Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Jul 16 - A DOT worker fixing a sign was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near miss in lower Manhattan. The cyclist fled. The worker bled on the street. Police are searching. No arrests. Another morning, another wound.

NY Daily News (2025-07-16) reports a city DOT worker was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near collision at Broadway and Cedar St. The worker was fixing a street sign when the cyclist nearly hit his truck. Witnesses said, 'They weren't even in the bike lane, they were parked on the corner.' After the argument, the cyclist cut the worker's arm with a box cutter and fled. The DOT worker was treated and released. Police are searching for the cyclist. The incident highlights the dangers of street work and the tense interactions between vehicles and vulnerable road users.

• DOT Worker Slashed After Near Collision, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 16 - Ex-Commissioner Tom Donlon says Adams insiders fueled deadly NYPD chases. Cyclists, kids, and bystanders paid. Streets turned chaotic. Policy ignored. Trust shattered. Vulnerable road users left exposed.

""The NYPD is led by the best, brightest and most honorable professionals in the nation — and their results speak for themselves: crime continues to fall across the city, with shootings at the lowest level in recorded history. We will respond in court, where we are confident these absurd claims will be disproven."" -- Charles Fall

On July 16, 2025, former NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon filed a civil racketeering suit, alleging 'deadly and unconstitutional high-speed vehicle chases' under Mayor Adams. The complaint, reported by Streetsblog NYC, claims the NYPD's Community Response Team operated as a rogue unit, answerable only to City Hall, with Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry allowing reckless pursuits. Donlon cites deaths and injuries, including cyclist Amanda Servedio. The suit alleges 398 crashes and 315 injuries in 2024—a 47% jump. Donlon's allegations highlight how high-speed chases increase risk to pedestrians and cyclists, introducing unpredictable, dangerous driving and eroding public trust in safe, equitable enforcement. No council bill or committee action is tied to this event.

• Former NYPD Boss Says Deadly High Speed Chases Were Result Of ‘Rogue’ Adams Insiders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 14 - A sedan hit a cyclist on West Street. The cyclist suffered arm injuries. Police cite confusion as a factor. The car’s front bumper took the impact. The street stayed dangerous.

A sedan and a bicycle collided on West Street in Manhattan. The cyclist, a 45-year-old man, was injured in the arm and suffered a contusion. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' contributed to the crash. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the cyclist. No driver errors were listed in the data. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the ongoing risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827840 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - SUV turned left. Cyclist rode straight. Impact at Church and Reade. Cyclist hit, leg scraped, stayed conscious. View blocked. Confusion listed. Streets failed to protect.

A collision on Church Street at Reade Street in Manhattan left a 37-year-old male cyclist injured. According to the police report, an SUV making a left turn struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his leg but remained conscious. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash highlights the dangers faced by cyclists in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - A sedan slammed into another car’s rear on Hubert Street. Two people inside suffered bruises. Police cite following too closely. Impact struck hard, left faces and backs marked.

A sedan traveling north on Hubert Street struck another vehicle from behind. According to the police report, both the driver and front passenger in the sedan were injured, suffering contusions to the face and back. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor in the crash. The impact hit the center back end of the lead vehicle. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - Two sedans collided at 224 Canal Street in Manhattan. A 37-year-old right rear passenger suffered back pain and whiplash. Police recorded obstructed views for both drivers.

Two sedans collided at 224 Canal Street in Manhattan. A 37-year-old man, the right rear passenger, was injured with back pain and a complaint of whiplash; he was conscious and not ejected. According to the police report, both drivers had "View Obstructed/Limited." The report lists "View Obstructed/Limited" as the contributing factor for each driver. The vehicles were a 2018 Acura sedan and a 2023 Tesla sedan. Points of impact were the Acura’s right front bumper and the Tesla’s left front bumper. Both drivers were licensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - Years pass. Bus speeds crawl. City dodges real bus rapid transit. Riders wait. Streets choke. Vulnerable users stuck with slow, crowded, unsafe options. Nothing changes. Safety stands still.

On July 11, 2025, Dave Colon spotlighted two reports slamming New York City’s failure to deliver real bus rapid transit. The reports state, 'Years of bus priority projects have barely improved speeds because New York City leaders have not implemented real bus rapid transit (BRT).' Colon, reporting for Streetsblog NYC, supports comprehensive BRT and opposes the city’s piecemeal fixes. Mayor Adams and city agencies have not acted on key recommendations. The safety analyst notes: the lack of real BRT means missed chances for mode shift and street equity, but does not directly worsen conditions for pedestrians and cyclists; the status quo remains unchanged.

• Why No BRT For NYC? Two New Reports Tackle Why Your Bus Service Sucks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 10 - A sedan and bike collided on Park Place. The cyclist, 25, suffered leg abrasions. Unsafe speed and improper lane use listed. The car’s left side struck. The bike hit head-on. No damage to vehicles. System failed the vulnerable.

A collision between a sedan and a bicycle on Park Place in Manhattan left a 25-year-old cyclist injured, with abrasions to the lower leg. According to the police report, contributing factors included 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The sedan was entering a parked position when the crash occurred, striking the cyclist at the left side doors. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but driver errors were primary. No vehicle damage was reported. The incident highlights the danger faced by cyclists amid improper lane use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 8 - The driver of a sedan turned left from Centre Street onto Leonard Street and hit a northbound cyclist. The 24-year-old woman suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. Police cited an obstructed view and improper lane usage.

