Dec 12 - Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill faces fierce pushback. Advocates warn it targets immigrants and delivery workers. Business groups fear new costs. Supporters say it brings accountability. Streets remain deadly. Cars still kill most. Debate rages. No easy answers.

Intro. 606, known as Priscilla’s Law, was introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden of District 30. The bill, debated on December 12, 2024, sits before the City Council. It would require all e-mobility devices not covered by the state DMV to register with the city’s Department of Transportation. The bill’s summary states it aims to increase accountability for e-bike riders after fatal crashes. Holden, the sponsor, cited dangers from unregulated e-vehicles and hit-and-runs. Advocacy groups, including Los Deliveristas Unidos and Open Plans, argue the bill would unfairly criminalize immigrants and delivery workers, and increase police stops for people of color. The NYC Hospitality Alliance warns of new financial and administrative burdens for small businesses. Both sides agree cars cause far more deaths, but the bill’s critics say better street design, not registration, would protect vulnerable road users.

• Immigrant, hospitality advocacy groups push back on NYC e-bike licensing bill, amny.com, Published 2024-12-12

Dec 11 - A northbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on FDR Drive. The sedan’s front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause. Both drivers were licensed men traveling straight.

According to the police report, a 2009 Honda SUV traveling north on FDR Drive rear-ended a 2018 Mazda sedan also heading north. The point of impact was the SUV’s center back end striking the sedan’s left front bumper. The SUV driver was cited for following too closely, identified as the contributing factor. The sedan carried one male driver, and the SUV had two occupants, including a 50-year-old female front passenger who sustained neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Both drivers were licensed men from Pennsylvania and New York respectively, traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report highlights the SUV driver’s error in maintaining insufficient distance, causing the collision and injury to the sedan’s passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 11 - Two SUVs crashed near East 88th Street in Manhattan. One driver suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited unsafe speed and limited view as key factors. The impact damaged the front and rear of multiple vehicles, revealing dangerous driver errors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:50 near East 88th Street in Manhattan involving multiple SUVs. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, highlighting driver errors that led to the collision. One male driver, 52, was injured with back pain and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash involved a vehicle starting from parking and others traveling east or southeast, with impacts to front bumpers and rear ends. The report notes 'Other Vehicular' contributing factors but does not assign fault to any pedestrians or cyclists. The injuries and vehicle damage underscore systemic dangers posed by driver speed and limited visibility in this area.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 11 - A sedan making a left turn collided head-on with a southbound moped on East 66th Street. The moped driver, unlicensed, suffered knee and leg injuries and a concussion. Police cite driver inattention as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:56 AM on East 66th Street in Manhattan. A 34-year-old male moped driver, traveling southbound, collided head-on with a Ford sedan making a left turn. The moped driver was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma and suffered a concussion but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling southbound as well. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to properly observe or yield during the left turn. The moped driver was unlicensed, but no other contributing factors involving the victim were noted. Vehicle damage was centered on the front ends of both vehicles, underscoring the direct collision impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 10 - Fifth Avenue turned car-free for its 200th birthday. Politicians cheered a $150 million redesign. Fewer lanes. Wider sidewalks. Thousands walked where cars once ruled. Council Member Keith Powers joined the call: make the street safer for people, not traffic.

On December 10, 2024, Council Member Keith Powers (District 4) joined Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine to celebrate Fifth Avenue’s 200th anniversary and announce a major redesign. The event, held during the third annual Fifth Avenue Holiday Open Street, made the avenue car-free between 48th and 57th Streets. The $150 million plan, as described by Madelyn Wils, will reduce traffic lanes from five to three and widen sidewalks between Bryant Park and Central Park. Powers and other officials voiced strong support for prioritizing pedestrians, echoing Levine’s call to 'do better here' and make Fifth Avenue a true pedestrian destination. The redesign aims to reclaim space for people, not cars, and signals a shift toward safer, more vibrant streets for all vulnerable road users.

• 5th Avenue at 200: Magnificent Manhattan thoroughfare celebrates past while looking toward the future, amny.com, Published 2024-12-10

Dec 10 - Council Member Keith Powers backs a bill to cut NYCHA’s endless sidewalk sheds. The plan aims to shrink shed sprawl, speed up repairs, and reclaim public space. Residents lose sunlight and safety to these hulking structures. The council moves to change that.

