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 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 2025-09-19

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 2025-09-19

May 11 - E-scooter slammed center front. Driver, 59, thrown off, hit head, left unconscious. Police cite pedestrian confusion. Manhattan street, early morning. Blood on the pavement.

A 59-year-old man driving a Segway e-scooter on E 53rd Street in Manhattan was ejected and suffered a head injury. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The e-scooter struck with its center front end, ejecting the driver and leaving him unconscious with internal and head injuries. No other injuries were reported. The police report lists no driver errors beyond the cited confusion.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812032 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 11 - SUV turned left. E-scooter hit. Rider hurt. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. Face abrasion. Manhattan street, late night. System failed the vulnerable.

An SUV making a left turn on 1st Avenue collided with a northbound e-scooter. The 33-year-old e-scooter rider suffered a facial abrasion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. The SUV's left side doors were damaged. The e-scooter rider was listed as injured, while the SUV driver and a passenger were not. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The crash highlights the risks faced by vulnerable road users on Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812491 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 9 - An SUV hit a woman crossing E 41st Street with the signal. She suffered a hip injury. The crash left her bruised but conscious. The street saw violence in daylight.

A woman crossing E 41st Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan was struck by an SUV. According to the police report, she was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing with the signal, when the vehicle hit her. She sustained a contusion to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. No helmet or signaling issues were noted for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813614 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 9 - Council Member Keith Powers and Dr. Calvin Sun slammed federal Penn Station plans. They called for city and state control. Both backed congestion pricing and safer, more accessible transit. Skepticism ran high. Vulnerable road users got a rare mention. No trust in Washington.

On May 9, 2025, at a Manhattan Borough President candidate forum, outgoing Council Member Keith Powers (District 4) and Dr. Calvin Sun voiced strong doubts about the federal government’s Penn Station renovation plans. Powers said, 'I am not looking to co-operate with Donald Trump on really anything,' stressing the need for city and state leadership and a plan that delivers for housing, public space, and transit. Dr. Sun echoed distrust, warning the federal government could deprive the city of needed resources. Both candidates supported congestion pricing, with Sun favoring a dynamic model and exemptions for low-income New Yorkers. They called for improved public transit accessibility and more pedestrianization. Powers demanded tougher fare evasion enforcement, while Sun sought nonviolent consequences and better subway quality. The forum highlighted the candidates’ focus on local control and safer, more equitable streets.

• Manhattan BP candidates skeptical of federal plans for Penn Station, ‘not looking to work with Trump’, amny.com, Published 2025-05-09

May 8 - Albany lawmakers passed a $254-billion budget. Republicans railed against congestion pricing. Democrats stood firm. The vote split along party lines. The budget funds the MTA and transit expansion. Vulnerable road users saw no direct mention. The system rolls on.

"The amount that you're paying for congestion pricing is actually a relatively small increase in the total cost... And the good news on the research is theater has not come down since congestion pricing has started. Restaurants have not come down. There are more people on the streets." -- Liz Krueger

On May 8, 2025, the New York State Legislature passed Gov. Hochul’s $254-billion budget after heated debate. The bill, debated in the Senate Finance and Transportation Committees, included $6 billion for MTA capital improvements and supported congestion pricing. Sen. Dean Murray (R-Suffolk) and Sen. Bill Weber (R-Rockland) opposed the measure, citing toll burdens and limited transit options. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) and Transportation Chair Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) defended the plan, highlighting increased MTA revenue and minimal impact on local businesses. The matter summary reads: 'State legislators from the suburbs, particularly Republican lawmakers, voiced strong opposition to congestion pricing during the passage of Gov. Hochul's $254-billion budget in Albany.' The budget passed 40-22, mostly along party lines. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Budget Passes in Albany, But First, GOP Whines About Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-08

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 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 5 - A distracted driver struck a 12-year-old boy crossing E 23rd Street with the signal. The child suffered a bruised arm. The crash happened in Manhattan. The driver failed to pay attention.

A 12-year-old pedestrian was hit and injured while crossing E 23rd Street at 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when a driver, traveling south, struck him. The boy suffered a contusion to his arm but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The child was following the signal. The crash underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810652 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - Two SUVs crashed at E 30th and 2nd Ave. One driver suffered neck pain. Police cite failure to yield and traffic control ignored. Metal twisted. Streets stopped.

Two sport utility vehicles collided at E 30th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. One driver, a 44-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' Both vehicles sustained damage. The report lists no pedestrian or cyclist injuries. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore right-of-way and traffic signals. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 28 - SUV struck cyclist turning left on E 59th. Driver inattention listed. Cyclist suffered leg injury. Streets unforgiving. Impact leaves bruises and questions.

A station wagon SUV hit a cyclist making a left turn on E 59th Street at 1st Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist, a 40-year-old woman, was injured in the knee and lower leg, suffering a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' were listed as contributing factors. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary errors were on the part of the SUV driver. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers are distracted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - Taxi turned left. Two pedestrians crossing with signal. One hurt, one child shaken. Driver failed to yield. Impact at intersection. Streets unforgiving. System failed the walkers.

A taxi making a left turn on E 28th Street struck two pedestrians, a 6-year-old boy and a 25-year-old woman, as they crossed with the signal. The woman suffered a leg injury. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The crash occurred at an intersection, with the taxi’s center front end hitting the pedestrians. Driver error—failure to yield—was the sole contributing factor listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - A taxi turned left on 1st Avenue. A woman crossed with the signal. Metal hit flesh. She fell, torn and bleeding. The driver stayed put. Blood marked the street.

A taxi struck a 31-year-old woman as she crossed 1st Avenue at East 22nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the woman was crossing with the signal when the taxi, making a left turn, hit her. She suffered severe lacerations and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The driver remained at the scene. The crash left the pedestrian injured across her entire body.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808952 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 26 - Two cyclists struck at 2nd Avenue and East 36th. Both hurt. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal met flesh. System failed. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two bicyclists, a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, were injured in a crash at 2nd Avenue and East 36th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision involved two bikes and a sedan. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. Both cyclists suffered injuries—one to the leg, the other to the arm. No helmet use was cited as a factor. The crash underscores the risk when drivers or riders ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808226 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19