Feb 7 - Bus speeds crawl. Promised bus lanes never come. Mayor Adams broke his pledge. The city built just 9.6 miles in two years. Riders wait. DOT blames funding. Council law ignored. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

This report, released February 7, 2025, by the Independent Budget Office, exposes the city’s failure to meet the Streets Master Plan law (passed in 2019) mandating 150 miles of new bus lanes. The IBO states: 'It will be virtually impossible for the city to meet the City Council's required 150 miles of new bus lanes at the pace Mayor Adams is going.' Mayor Adams, who took office in 2022, has slowed or killed key bus projects, including the Fordham Road busway. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno claims the agency is building protected lanes and using cameras for enforcement, but admits resources are tight. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has called for compliance but not funded it. Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein blames hiring freezes and political interference for 'broken promises and neglected legislation.' The report shows that while DOT’s budget grew, staffing for bus lane expansion fell. Bus speeds remain stuck at 8.1 mph. The city’s inaction leaves millions of bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—stranded and exposed.

• Report: Efforts to Speed Up Bus Speeds Have Stalled … Like Bus Speeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-07

Feb 6 - A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Feb 4 - Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

Feb 3 - A moped and SUV collided on Church Street in Manhattan. The moped driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited unsafe speed and following too closely as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained damage to their side doors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:27 on Church Street in Manhattan. A moped traveling north struck the left side doors of an SUV, which also sustained damage to its right side doors. The moped driver, a 27-year-old male, was injured with contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies unsafe speed and following too closely as the primary contributing factors for the collision. The moped driver was not ejected and remained conscious. The SUV driver, a licensed female, was involved in the crash but no injuries were reported. The collision highlights the dangers of excessive speed and close following distances in urban traffic, particularly for vulnerable moped riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 31 - Two SUVs collided on Chambers Street in Manhattan. Both drivers suffered neck injuries with whiplash. A 75-year-old rear passenger was also hurt. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as key factors in the crash. No ejections occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:17 AM on Chambers Street in Manhattan involving two SUVs traveling east and south. Both vehicles were going straight ahead when the collision happened. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of one SUV and the center front end of the other. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The 70-year-old male driver and the 75-year-old female rear passenger in one SUV sustained neck injuries described as whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and not ejected. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to serious injuries among vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789413 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 27 - A Toyota sedan hit an 88-year-old man crossing Canal Street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept straight. The man lay silent, head wounded, as traffic pulsed around him in the cold Manhattan dusk.

According to the police report, an 88-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Toyota sedan while crossing Canal Street near Centre Street in Manhattan. The incident occurred at 5:35 p.m. The narrative states, 'An 88-year-old man stepped into the street, no signal, no crosswalk. A Toyota sedan struck him head-on. He fell, bleeding from the head, silent on the cold asphalt. The driver kept going straight.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan's point of impact was the right front bumper, and the driver was traveling straight ahead. The victim suffered severe head bleeding and was in shock. The police report does not cite any driver errors or violations, but emphasizes the pedestrian's location and action at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788957 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 27 - Council watered down the City of Yes plan. Parking mandates remain in many areas. Housing stays costly. Streets stay carved for cars. Vulnerable road users get no relief. The fight over parking and safety continues. No victory for people on foot or bike.

This opinion piece, published January 27, 2025, criticizes the City Council's compromise on the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity (COYHO) zoning amendments. The Council, after pressure from housing opponents, reinstated parking requirements in many transit-served neighborhoods, despite the City Planning Commission's push to eliminate them citywide. The matter, as described, states: 'Anyone not supporting the elimination of parking mandates is only perpetuating our city's housing crisis.' Planning expert Eric Kober, the author, argues the Council's move blocks housing growth and contradicts city policies to reduce car use. Council members' actions—passing a diluted version of COYHO—leave vulnerable road users exposed. The compromise preserves car dominance, keeps streets dangerous, and stalls progress for safer, people-first neighborhoods.