Bill details: City Council legislative proposal on sidewalk shed reform, introduced by Council Member Keith Powers (District 4) and others. The bill is under council review as of December 10, 2024. The measure seeks to overhaul regulations that force NYCHA to keep up over 400 sidewalk sheds—spanning 25 miles—often long after repairs finish. The matter summary states, 'reforming parts of the city’s broader shedding regulations that are a poor fit for NYCHA and a nuisance citywide.' Powers and co-sponsor Erik Bottcher aim to reduce shed length, extend inspection cycles, and allow more art and color on scaffolds. Jamie Rubin, NYCHA board head, supports the bill, noting that current rules rob residents of sunlight, safety, and outdoor space. The bill promises to remove unnecessary sheds, reclaim millions in wasted funds, and improve daily life for public housing residents.

• NYCHA has its own scaffold problems, nydailynews.com, Published 2024-12-10

Dec 6 - A sedan making a left turn hit a bicyclist traveling straight on 2 Avenue. The 20-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered head contusions. Police cited the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, at 5:50 AM on 2 Avenue near East 95th Street in Manhattan, a 2023 Hyundai sedan was making a left turn when it collided with a 20-year-old male bicyclist traveling straight southbound. The point of impact was the sedan’s left front bumper striking the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained head injuries, including contusions and bruises, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The police report explicitly identifies the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were noted. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during left turns in busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776642 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Dec 4 - The city slashed Fifth Avenue’s holiday Open Street from three Sundays to one. Cars return. Pedestrians lose ground. Advocates and lawmakers protest. Sales soared last year. Now, the city cites security. Sidewalks may widen, but bike lanes vanish. Buses slow. Streets stay dangerous.

""This is something we should be doing every year across the month of the December, it’s such an easy win for the area in Midtown,"" -- Keith Powers

On December 4, 2024, the Adams administration cut the Fifth Avenue holiday Open Street program in Midtown from three Sundays to just one, shrinking the car-free zone to December 8 between 48th and 55th streets. The Fifth Avenue Association blamed security around Trump Tower. The matter summary reads: 'City scales back hugely popular Fifth Ave. Holiday Open Street despite sales boosts.' Council Member Keith Powers called the move 'surprising' and urged a full return next year. Advocates called it 'frustrating and disappointing.' Mayor Adams had previously praised the program, which boosted sales by $3 million in 2023. The Department of Transportation now touts sidewalk expansion, but the new redesign drops a planned bike lane and may slow buses. Pedestrians and cyclists lose space. The city’s retreat keeps vulnerable road users at risk.

• City Scales Back Hugely Popular Fifth Ave. Holiday Open Street Despite Sales Boosts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Nov 28 - A sedan making a left turn collided with a northbound bicyclist on East 91st Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered a neck contusion but was conscious and not ejected. Driver inattention and distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on East 91st Street near 1st Avenue in Manhattan at 11:12 a.m. A 28-year-old male bicyclist traveling north was struck by a 2023 Kia sedan also making a left turn. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's right front quarter panel. The bicyclist sustained a neck contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' twice as contributing factors, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain proper attention while turning. The bicyclist was not ejected and no safety equipment status was noted. Vehicle damage was limited to the sedan's left front bumper. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers in dense urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 26 - SUV swung wide on East 96th. E-bike rider took the hit. Man down, leg torn, foot scraped. One bad turn, one body broken. Steel against flesh. The street stays dangerous.

An SUV struck a 52-year-old e-bike rider on East 96th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the SUV driver was 'Turning Improperly' and hit the cyclist at the right front bumper. The e-bike rider, traveling east, suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash happened at 5:53 p.m. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the primary contributing factor, pointing to the driver's error. There are no contributing factors related to the cyclist's actions or equipment. The rider was conscious and not ejected. This crash exposes the danger of improper turns by drivers in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774444 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 26 - Taxi lunged from traffic. Cyclist struck. Chest crushed, skin scraped. No metal bent, only flesh. Inattention behind the wheel left a man hurt, trapped, conscious on East 72nd.

