Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Dec 21 - Sanitation will plow bike lanes and roads at the same time. No more waiting. No more trade-offs. Commissioner Tisch says every street gets cleared together. Cyclists will not be left stranded in snow. The city finally treats bike lanes as vital.

On December 21, 2023, the Department of Sanitation announced a major shift in snow removal policy. Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch declared, “For the first time the plan calls for doing both at the same time, rather than prioritizing one over the other or making trade-offs.” This policy change ends years of prioritizing car lanes over bike lanes for snow clearance. The agency updated its annual snow plan and hired 563 new workers, now able to dispatch plows for all routes simultaneously. The new approach means protected bike lanes—165 miles worth—will be cleared alongside roads, not after. Tisch emphasized, “Every street in the city is on a route and we are staffed to dispatch every route at the same time. Prioritization of certain streets is a thing of the past.” Advocates, including Jon Orcutt of Bike New York, praised the move as overdue and vital for cyclists’ safety. The city’s snow fleet now includes smaller plows fit for bike lanes, ending the era of neglect.

• Sanitation Promises to Plow Bike Lanes at the Same Time As Roads, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-21

Dec 20 - Two sedans crashed on Canal Street. Both drivers turned left. Impact hit the center ends. Both drivers and a passenger suffered neck and head injuries. Shock followed. Distraction played a role.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Canal Street in Manhattan as both drivers attempted left turns. The crash struck the center back end of one car and the center front of the other. A 48-year-old male driver and an 18-year-old male passenger in one vehicle, along with the other driver, suffered neck and head injuries and reported pain or nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling north. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4689125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - Federal officials updated the MUTCD, touting flexibility for safer streets. Advocates wanted more. The new rules clarify design for human error and ease bike and transit features. But speed limit reforms are weak. Cities get tools, but danger remains entrenched.

On December 19, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration released a new Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the first update since 2009. The policy, shaped by advocacy campaigns, was summarized as offering 'more flexibility to design roads safely,' but advocates say it is 'a transitional document; it’s not a transformational document.' FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt claimed the update empowers cities to prioritize active transportation, stating, 'The cities that are really thriving... are the ones who are really putting active transportation at the forefront.' However, advocates like Mike McGinn and Beth Osborne criticized the weak reforms to the 85th percentile speed rule and the lack of bold safety mandates. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law now requires updates every four years, giving hope for future, stronger reforms. For now, the MUTCD still leaves vulnerable road users at risk, with only incremental gains.

• Feds, Advocates Talk About What’s In The New MUTCD (And What Isn’t)!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-19

Dec 12 - MTA revealed its final Queens bus overhaul. Routes shift. Stops thin out. Riders brace for longer walks. Council Member Brooks-Powers warns of harm to her district. The city lags on bus lanes. Public review looms. Vulnerable riders face uncertainty.

On December 12, 2023, the MTA released its final proposal for the Queens bus network redesign. The plan, shaped by two years of outreach, proposes 121 routes—eight more than before—but cuts and combines stops, aiming for straighter lines and faster trips. The matter summary states the redesign seeks 'improved travel speed and reliability.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, voiced 'serious concerns about the proposal’s impact on her constituents, especially with the looming arrival of congestion pricing.' She called for an 'equitable and balanced' approach. The plan faces backlash over wider stop spacing and fewer stops, which could force longer walks for riders—many of them elderly or disabled. The city has failed to meet its legal mandate for new bus lanes, building only 18 miles this year. The proposal enters public review ahead of a 2025 rollout.

• MTA unveils final proposal for Queens bus network redesign, amny.com, Published 2023-12-12

Dec 12 - The MTA’s 20-Year Needs Assessment draws fire for playing it safe. Critics say it ignores bold transit expansion. The plan favors maintenance and minor tweaks. It leaves regional riders stranded. No real integration. No big moves. Just more of the same.

