Crash Count for United Nations
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 114
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 72
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 22
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 1
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 28, 2025
Carnage in United Nations
Detailed breakdowns aren’t yet available for this year slice; totals below reflect the selected window.
Killed 1
Severe Bleeding 1
Whole body 1
Concussion 1
Back 1
Whiplash 3
Neck 2
Chest 1
Head 1
Contusion/Bruise 3
Abdomen/pelvis 1
Head 1
Lower arm/hand 1
Abrasion 6
Face 2
Head 2
Lower arm/hand 1
Whole body 1
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Sep 28, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in United Nations?

No More Bodies for the Machines: Demand Safety Now

United Nations: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 16, 2025

The Toll in Plain Sight

The streets do not forgive. In the United Nations district, the numbers do not lie. Since January 2022, there has been one death and 51 injuries from 88 crashes (NYC Open Data). No one under 18 has died, but the wounded span every age. Pedestrians and cyclists take the brunt. A sedan, a taxi, an SUV—these are the machines that break bodies here. In the last year alone, 18 people were hurt. No one was spared serious injury, but the luck will not hold.

Patterns That Repeat

The violence is not random. Cars turning left on E 45th Street hit a cyclist. A moped driver is struck by an SUV. A 16-year-old passenger is hurt on the FDR. The pattern is always the same: steel against flesh. The cause is always the same: inattention, speed, the city’s indifference. The sidewalk is not a shield. The crosswalk is not a promise.

Leaders Move—But Not Fast Enough

Local leaders have taken steps, but the pace is slow. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez has voted yes on bills to curb repeat speeders and extend school speed zones. Assembly Member Harvey Epstein co-sponsors bills to require speed limiters for drivers with a record of violations. Council Member Keith Powers has called for using idle congestion pricing cameras for speed and red-light enforcement.

But the city delays. “We want a real solution to the bike and pedestrian safety issue,” said a local board vice chair, as the city cut bike lanes from Fifth Avenue. The machines keep rolling. The bodies keep falling.

The Call

This is not fate. This is policy. Call your council member. Call your state senator. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand real protection for people, not just promises. Every day of delay is another day of blood on the street.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Harvey Epstein
Assembly Member Harvey Epstein
District 74
District Office:
107 & 109 Ave. B, New York, NY 10009
Legislative Office:
Room 419, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Twitter: @HarveyforNY
Keith Powers
Council Member Keith Powers
District 4
District Office:
211 East 43rd Street, Suite 1205, New York, NY 10017
212-818-0580
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1725, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7393
Kristen Gonzalez
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez
District 59
District Office:
801 2nd Ave. Suite 303, New York, NY 10017
Legislative Office:
Room 817, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247

Traffic Safety Timeline for United Nations

28
German tourist killed in hit-and-run was in NYC with husband to celebrate anniversary
25
Driver charged in fatal Midtown Manhattan hit-and-run, NYPD says
24
German Woman Killed by Hit and Run Driver Near Bryant Park

5
Box cutter-wielding Mercedes driver slashes bike-riding dad in NYC road rage clash: cops, sources
3
Videos allegedly show ‘reckless’ NYC subway operator allowing minors to take MTA train out for a joyride
31
Man fatally struck by train at Harlem subway station

11
Astoria Businesses Sue Over Bike Lane

Aug 11 - Astoria shopkeepers fight a protected bike lane on 31st Street. They claim city plans threaten their business and public safety. The lawsuit lands in Queens Supreme Court. The city faces pushback, progress stalls.

NY1 reported on August 11, 2025, that over a dozen Astoria business owners filed suit to block a protected bike lane on 31st Street. The petition, lodged in Queens Supreme Court, claims the redesign from 36th Avenue to Newton Avenue would 'hurt their day-to-day operations and jeopardize public safety.' Owners accuse the city of acting in an 'arbitrary and capricious' way, moving forward despite objections. The case highlights ongoing tension between street safety projects and local business concerns. The outcome could shape future protected bike lane installations citywide.


8
DOT Lowers Speed, Adds Barriers On Canal

Aug 8 - 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.