According to the police report, a taxi starting in traffic on East 72nd Street struck a westbound bicyclist. The taxi’s left front bumper hit the bike’s right side. The 58-year-old cyclist was trapped, suffering chest injuries and abrasions. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both the taxi driver and the cyclist, with the taxi driver failing to maintain attention while moving into traffic. The cyclist wore no safety equipment, but this was not listed as a contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash left the cyclist conscious but seriously hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774443 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 26 - A 35-year-old woman suffered back contusions after a sedan backing west on East 68th Street hit her outside the roadway. The driver’s inattention and unsafe backing caused the impact, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on East 68th Street in Manhattan was backing when it struck a 35-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was located outside the roadway and sustained back contusions, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle’s point of impact was the right rear bumper, and despite the collision, the sedan sustained no damage. The pedestrian remained conscious after the impact. This incident highlights driver errors in vehicle backing maneuvers and distraction as the primary causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775546 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 22 - A sedan making a left turn struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal at a Manhattan intersection. The pedestrian suffered a lower arm injury and shock. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 2014 Porsche sedan traveling northeast on 1 Avenue in Manhattan struck a female pedestrian crossing at the intersection with the signal. The crash occurred at 9:45 p.m. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the collision. The sedan was making a left turn at the time of impact, with the point of impact at the vehicle's center front end. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was not at fault; the report places responsibility on the driver’s failure to yield and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773772 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - A distracted SUV driver changed lanes unsafely on East 63rd Street, colliding with a sedan. The impact injured the SUV driver’s hip and upper leg, causing bruising. Both vehicles sustained damage at front and rear bumpers in the southbound lanes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:27 AM on East 63rd Street near Franklin D Roosevelt Drive in Manhattan. The SUV driver, a 49-year-old man, was the sole occupant of his vehicle and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The SUV struck the left rear bumper of a southbound sedan while changing lanes. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper, and the sedan to its left rear bumper. The SUV driver suffered a contusion and injury to his hip and upper leg but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan driver was not reported injured. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving and unsafe lane maneuvers in busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - A 23-year-old man crossing with the signal was hit by a southbound bike on East 61st. Driver inexperience and failure to yield left the pedestrian bruised and injured in Manhattan.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male pedestrian was crossing East 61st Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan with the signal when a southbound bike struck him at 9:36 PM. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to his hip and upper leg. The bike's center front end hit the pedestrian, causing injury severity level 3. The police report details the driver's errors and confirms the pedestrian was lawfully crossing at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772076 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 16 - SUV driver ignored traffic control. Struck a 34-year-old cyclist on East 92nd. Cyclist suffered leg abrasions. Driver inattention and disregard for signals led to injury.

According to the police report, a 2015 Audi SUV traveling east on East 92nd Street near 3rd Avenue in Manhattan struck a northbound bicyclist at 7:40 pm. The SUV driver disregarded traffic control and was distracted. The 34-year-old male cyclist suffered abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Injury severity was moderate. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No contributing factors were attributed to the cyclist. The bike's front end and the SUV's right side doors were damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 14 - A 24-year-old man suffered a concussion after a solo sedan crash on FDR Drive. The driver, unlicensed and intoxicated, lost focus and struck the road with his vehicle’s front end. The impact caused head injury, leaving him conscious but injured.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male driver operating a 2015 sedan on FDR Drive at 4:10 AM was involved in a crash. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver was unlicensed under New York jurisdiction. The vehicle struck an object or surface with its left front bumper, resulting in damage to the center front end. The driver sustained a head injury described as a concussion and was conscious at the scene. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The report highlights critical driver errors: operating a vehicle while intoxicated, distracted driving, and lacking a valid license. These factors directly contributed to the crash and the occupant’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - A 57-year-old man suffered a hip and upper leg contusion after a sedan struck him in Manhattan. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and exhibited aggressive driving. The pedestrian was conscious but injured in the collision near East 69th Street.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west near East 69th Street in Manhattan struck a 57-year-old male pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruising to his hip and upper leg and was conscious after the collision. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and aggressive driving or road rage as contributing factors. The vehicle, a 2022 Honda sedan registered in New Jersey, showed no damage despite the impact occurring at the center back end. The pedestrian’s actions are described as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not list any contributing factors from the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. This collision highlights driver errors, specifically failure to yield and aggressive behavior, as the primary causes of injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19