Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 5 - Two sedans crashed late at night. A woman and a child inside suffered head and leg injuries. Both drivers failed to pay attention. The force left marks on bumpers and bodies. The road stayed dangerous. The city counted more hurt.

Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south and were parked before the crash. A 35-year-old woman driving one sedan and her 10-year-old passenger were injured. The driver suffered a head injury and whiplash. The child sustained abrasions to the leg and was in shock. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for both drivers. The report notes lap belts were used. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left visible damage to the front bumpers of both cars. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to vehicle occupants when drivers lose focus, even for a moment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 5 - A 13-year-old boy on a bike took a hit to the head on Broadway. An SUV driver blew past traffic control. The boy was left bruised. The street stayed loud. The system failed to protect the young rider.

A crash on West 78th Street at Broadway in Manhattan left a 13-year-old bicyclist injured. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV disregarded traffic control and struck the cyclist, who suffered a head injury and was partially ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. Several vehicle occupants were involved but did not report injuries. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the driver’s error. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to young cyclists when drivers ignore signals and rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818232 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

Jun 2 - SUV turned left on Broadway. Cyclist hit. Woman, 32, injured in the abdomen. Police cite driver inattention. Blood on the street. Bike left undamaged.

A station wagon SUV making a left turn on Broadway struck a cyclist riding straight ahead. The crash injured a 32-year-old woman on the bike, who suffered an abrasion to her abdomen and pelvis. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor. The SUV's right front bumper took the impact. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver or occupant. The bike showed no damage. The police report does not mention helmet use or signaling.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 31 - Two SUVs collided on West 77th. Metal slammed metal. One driver, a man, died. Three others, including another driver and two passengers, were hurt. Police cited driver inattention. The street stayed quiet after the crash. The danger was clear.

A deadly crash unfolded at 152 West 77th Street in Manhattan. Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided. According to the police report, four people were involved. One driver, a 79-year-old man, was killed. Three others, including a 62-year-old woman driver and two passengers aged 62 and 79, suffered unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were parked before the crash, and both sustained damage to the right side doors. The police report makes no mention of helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk when drivers lose focus, as documented by the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817015 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 31 - A truck and SUV crashed on Broadway at West 100th. One passenger bled from the head. Others shaken. Both vehicles turned left. Unsafe speed listed as cause. Metal and glass scattered. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A tractor truck and an SUV collided while both were making left turns on Broadway at West 100th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, unsafe speed was a contributing factor in the crash. One male passenger, age 34, suffered a head injury with minor bleeding and was in shock. Other occupants, including drivers and passengers, were listed as uninjured or with unspecified injuries. Both vehicles sustained damage, with the SUV’s left front bumper hit. The report states: “Unsafe Speed” as the primary driver error. No other contributing factors were listed. Helmet use and signaling were not cited. The crash underscores the risks faced by passengers when speed overtakes caution on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816857 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 30 - Two e-bike riders collided at Riverside Blvd and West 62nd. One cyclist suffered a shoulder injury. Both wore helmets. Police cite driver inattention and distraction. The crash left bruises and confusion on the pavement.

Two e-bike riders crashed at Riverside Blvd and West 62nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, one cyclist, age 22, was injured with a shoulder contusion. Both riders were male and wore helmets. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both cyclists. One rider was unlicensed. The crash involved one e-bike making a right turn and another going straight. Police also noted 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. The impact was at the center front end of both bikes. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 23 - Tolls still hang over Third Avenue. Deadlines pass. Courts hold the answer. Fewer cars enter Manhattan. Millions flow to transit. The fight is bureaucratic, not on the street. Riders wait. The city’s pulse slows, but the outcome is uncertain.

West Side Spirit reported on May 23, 2025, that New York’s congestion pricing tolls remain in place despite three missed federal deadlines to remove them. The article details a standoff between the MTA, New York State, and U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who demands the tolls be taken down, threatening to withhold highway funds. The MTA argues the legality of the tolls and seeks a court injunction, stating, 'congestion pricing is legal and proper.' The system, operational since January 2025, has reduced daily vehicle entries into Manhattan’s core by 76,000 in April and raised $159 million in the first quarter. The dispute highlights tensions over funding priorities and the impact on lower-income drivers, but the courts, not drivers or pedestrians, will decide the fate of the tolls.

• Congestion Pricing Tolls Face Legal Showdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-23

May 21 - A bus turned wrong on Riverside Drive. Metal scraped. A 13-year-old passenger took a blow to the leg. Shock followed. The crash left many shaken. Police blamed improper turning and passing too close. The street stayed dangerous. The city watched.

A bus making a right turn on Riverside Drive in Manhattan struck trouble. According to the police report, the crash injured a 13-year-old passenger, who suffered a knee and lower leg injury and was left in shock. The bus carried many children. Police listed 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passing Too Closely' as the main driver errors. The report shows the bus was damaged on the right side doors. No other vehicles were clearly identified as involved. The police report did not mention any helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The crash highlights the risks faced by bus passengers, especially children, when drivers turn carelessly or crowd the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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