On December 12, 2023, Streetsblog NYC published a critique of the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment. The article, titled 'Raising the Regional Bar: Why the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment Inevitably Falls Flat,' argues the plan 'fails to accomplish its stated mission of bringing the New York region into the 21st century.' The critique highlights the lack of major expansion projects and the absence of a plan to fully integrate Penn Station into a regional rail network. The author calls for greater cooperation among the MTA, NJ Transit, Port Authority, Amtrak, and local bus operators. The piece urges leaders to deliver a world-class, interconnected transit system instead of isolated improvements. No council members are named; this is a policy critique, not a legislative action.

• Raising the Regional Bar: Why the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment Inevitably Falls Flat, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-12

Dec 12 - Council Member Gale Brewer slams the MTA’s 20-Year Needs Assessment. She says it clings to old tracks and tired fixes. Expansion is missing. Integration is ignored. Brewer calls for bold, regional action. The city’s future rides on more than patchwork repairs.

On December 12, 2023, Council Member Gale A. Brewer (District 6) publicly criticized the MTA’s 20-Year Needs Assessment. The critique, titled 'Raising the Regional Bar: Why the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment Inevitably Falls Flat,' argues the plan 'fails to accomplish its stated mission of bringing the New York region into the 21st century.' Brewer points out the assessment’s focus on maintenance over expansion, noting the lack of major projects and regional integration. She urges the MTA, NJ Transit, Amtrak, and others to cooperate for a seamless, world-class network. Brewer’s stance: the city needs more than cosmetic fixes and must aim for true transit growth. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• Raising the Regional Bar: Why the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment Inevitably Falls Flat, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-12-12

Dec 11 - Congress moves to set lithium-ion battery standards. Delivery workers still pay for safety. Sixteen dead, 253 fires this year. City backs the bill. Tech giants resist supplying safe batteries. Workers face high costs. Danger persists on city streets.

On December 11, 2023, a congressional panel advanced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, introduced by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx). The bill, supported by the city and FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to create federal safety standards for micromobility batteries. The matter summary states the bill aims to 'protect against the risk of fires.' Torres and advocates like Ligia Guallpa of the Worker's Justice Project pushed for app-based companies to supply certified batteries, but tech giants oppose this. Kavanagh said, 'A strong federal standard for lithium-ion batteries is required to ensure public safety.' Despite new laws, the cost of safe batteries—up to $5,000—still falls on low-paid delivery workers. Sixteen people have died in 253 battery fires this year. The city passed a buyback program for faulty batteries, but it has not started. The burden remains on the most vulnerable.

• Feds One Step Closer to Requiring Safety Standards for Lithium-ion Batteries, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-11

Dec 9 - A 46-year-old man driving a moped was injured when an SUV struck him from behind on Canal Street. The moped was stopped in traffic. The SUV driver followed too closely and hit the moped’s rear center. The rider suffered bruises over his body.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old male moped driver was stopped in traffic on Canal Street when a 2023 SUV traveling east struck the moped from behind. The impact was at the center back end of the moped and the center front end of the SUV. The moped driver sustained contusions and bruises over his entire body but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor for the crash. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The collision caused injury severity level 3 to the moped driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685917 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 8 - The MTA board locked in congestion pricing. Drivers face a $15 toll below 60th Street. Officials warn: change one piece, the plan unravels. Lawsuits loom. Public hearings are required, but major tweaks are off the table. Vulnerable road users wait.

On December 8, 2023, the MTA board approved its congestion pricing plan. The plan, now entering a 60-day public review, sets a $15 daytime toll for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The matter, titled 'Don’t expect changes to MTA's congestion pricing even after final public review,' underscores the board's resistance to major changes. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'If you change one aspect – the whole thing starts to unravel or fall apart.' Council Member Robert F. Holden was mentioned in the discussion. The board is reconsidering tolls on school buses, but most exemptions are opposed. Lawsuits from New Jersey officials threaten delays. The plan’s fate hangs on legal and public scrutiny, but for now, the structure stands.

