Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Jun 28 - Over 2,500 neighbors demand a safer McGuinness Boulevard. The petition calls for fewer lanes, wider sidewalks, and a protected bike lane. Community anger follows deadly crashes. The city’s DOT faces pressure to act. The street remains a danger zone.

On June 28, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and over 2,500 residents backed a petition urging a full redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation will present its draft plan to Brooklyn Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee on June 30. The petition, described as a call for 'wider sidewalks and a wider median, a protected bike lane, and eliminating one lane of traffic in each direction,' follows the hit-and-run death of teacher Matthew Jensen. Gallagher stated, 'Our community is speaking loud and clear: no more deaths on McGuinness.' The campaign has support from Councilmember Lincoln Restler and Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The street, a busy four-lane truck route, has seen dozens of crashes and injuries in recent years. Organizers and residents demand urgent action to end the deadly toll on vulnerable road users.

• EXCLUSIVE: More than 2,500 sign petition supporting McGuinness Boulevard redesign ahead of DOT presentation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-06-28

Jun 27 - City rolls out Clean Curbs pilot in Hells Kitchen. Trash bins take curb space once reserved for cars. Bags move off sidewalks. Pedestrians get room to walk. Rats lose cover. Some drivers grumble. Council Member Bottcher calls it progress. Streets change. Safety follows.

On June 27, 2022, the city launched the Clean Curbs residential pilot on West 45th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in Hells Kitchen. The Department of Sanitation will install several dozen rat-proof trash bins for building managers and superintendents to store garbage and recycling, moving bags off sidewalks and into curbside street lanes. The matter summary reads: 'Testing a rat-proof trash container... instead of on the sidewalk.' Council Member Erik Bottcher said he is 'thrilled that our district was the first to be chosen for this exciting advance,' calling it 'another important step.' The pilot takes parking space for bins, sparking complaints from drivers but clearing pedestrian paths. The city plans to expand the $1.3-million program to all five boroughs. Critics note the bins are small and collection methods unchanged, limiting scale. Still, the move marks a shift: less sidewalk trash, more space for people.

• EXCLUSIVE: ‘Clean Curbs’ Residential Bins To Launch in Hells Kitchen, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-27

Jun 26 - Three dead. Seven injured. Brooklyn streets ran red this weekend. Drivers struck, dragged, and killed. Victims included a child and an elder. Officials spoke. Promises made. The toll climbs. Vision Zero falters. Blood on the asphalt. The crisis deepens.

On June 26, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez issued a joint statement after a weekend of deadly crashes in Brooklyn. The statement followed a spate of violence: 'Car drivers killed at least three people and injured seven others, including an 11-year-old boy.' The carnage included hit-and-runs, reckless driving, and unlicensed operators. Adams and Rodriguez said they are 'working every day to deliver true public safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who uses our streets.' They acknowledged recent progress but warned, 'the disturbing incidents we've seen in recent weeks and the last 48 hours remind us just how fragile those positive steps are and how much more work remains.' The city faces one of its most violent years since Vision Zero began. The numbers: 106 killed citywide in the first half of 2022, surpassing 2015. The crisis is not over. The danger remains.

• Weekend Road Carnage Kills Three, Injures at Least Seven, as Bad Old Days Return, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-26

Jun 24 - Governor Hochul signed the bill. Speed cameras in New York City now operate around the clock. No more nighttime gaps. Deborah Glick backed the measure. The law aims to slow cars, protect people, and keep streets safer for everyone.

On June 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill extending and expanding New York City's speed camera program. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick (District 66) and Senator Andrew Gounardes, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7 in up to 750 school zones. The bill was set to expire but now runs through July 1, 2025. The matter summary states: 'New York City is now able to operate its speed cameras 24 hours a day.' Glick, who sponsored the bill, dismissed criticism that cameras are a cash grab, saying, 'The city isn't in the car with you... If you don't want to get a ticket, don't speed.' Mayor Eric Adams called the cameras a deterrent, not a punishment. Advocates say the law will slow cars and protect pedestrians, especially children. The bill passed just before the legislative session ended, closing a deadly loophole in city enforcement.

