Blood on 181st: Broken Promises, Broken Bodies

DOT drops a greenway blueprint. Brooklyn takes the lead. Protected paths cut fights with traffic and stitch gaps from Greenpoint to Sheepshead Bay. If built, people on foot and bikes get space. Cars lose ground.

"New Yorkers love their parks and waterfront and greenways are the way they increasingly reach and enjoy these wonderful spaces," -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On 2025-08-14, NYC DOT released “Greater Greenways: New York City’s Greenway Plan.” Status: executive policy plan released. No bill number. No Council committee. Focus: Brooklyn links, a 25-mile waterfront route, Eastern Parkway fixes, and an IBX-aligned greenway. BKReader’s Kaya Laterman reported the rollout. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Deputy Mayor Jeff Roth backed the push. No council members were cited. The plan promises wider, safer space for walkers and riders through industrial corridors and across creek gaps. Safety impact: positive. Separated, continuous routes reduce conflicts with cars, support mode shift and safety in numbers, and can improve cross-borough equity if the city builds.

• Where Will NYC Add Greenways in Brooklyn?, BKReader, Published 2025-08-14

City rolls out Greater Greenways. Forty miles of new bike and walking paths. Cyclists and pedestrians get space. Cars lose ground. Safer routes cut through parks and waterfronts. Crash risk falls.

"We say everyone deserves a greenway. Having access to greenways is not a privilege; it's a human right." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On August 13, 2025, the Adams administration announced the Greater Greenways plan. The city aims to 'dramatically expand the network of bike and pedestrian pathways through natural spaces and waterfronts around the Five Boroughs.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Eric Adams led the push. No council bill number or committee is listed. The plan promises over 40 miles of new greenways, connecting neighborhoods and parks. Safety analysts note: expanding dedicated bike and pedestrian pathways separates vulnerable users from traffic, slashing crash risk and encouraging more people to walk or bike. The city signals a shift—more space for people, less for cars.

• ‘Greater Greenways’ plan will see dozens of new bike and walking paths coming to NYC streets, waterfronts and parks, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-13

City targets delivery companies. New rules demand registration, worker IDs, safety gear. Reflective vests, tracking, and penalties loom. Systemic street danger remains. Burden shifts to workers.

On August 9, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez proposed new rules for app-based delivery companies. The plan, now open for public comment, would require companies to register with DOT, assign unique ID cards to workers, and provide mandatory safety training and gear. Adams said, 'Our administration is committed to creating safer, more sustainable streets for everyone.' The rules demand reflective vests and reporting of vehicle types. Critics warn of risks to undocumented workers. A safety analyst notes: while training and gear may help individuals, the policy fails to address systemic traffic dangers and shifts responsibility onto vulnerable workers instead of drivers or city infrastructure.

• NYC Unveils Plan to Register Food Delivery Workers, BKReader, Published 2025-08-09

A driver sped at 109 mph. Concrete barriers now ring the crash site. DOT will shrink lanes and cut speed limits. Change comes slow. Pedestrians and cyclists paid the price.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports DOT will install concrete barriers and narrow lanes at Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street exit after a driver killed a cyclist and pedestrian at 109 mph. DOT plans to lower the speed limit from 35 to 20 mph, pending public comment. The article notes, 'the bridge currently functions like a Mario Kart-style speed boost.' DOT will also 'fast-track community engagement on a full redesign.' The crash highlights the danger of wide lanes and high speeds at a busy pedestrian crossing. Policy changes lagged until tragedy forced action.

• DOT Lowers Speed, Adds Barriers On Canal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Officials and advocates raced the M34 bus in Midtown. Walking beat the bus. The street choked with traffic. Buses crawled. Riders waited. The city failed its most vulnerable. Cars ruled. Transit lost.

"New Yorkers deserve fast, reliable, and world-class bus service, and that is why Mayor Eric Adams and our administration are building the 34th Street Busway to speed up commutes for riders and make this corridor safer and less congested." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On August 8, 2025, Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani joined transit advocates in Midtown. They raced the M34 bus across 34th Street to expose slow bus speeds. The event asked: 'Is it faster to walk across town or take the bus?' Russo-Lennon and others backed bus improvements, highlighting how cars choke streets and trap riders. The demonstration drew support from Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers, and city officials. The safety analyst notes this was a demonstration, not a policy change, so it does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety or system-wide outcomes.

• Victory on 34th Street: Transit groups, Manhattan pols leave bus in the dust in bustling Midtown, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Two women face indictment after a deadly Chinatown crash. The toll is real. The system failed to protect. Streets remain dangerous for those on foot.

CBS New York reported on August 7, 2025, that two women were indicted following a deadly crash in Chinatown, Manhattan. The article states, 'Two women charged in connection with a deadly crash in Chinatown have now been indicted.' Details on the crash itself are limited, but the indictment signals potential driver error or negligence. The case highlights ongoing risks for vulnerable road users in dense city neighborhoods and underscores the need for stronger traffic safety measures.

