Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Jun 3 - Sanitation named a monitor for Cogent Waste Solutions after fatal crashes and hundreds of violations. Council members question why a company with such a record still hauls trash in city zones. The city’s new waste program promises stricter oversight, but danger remains.

On June 3, 2024, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) appointed an independent monitor for Cogent Waste Solutions, a private carting firm with a deadly safety record. The move comes before the city’s new Commercial Waste Zone program launches this fall. Council Members Shaun Abreu and Sandy Nurse raised alarms, asking, 'how the city awarded a contract to a company with a history of endangering workers to begin with.' Cogent’s trucks have killed one, injured four, and racked up hundreds of violations. Despite this, DSNY allowed Cogent to win contracts in four waste zones. DSNY Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman defended the process, stating, 'Safety was absolutely one of the weighted factors,' and promised, 'there will be consequences for lack of compliance.' The oversight hearing exposes a system that lets reckless firms operate, even as new rules loom.

• Exclusive: Sanitation Dept. Appoints Monitor for Carting Firm with Spotty Safety Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-03

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Jun 2 - A 60-year-old man crossing a marked crosswalk on South Street was struck by a backing SUV. The driver’s inattention and unsafe backing caused the collision. The pedestrian suffered lower arm injuries and shock, with no vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was injured on South Street near Fulton Street in Manhattan at 10:11 AM. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2016 Jeep SUV, driven by a licensed female from New Jersey, was entering a parked position and backed unsafely. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left rear bumper. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the elbow, lower arm, and hand, experienced shock, and complained of pain or nausea. The vehicle sustained no damage. This crash highlights the dangers of driver errors during vehicle maneuvers in pedestrian zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - Governor Murphy wants to widen the Turnpike. The plan costs billions. It will flood streets with cars and trucks. Pollution will rise. Transit riders pay more. Local families breathe dirtier air. The state ignores safer, greener options. Communities suffer. The project must stop.

On May 31, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published an opinion piece opposing Governor Phil Murphy’s $10.7 billion plan to widen the New Jersey Turnpike. The project, led by the NJ Turnpike Authority, faces criticism for ignoring alternatives like mass transit, greenways, and bikeways. The article states: 'Gov. Phil Murphy wants to spend over $10 billion to widen a highway in an environmental justice community while asking transit riders to shoulder a 15 percent fare hike. That is unjust and unacceptable.' The Turnpike Authority held limited public sessions, excluded on-the-record comments, and failed to address induced demand or environmental justice. The piece urges federal agencies to reject the project, arguing it will worsen pollution, noise, and health outcomes for vulnerable residents. The author calls for investment in safer, more sustainable transportation instead.

• OPINION: Stop Phil Murphy’s Brazen Turnpike Widening Trap, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-31

May 31 - DOT will turn 1.1 miles of 31st Avenue into a bike boulevard. Two-way protected lanes. One-way for cars. Painted islands. Curb extensions. Car-free plaza possible. The plan cuts car traffic. It gives space to people. Residents demand safety after deadly crashes.

On May 31, 2024, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a redesign for 31st Avenue in Astoria, Queens. The proposal, revealed by DOT Director Ted Wright, creates a 'bike boulevard' with two-way protected bike lanes from Steinway Street to Vernon Boulevard. The plan shifts the avenue to one-way car traffic, adds painted pedestrian islands, curb extensions, and may include a car-free plaza. DOT aims to reduce vehicle presence and traffic violence, responding to local advocacy after several high-profile crashes. Residents and organizers, including Alana Herlands and John Surico, voiced strong support: 'We are going to advocate for the most ambitious plan that not only adds more space for the community... but also reduces traffic violence.' Implementation is set for summer and fall, with an extension east to 51st Street planned next year.

• City Officials Unveil ‘Bike Boulevard’ Design for 31st Avenue in Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-31

May 30 - A cyclist died on the Washington Bridge. His family demands the city finish the promised protected bike lane. DOT delays leave riders exposed. Advocates say working-class immigrants and delivery workers face daily danger. The city’s promises remain unkept. The calls grow louder.

On May 30, 2024, the family of Zenaido Rosas-Pinzon, killed by a driver on the Washington Bridge, demanded the Department of Transportation (DOT) complete its long-delayed protected bike lane. The DOT had pledged to convert a car lane into a two-way protected bike path by fall 2023, but the project remains unfinished. The matter centers on the urgent need for safe cycling infrastructure: 'It's a crowded route, people are coming to and from work. It’s necessary to have a lane that is especially for the bikes,' said Cruz Rosas-Ponzon. Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, and delivery worker organizations highlight the deadly risk for working-class immigrants and deliveristas. DOT spokesman Vin Barone claims progress, but delays persist. The family’s demand is clear: finish the lane, prevent more deaths.

