inside a parked Ford truck near 81 Sullivan Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, there was no crash, no skid marks, and no sign of impact. The man, an occupant of the vehicle, was not wearing a seatbelt. The police narrative states: 'Sullivan Street near Spring—inside a parked Ford truck, a 28-year-old man sat still, seatbelt unused. No crash, no skid marks. Just the silence of death in the cab, and the hum of Manhattan carrying on around him.' No contributing driver errors or external factors were listed in the report. The incident involved only the parked vehicle, and no other persons were injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658535, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pickup truck struck parked cars on Washington Street. A 31-year-old man was thrown partway from an SUV. He died at the scene. Police cite driver distraction. The street was quiet. Metal twisted. The man did not move.

A pickup truck veered into parked vehicles near 712 Washington Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 31-year-old man was partially ejected from a parked SUV and died beside the vehicle's crushed front. The report states: 'Near 712 Washington Street, a pickup veered into parked cars. A 31-year-old man was thrown partway from the SUV. He died beside its crushed front. The cause: distraction.' The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other errors or factors are cited in the data. The man was not blamed in the report. The crash left the street still and silent, marked by the violence of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643763, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young man thrown from a bike at West 4th and Barrow. Hip torn open. Blood on the street. The driver wasn’t looking. The city stayed quiet.

A crash at the corner of West 4th Street and Barrow Street in Manhattan left a 27-year-old male cyclist, riding as a rear passenger, ejected and severely injured. According to the police report, 'A bike moving east. A sedan, parked. A young man thrown from the rear seat. No helmet. His hip torn open. Blood on the street. The driver wasn’t looking.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. No helmet was worn, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The sedan was parked at the time. The city stayed quiet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630651, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on a bike slammed into the back of an ambulance on West 14th. Blood spilled from his leg. The lane was tight. Metal cut flesh. He stayed awake. The crash left the cyclist wounded. The ambulance rolled on.

A 51-year-old man riding a bike struck the rear quarter of an eastbound ambulance on West 14th Street near Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'Blood poured from his leg. The lane was narrow. The metal did not yield. He stayed conscious.' The cyclist suffered a serious leg injury with severe bleeding. The crash involved improper passing or lane usage and passing too closely, as listed under contributing factors. The ambulance, a Ford truck, was traveling straight ahead. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but helmet use was not listed as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported among the ambulance occupants. The impact highlights the danger of narrow lanes and improper lane usage for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621000, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Lincoln sedan struck a 53-year-old man at Cooper Square and Saint Marks Place. The unlicensed driver hit him head-on. Head wounds. Internal bleeding. The man died in the street. Driver inattention and unsafe speed played a deadly role.

A 53-year-old pedestrian was killed at the corner of Cooper Square and Saint Marks Place in Manhattan. According to the police report, a Lincoln sedan driven by an unlicensed driver struck the man head-on, causing fatal head injuries and internal bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver was not licensed to operate the vehicle. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the data highlights driver errors as key factors in the crash. The man died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585088, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep turned right on West 12th. Its bumper hit a man crossing with the light. He fell. Bruised shoulder. The car stood untouched. Death’s shadow lingered until help arrived.

A 28-year-old man was struck by a Jeep SUV while crossing West 12th Street at 5th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the Jeep turned right and its bumper hit the pedestrian’s shoulder as he crossed with the signal. The man fell and suffered a bruise. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The Jeep sustained no damage. The driver, a 76-year-old man, was not injured. The police narrative notes, 'Death seemed to settle before help arrived.' The data does not list any driver errors or mention helmet or signal use as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4560786, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called on state DOT to take a lane from cars on the West Side Highway. He wants a two-way protected bike lane. The Greenway is packed. Delivery workers need space. Local boards and lawmakers back the move.

On August 1, 2022, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine demanded the state Department of Transportation repurpose a lane on the West Side Highway for a two-way protected bike lane. Levine wrote, 'The Hudson River Greenway is one of the most heavily used bike paths in the country... congestion has worsened significantly.' He sent his letter to state DOT Commissioner Therese Dominguez and city DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Local elected officials and Community Board 1, which voted 41-3 in May 2020 to support the change, also back the plan. State senators, assembly members, and council members signed a letter urging the same. Levine and supporters argue the new lane would ease crowding and give e-bike delivery workers—many of them immigrants—a safe, legal route. The state DOT has resisted, citing car congestion. Advocates say more space for cyclists is overdue.

• SEE IT! Manhattan BP to State: Take a Lane from Drivers on the West Side Highway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-01

A woman rode south on Lafayette. She lost control. She flew from her e-bike. Her head struck the street. Blood pooled. She lay unconscious. The bike stood untouched. The street bore the mark of impact.

A woman riding an e-bike south on Lafayette Street at Kenmare was thrown from her bike and suffered a severe head injury. According to the police report, she was unlicensed, helmetless, and lost consciousness after her head struck the pavement. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The e-bike itself was undamaged. The woman was the only person injured in the crash. Helmet use is mentioned only as a detail after the driver error. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4551975, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on an e-scooter struck a 60-year-old pedestrian mid-block on Hudson Street. The older man fell, his face bloodied. Both men injured. No crosswalk. The street froze as blood pooled on the pavement.

A collision occurred mid-block on Hudson Street when a man riding an e-scooter struck a 60-year-old pedestrian head-on. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered severe bleeding to the face and remained conscious but wounded. The e-scooter rider, age 33, also sustained minor facial injuries. The crash happened away from any crosswalk, with both parties injured and the street left still. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542066, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Governor Hochul signed the bill. Speed cameras in New York City now operate around the clock. No more nighttime gaps. Deborah Glick backed the measure. The law aims to slow cars, protect people, and keep streets safer for everyone.

On June 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill extending and expanding New York City's speed camera program. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick (District 66) and Senator Andrew Gounardes, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7 in up to 750 school zones. The bill was set to expire but now runs through July 1, 2025. The matter summary states: 'New York City is now able to operate its speed cameras 24 hours a day.' Glick, who sponsored the bill, dismissed criticism that cameras are a cash grab, saying, 'The city isn't in the car with you... If you don't want to get a ticket, don't speed.' Mayor Eric Adams called the cameras a deterrent, not a punishment. Advocates say the law will slow cars and protect pedestrians, especially children. The bill passed just before the legislative session ended, closing a deadly loophole in city enforcement.

• NYC speed cameras can now operate 24/7, gothamist.com, Published 2022-06-24