Simone Talks, Streets Bleed: Demand Action Before Another Body Hits the Asphalt

City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

A pickup truck struck a cyclist on West 57th Street. The cyclist, a 55-year-old man, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Unsafe lane changing played a role. The crash left the street marked by blood and confusion.

A crash at 165 West 57th Street in Manhattan involved a pickup truck and a bicycle. The cyclist, a 55-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' was a contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck, registered in New Jersey, was traveling west and going straight ahead, while the cyclist was making a U-turn. The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor, but the primary systemic danger cited is unsafe lane changing. No injuries were reported for the truck occupants. The crash underscores the risks vulnerable road users face when drivers fail to maintain safe lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816137, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A judge stopped federal threats to choke city funds over congestion pricing. The $9 toll stands. Streets stay crowded. The fight moves to court. Safety projects hang in the balance. The city waits. The deadline looms.

Patch reported on May 27, 2025, that District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding federal funding as leverage against New York City's congestion pricing program. The judge's order 'bars the DOT from engaging in any retaliatory measures' and prevents cancellation of the toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Federal officials had threatened to withhold funds for road and street safety projects if the city continued the program. The order lasts until June 9, keeping the toll in place and leaving critical infrastructure funding uncertain. The article highlights the standoff between federal authorities and city leaders, with safety and mobility projects at risk.

• Judge Halts Federal Attack On Tolls, Patch, Published 2025-05-27

A carriage horse broke free in Central Park. It tore down the loop, carriage in tow. Pedestrians leapt fences to escape. Cyclists shouted warnings. The horse ran half a mile before another driver caught it. No injuries. Fear lingered.

According to the New York Post (2025-05-19), a carriage horse ran loose through Central Park after its bridle came off and the driver was separated. Eyewitness Hayley said, "I was there with my friend walking on the sidewalk and almost got trampled by the poor horse. It was so terrifying." Parkgoers scrambled for safety, some jumping fences. Cyclists chased the horse, warning others. The horse was not tethered to a hitching post, as none was nearby. Christina Hansen, union rep for carriage horses, stated, "There were no injuries or property damage reported, and there's currently no indication the horse's driver was negligent." The incident highlights gaps in securing procedures and the absence of hitching posts, raising questions about safety for pedestrians and park users.

• Runaway Carriage Horse Sparks Park Panic, New York Post, Published 2025-05-19

A man on a bike hit a woman crossing West 45th Street. The cyclist moved too fast. The woman suffered a crushed leg. Shock followed. The street saw blood and pain. Speed turned routine movement into injury.

A crash occurred on West 45th Street in Manhattan. A 36-year-old man riding a bike struck a 33-year-old woman who was crossing the street. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling at an unsafe speed. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk when she was hit. She suffered crush injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813484, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi turned left near 206 Fifth Avenue and struck four men on foot. Blood pooled on the street. Bones broke. One man’s knee shattered. Alcohol and speed fueled the impact. The city’s night swallowed their cries.

According to the police report, a taxi making a left turn near 206 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan struck four male pedestrians late at night. One victim bled from the leg, another’s foot was crushed, and a 65-year-old man suffered a broken knee and shock. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The sedan involved was operated by an unlicensed driver. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to pedestrian behavior. The crash resulted in multiple serious injuries to people on foot, with driver impairment and unlicensed operation called out as key dangers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807203, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

A taxi sits parked on West 57th. An 87-year-old woman steps out. The driver, distracted, fails to see her. Metal strikes flesh. Her leg is torn open. Blood stains the street. She remains conscious as the city pulses on.

According to the police report, a taxi was parked near 153 West 57th Street in Manhattan when an 87-year-old woman began to exit a vehicle. The report states the taxi driver was distracted and inattentive at the time of the incident. As the woman stepped out, she was struck, resulting in severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg. The victim remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. There is no indication in the report that any actions by the pedestrian contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to pay attention, which led to a vulnerable road user suffering serious injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804863, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck struck a man in the street near West 40th. Steel met bone. He died alone before dawn. The truck rolled on, unscathed. The city’s dark streets claimed another life.

