Seven Dead, City Stalls—Demand 20 MPH Now

A sedan door snapped open on West 68th. Metal met muscle. A cyclist’s leg split, blood pooling in the street. The driver never looked. The cyclist, helmeted and conscious, bore the wound. Distraction behind the wheel left flesh torn.

A cyclist traveling east on West 68th Street in Manhattan collided with the left-side door of a parked sedan, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 19:48 and resulted in severe lacerations to the cyclist’s knee and lower leg. The report states, 'A sedan door flung open. Steel caught his leg. Flesh tore. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He wore a helmet. He stayed conscious. The driver hadn’t looked.' The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash. The sedan’s driver opened the door without checking for oncoming traffic, causing the impact. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause cited is the driver’s failure to pay attention before opening the door.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719706 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 61-year-old man crossing West 79 Street with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. Driver inattention and failure to yield caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:28 on West 79 Street near Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. A 61-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when he was hit by a 2007 SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and remained conscious after the collision. The report identifies driver errors as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' These factors directly contributed to the crash. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and traveling westbound at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718999 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Albany lawmakers clear the way for New York City to lower speed limits to 20 mph. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, follows years of parent-led advocacy. The measure excludes major multi-lane roads but targets most city streets. Lives hang in the balance.

On April 18, 2024, state lawmakers advanced legislation enabling New York City to reduce its default speed limit to 20 mph. The measure, known as Sammy’s Law, is part of the state budget deal and awaits final publication. Sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the bill allows the City Council to set lower limits on most streets, but excludes roads with three or more lanes in one direction. The bill’s title honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old killed by a speeding driver in 2013. Rosenthal said, “This is about trying to eliminate all unnecessary deaths, and one of the ways you do that is by making the speed limit lower.” Hoylman-Sigal credited persistent advocacy by Sammy’s mother and Families for Safe Streets. The City Council and Mayor must still approve the change. Advocates and city officials say the law gives New York City a vital tool to prevent traffic violence and protect vulnerable road users.

• Lawmakers to allow NYC to lower speed limit to 20 mph, gothamist.com, Published 2024-04-18

Albany lawmakers passed Sammy’s Law. New York City can now lower its speed limit to 20 mph. The bill honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a van driver at age 12. Lower speeds mean fewer deaths. Lawmakers and families fought for years.

On April 18, 2024, state lawmakers advanced Sammy’s Law, allowing New York City to reduce its default speed limit to 20 mph. The measure, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a child killed by a van driver, was included in the state budget after years of advocacy. Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill. The law exempts roads with three or more lanes in each direction. The bill’s summary states: 'allowing New York City to lower its speed limit to 20 miles per hour.' Rosenthal and other officials pushed for local control. Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother, said, 'Lower speed limits save lives.' Studies show pedestrian death risk rises sharply as speed increases. This law gives the city power to protect its most vulnerable.

• Albany lawmakers set to pass Sammy’s Law, allow NYC to lower speed limit to 20 mph, amny.com, Published 2024-04-18

Albany lawmakers clear the way for New York City to lower speed limits to 20 mph. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, follows years of parent-led advocacy. The measure excludes major multi-lane roads but targets most city streets. Lives hang in the balance.

On April 18, 2024, state lawmakers advanced legislation enabling New York City to reduce its default speed limit to 20 mph. The measure, known as Sammy’s Law, is part of the state budget deal and awaits final publication. Sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the bill allows the City Council to set lower limits on most streets, but excludes roads with three or more lanes in one direction. The bill’s title honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old killed by a speeding driver in 2013. Rosenthal said, “This is about trying to eliminate all unnecessary deaths, and one of the ways you do that is by making the speed limit lower.” Hoylman-Sigal credited persistent advocacy by Sammy’s mother and Families for Safe Streets. The City Council and Mayor must still approve the change. Advocates and city officials say the law gives New York City a vital tool to prevent traffic violence and protect vulnerable road users.

• Lawmakers to allow NYC to lower speed limit to 20 mph, gothamist.com, Published 2024-04-18

Two sedans collided head-on and side-on at West 84 Street. A 28-year-old female passenger suffered abrasions and an elbow injury. Both drivers were licensed men traveling straight. The impact caused center front and right side damage to the vehicles.

According to the police report, at 9:10 AM on West 84 Street, two sedans traveling straight collided. One vehicle, a 2024 sedan moving north, struck the center front end, while the other, a 2020 sedan traveling east, was impacted on the right side doors. The report identifies no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. A 28-year-old female passenger in one sedan was injured with abrasions and an elbow-lower-arm-hand injury, wearing a lap belt and remaining conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The collision caused significant damage to the front and right side of the vehicles, highlighting the dangers of intersecting vehicle paths even when both drivers proceed straight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A taxi turning right struck a 52-year-old pedestrian crossing West 87 Street with the signal. The pedestrian suffered bruises and an elbow injury. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and turned improperly, causing the collision at the intersection.