• NYC speed cameras can now operate 24/7, gothamist.com, Published 2022-06-24

Jun 24 - Governor Hochul signed a bill making school zone speed cameras run all day, every day. No more gaps. Crashes and injuries near schools drove the change. The law dropped tougher penalties, but sponsors vow to keep fighting. Streets stay dangerous. Cameras now never sleep.

On June 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill expanding New York City's school zone speed camera program to operate 24/7, year-round. The bill, sponsored by Assembly Member Deborah Glick and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, was passed after statistics showed rising crashes and injuries near schools. The matter summary: 'The city's school zone speed cameras will now operate 24/7 year-round.' Hochul cited student deaths and the need for constant protection. Mayor Adams called the program a national model, noting, '72 percent of fatalities have been happening when the cameras were off.' The bill was weakened from its original form, dropping escalating fines and stricter penalties for repeat offenders due to City Council concerns. Glick and Gounardes pledged to push for stronger measures. A separate bill to expand red light cameras failed. The new law closes deadly loopholes but leaves enforcement gaps for repeat offenders.

• Hochul Signs Speed Camera Bill, Citing Streetsblog’s Coverage of Unsafe School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-24

Jun 23 - DOT’s plan adds nine miles of protected bike lanes in Eastern Queens. Activists say it falls short. Gaps remain. Cyclists still risk death. Community Board 11 debates. Some call it progress. Others demand more. The fight for safe streets continues.

The Department of Transportation’s proposal for a protected bike-lane network in Eastern Queens, updated after Community Board 11 feedback, now includes about nine miles of protected lanes. The plan, described as 'crucial for providing protected access to parks and greenways,' faces criticism from activists and residents who say it lacks key connections and leaves cyclists exposed. CB11 member John Kelly, speaking personally, voiced fear for his child’s safety and called for a shift in car culture. Victor Dadras, chair of the CB11 Transportation Committee, called the plan 'a step in the right direction' but admitted it is incomplete. The committee will discuss the proposal further, with a full board vote expected in September. DOT may begin marking lanes in the fall. Activists cite recent cyclist deaths and demand a stronger, safer network.

• City’s Proposed Eastern Queens Bike Network Needs Work, Activists Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-23

Jun 22 - Staten Island buses vanish from schedules more than any in New York. Riders wait. They miss work. They give up. The MTA blames a driver shortage. Service lags behind the rest of the city. The fix is slow. The danger grows.

On June 22, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported that Staten Island buses are canceled more than any other borough’s, citing MTA data. The matter highlights that 'Staten Island has the city's lowest rate of Service Delivered.' Riders like Kayla and Brandon Grada spoke of constant cancellations and unreliable schedules. Janno Lieber, MTA Chairman and CEO, said hiring is underway to address the shortage. Staten Island’s service delivery rate was 92 percent in April, compared to 97 percent citywide. The MTA’s hiring freeze and pandemic losses hit Staten Island hardest. Riders report missed work and abandoning transit. The MTA promises improvement, but for now, vulnerable road users face longer waits and greater risk.

• Staten Island’s Buses are the Most-Canceled in New York City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-22

Jun 22 - City workers behind the wheel keep hitting people. Taxpayers bleed. In 2021, New York paid $138.5 million to settle 4,143 crash claims. Cops, sanitation, fire, and transit agencies drive the toll. The city’s own cars are a menace. Victims pay the price.

On June 22, 2022, the city Comptroller released the annual Claims Report, revealing that in fiscal year 2021, New York City paid $138.5 million to settle 4,143 cases involving city workers crashing city-owned vehicles. The report states: 'City-owned motor vehicles cause the largest share of personal injury and property damage settlements.' Comptroller Brad Lander sounded the alarm, saying, 'These payouts cost over a hundred of million dollars a year, and can never account for the damage to traffic victims and their families. Traffic violence has a price NYC cannot afford.' The NYPD, Department of Sanitation, FDNY, Department of Environmental Protection, and DOT accounted for nearly all payouts. Only Sanitation and DOT responded to the report. The city’s own fleet remains a threat to vulnerable road users. The cost is measured in blood and dollars.

