Bodies Keep Falling. Council Keeps Stalling.

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 2025-06-15

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 2025-06-15

A 75-year-old man stood off West 18th Street. An e-bike slammed into him head-on. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the curb. The rider vanished, leaving pain and silence behind.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old pedestrian was standing off the roadway near 351 West 18th Street in Manhattan when an e-bike traveling west struck him head-on. The report states the impact tore open the man's leg, causing severe bleeding. The e-bike rider did not stop and left the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the collision, according to the report. The focus remains on the e-bike operator's failure to yield and lack of attention, which directly led to the violent injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772262, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle cut west on Broadway. The right front struck. A 34-year-old man, helmetless, flew partway out. Blood pooled from his head. He sat stunned under the cold, electric glare of Times Square.

According to the police report, a Sling motorcycle traveling west near 1585 Broadway was involved in a crash at 1:23 a.m. The right front of the motorcycle struck, causing a 34-year-old male passenger to be partially ejected. The report states the man suffered severe bleeding from the head and sat in shock beneath the lights of Times Square. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The passenger was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The incident underscores the dangers posed when drivers fail to pay attention and change lanes unsafely, with devastating consequences for those riding with them.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768001, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge SUV struck a 29-year-old man crossing West 30th Street. The impact crushed his chest. He lay conscious on the pavement. Police cite aggressive driving. The SUV rolled on, undamaged. The street bore the weight of violence.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling east on West 30th Street near 11th Avenue struck a 29-year-old man who was crossing without a signal. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his chest and remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor, explicitly pointing to the driver’s actions as the cause. The SUV showed no damage and continued straight after the collision. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is listed only after the driver’s aggressive behavior. The focus remains on the SUV driver's cited aggression and the resulting severe injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765081, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Erik Bottcher calls for scrapping parking minimums. He says these rules waste space, drive up costs, and block new homes. Bottcher argues that ditching parking mandates will open streets, boost transit, and make the city safer for all.

On October 13, 2024, Council Member Erik Bottcher (District 3) published an op-ed urging New York City to eliminate parking minimums. The piece, titled 'Eliminating ‘parking minimums’ in NYC can help ease the housing crisis,' argues that required parking spaces in new developments block affordable housing and favor cars over people. Bottcher writes, 'By eliminating parking minimums, we can unlock the potential for more housing units in buildings across the city.' He highlights that parking mandates raise construction costs, limit design, and disrupt street life. Bottcher’s call joins a national trend: cities like Minneapolis and Buffalo have already scrapped these rules. The op-ed claims that ending parking minimums will promote walking, cycling, and transit, making streets safer and more welcoming for vulnerable road users.

• Op-Ed | Eliminating ‘parking minimums’ in NYC can help ease the housing crisis, amny.com, Published 2024-10-13

Council calls for state action on bike lane cameras. The resolution urges Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cyclists die while cars invade their space. The bill targets reckless drivers. The city waits for Albany to move.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.5008A/A.803A. The measure would 'establish a bicycle lane safety program in the city of New York to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the resolution. The bill aims to let the city use cameras to catch and fine drivers who block bike lanes. Cyclists remain exposed. The council’s move highlights the deadly toll: more cyclists killed, more drivers unchecked. The bill’s fate now rests in Albany.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A woman pedaled west on 27th. She smashed into a parked sedan. Her face split on steel. Blood pooled. The car stood silent. She moved, then lay still. Inexperience listed. No helmet, but the street did not forgive.

A 29-year-old woman riding a bike westbound on West 27th Street in Manhattan collided with a parked sedan, according to the police report. The report states she suffered severe facial lacerations after striking the left side doors of the stationary vehicle. The sedan, registered in New Jersey, was parked and did not move before or during the crash. The police report cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor in the collision. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, a detail included in the narrative, but only after the primary driver error. The report describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Her face split open on the steel. Blood pooled on the pavement. The car never moved. She did, and then didn’t.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences of inexperience and the unforgiving nature of city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757397, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi rear-ended a KIA SUV on 9th Avenue. Metal crumpled. The 65-year-old SUV driver bled from the head, held in by his belt. Flesh split. Southbound traffic moved on. Only one man left whole.

