Apr 18 - City Council pressed delivery apps to protect workers from deadly e-bike battery fires. Two bills would force companies to provide safe batteries and fireproof charging. FDNY and city officials backed the push. Delivery workers face grave risk. Action is overdue.

On April 18, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on e-bike battery safety. The focus: Intro. 949 and Intro. 950. These bills, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Sanitation, and FDNY to run a buyback program for safe lithium-ion batteries and mandate companies provide fireproof charging containers. The matter title calls on delivery app companies to 'step up' and protect workers from deadly battery fires. Powers declared, 'We're failing as policy makers if we're not protecting folks from that.' Assistant Commissioner Carlos Ortiz and FDNY Code Counsel Julian Bazel testified in support. Both bills have majority Council backing. The Adams administration supports the spirit of the buyback. Delivery workers, mostly low-income immigrants, face high costs for safe batteries and deadly risk from unsafe ones. In 2023 alone, 63 lithium-ion fires caused 52 injuries and five deaths. The Council’s action targets this systemic danger.

• Delivery Apps Should ‘Step Up’ to Help Workers Avoid Deadly Lithium-Ion Fires, City Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-18

Apr 17 - A 50-year-old woman was struck by a northbound bike at West 44 Street and 7 Avenue. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The cyclist disregarded traffic control, causing the collision. The victim was in shock.

According to the police report, a male cyclist traveling north on 7 Avenue struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian crossing West 44 Street with the signal. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as the contributing factor, indicating the cyclist failed to obey traffic signals. The bike showed no damage, and the cyclist was going straight ahead at impact. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The pedestrian was not at fault and was legally crossing the intersection when the collision occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621334 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - A motorcycle crashed into a sedan’s rear on West 36th Street. The rider suffered neck injuries. Police cite following too closely and driver inexperience. No pedestrians hurt. Metal and bodies hit hard.

According to the police report, a motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan on West 36th Street in Manhattan. The motorcycle driver, a 42-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. Police list 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. Both vehicles traveled eastbound, straight ahead, at the time of impact. The motorcycle driver wore a helmet. The sedan’s right front bumper and the motorcycle’s center back end were damaged. No pedestrians or other bystanders were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623068 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 15 - A motorcycle hit a 5-year-old boy crossing Avenue of the Americas. The child had the signal. The driver failed to yield. The boy suffered leg injuries but stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Avenue of the Americas struck a 5-year-old pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The child sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor by the motorcycle driver. The motorcycle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were noted. The crash underscores a failure by the driver to yield to a lawful pedestrian crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620928 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - An 18-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on West 51 Street near 7 Avenue in Manhattan. The rider suffered back abrasions. Both vehicles were traveling south and collided front to front. The crash caused significant injury to the cyclist.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male bicyclist was injured and ejected during a collision on West 51 Street at 7 Avenue in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered back abrasions and was not wearing any safety equipment. Both vehicles involved were traveling south and collided front to front. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not identify any specific driver errors. The bicyclist was the sole occupant of his bike and sustained injury severity level 3. The crash caused center front end damage to both vehicles. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - A 36-year-old male cyclist suffered a bruised elbow and lower arm in a bike collision near Madison Avenue. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected. The crash involved impact to the bike’s center front and back ends.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist sustained contusions and bruises to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious and was not ejected from the bike. The crash involved a bike traveling east, with impact to the center front end of the cyclist’s bike and damage to the center back end. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors or other vehicles involved. No helmet or signaling issues were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620360 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - A box truck and a sedan collided while both making right turns on West 48 Street. The sedan driver, a 22-year-old man, was injured and suffered shock. Damage hit the truck's right front and the sedan's left side doors.