• Crashes By City Workers — Especially Cops — Are Still Costing Taxpayers Dearly, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-22

Jun 22 - MTA chief Janno Lieber drew a hard line. No congestion pricing means no new subway, no e-buses, no ADA fixes. The $15 billion gap looms. Advocates say there’s no backup plan. Riders and vulnerable users wait, exposed, as funding stalls.

""It's going to be the ... Second Avenue subway. It's a lot of ADA [accessibility improvements to] stations. It's a lot of zero emissions buses. It's a lot of state-of-good-repair to make sure our system continues to function well and doesn't fall apart. We need that $15 billion."" -- Charles Fall

On June 22, 2022, MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber issued a stark warning about the fate of the agency’s capital plan. Speaking publicly, Lieber said, "If it doesn't happen, at some point we can't award contracts that are dependent on having capital, the cash a couple of years later." The matter centers on congestion pricing, which Lieber and advocates call the largest, most environmentally beneficial funding source for the MTA. Projects at risk include the Second Avenue Subway, ADA accessibility improvements, and zero-emissions buses. Lieber opposes broad exemptions, arguing carve-outs weaken the plan. Rachel Fauss, a transit advocate, stressed, "There is no other source to fill that $15 billion hole." The MTA’s five-year capital plan remains stalled, leaving vulnerable riders—especially those needing accessible stations—at risk as the city waits for action.

• MTA CEO Puts it in Blunt Terms: ‘Without Congestion Pricing, Forget 2nd Ave. Subway, E-Buses or ADA Work’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-22

Jun 21 - A 59-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing outside a crosswalk on Worth Street in Manhattan. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The driver hit her on the right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian was conscious and bruised.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2017 Chevrolet sedan traveling east on Worth Street struck her outside a crosswalk. The impact occurred on the vehicle's right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - A Ford SUV hit a stopped KIA near 20 Pine Street. Metal tore. The KIA’s side caved in. A 39-year-old man’s arm was crushed. Heat shimmered. Silence hung over the wreck. The city kept moving.

A Ford SUV struck a stopped KIA sedan from behind near 20 Pine Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'a Ford struck a stopped KIA from behind. Metal split. The KIA’s side crumpled inward.' A 39-year-old man in the KIA suffered crush injuries to his arm and remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s point of impact was the right rear bumper, while the KIA’s left side doors were heavily damaged. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 16 - Two vehicles crashed on Broadway in Manhattan. The SUV and sedan struck front bumpers. The SUV driver, a 34-year-old man, suffered a head abrasion but was conscious and restrained. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Broadway involving a 2016 SUV and a 2014 sedan. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when they collided front-to-front. The SUV driver, a 34-year-old man, was injured with a head abrasion but remained conscious and was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The impact damaged the right front bumper of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The injured party was the SUV driver; no pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4538034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A 34-year-old man working in the roadway was struck by a vehicle making a left turn on Barclay Street. The impact hit the pedestrian’s right leg area. The man suffered bruises and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured on Barclay Street in Manhattan when a vehicle making a left turn struck him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian, a 34-year-old man working in the roadway at the intersection, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash. No other vehicle details or contributing factors were noted. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision and did not have any safety equipment listed. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - Two sedans collided on Church Street. Impact slammed bumpers. A young woman and an older woman suffered neck and back injuries. Both strapped in. Both shaken. Pain and nausea followed.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Church Street in Manhattan collided. The crash struck the left rear bumper of one sedan and the right front bumper of the other. A 21-year-old female driver and a 57-year-old female passenger were injured. The younger woman suffered neck injuries; the older woman, back injuries. Both wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for both injured occupants. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537713 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A 79-year-old man on a bike was hit by an SUV making an improper U-turn on Worth Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered bruises and arm injuries. The driver disregarded traffic control and turned improperly. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, an SUV was making a U-turn eastbound on Worth Street when it collided with a 79-year-old male bicyclist traveling westbound. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists the driver's errors as "Turning Improperly" and "Traffic Control Disregarded." The SUV struck the cyclist with its center front end. Neither vehicle showed damage. The bicyclist's safety equipment status is unknown. The crash highlights the dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers and failure to obey traffic controls in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Traffic deaths surge while lawmakers stall. Fifty-nine killed by cars in three months. Streets favor SUVs over people. Full-time speed cameras help, but car subsidies fuel the carnage. Ryder Kessler calls for bold action: end giveaways, reclaim space, protect the vulnerable.

