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

DOT rips out the deadly ‘cheese grater’ bike lane on Roosevelt Island Bridge. New panels replace slick metal. Cyclists long feared the old surface. Advocates and council members fought for this. The pilot aims to end years of danger and delay.

On October 25, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced a pilot project to replace the hazardous metal surface—known as the 'cheese grater'—on the Roosevelt Island Bridge bike lane. The project, not tied to a specific council bill, follows years of complaints from cyclists about the unsafe grates. DOT spokesperson Tomas Garita said, 'We are actively exploring and testing various materials that will improve safety and the overall cycling experience for all its users.' The pilot covers 300 metal panels on each side of the bridge and adds new flexible delineators. Local advocate Paul Krikler credited former Council Members Ben Kallos and Jimmy Van Bramer, and current Council Member Julie Menin, for securing funding. Cyclist Conor Lyman said the old surface kept riders away. The project is expected to finish by Thanksgiving, finally addressing a long-standing threat to vulnerable road users.

• DOT Testing Out Fix for ‘Cheese Grater’ Bike Lane on Roosevelt I. Bridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-25

Manhattan’s Community Board 8 voted 38-3 for protected crosstown bike lanes and a two-way bikeway around Central Park. The move follows a cyclist’s death on E. 85th. Advocates demanded action. The board, once resistant, now shifts toward safety for riders.

On September 22, 2022, Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB8) voted 38-3 to request 'fully protected crosstown bike lanes approximately every 10 blocks between 60th and 110th streets on both sides of Central Park, and a two-way protected bikeway around Central Park.' The resolution had earlier cleared the Transportation Committee 12-2. The measure follows the killing of cyclist Carling Mott by a truck driver on E. 85th Street, where a bike lane had been rejected in 2016. Council Members Julie Menin and Keith Powers, along with Borough President Mark Levine, backed the push. Advocates, including Mott’s boyfriend and parents of student cyclists, spoke out for safety, condemning the board’s past inaction. Only one board member, Marco Tamayo, opposed the resolution. The vote marks a sharp turn for CB8, which had long resisted protected lanes, citing security fears and local opposition. Now, the board calls for comprehensive, protected infrastructure to shield vulnerable road users.

• Upper East Side Community Board Votes for Crosstown Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-22

Council Member Julie Won blasted DOT for stalling a promised pedestrian lane on the Queensboro Bridge. She called the agency’s excuses garbage. Cyclists and walkers remain squeezed into a narrow, dangerous path. DOT’s delays keep vulnerable road users at risk.

On September 15, 2022, Council Member Julie Won publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the conversion of the Queensboro Bridge’s south outer roadway into a pedestrian-only lane. The project, promised by the previous mayor for completion by the end of 2022, was pushed back at least a year. Won, whose district covers the bridge’s eastern approaches, led a walkthrough with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and staff from Council Members Julie Menin and Selvena Brooks-Powers. Won said, “They kept saying they can’t give the south outer roadway to pedestrians because there would be traffic. Well, I don’t care about the congestion!” She forced the commissioner to stand in the cramped lane, showing how unsafe it is for both cyclists and pedestrians. DOT offered only minor adjustments, like repainting lines, which Won dismissed as “missing the point.” The agency promised lawmakers data to justify keeping five car lanes, but Won insisted the delay puts lives at risk and called for immediate action.

• Queens Pol: DOT’s Excuses for Queensboro Bridge Safety Delays Are ‘Garbage’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-15

Manhattan Community Board 8 voted 12-2 for protected crosstown bike lanes after a truck killed cyclist Carling Mott on E. 85th Street. The board demanded urgent action from DOT. Local councilmembers joined the call. The city now faces pressure to act.

On September 7, 2022, Manhattan Community Board 8's Transportation Committee passed a resolution by a 12-2 vote urging the Department of Transportation to install protected bike lanes on every 10 cross streets along Central Park and a two-way protected lane around the park. The resolution followed the death of 28-year-old cyclist Carling Mott, killed by a truck driver on E. 85th Street. The matter, described as a push to 'bring safe bike routes to the neighborhood,' saw support from councilmembers Keith Powers and Julie Menin, who called on DOT to revisit the 85th Street lane and improve safety infrastructure. Advocates and residents backed the plan, demanding action to prevent more deaths. DOT is reviewing the location for possible upgrades. The board's vote renews a fight stalled since 2016 by political opposition.

• Upper East Side Panel Supports Crosstown Bike Lanes — Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-12

An e-scooter rider, struck from behind by an e-bike, hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled on 2nd Avenue. His face torn, he lay conscious and bleeding. The street roared around him. Driver inattention left him alone in pain.

