Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Feb 6 - A van traveling north on West Street rear-ended a stopped sedan, injuring the sedan driver. The collision caused knee and lower leg injuries, leaving the driver in shock. Driver inattention was cited as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:40 AM on West Street near Chambers Street in Manhattan. A van traveling north went straight ahead and struck the center back end of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. The sedan driver, a 39-year-old male occupant, suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. There is no indication of any pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors contributing to the crash. The collision damaged the center front end of the van and the center back end of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701518 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 2 - A 17-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan at Greenwich Street. The driver’s inattention and inexperience caused a center front impact, injuring the pedestrian’s head and leaving her in shock.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Greenwich Street struck a 17-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection while she was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was not ejected but suffered shock. The report identifies the driver’s inattention and inexperience as contributing factors to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, indicating the driver failed to maintain proper awareness of the pedestrian’s presence. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors, and no visible complaints were noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead at the time of the collision. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and lack of experience in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 2 - A bus swung left at Battery Place. Steel clipped a 69-year-old man’s leg. Blood pooled on the curb. The bus rolled away. The man stayed conscious, flesh torn, pain sharp. The city’s machinery did not pause.

A 69-year-old man was injured when a bus making a left turn at Battery Place and Greenwich Street struck him, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was at the intersection when the bus’s left front quarter panel hit his lower leg, causing severe lacerations. The narrative describes, 'Steel struck his leg. Flesh tore. Blood pooled by the curb. He stayed awake. The bus rolled on, unmarked.' The bus sustained no damage and continued on its route. Police list both driver and pedestrian contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The report highlights the systemic danger of large vehicles turning through crosswalks, with no evidence of driver accountability or intervention at the scene. No contributing victim behavior is cited; the focus remains on the impact of the turning bus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699836 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - New York will install fixed trash containers in West Harlem’s curb lanes by spring 2025. Sidewalk garbage bags will vanish. Custom trucks will haul the bins. The plan removes 150,000 parking spots. Streets clear. Rats drop. Sidewalks open for people, not cars.

On February 1, 2024, the city announced an expansion of trash containerization in West Harlem. The Department of Sanitation will install stationary curbside trash enclosures for buildings with 31 or more units in Manhattan Community Board 9 by spring 2025. The policy, championed by Mayor Adams, follows a pilot that cut rat sightings by 68 percent. Adams called the new side-loading truck 'the future of New York City garbage collection.' The plan replaces about 150,000 parking spots—five percent of the city’s total—with trash containers. Smaller buildings will use wheeled bins on sidewalks. Advocates support the move, urging shared containers to keep sidewalks clear. Some warn that too many bins could harm businesses and streetscapes. The city will study environmental impacts before rollout. The expansion aims to reclaim space from cars, clear sidewalks, and improve safety for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

• No Parking: City is Expanding Harlem Trash Containerization — And Getting the Trucks to Do It Right, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-01

Feb 1 - SUVs and pickups crush safety. They kill more, clog streets, burn more fuel. Komanoff says electrification and downsizing are not enough. Driving must fall. Road pricing, better transit, and livable streets matter as much as cleaner cars. The toll is real.

On February 1, 2024, Charles Komanoff published an op-ed in Streetsblog NYC warning of the dangers of rising SUV and pickup truck use. He writes, 'The increasing size of passenger vehicles has been catastrophic for road safety, traffic congestion, climate viability, and household budgets.' Komanoff opposes SUV and pickup proliferation and supports downsizing, electrification, and policies like road pricing and better transit. He stresses that larger vehicles are far more likely to kill other road users. He argues that electrification and smaller cars alone cannot cut emissions or deaths enough. Only less driving, paired with systemic changes—congestion pricing, curb pricing, and livable streets—will protect the vulnerable and the climate. No council bill is attached, but the warning is clear: car bloat endangers everyone outside the vehicle.

• Komanoff: Get the Facts About ‘Car Bloat’ and Pollution, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-01

Jan 31 - Five years after passage, the city’s commercial waste overhaul crawls forward. Only one zone starts in 2024. Fewer trucks, fewer miles, but delays keep danger rolling. Streets still wait for safer rigs. Cyclists and pedestrians remain exposed.