On June 7, 2022, Ryder Kessler published an opinion piece urging New York to stop subsidizing car usage. The statement, titled 'New York Must Stop Subsidizing Car Usage,' highlights a 44 percent rise in traffic fatalities and criticizes the city’s car-centric policies. Kessler, a candidate for Assembly District 66, calls out incumbent Deborah Glick for supporting speed-camera renewal but failing to reduce car dominance. He states, 'To get cars off the streets, we have to stop subsidizing their usage.' Kessler pledges to expand protected bike and bus lanes, end free curbside parking, and push for weight-based vehicle fees. He argues that current subsidies—free parking, gas-tax holidays, and slow-walked congestion pricing—endanger New Yorkers, especially those outside cars. The piece demands systemic change to protect vulnerable road users.

• OPINION: New York Must Stop Subsidizing Car Usage, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-07

Jun 3 - Cycling slashes emissions faster than electric cars. Swapping car trips for bike rides cuts carbon now. Active travel means cleaner air, fewer cars, safer streets. The study shows: pedal power outpaces battery power in the race against climate disaster.

This policy analysis, released June 3, 2022, reviews global transport emissions and the impact of cycling versus electric cars. The report, titled 'Study: Cycling is 10x More Important Than Electric Cars For Reaching Net Zero,' finds that 'tackling the climate and air pollution crises requires curbing all motorised transport, particularly private cars, as quickly as possible.' No council members are named; this is a research-driven analysis, not a legislative action. The study tracked 4,000 urban residents across Europe, showing daily cyclists had 84% lower travel emissions than non-cyclists. It argues that active travel—cycling, walking, e-biking—cuts emissions faster than waiting for electric cars to replace gas vehicles. The findings highlight the urgent need to reduce car use, not just electrify it, to protect vulnerable road users and the environment.

• Study: Cycling is 10x More Important Than Electric Cars For Reaching Net Zero, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-03

Jun 2 - Assemblyman Mamdani and Senator Hoylman push for cameras in 50 protected bike lanes. Drivers who block lanes face $50 fines. DOT backs the plan. Lawmakers say enforcement is needed. Cyclists face danger daily. Cameras promise real consequences for reckless drivers.

Assembly Bill, proposed June 2, 2022, by Zohran Mamdani (District 36) and co-sponsored by Brad Hoylman, seeks to deploy automated enforcement cameras at 50 protected bike lanes. The bill aims to fine drivers $50 for each infraction, targeting those who block or drive in bike lanes. The matter summary states: 'NYC pols propose traffic cameras to deter drivers from using bike lanes.' Mamdani and Hoylman argue that enforcement is critical, with Mamdani stating, 'You consistently see cars driving in the bike lane. We know that these cameras work to deter drivers from breaking the law.' DOT supports the measure, calling it 'life-saving automated enforcement technology.' The bill awaits City Council approval, with Mamdani pledging to advance it through the summer and fall.

• NYC pols propose traffic cameras to deter drivers from using bike lanes, nypost.com, Published 2022-06-02

Jun 2 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Jun 2 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02