Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

Apr 29 - Design Trust’s new toolkit targets city red tape. It aims to shift public space from car storage to people. The guide lists steps for plazas, parklets, and open streets. It pushes city agencies to cut barriers and back community-led, pedestrian-focused spaces.

On April 29, 2022, the Design Trust for Public Space released its 'Neighborhood Commons' toolkit. This policy report, not a council bill, urges city agencies to overhaul how New York manages public space. The toolkit, described as a guide for 'city approvals needed for plazas, sidewalk furniture, parklets, open streets and other amenities that enable successful pedestrianization and placemaking,' calls for unified permits, sliding fees, and an inter-agency Public Realm Working Group. Matthew Clarke, executive director, said, 'Public spaces and the small businesses that define them are critical for the livelihood of our neighborhoods.' Jackson Chabot of Open Plans added, 'These systemic changes will foster safe streets, commerce, and community.' The report highlights decades of city neglect, favoring car storage over people. The toolkit’s recommendations aim to make streets safer and more vibrant for everyone.

• Design Trust Releases Public Space Management ‘Toolkit’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-29

Apr 26 - Queens Boulevard remains a danger zone. The city’s plan keeps eight car lanes, weak bike protection, and slow buses. Cyclists dodge cars. Bus riders wait. Drivers rule. Real safety demands fewer car lanes, center bus lanes, and true bike barriers.

This opinion piece, published April 26, 2022, calls out the Department of Transportation’s plan for Queens Boulevard. The plan, part of the 'Great Streets' project, keeps eight car lanes and installs only lightly protected bike lanes with mountable curbs. Samuel Santaella, the author, writes: 'the department has discriminated against thousands of bikers and 13,630 pre-pandemic daily bus riders in order to privilege the needs of 40,000 daily motorists.' Santaella opposes the current DOT plan and urges a redesign: reduce car lanes to four, add center-running bus lanes, fully separated bikeways, and wider sidewalks. He warns that mountable curbs let drivers invade bike lanes, putting cyclists at risk. Bus riders see little benefit, still stuck behind double-parked cars. The piece demands the city stop favoring drivers and start protecting vulnerable road users.

• OPINION: Swap Out Car Lanes for a Center-Running Bus Lane, Better Bike Facilities on Queens Boulevard, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-26

Apr 23 - Mayor Adams pledged $900 million for protected bike and bus lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it a dramatic step for street safety. The sum falls short of Council’s ask, but promises hardened lanes and real barriers for cyclists and bus riders.

On April 23, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced a $900 million budget proposal for street safety infrastructure. The plan, part of ongoing budget talks, aims to fund hundreds of miles of protected bike and bus lanes, plus concrete barriers. Council Member Lincoln Restler of District 33, a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, praised the move as 'a very clear commitment to addressing street safety across the five boroughs.' The proposal supports the Streets Master Plan, which mandates 250 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of protected bus lanes in five years. Restler emphasized that the funding will harden bike lanes, replacing paint with physical barriers to keep cars out and protect cyclists. The Council had requested $3.1 billion, but Restler called the $900 million a dramatic investment. The budget must be finalized by June 30.

• Mayor Adams pledges more than $900 million to enhancing traffic safety, gothamist.com, Published 2022-04-23

Apr 22 - City Hall adds 21 new Open Streets but offers little funding. Volunteers still shoulder the burden. Mayor Adams calls his commitment 'steadfast.' Car owners protest. Residents and businesses cling to rare safe space. Equity promised, but city support remains thin.

On April 22, 2022, the city announced an expansion of the Open Streets program, adding 21 new locations to the existing 156. Mayor Adams, in a statement, called his commitment to the program 'steadfast.' The announcement pledges up to $20,000 per site for non-profits to cover costs like barriers and signage. The program, launched during the pandemic, lets residents walk and gather in streets closed to cars. Council action is not specified, but the mayor's office leads. The city promises to focus on underserved neighborhoods, aiming for equity. Still, most operations rely on volunteers, not city workers. Car owners protest the loss of parking. The Horticultural Society of New York will assist with management and upkeep. The city’s support is real but limited. Vulnerable road users get space, but the system leans on unpaid labor.

• City Announces New Open Streets Coming This Summer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

Apr 20 - More cars do not mean faster commutes for Black workers. Decades of rising car ownership brought longer, not shorter, trips. Streets stay dangerous. Pollution and risk fall hardest on communities of color. The answer is not more cars. It is safer streets.

