Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Oct 25 - Paseo Park on 34th Avenue turned a deadly street into a safe haven. In two years, no one has died. Injuries to walkers and cyclists have plunged. The city eyes making it permanent. Council Member Moya blocks expansion. The numbers speak: lives saved.

This report covers the transformation of 34th Avenue into Paseo Park, an open street project in Queens. The project, now two years old as of October 25, 2022, has slashed traffic deaths and injuries. The matter summary states: 'the street has become much safer for all users as it has created dignified public space for all residents.' Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez led the ribbon-cutting. City officials are moving to make the changes permanent. In the last two years, there have been zero traffic deaths on 34th Avenue and a 43 percent drop in crashes in the surrounding area. Pedestrian and cyclist injuries have dropped by half, even as usage soared. Council Member Francisco Moya has not supported expanding Paseo Park into his district, leaving the project stalled at the border. The data show: open streets save lives, cut injuries, and give neighborhoods space to breathe.

• NUMBER CRUNCH: ‘Paseo Park’ is Already a Success Story, Defying Screaming Foes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-25

Oct 21 - A young man lay bleeding on Broadway. Two SUVs, one stopped, one moving. The street was quiet. The impact was hard. The pedestrian shook in shock. Blood pooled. His whole body hurt. The city did not stop.

A 21-year-old pedestrian was struck by a moving SUV near Maiden Lane on Broadway in Manhattan at 2:50 a.m. According to the police report, two SUVs were involved—one stopped, one moving. The pedestrian, not in a crosswalk, was hit hard and suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body. The report states, 'A 21-year-old man, not in a crosswalk, struck hard. Blood pooled on the quiet street. His whole body hurt. He shook in silence.' No contributing driver errors were specified in the data. The impact left the pedestrian in shock, with no other injuries reported among vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 20 - Large vehicles kill. Their size crushes, their height blinds. A tax on these machines would slow the arms race. Money raised could build safer streets. Fewer SUVs, fewer deaths. The danger is clear. The fix is simple. Lawmakers must act.

This policy advocacy, highlighted at the 2022 Vision Zero Cities conference, calls for taxing large vehicles to protect vulnerable road users. The proposal, supported by Transportation Alternatives and Streetsblog NYC, urges policymakers to use tax revenue to fund safer infrastructure. The article states, 'one efficient policy would be to tax large vehicles and use the revenue to build the infrastructure needed for safer streets.' The analysis draws a direct line between the rise of SUVs and pickups and the surge in pedestrian deaths. It notes that the largest vehicles are the deadliest, especially for those on foot or bike. The piece argues that taxing these vehicles would not only discourage their use but also shift the burden of their societal costs back onto their owners. The model follows Washington, D.C.'s recent move to scale registration fees by vehicle size and dedicate funds to safety programs. The message is blunt: fewer giant vehicles, more lives saved.

• Vision Zero Cities: The Case for Taxing Large Vehicles, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-20

Oct 14 - A truck driver killed Kala Santiago on a no-truck route. He passed too close, failed to yield, and faced no charges. The city lacks a three-foot passing law. A 2019 bill to fix this died in committee. Cyclists remain exposed. Justice denied.

In 2019, then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez introduced a bill requiring drivers to keep a minimum three-foot distance when overtaking cyclists. The bill, supported by NYPD and DOT, never reached a vote before Rodriguez’s term ended and has not been reassigned. The bill summary states it 'would require drivers of motor vehicles to maintain a minimum distance of three feet when overtaking a bicycle.' Rodriguez sponsored the bill. Legal experts Daniel Flanzig and Steve Vaccaro criticized the lack of enforcement and the absence of a defined safe passing law, noting that most of the country already has such protections. Flanzig called the law essential to prevent tragedies like the death of Kala Santiago, who was killed by a truck driver on Parkside Avenue. Without this law, cyclists remain at risk, and drivers rarely face consequences.

• No Charges for Truck Driver Who Killed Cyclist Despite Being on a No-Truck Route and Failing to Yield, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-14

Oct 13 - A 69-year-old woman crossing South End Avenue with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a U-turn. The impact fractured her knee and lower leg. The driver hit her with the vehicle’s left front bumper. She remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing South End Avenue at an intersection with the signal. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2022 BMW sedan, was making a U-turn when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific driver contributing factors such as failure to yield, but the maneuver of making a U-turn in a busy area likely played a role. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally with the signal. No helmet or signaling issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4573020 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 12 - A bicyclist was struck by a sedan on Watts Street in Manhattan. The driver’s inattention caused the crash. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. Both vehicles were damaged at impact points.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2018 Toyota sedan on Watts Street, Manhattan. The bicyclist sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock at the scene. The crash occurred when both vehicles were traveling straight ahead, with the sedan impacting the bike’s center back end. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for the crash. The bicyclist was not ejected and his safety equipment status is unknown. The sedan’s left front bumper and the bike’s center back end were damaged. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577064 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 5 - A Brooklyn woman walked to yoga. A driver struck her in a crosswalk. Metal met flesh. Pain followed. The police blamed her. The driver sent a sorry note. She joined the ranks of thousands hurt each year. Streets stay dangerous. Victims carry the weight.

