Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Jun 1 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01

May 31 - 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 2022-05-31

May 27 - D.C. council hiked registration fees for heavy SUVs. Owners of 6,000-pound behemoths now pay $500, up from $155. The city aims to fund safer streets and fix battered roads. Councilmember Mary Cheh says it’s a step to offset harm from oversized vehicles.

On May 27, 2022, the D.C. Council passed a bill to increase registration fees for large SUVs. The measure, led by Transportation Committee Chairwoman Mary Cheh, boosts fees to $500 for vehicles over 6,000 pounds, $250 for 5,000–6,000 pounds, and $175 for 3,500–5,000 pounds. The bill summary states, 'the larger a vehicle, the worse it is for the environment, the more damage it causes to our roads, and the more dangerous to others using the roadway.' Cheh, who wrote the proposal, said, 'drivers who pick these larger vehicles will now need to pay a bit more to compensate for that additional damage.' The council expects the new fees to raise $40 million over five years, funding street safety projects and road repairs. Cheh admits the policy is not a cure-all for traffic violence but calls it a step forward to recoup costs from oversized vehicles.

• D.C. SUV Owners Will Finally Pay Much More to Drive Such Behemoths, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-27

May 25 - A cyclist struck a stopped Toyota on Maiden Lane. His arm split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. The car stood still, untouched. The cyclist stayed awake, clutching his torn flesh. The street held its silence. Metal and flesh collided. Pain lingered.

A cyclist riding west on Maiden Lane crashed into the right side of a stopped Toyota sedan near Water Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A cyclist hit the side of a stopped Toyota. His arm split open on impact. Blood on the pavement. The car stood still, unmarked. He stayed awake, holding his torn flesh.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm. No injuries were reported for the car’s occupants. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors or vehicle violations are noted in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - 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 2022-05-25

May 23 - Albany passed a bill letting New York City run speed cameras all day, every day. Lawmakers cut tougher penalties for repeat offenders. Advocates called the final bill a win, but mourned lost safety measures. Vulnerable road users remain exposed to reckless drivers.

On May 23, 2022, the New York State legislature passed a bill allowing New York City to operate speed cameras 24/7. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick, originally included tougher measures: escalating fines, registration suspensions, and insurance reporting for repeat speeders. These provisions were stripped during negotiations, leaving only the round-the-clock camera operation. Assembly Member Glick said, 'keeping the cameras on 24/7 was that hill.' Mayor Eric Adams called it 'a major victory for New Yorkers that will save lives.' Advocacy groups and lawmakers voiced frustration at Albany’s reluctance to adopt stronger safety tools. The final law removes blackout periods for cameras, but leaves dangerous drivers with fewer consequences. The bill passed despite disappointment over its dilution, exposing the limits of legislative action for street safety.

• Anatomy of a Sausage: How a Great Bill Got Gutted in Albany’s Mediocrity Factory, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Brooklyn’s Shore Parkway Greenway will close for a year. Parks Department cannot promise a safe detour for cyclists or pedestrians. Advocates demand action. City officials talk coordination, but no plan exists. Riders face risk. Repairs come, but safety lags.

On May 23, 2022, the Parks Department presented plans to close the Shore Parkway Greenway between the Verrazzano Bridge and Bay Parkway for a year-long repair in 2024. The matter, discussed at Brooklyn Community Boards 10 and 11, aims to fix potholes, resurface the path, and repair the seawall. The presentation, however, lacked any guarantee of a safe alternate route for cyclists and pedestrians. Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher admitted, 'I can't make any promises.' Council Member Carlina Rivera’s office noted her bill would require protections for cyclists around work zones, highlighting the gap in current planning. Executive Director Terri Carta of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative said, 'NYC Parks and DOT need to provide a safe alternative for greenway users during construction.' Despite DOT’s willingness to help, no concrete detour exists. The city’s failure to plan puts vulnerable road users at risk during the closure.

• Parks Department Can’t Guarantee Safe Alternate Route During Year-Long Brooklyn Greenway Repair, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 20 - Lawmakers move to keep speed cameras running in school zones. The bill grants a three-year extension. Cameras will operate 24/7. Deborah Glick expected to sponsor in Assembly. The measure aims to curb reckless driving and protect people on foot and bike.

Bill to extend New York City's speed camera program for three years is advancing. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced the measure on May 19, 2022. The bill allows cameras in up to 750 school zones to run around the clock until July 1, 2025. Assemblymember Deborah Glick, District 66, is expected to sponsor the bill in the Assembly. The bill summary states it will 'allow New York City to extend its soon-to-expire speed camera program and keep the devices running 24 hours a day.' Mayor Eric Adams called the deal 'a major victory for New Yorkers that will save lives and help stem the tide of traffic violence.' The bill dropped harsher penalties for repeat offenders, focusing on the extension and expanded hours. The City Council must approve a home rule message before the state Legislature votes. The legislative session ends June 2, 2022.

