Blood on Cabrini: Manhattan’s Streets Still Built for the Kill

Another school year. No stop-arm cameras. City Council passed the law years ago. Mayor Adams stalls. Children cross streets. Drivers ignore bus signs. Other cities act. New York waits. Danger lingers at the curb. Twelve kids dead this year. No change.

The City Council authorized automated school bus stop-arm cameras nearly three years ago, with then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez sponsoring the law. The measure aimed to catch drivers who ignore bus stop signs, fining them up to $300 per violation. Despite the law, New York City has not implemented the cameras. A six-month pilot on 30 buses ended without public results. Mayor Adams has delayed action, with City Hall offering no timeline. Other New York counties have issued thousands of violations and seen drops in illegal passing. Advocates like Alexa Sledge of Transportation Alternatives call the cameras 'essential' to protect children, noting twelve have died in traffic this year. The city’s inaction leaves kids exposed while other jurisdictions move ahead.

• City School Year to Start Without Promised Bus Stop Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A 24-year-old woman suffered full-body contusions after a sedan struck her at an intersection on West 183 Street. The driver, making a right turn, failed to yield and was distracted, causing the collision despite the pedestrian crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling northeast on West 183 Street made a right turn and struck a 24-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report identifies the driver's errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body, including contusions and bruises, and was in shock at the scene. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, which also sustained damage. The driver’s failure to yield and distraction directly contributed to the crash, highlighting systemic dangers at this intersection in Manhattan's 10033 zip code.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754628 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A sedan traveling north on Broadway struck a 29-year-old in-line skater at an intersection in Manhattan. The skater suffered full-body injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling straight ahead northbound on Broadway in Manhattan collided with a 29-year-old male in-line skater at an intersection near West 173 Street. The point of impact was the sedan's right front bumper. The skater, described as an occupant with helmet use, sustained injuries to his entire body and was reported in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The report explicitly lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle was a 2010 Infiniti sedan registered in Georgia, occupied by a single driver. No contributing factors related to the victim's actions were noted. The collision caused damage to the sedan's right front bumper and resulted in serious injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 40-year-old man suffered head injuries and shock after an SUV failed to yield at an intersection on Audubon Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck, sustaining minor bleeding and serious injury to the head.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 PM on Audubon Avenue near West 168th Street in Manhattan. A 2024 SUV traveling south struck a 40-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street with the signal at the intersection. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors attributed to the vehicle driver. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and was in shock, with minor bleeding noted. The vehicle sustained damage at an unspecified point of impact. No information about driver license status or pre-crash actions was provided. The report clearly identifies driver error in failing to yield and disregarding traffic control as the cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752885 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

New York will close 71 streets to cars outside schools this fall. The city adds more car-free zones for kids. Streets once deadly will now be safer for walking, play, and learning. The move targets neighborhoods hit hardest by crashes.

""Through our Open Streets program, we have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children to safely learn, develop new skills, and make pick-ups and drop-offs much easier for parents and guardians."" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On August 29, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a record 71 school streets will close to cars this fall. The expansion, not tied to a specific council bill, builds on the Open Streets program, made permanent in 2021. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said, 'We have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino celebrated the new open street at PS 129, calling it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play. Funding comes from the Public Space Equity Program, with $30 million focused on under-resourced areas. Street Lab will provide programming and street furniture. The program responds to past investigations showing higher crash and injury rates outside schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The city will directly fund management and operations starting in 2025, aiming to make these safety gains permanent.

• More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29

City plans to widen Park Avenue medians north of Grand Central. Officials promise greenery and safety. No commitment yet on protected bike lanes. Advocates push for cycling space. Public input will follow. The corridor remains dangerous for riders and walkers.

On August 27, 2024, the city announced a plan to redesign and widen Park Avenue medians between 46th and 57th Streets. The project, not yet assigned a bill number, is led by Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The plan aims to make Park Avenue 'greener, safer and more welcoming,' but leaves out key details: 'All ideas are welcome,' Rodriguez said, refusing to commit to a protected bike lane. Rep. Jerry Nadler voiced support for sustainable transit, including Citi Bike. Advocates like Jon Orcutt highlighted the lack of bike lanes in the area, calling for urgent action. The Request for Proposals is open for four weeks to women and minority-owned firms, with public input to follow. The absence of a protected bike lane keeps vulnerable road users at risk.