On October 5, 2022, a personal testimony on pedestrian safety and traffic violence was published by Streetsblog NYC. The account details a crash: 'I was hit by a car driver while on my way to a yoga class in my Brooklyn neighborhood.' The driver struck the pedestrian in a crosswalk. Council action is not involved, but the testimony exposes systemic failure. Police blamed the victim: 'The police report blamed the victim: I caused my own pain.' The driver offered an apology, but took no responsibility. The story highlights the normalization of danger for pedestrians and the lack of driver accountability. No safety analyst assessment is available, but the narrative underscores the daily toll of car violence and the routine victim-blaming that follows.

• The Day I Was Hit By a Driver Changed My Life, And My City, Forever, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-05

Oct 3 - DC Council’s transit bill moves. Committee votes yes. Every resident gets $100 monthly for Metro. Funds target bus, streetcar, and neighborhoods left behind. Lawmakers say it’s costly, but worth it. Riders wait for better, cheaper, fairer service.

The Metro for DC Amendment Act of 2021 advanced on October 3, 2022, with a unanimous vote by the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment. The bill promises, as its summary states, to put '$100 per month on District residents' SmarTrip cards' and to invest millions in bus and streetcar improvements, especially for underserved neighborhoods. Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) introduced the bill, joined in support by Christina Henderson (At-large) and Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4). Committee Chair Mary Cheh (Ward 3) acknowledged the program’s high cost—an estimated $163 million in fiscal year 2025—but called the community benefit 'more than worth it.' The bill also creates a $10 million Transit Equity fund. The measure now heads to the Committee of the Whole for further review and two rounds of voting. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has not yet scheduled a hearing.

• DC May Soon Give Every Resident $100 Per Month For Transit, Improve Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-03

Oct 2 - Oswald Feliz halted DOT’s Fordham Road bus lane. He demanded a year’s pause. The move stalls safer, faster transit. Thousands of daily bus riders wait. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. Cars keep ruling the street. The city’s promise fades.

On October 2, 2022, Councilmember Oswald Feliz of District 15 opposed the Department of Transportation’s plan to convert segments of Fordham Road to bus and delivery-only lanes. Feliz asked DOT to pause the redesign for at least 12 months, citing concerns about traffic diversion and business impacts. The matter, reported as 'Eric Adams’ ambitious bus lane plans hit roadblock on NYC’s Fordham Road,' details how Feliz’s opposition blocks a key part of Mayor Adams’ pledge to build 20 new miles of bus lanes. DOT’s proposal aimed to restrict private vehicle traffic and prioritize buses and deliveries, a move supported by transit advocates and local polls. But Feliz’s action keeps the status quo: crowded streets, slow buses, and danger for those outside cars. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Eric Adams’ ambitious bus lane plans hit roadblock on NYC’s Fordham Road, nypost.com, Published 2022-10-02

Sep 30 - Skillman Avenue’s protected bike lane sparked outrage. Critics warned of empty shops and lost jobs. But after the lane went in, business grew. Sales rose 12 percent. Crashes fell by nearly a quarter. The street got safer. The warnings proved hollow.

This report covers the installation of a protected bike lane on Skillman Avenue in Queens, completed in fall 2018. The project faced fierce opposition, with critics predicting economic ruin for local businesses. Streetsblog obtained sales tax data from the Department of Finance, showing that, after the bike lane went in, Skillman Avenue’s main commercial stretch saw a 12 percent increase in sales and a net gain of three businesses. The article states: 'The economy of Skillman Avenue grew after the city built the new lane.' Department of Transportation spokeswoman Mona Bruno praised the redesign, saying, 'It's thrilling to see the neighborhood flourish with safer and more sustainable streets.' Crash data show a 24 percent drop in crashes and a 28 percent drop in injuries after installation. The findings challenge the myth that bike lanes hurt business and highlight the safety gains for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Business Grew After Controversial Bike Lane Installed, Data Show, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-30

Sep 28 - Council Speaker Adrienne Adams rejects outdoor dining in parking lanes. She calls for sidewalk-only setups, ignoring cramped sidewalks and city data. Her stance favors car storage over public space. Council Member Bottcher and advocates push back, demanding streets for people.