A 51-year-old man riding an e-scooter on 2nd Avenue near East 73rd Street was struck from behind by an e-bike. According to the police report, 'A 51-year-old man on an e-scooter struck from behind by an e-bike. No helmet. Thrown to the pavement. His face torn. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, bleeding, alone in the noise.' The crash left the e-scooter rider ejected and severely bleeding from the face. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563052, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 41-year-old man crashed his motorcycle on FDR Drive. He lost focus. The bike slammed forward. He flew off. His helmet stayed on, but the road took his foot. He lay incoherent, leg torn, life changed in seconds.

A 41-year-old unlicensed man riding a 2011 Kawasaki motorcycle crashed on FDR Drive. According to the police report, he lost focus and struck hard, resulting in ejection from the bike. The report states he was incoherent at the scene, suffering a traumatic leg injury and amputation of his foot. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The man was wearing a helmet, but the impact still caused severe injury. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when driver errors occur.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4548267, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota turned left on East 85th. A moped kept straight. No metal bent, but the rider’s face split open. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed conscious. The city slept. The silence held.

A crash on East 85th Street involved a Toyota SUV making a left turn and a moped traveling straight. The moped rider, a 46-year-old man, suffered severe facial lacerations but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'A Toyota turned left. A moped kept straight. No metal bent, but the rider’s face split open.' No vehicle damage was reported. The data lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The moped rider’s helmet use is not specified. The SUV driver, a 31-year-old man, was not injured. The crash left blood on the pavement and a silent street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546879, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council Member Julie Menin pushes to license dark stores. Marte seeks weight limits and bans on punishing slow delivery. The bills aim at fast-delivery apps that push workers to rush, risking crashes. Pedestrians and cyclists face danger from hurried e-bike riders.

On July 13, 2022, Council Member Julie Menin (District 5) introduced a bill to license and regulate 'dark stores' used by rapid grocery delivery apps. The bill, now before the City Council, gives the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection power to revoke licenses for deceptive practices. Christopher Marte, another council member, proposed two related bills: one limits delivery backpack weights, the other bans retaliation against workers who refuse unsafe deliveries or miss tight deadlines. Marte’s bill also requires companies promising 15-minute delivery to state that speed is not guaranteed, citing 'the safety of the public and delivery workers.' Menin said, 'These stores are operating in the city in a completely unregulated fashion.' The bills respond to concerns that fast-delivery apps push workers to break traffic laws, endangering pedestrians and cyclists as e-bikes speed through city streets.

• Fast-delivery apps face NYC crackdown over ‘dark stores,’ worker safety, nypost.com, Published 2022-07-13

A man rode south on 2nd Avenue. He struck something unseen. Thrown from his bike, his head hit hard. Blood pooled. He died in the street. No helmet. No light. Alcohol on his breath. The bike stayed whole. He did not.

A 28-year-old man riding a bike southbound on 2nd Avenue was killed after striking an unknown object. According to the police report, 'He struck something unseen. The bike stayed whole. He did not. Thrown. Head split. Bleeding inside. Dead in the street. Alcohol clung to his breath.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report notes he rode without a helmet or light, but these are mentioned only after the listed contributing factors. No other vehicles or persons were directly involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545939, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Queensboro Bridge’s narrow shared path forces walkers and cyclists into danger. Nine lanes for cars, half a lane each for people on foot and on bikes. Injuries rise. DOT delays promised improvements. Council Members Menin and Won demand action. Blood stains the pavement.

Council Members Julie Menin and Julie Won are pushing for urgent pedestrian and bike improvements on the Queensboro Bridge. The Department of Transportation (DOT) delayed the conversion of the South Outer Roadway to a full-time pedestrian path until at least the end of 2023, citing ongoing bridge repairs. The shared path, only 11 feet wide, is far below DOT’s own safety standards. Injuries have increased as usage soars—nine cyclists hurt in three years, up from three. Julie Won said, "People walking or biking on the shared path are paying with bloody pavement and broken bones, all so the DOT can promote car travel for the few." DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez claims the project is a priority, but the city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed. Nine lanes for cars, half a lane each for people. The danger is real and rising.

• EYES ON THE STREET: Walking Across the Queensboro Bridge is So Dangerous, It Feels Illegal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-05

A speeding e-bike hit a cyclist near 77th on 1st Avenue. Both men thrown. Heads bloodied. Sirens cut the night. The pavement ran red. Two riders, hurt and conscious, waited for help in the dark.

Two men riding bikes collided on 1st Avenue near 77th Street. According to the police report, a 26-year-old cyclist was struck by a speeding e-bike. Both riders were ejected and suffered head injuries. The younger man bled heavily; the older man had abrasions. Both remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The e-bike struck the other bike's rear quarter panel. No helmets were worn, but this is noted only after the driver errors. The crash left both men injured and the street stained with blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543079, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes driver failed to yield. A 21-year-old cyclist slammed into the car’s rear. He flew forward, face crushed, bleeding on the street. He was conscious. The crash left him injured. The system failed to protect him.

