Eight Dead, Thirty-Nine Broken: How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

SUV backed up on Lexington. Elderly woman stepped from behind parked car. Impact. Head wounds. Blood on the street. Passenger distraction listed. System failed her.

An SUV struck an 81-year-old woman on Lexington Avenue as she emerged from behind a parked vehicle. According to the police report, the SUV was backing south when the collision occurred. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations. Police list 'Passenger Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and wore a seatbelt. No injuries were reported for the driver or passenger. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, especially near vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

A pickup hit a 61-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The truck showed no damage. Police list all factors as unspecified.

A 61-year-old woman was struck by a pickup truck while crossing Lexington Avenue at East 37th Street. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. She sustained a head injury and severe bleeding, and was described as semiconscious at the scene. The pickup, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage. Police listed all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the report. No mention of helmet or signal use was made for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813611 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

Seven lawmakers demand Mayor Adams open the Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The project sits finished. Cyclists and walkers still cram into a narrow, crash-prone lane. Delays keep thousands at risk. City Hall stalls. Advocates plan protest. Danger lingers.

On April 9, 2025, seven elected officials—including Council Members Julie Won and Julie Menin—sent a public letter demanding Mayor Adams open the long-promised Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The Department of Transportation had planned to open the dedicated walkway on March 16, but the mayor's office intervened, citing the need for a briefing. The lawmakers wrote, 'The reasons given for this delay are not satisfactory, as all communications from the DOT have indicated that the project is complete and ready to open to the public.' They warned, 'Any further delays to this project that is otherwise ready to open will unnecessarily put at risk the thousands of New Yorkers who cycle and walk the current shared path every day.' The project, in the works since at least 2017, remains stalled. Cyclists and pedestrians are forced to share a cramped, hazardous lane. City Hall insists on more review, while advocates plan a protest ribbon-cutting.

• Pols Demand Adams Open Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-09

Dozens gathered in Midtown. They demanded e-bike registration and license plates. Priscilla’s Law, named for a pedestrian killed by an e-bike, drove the call. Council Member Holden and Assembly Member Rajkumar led. Advocates want accountability. They say e-bike chaos endangers walkers and cyclists.

On March 12, 2025, Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30) joined Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and advocates in Midtown to rally for Priscilla’s Law (A339). The bill would require all e-bikes to have license plates and be registered with the DMV or DOT. The rally, held near Governor Hochul’s office, drew support from the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance. The matter title: 'New Yorkers rally in Midtown to combat “lawless” e-bike riding in NYC.' Holden supports both city and state versions, stating, 'We need the state DMV to issue license plates for e-bikes.' Rajkumar declared, 'We will usher in a new era free of e-bikes blasting through red lights.' The bill is named for Priscilla Loke, killed by an e-bike in 2023. Advocates say e-bike collisions often end in hit-and-runs. They demand rules and consequences to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• New Yorkers rally in Midtown to combat “lawless” e-bike riding in NYC, amny.com, Published 2025-03-12

A 67-year-old man pedaled west on W 51st. The door of a parked SUV swung open. His bike crashed. His head struck hard. Blood pooled. The SUV stood untouched. The man died on the street, another life ended by steel and carelessness.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old man riding a bike westbound on W 51st Street at 5th Avenue collided with the door of a parked SUV. The narrative states, 'A 67-year-old man on a bike hit the door of a parked SUV. No helmet. His head struck hard. He flew, then fell. Blood spread. The SUV was untouched. He died.' The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, marking them as 'Unspecified.' The SUV was parked, and the cyclist was ejected upon impact, suffering fatal head injuries. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but does not cite this as a contributing factor to the crash. The focus remains on the lethal interaction between vulnerable road users and parked vehicles in Manhattan’s dense streetscape.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796322 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A southbound bus slammed into a 39-year-old man near East 51st Street. The right front bumper hit with force. The man, not in the roadway, died at the scene. Steel and speed left no chance. The city’s danger is relentless.