According to the police report, a box truck and a sedan collided on West 48 Street. Both vehicles were making right turns when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the truck's right front quarter panel and the sedan's left rear bumper, causing damage to the sedan's left side doors. The sedan's 22-year-old male driver was injured and experienced shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles eastbound. No ejections or visible complaints were reported. The crash highlights a collision between two right-turning vehicles, with driver errors noted as unspecified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620039 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - Uber teams with Zoomo and Equitable Commute Project. They fund e-bike battery trade-ins. The move targets deadly fires from cheap batteries. Delivery workers get safer gear. Mayor Adams and Council Member Powers back the push. Private money steps in where policy lags.

On April 11, 2023, Uber announced a partnership with Zoomo and the Equitable Commute Project to fund two e-bike battery buy-back and trade-in programs. The effort comes as New York City faces a surge in deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries used by delivery workers. The initiative, supported by Mayor Adams and Council Member Keith Powers, aims to get safer, certified batteries into the hands of low-income delivery workers. Powers introduced legislation for a citywide buy-back program, stressing, 'we have to make sure that alongside shutting down the market for unsafe batteries, we remember that there are people affected by this.' Uber will also donate $100,000 to the FDNY Foundation for e-bike safety education. The city’s recent plan to combat battery fires highlights the need for private companies to take responsibility. This partnership marks a rare moment of corporate action to protect vulnerable workers from systemic danger.

• Finally! Uber Helps Fund Two Battery Buy-Back Programs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-11

Apr 11 - Councilmember Restler joins Bronx and Queens colleagues to target fake license plates. The bill slaps heavy fines on dealers selling sham tags. Lawmakers say ghost cars dodge cameras, endanger streets, and let reckless drivers vanish. The crackdown aims to stop the chaos.

Intro 988, introduced on April 11, 2023, targets the sale of fake license plates in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Oswald Feliz, Marjorie Velázquez, and Lincoln Restler, amends laws to ban selling counterfeit tags, with fines starting at $1,000 for first offenses and $2,000 for repeat violations. The measure was brought before the City Council and discussed at a City Hall press conference. The matter summary states the bill 'goes after the unscrupulous used car dealers profiting considerably off a huge black market for phony tags.' Restler, as a sponsor, joins efforts to curb the spread of ghost cars, which evade speed cameras and tolls, making streets more dangerous for everyone. Lawmakers stress that the goal is deterrence, not revenue, and call for further action from online marketplaces and federal agencies.

• Bronx pol proposes crackdown on ‘ghost cars’ with phony plates, amny.com, Published 2023-04-11

Apr 9 - A taxi traveling south struck two men crossing with the signal at 7th Avenue. Both suffered bruises and injuries to their knees and lower legs. The driver failed to yield right-of-way amid glare conditions. No vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 2015 Toyota taxi was traveling south on 7th Avenue when it hit two male pedestrians, ages 36 and 27, who were crossing with the signal at the intersection. Both pedestrians sustained contusions and injuries to their knees, lower legs, and feet. The report lists driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and glare as contributing factors. The taxi showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. Both pedestrians remained conscious after the crash. No safety equipment or other factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 8 - SUV ignored traffic control, cut left, struck taxi on West 38 Street. Taxi passenger, 32, suffered head injury and concussion. Impact hit left side doors. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, an SUV making a left turn disregarded traffic control and collided with a taxi traveling straight on West 38 Street. The SUV struck the taxi's left side doors. A 32-year-old woman riding in the taxi's left rear seat was injured, sustaining a head injury and concussion. She was conscious and wore a lap belt. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, highlighting driver error by the SUV operator. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were noted. The crash left a vulnerable passenger hurt in the back seat.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - Box truck hit a cyclist on East 31st. Rider, 25, suffered hip and leg abrasions. Police blamed driver inattention and distraction. The cyclist stayed conscious. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling north struck a 25-year-old male bicyclist heading west on East 31 Street. The truck hit the bike at the right front quarter panel and the bike's right front bumper. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his hip and upper leg but remained conscious and was not ejected. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the main contributing factors. No other factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were listed. The cyclist was the only person on the bike. The truck had no other occupants at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621163 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 4 - A moped and taxi collided on East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 59-year-old man, was partially ejected and injured with abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Driver inexperience and improper lane usage caused the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred between a moped and a taxi on East 42nd Street near Lexington Avenue. The moped driver, a 59-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inexperience and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. The moped driver was unlicensed and wearing a helmet. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling southbound alongside the moped when the impact occurred on the moped's left front quarter panel and the taxi's right side doors. The injuries were classified as moderate, and the moped driver remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618520 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 4 - City Council pushes for $3 million to swap dangerous batteries and $61 million more for Fair Fares. They demand safer streets, more paving, and equity for communities hit hardest by crashes. Speaker Adams and Brooks-Powers lead the charge. City Hall resists.

