Aug 6 - Committees approved a 34th Street busway and Midtown rezoning. The plan pairs faster buses with wide sidewalks and car-free blocks. It heads to a full Council vote Aug. 14. Riders and advocates remain wary after past reversals.

""It was one of the big priorities and commitments that we were able to land,"" -- Keith Powers

Bill/file: none provided. Status: sponsorship; cleared the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and the Committee on Land Use. Key date: full Council vote set for Aug. 14. Matter quoted: "Plans for a 34th Street busway move ahead and Mayor Adams says he's on board." Councilmember Keith Powers pushed back to DOT, said he "breathed a sigh of relief" after committee approval. Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement of approval, calling the plan a "down payment" on housing and infrastructure. The rezoning includes $325 million for pedestrian upgrades and two more car-free blocks. No formal safety impact note was provided; transit advocates remain wary after prior project reversals.

• Plans for 34th Street busway move ahead, and Mayor Adams says he's on board, gothamist.com, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 6 - City unpauses the 34th Street busway. Cars lose through access. Buses get priority. Streets open up for walking and cycling. Pedestrians and cyclists gain safer space tied to Midtown South rezoning.

"I'm glad that we were able to secure a commitment on the 34th Street busway move ahead to invest in one of our busiest corridors," -- Keith Powers

Action: policy commitment to restore the 34th Street busway. Date: August 6, 2025. File number: none listed. Status: the Adams administration agreed to revive the busway as part of the Midtown South rezoning deal. Committee: a key Council committee was poised to vote on the rezoning when the promise was revealed. The matter states: "The Administration commits to establishing a car-free 34th Street Busway." Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher secured the commitment; Powers shared the language and praised the move. Public engagement is slated for 2025. Safety analysts say restoring the busway will cut car traffic, lower crash risk, and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists through mode shift and street reallocation.

• It’s Back! 34th Street Busway Revived In Midtown Rezoning Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - A white Mercedes hit a cyclist at 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. Officers checked the victim, then left. The intersection is known for reckless driving. The cyclist survived with minor injuries.

CBS New York (2025-08-04) reports a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard. Surveillance shows a white Mercedes making a U-turn, striking a 29-year-old female cyclist. The driver abandoned the car and fled on foot. Officers on scene checked the victim, then left. Residents say, "No one stops at these stop signs. We see people go through these red lights all the time." The intersection has a record of reckless driving, worsened by increased bike traffic from the George Washington Bridge. The crash highlights ongoing dangers and gaps in street design and enforcement.

• Cyclist Struck In Washington Heights Hit-And-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 29 - A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

Jul 24 - A 31-year-old motorcyclist died on FDR Drive. He was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as causes.

A 31-year-old man riding a motorcycle northbound on FDR Drive was killed after a crash. According to the police report, the rider was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. The motorcycle sustained damage to the right front quarter panel. No other injuries were specified. The rider was wearing a helmet, but the report centers on driver inattention as the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 24 - A firefighter died on FDR Drive. The driver fled. At Port Authority, a bus crash left over two dozen hurt. No arrests. The city’s streets remain brutal for those on foot and in transit.

Patch reported on July 24, 2025, that an FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run on FDR Drive. The driver left the scene. No arrests have been made. The article also notes, 'More Than 2 Dozen Injured In Bus Crash At Port Authority Bus Terminal.' Both incidents highlight ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and point to gaps in enforcement and street safety. Investigations continue, but the city’s traffic violence persists.

• Firefighter Killed, Dozens Hurt In Crashes, Patch, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - A stolen Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck and killed a pedestrian and a cyclist. The driver tried to flee. Eyewitnesses stopped her. Broken bodies, broken laws, broken city.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-22), Autumn Donna Ascension Romero crashed a stolen rental car at Bowery and Canal, killing May Kwok and Kevin Cruickshank. Prosecutors say Romero admitted to drinking before driving and tried to flee the scene with her passenger. An open tequila bottle and loaded pistols were found in the car. The article quotes, 'They then tried to flee the scene followed by multiple eyewitnesses who told them to stop.' Romero faces murder and vehicular homicide charges. The crash highlights dangers from impaired driving, stolen vehicles, and failures in preventing reckless use of rentals.

• Stolen Car Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The driver faces murder charges. The car was a long-overdue rental. Debris scattered. Lives ended in seconds.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a driver faces murder and manslaughter charges after a deadly Chinatown crash. The car, a weeks-overdue rental, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck a cyclist and a pedestrian, killing both. Police found two 9mm pistols in the trunk. The article states, "the car was traveling westbound off the Manhattan Bridge at a high rate of speed" and "struck Cruickshank, Kwok and an unoccupied NYPD vehicle." The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons possession. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Chinatown Crash Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 17 - A van crashed on 42nd and 10th. Inside: 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 of diesel, dozens of propane tanks. The driver tried to hide the keys. Hazmat teams cleared the danger. Police made an arrest.