A 21-year-old cyclist was seriously injured at the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 79th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist 'slammed into the rear of a Mercedes,' was ejected, and suffered crush injuries to his face. He was conscious but bleeding after hitting the street. The report states the driver of the Mercedes failed to yield right-of-way. This failure is listed as the primary contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. No other injuries were reported among vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541974, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A fast, unlicensed scooter struck a young woman at East 85th and 2nd. She fell hard. Blood pooled from her head. The scooter sped off. The street stayed silent. Danger moved on, leaving pain behind.

A 21-year-old woman was hit by an e-scooter at the corner of East 85th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the Qiewa scooter was unlicensed and traveling at unsafe speed when it struck the pedestrian. The woman suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The scooter driver, a 32-year-old man, was unlicensed and did not stop. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No helmet use or other equipment is cited as a factor. The crash left the pedestrian injured and the driver unscathed. The scooter continued on, unimpeded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541849, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV turned left at 1st Avenue and East 65th. The bumper hit a woman’s head as she crossed with the light. She lay bleeding in the crosswalk, conscious, crushed beneath the June sun. Failure to yield marked the driver’s action.

A Chevy SUV made a left turn at the corner of 1st Avenue and East 65th Street in Manhattan. The vehicle struck a 42-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, 'A Chevy SUV turned left. A woman crossed with the light. The bumper struck her head. She lay in the crosswalk, conscious, bleeding, crushed beneath the heat of a June afternoon.' The driver’s error was listed as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The data shows no contributing factors beyond the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534470, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilians can report violators. Each offense draws a $175 fine. The city pays whistleblowers a cut. The bill stalled. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0501-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 2, 2022. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints to the department of transportation for hazardous obstruction violations,' aimed to create a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school. The penalty: $175 per violation, enforced through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Civilians, except city employees, could file complaints and receive 25% of collected fines. The Department of Transportation would support this with a phased-in reporting program and annual public reports. Council Member Carlina Rivera led as primary sponsor, joined by over two dozen co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0501-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

Council members blasted the city for failing children on school streets. They called the danger 'egregious.' Streets near schools see more crashes, more injuries. Lawmakers want more crossing guards, speed bumps, and car-free hours. The city must act. Kids’ lives hang in the balance.

On June 1, 2022, New York City Council members held a press conference in response to a Streetsblog report exposing high crash rates near schools. The event, not tied to a specific bill, saw Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Julie Menin, Alexa Avilés, and Carlina Rivera demand urgent safety upgrades. The matter summary reads: 'City lawmakers and transportation and education advocates expressed outrage over a recent Streetsblog report on dangerous school streets, demanding the city do more to prevent drivers from harming children outside schools.' Lawmakers called the findings 'egregious' and 'unconscionable.' They urged more crossing guards, traffic calming, and car-free hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez signaled openness to restricting cars during key times. The council’s stance is clear: the city’s inaction puts children, especially those of color, at deadly risk. Lawmakers want swift, systemic change.

• Outraged Lawmakers and Advocates Urge City Action over Unsafe School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-01

A Dodge sedan struck a man on FDR Drive. His shoulder torn, arm bleeding. He lay incoherent at the highway’s edge. The car’s front end crumpled. Traffic thundered past. The man’s words were gone. The street swallowed the moment.

A Dodge sedan traveling north on FDR Drive struck a 43-year-old man walking against traffic, not at an intersection. According to the police report, 'A Dodge sedan struck a 43-year-old man walking against traffic. His shoulder torn, arm bleeding, words gone. The car’s front crumpled. He lay incoherent on the asphalt’s edge, the highway roaring past like nothing had happened.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his shoulder and upper arm and was described as incoherent at the scene. The sedan’s center front end was damaged. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4530140, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council tried to pay tipsters for catching hit-and-run drivers who maim or kill. The bill died. No reward. No justice for victims. Streets stay dangerous. Drivers flee. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. Lawmakers failed to act.

Int 0329-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Public Safety on May 5, 2022. The bill aimed to amend the city code to 'establish a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph sponsored the bill, joined by sixteen co-sponsors including Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, and others. The bill would have authorized up to $1,000 for information leading to the capture of hit-and-run drivers, but excluded law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The measure was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. With the bill's failure, the city offers no extra incentive to help catch drivers who leave victims bleeding in the street.

• File Int 0329-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

A Toyota pickup turned left at East 77th and First. The driver struck a 66-year-old man crossing with the light. The truck’s front end hit his head. He fell, crushed and unconscious. Alcohol was involved. He died in the crosswalk.

A 66-year-old man was killed while crossing East 77th Street at First Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, he crossed with the signal when a Toyota pickup truck made a left turn and struck him with its front end, causing fatal head injuries. The report states, 'Alcohol was involved.' The driver’s actions are listed as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Alcohol Involvement.' The pedestrian was in the crosswalk, following the signal. The crash left him unconscious with crush injuries. The police report makes clear: driver error and alcohol played a central role in this deadly collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4525010, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15