Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Sep 29 - Floods choked New York. Subways drowned. Buses stalled. Cars trapped in oily water. Streets became rivers. Emergency response lagged. The mayor stayed silent. Vulnerable New Yorkers—pedestrians, riders, workers—were left stranded, exposed, and waiting for help that never came.

On September 29, 2023, New York City faced a crippling extreme weather event. Streets, subways, and highways flooded. The MTA told riders to stay home. Buses filled with water. Cars were stranded on the FDR and Prospect Expressway. The event, documented by Streetsblog NYC, showed city systems overwhelmed. The matter summary reads: 'The BQE is flooded, neighborhoods are flooded, the MTA is literally telling people to not take the train, but New Yorkers have yet to hear from their mayor today.' No council bill or vote was involved. No council member stepped forward. The city’s emergency response faltered. Vulnerable road users—those on foot, on transit, in cars—bore the brunt. The mayor’s absence left the public in the dark as danger mounted.

• We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-29

Sep 29 - Floodwaters swallowed streets, trapped buses, and shut down trains. Cars bobbed in oily rivers. Pedestrians waded through chaos. Council Member Lincoln Restler called out the city’s slow response. Vulnerable New Yorkers paid the price. Leadership stayed silent. Danger surged.

On September 29, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) spotlighted the devastation as extreme flooding crippled New York City’s transit. The event, titled 'Extreme weather event (flooding) impacts on NYC transportation,' showed buses stranded, subways flooded, and streets impassable. Restler was mentioned as a key voice demanding action. The article’s summary reads: 'We Have the 'End of Days' Flooding Pics You Need Right Now.' The city’s emergency response faltered. The MTA and DOT failed to protect riders and walkers. Streets and drainage buckled. Leadership, including the mayor, stayed out of sight. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, transit riders, and cyclists—faced the brunt of systemic neglect. No safety analyst weighed in, but the images and accounts show a city unprepared for crisis.

• We Have the 'End of Days' Flooding Pics You Need Right Now, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-09-29

Sep 28 - 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 2023-09-28

Sep 28 - 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 2023-09-28

Sep 28 - Council calls for scramble crosswalks at school zones. Kids cross in all directions. Cars stop. Too many crashes near schools. NYPD cut crossing guards. Council wants state to act. Session ended, bill filed.

Resolution 0792-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The bill would require scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The matter, introduced September 28, 2023, was sponsored by Council Members Hanif (primary), Brooks-Powers, Restler, and Riley. The resolution states: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of student arrival and dismissal.' The council highlights a surge in crashes near schools and the loss of 486 NYPD crossing guards. The bill aims to cut deadly conflict between cars and children. The session ended with the bill filed, not enacted.

• File Res 0792-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-09-28

Sep 27 - Assembly bill A 8079 would force scooter riders to get licensed, insured, and schooled. No license, no sale. Lawmakers push paperwork, not street fixes. Vulnerable users still face the same steel threat.

Assembly Bill A 8079, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Filed September 27, 2023, it aims to require a safety manual, licensing, and insurance for electric scooter operators in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes a bicycle and electric scooter operator's safety manual; provides for the issuance of a license...; requires liability insurance for electric scooters in cities having a population of one million or more.' Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr. leads, with Rebecca Seawright, Michael Benedetto, Deborah Glick, Jeffrion Aubry, David McDonough, and Michael Novakhov co-sponsoring. The bill targets paperwork and compliance. It does not address the core dangers faced by pedestrians and cyclists on city streets.

