Harlem’s kill zones: nine dead, hundreds hurt, and a city that still won’t slow down

Jun 21 - Council grilled delivery apps on June 21. Seven bills target reckless e-bike riding, battery fires, and low pay. Lawmakers want apps to answer for worker traffic violations and vehicle safety. Pedestrians and cyclists face daily danger. Councilmember Schulman called for accountability.

On June 21, 2024, the NYC Council's Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection held a hearing on seven bills regulating delivery apps. The bills aim to address 'myriad health and safety concerns' from e-bike crashes, battery fires, and low pay. Councilmember Lynn Schulman, District 29, spoke out: 'Right now, delivery workers are essentially incentivized for speed... This often results in driving recklessly, often putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.' Three bills would make apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash responsible for vehicle safety and compliance, require them to provide safety-compliant e-bikes, and ensure mopeds are registered. Other bills target pay transparency and tip protections. Councilmembers Shaun Abreu and Rafael Salamanca also spoke in support. The measures seek to hold companies accountable for dangers faced by vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• Delivery apps in NYC could be held responsible for workers following traffic laws, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-21

Jun 10 - An SUV struck an 18-year-old cyclist on West 123rd Street. The driver’s inattention split the night and the rider’s head. Blood pooled. Four sat in the car. The cyclist, alone, was ejected and left with severe bleeding.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male cyclist riding alone on West 123rd Street was struck by a westbound Ford SUV near midnight. The report states the SUV had four occupants and was traveling straight ahead when it collided with the cyclist, who was also moving straight. The cyclist was ejected on impact, suffering a severe head injury and heavy bleeding. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the crash, placing responsibility on the SUV driver’s lack of focus. The report also notes the cyclist was listening to headphones and not wearing a helmet, but these details are cited only after the driver’s error. The collision’s violence and aftermath underscore the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733137 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 8 - A 27-year-old woman crossing Amsterdam Avenue with the signal was struck by a northbound taxi. The impact caused injury to her elbow and lower arm, leaving her in shock and bleeding. The taxi sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old female pedestrian was crossing Amsterdam Avenue at an intersection with the crossing signal when she was hit by a northbound taxi. The taxi, a 2014 Nissan operated by a licensed male driver, struck the pedestrian at the center front end, causing injury to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The pedestrian suffered minor bleeding and was reported to be in shock. The taxi sustained damage to its center front end. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond unspecified ones. The pedestrian was crossing legally with the signal, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732881 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 4 - Lawmakers blasted city officials for letting trash haulers with deadly records win new contracts. Council grilled DSNY for picking low bids over safety. Victims’ lives lost in the math. Oversight weak. Dangerous firms keep rolling. Streets stay risky for all.

On June 4, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on commercial waste zone implementation and contractor selection. The hearing spotlighted the Commercial Waste Zones law, which aims to cut crashes by limiting private trash haulers in each zone. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, author of the 2019 reform, and Council Member Shaun Abreu led the charge, questioning why companies like Cogent Waste Solutions—with poor safety records—were awarded contracts. Reynoso declared, "Saving $20 for a business is not worth five human lives." DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the process, promising to terminate contracts after multiple at-fault fatalities. BIC Commissioner Liz Crotty admitted, "Safety is not a factor" in license denial. Lawmakers condemned the city for putting cost before safety, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Pols Slam City For Giving Rogue Carters Permits for New Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-04

Jun 3 - Two sedans collided on Edgecombe Avenue in Manhattan. The 62-year-old male driver suffered a hip and upper leg injury and was in shock. The crash involved multiple vehicles and was caused by vehicular errors, according to the police report.

At 21:09 on Edgecombe Avenue in Manhattan, two sedans collided, resulting in injury. According to the police report, the 62-year-old male driver of a 2013 Toyota sedan was injured, sustaining hip and upper leg trauma and was reported to be in shock. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and complained of pain or nausea. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' contributing factors multiple times, indicating driver errors related to vehicle operation. One sedan was traveling south going straight ahead with center front end impact and damage, while the other sedan was parked with center back end impact and damage. The police report does not attribute any contributing factors to the victim's behavior, focusing instead on vehicular errors as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 3 - A female driver, impaired by alcohol, crashed her sedan in Manhattan near 75 LaSalle Street. The impact struck the right front bumper, causing head injuries and incoherence. The driver was the sole occupant and was not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:32 a.m. in Manhattan near 75 LaSalle Street. The driver, a 33-year-old female, was the only occupant of a 2019 Nissan sedan traveling northbound. The vehicle's right front bumper struck an unspecified object or surface, damaging the right front quarter panel. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor twice, indicating impairment played a key role in the crash. The driver sustained head injuries with an injury severity level of 3 and was incoherent after the collision. She was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any other contributing factors or victim behaviors, focusing on the driver's alcohol impairment as the critical cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 3 - Sanitation named a monitor for Cogent Waste Solutions after fatal crashes and hundreds of violations. Council members question why a company with such a record still hauls trash in city zones. The city’s new waste program promises stricter oversight, but danger remains.