This policy analysis, released April 20, 2022, reviews a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The report, titled 'Study: Car Ownership Doesn’t Always Cut Black Workers’ Commutes,' finds that despite an increase in car ownership among Black workers—from 76% in 1980 to 85% in 2019—average commute times grew longer, not shorter. The study states, 'it may not be possible to speed up city commutes with automotive strategies alone.' The gap in commute times between Black and White workers persists, especially in large, segregated cities. The article warns that subsidizing driving will make streets more polluted and dangerous, with the heaviest toll on communities of color. It calls for investment in bus rapid transit, trains, and active transportation, and for building communities where jobs and housing are close. No council member is named; this is a research release, not a legislative action.

• Study: Car Ownership Doesn’t Always Cut Black Workers’ Commutes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-20

Apr 18 - Two vehicles traveling east collided on Laight Street. The SUV struck the sedan’s right side doors. The sedan’s 71-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and shock. Both drivers were licensed. The crash caused damage to both vehicles’ sides.

According to the police report, a 2015 Dodge SUV and a 2020 Mitsubishi sedan collided on Laight Street. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead eastbound when the SUV impacted the left front quarter panel against the sedan’s right side doors. The sedan’s 71-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining back injuries and shock. He was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash resulted in damage to the left front quarter panel of the SUV and the right side doors of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4520196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 7 - Councilmember Rita Joseph opens the door. Residents in District 40 and four other Brooklyn districts can vote on local projects. Ballots close April 10. The process funds parks, schools, and public spaces. The city lets people decide. Streets may change.

Participatory Budgeting voting opened in Brooklyn District 40 on April 7, 2022. Councilmember Rita Joseph announced the cycle, which runs until April 10. The process lets residents as young as 11 vote on capital and expense projects. The official matter title: 'Voting for Participatory Budgeting is open in five Brooklyn districts until April 10.' Joseph, along with councilmembers Jennifer Gutiérrez (34), Chi Ossé (36), Alexa Avilés (38), and Shahana Hanif (39), offers in-person and online voting. Projects range from park upgrades to school improvements. Final results will be announced the week of April 17. Participatory Budgeting shapes how public money is spent, but the safety impact for vulnerable road users depends on which projects win. No direct safety assessment was provided.

• Voting for Participatory Budgeting is open in five Brooklyn districts until April 10, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-04-07

Apr 6 - Yankee Stadium blocks cyclists. No bike racks. No protected lanes. Helmets banned inside. Painted lanes blocked by cars. The last stretch is a gauntlet. The team pushes trains, ignores bikes. Cyclists left exposed, unwelcome, and at risk.

This media commentary, published April 6, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, exposes the lack of safe bike access at Yankee Stadium. The article states: 'The Bombers do nothing to promote—and, in fact, discourage—fans from visiting Yankee Stadium by bicycle.' There are no bike racks at the stadium. Helmets are banned inside. Painted bike lanes are blocked by double-parked cars. No protected bike lanes exist near the stadium. The Macombs Dam Bridge approach is hazardous. The Yankees promote transit but ignore cycling. No council members are directly involved. The piece highlights systemic neglect and danger for cyclists, leaving vulnerable road users exposed and unsupported.

• Streetsblog’s Annual MLB Opening Day Preview! Yankee Stadium Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-06

Apr 3 - Council Speaker Adrienne Adams demands $3.1 billion for bike lanes, bus lanes, and car-free busways. The plan dwarfs past efforts. It would rip out car space, open streets to people, and speed up buses. The mayor’s budget cuts face fierce resistance.

On April 3, 2022, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams led the City Council in calling for a $3.1 billion investment in street redesign. The proposal, part of the council’s response to the mayor’s $98.5 billion preliminary budget, seeks to expand protected bike lanes to 500 miles, bus lanes to 500 miles, and add 38 million feet of pedestrian space. The council’s plan also introduces 40 miles of car-free busways, a benchmark not found in the mayor’s plan or previous legislation. Adams and other council leaders argue this funding is vital, stating, 'To secure an equitable recovery for our city and improve public safety, we must focus on robust investments.' Transit advocates back the plan, urging the mayor to support safer, more accessible streets for all New Yorkers.