According to the police report, a taxi was making a right turn on West 87 Street at 17:46 when it struck a 52-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian was conscious and sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites driver errors including 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors to the crash. The taxi's point of impact was the center front end, indicating the vehicle struck the pedestrian directly during the turn. The pedestrian was not ejected and was wearing a harness while riding or hanging on outside. The driver was licensed and operating a 2016 Nissan taxi traveling westbound. The collision caused injury severity level 3 to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716084 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Councilmember Shaun Abreu introduced a bill to force delivery apps to restore tipping at checkout. The measure aims to stop app companies from hiding tips and cutting worker pay. Delivery workers say lost tips mean lost meals. The fight is on.

On April 9, 2024, Councilmember Shaun Abreu (District 7) introduced a bill targeting delivery app tipping practices. The bill, now before the City Council, would require apps to let customers tip at checkout and set a minimum gratuity suggestion of 10%. The measure responds to recent app changes that made tipping harder, slashing delivery workers’ earnings. Abreu called it 'the most common sense bill for not only Deliveristas but consumers.' The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection stated it does not endorse the app companies’ decisions and will review the legislation. Abreu is also working on a pay transparency bill. The legislation seeks to restore lost income for delivery workers, who rely on tips to survive.

• NYC delivery workers say apps are making it harder to tip. A new bill could change that., gothamist.com, Published 2024-04-09

A box truck driver made an improper U-turn and failed to yield right-of-way, colliding with a motorcycle traveling straight. The motorcycle driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious. The truck showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Broadway near West 72 Street in Manhattan at 14:04. The box truck driver, a 54-year-old man, was making a U-turn and failed to yield right-of-way, striking a motorcycle traveling westbound. The point of impact was the truck's left side doors and the motorcycle's center front end. The truck driver sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. The motorcycle driver was the sole occupant and had damage to the center front end of the vehicle. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error as the cause. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 66-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a southbound cyclist on Amsterdam Avenue. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg abrasions, left in shock. The cyclist’s failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision at the intersection.

According to the police report, a cyclist traveling southbound on Amsterdam Avenue struck a 66-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in injury severity level 3 and emotional shock. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors attributed to the cyclist. The point of impact was the center front end of the bicycle, which sustained no damage. This collision highlights the cyclist’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary driver error leading to the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Columbia will widen escalators at 125th Street but refuses to fund elevators. Disabled riders face long detours. Politicians and students demand action. The university’s $13-billion endowment stays untouched. Public money must fill the gap. Progress stalls. Riders wait. Access denied.

This debate centers on Columbia University’s refusal to pay for elevators at the 125th Street 1 train station, despite its West Harlem campus expansion. The project is not a council bill but a protracted standoff, with the MTA and local officials pressing Columbia to fund full ADA accessibility. The university will pay to widen escalators but insists public funds should cover elevators, citing project approval before the Zoning for Accessibility law (October 2021). Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine calls elevator access 'the top priority among station accessibility projects in the borough.' Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell’s office slams Columbia’s lack of transparency and urges investment, noting the school’s $13-billion endowment and $179 million in tax breaks. Students and disabled riders face daily hardship. The MTA, Council Member Shaun Abreu, and advocates push for progress, but Columbia stalls. No elevator, no access. Vulnerable users remain shut out.

• Columbia U. Wants Public to Pay for Transit Improvements on Campus, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-14

The Assembly refused to include Sammy’s Law in the state budget. The bill would let New York City lower its speed limit to 20 mph. Advocates, families, and city leaders back it. The Assembly’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed. Grief and anger mount.

On March 13, 2024, the New York State Assembly declined to advance Sammy’s Law (no bill number cited), which would let New York City set its own speed limit. The measure was left out of the Assembly’s budget, despite support from the State Senate, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the City Council. The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, did not comment. The Assembly’s move angered advocates and families, including Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets, who said, 'We are very disappointed that the Assembly didn’t follow suit.' Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the decision a failure to join 'more than 130 unions, hospitals, business leaders, and community-led organizations that recognize the urgent need for this common-sense legislation.' The Assembly’s inaction keeps city streets dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. A rally is planned to push for the bill’s passage.

• Déjà-Vu All Over Again: Assembly Balks on ‘Sammy’s Law,’ Bill Sponsor Silent, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-13

Two taxis collided near West 77th. The rear cab, following too close, struck the front. A passenger and both drivers suffered whiplash and head or neck injuries. All remained conscious. No vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, two taxis crashed at 23:56 on Amsterdam Avenue near West 77 Street in Manhattan. The rear taxi, heading north, struck a slowing or stopping taxi ahead. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the rear taxi. A right rear passenger and both drivers were injured, suffering whiplash and head or neck injuries. All injured parties remained conscious and were not ejected. Despite the impact to the center front end of the rear taxi and the center back end of the front taxi, no vehicle damage was recorded. The report highlights driver error as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council bill demands DOT fix NYCHA sidewalks first. Seniors come before all. Broken walks trip, injure, kill. Law forces city to show its work. No more hiding behind red tape.

Bill Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. It orders the DOT to prioritize sidewalk repairs at NYCHA sites, with senior housing first. The bill summary reads: 'establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Shaun Abreu, Shahana K. Hanif, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Sandy Nurse, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Lincoln Restler, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., and Farah N. Louis. The law also requires public reporting of repairs and timelines. Sidewalk neglect endangers NYCHA residents—this bill aims to force action and transparency.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07