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

A 30-year-old male bicyclist suffered bruises and arm injuries after a sedan made a right turn and passed too closely. The impact hit the bike’s front center and the sedan’s right front quarter panel. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided near West 158 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old man, was injured with contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists "Passing Too Closely" twice as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain safe distance while making a right turn. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The sedan’s right front quarter panel and the bike’s center front end were the points of impact. The bicyclist remained conscious and was not ejected from the bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667806 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two SUVs crashed head-on and side-on at West 207 Street. Both vehicles struck each other with force. Two male passengers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Drivers distracted. Both vehicles damaged on right side and front end.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on West 207 Street. The first SUV, traveling north, was struck on its right side doors by the second SUV, which was traveling west and impacted with its center front end. Two male passengers, ages 51 and 20, were injured with neck injuries and complaints of whiplash. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both vehicles. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash caused damage to the right side doors of the first vehicle and the front end of the second vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A moped hit an SUV’s side at West 160th and Saint Nicholas. The rider, 25, was ejected. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. He lay incoherent, pain thick in his voice. The moped was crushed. Sirens cut the morning.

A violent crash unfolded at the corner of West 160th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. A moped slammed into the side of an SUV. According to the police report, the moped rider, age 25, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The moped was demolished. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A motorcycle and sedan collided on Sherman Avenue. The motorcyclist was ejected, suffering head injuries and internal trauma. The driver was semiconscious and unhelmeted. Police cited improper turning as the cause. Both vehicles traveled south at impact.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and a sedan collided on Sherman Avenue in Manhattan. The motorcyclist, a 31-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained head injuries and internal trauma. He was semiconscious at the scene and was not wearing a helmet. The sedan driver, also male, was traveling straight south when the crash occurred. The police identified "Turning Improperly" as a contributing factor to the crash. The motorcycle struck the right front quarter panel of the sedan, damaging both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A taxi crashed into a parked SUV in Washington Heights. Four taxi occupants suffered whiplash to head, neck, and back. Police cite driver distraction as the cause. Metal twisted. No one ejected.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north struck a parked SUV on Wadsworth Avenue in Manhattan. Four people in the taxi were injured: the 27-year-old male driver and three female passengers, ages 36, 41, and 44. All suffered whiplash, with injuries to the head, neck, and back. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash. The taxi's right front and the SUV's left rear took the impact. No one was ejected from either vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans crashed on Broadway in Manhattan. The female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way. Impact hit left rear quarter panel of one car and right front bumper of the other.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on Broadway collided. The female driver of the 2008 Mazda, aged 57, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the left rear quarter panel of the Ford and the right front bumper of the Mazda. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant in her vehicle. The crash highlights errors in yielding and driver control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A taxi struck the rear of a vehicle stopped in traffic on West 179 Street. Three occupants suffered neck injuries with whiplash. The taxi driver was inattentive. All injured remained conscious and were not ejected from their seats.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on West 179 Street rear-ended a vehicle stopped in traffic. The impact occurred at the center back end of the taxi and the center front end of the other vehicle. Three occupants in the taxi were injured, all suffering neck injuries described as whiplash. The injured included the driver and two passengers, all conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The taxi driver’s contributing factor was listed as Driver Inattention/Distraction. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

The Bronx has no DOT borough commissioner. Crashes rise. Council Member Salamanca demands answers. Leadership is missing. Accountability is thin. Other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits. Streets stay dangerous. DOT promises a hire. The clock ticks.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s leadership and street safety in the Bronx. Council Member Rafael Salamanca (D-Concourse Village) pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, stating, "There is no borough commissioner in the borough of the Bronx." The Bronx has lacked a permanent commissioner since November 2021. Salamanca demanded a timeline for filling the role, arguing, "There needs to be a level of accountability and our level of accountability is reaching out to that borough commissioner. Please speed it up." DOT responded that street safety projects are not planned or implemented by borough commissioners, but Salamanca insisted the vacancy leaves the Bronx exposed as crashes and injuries rise. All other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits for leadership as danger mounts.

• Amid Rash of Crashes, DOT Has No Bronx Borough Commissioner, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-13

The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

A sedan making a left turn struck a taxi traveling east on West 207 Street. The impact hit the sedan’s right side doors. A 42-year-old male rear passenger suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and was in shock. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, a sedan was making a left turn when it collided with a taxi going straight ahead on West 207 Street. The point of impact was the right side doors of the sedan and the right front bumper of the taxi. The sedan carried two occupants, including a 42-year-old male rear passenger who sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and was treated for pain and nausea. The passenger was not ejected but experienced shock. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or signal. No safety equipment was noted for the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Council grilled DOT for stalling on bus and bike lanes. Law demands these lanes. Streets stay deadly. Commissioner Rodriguez faced anger. Restler and others demanded answers. Riders and walkers pay the price for delay.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s failure to deliver required bus and bike lanes. The hearing, led by the Committee on Transportation, featured testimony from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and others criticized the agency for 'continuously falling behind on legally required bus and bike lanes.' The matter title reads: 'NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog.' Restler’s action was to publicly challenge DOT’s delays. No safety analyst note was provided, but the council’s frustration highlights the risk: every missed lane leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-09-12

Serious injuries from traffic crashes surged nearly 10 percent in spring 2023. Pedestrians and cyclists bore the brunt. The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan saw the worst rates. City law forced new data into the open. The carnage continues. Bold action is demanded.