A 39-year-old man was killed when a southbound bus struck him near Fifth Avenue and East 51st Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 21:34. The report states, 'A southbound bus struck a 39-year-old man who was not in the roadway. The right front bumper hit him. He died at the scene. His body bore the full weight of steel and speed.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The bus was traveling straight ahead when its right front bumper made contact with the pedestrian. The victim was not in the roadway at the time of impact. No driver errors are specified in the report, but the lethal outcome underscores the ever-present risk posed by large vehicles in dense urban environments. Victim behavior is not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788709 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill faces fierce pushback. Advocates warn it targets immigrants and delivery workers. Business groups fear new costs. Supporters say it brings accountability. Streets remain deadly. Cars still kill most. Debate rages. No easy answers.

Intro. 606, known as Priscilla’s Law, was introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden of District 30. The bill, debated on December 12, 2024, sits before the City Council. It would require all e-mobility devices not covered by the state DMV to register with the city’s Department of Transportation. The bill’s summary states it aims to increase accountability for e-bike riders after fatal crashes. Holden, the sponsor, cited dangers from unregulated e-vehicles and hit-and-runs. Advocacy groups, including Los Deliveristas Unidos and Open Plans, argue the bill would unfairly criminalize immigrants and delivery workers, and increase police stops for people of color. The NYC Hospitality Alliance warns of new financial and administrative burdens for small businesses. Both sides agree cars cause far more deaths, but the bill’s critics say better street design, not registration, would protect vulnerable road users.

• Immigrant, hospitality advocacy groups push back on NYC e-bike licensing bill, amny.com, Published 2024-12-12

Steel collided near Grand Army Plaza. Two vehicles turned right, metal grinding metal. A 27-year-old man’s arm crushed, pinned in the wreck. The street stilled, echoing with the weight of driver error and broken machinery.

According to the police report, a lift boom and a Lucid sedan both attempted right turns on 5th Ave near Grand Army Plaza. The vehicles collided, with 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' cited as contributing factors. The crash left a 27-year-old male driver with severe crush injuries to his arm, pinned in his seat but conscious. The report details that both vehicles sustained significant damage to their quarter panels. No mention is made of any pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The police report highlights improper lane usage as a primary driver error, underscoring the systemic danger when large vehicles and sedans maneuver tightly in Manhattan’s traffic. The focus remains on the hazardous driver actions that led to this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist hit a 63-year-old woman crossing East 50th Street near Third Avenue. She fell, bleeding and unconscious, sprawled on the pavement. The bike rolled on, untouched. Night on the avenue, no intersection, no time to stop.

A 63-year-old woman was struck by a man riding a bike on East 50th Street near Third Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 9:30 p.m. The report states the woman was crossing against the signal and was not at an intersection when the collision happened. She suffered severe bleeding to the face and was found unconscious on the pavement. The police narrative describes the bike as continuing on, undamaged, after the impact. No intersection was involved, and the report notes 'no time to stop.' The police report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'crossing against signal,' but contributing factors for both the cyclist and pedestrian are marked as 'unspecified.' The focus remains on the moment of impact and the vulnerability of those on foot in the city’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel meets flesh at East 58th and 2nd. A Honda turns left, a man pedals straight. Metal crushes bone. Blood stains the street. The SUV idles, the bicycle folds, the city rushes on.

A 58-year-old man riding a bicycle was injured at the corner of East 58th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan when a Honda SUV, making a left turn, struck him. According to the police report, the SUV driver failed to yield the right-of-way, directly leading to the collision. The report details that the cyclist was traveling straight while the SUV turned left, resulting in a center front-end impact with the cyclist's lower leg. The cyclist suffered severe bleeding and a broken bone but remained conscious at the scene. The police narrative describes, 'Steel strikes leg. Bone breaks. Blood spills.' The only contributing factor cited is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the SUV driver. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the persistent danger faced by cyclists in intersections where driver errors remain deadly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lincoln taxi, its driver distracted, crashed into a slowing Ford SUV on East 34th Street. The SUV driver, 52, stayed conscious as his knees were crushed. The cab plowed forward. The street offered no mercy.