Bill creating the Commercial Waste Zone program, sponsored by Antonio Reynoso, passed in 2019 after deadly crashes involving private haulers. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced on January 31, 2024, that only one of twenty zones—Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst—will launch this year. The law aims to cut truck miles in half, add backup cameras, GPS, and safety training. DSNY spokesperson Joshua Goodman said contracts target safety and worker protections. Reynoso urged ongoing oversight, saying, 'It is important that DSNY continuously reassess implementation and course correct as needed.' Yet, delays persist, especially on installing guard rails to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being swept under trucks. Justin Wood of NYLPI voiced concern over the slow rollout. The program promises fewer trucks and safer streets, but for now, most neighborhoods wait.

• Long-Delayed Business Waste Program to Start Later This Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-31

Jan 23 - Every day, 9,000 trucks thunder through Sunset Park and Red Hook. Warehouses choke streets. Black and Latino residents breathe the fumes and dodge danger. Lawmakers push the Clean Deliveries Act to curb the chaos. The burden falls hard. The fight is on.

The Clean Deliveries Act, now under consideration in Albany, aims to regulate last-mile warehouse traffic and emissions across New York State. The bill responds to a new report showing Sunset Park and Red Hook face the city's highest truck volumes—over 9,000 daily trips—linked to sprawling Amazon, FedEx, and UPS facilities. The report states, 'a quarter of residents across the Empire State live within half a mile of a distribution center that’s at least 50,000 square feet, disproportionately harming Black and Latino communities.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, representing the affected Brooklyn neighborhoods, calls for urgent action 'for the sake of our climate and the safety of our streets.' Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, whose district sees the most daily truck traffic, urges colleagues to pass the Act. Advocates like Kevin Garcia say the bill is 'key legislation to protect frontline communities from increased vehicular traffic and tailpipe emissions.' The Act would require emissions reviews, pollution minimization, and studies of low-emission zones in hotspots.

• Poorer Brooklynites Bear the Brunt of Online Delivery Boom: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

Jan 16 - Thousands of cars without plates clog city streets. Enforcement is weak. Only a fraction get towed. Council Member Sandy Nurse calls ghost plates a public safety risk. The city’s response is slow. Vulnerable road users pay the price for inaction.

On January 16, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on traffic enforcement for plateless vehicles. The Sanitation Committee, chaired by Council Member Sandy Nurse (District 37), led the debate. The hearing focused on the city’s failure to remove unregistered, plateless cars. In 2023, over 51,000 complaints were filed, but only 1,821 cars were towed. Nurse said, 'Cars with ghost plates are a risk to public safety.' Council Member Shaun Abreu pushed for a bill to streamline the Department of Sanitation’s towing process, but DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch opposed it, citing legal and operational hurdles. The NYPD and DSNY formed a task force, but advocates and councilmembers say it is not enough. The city’s lack of action leaves vulnerable road users exposed to reckless, untraceable drivers.

• No License Plates? No Problem! Scofflaw Drivers Remove Tags Yet Rarely Get Caught, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-16

Jan 16 - Thousands of cars without plates clog New York streets. City agencies barely act. Drivers dodge tickets and accountability. Council Members Nurse and Abreu demand action. The city shrugs. Plateless cars stay. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

Council Member Shaun Abreu introduced a bill in September 2023 to streamline the Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) towing of plateless vehicles. The bill remains stalled after DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch testified against it, citing operational and legal hurdles. The matter, discussed in the Sanitation Committee led by Council Member Sandy Nurse, highlights a citywide crisis: over 51,000 complaints about plateless cars in 2023, but only 1,821 removals. The article quotes Nurse—'Cars with ghost plates are a risk to public safety'—and Abreu, who calls the city’s inaction a repurposing of public space for dumping. Despite a DSNY/NYPD task force, enforcement remains weak. The city’s failure leaves reckless drivers unaccountable and endangers everyone outside a car.

