Manhattan CB6: Speed, steel, and the bodies left behind

May 30 - An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for seniors. More elders could ride. Streets may see more slow, unprotected cyclists. Danger from cars remains. Bill sits in committee. No safety fixes for traffic threats.

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,' requires the Department of Transportation to set lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The measure aims to boost senior cycling but does not address street safety or car violence. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025.

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

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 judge stopped federal threats to choke city funds over congestion pricing. The $9 toll stands. Streets stay crowded. The fight moves to court. Safety projects hang in the balance. The city waits. The deadline looms.

Patch reported on May 27, 2025, that District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding federal funding as leverage against New York City's congestion pricing program. The judge's order 'bars the DOT from engaging in any retaliatory measures' and prevents cancellation of the toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Federal officials had threatened to withhold funds for road and street safety projects if the city continued the program. The order lasts until June 9, keeping the toll in place and leaving critical infrastructure funding uncertain. The article highlights the standoff between federal authorities and city leaders, with safety and mobility projects at risk.

• Judge Halts Federal Attack On Tolls, Patch, Published 2025-05-27

May 24 - Two sedans crashed on E 23rd Street near FDR Drive. One driver suffered a head injury. Passengers were shaken but not seriously hurt. Metal twisted. Sirens cut the night. The cause remains unclear. The street swallowed another crash.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on E 23rd Street near Franklin D Roosevelt Drive collided. The crash left a 38-year-old male driver with a head injury and whiplash. Three other male occupants, aged 25, 30, and 38, were listed as passengers and registrant; their injuries were unspecified or minor. The Toyota sedan sustained damage to its right rear bumper. The BMW sedan showed no visible damage. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash adds to the toll of injury and disruption on Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 21 - City will rip up Fifth Avenue. Sidewalks will double. Lanes for cars will shrink. Trees, benches, and light will fill the space. Pedestrians, long squeezed, will finally get room to breathe. The city bets big on feet, not fenders.

amNY reported on May 21, 2025, that New York City will begin a $400 million redesign of Fifth Avenue in 2028, stretching from Bryant Park to Central Park. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Fifth Avenue is a bustling boulevard... with more people walking down the street every hour than fill Madison Square Garden during a sold-out Knicks game.' The plan nearly doubles sidewalk widths and expands pedestrian zones, cutting space for vehicles. The redesign adds tree buffers, benches, and stormwater upgrades. Pedestrians make up 70% of avenue traffic but have less than half the space. The overhaul shifts priority from cars to people, aiming to reduce systemic danger and reclaim the street for those on foot.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-21

May 19 - SUV hit a woman crossing E 53rd at 2nd Ave. She had the signal. Her leg was hurt. Driver failed to yield. Police cite distraction. System failed to protect the walker.

A station wagon/SUV struck a female pedestrian as she crossed E 53rd Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver made a left turn and hit her, causing a knee and lower leg injury. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver and another occupant were not injured. The crash highlights the danger faced by people walking, even when following the rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814305 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - A bike hit two pedestrians outside a crosswalk on East 39th. Both pedestrians and two on the bike, including a child, suffered abrasions. The crash left all four injured and conscious at the scene.

A bicycle traveling west on East 39th Street struck two pedestrians who were crossing outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, both pedestrians—a 4-year-old girl and a 38-year-old man—sustained head abrasions. The cyclist, a 38-year-old man, and a 3-year-old girl riding as a passenger also suffered arm abrasions. All four were injured but remained conscious. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were documented. The child passenger was noted as wearing a helmet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813977 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - A taxi struck a woman in a crosswalk on 1st Ave. She suffered a hip injury. Police cite driver distraction. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 53-year-old woman was hit by a taxi while crossing 1st Avenue in a marked crosswalk. She suffered a hip injury and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The taxi driver, a 63-year-old man, was going straight ahead when the crash occurred. No other vehicles were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to people on foot when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816541 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - DOT wants a busway on 34th Street. Cars must turn off. Buses crawl now. Riders lose time. Council Member Powers backs the plan. Activists demand action. Streets jammed with traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for safer passage.

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Transportation proposed a 14th Street-style busway for 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The plan, reported by Dave Colon for Streetsblog NYC, would ban through car traffic between Third and Ninth avenues, echoing the successful 14th Street model. Council Member Keith Powers, who rides the M34, voiced strong support: 'If you dedicate a big chunk of a corridor to bus service, you will see strong results.' The proposal is not yet a formal bill and has not reached any council committee. Activists and elected officials with experience on 14th Street back the move, citing faster buses and higher ridership. However, the event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no assessment of safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be made.

