Harlem Bleeds While City Sleeps: Demand Safety Now

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

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

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

Two sedans crashed at Frederick Douglass Boulevard. One driver, age sixty-one, suffered a head injury. Police cite illness as a factor. The street fell silent. Metal twisted. Shock set in. The system failed to protect those inside.

Two sedans collided at the intersection of West 150th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Manhattan. According to the police report, a sixty-one-year-old male driver was injured in the head and experienced shock. The crash involved a northbound parked Audi and a westbound Jeep making a left turn. Police list 'Illness' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not specify further driver errors or mention helmet or signal use. The incident highlights the persistent risks faced by vehicle occupants on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818914 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

An SUV door swung open on West 125th. An e-bike rider slammed into it. The rider, 22, was thrown and bruised. Driver inattention and distraction led to the crash. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

An e-bike rider, age 22, was injured after colliding with the right-side doors of a parked SUV on West 125th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling east when the crash occurred. The e-bike rider was partially ejected and suffered a contusion to the lower leg and foot. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both the e-bike and the SUV. The e-bike operator was unlicensed. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant or a child witness. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to cyclists from inattentive driving and dooring incidents in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A police chase tore through Upper Manhattan. A crash. Flames. Francisco Guzman Parra died trapped in the wreck. Officers drove past, never stopped. Video shows the moment. No help came for minutes. The street bore the cost.

Patch reported on June 7, 2025, that NYPD officers pursued Francisco Guzman Parra from The Bronx to Upper Manhattan. Security video shows the pursued SUV crashing and catching fire at Dyckman Street. Officers arrived seconds later but did not stop, instead driving away as flames grew. Guzman Parra died in the fire. The article quotes Guzman's sister: "No help was offered, and then how long he burned for." Officers were suspended after the incident. A police union spokesperson claimed officers could not see the wreck. The department is reviewing whether officers failed to report the deadly crash. The case raises questions about NYPD pursuit protocols and response obligations.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Fire, Patch, Published 2025-06-07

A sedan turned right on West 135th. An e-scooter rider was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention and improper turning. Four sedan occupants unhurt.

A crash at West 135th Street in Manhattan involved a sedan and an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider, a 55-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe leg lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the collision. Four sedan occupants, all men in their twenties, were not injured. The e-scooter rider was unlicensed. The report lists no other contributing factors. Systemic driver errors led to harm for the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819259 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV slammed into another’s rear on Harlem River Drive. A three-year-old boy and a woman suffered injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal and bodies took the blow.

A crash on Harlem River Drive involved two SUVs traveling south. According to the police report, one SUV struck the rear of another, injuring a three-year-old boy in the back seat and a 33-year-old woman driving. The child suffered leg injuries; the woman had back pain. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were damaged, with the lead SUV hit in the left rear bumper and the second SUV’s front end crushed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW SUV struck an e-scooter at Lenox Avenue and West 138th. The scooter rider suffered a fractured leg. Police say traffic control was ignored. Metal met flesh. The street stayed silent. The system failed the vulnerable again.

A BMW SUV and an e-scooter collided at Lenox Avenue and West 138th Street in Manhattan. The 35-year-old man riding the e-scooter was injured, suffering a fractured leg and dislocation. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as the contributing factor. The SUV was traveling south, the e-scooter west. The report does not specify which driver disregarded the signal, but the system failed to protect the scooter rider. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817940 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Hundreds rode through Manhattan. Police targeted cyclists, not reckless drivers. Riders stopped at every light, exposed the law’s absurdity. One cyclist jailed for lacking ID. Drivers who injure go free. Cyclists demand fair treatment, safety, respect.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 2, 2025, that hundreds of New Yorkers joined a mass ride to protest the NYPD’s intensified enforcement against cyclists. The demonstration, which began at Union Square, challenged new policies issuing criminal summonses for minor cycling offenses. Riders followed traffic laws, highlighting the crackdown’s contradictions. One cyclist, Erin Poland, said the policy 'is not actually protecting cyclists [but] putting them in more danger.' Another, Tara Pham, noted, 'I’ve been hit by vehicles twice... those drivers face no criminal charges.' The article details how police arrested a Citi Bike rider for not moving aside and lacking ID, while drivers who injure vulnerable road users often avoid serious consequences. The piece underscores the disparity in enforcement and questions the effectiveness and fairness of current NYPD tactics.

• Cyclists Protest NYPD Crackdown in Manhattan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-02

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

A taxi turned right on West 129th and hit a 17-year-old cyclist. The girl was ejected and injured her back. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. The street saw impact. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

A taxi collided with a 17-year-old bicyclist at West 129th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist, traveling south, was ejected and suffered a back injury. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The taxi was making a right turn when it struck the cyclist, who was going straight. The report lists no contributing factors for the cyclist. An 82-year-old taxi occupant was also involved but not reported injured. The crash highlights driver errors and the dangers faced by vulnerable road users in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A bus hit a young woman in the crosswalk at Lenox and 135th. She crossed with the signal. The bus turned left. She suffered a head injury. Police list driver inattention and inexperience. The street stayed busy. The system failed her.

A 25-year-old woman was struck by a bus while crossing Lenox Avenue at West 135th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the bus, making a left turn, hit her. She suffered a head injury and was described as semiconscious at the scene. Police identified 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and wore a lap belt. No other injuries were reported among the bus occupants. The report highlights driver error as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817143 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04