Another Year, Another Funeral: End the Silence on Deadly Streets

A taxi turned left on E 94th Street. The driver struck a 24-year-old cyclist. The cyclist was ejected, hit his head, and bled badly. He lay unconscious. The crash left the taxi’s rear bumper damaged. The street stayed dangerous. The system failed.

A crash on E 94th Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan left a 24-year-old cyclist unconscious and bleeding from the head. According to the police report, a taxi and a bike were both making left turns when the collision occurred. The cyclist was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The taxi’s right rear bumper was damaged. No injuries were reported for the taxi driver or other occupants. The police report does not mention any helmet use or signaling as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers turn improperly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814750, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Cyclists and walkers get space at last. Years of crowding end. The bridge’s narrow lane forced conflict. Now, riders and pedestrians move apart. The city takes a lane from cars. The danger shrinks. The span breathes easier.

amNY reported on May 13, 2025, that New York City will separate cyclists and pedestrians on the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge. Starting May 18, the north outer roadway becomes bike-only, while the south outer roadway, once for vehicles, opens to pedestrians. The article notes, “Advocates have fought to open a separate pedestrian path, citing dangerous overcrowding that has led to conflicts among cyclists, pedestrians and micromobility users.” The bridge was the last city-owned East River crossing without split paths. Manhattan Community Board 6 urged the city to act, pressing DOT to open the path despite construction delays. The change doubles space for non-drivers and removes a vehicle lane, addressing years of systemic risk from forced mixing of vulnerable users.

• Queensboro Bridge Splits Paths For Safety, amny, Published 2025-05-13

A motorcycle and sedan collided on East 76th Street. The motorcycle driver suffered crush injuries to the hip and leg. Police cite improper lane usage and passenger distraction. Metal and flesh met on the Upper East Side. The street stayed dangerous.

A crash involving a motorcycle and a sedan occurred at 348 East 76th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the motorcycle driver, a 54-year-old man, sustained crush injuries to his hip and upper leg. Four other occupants, including drivers and passengers, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passenger Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan was parked before the crash, while the motorcycle was passing. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The collision underscores the risks faced by vulnerable road users when driver error and distraction intersect on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810165, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

SUV plowed into a parked car on FDR Drive before sunrise. A man suffered bleeding head wounds. A baby was hurt. Two others shaken. Police cite driver inattention. The road was straight. The driver did not see.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old SUV driver traveling north on FDR Drive struck a parked vehicle near dawn. The report states, 'an SUV slammed into a parked car. A man lay bleeding from the head. A baby was hurt. Two others shaken.' The driver wore his seatbelt and was conscious at the scene. The road was straight and clear. Police explicitly list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian, a 49-year-old man, suffered head injuries and crush injuries. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction, with multiple people—including a baby—injured when a moving vehicle collided with a stationary car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806221, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Seven lawmakers demand Mayor Adams open the Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The project sits finished. Cyclists and walkers still cram into a narrow, crash-prone lane. Delays keep thousands at risk. City Hall stalls. Advocates plan protest. Danger lingers.

On April 9, 2025, seven elected officials—including Council Members Julie Won and Julie Menin—sent a public letter demanding Mayor Adams open the long-promised Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The Department of Transportation had planned to open the dedicated walkway on March 16, but the mayor's office intervened, citing the need for a briefing. The lawmakers wrote, 'The reasons given for this delay are not satisfactory, as all communications from the DOT have indicated that the project is complete and ready to open to the public.' They warned, 'Any further delays to this project that is otherwise ready to open will unnecessarily put at risk the thousands of New Yorkers who cycle and walk the current shared path every day.' The project, in the works since at least 2017, remains stalled. Cyclists and pedestrians are forced to share a cramped, hazardous lane. City Hall insists on more review, while advocates plan a protest ribbon-cutting.

• Pols Demand Adams Open Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-09

DOT slowed Third Avenue’s traffic lights from 25 to 15 mph. Drivers fumed. E-bikes surged. Councilmember Julie Menin said she got no warning. Residents felt blindsided. DOT claims safety, but the street churns with tension. No crash deaths since the 2023 redesign.