According to the police report, a taxi crashed into the rear of a KIA SUV at 9th Avenue and West 37th Street in Manhattan at 3:20 p.m. The report states, 'A taxi slammed into the back of a KIA SUV. The 65-year-old driver bled from the head. Lap belt held him in. Flesh split.' The SUV driver, a 65-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors in the crash. The taxi struck the center front end into the SUV’s left rear bumper, both vehicles traveling south. The data points to driver error—specifically inattention and aggression—as the cause of the violent impact. No evidence in the report attributes the crash to any action by the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752017, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A distracted bus driver rolled through West 14th and 7th. Metal struck a man stepping down. His face split. Blood pooled on the curb. The bus did not stop. The city’s machinery moved on, unmarked, leaving pain behind.

A pedestrian was severely injured at the corner of West 14th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan when a bus, traveling north, struck him as he was getting off a vehicle. According to the police report, the bus driver was inattentive and distracted at the time of the crash. The narrative states, 'The bus did not stop. Metal passed flesh. His face tore open. Blood pooled near the curb. The driver was distracted. The bus rolled on, unmarked.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The 46-year-old man suffered severe facial lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. No mention is made of any pedestrian error or behavior contributing to the crash. The bus sustained no damage, and the driver continued without stopping, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver distraction in New York City’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747288, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep hit a young cyclist at 5th and East 29th. The rider flew, slammed headfirst, blood pooling on hot pavement. The SUV stood untouched. Silence swallowed the scene. The cyclist lay semiconscious, ejected, head bleeding under the Manhattan sun.

A 26-year-old cyclist was struck by a Jeep at the corner of 5th Avenue and East 29th Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The cyclist, traveling south, was ejected from his bike and landed headfirst, suffering severe bleeding and a semiconscious state. The report notes the SUV was undamaged, while the cyclist lay on the pavement. According to the police report, the collision involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as documented in the report, but this is listed after the driver-related contributing factors. The narrative describes a violent impact and aftermath, emphasizing the vulnerability of the cyclist and the lack of damage to the Jeep.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742604, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck blocked West 34th. The driver failed to yield. A young cyclist smashed into steel, head torn open, blood darkening the asphalt. The bike twisted. The truck stood silent. The cyclist stayed awake, pain sharp and present.

A 25-year-old cyclist suffered severe head lacerations after colliding with the side of a box truck on West 34th Street. According to the police report, the truck driver failed to yield the right-of-way, causing the cyclist to strike the truck's right side doors. The report states, 'A box truck failed to yield. A 25-year-old cyclist hit its side. Head split open. Blood pooled on blacktop.' The cyclist remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears only after the driver’s error in the report. The crash left the bicycle twisted beneath the truck, underscoring the danger when large vehicles disregard vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742639, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV struck a man riding with traffic on West 33rd Street. The driver, distracted by a passenger, crushed the cyclist’s leg. Steel met flesh. The city’s silence echoed. The pain was immediate. The street stayed straight. The wound stayed open.

According to the police report, a man riding with traffic on West 33rd Street was struck by the rear quarter of a Chevy SUV. The collision left the cyclist with a broken leg and crush injuries. The report states the driver was distracted by a passenger at the time of the crash, listing 'Passenger Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The SUV was traveling east and had two occupants. The cyclist was wearing a helmet and was not at an intersection. The police report does not cite any cyclist behavior as contributing to the crash. The impact occurred on a straight stretch of street, with the SUV’s right rear quarter panel making contact. The report does not mention any evasive action or hazardous conditions, focusing solely on the driver’s distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740066, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel struck flesh in the heart of Times Square. A scooter, northbound, collided head-on with a cyclist. Blood pooled on the pavement. The cyclist’s face torn open. Tourists recoiled. The city’s lights flashed, but the street did not yield.

