Blood on Lenox, Silence at City Hall

A taxi struck a 67-year-old cyclist at West 111th and 8th Avenue. The rider flew from his bike, head split, blood pooling on the street. Evening fell as he lay incoherent, victim of driver distraction and failure to yield.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on West 111th Street collided with a 67-year-old man riding a bicycle northbound at the corner of 8th Avenue. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, suffering severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The report states the cab’s left front bumper was damaged in the crash. The cyclist was found incoherent at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors in the collision. The narrative describes blood on the street and the rider’s head split open. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is noted only after the driver’s errors, as listed in the police report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention in Manhattan’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732710, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A southbound Acura hit a 57-year-old woman at Lexington and East 121st. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious. The sedan’s rear dented. The driver remained. Harlem bore silent witness. Steel and flesh collided in the crosswalk’s shadow.

A 57-year-old woman was struck by a southbound Acura sedan at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and East 121st Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The collision occurred in the intersection, leaving the woman bleeding from her entire body but conscious. The report notes, 'She bled from her whole body. Conscious.' The sedan’s left rear quarter panel was dented in the crash. The driver stayed at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, and no mention is made of pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The report describes a silent Harlem watching the aftermath. The focus remains on the impact between the vehicle and the vulnerable pedestrian in the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727559, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council wants lights on city step streets. The bill orders the DOT to brighten at least 25 stairways a year. Dark stairs mean danger. Light means fewer falls, fewer hidden threats. The push comes from a broad coalition. The goal is simple: safer steps.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian lighting on at least 25 step streets each year. The bill’s matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola leads, joined by Council Members Hanks, Ayala, Salaam, Brooks-Powers, Banks, Restler, Brannan, Ung, Gutiérrez, Louis, Hudson, Schulman, Ossé, Krishnan, Nurse, Moya, and Marmorato. Step streets are public staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to ensure these stairs are well-lit, reducing risk for walkers. Once all step streets are lit, the mandate ends. The measure targets a clear hazard: darkness on city stairs.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A sedan swung wide on West 155th. An e-scooter rider, straight ahead, collided and flew. Blood pooled on the blacktop. The man, gasping, lay conscious, his skull split. Driver inattention and unsafe lane change carved the night.

According to the police report, a sedan making a U-turn on West 155th Street collided with a man riding an e-scooter who was traveling straight. The report states the sedan driver engaged in 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The impact ejected the 39-year-old e-scooter rider, sending him headfirst onto the pavement. The narrative describes him as lying conscious, gasping, with severe head lacerations and a split skull. The police report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver errors. The collision underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving and improper lane changes, which left a vulnerable road user grievously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725932, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan veered at West 141st and St. Nicholas, striking a 22-year-old cyclist. The driver, distracted and failing to hold the lane, sent the rider flying. Blood pooled. The cyclist lay conscious, head bleeding, the bike twisted in the street.

A crash unfolded at the corner of West 141st Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan, where a sedan struck a 22-year-old cyclist, according to the police report. The report states the sedan driver was 'distracted' and failed to maintain lane position, citing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, landing head-first and suffering severe bleeding, with injuries focused on the head. The police report describes the aftermath: 'He flew, landed head-first. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He lay conscious, bleeding.' The bike was left twisted on the street. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver errors. The collision highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to pay attention and maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724593, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound car hit a 60-year-old man head-on on East 119th Street. His head split open. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The street kept moving. The crash left him bleeding, the city indifferent, the danger unyielding.

A 60-year-old man walking with traffic on East 119th Street in Harlem was struck head-on by a westbound car, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was not at a crosswalk and was walking along the street when the vehicle, traveling straight ahead, hit him with the center front end. The impact caused a severe head injury and heavy bleeding; the man remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'His head split open. Blood ran. He stayed awake. The street kept moving.' The report does not mention any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722288, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle skids on slick Harlem River Drive pavement, slamming head-on into an SUV. The rider, helmeted, is thrown hard, suffering fatal head trauma. Blood stains the asphalt. The bike lies shattered. Morning breaks over a silent road.