• OPINION: Candidates Must Pledge to Strengthen ‘City of Yes’ to End Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-27

Jan 27 - A boy walked a rural Georgia highway. He made it home safe. Police arrested his mother. The road lacked sidewalks. Drivers sped by. The system blamed the parent, not the dangerous street. Advocates call for safer roads, not more punishment.

On January 27, 2025, media reported the arrest of Brittany Patterson after her 10-year-old son walked alone along Mineral Bluff Highway, Georgia. The case is not a council bill, but a flashpoint in the debate over child independence and pedestrian safety. Prosecutor Emma Harper said the arrest was due to the boy walking on 'a busy highway with no sidewalk.' The matter highlights how parents, not road designers or drivers, face consequences when children navigate unsafe streets. Advocates, including Lenore Skenazy and attorney David DeLugas, condemned the criminalization of parents and called for accountability in road design. Streets like Mineral Bluff Highway, with high speeds and no sidewalks, endanger all pedestrians. The story underscores a systemic failure: dangerous roads persist, while parents and children bear the risk and blame.

• A Child Went For a Walk on a Rural Highway Alone. His Mom Got Arrested For It., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-27

Jan 19 - A northbound SUV and a southbound sedan collided head-on on FDR Drive. The crash injured a 23-year-old male passenger in the SUV, who suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm. Driver distraction was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:04 on FDR Drive involving a 2008 Chevrolet SUV traveling north and a 2018 Honda sedan making a right turn southbound. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. A 23-year-old male occupant in the SUV, seated in the right rear passenger position and restrained by a lap belt, sustained a contusion and bruising to his elbow and lower arm. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The collision caused center front end damage to both vehicles. No pedestrian or cyclist involvement was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 16 - 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

Jan 10 - Assemblyman Ed Ra slammed Governor Hochul for touting train travel while relying on an SUV for her own trip. Critics say her actions undermine public trust and highlight the gap between officials and regular commuters. The controversy exposes hypocrisy, not safety reform.

""The average working class commuter doesn’t have the luxury of traveling with six state troopers and until confidence is restored in the safety of train, subway and bus travel, the number of riders will continue to fall."" -- Charles Fall

On January 10, 2025, Assemblyman Ed Ra (District 19) publicly criticized Governor Kathy Hochul’s transportation choices. The incident, covered by nypost.com, centers on Hochul’s photo-op promoting Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) use, while her security detail drove an SUV to pick her up at Syosset station. Ra stated, “here she is responsible for BOTH a car trip and a train ride to get to the same place.” The matter, though not a formal bill, highlights political opposition to congestion pricing and official transit promotion. Ra’s comments, echoed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, stress the disconnect between officials’ privileges and the daily reality for vulnerable road users. No direct safety impact was assessed.

• Hochul poses for LIRR photo-op while dispatching her security detail to pick her up from station, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-10

Jan 10 - A federal judge shut down New Jersey’s bid to block Manhattan’s congestion pricing. New York offered concessions. New Jersey wanted more. Talks failed. The toll plan moves forward. Political posturing left transit riders and city streets in the crossfire.

On January 10, 2025, a federal judge ruled against New Jersey’s attempt to halt New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, covered under the headline 'Did New Jersey fumble congestion pricing negotiations?', details failed settlement talks. Judge Leo Gordon tried to broker a deal. New York offered expanded crossing credits and transit funding. New Jersey, led by Governor Phil Murphy, demanded more. Murphy insisted New Jersey was reasonable, denying New York’s claims of generous offers. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop criticized Murphy’s approach, arguing New Jersey should have bargained for transit benefits instead of fighting the tolls outright. Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19) was mentioned in coverage. The outcome: congestion pricing advances, with no new protections or funding for vulnerable road users in New Jersey or New York.