8
Gonzalez Backs Safety‑Boosting Astoria Protected Bike Lanes

Aug 8 - DOT will install protected bike lanes and traffic calming on 31st Street in Astoria. Business owners sued to stop it. The corridor has 190 injuries, 12 severe, 2 deaths since 2020. DOT vows to defend the redesign.

"DOT Stands By Astoria Safety Project Despite Foes’ Anti-Bike Lawsuit." No bill number; not before the City Council or any committee. DOT reaffirmed the redesign on August 8, 2025 after business owners sued following a heated June community board meeting. The plan adds protected bike lanes on both sides of 31st Street and painted pedestrian islands. DOT spokesman Will Livingston said, "We stand firmly behind this project and will defend our work in court." Council Member Tiffany Caban, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas signed a letter supporting the project in June. Implementing protected bike lanes and traffic calming measures is proven to reduce injuries for all road users, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity in this high-crash corridor.


8
Powers Backs Safety-Boosting 34th Street Busway to Speed Buses

Aug 8 - Officials raced the M34 on Aug. 7. Walkers beat the bus by seven minutes. The M34 averages 5.5 mph for 28,000 daily riders. Sponsors push a car-free 34th Street busway and pedestrianized Broadway to speed service and cut congestion.

""It's time to get buses moving faster, and the busway will do just that,"" -- Keith Powers

Bill/file number: none listed. Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committees: NYC Council subcommittees on Zoning and Franchises, and Land Use approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan one day earlier. Key dates: race on Aug. 7, 2025; article published Aug. 8, 2025. Matter titled "Victory on 34th Street: Transit groups, Manhattan pols, leave bus in the dust in bustling Midtown" centers a proposed car-free 34th Street busway. Zohran Mamdani joined the Aug. 7 stunt and said, "These are the slowest buses in the United States of America." CM Erik Bottcher and CM Keith Powers backed the plan. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Eric Adams also voiced support. Transportation Alternatives' Ben Furnas praised the busway. No formal safety impact note was provided.


8
Powers Backs Safety‑Boosting 34th Street Busway

Aug 8 - A rush-hour race on Aug 8, 2025 showed walkers beat the M34. City leaders pushed a 34th Street busway to cut cars, speed buses and free crosstown trips. Prioritizing buses and pedestrians should reduce traffic violence and boost equity.

"Council Member Keith Powers also supported the busway, stating it would speed up bus service." -- Keith Powers

Bill number: none. Status: demonstration and momentum for the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan after subcommittees approved it the day before. Committee: NYC Council subcommittees. Key dates: Aug 7, 2025 (subcommittee approval), Aug 8, 2025 (bus-versus-walk race). Matter quoted: "The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan... includes a busway limiting cars on a major segment of 34th Street." Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon joined the demonstration. Zohran Mamdani raced and called buses the slowest in the nation. Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers publicly backed the busway; Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez also voiced support. Limiting car access and prioritizing buses and pedestrians is likely to reduce traffic violence, improve equity, and help vulnerable road users.


8
Powers Backs Safety‑Boosting 34th Street Car‑Free Busway

Aug 8 - Mayor approved a car-free busway on 34th Street after walkers beat the crosstown bus in a 1.2‑mile race. The move targets faster, more reliable service for nearly 30,000 daily riders and to clear jams caused by congestion and illegal parking.

"If you look around us right now, we're in a pretty tough jam here... I don't see a lot of officials getting on the bus, and if they did, they would experience this. They would live with buses that don't show up in the morning and get jammed by the cars." -- Keith Powers

Bill number: none listed. Status: approval announced; stage: SPONSORSHIP. Committee: not listed. Key date: 2025-08-08, the day the crosstown race and public approval were reported. The matter is the "construction of a car-free busway on 34th Street between Third and Ninth avenues." Mayor Adams abandoned opposition and approved construction. Council member Zohran Mamdani celebrated, calling the buses "the slowest buses in the United States of America." Comptroller Brad Lander, Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backed the plan. Advocates say the busway will speed service for almost 30,000 daily riders. No formal safety impact analysis was provided.


7
Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades

Aug 7 - A stolen car tore through Canal and Bowery. Two lives ended. One sat on a bench. One rode a bike. The city now promises changes. Steel and speed met flesh. The street stays dangerous.

