Blood on the Crosswalk: Manhattan’s Streets Still Kill

May 28 - Council pushes bill for cheaper bike share for New Yorkers over 65. More seniors could ride. The city’s streets may see older cyclists in the mix. The committee now holds the bill.

Bill Int 1288-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 28, 2025, and re-referred June 4, it mandates a discounted bike share rate for seniors 65 and older. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.” Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, and Menin. The Department of Transportation would require bike share operators to offer this rate. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 27 - A taxi struck a cyclist at 2 Broadway. The cyclist, a 46-year-old woman, was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left bruises and pain. The street stayed busy. The danger was real. The system failed again.

A crash at 2 Broadway in Manhattan involved a taxi and a bicycle. The cyclist, a 46-year-old woman, was ejected from her bike and suffered injuries to her arm, including a contusion. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south when the collision occurred. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash. The taxi driver, a 69-year-old man, was not reported injured. The cyclist's safety equipment status was listed as 'Unknown.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk to cyclists from inattentive drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816001 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 27 - A police cruiser swerved from a taxi and slammed into two people eating outside. Sirens screamed. Metal struck flesh. Both diners and officers landed in the hospital. The street stayed open. The city kept moving. The system failed the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (May 27, 2025), an NYPD squad car struck two people seated at an outdoor dining area on Broadway and West 112th Street. The crash happened when a taxi made a left turn, prompting the police car to swerve. The article states, “The 37-year-old cab driver was given a summons for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.” Both diners and police vehicle occupants were hospitalized in stable condition. The report notes, “It was not immediately clear if authorities were responding to a call when the incident unfolded.” The incident highlights risks at curbside dining areas and ongoing dangers from driver error and street design. The investigation continues.

• Police Car Hits Diners In Manhattan Crash, New York Post, Published 2025-05-27

May 24 - A motorcycle hit a car’s rear on Canal Street. The rider flew from the bike. He suffered arm injuries and bruises. Police cite driver distraction. The crash left one hurt. Metal and flesh met hard pavement in Manhattan.

A motorcycle traveling west on Canal Street collided with the right rear bumper of a car making a left turn onto Greene Street. The motorcycle driver, a 31-year-old man, was ejected and sustained injuries to his arm and a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for the crash. The car, registered in New Jersey, had two occupants but no injuries were specified. The impact damaged the motorcycle’s front and the car’s rear. The report does not mention any helmet use or other safety equipment as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A sedan hit an e-scooter at Park Row and Frankfort Street. The e-scooter rider, a 27-year-old man, was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left a mark on the city’s streets.

A crash involving a sedan and an e-scooter occurred at Park Row and Frankfort Street in Manhattan. The 27-year-old male e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury, described as a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor for both vehicles. The sedan, registered in Connecticut, was starting in traffic, while the e-scooter was making a left turn. The report lists no damage to either vehicle. The police report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary cause remains driver inattention. No other injuries were specified for the sedan occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815700 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - An SUV hit a man working in the street on Barclay. The crash left him bruised and hurt in the leg. Police cite driver distraction. The street became a danger zone. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp and real.

A pedestrian, a 44-year-old man, was struck and injured by a station wagon/SUV while working in the roadway near 10 Barclay Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:20 p.m. The man suffered a contusion and injury to his lower leg and foot but remained conscious. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The vehicle, traveling west, struck the man with its left front bumper. No vehicle damage was reported. The report does not mention any pedestrian error or equipment. The facts point to driver distraction as the cause of harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815323 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20

May 20 - Citi Bike workers back Brad Lander for mayor. Their bosses at Lyft fund Andrew Cuomo’s PAC. The split exposes fault lines in city transit. Riders and workers watch. Streets remain dangerous. The fight for safer roads grinds on.

On May 20, 2025, Citi Bike workers endorsed Brad Lander for mayor, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The article states: “Citi Bike's workers are backing Brad Lander for mayor while their bosses at Lyft chip in on Andrew Cuomo's PAC.” This is not a council bill, but a political endorsement. Local 320 President Edwin Aviles called Lander 'the one and only person in NYC government who has ever publicly recognized and championed safety, fair wages, and a fair Collective Bargaining Agreement.' No council member sponsored or voted on this action. The endorsement signals a push for leadership that may prioritize safer streets and better conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. According to safety analysts, this event concerns political endorsements and campaign contributions, not a policy or legislative change affecting pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Share the Love Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-20

May 19 - A woman crossing Worth Street was struck and suffered a fractured shoulder. The crash left her conscious but injured. No driver errors were listed in the police report.