A 39-year-old man was killed when a box truck traveling south on 9th Avenue near West 40th Street struck him head-on, according to the police report. The incident occurred in the pre-dawn hours, with the report stating, 'A man stood in the street. A box truck came, head-on. His skull broke under steel. He died there, alone in the dark. The truck rolled on, untouched.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further details on the cause. The truck sustained no damage, and the driver continued on without stopping. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact and the unanswered questions surrounding the driver's actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803350, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist rode north through Heckscher Fields and struck a 57-year-old woman standing in his path. The bike hit her head, causing bleeding. She stayed down, conscious but still. The cyclist did not stop. The bike showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old man riding a bike northbound in Central Park's Heckscher Fields collided with a 57-year-old woman who was standing in his path. The report states, 'The bike struck her head. Blood ran. She stayed down, conscious but still.' The cyclist did not stop after the crash, and the bike showed no visible damage. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver-specific errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited. The cyclist was wearing a helmet and suffered a minor abrasion to his lower leg. The incident highlights confusion and error as systemic dangers in shared park spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802618, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans collided head-on at Broadway and West 60th. Metal tore. A 75-year-old man in the back seat bled from the head, wearing a lap belt. Both drivers were distracted, fueling a violent collision in Manhattan’s streets.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed head-on at Broadway and West 60th Street in Manhattan at 11:00 a.m. Both vehicles sustained severe front-end damage. The 75-year-old male passenger, seated in the right rear and wearing a lap belt, suffered a serious head injury with bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor for both drivers. One driver was making a left turn while the other was traveling straight. The narrative states: 'A 75-year-old man in the back seat bled from the head. He wore a lap belt. Both drivers were distracted.' No victim behavior contributed to the crash. This collision highlights the deadly consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801266, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Tony Simone cheered Hochul’s fight to keep congestion pricing alive. He praised her stand against demolishing neighborhoods for Penn Station. But he drew a line: the station’s future should not be a bargaining chip for safer, saner streets.

On March 18, 2025, Assemblyman Tony Simone (District 75) issued a statement on congestion pricing and Penn Station redevelopment. The matter, titled 'Hochul will defy Trump deadline to stop NYC congestion pricing — but insists president still backs her Penn Station revamp plan,' centers on Governor Hochul’s refusal to halt congestion pricing despite federal pressure. Simone, representing the Penn Station area, voiced support for both congestion pricing and a bold Penn Station overhaul, saying, 'It’s time to build a big bold Penn Station. I’m glad that she’s talking to the president about it.' He opposed linking the two projects, stating, 'I don’t think they should be connected.' Simone also welcomed Hochul’s resistance to Amtrak’s expansion plans that would raze neighborhoods. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this action.

• Hochul will defy Trump deadline to stop NYC congestion pricing — but insists president still backs her Penn Station revamp plan, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-18

A 22-year-old man driving a 2017 Hyundai sedan took a right turn too fast at W 49th Street and 8th Avenue. The car's front center struck a fixed object. He suffered head injuries and was found semi-conscious behind the wheel.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver was injured in a crash at 5:28 a.m. on W 49th Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan. The 2017 Hyundai sedan was making a right turn when it struck a fixed object with the center front end. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The driver was alone, suffered severe head lacerations, and was found half-awake behind the wheel. The narrative states, 'A 2017 Hyundai turned too fast. Metal struck stone. A young man, 22, slumped behind the wheel, head bleeding, half-awake.' No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the dangers of excessive speed during turns, as documented by the police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797761, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly bill A 6225 drops the speed threshold for owner liability. Now, drivers face penalties for going just seven miles over the limit. The bill aims to catch more speeders. Carroll and Simone back it. The fight for safer streets continues.

Assembly bill A 6225 was introduced on February 28, 2025. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to reducing the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits,' lowers the threshold for owner liability to more than seven miles per hour over posted limits. Assembly Members Robert C. Carroll (District 44, primary sponsor) and Tony Simone (District 75, co-sponsor) lead the push. No votes have been recorded yet. The bill targets drivers who speed, holding car owners accountable at lower speeds. This measure could close loopholes and increase enforcement. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—stand to gain from stricter speed control.

• File A 6225, Open States, Published 2025-02-28

An SUV turned left on W 58th Street and crushed an 83-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The left bumper struck her head. She died in the crosswalk, beneath the city’s cold lights. The street swallowed her name.