• Did New Jersey fumble congestion pricing negotiations?, gothamist.com, Published 2025-01-10

Jan 9 - SUV hit a 64-year-old woman walking with traffic on John Street. Right front bumper struck her knee and leg. She suffered bruises. Driver followed too closely. Manhattan street, midday, danger clear.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old woman was walking along John Street near William Street in Manhattan when an SUV traveling east struck her with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the primary contributing factor, citing the driver's failure to maintain distance. The vehicle, a 2023 Toyota SUV, was damaged on the right front bumper. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785531 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 9 - A cyclist crashed on Henry Street. No protected bike lanes. The driver sped off. The street stayed the same. Neighbors rallied. The council member listened. The injury was harsh. The system failed. Brooklyn’s gap in bike safety remains wide.

On January 9, 2025, Streetsblog NYC published an essay detailing a crash on Henry Street in Brooklyn. The piece, titled 'A Brush With Danger Made Me Exhibit A in My Fight for Better Bike Lanes in Brooklyn,' describes the lack of protected bike lanes in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. The author recounts merging into traffic, being closely followed by a driver, and crashing on a wet, greasy iron grid. The car sped away. Passersby helped. The cyclist suffered a broken collarbone. The essay notes, 'Our area of Brooklyn is a major hole in the borough's protected bike lane network.' Council Member Shahana Hanif attended a community meeting on the issue. The call is clear: Brooklyn’s streets favor cars, not people. The absence of protected lanes leaves cyclists exposed and injured. The system’s neglect is the danger.

• ESSAY: A Brush With Danger Made Me Exhibit A in My Fight for Better Bike Lanes in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-09

Jan 9 - Assembly bill A 1236 hits Albany. It targets drivers who block bike lanes. The bill adds a mandatory surcharge. Money goes to the court. Cyclists get no relief until cars clear the lane.

Assembly bill A 1236 was introduced on January 9, 2025. It sits at the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to violations and a mandatory surcharge for parking in a bicycle lane,' would require drivers who block bike lanes to pay a mandatory surcharge to the court that finds them liable. Jo Anne Simon (District 52) leads as primary sponsor, joined by Deborah Glick (District 66) and Tony Simone (District 75) as co-sponsors. The bill aims to penalize drivers who endanger cyclists by blocking bike lanes, but its impact depends on enforcement and driver behavior. No safety analyst note is available.

• File A 1236, Open States, Published 2025-01-09

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 7 - SUV turned right on Lafayette. Struck a 66-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered a head contusion. Driver failed to yield. Distraction and inattention led to impact.

According to the police report, a 66-year-old woman was crossing Lafayette Street in Manhattan with the signal when a 2022 Dodge SUV made a right turn and struck her with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV showed no damage. The driver was licensed and operating legally. This crash highlights the danger of driver errors, especially failure to yield and distraction, at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 7 - A box truck struck a sedan from behind on Canal Street in Manhattan. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed dangers of tailgating in busy city traffic, highlighting driver error as the key cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:00 AM on Canal Street, Manhattan. A box truck traveling westbound rear-ended a sedan traveling eastbound. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck and the center back end of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 34-year-old man, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the truck driver failed to maintain a safe distance. Both drivers were licensed. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. This collision underscores the systemic danger posed by tailgating in dense urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787538 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-07

Jan 6 - Tony Simone pushes a bill to force the MTA to install platform barriers citywide. He cites a near-fatal shove in his district. The plan uses congestion pricing funds. The goal: stop deadly falls and attacks. Riders demand safety. Simone wants action, not talk.

Bill number pending. On January 6, 2025, Council Member Tony Simone announced a legislative push to require the MTA to install platform screen doors and gates system-wide within five years. The bill, still in proposal stage, will move through the relevant council committee. Simone’s proposal comes after a spate of subway violence, including a recent shove onto tracks in his district. The bill summary states: 'My legislation will require the MTA to install platform screen doors and gates system-wide within five years.' Simone urges the use of congestion pricing revenue for these safety upgrades, arguing, 'No priority is higher on any rider's mind, including mine, than safety on the system.' Simone is the primary sponsor. The measure aims to prevent fatal and dangerous falls and shoves, focusing on protecting riders from harm.

• Spate of violence in NYC subways prompts call for more train platform barriers, amny.com, Published 2025-01-06