• Family of Killed Bronx Cyclist Demands DOT Finish Washington Bridge Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-30

May 29 - A 5-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a collision with a bike on Church Street. The bike driver’s inattention caused the crash. The child remained conscious but injured, highlighting dangers from distracted vehicle operators.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Church Street involving a bike and a 5-year-old pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to the knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the crash. The bike driver, a licensed male from North Carolina, was traveling southwest and going straight ahead at the time. The bike showed no damage or point of impact, indicating the collision impact may have been minor but still caused injury. The pedestrian’s exact location and action at the time remain unknown. No victim behavior was listed as contributing. This incident underscores the risks posed by distracted bike operators to vulnerable pedestrians, especially young children.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728651 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - A sedan struck a 57-year-old man at Battery Place and Greenwich Street. The impact broke his leg and foot. The driver went straight. The street stayed busy. The man lay hurt. Metal met flesh. The city moved on.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old male pedestrian was hit by a 2020 Cadillac sedan at Battery Place and Greenwich Street in Manhattan around 1 p.m. The sedan, traveling west, struck the man with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered serious fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver, licensed in Massachusetts, was going straight ahead at the time. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle showed no damage. The crash left the pedestrian injured in a busy intersection, underscoring the danger faced by those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728652 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - A bus making a U-turn hit a pedestrian crossing West Street with the signal. The 31-year-old man suffered upper arm contusions but remained conscious. Driver inattention and distraction caused the collision, highlighting risks at busy intersections.

According to the police report, a bus traveling southwest on West Street was making a U-turn when it struck a 31-year-old male pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruise to his shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The bus's point of impact was the left front bumper, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. This incident underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction during complex maneuvers like U-turns in busy Manhattan intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729749 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 24 - A 38-year-old male bicyclist suffered elbow and lower arm injuries after colliding with a box truck in Manhattan. The truck was parked at the time. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment and experienced shock and minor bleeding.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:35 near 200 Broadway in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 38-year-old man, was traveling westbound when he collided with a box truck that was parked. The bicyclist sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, with minor bleeding and shock reported. The box truck, a 2018 model registered in Indiana, showed no damage and had one licensed male driver from New Jersey. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment at the time. The report lists the bicyclist's contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors or violations attributed to the truck driver. The impact point was the center front end of the bicycle, while the truck showed no damage or point of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - Dawn breaks. An e-scooter and e-bike slam together on West Street. A 32-year-old man, helmetless, is hurled through the air. His face is torn open. Blood stains metal. The scooter’s front is crushed. Silence follows. He lies conscious, bleeding.

On West Street near Vesey, an e-scooter and an e-bike collided head-on, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 6:50 a.m. The report states that 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. A 32-year-old man riding the e-scooter was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations. The narrative describes him as helmetless, flying through the air, and landing conscious but bleeding, with his face split open. The scooter’s front was crumpled. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor beyond noting the absence of a helmet, which is listed after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger when attention lapses among those operating motorized vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 14 - A new study shows electrifying every diesel bus in America would slash pollution and greenhouse gases. The biggest gains come in dense city neighborhoods. Diesel buses choke streets with toxic air. Electric buses could clear the air and save lives.

On May 14, 2024, a Carnegie Mellon University study analyzed the impact of electrifying America’s bus fleet. The report, highlighted in Streetsblog NYC, found that replacing diesel buses with electric models could cut 40 million metric tons of greenhouse gases by 2035. The study summary states, 'America would reap massive public health and emissions-reduction benefits from electrifying its bus fleet.' Researcher Sofia Martinez said, 'We definitely need to be advocates for electrification, and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants in any way we can.' The study urges more federal subsidies to speed up the transition. Even replacing aging diesel buses as they retire would cut 35 million tons of CO2. The report stresses the greatest public health gains would come from electrifying buses in the most densely populated neighborhoods, where diesel pollution hits hardest. The study calls for urgent action to protect city dwellers from toxic air.

• What Would Happen if We Electrified Every Bus in America?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-14

May 13 - A Toyota sedan hit a 67-year-old man head-on at West and Liberty. He lay bleeding from the head, conscious beneath the city’s lights. The impact left the intersection silent, save for the echo of metal and flesh colliding.

A 67-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a southbound Toyota sedan at the corner of West Street and Liberty Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 21:27. The report states the man was crossing in the dark when the sedan, traveling straight, hit him with its center front end. The pedestrian was left conscious but bleeding severely from the head. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was listed as a contributing factor. No driver-specific errors such as 'Failure to Yield' or 'Distraction' were cited in the report. The narrative describes the victim as crossing with no signal or crosswalk. The focus remains on the impact and the vulnerability of the pedestrian at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - Mayor Adams backs lower speed limits but calls crashes ‘accidents.’ He urges drivers to slow down, yet hedges on citywide changes. The Council and DOT hold the power. Advocates say language matters. Streets remain deadly. Action lags. Lives hang in balance.

