No More Names on Asphalt

A 26-year-old cyclist’s skull split open under the streetlights. Blood pooled on West 28th near Broadway. The cab rolled on, undamaged. The cyclist stayed conscious. The city held its breath. Nothing else moved.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male cyclist was struck by a southbound taxi on West 28th Street near Broadway in Manhattan at 23:32. The report states the cyclist suffered severe head lacerations, with his 'skull split' and blood pooling on the pavement. Despite the violence of the crash, the taxi showed 'no damage.' The cyclist remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both involved parties, offering no explicit driver error, but the narrative centers the impact and injury to the cyclist. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but only after describing the driver actions and crash impact. The stark details highlight the vulnerability of cyclists and the unforgiving nature of city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722272 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Drivers rack up tickets for blocking street sweepers. Fines are low. Many ignore them. Council Member Restler and Assembly Member Simone push bills to hike penalties. The city’s old crackdown expired. Lawmakers want real consequences for repeat scofflaws.

Council Member Lincoln Restler introduced a bill to raise fines for drivers who fail to move cars during alternate-side parking. The bill would increase the penalty to $100 for a second offense within a year and require towing after three violations in 12 months. Assembly Member Tony Simone submitted a state bill to double fines after the tenth violation, up to five times the current cap. The matter targets 'the worst repeat offenders of parking tickets.' Manhattan safe streets activist Jehiah Czebotar analyzed city data, finding that 77 percent of street-sweeping tickets go to repeat offenders, with 37 percent to drivers who got at least six tickets. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired last year, leaving a gap in enforcement. Lawmakers say fines must deter, not just be a cost of doing business.

• ‘Cheaper than a Garage’: Meet the Drivers Who Get Repeat Tickets for Not Moving Their Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-05

A box truck rolled north outside 1251 Avenue of the Americas. A baby boy, not in the street, was crushed beneath its front. His back broken. The driver was distracted. Midtown lights blinked on as sirens came.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling north outside 1251 Avenue of the Americas struck a baby boy who was not in the roadway. The report states the child was 'crushed beneath its front,' suffering severe back injuries but remaining conscious. The only contributing factor listed in the police report is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The driver, operating a GMC box truck registered in South Carolina, was licensed. The report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the crash. The impact occurred at the center front end of the truck, underscoring the direct role of driver distraction in this Midtown collision. No other vehicles or factors are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left on 8th Avenue. A 62-year-old man biked north. Metal met flesh. His head struck hard. Blood pooled. The car was untouched. The man was not.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn at 8th Avenue and West 35th Street struck a northbound cyclist at 12:04 p.m. The 62-year-old man on the bike suffered a head injury, was partially ejected, and bled severely but remained conscious. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, both attributed to driver error. The sedan was undamaged, while the cyclist lay half-thrown beside his frame. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls and fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped rider crashed headfirst into a parked SUV on Ninth Avenue. Blood pooled beneath his helmet. He stayed conscious, wounded and dazed, as streetlights flickered onto the cold Manhattan night.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old moped rider traveling south on 9th Avenue near West 58th Street struck the left side doors of a parked SUV. The narrative states, 'A moped struck a parked SUV. The rider, 29, hit headfirst. Blood seeped from his helmet. He stayed conscious.' The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor, indicating the moped rider responded to another vehicle's actions before the crash. The SUV was stationary at the time, with no damage reported. The injured rider suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The police report notes the use of a helmet by the rider. No driver errors from the parked SUV are cited; the focus remains on the chain of events triggered by traffic conditions and the presence of large, stationary vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700582 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Electeds launched 'Bike Safe' to urge cyclists to respect pedestrians. They named cars as the main killers. Delivery workers face pressure from apps. The campaign puts blame where it belongs: on reckless drivers and the systems that push workers to risk lives.