A 42-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a violent crash on Harlem River Drive, according to the police report. The incident occurred early in the morning when the motorcycle, traveling south, lost control on slippery pavement and collided head-on with a southbound SUV. The police report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. The rider, who was helmeted, was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe head trauma, resulting in apparent death at the scene. The motorcycle was described as 'demolished,' and blood was visible on the road. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are cited in the report, but the hazardous road surface is explicitly noted. The victim's helmet use is mentioned in the police report after the primary contributing factor of the slick pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712117, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota swung wide in a U-turn. Its bumper caught a cyclist’s leg. Flesh tore, blood pooled. The man stayed conscious as the SUV kept moving. The street bore witness to driver error and the cost paid in flesh.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV attempted a wide U-turn near 2360 8th Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV’s left front bumper struck a 36-year-old man riding a bike straight ahead. The impact caused severe lacerations to the cyclist’s knee and lower leg, leaving him conscious but bleeding in the street. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The cyclist’s behavior is only mentioned as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' in the data, but the primary focus remains on the SUV driver’s actions. The SUV continued moving after the collision, underscoring the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when drivers misjudge turns and fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708035, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushes DOT to post clear bus lane signs on every block. Hours and days must be public, online and on the street. Riders and walkers get clarity. No more guessing. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait for answers.

Int 0647-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to post signs on every block with bus lane restrictions, showing exact hours and days. DOT must also keep this information updated online. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to bus lane restrictions.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Kevin C. Riley, Chris Banks, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Amanda Farías, and Yusef Salaam co-sponsored. The bill aims to end confusion for all street users. Clear rules mean fewer surprises. The measure awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0647-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council moves to form an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must join. The board will send reports twice a year to city leaders. The aim: track, review, and recommend guard placement. Streets near schools stay dangerous.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls for an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. The board would include the NYPD, Department of Transportation, and Department of Education. According to the bill summary: 'Such advisory board would be responsible for submitting biannual reports, relating to recommended deployment of school crossing guards, to the Mayor, the City Council Speaker and the Police Commissioner.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, Won, Cabán, Riley, Farías, Restler, Williams, Narcisse, Banks, Louis, Brooks-Powers, Marmorato, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill demands city agencies work together, but it does not guarantee more guards or safer crossings. The danger for children at city intersections remains.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council members push for a new DOT unit to crack down on illegal parking. The bill sits in committee. Streets choke with blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. The city waits for action.

Bill Int 0264-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation,' would require DOT to create a dedicated parking enforcement unit. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Marte, Won, Salaam, Farías, Riley, Bottcher, and Hudson. The bill aims to enforce laws and rules on parking violations. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The bill remains under committee review, with no vote or enactment date set.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill Int 0263-2024 demands the DOT act. It expands what counts as a serious crash. It orders investigations to start within a week, finish in a month. Reports must be detailed. The bill sits in committee. Streets remember every delay.

Int 0263-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' would force the DOT’s crash investigation unit to broaden its definition of serious crashes. Investigations must begin within one week and wrap up in a month. Reports must dig deeper. Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary sponsor), Rita C. Joseph, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Julie Won, Yusef Salaam, Kevin C. Riley, and Chris Banks back the bill. The measure aims to expose the facts behind every crash, not let them fade in silence.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill pushes DOT to open streets wider and longer on busy holidays. Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July Fourth, Labor Day, Halloween—cars barred, people free. Community groups get a say. Streets shift from danger to refuge, if the city acts.

Int 0270-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city law to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic. The bill’s summary reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. The bill directs DOT to seek community input for more activation days. Applications for these special activations follow the same review as regular Open Streets. The measure aims to give pedestrians and cyclists more space and time, cutting car risk when crowds surge.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants NYPD to show where crossing guards stand. The bill orders a map online. Streets are dangerous. Kids cross in chaos. The public will see the gaps. The city must face the truth in plain sight.