A 35-year-old woman was hit while crossing Worth Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was not at an intersection or signal. She suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder but remained conscious. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The vehicle type was unspecified. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814612 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - Police handcuff cyclists. Judges toss tickets. Lawmakers protest. NYPD issues criminal summonses for minor bike infractions. Riders face court for actions once legal. Anger grows. The city’s crackdown targets the vulnerable, not the dangerous.

West Side Spirit reported on May 19, 2025, that opposition is mounting against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists for minor traffic violations. Council Member Gale Brewer criticized the move, stating, "A civil summons is a more appropriate response and thrusting people into the criminal justice system unnecessarily is bad public policy." The article notes that some officers issued summonses for actions legalized in 2019, such as cyclists proceeding with a pedestrian walk signal. Many tickets were dismissed in court due to errors by police. A class action lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist ticketed for a legal maneuver. The crackdown raises questions about enforcement priorities and the risk of criminalizing vulnerable road users instead of addressing systemic dangers.

• NYPD Faces Backlash Over Bike Summonses, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-19

May 14 - Moped slid on slick South Street. Driver ejected, leg fractured. Pavement danger left two hurt. Night, empty road, sudden violence.

A moped crashed on South Street near Broad Street in Manhattan. Two men were hurt. The 29-year-old driver was ejected and suffered a fractured leg. Another occupant, age 33, was also injured. According to the police report, 'Pavement Slippery' was listed as the main contributing factor. The moped struck the center front end. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The report does not mention helmet use or signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

May 10 - A sedan hit a woman crossing with the signal at Chambers and W Broadway. She suffered a bruised leg. The driver turned left. Police list all factors as unspecified.

A 35-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing Chambers Street at W Broadway in Manhattan. She was crossing with the signal and suffered a contusion to her leg. According to the police report, the sedan was making a left turn when it hit the pedestrian. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The driver and other occupants were not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 10 - An SUV struck a cyclist on Canal Street. The rider suffered severe head cuts. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The crash left the cyclist bleeding, the SUV undamaged.

A crash on Canal Street in Manhattan left a 23-year-old cyclist with severe head lacerations. According to the police report, an SUV traveling west struck the cyclist, who was making a left turn. The cyclist was partially ejected and injured. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. No damage was reported to the SUV. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the report centers driver error as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A sedan hit hard on Duane Street. Glare and driver distraction led to impact. The driver suffered abdominal injuries. Pain and shock followed. Streets stayed dangerous.

A Ford sedan traveling east on Duane Street in Manhattan crashed, injuring the 25-year-old driver. According to the police report, 'Glare' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The driver suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries and reported pain and shock. The report lists no other injuries. The data shows driver error as a key factor in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813176 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 6 - Mayoral hopefuls vow to overhaul city streets. They promise more protected bike lanes, daylighting, and bus lanes. Each pledges to close deadly gaps and enforce Vision Zero. Their words center safety for people walking, biking, and riding transit.

On May 6, 2025, Streetsblog NYC published 'Decision 2025: Mayoral Candidates Answer Our Question 3.' The piece asked candidates how they would make streets safer for walking and biking. Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, and Zohran Mamdani all responded. Stringer highlighted his push for protected bike lanes and daylighting. Myrie promised to meet or exceed the Streets Master Plan’s 50-mile annual bike lane goal and to end delays. Ramos pledged 200 miles of physically separated bike lanes and to close network gaps. Lander committed to the Streets Master Plan and fixing greenway connections. Mamdani vowed to use all mayoral powers for Vision Zero. Each candidate supports redesigning streets to protect vulnerable road users. Their plans focus on proven changes—protected lanes, pedestrian islands, daylighting, and bus lanes—to cut injuries and deaths.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Candidates Answer Our Question 3, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-06