Jun 8 - 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

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 5 - A sedan turned right on West 135th. An e-scooter rider was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention and improper turning. Four sedan occupants unhurt.

A crash at West 135th Street in Manhattan involved a sedan and an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider, a 55-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe leg lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the collision. Four sedan occupants, all men in their twenties, were not injured. The e-scooter rider was unlicensed. The report lists no other contributing factors. Systemic driver errors led to harm for the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819259 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 2 - A man died on the RFK Bridge exit at 125th Street. The crash crushed his body. He was not at an intersection. The driver’s actions remain unspecified. The street claimed another life. The system failed to protect him.

A male pedestrian was killed on the RFK Bridge exit at 125th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the victim suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred while the vehicle was going straight ahead. The pedestrian was not at an intersection but was in the roadway. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817511 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 31 - Two SUVs collided on West 77th. Metal slammed metal. One driver, a man, died. Three others, including another driver and two passengers, were hurt. Police cited driver inattention. The street stayed quiet after the crash. The danger was clear.

A deadly crash unfolded at 152 West 77th Street in Manhattan. Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided. According to the police report, four people were involved. One driver, a 79-year-old man, was killed. Three others, including a 62-year-old woman driver and two passengers aged 62 and 79, suffered unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were parked before the crash, and both sustained damage to the right side doors. The police report makes no mention of helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose focus, as documented by the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817015 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 30 - A cyclist suffered crush injuries to his leg at E 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue. Two cars and a bike collided. The cyclist wore a helmet. Police cited confusion as a factor. The street saw pain and metal. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

A crash on E 23rd Street at 3rd Avenue in Manhattan left a 61-year-old male cyclist injured with crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, a convertible, a pick-up truck, and a bicycle were involved. The cyclist was conscious and wore a helmet. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver-specific errors were cited in the data. Other vehicle occupants reported unspecified injuries. The crash underscores the risks faced by cyclists on city streets, where even routine turns can end in harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816863 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 30 - An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

May 28 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 26 - A cyclist struck a pedestrian at W 125th and Broadway. The teenager on the bike suffered a head injury. Police cite confusion and following too closely as factors.

A crash at W 125th Street and Broadway in Manhattan left a 17-year-old cyclist injured in the head after colliding with a pedestrian. According to the police report, both 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Following Too Closely' contributed to the crash. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment and suffered severe bleeding. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal and was listed as having unspecified injuries. No vehicles other than the bike were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817937 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 23 - Tolls still hang over Third Avenue. Deadlines pass. Courts hold the answer. Fewer cars enter Manhattan. Millions flow to transit. The fight is bureaucratic, not on the street. Riders wait. The city’s pulse slows, but the outcome is uncertain.

West Side Spirit reported on May 23, 2025, that New York’s congestion pricing tolls remain in place despite three missed federal deadlines to remove them. The article details a standoff between the MTA, New York State, and U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who demands the tolls be taken down, threatening to withhold highway funds. The MTA argues the legality of the tolls and seeks a court injunction, stating, 'congestion pricing is legal and proper.' The system, operational since January 2025, has reduced daily vehicle entries into Manhattan’s core by 76,000 in April and raised $159 million in the first quarter. The dispute highlights tensions over funding priorities and the impact on lower-income drivers, but the courts, not drivers or pedestrians, will decide the fate of the tolls.

• Congestion Pricing Tolls Face Legal Showdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-23

May 21 - A cyclist slammed into an obstruction on E 135 St. He flew from his bike. Blood poured from his head. The street hid danger. The crash left him conscious but hurt.

A 31-year-old male cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding on E 135 St at Madison Ave in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'View Obstructed/Limited.' The cyclist was conscious after the crash. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. No helmet was noted. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists when visibility is blocked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 21 - City will rip up Fifth Avenue. Sidewalks will double. Lanes for cars will shrink. Trees, benches, and light will fill the space. Pedestrians, long squeezed, will finally get room to breathe. The city bets big on feet, not fenders.

amNY reported on May 21, 2025, that New York City will begin a $400 million redesign of Fifth Avenue in 2028, stretching from Bryant Park to Central Park. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Fifth Avenue is a bustling boulevard... with more people walking down the street every hour than fill Madison Square Garden during a sold-out Knicks game.' The plan nearly doubles sidewalk widths and expands pedestrian zones, cutting space for vehicles. The redesign adds tree buffers, benches, and stormwater upgrades. Pedestrians make up 70% of avenue traffic but have less than half the space. The overhaul shifts priority from cars to people, aiming to reduce systemic danger and reclaim the street for those on foot.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-21

May 20 - A sedan hit a pedestrian on Bleecker Street. The man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The crash left him semiconscious. No driver errors listed. Streets remain dangerous.

A sedan traveling east struck a 26-year-old man on Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, leaving him semiconscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver and passengers in the sedan were not reported injured. The only injury recorded was to the pedestrian, who was in the roadway at the time of the crash. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814350 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 20 - A taxi turned improperly on E 94th. The crash threw a 24-year-old cyclist. He struck his head. Blood pooled. He lay unconscious. The street stayed loud. The system failed him.

A taxi and a bicycle collided at E 94th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. The 24-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. He was found unconscious. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Turning Improperly.' The taxi was making a left turn when it struck the cyclist. No injuries were reported for the taxi driver or other occupants. The report lists no cyclist errors or helmet use as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers turn improperly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 20 - A 22-year-old e-scooter rider suffered head crush injuries on 3rd Ave. Driver inattention and following too closely led to the crash. The rider was left in shock. Systemic danger on Manhattan streets persists.

A 22-year-old man riding an e-scooter was injured at 1892 3rd Ave in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The rider suffered head crush injuries and was in shock. The police report lists no helmet or signal issues, but notes the e-scooter operator was unlicensed. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the ongoing risks faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814738 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 17 - A van turned left at unsafe speed. The driver struck a man on an e-scooter. The rider suffered head injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.

A refrigerated van making a left turn on West 145th Street collided with a 39-year-old man riding an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider suffered head injuries and crush wounds. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor. The van’s left front bumper struck the rider. The report does not list any errors by the e-scooter operator. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 16 - 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 2025-11-04

May 14 - A cyclist struck a woman crossing West 45th. The bike moved too fast. The impact crushed her leg. She was left in shock. The street saw blood and pain. Speed was the cause.

A 33-year-old woman was injured when a cyclist hit her while she crossed West 45th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her lower leg and foot and was left in shock. The cyclist, a 36-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the main contributing factor. No other errors or equipment issues were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 14 - A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14