On September 28, 2022, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams made a public statement opposing the use of parking lanes for outdoor dining. The matter, discussed at a Citizens Union breakfast, centered on the future of the Open Restaurants program. Adams said, "Outdoor dining, in my perspective, should be sidewalk. The street extensions were designed to be temporary." The City Council is currently developing legislation to allow restaurants to use parking lanes, but Adams’s comments signal resistance. Council Member Erik Bottcher countered, calling the use of road space for dining "an overall positive development." Adams’s stance ignores the reality that most city sidewalks are too narrow for sidewalk-only dining, squeezing pedestrians and limiting restaurant survival. Advocates and groups like Transportation Alternatives and Open Plans criticized her position, urging the Council to reclaim public space from cars and support vibrant, safe streets for all.

• Council Speaker Makes Her Choice: Car Storage over Diners and Restauranteurs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-28

Sep 28 - D.C. council moved to ban right turns on red. The Safer Intersections Act passed a unanimous preliminary vote. Cyclists could yield at lights. Pedestrians and cyclists face fewer deadly turns. The law targets a decades-old danger. Final approval and Congressional sign-off still needed.

Bill B22-0000, known as the Safer Intersections Act, advanced in the Washington, D.C. council with a unanimous preliminary vote on September 28, 2022. The bill, under committee review, would prohibit right turns on red except at designated intersections and allow cyclists to treat stoplights as yield signs. The matter summary states the act 'will prohibit right-on-reds except at designated intersections.' Council Member Christina Henderson acknowledged the controversy, highlighting that 'the vast majority of [traffic violence] incidents are occurring in communities of color.' Advocates and council members argue the ban will reduce deadly 'right-hook' crashes, especially as large vehicles create blind zones. The bill awaits a final vote and Congressional approval, aiming to protect vulnerable road users and address longstanding inequities in traffic violence.

• Advocates Hope D.C.’s Proposed Right-On-Red Ban Will Inspire National Reform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-28

Sep 27 - Sanitation’s ‘Clean Curbs’ bins land on Staten Island. Trash moves off sidewalks. Curb space shifts from cars to public use. The city eyes more locations. Streets get less cluttered. Pedestrians gain room. The program grows, block by block.

On September 27, 2022, the Department of Sanitation announced the expansion of its 'Clean Curbs' pilot program to Staten Island, with a new installation at 704 Bay St. The initiative, previously launched in Times Square and Brooklyn, containerizes commercial trash to clear sidewalks of leaky bags. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce received a $3,500 grant for the project, which uses bins from CITIBIN, a Brooklyn-based woman-owned business. DSNY spokesman Vincent Gragnani said, 'Use of bins in these two different locations...will improve quality of life in these locations, while helping us learn more about containerized trash in a variety of New York City settings.' The program also repurposes curbside space for public use—like loading zones and parklets—instead of private car storage, freeing up sidewalks for pedestrians.

• Sanitation Dept’s ‘Clean Curbs’ Program Spreads to Staten Island, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-27

Sep 26 - City Hall missed the mark. Only 6.9 of 30 promised bike lane miles built. Just 2 of 20 bus lane miles delivered. Advocates say the Bronx is left behind. Riders and walkers wait. Promises broken. Streets stay dangerous. Progress stalls. Lives at risk.

On September 26, 2022, advocacy groups Transportation Alternatives and Riders Alliance released a report slamming the Adams administration for failing to meet the NYC Streets Master Plan’s legal mandates. The report states, 'the city is at only 23% of its bike lane goal and 10% of its bus lane goal for the year.' Elizabeth Adams called for protected bike lanes, saying, 'For the future of our climate and the safety on our streets, protected bike lanes need to be a priority.' Danny Pearlstein demanded faster action on bus lanes. Michael Kaess highlighted the Bronx’s lack of progress. The Department of Transportation disputed the numbers, but advocates pointed to missed deadlines and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and political interference are blamed. Vulnerable road users—cyclists, bus riders, pedestrians—remain exposed as the city drags its feet.

• New Report Shows Mayor Does Not ‘Get Stuff Done’ for Bus Riders, Cyclists, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-26

Sep 26 - Electric cars promise cleaner air. But the rise of pickups and SUVs drowns out progress. Heavier, dirtier vehicles clog streets and pump out carbon. Loopholes let automakers dodge real cuts. The climate and city air pay the price.

This policy analysis, published September 26, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, examines how surging sales of pickups and SUVs undermine carbon reductions from electric vehicles. The report states, 'sales of gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs are also surging. This other face of the market subverts electric cars’ carbon-cutting progress.' No council bill number or committee is attached, as this is a policy report, not legislation. The analysis highlights that regulatory loopholes and weaker standards for larger vehicles allow automakers to offset EV gains by selling more polluting trucks and SUVs. The author urges tightening greenhouse gas standards, especially for large gasoline-powered vehicles, and closing loopholes that let automakers evade meaningful carbon cuts. The report warns that unless regulators act, excessive emissions from pickups and SUVs will harm the climate and city air for years, stalling the benefits of electric vehicles for all road users.