• No License Plates? No Problem! Scofflaw Drivers Remove Tags Yet Rarely Get Caught, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-16

Jan 14 - A Tesla sedan making a left turn on FDR Drive struck an unseen hazard, causing injury to the driver and front passenger. Both occupants suffered moderate injuries, including chest contusions and a concussion, amid driver distraction and sudden reaction.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old female driver of a 2020 Tesla sedan was making a left turn on FDR Drive when she reacted to an uninvolved vehicle, leading to a crash. The report cites 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver, wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained a chest contusion and was conscious after the crash. The front passenger, a 15-year-old female also restrained by a lap belt and harness, suffered a concussion. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the sedan, which sustained damage. Both occupants were injured but not ejected. The driver’s distraction and sudden reaction to another vehicle created the conditions for this crash, highlighting systemic dangers of inattentive driving on busy roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 12 - Concrete barriers on Park Avenue bike lanes promised safety. Drivers ignored them. Cars block both ends. Cyclists forced into traffic. Police rarely ticket. Council stalls on citizen reporting. The city’s fix failed. Cyclists pay the price.

On January 12, 2024, Streetsblog NYC reported on the failure of new concrete barriers meant to protect bike lanes on Park Avenue in the Bronx. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, installed these barriers in fall 2023, aiming to 'harden' bike lanes in a borough with few safe cycling routes. Cyclists like Joseph Rienti say the barriers are better than nothing, but drivers now park at both ends, forcing riders into car traffic. Rienti urges better design or enforcement, not removal. Police enforcement is almost nonexistent: less than 2 percent of 76,000 complaints led to tickets. City Council, including Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, has not advanced a bill allowing citizen reporting of blocked lanes, despite majority support. DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno promises to work with police, but for now, the barriers fail to protect vulnerable cyclists.

• Barriers Fail To Keep Drivers From Blocking Bronx Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-12

Jan 10 - A 62-year-old man crossing John Street with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a right turn. The pedestrian suffered contusions and lower leg injuries. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision at the intersection.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing John Street at an intersection with the crossing signal. The collision occurred at 6:59 AM when a northbound Ford sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was making a right turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor from the driver, with no damage reported to the vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious and crossing with the signal at the time of the crash. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the systemic danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693924 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - A 21-year-old man suffered a head injury and concussion after an SUV struck him at a Manhattan intersection. The driver disregarded traffic control, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The victim was left semiconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on West Street near Albany Street in Manhattan at 2:45 PM. A 21-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when he was struck by a northbound SUV. The vehicle, a 2021 Alfa SUV, impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver failed to obey traffic signals. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was semiconscious, suffering a concussion. The report also notes the pedestrian's reaction to an uninvolved vehicle but does not attribute fault to the victim. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. Vehicle damage was limited to the center front end, confirming the point of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693172 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 3 - A 57-year-old man was injured when a southbound bike failed to yield right-of-way at a Manhattan intersection. The impact struck the pedestrian’s lower arm, causing contusions and bruises. The cyclist’s driver error triggered the collision.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 12:50 on Hudson Street in Manhattan involving a bike and a pedestrian. The pedestrian, a 57-year-old man, was injured with contusions and bruises to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The bike, traveling southbound and going straight ahead, struck the pedestrian at the center front end. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver of the bike. The pedestrian’s actions are listed as unknown, and no other contributing factors such as victim behavior or helmet use are mentioned. The collision caused 'other' vehicle damage. This incident highlights the critical role of driver error in yielding right-of-way at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693139 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 3 - Vendors vanished from the Brooklyn Bridge. City workers swept the span at midnight. Tourists walked free of tables and hawkers. The walkway opened up. No ducking, weaving, or crowding. The city seized eight vendor tables. The bridge stayed packed, but clear.

On January 3, 2024, the city implemented a total vendor ban on the Brooklyn Bridge. The Department of Transportation and NYPD cleared all souvenir stands and food sellers at midnight. A sign now reads, 'No vending allowed.' Councilmember Gale A. Brewer, District 6, was mentioned for introducing a related bill last month to restrict sales only on narrow sections. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Tourists and New Yorkers alike deserve to walk across it and enjoy its beauty without being packed together like sardines or risking their safety.' The ban aims to improve pedestrian flow on the crowded bridge, which sees over 34,000 walkers on a fall weekend. Supporters of vendors mourned the loss of affordable food and art. Tourists welcomed the extra space and easier passage.