A new report released September 11, 2023, shows a sharp rise in serious traffic injuries in New York City. The data, analyzed by Transportation Alternatives, covers 4,224 severe injuries from January 2022 to June 2023. In the second quarter of 2023 alone, 784 people—192 pedestrians and 124 cyclists among them—were seriously hurt, up from 718 the year before. The law requiring this data was sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. The report’s title calls this a 'preventable public health crisis.' Philip Miatkowski of Transportation Alternatives blames decades of policy that 'prioritize cars over people and leave behind our most vulnerable.' The data shows the Bronx had 23 percent more serious injuries per capita than the city average, Brooklyn 27 percent more, and Manhattan’s cyclist injuries were 77 percent higher per capita. The city’s DOT claims safety redesigns are underway, but the toll on vulnerable road users keeps climbing.

• Serious Traffic Crash Injuries on the Rise: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-11

A taxi slowed on West 207. An SUV hit from behind. Pavement slick. A 32-year-old passenger took a blow to the head. Whiplash followed. He stayed conscious. Metal and bodies jarred in the rain.

According to the police report, a taxi and two SUVs were traveling east on West 207 Street. The taxi slowed. A 2021 SUV struck the rear of a 2023 SUV, which then hit the taxi. A 32-year-old male passenger in the rear right seat of the first SUV suffered a head injury and whiplash. He was conscious and restrained. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. Driver error included failure to maintain control on slick roads. The passenger was not ejected and bore no fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661831 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

The city promised bollards at schools and intersections. The Department of Transportation stalled. No new barriers since 2020. Council’s mandate faded to paperwork. Streets stay exposed. Children and pedestrians wait. The city’s promise sits unkept. Danger lingers at the curb.

In 2017, the City Council passed a bill—drafted by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez—requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to install safety bollards at 50 schools and 20 intersections each year. The bill’s final version only mandated annual reporting, not installation. According to agency reports, DOT has not installed a single bollard under this law since July 1, 2020. Rodriguez called bollards 'the only tool that we have in our hands' to protect pedestrians. The DOT claims its reporting obligation covers only installations by the Security Infrastructure Working Group, which has done nothing since 2020. The Council’s law did not mention this group. The city’s failure leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as the original safety promise remains unmet.

• City ‘Security Group’ is Not Installing Safety Bollards at Intersections, Schools, Plazas as Council Once Sought, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-08

DOT wants wider, four-wheeled cargo bikes on city streets. The agency says more cargo bikes mean fewer trucks, less danger, cleaner air. Commissioner Rodriguez pushes back on critics. The rules are open for public comment. Streets change. Trucks lose ground.

On September 7, 2023, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez issued a policy statement on proposed cargo bike regulations. The rules, now open for public comment, would allow pedal-assist cargo bikes up to 48 inches wide and with four wheels, expanding from the current 36-inch, three-wheel limit. Rodriguez writes, 'we proposed rules that would expand low or no-emission options for freight deliveries.' He stresses the goal: fewer trucks, safer streets, and more sustainable freight. The statement rebuts industry claims about throttle bans and powered trailer restrictions, clarifying that state law governs those issues. Rodriguez invites public feedback, promising DOT will review all comments before adopting any rule. The move signals a shift: more space for cargo bikes, less for trucks, and a step toward safer, cleaner streets for everyone outside a car.

• DOT Commish: We Want to Get the Rules Right for Cargo Bikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07

A sedan making a left turn struck a moped going straight on West 185 Street. Two men, driver and passenger in the sedan, suffered head contusions. The driver showed signs of distraction and followed too closely. Both were conscious and injured.

According to the police report, a 2019 Honda sedan making a left turn on West 185 Street collided with a moped traveling north. The sedan carried two male occupants, a 22-year-old driver and a 17-year-old front passenger. Both sustained head injuries described as contusions and bruises but were conscious and not ejected. The driver’s contributing factors included driver inattention or distraction and following too closely. The moped also carried two occupants, but no injuries or details were reported for them. The point of impact was the sedan’s right front bumper and the moped’s center front end. No safety equipment was noted for the sedan occupants. The crash highlights driver errors without implicating the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660519 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans crashed head-on on Seaman Avenue in Manhattan. Both drivers were men. One suffered a shoulder injury and bruising. The collision damaged the left front bumpers of both vehicles. Driver inattention caused the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Seaman Avenue in Manhattan. Both drivers were male and traveling straight in opposite directions. The impact occurred at the left front bumpers of both vehicles. One driver, age 54, was injured with a shoulder and upper arm contusion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left front bumpers. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving even on straightforward routes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658982 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 29-year-old female driver suffered elbow and arm abrasions when her SUV overturned on Broadway. The crash involved multiple parked vehicles. Police cited unsafe lane changing as the cause. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female driver was injured when her 2001 SUV overturned after an unsafe lane change on Broadway. The vehicle struck multiple parked SUVs and a sedan before overturning. The driver sustained abrasions to her elbow and lower arm but was conscious and wearing a lap belt at the time of the crash. The report lists unsafe lane changing as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash caused significant damage to the overturned SUV and the parked vehicles it collided with.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658106 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A moped traveling north hit a westbound sedan’s left rear quarter on West 157 Street. The moped driver, a 28-year-old man, suffered bruises and full-body injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor. No ejection occurred.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north collided with the left rear quarter panel of a westbound sedan on West 157 Street. The moped driver, a 28-year-old male occupant, sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan was operated by a licensed male driver from Pennsylvania. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The crash caused damage to the front center of the moped and the left rear quarter of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658192 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09