On May 8, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams publicly supported lowering speed limits after the passage of 'Sammy’s Law,' which allows New York City to reduce limits to 20 mph on most roads. The law, passed in the state budget, excludes wide, multi-lane roads in the outer boroughs. Adams said, 'I do believe as New Yorkers we need to slow down,' but repeatedly referred to preventable crashes as 'accidents,' a term advocates reject for removing driver responsibility. The City Council must legislate any citywide speed limit change, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) can adjust limits on specific streets after community input. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Speaker Adrienne Adams pledged to 'collaborate and negotiate' with City Hall. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi stressed the need for street redesign and legal reform, noting, 'This is not a problem that goes away on its own.' Despite new authority, the Adams administration has lagged on safe street infrastructure. The city faces its deadliest start to a year in the Vision Zero era, with 60 killed in the first quarter.

• Adams Backs Lower Speed Limits, Calls Crashes ‘Accidents’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-08

May 7 - Two SUVs crashed on Pearl Street. A young woman in the back seat took the hit. Neck pain. Whiplash. Metal twisted at the bumpers. Manhattan traffic did not forgive.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided at 11:05 a.m. on Pearl Street in Manhattan. One SUV headed north, going straight. The other moved south, making a left turn. The impact struck the front bumpers of both vehicles. A 21-year-old female passenger in the left rear seat of the northbound SUV suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not name specific driver errors. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. Both vehicles showed front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - A taxi and a bicyclist collided on Franklin Street in Manhattan. The cyclist was ejected and suffered bruises and arm injuries. The crash involved defective, slippery pavement, contributing to the bicyclist's loss of control and injury.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 8:41 AM on Franklin Street in Manhattan involving a taxi and a bicyclist. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound and going straight ahead when the crash happened. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old woman, was ejected from her bike and sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Pavement Defective' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors, indicating hazardous road conditions played a role. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead with no reported driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. Vehicle damage was minimal, but the impact caused significant injury to the cyclist. The report highlights systemic danger from road surface conditions rather than driver misconduct.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - A young woman pedaled straight down Washington Street. Her bike snapped at the front. Flesh tore. Blood pooled fast. She lay silent, stunned, the city indifferent. Metal failed. The street swallowed her pain.

A 27-year-old woman suffered severe lacerations to her leg when her bicycle broke at the front while riding straight on Washington Street near Canal, according to the police report. The report describes how her 'bike broke at the front,' causing her to sustain a deep leg wound and enter a state of shock, with 'blood pooled on the pavement.' The narrative notes she wore no helmet, but the police report does not list helmet use as a contributing factor. No other vehicles or driver errors are cited in the report. The data underscores the vulnerability of cyclists to equipment failure and the harsh consequences when infrastructure or machinery fails. The city moved on as she lay injured, her pain unnoticed by the passing world.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A 27-year-old woman was injured crossing with the signal at a Manhattan intersection. An SUV making a right turn struck her on the right side, causing abrasions and lower arm injury. The driver’s actions led to the collision, according to police.

At 12:41 PM in Manhattan, a 27-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Church Street with the signal. According to the police report, a 2022 SUV, traveling east and making a right turn, struck her on the right side doors. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report identifies the driver’s maneuver—making a right turn—as the pre-crash action leading to the impact. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian, who was crossing lawfully. The collision caused damage to the right side doors of the vehicle. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the driver’s failure to avoid the pedestrian during the turn as the critical cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722353 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - Fifty low-income New Yorkers now tap OMNY for Fair Fares. The 90-day pilot brings discounted rides to the MTA’s tap-and-go system. Officials promise wider rollout. Riders get easier access. The city inches toward all-door bus boarding. Barriers remain for many.

On May 1, 2024, the MTA and city officials launched a 90-day OMNY pilot for 50 Fair Fares participants. The pilot, announced by MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara, aims to expand OMNY access for low-income riders. Fair Fares gives half-priced rides to New Yorkers earning up to 120 percent of the federal poverty line. The bill’s matter: 'New Yorkers who participate in the city's half-priced transit program Fair Fares will finally be able to use OMNY.' Mayor Adams and the City Council raised eligibility last year, but advocates want broader access. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber called OMNY key for proof-of-payment checks. David Jones, Community Service Society CEO and MTA Board member, supports OMNY for Fair Fares and urges non-police fare enforcement. The pilot follows delays tied to vending machine deployment. About 800,000 New Yorkers qualify for Fair Fares, but only 331,000 are enrolled. The city and MTA plan to expand OMNY to all Fair Fares users by year’s end.

• EXCLUSIVE: OMNY Debuts on Fair Fares After Delays, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-01

Apr 26 - A bicyclist was injured after a sedan making a left turn struck him on Church Street in Manhattan. The cyclist was partially ejected and suffered abdominal and pelvic bruises. Police cited the sedan driver's failure to yield as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:42 p.m. on Church Street near Reade Street in Manhattan. A sedan traveling west was making a left turn when it collided with a northbound bicyclist. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper striking the right side doors of the bike. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and sustained contusions and bruises to his abdomen and pelvis. The injury severity was rated as level 3. The police report identifies the contributing factor as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the sedan driver. No other contributing factors were specified. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. This crash highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19