• Tourists enjoy vendor-free Brooklyn Bridge as ban goes into effect, gothamist.com, Published 2024-01-03

Jan 2 - A northbound cyclist ran a signal and hit a 57-year-old woman crossing Water Street. She suffered leg and foot injuries. The crash left her in shock. Police cite traffic control disregarded as the cause.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old woman was crossing Water Street with the signal when a northbound cyclist struck her. The impact hit her knee, lower leg, and foot, causing injuries and leaving her in shock. The report states the cyclist disregarded traffic control, failing to obey the signal. The bike showed no damage. The pedestrian’s lawful crossing is noted, but the only listed cause is the cyclist’s failure to follow traffic rules. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals, as documented in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 31 - Council calls for state action on Sammy’s Law and SAFE Streets Act. The bills would let New York City lower speed limits and give crash victims new rights. Lawmakers push to curb deadly driving and protect those on foot and bike.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The resolution, introduced April 11, 2023, and filed December 31, 2023, calls for 'allowing New York City to establish a lower speed limit, and enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led sponsorship, joined by Gutiérrez, Restler, and others. The package aims to cut speeds, redesign streets, and support crash victims. It would let the city set safer limits, require safe passing for cyclists, and mandate complete street design. The council’s action spotlights the urgent need to protect people walking, biking, and riding in New York.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31

Dec 31 - Council calls for scramble crosswalks at schools. Kids cross in all directions. Cars stop. Fewer deadly conflicts. NYPD cut crossing guards. Streets stay dangerous. Council pushes Albany for action.

Resolution Res 0792-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 28, 2023, and filed at session’s end, it urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The matter: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of student arrival and dismissal.' Council Members Hanif (primary), Brooks-Powers, Restler, and Riley sponsored. The bill responds to deadly crashes near schools and NYPD’s cut of 486 crossing guards. Scramble crosswalks stop all cars so kids cross in every direction, cutting conflicts. The Council wants the state to act before more children are hurt.

• File Res 0792-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31

Dec 29 - Downtown Brooklyn saw new public spaces, art, and transit upgrades in 2023. City leaders cut sidewalk sheds, opened plazas, and boosted subway access. Over $40 million was pledged for streets, transit, and pedestrian safety. Lincoln Restler and others pushed for these changes.

Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and city leaders announced major transportation and public space improvements in Downtown Brooklyn on December 29, 2023. The announcement, titled 'A jam-packed 2023: A look back at Downtown Brooklyn improvements and enhancements this year,' highlighted new public spaces, art installations, and infrastructure upgrades. Notably, the Hoyt Street Subway Station entrance at Fulton Mall was renovated with a new elevator for better accessibility. The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, with Restler's support, pushed for the removal of long-standing sidewalk sheds at Willoughby Plaza, restoring open space to the public. Mayor Eric Adams pledged over $40 million for streetscape, transportation, and pedestrian safety enhancements, with $8 million earmarked for Fulton Mall. These actions aim to make Brooklyn safer and more accessible for all road users.

• ‘A jam-packed 2023’: A look back at Downtown Brooklyn improvements and enhancements this year, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-12-29

Dec 28 - A hit-and-run truck killed an 82-year-old cyclist on Northern Boulevard. The driver fled. This marks the 29th cyclist death in 2023. Councilmember Brooks-Powers blasted DOT for missing legal bike lane targets. Streets remain deadly. Progress is slow. Accountability is lacking.

On December 28, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers responded to the death of an 82-year-old cyclist killed by a hit-and-run truck on Northern Boulevard. This incident marked the 29th cyclist fatality in 2023, a grim milestone in a year of rising traffic violence. Brooks-Powers criticized the Adams administration and the Department of Transportation for failing to meet the Streets Plan's legal requirement of 50 miles of protected bike lanes, achieving only about 30 miles. She stated, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Brooks-Powers also condemned the missed bus lane targets and called out DOT's lack of transparency, pledging to hold the agency accountable and push for safer, more equitable streets. The city faces more cars, more crashes, and more injuries, while vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Another Cyclist Killed in One of the Deadliest Years on Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-28