On January 19, 2024, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Council Member Erik Bottcher launched the 'Bike Safe' public safety campaign in Council District 47. The campaign, titled 'Slow Your Roll, Respect The Stroll,' urges cyclists to stop at red lights and avoid sidewalks, but Bottcher stressed, 'the vast majority of deaths and injuries are caused by cars.' Bottcher and Hoylman-Sigal both called out reckless drivers as the real threat. Assembly Member Tony Simone joined, pushing for statewide laws to curb dangerous delivery app practices. Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project highlighted how apps force delivery workers into risky behavior, but noted that new minimum pay rates help slow things down. The campaign focuses on education, not punishment, and centers the voices of workers and vulnerable road users. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• Electeds Roll Out 'Bike Safe' Campaign While Admitting Cars are the Real Source of Danger, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-19

Council Member Bottcher and colleagues launched ‘Slow Your Roll, Respect The Stroll’ to urge cyclists to respect pedestrians. They admit cars are the main killers. Five died in Bottcher’s district last year—three were pedestrians hit by drivers. The campaign runs citywide.

On January 19, 2024, Council Member Erik Bottcher unveiled the ‘Slow Your Roll, Respect The Stroll’ campaign. The effort, joined by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Tony Simone, aims to remind cyclists to stop at red lights and avoid sidewalks. Bottcher’s district saw 2,215 crashes last year, injuring 267 pedestrians and 218 cyclists; three of five fatalities were pedestrians killed by drivers. Bottcher said, 'the vast majority of deaths and injuries are caused by cars.' Simone highlighted delivery app pressure on workers to break laws. Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project noted delivery workers face daily risks and exploitation. The campaign, first in English and Spanish, will expand citywide. The focus remains: cars are the real threat, but all street users must be considered.

• Electeds Roll Out ‘Bike Safe’ Campaign While Admitting Cars are the Real Source of Danger, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-19

A One Wheel slammed into a man crossing Avenue of the Americas. The impact split his head. Blood pooled on the cold street. He stayed conscious, wounded and exposed, as the city moved around him.

According to the police report, a man was crossing Avenue of the Americas at West 42nd Street when a One Wheel traveling north struck him head-on. The collision caused severe lacerations to the pedestrian's head, leaving him conscious but bleeding on the roadway. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, listing 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The One Wheel's point of impact was the center front end, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The incident highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians at busy intersections and the dangers present when vehicles and people intersect outside of designated crossing signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan backed into a 39-year-old woman standing off West 33rd Street. Her head split open. Blood ran. Twelve vehicles tangled in the chaos. Alcohol fueled the crash. The street roared. She fell silent. Systemic danger, unchecked.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old woman stood off the roadway on West 33rd Street near 7th Avenue when a sedan reversed into her, splitting her head open and causing severe bleeding. The impact set off a chain reaction, tangling twelve vehicles. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor, stating one driver had been drinking. The woman was not in the roadway at the time. The police report highlights the driver's error—backing up while impaired—as the direct cause of the injury and the pileup. No victim action contributed to the crash. The incident exposes the lethal risk of impaired driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696078 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep struck a parked Toyota on Broadway. The Jeep fled. Inside the wreck, a nine-year-old girl bled from the eye. Her face was cut deep. She stayed conscious. The street ran south. The light still held. Metal and blood marked the scene.

A Jeep crashed into a parked Toyota sedan at Broadway and West 61st Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the Jeep vanished after impact. A nine-year-old girl, riding as a passenger in the Toyota, suffered severe lacerations to her face and eye but remained conscious. The report states, 'A parked Toyota, front crushed. A Jeep vanished. Inside the wreck, a 9-year-old girl, bleeding from the eye, stayed conscious. Her face cut deep.' The contributing factor listed is 'Other Vehicular.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are specified in the data. The girl’s use of safety equipment is unknown. The crash left the street marked by violence and loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684172 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford sedan, moving too fast, struck a 22-year-old man on Avenue of the Americas. His body broke between parked SUVs. He died in the street, under cold city lights. Unsafe speed left no room for mercy. The city kept moving.

A 22-year-old man was killed when a Ford sedan, traveling at unsafe speed, struck him on Avenue of the Americas near West 39th Street. According to the police report, the sedan hit the pedestrian as he crossed the road, pinning his body between parked SUVs. The crash left him dead at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the sedan was going straight ahead when it struck the man. No errors or contributing factors are listed for the victim beyond his location and action. The deadly impact and speed of the vehicle defined the outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford flat rack turned left at West 47th and 7th. Its bumper struck a 59-year-old man crossing with the signal. He died on the street. The driver failed to yield. The city kept moving. The man did not.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the corner of West 47th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, he was crossing with the signal when a Ford flat rack truck turned left and struck him with its front bumper. The man died at the scene from head injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and making a left turn at the time. The victim was in the crosswalk, following the signal. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs veered on West 42nd. Metal scraped metal. A pedicab driver flew, struck the pavement headfirst. Blood pooled. He lay semiconscious, broken beneath city lights. His breath shallow. His face streaked red. The street swallowed another body.

