Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Mar 22 - A cyclist hit a 38-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk near 119 Fulton Street. She suffered bruises to her arm and hand. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors. The crash happened at night in Manhattan.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old woman was crossing a marked crosswalk near 119 Fulton Street in Manhattan when a bike traveling east struck her at 8:18 p.m. She sustained bruises to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, but remained conscious after the crash. The report lists 'unspecified' contributing factors and does not cite any specific driver errors. No helmet or safety equipment was reported for either party. The incident highlights the impact between a cyclist and a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 18 - Two bikes crashed at Warren Street. One rider thrown, hit the ground hard. He took blows to his leg and foot. No cars. No damage to bikes. No clear cause. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two male bicyclists collided near 46 Warren Street in Manhattan at 10:40 AM. One cyclist rode east, the other backed south. The eastbound rider was ejected and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. Both bikes showed no damage. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited. The injured cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver errors. No pedestrians or cars were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711440 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 18 - A motorcycle driver was ejected and injured after a taxi rear-ended him on FDR Drive. The impact demolished the motorcycle’s rear and injured the rider’s arm. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on FDR Drive around 6:00 AM involving a taxi and a motorcycle, both traveling north. The taxi struck the motorcycle at its center back end, causing the motorcycle to be demolished and the rider to be ejected. The motorcycle driver, a 33-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand and was reported to be in shock. The taxi driver, a licensed female driver, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report explicitly cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor for the taxi driver, indicating a failure to maintain focus led to the rear-end collision. No other contributing factors related to the victim were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711295 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 14 - Assembly bill A 9462 would hike fines for drivers caught speeding by cameras more than once. The aim is clear: hit repeat offenders in the wallet. Glick and Simone sponsor. No safety analyst review yet.

Assembly bill A 9462 was introduced on March 14, 2024, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to increasing fines for certain speed camera violations,' would impose higher fines for drivers who rack up multiple speed camera tickets in New York City. Assembly Members Deborah Glick (District 66, primary sponsor) and Tony Simone (District 75, co-sponsor) back the measure. The bill's summary states: 'Imposes increasing fines for subsequent speed camera violations in the city of New York.' No safety analyst has yet assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File A 9462, Open States, Published 2024-03-14

Mar 13 - A 67-year-old woman suffered an eye injury after an SUV struck her on West Broadway. The driver was distracted, making a right turn when the collision occurred. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, resulting in minor bleeding and shock.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2009 Ford SUV, traveling south on West Broadway, made a right turn and struck her with its right front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of impact. The victim sustained an eye injury and minor bleeding, experiencing shock. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle with one occupant. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. The report highlights the driver's failure to maintain attention during the maneuver, which led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709891 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 13 - Speaker Adrienne Adams called out city failures. She demanded action on bike lanes, bus lanes, and housing. She pressed for tracking DOT progress. She blasted budget cuts. She wants deeper affordability. She put vulnerable New Yorkers at the center.

"The council will also pursue legislation requiring the city Department of Transportation to track progress on projects that fall under its Streets Master Plan, passed by the council in 2019, which requires the agency complete construction on a certain number of bike and bus lanes each year." -- Charles Fall

On March 13, 2024, Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28) delivered her State of the City address at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She called for new legislation to require the Department of Transportation to track progress on the Streets Master Plan, which mandates yearly construction of bike and bus lanes. Adams criticized the mayor for failing to meet these benchmarks and for cutting funding to vital services. She said, 'Our duty is to turn these ideas into effective laws and to conduct oversight... But laws and policies are only as good as their implementation.' Adams also proposed using city land for affordable housing and expressed conditional support for zoning reforms, insisting on deeper affordability. Her speech centered the needs of low-income and working-class New Yorkers, especially in Black and brown communities.

• State of the City: Speaker Adams lays out vision for boosting government effectiveness, building more affordable housing, amny.com, Published 2024-03-13

Mar 11 - A 21-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a taxi struck him at a Manhattan intersection. The crash, caused by driver inattention, left the pedestrian in shock with no visible complaints. The taxi showed no damage despite impact.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection near 40 Fulton Street in Manhattan around 9:30 AM. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The crash involved a 2019 Nissan taxi traveling straight ahead, which impacted the pedestrian on its left rear quarter panel. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. The taxi sustained no damage. There is no indication of pedestrian fault or contributing factors from the victim. The incident underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708986 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 6 - A Chevy SUV hit a 55-year-old man head-on on Canal Street before dawn. The impact killed him instantly, his body broken beneath the headlights. The street was empty, the sky still dark. He died alone, another life ended by steel.

A 55-year-old man was killed when a Chevy SUV traveling east on Canal Street struck him head-on, according to the police report. The crash occurred just before dawn. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk' and was not at an intersection. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, and the vehicle was described as 'going straight ahead.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The narrative notes the victim 'died there, alone, under the empty sky.' No specific driver errors are cited in the report, but the fatal outcome underscores the lethal risk vulnerable road users face on wide, fast-moving corridors like Canal Street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 4 - Taxi turned left, struck a man crossing with the signal. Head injury, shock. Driver failed to yield. Impact at left front bumper. System failed to protect the walker.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on Park Row made a left turn onto Beekman Street and struck a 58-year-old man who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and was in shock. The report cites the taxi driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The point of impact was the taxi's left front bumper. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2020 Toyota taxi registered in New York. This crash underscores the danger of driver errors like failure to yield and distraction at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 4 - Car-first policies kill. Denialists stall bike lanes, street redesigns, and e-bike freedom. Fake experts, endless meetings, and bad laws keep streets deadly. Advocates must expose these tactics. The fight is for life, not convenience.