ABC7 (2025-07-17) reports NYPD found 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel, and 76 propane cylinders in a van after a Manhattan crash. The driver "tried to get rid of his keys" and claimed he couldn't open the vehicle. Hazmat teams removed the fuel. The driver faces charges for reckless endangerment and fire code violations. The Manhattan DA is handling the case. The incident highlights risks from hazardous cargo on city streets and gaps in enforcement.

• Van Crash Reveals Fuel Stockpile In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 14 - SUV and sedan collided near E 77th. Pedestrian working on car crushed, left semiconscious with leg injuries. Another man inside SUV hurt. Streets stay brutal for those outside steel.

A pedestrian, age 53, was crushed and left semiconscious with leg injuries while working on a car near E 77th Street. Another man, 31, inside a station wagon was also injured. According to the police report, both vehicles—a GMC SUV and a Jeep sedan—were parked before the crash. The pedestrian was not at an intersection. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 14 - Adams’s Fifth Avenue plan drops bike and bus lanes. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. Sidewalks widen, but cars keep space. Board calls for real safety, not delay.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-14) reports Mayor Adams cut a bus lane and bike lane from the Fifth Avenue redesign, keeping two lanes for cars and widening sidewalks. The Manhattan Community Board 5 called this move not a "real solution" to safety, urging a return to the 2021 plan with protected bike lanes and faster bus service. "We want a real solution to the bike and pedestrian safety issue," said CB 5 Vice Chair Samir Lavingia. The board warns that without bike lanes, cyclists will ride sidewalks, risking conflict. The plan, shaped with business interests, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and delays safer changes until at least 2028.

• Fifth Avenue Redesign Cuts Bike, Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 7 - A sedan turned left into a cyclist at E 41st and 1st Avenue. The 48-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg and foot. The sedan driver was not injured. Police recorded the collision.

One sedan made a left turn and hit a bicyclist at East 41st Street and 1st Avenue. The bicyclist, a 48-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg and foot. The sedan driver was not injured. According to the police report, the crash involved a sedan and a bike. The report lists the sedan's pre-crash action as "Making Left Turn" and the bike's as "Going Straight Ahead." Police did not list any specific driver errors or contributing factors. The cyclist's contributing factors are recorded as "Unspecified." Point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 6 - A fast electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in the hospital. The cyclist, bruised, faced wrongful charges. Chaos thrives where speed meets congestion.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, near West 60th Street. An illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist, sending its operator to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The cyclist, Carolyn Backus, was wrongly charged with leaving the scene, though she "remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics." The Manhattan D.A. dismissed the charge, noting Backus rode a non-motorized bike. The article highlights the risk of high-speed e-vehicles in crowded park zones, where "unpredictable congestion makes it the last place...anyone should be speeding."

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 3 - Mayor Adams halts 34th Street busway. Streets stay clogged. Pedestrians and bus riders lose. Car dominance remains. Safety and equity stalled.

""The 14th Street busway is a great example of what happens when you do deep public engagement but also remain committed to the goal of speeding up bus service. Elected officials representing this area have come out in support of it. We have a great example from 14th Street that proves out this kind of project, and we do not want to find out another example from this administration of them making last minute decisions to pull important projects without consulting with the elected officials or giving us an alternative plan."" -- Keith Powers

On July 3, 2025, the Adams administration paused the 34th Street busway project, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The matter, described as a 'highly-anticipated 34th Street busway,' had support from Council Members Erik Bottcher, Keith Powers, and others. Bottcher called it 'transformative,' promising fewer crashes and faster buses. Powers slammed the last-minute reversal. Safety analysts warn: canceling the busway preserves car dominance, discourages transit, and keeps streets unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The project’s future is uncertain. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 1 - A convertible hit a young boy crossing with the signal. He suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The driver was in shock. The crash happened at East 14th in Manhattan.

A convertible struck a male child pedestrian at the intersection of East 14th Street in Manhattan. The boy was crossing with the signal when he was hit. According to the police report, the child suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious. The driver, a 25-year-old woman, was making a left turn and was in shock after the crash. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No driver-specific errors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825362 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 27 - SUV backed up on Lexington. Elderly woman stepped from behind parked car. Impact. Head wounds. Blood on the street. Passenger distraction listed. System failed her.

An SUV struck an 81-year-old woman on Lexington Avenue as she emerged from behind a parked vehicle. According to the police report, the SUV was backing south when the collision occurred. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations. Police list 'Passenger Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and wore a seatbelt. No injuries were reported for the driver or passenger. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus, especially near vulnerable pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02