Bodies Keep Falling. Council Keeps Stalling.

Manhattan’s Community Board 6 voted 31-5 for the 34th Street busway. The plan blocks private cars from Third to Ninth. Nearly 30,000 bus riders stand to gain. Transit wins. Cars lose. The city moves closer to safer, faster streets for people.

On June 12, 2025, Manhattan Community Board 6 passed a resolution supporting DOT’s 34th Street busway plan by a 31-5 vote. The matter, as reported by Streetsblog NYC, reads: 'Manhattan Community Board 6 overwhelmingly supported by a vote of 31-5 the DOT's plans to install a busway on 34th Street, passing a resolution that urged the city to prioritize its installation.' Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers, who represent the corridor, both support the measure. The resolution urges the city to prioritize the busway, which would ban through traffic by private cars between Third and Ninth avenues. Leadership from Community Boards 4 and 5 also joined the call. DOT plans to implement the busway in summer or fall 2025. According to the safety analyst, the event text does not describe a policy or legislative change relevant to pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Midtown Manhattan Panel Overwhelmingly Backs 34th St Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-12

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

Seventeen council members back Ryder’s Law to ban horse-drawn carriages. The bill stalls. Horses bolt, people get hurt. Speaker Adrienne Adams blocks a hearing. The city’s inaction leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and horses at risk. No change for street safety.

On June 2, 2025, City & State NY published an opinion urging action on Ryder’s Law, the stalled NYC Council bill to ban horse-drawn carriages. The article states, "Forcing horses to pound the pavement with heavy carriages in Midtown, where they compete with motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians, is inhumane." Seventeen council members, led by Robert Holden (bill sponsor) and Erik Bottcher (district includes stables), support the ban. Speaker Adrienne Adams has blocked a hearing and vote. The piece highlights recent incidents where bolting horses injured at least four people, including a pedicab driver. Despite the vivid danger, the safety analyst notes: "The event text does not describe any policy or legislative change affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so there is no direct impact on their safety." The bill remains stalled in committee, with no relief for vulnerable road users.

• Opinion: Stop our political blindness on inhumane horse-drawn carriages, City & State NY, Published 2025-06-02

A sedan hit a man on Bleecker Street. The pedestrian, 26, bled from the head and drifted semiconscious. The car’s left front bumper took the blow. No driver error listed. The street stayed hard and unforgiving.

A 26-year-old man walking outside the intersection at 283 Bleecker Street in Manhattan was struck by a sedan traveling east. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was semiconscious at the scene. The car’s left front bumper was damaged. The report lists no specific driver error or contributing factor. Other occupants in the vehicle were not reported injured. The data shows the pedestrian was in the roadway but not at an intersection, performing 'other actions.' No helmet or signaling issues are cited. The crash underscores the danger pedestrians face, even when driver fault is not specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814350, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man on a bike hit a woman crossing West 45th Street. The cyclist moved too fast. The woman suffered a crushed leg. Shock followed. The street saw blood and pain. Speed turned routine movement into injury.

A crash occurred on West 45th Street in Manhattan. A 36-year-old man riding a bike struck a 33-year-old woman who was crossing the street. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling at an unsafe speed. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk when she was hit. She suffered crush injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813484, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi turned left near 206 Fifth Avenue and struck four men on foot. Blood pooled on the street. Bones broke. One man’s knee shattered. Alcohol and speed fueled the impact. The city’s night swallowed their cries.

According to the police report, a taxi making a left turn near 206 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan struck four male pedestrians late at night. One victim bled from the leg, another’s foot was crushed, and a 65-year-old man suffered a broken knee and shock. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The sedan involved was operated by an unlicensed driver. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to pedestrian behavior. The crash resulted in multiple serious injuries to people on foot, with driver impairment and unlicensed operation called out as key dangers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807203, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council bill orders new medians between bike lanes and car traffic to hold trees and plants. Parks and Transportation must decide what’s possible, then plant. The law aims to shield cyclists, break up the street, and cool the city’s hard edges.

Int 1233-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on April 10, 2025. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. Their action: referral to committee. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to build new medians between bike lanes and car lanes that can support trees and other vegetation, subject to feasibility. Parks and Recreation must plant or allow planting in these medians. The move promises a harder barrier between cyclists and cars, with green infrastructure as a shield.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

A box truck struck a man in the street near West 40th. Steel met bone. He died alone before dawn. The truck rolled on, unscathed. The city’s dark streets claimed another life.