• How Surging Pickup and SUV Sales Are Undermining Carbon Reductions From EVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-26

Sep 26 - Amtrak slashed trains in the pandemic. Riders still wait. The Adirondack route sits idle. Hudson Valley service lags. Trains run packed. Passengers get stranded. The state and Amtrak point fingers. Riders want action. The city needs more trains now.

This advocacy opinion, published September 26, 2022, calls for immediate restoration of Amtrak’s Adirondack service and expanded Hudson Valley trains. The matter, titled 'Opinion: Amtrak Must Restore Adirondack Service Now!', urges Amtrak and the New York State Department of Transportation to act. Steve Strauss and the Empire State Passengers Association press for more trains, added cars, and restored bike and baggage capacity. The piece blames state and Amtrak inaction for packed trains and stranded riders. It highlights that New York funds all Amtrak service north of the city, making state officials as responsible as Amtrak. The opinion demands urgent action to fill service gaps and meet rider demand.

• Opinion: Amtrak Must Restore Adirondack Service Now!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-26

Sep 23 - Mayor Adams promised hundreds of miles of bike and bus lanes. The city is far behind. Only a trickle of new lanes appear. Councilman Restler demands faster action. Riders and walkers wait. Streets stay dangerous. Progress crawls. The toll mounts.

This progress report, dated September 23, 2022, highlights the city’s failure to meet Mayor Adams’ pledge for 300 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of bus lanes in four years. The Mayor’s Management Report shows only 32 protected bike lane miles and 2 bus lane miles added in fiscal year 2022—far short of the annual targets. Councilman Lincoln Restler, District 33, is quoted: “We’ve approved $904 million for better bus lanes, more pedestrian space, and protected bike lanes and now we need to pick up the pace on implementation.” Restler pledges robust oversight and accountability, pressing the Department of Transportation to deliver. The report details frustration from council members and advocates over missed deadlines, slow progress, and persistent dangers for vulnerable road users. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Mayor Adams’ pledge to build bike and bus lanes falling short, gothamist.com, Published 2022-09-23

Sep 22 - DOT bleeds talent. One in five top jobs sit empty. Projects stall. Safety work slows. Leadership wobbles. Staff burn out. Promises break. Streets stay dangerous. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price. The lights stay on, but hope flickers.

This report, published September 22, 2022, exposes a staffing crisis inside the New York City Department of Transportation. Nearly 20% of top agency positions are vacant. The article, titled 'Just Keeping the Lights On,' details how these gaps cripple street safety and improvement projects. Key leadership roles—chief of staff, general counsel, communications director—remain unfilled. Employees blame city hiring policies, pandemic resignations, and weak leadership from Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. One former staffer says, 'We couldn't produce anything new. We were just keeping the lights on.' Another warns, 'The agency's ability to respond to severe injuries and fatalities is also limited and slow.' Political interference and lack of expertise at the top deepen the crisis. The result: fewer bus lanes, stalled bike infrastructure, and a city where vulnerable road users face mounting danger.

• ‘Just Keeping the Lights On’: Low Morale, High Staff Vacancy Rate Hobble Department of Transportation, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-22

Sep 20 - A box truck made a right turn on Maiden Lane in Manhattan. It struck a 24-year-old female bicyclist traveling east. She was ejected and suffered abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries. The truck showed no damage. The bicyclist wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a box truck was making a right turn on Maiden Lane when it collided with a female bicyclist traveling straight ahead eastbound. The bicyclist, age 24, was ejected from her bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to her hip and upper leg. The truck showed no damage, impacting the right rear quarter panel of the truck. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors for either party. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash highlights the vulnerability of cyclists when trucks turn across their path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565937 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 13 - Council Members push a bill to swap wailing sirens for hi-lo tones and vibrating tech. The aim: less noise, fewer health harms. Sirens will still clear streets, but without the shriek. The city’s nights could finally quiet down.

On September 13, 2022, Council Member Carlina Rivera, joined by Gale Brewer and seven others, sponsored a bill to mandate hi-lo, 'two-tone' sirens for emergency vehicles. The bill, discussed in committee, would cap siren volume at 90 decibels and encourage use of vibrating, low-frequency siren technology. The matter title calls for 'mandating the use of hi-lo, "two-tone" sirens by emergency response vehicles.' Brewer wrote, 'the city should mandate that emergency responders use hi-lo as their default siren and cap sirens at 90 decibels—as required by the proposed legislation—and scale up their use of vibrating siren technology.' The bill seeks to cut the health harms of constant siren noise, which studies link to hypertension and heart disease. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was noted.

• OPINION: Let’s Turn Down the Noise on Sirens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-13