• Don’t expect changes to MTA's congestion pricing even after final public review, gothamist.com, Published 2023-12-08

Dec 5 - SUV struck bus at 225 Broadway. Two men inside SUV hurt, neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite reaction to another vehicle and passing too close. Bus driver unhurt. Metal twisted. Sirens followed.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV collided with the right rear quarter panel of a southbound bus at 225 Broadway in Manhattan. The SUV's driver and front passenger, both men in their twenties, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained. The report lists "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle" and "Passing Too Closely" as contributing factors. The bus, driven by a licensed operator, was undamaged and carried only the driver. The SUV, initially parked, took damage to its left front quarter panel. No mention of helmet use or victim fault appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A 41-year-old woman was injured when an SUV starting from parking hit her at the center back end near 299 Broadway. She suffered a shoulder contusion and remained conscious. The crash caused visible damage to the vehicle’s rear.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling north near 299 Broadway in Manhattan struck a 41-year-old female pedestrian. The vehicle was starting from parking when the collision occurred at the center back end. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruise to her shoulder and upper arm, with injury severity rated as moderate. She was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the vehicle’s movement from parking. The pedestrian’s location and action at the time of impact remain unspecified. The SUV sustained damage to its center back end. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681678 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - Portland’s council slammed the brakes on the Gorham Connector. They demand transit options get a fair shot before bulldozers roll. Critics say the highway will fuel sprawl, worsen air, and ignore climate goals. The Turnpike Authority pushes ahead. Lives hang in the balance.

On November 16, 2023, the Portland City Council unanimously passed a resolution targeting the Gorham Connector highway project. The matter, described as a call to 'stop its work on the highway until rapid transit options have been properly examined,' urges the Maine Turnpike Authority to pause construction. Council members cited climate change and Maine’s emissions goals, demanding transit and land-use reforms come first. The council’s action follows a 2012 study warning that new roads alone won’t fix traffic. Local groups like GrowSmart Maine and businesses such as Smiling Hill Farm oppose the project, fearing it will worsen sprawl and pollution. Despite council opposition and federal funding for transit studies, the Turnpike Authority continues land acquisition and environmental reviews. Vulnerable road users face increased risk if the highway moves forward without transit alternatives.

• Highway Boondoggles 2023: The Pain in Maine Falls Mainly in … Gorham, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

Nov 14 - A 41-year-old man was struck at a Manhattan intersection. He suffered bruises and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The pedestrian remained conscious. Details on the crash and driver actions are unspecified in the report.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West Street and Albany Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He remained conscious after the crash. The report does not specify the vehicle type, driver actions, or contributing factors. No driver errors or violations are listed. The pedestrian's actions at the time of the crash are unknown. The report provides no information on safety equipment or helmet use. The crash occurred at 6:20 p.m. The lack of detailed data leaves the cause and circumstances unclear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679167 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - New York calls its buses rapid, but the lanes clog with cars. Riders wait. Promises break. Advocates demand real bus rapid transit: center lanes, fast boarding, tough enforcement. Without action, the city’s buses crawl. Vulnerable riders pay the price in time and danger.

This Streetsblog NYC analysis, published November 13, 2023, examines New York’s failure to deliver true Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The article, titled 'Want More Rapid Bus Transit? Build Real Bus Rapid Transit,' criticizes Mayor Adams for not following through on campaign pledges to expand bus lanes and implement full BRT. Advocates like Annie Weinstock and JP Patafio argue that dedicated center-running lanes, off-board fare collection, and strict enforcement are needed to speed up buses and protect riders. The piece notes, 'Current bus lanes, like on Utica [Avenue], really it’s almost like a parking lot, because they cover the plates and there’s no enforcement.' The report highlights that without strong leadership and commitment, bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—remain exposed to slow service and street danger. No council bill number or committee is attached; this is a policy analysis and advocacy call to action.

• Want More Rapid Bus Transit? Build Real Bus Rapid Transit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-13

Nov 12 - Brad Hoylman-Sigal calls for new laws on e-bikes. He says streets brim with fast machines. Pedestrians, especially elders and children, face rising risk. The council member demands action. He wants rules to protect those on foot. The city must not wait.