• DOT Proposing A 14th Street-Style Busway For 34th Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-19

May 19 - DOT plans a busway on 34th Street. Cars must turn off after one block. Buses crawl now. Council Member Powers backs it. The 14th Street model sped up buses and drew more riders. Activists want strong, lasting action. The city must deliver.

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Transportation announced a proposal to create a 14th Street-style busway on 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The plan, to be presented to community boards, would restrict through car traffic between Third and Ninth avenues, forcing cars to turn off at the first opportunity. The matter aims to address congestion and slow bus speeds on the M34, where buses average five to seven miles per hour. Council Member Keith Powers, who rides the route daily, said, "If you dedicate a big chunk of a corridor to bus service, you will see strong results." Powers and community leaders support the move, citing the 14th Street busway’s success: a 24 percent speed boost and 30 percent ridership jump. The proposal follows years of planning and comes as congestion pricing looms. Some advocates remain wary, recalling Mayor Adams’s past delays and reduced busway hours. The city faces pressure to make the busway permanent and effective for all vulnerable road users.

• DOT Proposing A 14th Street-Style Busway For 34th Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-19

May 19 - Adams administration opens a pedestrian path on Queensboro Bridge. Federal Secretary Duffy objects. Critics say his stance ignores history and safety. The bridge once belonged to walkers. Now, the city returns space to people, not cars. Tensions flare. Vulnerable users watch.

On May 19, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the Adams administration's move to open a dedicated pedestrian path on the Queensboro Bridge. The event, not a council bill but a city action, drew sharp criticism from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who opposed removing a vehicle lane for pedestrians and cyclists. The article states: 'forcing pedestrians and cyclists in both directions to share a single lane on a bridge with nine lanes for car drivers was unsafe.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Council Member Julie Won attended the opening. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety to assess.' Still, the move restores space to those on foot and bike, challenging car dominance and federal resistance.

• Monday’s Headlines: ‘Hey, Sean, We’re Walking Here’ Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-19

May 16 - A pickup hit a 61-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The truck showed no damage. Police list all factors as unspecified.

A 61-year-old woman was struck by a pickup truck while crossing Lexington Avenue at East 37th Street. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. She sustained a head injury and severe bleeding, and was described as semiconscious at the scene. The pickup, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage. Police listed all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the report. No mention of helmet or signal use was made for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813611 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 14 - A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

May 13 - Police now hand out criminal summonses to cyclists for traffic violations. Fines become court dates. Advocates warn of escalation. Lawmakers push for e-bike registration after a fatal crash. Streets grow tense. Riders and pedestrians caught in the crossfire.

West Side Spirit reported on May 13, 2025, that NYPD has begun issuing criminal summonses, not just traffic tickets, to cyclists and e-bike riders for violations like running red lights or riding on sidewalks. The change means accused riders must appear in criminal court, not just pay a fine. The move follows the death of Priscilla Loke, struck by an e-bike in 2023. Advocates like Transportation Alternatives call the new policy 'a dangerous escalation.' The NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance urges lawmakers to require license plates for e-bikes and scooters. The article notes, 'Under the new policy, a person issued a criminal summons must turn up in person in criminal court.' The shift highlights growing tension over enforcement and the push for stricter regulation after high-profile crashes.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses To Cyclists, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-13

May 11 - Taxi turned left. E-scooter struck. Two riders ejected, concussed, arms battered. Failure to yield and driver distraction listed. Manhattan street, broad daylight. System failed the vulnerable.

Two people riding an e-scooter were ejected and injured when a taxi making a left turn struck them on E 37th Street at 1st Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, both 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The e-scooter driver and passenger suffered concussions and arm injuries. The taxi sustained no damage. The report lists no helmet use or other contributing factors for the riders. The crash highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield and pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 11 - A cyclist struck the back of a parked USPS truck on 2nd Avenue. He suffered severe head lacerations. Unsafe speed played a role. The truck showed no damage. The street bore the mark of impact.

A 25-year-old male bicyclist was injured after colliding with the rear of a parked USPS truck at 579 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, unsafe speed was a contributing factor in the crash. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to the head and was conscious at the scene. The truck was parked and showed no damage. The report lists no other contributing factors from the cyclist. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812789 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18