• File A 8079, Open States, Published 2023-09-27

Sep 26 - A 25-year-old woman was struck at an intersection on West Street. The SUV hit her center front with no vehicle damage. She suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The pedestrian crossed against the signal. No driver errors were listed.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2023 GMC SUV traveling south on West Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The SUV impacted her at the center front end, but the vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no contributing driver errors or factors. The pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is noted, but no driver failure to yield or other errors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 25 - A 35-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a sedan on Park Row. The cyclist was making a left turn when struck by the sedan traveling east. The bicyclist suffered bruises and lower leg injuries but was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a crash on Park Row, Manhattan. The bicyclist, who was unlicensed and making a left turn, collided with a sedan traveling straight ahead. The sedan struck the bike at the right front bumper. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not identify any driver errors for the sedan. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling east. The bike showed no damage, while the sedan had damage to its right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665717 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - A motorcycle collided with a parked taxi on Broadway in Manhattan. The motorcyclist, a 33-year-old man, suffered a fractured knee and dislocated lower leg. The taxi was stationary. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south on Broadway collided with a parked taxi. The taxi was stationary when the motorcycle, also traveling south and changing lanes, struck its right front quarter panel. The motorcyclist, a 33-year-old man with a permit license, sustained serious injuries including a fractured knee and dislocated lower leg. He was wearing a helmet and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but notes the motorcycle was changing lanes prior to impact. The taxi driver was licensed and the vehicle was occupied by three people but no injuries to them were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - Council Member Marte and others push to exempt dollar vans from Manhattan congestion tolls. They argue the vans are vital for Asian communities. Without exemption, fares rise. Commutes get harder. The MTA has not taken a side.

On September 24, 2023, Council Member Christopher Marte joined eight other elected officials in urging the MTA to exempt dollar vans from the upcoming congestion pricing plan. The letter, signed by Marte and state legislators, was sent to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. The officials wrote, 'Commuter vans offer the Chinese communities in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn a much-needed service that is not being provided by other forms of public transportation: safe, language-accessible, and culturally competent means for people to access jobs, resources, and family.' They argue that tolling these vans—serving Flatbush Avenue, eastern Queens, and the city’s Chinatowns—would raise fares and cut off vital connections for Asian New Yorkers. Assembly Member Grace Lee said, 'They should be exempt from tolls under the congestion pricing plan.' The MTA has not taken a position on the exemption.

• Chinatown pols seek to exempt dollar vans from congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2023-09-24

Sep 21 - An e-bike rider struck the right side of a parked sedan on Reade Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered injuries to his elbow and lower arm, with minor bleeding and shock. The sedan showed no damage. No driver errors were specified.

According to the police report, a 49-year-old male bicyclist traveling west on an e-bike collided with the right side doors of a parked 2022 Chevrolet sedan on Reade Street, Manhattan. The bicyclist sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, resulting in minor bleeding and shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors or violations. The sedan was unoccupied and undamaged. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The crash involved no ejection and no damage to the sedan. The incident highlights the dangers cyclists face even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 20 - Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine wants to tear down FDR Drive south of the Brooklyn Bridge. He calls for federal funds to turn the highway into a bike and pedestrian haven. The plan faces legal and political hurdles but aims to reclaim space for people.

On September 20, 2023, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine revived a proposal to remove the FDR Drive viaduct south of the Brooklyn Bridge. The plan, not yet in committee or assigned a bill number, seeks federal support through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant. Levine urges Mayor Adams to apply for funding, stating, 'We’re a perfect candidate for Reconnecting Communities.' State Senator Brian Kavanagh voiced support, saying, 'We will work with the borough president.' The proposal would transform the underused highway into a waterfront space for cyclists and pedestrians, echoing successful removals in cities like Seattle and Seoul. The project faces major legal, environmental, and jurisdictional obstacles, as the FDR is state-owned and exempt from congestion pricing. The city previously considered this removal for coastal resiliency, but dropped it from the final plan. No formal safety analysis was provided, but the plan centers vulnerable road users by reclaiming space from cars.

• Manhattan BP Wants To Raze FDR Drive South of Brooklyn Bridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-20

Sep 19 - Attorney Adam White was arrested after exposing an obscured license plate. Cops charged him with criminal mischief. The DA dropped the case. White now sues the NYPD and city, demanding policy changes and damages. The suit targets retaliation against civilians reporting traffic misconduct.