• Lawmakers likely to extend NYC speed cameras for 3 years, gothamist.com, Published 2022-05-20

May 20 - Lawmakers struck a deal. Speed cameras stay for three more years. Cameras will run all day, every day. Assemblywoman Glick backs the move. Streets saw less speeding where cameras watched. The city council must approve. The fight against traffic violence continues.

Bill to extend and expand New York City's automated speed camera program advanced on May 20, 2022. Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, representing District 66, cosponsors the legislation. The bill awaits City Council approval. The measure allows cameras to operate 24/7, instead of limited weekday hours. The matter summary states: 'State lawmakers have reached a deal to extend and expand a New York City traffic camera program that has ticketed reckless drivers in school zones since 2013.' Glick said, 'Speeding, as we all know, has become more prolific during the pandemic.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Senate sponsor, said, 'Speed cameras save lives.' Mayor Adams called the bill a 'major victory for New Yorkers.' City data shows speeding dropped 72% during camera hours. The extension aims to curb rising traffic violence and protect vulnerable road users.

• Lawmakers reach deal for 3-year extension to NYC speed camera program, nydailynews.com, Published 2022-05-20

May 16 - Drivers keep burning gas. Streets stay clogged. Death and pollution hold steady. The state’s gas tax holiday cuts prices, not crashes. Transit ridership lags. Oil giants profit. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. The city breathes fumes and fear.

On May 16, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported that New Yorkers’ gasoline use remains nearly unchanged since before the pandemic. State gas tax revenue shows only a 7.5 percent dip from March 2020 to March 2022. The upcoming gas tax holiday, set for June 1, will drop pump prices by 16 cents per gallon. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance called the holiday 'an outrageous windfall for oil profiteers' and demanded Governor Hochul cancel highway expansions and invest in frequent public transit. The bill is not before a council committee, but the advocacy statement highlights the ongoing threat to vulnerable road users: steady car traffic means steady danger. Pollution, congestion, and road death remain constant. The state’s policy props up driving, not safety.

• QUICK HIT: New Yorkers Are Still Burning Gasoline Like There’s No Tomorrow, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-16

May 16 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

May 16 - Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

May 13 - Mayor Adams promised 150 miles of bus lanes. As painting season starts, only three projects move forward. Riders wait. Advocates demand action. DOT offers few details. Bus speeds crawl. The city falls behind its own plan. Vulnerable riders pay the price.

This report, dated May 13, 2022, tracks the Adams administration’s progress on bus lane expansion under the Streets Master Plan. The plan requires 20 miles of new bus lanes in 2022 and 150 miles by 2026. The article states: 'Mayor Eric Adams has only presented three bus lane projects totaling about 14.6 miles as the painting season begins.' Only three out of 22 locations have timelines. Advocates like Riders Alliance and Ashley Pryce voice frustration: 'Mayor Adams promised 150 miles of new bus lanes. So far, he's at 0.' DOT claims support but offers no concrete schedule. Council members are not directly named, but the pressure comes from advocacy groups demanding urgent action. The lack of progress leaves bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—waiting in slow traffic, exposed to danger and delay.

• Adams Administration Has Just Three Bus Lane Projects as Painting Season Starts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-13

May 2 - Council and advocates demand action. Delays in commercial waste zones keep deadly trucks on city streets. Overlapping routes, reckless haulers, and missing side guards kill and injure. Reform stalls while lives hang in the balance. Urgency grows. No more excuses.

On May 2, 2022, the City Council’s Sanitation Committee, chaired by Council Member Sandy Nurse, held a hearing on the delayed implementation of commercial waste zones, a reform established by a 2019 law. The matter, titled 'Advocates Warn Against Further Delays on Commercial Waste Zones,' drew sharp criticism after the Department of Sanitation granted private carters a three-month extension to comply with new requirements. Nurse stated, 'Our communities cannot afford any more delays.' Advocates and Families for Safe Streets highlighted the deadly toll: reckless commercial haulers have killed more than two dozen people in recent years. The reform aims to cut truck traffic, reduce pollution, and require life-saving side guards on heavy trucks by 2024. Lauren Pine, a crash survivor, said, 'Commercial waste zone reform can not come fast enough.' The hearing underscored that every delay keeps vulnerable New Yorkers at risk.

• TRASH TALK: Advocates Warn Against Further Delays on Commercial Waste Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-02

Apr 29 - Two vehicles crashed head-on on Chambers Street in Manhattan. Three occupants suffered bruises and whiplash. Alcohol involvement was a factor. Injuries spanned entire bodies and lower limbs. Drivers and passengers remained conscious and were not ejected.

According to the police report, a 2017 SUV and a 2005 sedan collided head-on on Chambers Street, Manhattan. The crash injured three occupants: a 63-year-old male driver with whiplash, a 21-year-old female passenger with bruises over her entire body, and a 26-year-old female passenger with bruises to her knee and lower leg. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before impact. The SUV driver was licensed in New Jersey; the sedan driver was licensed in Rhode Island. No ejections occurred. The report does not specify other driver errors but highlights alcohol involvement as a key factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4523135 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19