On November 12, 2023, Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47) publicly called for legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers, including e-bikes. The editorial, titled 'Hitting the brakes on e-bikes: New York needs legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers,' stresses, 'the vulnerable pedestrian, especially seniors and kids, must remain king and queen. Do more to protect them.' Hoylman-Sigal is mentioned as a key advocate. The statement supports both regulation of e-bikes and greater protection for pedestrians. No formal bill has been introduced yet, and no committee has taken up the matter. The editorial highlights the urgent need for city action to shield those most at risk on New York’s streets.

• Hitting the brakes on e-bikes: New York needs legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-11-12

Nov 9 - Older adults die first in disasters. Heat, floods, storms hit them hardest. The pattern is clear. The toll is high. No change in twenty years. The system fails them. The city looks away. The danger grows. The deaths mount.

On November 9, 2023, the Talking Headways Podcast spotlighted the deadly impact of climate emergencies on older adults. Danielle Arigoni, managing director at the National Housing Trust, discussed her book, 'Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation.' She said, 'time and time again, older adults are the majority of deaths in disasters.' The episode detailed how, from Hurricane Katrina to the Lahaina wildfires, seniors bear the brunt of heat, floods, and storms. Host Jeff Wood pressed on the need for policy that protects the vulnerable. The discussion made clear: the system ignores the predictable, mounting toll on older adults. No council bill or vote was involved, but the call for action was urgent. The city cannot keep looking away.

• Talking Headways Podcast: Aging Adults and Climate Emergencies, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-09

Nov 8 - A taxi making a left turn struck a southbound e-scooter rider on West Broadway in Manhattan. The rider suffered knee and lower leg bruises but remained conscious. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield as causes.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on West Broadway made a left turn and collided with a southbound e-scooter rider. The rider, a 34-year-old man, was injured with contusions to his knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists driver errors including inattention and failure to yield right-of-way. The e-scooter rider was riding alone and hanging on outside the vehicle. The taxi sustained damage to its left front quarter panel. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - A 35-year-old man was struck by a sedan making a right turn on Warren Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, distracted, hit him. He suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was left in shock.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Warren Street at an intersection with the signal. The driver of a 2022 Ford sedan was making a right turn when the collision occurred. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was in shock after the crash. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact at the center front end. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle southbound. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling by the pedestrian were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678212 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 2 - Council Member Chi Ossé condemned DOT for stalling the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The lane, long promised and long dangerous, remains unbuilt. Ossé demanded action. Cyclists keep dying. DOT offered no timeline. The city’s failure leaves lives at risk.

""The bike lane has strong community support, and its benefits are obvious. This failure is yet another glaring example of the administration falling far behind on its commitments to develop bicycle infrastructure in our city."" -- Charles Fall

On November 2, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the protected bike lane project on Bedford Avenue. The project, which was supposed to upgrade a painted lane to a parking-protected lane, has been pushed to at least next spring. Ossé wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, calling the delay 'unacceptable' and demanding a firm installation date. He stated, 'The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected.' Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, echoed his frustration, citing record cyclist deaths and urgent need for safety. The DOT has not responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights the city’s repeated failures to deliver promised street safety improvements.

• Council Member Chi Ossé Blasts DOT For Delaying — And Maybe Killing — Bedford Ave Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-02

Nov 1 - Mayor Adams shrugged off legal targets for new bike and bus lanes. He told DOT staffers he cares more about community input than hard numbers. His stance leaves city law unmet. Advocates warn: vague promises, little accountability, danger for those outside cars.

On November 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams dismissed the city’s legal requirements to build 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of bus lanes each year, as mandated by the Streets Master Plan. In a closed-door meeting with the Department of Transportation, Adams said, "My legacy is not how many bike miles I do. My legacy is not how many bus lanes I do." He signaled a shift from measurable safety benchmarks to a focus on community input, a move DOT staffers called "extremely micromanaged." Adams’s administration has failed to meet even the minimum legal standards for new lanes. A mayoral spokesman claimed the city still delivers "safe, efficient streets," but advocates say Adams’s approach relies on vague metrics and lacks accountability. No council members are directly involved; this is a mayoral policy stance. The result: fewer protected spaces for vulnerable road users, more risk on city streets.

• Adams Dismisses Bus, Bike Lane Mile Requirements At DOT Meeting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-01