• Council calls for 'unprecedented' $3.1 billion streets plan commitment, gothamist.com, Published 2022-04-03

Mar 30 - A 23-year-old male e-bike rider suffered a hip and upper leg abrasion on Canal Street. The rider was conscious and not ejected. The crash involved impact to the center back end of the e-bike. No driver errors were reported.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike was injured on Canal Street near Avenue of the Americas. The rider sustained abrasions to the hip and upper leg but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The e-bike was traveling west and struck at the center back end, resulting in damage to that area. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The rider's safety equipment status is unknown. No other vehicles or persons were reported injured or involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516742 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 28 - E-bike incentives spread as Congress stalls. States and cities move ahead with rebates. Local action grows as federal tax credits shrink. Car trips remain king. Streets stay deadly for walkers and riders. Lawmakers talk, but danger endures.

This policy analysis, published March 28, 2022, reviews the E-BIKE Act and related state bills. The E-BIKE Act, once part of the Build Back Better Act, proposed a federal tax credit for e-bike buyers. Congress reduced the credit from $1,500 to $900 and limited eligibility, stalling progress. The article states, 'By replacing car trips, e-bikes can simultaneously lower emissions, improve street safety, and boost riders' health.' John MacArthur, a transportation program manager, notes that local and state lawmakers now lead with rebates and incentives. Council members and legislators in Vermont, Colorado, California, Washington, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma have introduced or supported bills for e-bike rebates. Despite the momentum, no current state proposal pairs incentives with new bike infrastructure. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians and cyclists—remain at risk as car dominance continues and federal action lags.

• Electric Bicycle Incentives Go Local, But Feds Can Do More, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-28

Mar 21 - DOT unveiled three plans for Fordham Road. Two would ban cars on key stretches. Bus riders suffer slow trips. Most shoppers walk or ride transit. Advocates back a full busway. Businesses worry about lost drivers. DOT will refine designs by fall.

On March 21, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced three proposals to improve bus service on Fordham Road, the Bronx’s main transit artery. The plans include painted bus lanes, a partial car-free busway, and a full car-free busway between Morris and Webster avenues. DOT aims to finalize designs by early fall and implement changes by mid-fall 2022. The matter summary states, 'Bus speeds are among the slowest in the city.' Council members are not named, but transit advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance and Juan Restrepo of Transportation Alternatives support the full busway, citing faster buses and safer streets for the majority who walk or ride. Local businesses fear losing car customers. DOT will study traffic impacts before moving forward.

• DOT Offers Three Proposals to Finally Improve Bus Service on Fordham Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-21

Mar 9 - Canal Street is chaos. Cars rule, people dodge. Pedestrians make up most users, but get little space. Council Member Marte calls for urgent fixes. Residents want wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and real enforcement. The city stalls. Danger grows. Action cannot wait.

"Council Member Marte spoke at the end. He acknowledged the time is long overdue to take action in response to the dire conditions of Canal Street. He pledged his support to take action." -- Christopher Marte

On March 9, 2022, a public statement titled 'It’s Time for Immediate Action on Canal Street' spotlighted the deadly imbalance on Canal Street. The Department of Transportation and Council Member Chris Marte faced residents at a design workshop. The matter: 'What is to be done about traffic and safety on Canal Street?' Marte pledged support for urgent changes. The op-ed notes that pedestrians are 65% of users but get as little as 10% of street space. Residents demand widened sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and enforcement against double-parking and crosswalk invasions. The call is clear: shift space from cars to people. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at daily risk. The time for talk is over. The street must change now.

• Op-Ed: It’s Time for Immediate Action on Canal Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-09

Mar 3 - A sedan struck a 20-year-old male bicyclist at Worth Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was distracted and inexperienced. The bike was damaged on the left side.

According to the police report, a BMW sedan traveling south on Worth Street collided with a bicyclist traveling east. The bicyclist, a 20-year-old male, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with driver inexperience. The sedan impacted the bicyclist on its right front bumper, damaging its center front end. The bike sustained damage to its left side doors. The bicyclist was not ejected and was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver was licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers to vulnerable cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4507414 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 2 - Cracked asphalt splits the Ocean Parkway bike path. Cyclists dodge hazards. Advocates warn of worsening danger. Repairs crawl. City agencies stall. A fatal crash haunts the route. Groups demand urgent fixes, safer slip lanes, and real maintenance. City officials stay silent.

On March 2, 2022, cycling groups Bike New York and Bike South Brooklyn sounded the alarm over the crumbling Ocean Parkway bike path in Brooklyn. In a letter to the Parks Department and Department of Transportation, they wrote: "Asphalt is heaving and cracking at many points from the northern end of the bikeway to Avenue R... These conditions will worsen as long as they are not repaired or addressed." The advocates criticized the slow pace of repairs, noting the southern section will not be fixed until 2023. Jon Orcutt, Bike New York Advocacy Director, said, "Parks' inability to move projects like these or stay ahead of decay poses big problems for an expanded citywide greenway system." The letter urges long-term maintenance plans and calls for safer slip street designs, demanding drivers stop before crossing bike lanes. No city officials responded. The advocates cite a recent cyclist fatality as proof of the deadly risk.