• City Will Put the ‘Park’ Back in Park Ave., But Details (Bike Lane? Road Diet?) Are Left Out, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

Two sedans collided head-on and rear-end on West 170 Street in Manhattan. The driver of one vehicle suffered chest injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both drivers were licensed men traveling westbound.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on West 170 Street in Manhattan collided, with impact at the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. The crash occurred at 5:10 am. The driver of the 2011 Honda sedan, a 43-year-old man, sustained chest injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the victims' actions or safety equipment. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

SUV struck a bicyclist on Audubon Avenue. The rider hit the ground. Blood on the knee and leg. Both moved straight. Police blame confusion. No driver errors listed. No vehicle damage. Manhattan street, early morning.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Audubon Avenue near West 172 Street in Manhattan at 2:05 AM. An SUV and a bicyclist, both traveling straight, collided. The 44-year-old male bicyclist suffered abrasions to his knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the only contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The bicyclist was not ejected. The use of safety equipment is unknown.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A Dodge sedan veered head-on into a southbound pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. Steel folded. Two men in the truck died crushed. The Dodge driver held no license. The road stayed dark. Impact and error left only silence.

According to the police report, at 2:25 a.m. on Henry Hudson Parkway, a Dodge sedan veered and struck a southbound pickup truck head-on. The report states, "Steel folded. Two men inside the truck, ages 38 and 40, died crushed." The contributing factor cited is "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The Dodge driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash, as documented in the vehicle data. The collision resulted in fatal crush injuries to both the driver and front passenger of the pickup. The police report makes no mention of any contributing actions by the victims. The report highlights the unlicensed status of the Dodge driver and improper lane usage as key factors in this deadly crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 65-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan backed into him on Saint Nicholas Avenue. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian bruised and in shock off the roadway.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2019 Acura sedan traveling west on Saint Nicholas Avenue backed into him at around 5 p.m. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of impact. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The sedan’s point of impact was the center back end, indicating the driver failed to observe the pedestrian while backing. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle with two occupants. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during backing maneuvers in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750483 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 16-year-old bicyclist suffered head abrasions after an SUV made a right turn and struck him on West 184 Street in Manhattan. The collision caused right side damage to the SUV and injured the cyclist, who remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:13 on West 184 Street in Manhattan. A 16-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2017 SUV, traveling east and making a right turn, struck him. The point of impact was the right side doors of the SUV and the center front end of the bike. The bicyclist sustained head abrasions and was conscious after the collision. The report cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as contributing factors, indicating driver errors by the SUV operator. The bicyclist was not ejected and was not noted to have any contributing behaviors. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but failed to yield, leading to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751280 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 78-year-old woman was injured at a Manhattan intersection when an SUV making a left turn hit her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. Police cited driver failure to yield and inattention as causes.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at the intersection of West 188 Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The incident occurred at 16:15 when a 2018 Ford SUV, traveling north and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, but the driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive, contributing to the collision. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The report explicitly identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but his errors caused harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749413 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

DOT delays Fourth Avenue’s ‘Great Street’ project, pushing Phase I to August 2025. Cyclists face erased bike lanes and forced merges with traffic. Community demands safety, but DOT waives protections. Illegal parking chokes lanes. Promised upgrades stall. Danger lingers.

The Fourth Avenue ‘Great Street’ capital project, first announced in 2017, faces another setback. The Department of Transportation (DOT) told Community Board 7 that Phase I, meant to bolster medians and add plantings, will now finish in August 2025—over a year late. Phase II, which would add concrete to painted bike zones, won’t start until 2026. DOT erased protected bike lanes during construction, forcing cyclists into traffic. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez admitted waiving Local Law 124, which requires temporary bike lanes, citing traffic concerns. Community Board 7, led by Katherine Walsh, called out DOT’s failure to address illegal parking and equity. Advocates like Jon Orcutt and John Tomac condemned the agency’s logic and lack of safety measures. Despite the $60-million Vision Zero promise, Brooklyn’s vulnerable road users remain exposed as the city delays real protection.

• Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave. ‘Great Street’ Delayed … Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-16

MTA leaders blasted the city for killing Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. Paint and ticket blitzes failed. Bus speeds barely moved. Riders remain stuck in traffic. Cars clog lanes. Promised fixes scrapped. Advocates demand real action. The city stalls. Riders suffer.

On August 16, 2024, MTA officials sent a scathing letter to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, criticizing the city’s decision to abandon plans to upgrade Fordham Road’s curbside bus lanes to offset bus lanes. The letter, signed by outgoing NYCT President Richard Davey and interim successor Demetrius Crichlow, called the city’s paint-and-enforcement approach a 'total bust.' The MTA cited new data showing bus speeds increased just 2–4 percent since October 2022—far below the 15 percent target. The matter summary reads: 'The Fordham Road project enjoys widespread support from transit advocacy groups, and Fordham Road bus riders, who have been enduring slow service for decades.' Council involvement is not specified, but the MTA’s letter and Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein both demand stronger measures. The city’s inaction leaves Bronx bus riders stranded in slow traffic, with vulnerable road users paying the price for political compromise.

• FOIL’D: MTA Leadership Assailed DOT for Failing to Boost Fordham Road Bus Speeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-16

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Two sedans collided on West 207 Street. The rear car struck the front car. A 39-year-old woman suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention. Both cars showed heavy damage.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on West 207 Street in Manhattan at 4:00 p.m. The rear sedan hit the center back end of the front sedan. The 39-year-old female driver of the rear car was injured, suffering back pain and shock. Police listed driver inattention and failure to yield as contributing factors. The front car was slowing or stopping when struck. Both vehicles sustained damage from the impact. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749275 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A rollerblader suffered a head injury and lost consciousness after colliding with a bike on West 158 Street. Both parties were traveling straight when unsafe speed caused the crash. The rollerblader wore a helmet but sustained minor bleeding.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:07 on West 158 Street involving a bike and a rollerblader. The rollerblader, a 52-year-old female driver, was injured with a head injury and was unconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the collision. Both the bike and rollerblader were traveling straight ahead in opposite directions when the crash happened. The rollerblader was wearing a helmet, as noted under safety equipment, but still suffered minor bleeding and a severe head injury. The bike driver, a male, was not reported injured. No vehicle damage was recorded. The report highlights driver error—specifically unsafe speed—as the cause, with no victim fault cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Adams and the Council cut roadside dining to a sliver. Outdoor tables now fill just 0.09 percent of parking spots. Most sheds will vanish. The city’s car-first streets return. Small businesses and advocates call the rollback a loss for public space.

On August 5, 2024, the Adams administration finalized its new outdoor dining policy, shrinking the pandemic-era program. The city now allows roadside dining only from April to November, with just 1,315 restaurants applying for street setups. Another 1,277 sought year-round sidewalk cafes. The matter, described as a 'massive scaleback,' drew criticism from advocates and business owners. Jackson Chabot of Open Plans said, 'It’s mind boggling that New York City is actually regressing back to more car-centered streets.' Restaurateurs like Charlotta Janssen and Robert Sanfiz warned that new seasonal rules and costly storage will force many to abandon outdoor dining. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called the program 'the largest and best in America,' but critics say the city missed a chance to reclaim space from cars and support vulnerable road users.

• SPLAT: Adams Administration’s Squeeze on Roadside Dining is Complete, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-05

Two motorcycles northbound on Saint Nicholas. The rear machine too close, slamming the lead. A 33-year-old, unlicensed, helmetless, thrown down. His leg split, blood pooling on West 176th. Metal, flesh, and asphalt tangled in the dusk.

According to the police report, two motorcycles were traveling northbound at West 176th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. The rear motorcycle, operated by a 33-year-old man, was 'following too closely' and struck the motorcycle ahead. The report states the rear rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The collision left him with severe lacerations to his lower leg, described as his leg 'split open' and blood pooling at the scene. Both motorcycles were damaged at the center front and back ends, consistent with a rear-end impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the rear rider. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to maintain safe distance and speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08