On September 19, 2023, attorney Adam White filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, seven officers, and the City of New York. The case stems from a November 11, 2022 arrest after White removed a plastic cover from a license plate he believed was obscured to dodge traffic cameras. The complaint, citing false arrest and retaliation, states: "Mr. White now brings this suit seeking redress for the violations of his own rights, as well as seeking changes to Defendant City's policies and practices around responding appropriately, and without retaliation, to civilian complaints about illegal 'ghost cars,' 'ghost plates,' and other traffic misconduct." The suit names Sholem Klein, head of the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol, as the complainant who called police. The Brooklyn DA later dropped charges against White. The lawsuit seeks damages and policy reforms to protect civilians who report illegal traffic activity.

• Cops Violated Lawyer’s Civil Rights During Infamous ‘Criminal Mischief’ Arrest: Suit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-19

Sep 13 - The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Sep 12 - Council grilled DOT for stalling on bus and bike lanes. Law demands these lanes. Streets stay deadly. Commissioner Rodriguez faced anger. Restler and others demanded answers. Riders and walkers pay the price for delay.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s failure to deliver required bus and bike lanes. The hearing, led by the Committee on Transportation, featured testimony from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and others criticized the agency for 'continuously falling behind on legally required bus and bike lanes.' The matter title reads: 'NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog.' Restler’s action was to publicly challenge DOT’s delays. No safety analyst note was provided, but the council’s frustration highlights the risk: every missed lane leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-09-12

Sep 12 - Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Sep 11 - Maryland’s governor pushes a $4 billion highway expansion. Two new toll lanes in each direction. Only scraps for transit. Critics say it’s greenwashing. Black and brown communities bear the brunt. Lawsuits fly. The road grows wider. The danger remains.

"Gov. Moore, like his predecessor, can’t honestly sell the toll lane plan on its merits, so he has to fall back on smoke and mirrors. His administration is trying to dress up the project as primarily about public transit. But that’s just a marketing ploy and a distraction." -- Charles Fall

On September 11, 2023, Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore announced plans to continue a $4.032-billion highway expansion along interstates 495 and 270. The project, first championed by Republican Larry Hogan, adds two toll lanes each way, with just three percent of funds for sustainable transit. The official summary claims 'new improvements' and uses language of equity and sustainability. Advocates like Janet Gallant and Ben Crowther call it 'greenwashing' and a 'marketing ploy.' Brian O’Malley points to the climate crisis. Lawsuits challenge the plan, which critics say will worsen health and climate impacts, especially for Black and brown communities. The debate exposes a bipartisan pattern: leaders from both parties keep widening highways, ignoring the toll on vulnerable road users and communities.

• Why Democrats and Republicans Alike Keep Expanding Highways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-11

Sep 8 - An e-bike struck a 57-year-old woman crossing Walker Street in Manhattan. She suffered a head injury and concussion. The driver was inattentive. The pedestrian was confused. The crash left the woman injured but conscious.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling east on Walker Street collided with a 57-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. It also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' but does not assign fault to the victim. The e-bike had no visible damage and was moving straight ahead at impact. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The driver’s failure to maintain attention was a key factor in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660531 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - Philadelphia spends $18 million to give 22,000 city workers unlimited SEPTA rides. The move aims to boost hiring, cut traffic, and help the environment. Other cities eye the model, but face hurdles. Riders, not drivers, stand to gain.

On September 7, 2023, Philadelphia announced an $18 million program to provide over 22,000 public employees with all-access transit passes on SEPTA. The policy, led by Mayor Jim Kenney, is a pilot to support hiring, retention, sustainability, traffic safety, and equity. Kenney called it 'an opportunity to boost the city’s hiring and retention efforts, and support our goals of sustainability, traffic safety, and equity.' Project manager Sandi Ramos highlighted the program’s savings for workers and its equitable impact. Council Member Charles Allen in D.C. and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have pushed similar ideas, but funding and jurisdictional issues stall progress elsewhere. The program’s focus is clear: more transit riders, fewer cars, safer streets. No direct safety analyst note was provided, but the policy centers vulnerable road users by shifting trips from cars to transit.

• Philly Gives City Workers Free Transit. Can Other Cities Follow?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07

Aug 23 - Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23