On April 4, 2023, the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, issued its budget response to the mayor’s $103-billion plan. The Council’s $2.7-billion proposal calls for a near-doubling of Fair Fares funding, $3 million for a battery swap and fire outreach program for delivery workers, and $45.1 million more for road paving. The Council also demands increased investment in street safety infrastructure, especially in communities of color facing high crash rates. Brooks-Powers said, 'New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality services and investments in infrastructure citywide.' Council Member Keith Powers called the battery swap program a 'down payment.' The Council’s push aims to restore cuts and address deadly street conditions. City Hall, citing fiscal pressures, remains cautious but open to negotiation.

• Council Budget Response: $3M for Battery Swaps and $61M for Fair Fares (Among Other Things), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-04

Apr 3 - A 28-year-old man working in the roadway was struck by a northbound sedan making a right turn on East 50 Street. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The vehicle showed no damage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on East 50 Street made a right turn and struck a pedestrian working in the roadway at an intersection. The pedestrian, a 28-year-old male, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The vehicle had no visible damage despite the impact. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The incident highlights risks faced by pedestrians working in the street near turning vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619018 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - A 54-year-old man was hit by a GMC sedan traveling east on West 44 Street. The impact struck the pedestrian’s head, causing bruising. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian was conscious but injured outside an intersection.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2014 GMC sedan traveling east on West 44 Street in Manhattan. The collision occurred outside an intersection, where the pedestrian was in the roadway. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and remained conscious after the crash. The report lists driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as contributing factors. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper, causing visible damage to the vehicle. No safety equipment or pedestrian fault is noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621344 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 31 - An e-bike struck an 18-year-old woman in the face at West 43rd and 7th. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. She stayed conscious. The rider held a permit. The city’s rush hour did not slow the violence.

An 18-year-old woman was hit in the face by an e-bike at the corner of West 43rd Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'An e-bike hit an 18-year-old woman in the face. Blood poured at the crosswalk. She stayed conscious. The rider held a permit. The front bumper struck.' The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding and facial injuries. The e-bike’s left front bumper made contact, damaging the center front end. The crash happened during evening rush at a busy Midtown intersection. No specific driver errors are listed in the data. The report notes all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617553 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 31 - A 54-year-old woman was struck while crossing outside a crosswalk in Manhattan. The sedan was backing eastbound when it hit her. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was licensed. No vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2018 Chrysler sedan backing eastbound struck her outside a crosswalk on West 58 Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. The driver, a licensed male, was backing the vehicle at the time of impact. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the vehicle backing. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The report does not indicate any helmet use or signaling by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617277 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 30 - A 74-year-old man was struck by a taxi making a left turn on West 15 Street near Avenue of the Americas. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. He suffered a hip and upper leg contusion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on West 15 Street made a left turn and struck a 74-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious after the collision. The point of impact was the taxi's left front bumper. The report lists no specific driver errors but notes unspecified contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the crossing signal at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 29 - A 34-year-old man working in the roadway was struck by a northbound sedan on 8 Avenue. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The vehicle showed no damage. The man remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male pedestrian was injured while working in the roadway at an intersection on 8 Avenue. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The collision involved a northbound 2016 Ford sedan with one licensed male driver. The point of impact was the sedan's left rear bumper. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No safety equipment or helmet use was noted. The incident highlights the dangers faced by pedestrians working in traffic zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616922 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19