A 39-year-old man was killed when a box truck traveling south on 9th Avenue near West 40th Street struck him head-on, according to the police report. The incident occurred in the pre-dawn hours, with the report stating, 'A man stood in the street. A box truck came, head-on. His skull broke under steel. He died there, alone in the dark. The truck rolled on, untouched.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further details on the cause. The truck sustained no damage, and the driver continued on without stopping. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact and the unanswered questions surrounding the driver's actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803350, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man emerged from behind a parked SUV on 7th Avenue. A sedan, moving too fast, struck him. His pelvis broke. He stayed conscious on the asphalt as traffic and city life pressed on. The street did not pause.

A 26-year-old man was seriously injured on 7th Avenue near West 13th Street in Manhattan when a sedan, traveling at unsafe speed, struck him as he stepped from behind a parked SUV. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered 'crush injuries' to his pelvis and remained conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The sedan’s impact was severe, shattering the man’s pelvis and leaving him on the roadway as other vehicles continued past. The police narrative states: 'A man stepped from behind a parked SUV. A speeding sedan struck him hard. His pelvis shattered.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when the crash occurred. The report does not cite any contributing actions by the victim beyond his location and movement. The focus remains on the driver’s excessive speed, which directly led to the violent outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798757, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Dodge Charger slammed a street sweeper, then veered. The car pinned a police officer against a cruiser on Seventh Avenue. Sirens wailed. Both men landed in the hospital. Metal, glass, blood. Charges are pending. The street stayed dangerous.

ABC7 reported on March 14, 2025, that a 26-year-old police officer was struck by a Dodge Charger in Greenwich Village. The Charger, traveling south on Seventh Avenue, hit a street sweeper before losing control and pinning the officer against a marked police vehicle. According to ABC7, 'The officer was pinned between the Charger and a marked police vehicle.' Both the officer and the driver were hospitalized in stable condition. The driver is in custody with charges pending. The incident highlights the risk posed by vehicles losing control on busy city streets and underscores the ongoing danger to people on foot, even those in uniform.

• Officer Pinned By Out-Of-Control Charger, ABC7, Published 2025-03-14

Four miles of new protected bike lane now run up 6th Avenue. Cyclists ride from the Village to Central Park without fear. The city took a lane from cars. Pedestrians cross faster. The street is safer. Bottcher calls it a step forward.

On March 5, 2025, the city finished a four-mile protected bike lane on 6th Avenue, stretching from Lispenard to West 13th Streets. The project, part of the city’s Streets Plan, was announced by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Council Member Erik Bottcher, representing District 3, praised the completion, saying, “By completing the Sixth Avenue bike lane, we are not only improving the safety of cyclists but also enhancing the overall experience for pedestrians and drivers alike.” The new lane replaces a car lane, widens space for bikes, and redesigns intersections to shorten pedestrian crossings and slow turning vehicles. Transportation advocates and Manhattan Community Board 2 support the project. DOT data shows protected bike lanes cut total deaths and serious injuries by 18.1%, and pedestrian deaths and serious injuries by 29.1%.

• 6th Avenue’s four-mile protected bike lane corridor completed, amny.com, Published 2025-03-05

A 22-year-old man driving a 2017 Hyundai sedan took a right turn too fast at W 49th Street and 8th Avenue. The car's front center struck a fixed object. He suffered head injuries and was found semi-conscious behind the wheel.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver was injured in a crash at 5:28 a.m. on W 49th Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan. The 2017 Hyundai sedan was making a right turn when it struck a fixed object with the center front end. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The driver was alone, suffered severe head lacerations, and was found half-awake behind the wheel. The narrative states, 'A 2017 Hyundai turned too fast. Metal struck stone. A young man, 22, slumped behind the wheel, head bleeding, half-awake.' No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the dangers of excessive speed during turns, as documented by the police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797761, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck, left parked on Avenue of the Americas, lurched forward and struck a 33-year-old man behind the wheel of another vehicle. He wore a harness. He did not move again. Cold air hung over the still street.