An 83-year-old woman was killed while crossing W 58th Street at Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was 'crossing with the signal' when a northbound SUV made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The impact crushed her head, and she died at the scene, in the crosswalk. The vehicle involved was a 2020 Mazda SUV, operated by a licensed male driver. The police report lists the driver’s pre-crash action as 'making left turn.' No driver errors are explicitly cited beyond the vehicle’s movement, but the victim’s lawful crossing is clear. The report notes her position as 'Pedestrian at Intersection' and her action as 'Crossing With Signal.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792095, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck, left parked on Avenue of the Americas, lurched forward and struck a 33-year-old man behind the wheel of another vehicle. He wore a harness. He did not move again. Cold air hung over the still street.

According to the police report, a box truck parked near 851 Avenue of the Americas suddenly lurched north and struck a 33-year-old man who was behind the wheel of another vehicle. The man, identified as the driver and sole occupant, wore a lap belt and harness but was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred at 8:10 a.m. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical lapse in driver vigilance. The truck, registered in Ohio and operated by a licensed driver from Louisiana, was supposed to be stationary but instead moved forward, causing fatal impact. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and the dangers posed by large vehicles left unattended on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792075, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Transit advocates and officials rallied at Grand Central. They demanded Governor Hochul fill a $33 billion gap in the MTA capital plan. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal called transit vital for the region. Advocates stressed accessibility and equity. The state’s budget leaves riders exposed.

On February 2, 2025, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal joined transit advocates at Grand Central Terminal to push for full funding of the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The rally targeted Governor Hochul’s $252 billion budget, which omits $33 billion needed for transit upgrades. The event, covered by amny.com, highlighted the matter: 'NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This is about the economic engine for the entire region.' Assembly Member Tony Simone and others demanded investment in transportation deserts and accessible stations. Advocates cited the MTA’s ADA settlement, noting only a quarter of stations are wheelchair-accessible, with the fewest in low-income areas. The rally underscored that without full funding, vulnerable riders—especially those with disabilities—face continued barriers and danger.

• NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02

Council calls for Albany to pass the PAWS Act. The bill adds pets to protected victims in traffic law. It hikes fines for drivers who hit animals and flee. Lawmakers push for real consequences when cars strike dogs, cats, and other companions.

Resolution 0723-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced January 23, 2025, it urges the state to pass A10660/S9915, the Protecting Animals Walking on the Street (PAWS) Act. The resolution states: 'add the term companion animals to the list of possible victim classes should a driver fail to exercise due care to avoid striking pedestrians and to increase the fine for striking a pet with a vehicle and leaving the scene without reporting the incident.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Carlina Rivera, and Justin L. Brannan back the measure. The PAWS Act would raise fines for drivers who hit pets and leave, and would recognize companion animals as protected victims under traffic law. The move targets a gap in current law, where penalties for striking animals are minor—on par with an illegal U-turn. The Council’s action signals a push for stronger accountability when vehicles harm the city’s most vulnerable, including its animals.

• File Res 0723-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

An SUV slammed into a young man’s e-scooter from behind near 28th Street. He lay semiconscious, head bleeding, helmetless, as blood pooled on the concrete and traffic rolled past in the fading Manhattan light.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-scooter was struck from behind by an SUV on Sixth Avenue near 28th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 5:57 p.m. The SUV, traveling north, hit the e-scooter as it was changing lanes. The police report describes the e-scooter operator as semiconscious with severe head bleeding and no helmet. The SUV’s center front end collided with the e-scooter’s center back end, leaving the rider injured on the street. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both parties, but the narrative makes clear the SUV driver struck the e-scooter from behind. No driver errors were explicitly cited, but the impact location and sequence highlight the systemic danger faced by vulnerable road users in mixed traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786033, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Assembly bill A 1236 targets drivers who block bike lanes. It adds a mandatory surcharge for parking violations. The money goes to the court that finds the driver liable. Lawmakers push to keep bike lanes clear. Streets stay safer for cyclists.

Assembly bill A 1236 was introduced on January 10, 2025. The bill is in the sponsorship stage. It is titled: 'Relates to violations and a mandatory surcharge for parking in a bicycle lane.' The bill would require drivers who park in bike lanes to pay a mandatory surcharge. The surcharge is paid to the clerk of the court or administrative tribunal that determines liability. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (District 52) is the primary sponsor. Deborah Glick (District 66) and Tony Simone (District 75) co-sponsor. The bill aims to deter illegal parking in bike lanes and keep routes clear for cyclists. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 1236, Open States, Published 2025-01-10