Int 0447-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment," demands the NYPD post an online map showing where crossing guards are stationed. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Menin, Salaam, Brewer, Marte, and others, including a request from the Bronx Borough President. The bill is for 'informational purposes only,' but the impact is clear: families and advocates will finally see where the city leaves children exposed. The measure forces transparency. It makes the city’s priorities visible block by block.

• File Int 0447-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on streets by parks over one acre. DOT must install unless safety or guidelines say no. Seventeen council members back the move. The bill sits in committee. Streets by parks may soon slow cars.

Int 0262-2024 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 28, 2024. The bill states: "requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre." Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by seventeen co-sponsors including Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Marte, and others. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps on qualifying streets unless the commissioner finds it unsafe or inconsistent with DOT guidelines. The bill remains in committee. If passed, it would take effect 180 days after becoming law. The measure aims to slow traffic near parks, where walkers and children cross.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill demands 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year for six years. Streets will change. Barriers will rise. Cyclists will get space. The city moves to shield riders from cars. The pace quickens. Safety, not talk, hits the pavement.

Int 0271-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced on February 28, 2024, the bill orders the Department of Transportation to install 100 miles of protected bike lanes per year for six years. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Carlina Rivera, Farah N. Louis, Shahana K. Hanif, Chi A. Ossé, Gale A. Brewer, Tiffany Cabán, Sandy Nurse, Crystal Hudson, Yusef Salaam, Erik D. Bottcher, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Oswald Feliz, Julie Won, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill’s summary states protected lanes 'increase cycling and ensure the safety of New Yorkers.' If passed, the law will force the city to build real protection for people on bikes, not just paint. The measure aims to cut risk for cyclists and push back against deadly streets.

• File Int 0271-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council members push for a hard look at last mile delivery hubs. Trucks swarm neighborhoods. Streets clog. Collisions rise. The bill demands data. It targets the city’s growing freight problem. Vulnerable New Yorkers walk these streets. The study could expose the toll.

Int 0113-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it orders the Department of Transportation to study how last mile delivery facilities batter local streets and communities. The bill summary reads: 'estimating the amount of delivery vehicles arriving at or departing from each facility, and the impact that additional vehicle traffic has on parking, street congestion, vehicle collisions and other traffic incidents.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Alexa Avilés, Shekar Krishnan, Amanda Farías, and over twenty others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the bill’s focus is clear: count the trucks, count the crashes, and show the cost to people on foot and bike.

• File Int 0113-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential neighborhoods. The bill demands a report. Streets packed with trucks endanger walkers and cyclists. The committee holds the bill. No action yet. Pressure mounts.

Int 0114-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, the bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential areas. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. Streets crowded with trucks put vulnerable road users at risk. The bill seeks data and solutions, but action is pending.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council calls on maritime importers to shift last-mile deliveries from trucks to boats. Streets choke on diesel rigs. Noise, fumes, danger follow. Waterways offer relief. The resolution sits in committee. Sponsors demand action. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait.

Res 0053-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The resolution urges 'top maritime importers to New York City ports to commit to making the City’s streets greener by reducing truck traffic and using marine vessels for last mile deliveries throughout the boroughs.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, Hudson, Salaam, Cabán, Ayala, Restler, Hanif, Won, Brooks-Powers, Nurse, Public Advocate Williams, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The measure responds to freight growth and truck congestion, which fuel pollution and endanger street users. The Council’s call aims to clear trucks from city streets, cut emissions, and make roads safer for everyone outside a car.

• File Res 0053-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants within half a mile of schools. Fines set at $175. Civilians can report violations. DOT must act on complaints. Council aims to clear paths for people, not cars.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after its introduction on February 8, 2024. 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," creates a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of a school. The penalty is $175 per violation. The Department of Transportation must launch a civilian reporting program. If DOT prosecutes a case using civilian evidence, the complainant gets 25% of the proceeds. Council Member Carlina Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Joseph, Menin, Nurse, Hudson, Brannan, Farías, Brewer, Salaam, Hanif, Avilés, Won, Bottcher, Krishnan, Gutiérrez, Marte, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill aims to keep streets clear for vulnerable road users, especially near schools.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08