According to the police report, a box truck parked near 851 Avenue of the Americas suddenly lurched north and struck a 33-year-old man who was behind the wheel of another vehicle. The man, identified as the driver and sole occupant, wore a lap belt and harness but was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred at 8:10 a.m. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical lapse in driver vigilance. The truck, registered in Ohio and operated by a licensed driver from Louisiana, was supposed to be stationary but instead moved forward, causing fatal impact. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and the dangers posed by large vehicles left unattended on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792075, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV slammed into a young man’s e-scooter from behind near 28th Street. He lay semiconscious, head bleeding, helmetless, as blood pooled on the concrete and traffic rolled past in the fading Manhattan light.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-scooter was struck from behind by an SUV on Sixth Avenue near 28th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 5:57 p.m. The SUV, traveling north, hit the e-scooter as it was changing lanes. The police report describes the e-scooter operator as semiconscious with severe head bleeding and no helmet. The SUV’s center front end collided with the e-scooter’s center back end, leaving the rider injured on the street. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both parties, but the narrative makes clear the SUV driver struck the e-scooter from behind. No driver errors were explicitly cited, but the impact location and sequence highlight the systemic danger faced by vulnerable road users in mixed traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786033, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Cadillac SUV barreled south through the intersection at W 37th Street and 9th Avenue. The bumper struck a 61-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She lay semiconscious, her body broken, the street marked by violence and disregard.

According to the police report, a Cadillac SUV drove south on 9th Avenue, proceeding straight through the intersection at W 37th Street. The vehicle struck a 61-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. The report states, 'The bumper struck her. She lay crushed and semiconscious, her body broken across the pavement.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was left semiconscious at the scene. The police report notes the woman was crossing with the signal, and no contributing factors were attributed to her actions. The report lists the contributing factor for the driver as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative makes clear the SUV 'drove south, straight through the light,' highlighting a failure to obey the traffic signal. The impact and resulting injuries underscore the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784464, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 54-year-old man on a bike slammed into a parked bus at West 39th and Ninth. He flew from the saddle, his skull cracking on the pavement. Blood pooled. The bus stood untouched. The man lay broken, head bleeding.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old male bicyclist traveling west on West 39th Street collided with a parked bus at the corner of 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The report states the cyclist was ejected from his bike, suffering a severe head injury with significant bleeding after his skull struck the pavement. The bus, a 2006 GMC, was parked and sustained no damage. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. No helmet was in use, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The narrative describes a violent impact and the aftermath: 'Blood pooled on the asphalt. The bus, untouched. The man, broken.' The crash underscores the consequences of distraction and the hazards that persist even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779708, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council bill Int 1138-2024 would ban parking and standing within 20 feet of crosswalks. It forces the city to install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections each year. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors include Bottcher, Won, and the Public Advocate.

Int 1138-2024, introduced December 5, 2024, is under review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is 'Laid Over in Committee.' Its title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.' Council Member Erik D. Bottcher is the primary sponsor, joined by Julie Won, Jumaane Williams, and others. The bill prohibits standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and mandates the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year. The law also requires citywide outreach and reporting. This measure aims to keep sightlines clear at crossings, a known danger zone for people on foot and bike. The bill has not yet received a vote.

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

A yellow cab turned left on 10th Avenue, its front end smashing into a teenage cyclist’s head. The boy collapsed, unconscious, under the streetlights. The cab kept moving. The city’s cold geometry drew blood again.

A 16-year-old boy riding a bicycle was struck and seriously injured by a yellow taxi at the corner of 10th Avenue and West 33rd Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 22:40, when the taxi, described as a 2023 Ford, made a left turn and its front end hit the cyclist’s head. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver, highlighting a critical error that led to the collision. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the head and was found unconscious at the scene. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but these are mentioned only after the primary driver error. The impact and resulting injuries underscore the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774296, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck rolled west on West 29th. Its right rear struck a 30-year-old man on the sidewalk. Blood pooled from his head. The driver’s view was blocked. The truck showed no damage. The man stayed conscious, wounded and bleeding.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on West 29th Street near Seventh Avenue struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian at the right rear of the vehicle. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the collision. The report notes that blood from the victim’s head pooled on the sidewalk, and he remained conscious after the impact, suffering severe bleeding and a head injury. The truck itself showed no visible damage. The police report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility played a direct role in the incident. No driver actions beyond this are listed, and no contributing behaviors are attributed to the pedestrian. The crash underscores the persistent dangers posed by large vehicles and obstructed views in dense urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772774, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14