On June 3, 2024, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) appointed an independent monitor for Cogent Waste Solutions, a private carting firm with a deadly safety record. The move comes before the city’s new Commercial Waste Zone program launches this fall. Council Members Shaun Abreu and Sandy Nurse raised alarms, asking, 'how the city awarded a contract to a company with a history of endangering workers to begin with.' Cogent’s trucks have killed one, injured four, and racked up hundreds of violations. Despite this, DSNY allowed Cogent to win contracts in four waste zones. DSNY Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman defended the process, stating, 'Safety was absolutely one of the weighted factors,' and promised, 'there will be consequences for lack of compliance.' The oversight hearing exposes a system that lets reckless firms operate, even as new rules loom.

• Exclusive: Sanitation Dept. Appoints Monitor for Carting Firm with Spotty Safety Record, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-03

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 31 - Two northbound vehicles collided on Amsterdam Avenue while both were making left turns. The impact struck the left side doors of the SUV and the right front quarter panel of the sedan. A front passenger suffered a head injury and whiplash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:10 on Amsterdam Avenue involving a 2005 Chevrolet SUV and a 1999 Toyota sedan, both traveling north and making left turns. The point of impact was the left side doors of the SUV and the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The front passenger in the SUV, a 34-year-old male, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction during complex maneuvers like left turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729209 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 31 - A sedan veered across lanes on Broadway. It struck another sedan. The front passenger took the blow. She suffered internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. The driver’s reckless move left her hurt and conscious.

According to the police report, a northbound sedan attempted an unsafe lane change near 3462 Broadway in Manhattan at 16:39. The maneuver caused a collision with another northbound sedan traveling straight. The impact hit the right rear quarter panel of the struck vehicle and the left front bumper of the lane-changing car. A 38-year-old woman, seated in the front passenger seat of the struck sedan, sustained internal injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. She was conscious at the scene. The report lists "Unsafe Lane Changing" as the contributing factor. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The injured passenger was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. No actions by the victim contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 25 - Sedan hit e-scooter on West 147 Street. Rider thrown, left unconscious. Driver inattention listed as cause. System failed to protect the vulnerable. Metal met flesh. Injury followed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on West 147 Street near Amsterdam Avenue struck an e-scooter, also heading north. The 42-year-old female e-scooter rider was partially ejected and rendered unconscious, suffering injuries. The sedan’s left rear quarter panel was damaged. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the crash. No contributing factors were listed for the e-scooter rider. This collision highlights the danger distracted drivers pose to people using micromobility devices on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 24 - A box truck struck a stationary SUV on Broadway, injuring the truck driver. The collision caused abrasions and lower leg injuries. According to the police report, the truck driver followed too closely and exhibited aggressive driving, leading to the crash.

According to the police report, at 16:25 on Broadway, a 2015 box truck operated by a 53-year-old male driver rear-ended a stationary Jeep SUV. The truck was initially parked and then collided with the SUV's center front end, impacting the truck’s left side doors. The truck driver was injured, sustaining abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors for the truck driver. The injured driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other occupants were reported injured. The crash highlights driver error in maintaining safe following distance and controlling aggressive behavior, causing harm to the truck driver and vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730353 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 23 - A pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a vehicle made a right turn and struck him on West 155 Street in Manhattan. The impact hit the vehicle’s center front end. The pedestrian remained conscious despite injuries.

According to the police report, at 11:27 AM on West 155 Street in Manhattan, a vehicle traveling north made a right turn and struck a 48-year-old male pedestrian. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage in the same area. The pedestrian suffered abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3, but remained conscious. The report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors are explicitly cited. The vehicle was unoccupied except for the driver, whose license status and sex were not provided. The crash highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles in pedestrian areas, with the pedestrian’s exact location and actions unknown.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 22 - A sedan veered on Henry Hudson Parkway. It hit a motorcycle. The rider took a back abrasion. Both vehicles damaged. Driver inattention led to the crash. The rider stayed conscious. No ejection.

According to the police report, a sedan changing lanes on Henry Hudson Parkway struck a northbound motorcycle. The crash happened at 2 p.m. The motorcycle driver, a 51-year-old man, suffered a back abrasion but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause for the sedan driver. The point of impact was the sedan’s right rear bumper and the motorcycle’s center front. Both drivers were licensed. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to pay attention during lane changes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 16 - A sedan collided with a parked sedan on West 138 Street, striking the left side doors. The driver of the moving vehicle suffered injuries to his elbow and lower arm, experiencing shock and pain. No ejections occurred; driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, at 13:01 on West 138 Street, a 2013 Toyota sedan traveling west struck a parked sedan on its left side doors. The driver, a 60-year-old man, was injured with elbow and lower arm trauma and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The report lists the driver's contributing factors as unspecified, with no mention of failure to yield or other explicit driver errors. The parked vehicle was stationary before the crash. No occupants were ejected. The collision caused damage to the left front quarter panel of the moving sedan. The report does not indicate any contributing victim behaviors or additional factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725628 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 3 - A 40-year-old unlicensed sedan driver struck a stopped taxi on West 125th Street. The impact caused neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:39 on West 125th Street in Manhattan. A 40-year-old male sedan driver, who was unlicensed, rear-ended a stopped taxi. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan's point of impact was the left front bumper, striking the taxi’s right rear bumper, which sustained damage. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and complained of whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The taxi driver was licensed and stopped in traffic at the time. The report highlights driver errors by the sedan operator, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724356 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18