A crash on West 42nd Street involved two SUVs and a pedicab. The collision sent the 35-year-old male pedicab driver flying from his seat. He struck his head on the pavement, suffered severe bleeding, and lay semiconscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' caused the crash. Both SUVs and the pedicab were traveling west. The report details that metal scraped metal before the pedicab driver was ejected and injured. No helmet or signal use was cited as a contributing factor. The crash left the pedicab driver with a head injury and severe bleeding, highlighting the danger faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670961 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man crossed West 44th. A car followed too close. No screech, no stop. He fell. Blood ran down his leg. Shock in his eyes. The car rolled on, untouched. The street held the pain.

A 46-year-old man was injured while crossing West 44th Street near 8th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the car was 'following too closely.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot and showed signs of shock. The report states, 'A car followed too close. No screech, no stop. He fell hard. Blood spilled down his leg.' The vehicle showed no damage. The only driver error listed is 'Following Too Closely.' No other contributing factors are mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Nissan sedan hit a man on West 42nd Street. The bumper smashed his head. Blood spilled on the street. He stayed awake, hurt and bleeding. The car rolled east. The driver was distracted. The city failed to protect him.

A 29-year-old man was struck by a Nissan sedan while crossing West 42nd Street just before 1 a.m. According to the police report, 'A distracted driver in a Nissan sedan struck a 29-year-old man crossing against the light. The bumper hit his head. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious. Hurt bad. The car kept moving east.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver distraction. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Citi Bike rider slammed into a taxi at 7th Avenue and West 44th. The cyclist crashed headfirst, hitting the pavement. Blood pooled. His head split open. The cab kept moving. The street marked another wound.

A 23-year-old male Citi Bike rider suffered severe head lacerations after colliding headfirst with a southbound taxi at the corner of 7th Avenue and West 44th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A northbound Citi Bike slams headfirst into a southbound taxi. The 23-year-old rider, no helmet, hits the pavement. Blood pools. His head torn open. The cab keeps going.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors by the taxi are cited in the data. The injured cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the contributing factors. The crash left the cyclist with severe injuries while the taxi sustained no damage and did not stop.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660529 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda sedan left Avenue of the Americas at 2 a.m. The car struck two men not in the roadway. One man’s limbs crushed. Another’s arm torn open. Blood pooled on the street. The front end of the car caved from the force.

Two pedestrians were seriously injured when a 2013 Honda sedan veered off Avenue of the Americas near West 36th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the sedan left the roadway at 2 a.m., crushing the limbs of a 61-year-old man and inflicting deep lacerations on a 28-year-old man’s arm. Both victims were not in the roadway at the time of impact. The police report describes the scene: 'Blood on the pavement. The front end caved where bodies broke.' No driver errors were specified in the data. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

A man on a Bravo motorcycle crashed northbound on 8th Avenue before dawn. He flew headfirst, helmeted, into the dark. The front end crushed. He lay bleeding, unconscious, ejected from the wreck. One rider. One silence.

A 36-year-old man riding a 2016 Bravo motorcycle was severely injured in a crash on 8th Avenue near 47th Street in Manhattan at 4:06 a.m. According to the police report, the rider was ejected, suffered a head injury, and was found unconscious and bleeding. The report states, 'A man on a 2016 Bravo motorcycle flew headfirst into the dark. Helmeted, bleeding, unconscious. The front crushed, the rear torn.' The motorcycle was traveling northbound when the crash occurred. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota rolled west on West 25th. The driver looked away. The car stayed clean. A young woman’s leg did not. Her bones broke. She stayed awake. The city’s streets took more than metal.

A crash on West 25th Street in Manhattan left a 21-year-old woman with severe leg injuries. According to the police report, a Toyota sedan was traveling west when the driver became distracted and failed to yield the right-of-way. The passenger, who was not using safety equipment, suffered crush injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle itself showed no damage, but the impact left the passenger conscious and badly hurt. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver error, as detailed in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04