The driver of a sedan made a left turn from Centre Street onto Leonard Street and collided with a northbound bicyclist at 18:23 in Manhattan. The 24-year-old bicyclist was injured, with abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. According to the police report, 'View Obstructed/Limited' was a contributing factor. The sedan’s pre-crash action is listed as 'Making Left Turn' and the bicyclist was 'Going Straight Ahead.' Police records also list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor for the bicyclist. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829640 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 6 - A high-speed electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in critical condition. Congestion and speed collided. Chaos followed. Bystanders watched. Sirens wailed.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, where an illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist. The unicycle, capable of speeds over 40 mph, struck Carolyn Backus, who was riding a standard bike. The unicycle operator was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. NYPD initially charged Backus with leaving the scene, but the charge was dropped. A spokesperson clarified, 'She also remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics.' The incident highlights risks from high-speed, illegal vehicles in crowded park spaces.

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 4 - A tractor truck turned right on West St, striking a taxi. The taxi driver suffered back injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No driver errors listed in the police report.

A crash unfolded at West St and Canal St in Manhattan. A tractor truck making a right turn struck a taxi going straight. According to the police report, the taxi driver, a 35-year-old man, was injured with back pain. The truck driver and other listed occupants were not reported injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors for this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - Mayor Adams halts 34th Street busway. Streets stay clogged. Pedestrians and bus riders lose. Car dominance remains. Safety and equity stalled.

On July 3, 2025, the Adams administration paused the 34th Street busway project, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The matter, described as a 'highly-anticipated 34th Street busway,' had support from Council Members Erik Bottcher, Keith Powers, and others. Bottcher called it 'transformative,' promising fewer crashes and faster buses. Powers slammed the last-minute reversal. Safety analysts warn: canceling the busway preserves car dominance, discourages transit, and keeps streets unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The project’s future is uncertain. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 2 - Taxi hit a man crossing Battery Place. The impact tore his arm. Police cite failure to yield. The street stayed loud. The crosswalk marked, the danger clear.

A taxi struck a 63-year-old man as he crossed Battery Place in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered an arm injury and abrasion. The driver, a 68-year-old man, failed to yield the right-of-way. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing with no signal, but the crosswalk was marked. No other factors are cited. The crash highlights the risk pedestrians face even in marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824879 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 27 - A 73-year-old woman crossing with the signal at Broadway was hit. She suffered a head injury. No driver errors listed. The street remains dangerous for those on foot.

A 73-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at the intersection of 299 Broadway in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when she was struck, sustaining a head contusion. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The vehicle type involved was unspecified. The report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by pedestrians, even when following traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824108 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 25 - Albany stalled. Lawmakers dragged their feet. No new laws for safer streets. Pedestrians and cyclists left exposed. The car stays king. The status quo kills. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

The 2025 Albany legislative session ended June 25, with lawmakers failing to pass key street safety bills. The Streetsblog NYC report reads: "Our elected officials in Albany have failed the livable streets movement again." Despite support for measures like speed camera reauthorization, most bills to protect pedestrians and cyclists died in committee or never reached the floor. Assembly Member Amy Sohn and others criticized the lack of action. The only major win was extending the city’s speed camera program. A safety analyst notes: 'Failure to advance livable streets policies likely maintains the status quo, which typically prioritizes car-centric infrastructure and neglects the safety and needs of pedestrians and cyclists.' The session’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No progress. No protection.

• D-Minus! The Albany Report Card for 2025, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 19 - A cyclist swerved to avoid a pedestrian in Central Park. He fell. His head struck the curb. He died at the hospital. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. The crash happened at a crosswalk near 96th Street. The case is under investigation.

ABC7 reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian while riding an e-bike in Central Park. According to police, Nico-Garcia swerved to avoid a 41-year-old pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk near 96th Street and East Drive. He fell, struck his head on the curb, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. The pedestrian sustained minor abrasions. ABC7 notes, 'Officials say Nico-Garcia was on an e-bike and was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown.' New York City does not require cyclists over 14 to wear helmets. In Central Park, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. The incident remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing risks at crosswalks and the lack of helmet mandates for adult cyclists.

• Cyclist Killed Dodging Pedestrian In Park, ABC7, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 18 - Waymo will test robotaxis on New York streets. Human drivers will control the cars. State law blocks full autonomy. Officials stress safety. Waymo pushes for legal change. The city weighs risk. Streets wait for the next move.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Waymo will soon test its driverless taxi technology in New York City. The vehicles will not operate autonomously; human drivers will remain behind the wheel, as state law forbids fully driverless cars. Waymo is lobbying for a law change to allow autonomous operation, but the effort has stalled in the State Assembly. Mayoral spokeswoman Sophia Askari said, "Public safety is our first priority, which is why we have strong guardrails and requirements in place on any sort of autonomous vehicles." The city’s Department of Transportation is reviewing Waymo’s permit application, the first under the new Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration or Testing Permit Program. The article highlights the tension between technological ambition and regulatory caution, with policy decisions pending and no driverless operation allowed yet.

• Waymo Robotaxis Begin NYC Street Tests, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 17 - A driver failed to yield. A woman crossing with the signal was hit at Lafayette and Leonard. She suffered a bruised arm. The car’s left front bumper struck her. System failed to protect her.

A 25-year-old woman was injured while crossing Lafayette Street at Leonard Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal and suffered a contusion to her arm. The vehicle’s left front bumper made contact. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No vehicle damage was noted. The system allowed danger at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823292 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19