According to the police report, a Lincoln taxi traveling east on East 34th Street struck the center rear end of a Ford SUV that was slowing or stopping. The SUV driver, a 52-year-old man, was belted and remained conscious but suffered crush injuries to his knees and lower legs. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to pay attention to the road. The narrative states, 'A Lincoln taxi plowed into a slowing Ford SUV. The cabbie was distracted.' No contributing factors are attributed to the SUV driver. The impact left the Ford driver injured and the vehicles damaged at their respective front and rear ends. The collision underscores the consequences of driver distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford SUV, its driver unlicensed, struck an 81-year-old woman near the curb on East 59th Street. The right front bumper shattered her pelvis. She died on the pavement. The car bore no mark. The city’s danger remains unyielding.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling east on East 59th Street struck an 81-year-old woman near the curb with its right front bumper. The impact shattered her pelvis, causing fatal crush injuries. The report states the victim 'died on the pavement.' The SUV showed no damage. Critically, the police report notes the driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No license, no right to drive, yet the vehicle continued straight ahead, ending a life. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative centers the unlicensed driver as a key element. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The system allowed a driver with no license to operate a powerful vehicle, with deadly results.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel met bone on Lexington Avenue as a Hyundai sedan crashed into a turning TAIZH. The driver’s leg shattered. No airbags. No mercy. Rush hour traffic swallowed the screams and the long wait for help began.

A Hyundai sedan collided with a TAIZH vehicle at Lexington Avenue near East 86th Street, according to the police report. The crash occurred during rush hour, with both vehicles traveling south. The report states the Hyundai driver struck the turning TAIZH, resulting in the Hyundai driver suffering severe crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. According to the police report, the primary contributing factors were 'Following Too Closely' and 'Passing Too Closely.' The narrative describes the impact as 'steel on bone,' with the driver remaining conscious as he waited for aid. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. No vehicle damage was recorded, but the human toll was immediate and severe. The crash underscores the danger when drivers follow or pass too closely, especially amid heavy traffic and complex maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764982 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan plowed into a 16-year-old boy on his bike at East 84th and Fifth. Blood pooled on the street. The boy’s abdomen torn, his body in shock. The driver, distracted, did not see him. The driver did not stop.

A 16-year-old boy riding a bike was struck and severely injured by a sedan at East 84th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 1:31 p.m. The report states, 'A sedan struck a 16-year-old boy on a bike. No helmet. Abdomen torn. Blood pooled on the street. He lay in shock. The driver didn’t see him. Didn’t stop.' Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The boy suffered severe lacerations to his abdomen and pelvis and was in shock at the scene. The police report does note the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is listed only after the driver’s inattention. The sedan’s left front quarter panel was damaged. The driver’s failure to see and yield to the cyclist is the central cause, as documented by the police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

New state law forces moped and e-bike sellers to register vehicles, educate buyers, and ban unsafe batteries. Lawmakers say this closes loopholes, shifts blame from workers, and aims to cut rising crashes. Streets see more mopeds, more injuries, more tension.

On July 12, 2024, Governor Hochul signed a package of eight bills into law, including new moped and e-bike safety regulations. The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Alex Bores, requires retailers to register mopeds at the point of sale, provide safety information, and prohibit the sale of substandard lithium-ion batteries. The law also mandates crash reporting and new safety training for first responders. Hoylman-Sigal said, 'I've received more complaints about the hazards these mopeds cause than just about any other issue.' Bores added, 'By requiring the registration of mopeds at point of sale and the collection of e-bike collision data, we are making our streets safer and increasing accountability.' The law shifts accountability to retailers, aiming to improve street safety without penalizing delivery workers. Council Member Shekar Krishnan and State Senator Liz Kruger also voiced support, highlighting the dangers of unregistered mopeds and the need for better buyer education. The law responds to a sharp rise in moped-related injuries and community complaints across New York City.

• Moped and E-Bike Safety Legislation Becomes State Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-12

A Jeep rolled south on 2nd Avenue. A man on a bike hit the pavement, his leg torn, blood pooling. No helmet. The Jeep showed no damage. The cyclist’s pain marked the corner, another body broken by traffic’s force.

At the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 48th Street in Manhattan, a collision between a Jeep SUV and a cyclist left a 31-year-old man with severe lacerations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, according to the police report. The narrative states, 'A Jeep kept south. A man on a bike fell hard. Blood pooled near his torn leg. His foot split open. No helmet. No damage to the Jeep. Just pain on the pavement.' The report lists the cyclist as injured, suffering 'severe lacerations,' and notes that the SUV sustained no damage. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The police report does not specify any driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The only detail about the cyclist’s behavior is the absence of a helmet, which is mentioned in the narrative but not cited as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets amid heavy vehicle traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04