NY1 reported on August 7, 2025, that after a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery, the city will upgrade the intersection. On July 19, a stolen car, allegedly driven over 100 mph, killed Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kwok was sitting on a bench. Cruickshank rode his bike on the sidewalk. The article quotes authorities: 'A stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour...crashed into them.' The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and exposes gaps in street design. The Department of Transportation now plans safety improvements.


6
Keith Powers Backs Safety‑Boosting Midtown Rezoning and Busway

Aug 6 - Officials revived a 34th Street busway as part of the Midtown South rezoning. The corridor (3rd–9th Ave) would prioritize buses, boost speeds up to 15%, and curb private traffic. Council subcommittees approved the plan; full council approval still required.

"We are transforming Midtown South into a vibrant live-work neighborhood, alongside historic community investments in schools, transit, parks, and more." -- Keith Powers

File number: none listed. Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committees: NYC Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) on Aug. 6, 2025. Matter quoted: "34th Street busway gets another go as part of larger Midtown rezoning plan." Council Member Erik Bottcher, representing the area, backed the rezoning and the busway. Council Member Keith Powers urged full council approval. Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the busway will continue. DOT said it did not suspend the project. The proposal would create a busway from 3rd to 9th Avenues, serve about 24 routes and aim to speed buses by up to 15%. No safety impact assessment was provided in the record.


6
Man Killed By Train At Harlem Station

Aug 6 - A man lay on Harlem tracks. The northbound 5 train struck him. He died at the scene. Police found no crime. His name remains unknown. Subway lines stalled. The system moved on.

NY Daily News (2025-08-06) reports a 47-year-old man was killed by a northbound 5 train at 125th St. station in Harlem. Police said, "The man was unconscious and unresponsive on the tracks." No arrests were made. The cause of his presence on the tracks is unclear. Police stated, "There was no criminality." The incident halted 4 and 5 trains. The case highlights ongoing dangers for people in subway spaces and the lack of platform barriers.


6
Powers Backs Safety-Boosting Midtown South Rezoning Plan

Aug 6 - Committees cleared the Midtown South rezoning. 9,535 homes allowed across 42 blocks. City won a car-free 34th Street busway and a $325M Broadway rebuild. Streets shift from cars to people. Pedestrians and cyclists gain safer space.

Bill: Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (file number not listed). Status: Approved by the City Council Land Use Committee and Zoning Subcommittee on August 6, 2025. The matter, titled "42-block Midtown South housing plan clears hurdle as Council trims some units," permits about 9,535 homes across 42 blocks. Council Members Keith Powers and Erik D. Bottcher led negotiations; Bottcher called it "bold, balanced and long overdue." Committees trimmed some bulk and protected mid-block manufacturing in the Garment District. The plan secures a car-free busway on 34th Street and a $325 million pedestrian-oriented Broadway rebuild. These measures prioritize vulnerable road users and reclaim public space, likely increasing safety and encouraging mode shift toward walking and cycling.


6
Powers Backs Safety‑Boosting Midtown South Rezoning and Busway

Aug 6 - Land Use committee cleared the Midtown South Mixed-Use rezoning on Aug 6. The plan unlocks over 9,500 homes, creates a car-free 34th Street busway and pedestrianized Broadway, and directs funds to the Garment District and street upgrades.

Bill: Midtown South Mixed-Use (MSMX) plan. File number: none provided. Status: Approved by the City Council Committee on Land Use on 2025-08-06; advances to a full Council vote. Committee: City Council Committee on Land Use. The matter, quoted in the record, calls to "redesignate 42 blocks between West 23rd and 40th Streets and Fifth and Eighth Avenues for housing development." Councilmembers Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers backed the plan; Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Eric Adams issued supportive statements. The plan includes a car-free 34th Street busway, a fully pedestrianized Broadway, $122M for Garment District support and $340M for streets and transit. No safety impact assessment or safety note was provided in the record.


6
Powers Hails Safety‑Boosting 34th Street Busway as Priority

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.


6
Powers Praises Safety‑Boosting 34th Street Busway Commitment

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.


3
Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown

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.