• Two Indicted After Chinatown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-07

Two sedans crashed at Pinehurst Avenue. One driver suffered a back injury. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and glass met. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans collided at Pinehurst Avenue and West 178th Street in Manhattan. One driver, a 32-year-old man, was injured with a back contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor in the crash. Both vehicles were operated by licensed drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left one car's right rear bumper and the other's front end damaged. The crash underscores the risk when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834409 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

SUV and sedan collided at speed on Riverside Drive. Two men suffered head injuries. Unsafe speed and improper turning fueled the impact. Metal twisted. Passengers bruised. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two vehicles—a Honda SUV and a Ford sedan—collided on Riverside Drive near Broadway. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when the crash occurred. Two men, aged 34 and 35, suffered head contusions. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. Five other occupants, including teenagers, were involved but their injuries were unspecified. The crash highlights the danger when drivers move too fast and turn without care. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

SUV veered on Henry Hudson Parkway. Unsafe lane change. Two occupants injured. Head and neck hit. Police cite reckless moves. Metal and bodies took the blow.

A station wagon/SUV traveling north on Henry Hudson Parkway changed lanes unsafely. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Following Too Closely' caused the crash. Two occupants, a 44-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, suffered head and neck injuries. The driver, also 38, reported pain and nausea. Both injured wore lap belts and harnesses. The police report lists driver errors as the main factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider flew to the pavement. The driver fled. The bike’s red light blinked in the dark. Police arrested the unlicensed driver two hours later. The rider remains critical.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-31) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver in a Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-bike rider on Second Ave. near 15th St., leaving the cyclist with serious head trauma. The driver fled, drove on the sidewalk, and later took the SUV to a car wash. He confessed to police after turning himself in two hours later, saying he fled because he lacked a license. The article notes, 'He now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license.' The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The crash highlights persistent dangers from unlicensed drivers and gaps in enforcement.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-31

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

City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

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

SUV hit a woman in the crosswalk on W 179 St. She crossed with the signal. Driver inexperience and distraction listed. Pedestrian suffered back and crush injuries. System failed to protect her.

A Honda SUV struck a 47-year-old woman as she crossed W 179 St at Fort Washington Ave in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was in the intersection, crossing with the signal, when the crash occurred. She suffered back and crush injuries and was in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV’s front end hit the pedestrian while making a left turn. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The data shows clear driver error, with no mention of pedestrian fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Microhub zones sit empty. Trucks clog curbs. Cargo bikes idle. Streets choke on double-parked vans. Pedestrians and cyclists dodge danger. The city’s promise breaks. Risk remains.

""Creating designated locations where trucks can transfer packages to smaller, cleaner, and greener options for neighborhood-wide deliveries can reduce truck traffic, improve residents' quality of life, and help us shift to a more sustainable future."" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On July 23, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported on the NYC DOT microhub delivery pilot. The program, launched in April, aimed to shift parcel transfers from trucks to cargo bikes at three Upper West Side sites. The matter summary states: 'Microhub parking zones reserved for e-commerce firms to offload parcels from trucks to cargo bikes and hand-carts routinely go unused.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez backed the plan, but only Amazon and Net-Zero Logistics used their hubs. UPS trucks kept blocking streets. DOT threatens to revoke unused permits. The safety impact is negative: unused microhubs mean trucks still crowd curbs, missing a chance to protect pedestrians and cyclists from large vehicles.

• Eyes on the Street: UPS Blows Off DOT’s ‘Microhubs’ Delivery Pilot, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-23

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

A stolen car tore through Chinatown. The driver jumped the curb. Two lives ended—one on a bench, one on a bike. Guns found in the wreck. The street holds the scars.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-21), a stolen Chevrolet Malibu crashed at Bowery and Canal, killing May Kwok, 63, and Kevin Cruickshank, 55. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascension Romero, faces murder and vehicular homicide charges. Police said she "jumped a curb in Chinatown and killed two people." Passenger Kennedy Lecraft faces charges for weapon possession and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Two pistols and ammunition were found in the trunk. The article notes Romero had been freed without bail after a prior hit-and-run. The crash exposes gaps in bail and rental car oversight.

• Stolen Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-21

A stolen Chevy Malibu tore through Bowery and Canal, crushing a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Metal, bodies, silence. The driver fled. Two lives ended in seconds. The street swallowed them whole.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-20), a stolen Chevy Malibu jumped a median at Bowery and Canal, striking cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died. The car, driven by Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, crashed into an NYPD van. Romero and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article notes Romero faces a separate charge from a previous crash. The incident highlights the lethal risk of stolen vehicles and the failure of current safeguards to protect people outside cars.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-20

A Chevy Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge, struck a cyclist and a woman on the sidewalk. Both died. The car hit an NYPD van. Two drivers tried to flee but were caught. No officers hurt. No charges yet.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu exiting the Manhattan Bridge at Canal Street and Bowery struck and killed a cyclist and a pedestrian at 7:30 a.m. Police say two women in their 20s drove the car and 'initially tried to leave on foot,' but were taken into custody. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. No officers were injured. As of Saturday afternoon, 'the NYPD said it had not filed charges.' The deaths follow a city report of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting ongoing risks for vulnerable road users.

• Cyclist, Pedestrian Killed Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

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