A 24-year-old cyclist was seriously injured in a head-on collision with a northbound scooter at 3 Times Square, according to the police report. The report states the cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe facial injuries and heavy bleeding after being struck by the scooter. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor for the crash, highlighting a failure in lane discipline by at least one vehicle operator. The narrative describes the moment: 'Face split open. Blood on the pavement. Steel met skin.' The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, but places primary emphasis on improper lane usage. The collision left the cyclist conscious but badly hurt, underscoring the dangers vulnerable road users face amid chaotic Midtown traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736621, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City leaders cut the ribbon on Plaza33. Once a car-choked block, now a pedestrian haven. Trees, tables, and open space replace exhaust and noise. Years of work. A new chapter for Midtown. People walk, sit, and breathe. Cars banished. Safety reclaimed.

On June 27, 2024, city officials and civic leaders marked the completion of Plaza33, a pedestrian plaza on 33rd Street by Penn Station. The event capped years of transformation, turning a block once 'full of cars and trucks' into a car-free space. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Tony Simone, and Council Member Erik Bottcher attended the ribbon-cutting. Levine recalled, 'I remember the battle over transforming this space and all the people who said that it would clog up traffic all over Midtown if we turned this street over to people and here we are and it's gorgeous.' Vornado Realty Trust funded the $65-million project with the Department of Transportation. The plaza, now permanent, offers 16,000 square feet for pedestrians, with trees, seating, and public programming. The change removes cars from a busy Midtown block, giving vulnerable road users safe, open ground.

• Penn Station Block Completes Years-Long Transformation into ‘Plaza33’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-27

A man crossed West 36th near Seventh. A Toyota SUV, its driver distracted, struck him head-on. He died on the pavement. The SUV showed no scars. The man bore them all. The city’s streets demand attention. Distraction delivers death.

A 34-year-old man was killed while crossing West 36th Street near Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. At 11:31 p.m., a 2023 Toyota SUV, described as 'going straight ahead,' struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The narrative states, 'A man crossed the street. A 2023 Toyota SUV drove straight. Its front end struck him. He died there on the pavement. The driver was distracted.' The SUV sustained no visible damage, while the pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. No contributing factors were attributed to the victim. The report underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728673, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A garbage truck backed down Cornelia Street. Its right rear bumper struck a man. The truck’s wheels crushed his skull. He died alone in the street before dawn. The driver’s unsafe backing left no chance for survival.

A 35-year-old man was killed on Cornelia Street in the early morning when a garbage truck, traveling south, backed unsafely and struck him with its right rear bumper. According to the police report, the truck’s wheels crushed the pedestrian’s skull, causing fatal injuries at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The victim was not at an intersection and was described as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a cause. The focus remains on the driver’s action: reversing a large refuse vehicle without adequate care, as documented by police. This crash underscores the lethal consequences when heavy vehicles back unsafely on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725065, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 78-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a southbound Chevy sedan turning left at 7th Avenue and Broadway. His head split open. Blood pooled on white paint. The driver remained in her seat. The car showed no scars.

At the intersection of 7th Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan, a 78-year-old man was struck by a southbound Chevy sedan making a left turn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:30 a.m. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with the signal' when the collision happened. The man suffered a severe head injury, with 'severe bleeding' noted at the scene. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan, registered in New York and driven by a licensed driver from New Jersey, showed no visible damage. The driver remained in her seat after the crash. The report makes clear that the pedestrian was lawfully crossing at the intersection when the driver failed to execute a proper turn and struck him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726604, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Six electeds demand DOT fix Sixth Avenue’s deadly gap. Riders face twenty blocks of chaos—no protection, just trucks and speeding cars. Bottcher calls it danger. DOT promises action but offers no date. The city lags on its own bike lane goals.

On May 2, 2024, Councilmember Erik Bottcher and five other Manhattan officials called on the Department of Transportation to close the protected bike lane gap on Sixth Avenue. Their letter to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez urges the city to connect the missing stretch between Canal Street and West 8th Street, a span where cyclists must ride in open traffic. The letter states, 'The Department of Transportation should prioritize a new bike lane at this location, which has been a long standing request of the community.' Bottcher, representing District 3, said, 'You know you're going to be in danger, because you're going to have to be riding in the same lane as speeding traffic, cars and trucks.' DOT spokesperson Nick Benson acknowledged support for the expansion but gave no timeline. The city has installed only 1.1 miles of protected bike lanes this year, far behind the 50-mile annual target in the NYC Safety Street Plan.

• Manhattan officials call on DOT to close Sixth Avenue bike lane gap, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-02