On February 19, 2025, the Department of Transportation retimed traffic signals on Third Avenue between 60th and 96th Streets, dropping the pace from 25 mph to 15 mph. The DOT called it a 'minor adjustment' to make the street safer for pedestrians and more comfortable for cyclists and drivers. Councilmember Julie Menin (District 5) said, 'We received no communication whatsoever about these very significant changes.' Menin wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, demanding answers and citing a lack of community input. Residents and drivers complained the change slowed cars and let e-bikes speed unchecked. DOT data shows no crash deaths since a 2023 redesign added bike and bus lanes. The move sparked debate over safety, transparency, and the balance between driver convenience and vulnerable road user protection.

• NYC’s Third Avenue traffic light slowdown sparks fury as locals complain of e-bike ‘racetrack’, nypost.com, Published 2025-02-19

A 61-year-old man died on FDR Drive before dawn. Two southbound vehicles collided—one taxi’s side ripped, one SUV’s front crushed. The street claimed him. Metal and speed left no mercy. The city’s road marked another loss.

A 61-year-old man was killed on FDR Drive in the early morning, according to the police report. The narrative describes a scene where 'a taxi's side [was] torn open' and 'a Ford SUV's front [was] crushed,' both vehicles traveling south. The report states the pedestrian was 'outside the crosswalk' and engaged in 'other actions in roadway,' but does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. Both vehicle drivers were licensed and headed straight, with the taxi sustaining damage to its left side and the SUV to its center front end. According to the police report, contributing factors are 'unspecified.' The focus remains on the lethal interaction between two large vehicles and a vulnerable pedestrian, with no evidence cited of pedestrian error. The street, speed, and vehicle mass combined to end a life.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791148, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

A ninety-year-old woman stepped off the curb on York Avenue. A taxi hit her head-on. An SUV rolled over her. Her skull crushed. She lay still. Two drivers kept straight. They did not see. She died on the street.

According to the police report, a ninety-year-old woman was killed on York Avenue near East 72nd Street when she was struck by a taxi and then run over by an SUV. The crash occurred at 17:41 in Manhattan. The report states, 'she stepped off the curb, alone, no signal. A taxi hit her head-on. An SUV rolled over her. Her skull crushed.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. Both vehicles, a taxi and an SUV, were traveling straight ahead. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The drivers 'did not see' her, according to the narrative. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No driver errors beyond inattention/distraction are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790720, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Tesla tore down FDR Drive at unsafe speed. Metal screamed. A baby girl, unbelted, was thrown from the car and killed. The sedan crumpled. The road bore witness. No warning, no mercy, only silence and wreckage.

According to the police report, a Tesla sedan traveling north on FDR Drive crashed at 2:44 a.m. The report states the vehicle was moving at 'unsafe speed.' The impact left the sedan demolished. A baby girl, listed as an occupant, was ejected from the vehicle and died on impact, her injuries described as affecting her 'entire body.' The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. No seatbelt was used, as noted in the report. The narrative describes the scene as the Tesla 'slammed at speed,' resulting in the infant's death. The focus remains on the excessive speed and the catastrophic consequences that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790343, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or hurt the most. The city must report back. The law dies when the pilot ends. Streets remember every scar.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings. The official title: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program and the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The bill demands at least five marked sites per borough, targeting places with the most injuries and deaths from bad driving. After the pilot, the city must report on results and recommend next steps. The law sunsets when the pilot ends. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Council calls on the MTA to lock in Access-A-Ride’s on-demand e-hail pilot. Riders with disabilities and seniors need fast, flexible trips. Demand surges. The program means fewer waits, more freedom. The city urges permanence. Vulnerable New Yorkers depend on it.

Resolution 0695-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, it urges the MTA to make the Access-A-Ride On-Demand E-Hail Pilot Program permanent. The resolution states: 'The Council of the City of New York calls on the MTA to make permanent the Access-A-Ride On-Demand E-Hail Pilot Program.' Council Member Nantasha M. Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Riley, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The program, launched in 2017, lets people with disabilities and seniors book paratransit rides on demand, not days in advance. Ridership jumped from 7,386 to 22,372 monthly trips in one year. The council wants the MTA to expand access and improve service. The resolution centers vulnerable riders, demanding transit that meets their needs.

• File Res 0695-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

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

Council bill Int 1131-2024 would create a task force to study safer street design as e-bike use surges. The group must report back in 270 days. The bill sits in committee. Streets remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users wait for action.