• Cycling Groups Sound Alarm that More of Ocean Parkway Bike Path is Falling Apart, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-02

Feb 28 - A sunken road on 40th Drive killed Lin Wen-Chiang, 77, after months of ignored complaints. City agencies patched the hole only after his death. The repair was rushed and uneven. The hazard remains. The city failed to protect cyclists. No answers given.

On February 28, 2022, city agencies responded to the death of Lin Wen-Chiang, 77, who was killed after his bike struck a caved-in section of 40th Drive in Elmhurst, Queens. The matter, titled 'City Covers Up Failure After Cyclist Death, With Hastily Made Repairs After Months of 311 Complaints,' details how residents filed at least eight 311 complaints to the Department of Transportation and 14 to the Department of Environmental Protection since 2019. Both agencies failed to fix the hazard. Only after Wen-Chiang’s death did city workers patch the road, but the repair was rushed and left uneven, creating a new danger. DOT spokesman Vin Barone called it 'a tragedy' and said an investigation is underway. DEP claimed the subsurface infrastructure was sound. No council members are named. The city’s neglect cost a life and left the street unsafe for cyclists.

• City Covers Up Failure After Cyclist Death, With Hastily Made Repairs After Months of 311 Complaints, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-28

Feb 19 - Two cars crashed head-on on Canal Street. Both drivers hurt. One bled from the face. The other bruised his arm. Airbags burst. Shock followed. Illness played a role. Steel and flesh met hard in Manhattan.

According to the police report, a 2012 SUV and a 2001 sedan collided head-on on Canal Street in Manhattan. Both drivers, aged 79 and 34, were injured. The older driver suffered minor facial bleeding. The younger driver had bruises on his shoulder and upper arm. Both wore seat belts and airbags deployed. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No other driver errors, such as failure to yield or speeding, were noted. The crash damaged the left front bumpers of both vehicles. Neither driver was ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A pick-up truck struck a sedan from behind on FDR Drive. The right rear passenger in the sedan suffered a head injury and concussion. Both vehicles were traveling north. The crash involved following too closely by the drivers.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling north on FDR Drive rear-ended a sedan also heading north. The sedan was changing lanes while the pick-up truck was going straight ahead. The collision caused a head injury and concussion to the right rear passenger, a 27-year-old woman, who was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The pick-up truck sustained damage to its center back end, and the sedan's left front bumper was damaged. No safety equipment was noted for the injured passenger. The drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally, but their failure to maintain safe distance led to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503966 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 15 - Two men on bikes collided on Fulton Street in Manhattan. One rider, 35, suffered a head abrasion. Both bikers were going straight east. No vehicle damage was reported. The injured cyclist wore no helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, two bicyclists traveling east on Fulton Street in Manhattan collided. One bicyclist, a 35-year-old man, was injured with a head abrasion but was conscious and not ejected from his bike. Both riders were going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless behavior. Neither bike sustained damage. The injured cyclist was not wearing a helmet. The crash resulted in injury severity level 3 for the bicyclist. No other persons were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4503532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 2 - Mayor Adams named new climate chiefs. Advocates want less talk, more action. They demand bus lanes, bike lanes, and fewer cars. Transportation emissions barely dropped in 15 years. Car ownership climbs. The city’s climate targets slip further away.

On February 2, 2022, Mayor Adams announced his new climate team, appointing Rohit Aggarwala as Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner and Chief Climate Officer, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. The announcement, covered by Streetsblog NYC, focused on broad climate issues. Advocates, including Jaqi Cohen and Kevin Garcia, pressed the new office to prioritize transportation emissions, quoting, 'improving transit options and creating access for environmental justice communities, while also curbing harmful diesel emissions.' Aggarwala voiced support for congestion pricing, pedestrianization, and bus lanes, promising collaboration with the Department of Transportation. Transportation emissions have dropped only 5% since 2007, while car ownership rises. Advocates urge the climate team to work with DOT on bus and bike lanes, last-mile delivery, and cargo bikes to meet climate and justice goals.

• New City Hall Climate Teams Must Focus On Transportation Emissions Reductions, Advocates Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-02