This opinion piece, published March 4, 2024 by Streetsblog NYC, dissects how denialist tactics undermine safety reforms in New York City. The article, titled 'Understanding Car Culture ‘Denialism’ Can Help Safety Advocates Respond,' details how fake experts, logical fallacies, and shifting demands block alternatives to car-centric streets. Council Member Robert Holden is named for pushing e-bike licensing, a move described as 'extremely harmful' for vulnerable road users. The article criticizes engineers and community boards who resist bike lanes and street redesigns. It urges advocates to call out denialist rhetoric and challenge the roots of car-first policies. The piece stands firmly for bike lanes, e-bikes, and safer streets, and against delays that keep New Yorkers in danger.

• Understanding Car Culture ‘Denialism’ Can Help Safety Advocates Respond, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-04

Mar 4 - Council Member Holden pushes e-bike licensing. Advocates warn: this move will slash e-bike use, boost car traffic, and choke the city with more danger. Denialism shields car dominance. The fight for safer streets grows sharper, louder, urgent.

On March 4, 2024, Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30) was spotlighted for proposing legislation to require licensing and registration for all e-bikes. The measure, discussed in an advocacy article, has not advanced to committee or vote. The article states: 'Council Member Robert Holden has proposed legislation to require licensing and registration for all e-bikes. This legislation will be extremely harmful if it becomes law—likely cutting e-bike use, increasing motorcycle and car emissions and traffic, and forfeiting economic benefits associated with micro-mobility.' Holden’s push aligns with car-centric policy, drawing sharp criticism from safety advocates. They argue the bill would endanger vulnerable road users by forcing more people into cars and away from safer, sustainable options. The piece calls for direct confrontation of denialist rhetoric and a shift from car dependency to protect lives on city streets.

• Understanding Car Culture 'Denialism' Can Help Safety Advocates Respond, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-03-04

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes demand-based parking in crowded boroughs. DOT must set rates, tweak with notice. Exempt vehicles dodge new fees. Streets may shift. Pedestrians and cyclists watch the curb.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, Farías, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates rising or falling by real-time demand. DOT must set the range before launch and give a week’s notice for changes. Vehicles with special permits stay exempt. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes DOT to set surge-priced parking in every borough. Rates rise or fall with demand. Exempt cars keep their perks. Streets may shift, but the curb stays contested.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates that change by real-time demand. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' Council Members Julie Won (primary), Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, and Farías (by request of the Brooklyn Borough President) sponsor the bill. Vehicles with special permits remain exempt from new fees. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes DOT to set surge-priced parking in every borough. Rates rise or fall with demand. Exempt cars keep their perks. Streets may shift, but the curb stays contested.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates that change by real-time demand. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' Council Members Julie Won (primary), Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, and Farías (by request of the Brooklyn Borough President) sponsor the bill. Vehicles with special permits remain exempt from new fees. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council backs scramble crosswalks at schools. Cars stop. Kids cross in all directions. Fewer deadly conflicts. Bill aims to shield students at arrival and dismissal. Action now sits in committee.

Resolution 0060-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The measure, introduced February 28, 2024, calls for scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The resolution states: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor) and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (co-sponsor) lead the push. Scramble crosswalks halt all vehicles, letting pedestrians cross in every direction. This design cuts car-pedestrian conflicts, especially for children. The council's action follows years of crashes near schools and a drop in crossing guards. The bill aims to protect the city's most vulnerable road users—its students.

• File Res 0060-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council backs scramble crosswalks at schools. All cars stop. Kids cross in every direction. Fewer deadly turns. Streets safer at bell time. No more waiting for tragedy.

Resolution Res 0060-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The bill calls for scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The matter title reads: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor) and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (co-sponsor) lead the push. Scramble crosswalks stop all traffic, letting students cross in any direction. The Council notes: 'Such legislation could increase the safety of New York City students traveling to and from school.'

• File Res 0060-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council backs scramble crosswalks at schools. All cars stop. Kids cross in every direction. Fewer deadly turns. Streets safer at bell time. No more waiting for tragedy.

Resolution Res 0060-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The bill calls for scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The matter title reads: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor) and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (co-sponsor) lead the push. Scramble crosswalks stop all traffic, letting students cross in any direction. The Council notes: 'Such legislation could increase the safety of New York City students traveling to and from school.'

• File Res 0060-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council moves to outlaw fake plates. Fraud hides reckless drivers. Bill targets sellers, sets fines. Streets need truth. Law aims to strip shields from danger.

Bill Int 0178-2024 sits with the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the sale or distribution of fraudulent license plates," makes it illegal to sell or distribute fake or temporary plates, with civil penalties for violators. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Brewer, Brannan, and Avilés. The bill was referred to committee the same day. Fraudulent plates let reckless drivers vanish. This measure aims to close that escape, exposing those who endanger lives.

• File Int 0178-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28