Int 1131-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, calls for a task force to study street design and infrastructure safety in response to rising electric bicycle use and related collisions. The bill was introduced December 5, 2024, with Council Member Gale A. Brewer as primary sponsor and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Julie Won, Julie Menin, Shekar Krishnan, Farah N. Louis, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Alexa Avilés, Crystal Hudson, Carlina Rivera, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams as co-sponsors. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to the establishment of a task force to study options for making street design and infrastructure safer in consideration of increased use of electric bicycles and related collisions.' The committee laid the bill over on December 11, 2024. The task force, if created, must deliver recommendations for legislation and policy within 270 days. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, e-bike riders—remain at risk while the city studies its next move.

• File Int 1131-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A Ford SUV, its driver unlicensed, struck an 81-year-old woman near the curb on East 59th Street. The right front bumper shattered her pelvis. She died on the pavement. The car bore no mark. The city’s danger remains unyielding.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling east on East 59th Street struck an 81-year-old woman near the curb with its right front bumper. The impact shattered her pelvis, causing fatal crush injuries. The report states the victim 'died on the pavement.' The SUV showed no damage. Critically, the police report notes the driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No license, no right to drive, yet the vehicle continued straight ahead, ending a life. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative centers the unlicensed driver as a key element. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The system allowed a driver with no license to operate a powerful vehicle, with deadly results.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765231, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 75-year-old man pedaled east on East 96th. Something struck him from behind. He fell hard. Blood spilled from his neck. His bike twisted on the pavement. The street stayed silent. The wheels kept turning.

A 75-year-old male bicyclist was riding eastbound near 112 East 96th Street in Manhattan when he was struck from behind, according to the police report. The report states, 'Something struck him from behind. He fell. Blood poured from his neck onto the pavement. His bike lay twisted.' The cyclist suffered severe bleeding from the neck and was listed as injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both involved parties, and the second vehicle is described as 'Unspecified.' The point of impact was the center back end of the bicycle, indicating a rear-end collision. No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, but the narrative and vehicle damage confirm the cyclist was hit from behind while traveling straight ahead. No victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The incident highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users even in the absence of clear driver accountability.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783386, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Gale Brewer, once a bike ally, now supports state e-bike registration and park bans. She cites pressure and rising complaints. Critics say these moves target delivery workers, not danger. Data shows cars, not e-bikes, drive most injuries. Streets grow harsher for the vulnerable.

On October 8, 2024, Council Member Gale Brewer publicly reversed her stance, now supporting state-level e-bike registration and a blanket ban on e-bikes in city parks, as proposed in Intro 60. Brewer, speaking at an E-Vehicle Safety Alliance town hall, said, "I will sign on to that bill. That's not an issue." She attributes her change to the existence of state bills and constituent pressure, but refuses to back Council Member Bob Holden's city bill. Julie Menin also endorsed strict registration and park bans. Critics, including advocacy groups, warn these measures will hit low-wage, immigrant delivery workers hardest and undermine efforts to reduce car use. Data shows pedestrian injuries from e-bikes remain flat, while cars cause most harm. Brewer's shift marks a retreat from policies that protect vulnerable road users.

• Gale Brewer Flips on E-Bike Registration Due To ‘Nasty’ Pressure, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-08

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

Intro 941 would gut New York’s citizen idling enforcement. The bill slashes bounties, lets the city ban whistleblowers, and carves out new loopholes for polluters. Critics warn it will silence the public and let engines poison streets unchecked.

Intro 941, sponsored by Council Member James Gennaro and drafted with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is under City Council debate as of September 13, 2024. The bill, titled 'Council Bill Could Chill Citizen Reporting That Dramatically Boosted Idling Enforcement,' would give the city broad power to disqualify public participants from reporting idling, reduce fines for vehicles with anti-idling tech, and halve citizen bounties. It also allows school buses to idle up to 15 minutes and imposes a new code of conduct for enforcers. The Adams administration supports capping bounties but wants higher fines. Opponents, including the New York Clean Air Collective, say the bill 'weaponizes rules that chill participation' and will 'watch while companies like Con Ed, Verizon, and Amazon steal New York’s breath.' The Council is preparing for a hearing as debate intensifies.

• Council Bill Could Chill Citizen Reporting That Dramatically Boosted Idling Enforcement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-13