Lower the Speed, Save a Life—Or Bury Another Neighbor

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

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

A taxi and a cyclist crashed at West 92nd. The cyclist bled from the leg. Police cite improper lane use. The street stayed open. The city’s danger remains.

A taxi and a cyclist collided at West 92nd Street in Manhattan. The 37-year-old male cyclist suffered minor bleeding and a leg injury. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was the contributing factor for both drivers. The cyclist wore a helmet. The taxi driver, a 50-year-old woman, was not reported injured. No passengers were hurt. The crash highlights the ongoing risks for cyclists and the consequences of improper lane use by drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833004 - 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

A driver struck a standing vehicle on Amsterdam. Head injury, severe bleeding. Police cite improper lane use. The street stayed open. Metal and blood on the avenue.

A crash on Amsterdam Avenue at West 90th Street left a 38-year-old male driver unconscious with a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, a sedan traveling east struck a standing vehicle. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported injured. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

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 speeding SUV hit a 13-year-old cyclist on West End Avenue. The boy suffered a bruised leg. Police cite unsafe speed as the cause. The street saw blood and pain. The system failed to protect the young.

A 13-year-old boy riding his bike was struck by a station wagon/SUV on West End Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling at unsafe speed when it collided with the cyclist, causing a contusion and injury to the boy's lower leg. The driver, an 81-year-old man, was also listed with unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's unsafe speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

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

SUV turned right, hit a motorized scooter. The scooter driver suffered neck pain and shock. No clear cause named. Streets stayed dangerous. The city kept counting the wounded.

A station wagon/SUV struck a motorized scooter at Riverside Drive and West 86th Street in Manhattan. The 38-year-old scooter driver was injured, suffering neck pain and shock. According to the police report, both vehicles were heading north; the SUV was making a right turn when the crash happened. No specific driver errors were listed in the report. The SUV carried two people, including a child, who were not reported injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828502 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

New 'Wrong Way' signs line Amsterdam Ave. Bike summonses rise. City eyes more enforcement. E-bikes, scooters, and mopeds spark debate. Policy shifts, but danger lingers for those outside cars.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-18) reports new 'Wrong Way' signs on Amsterdam Ave.'s protected bike lanes. The Department of Transportation says these signs have existed since 2016, but their recent visibility coincides with the city's expanded Quality of Life initiative. The NYPD's program targets complaints, including those about 'dangerous bike riders.' The article notes, 'the NYPD has been facing blowback from bike advocates over its push to start issuing criminal summonses in April to bikers.' Meanwhile, the city plans to deploy unarmed 'Peace Officers' to ticket illegal mopeds and e-bike violators. Policy debates continue over e-bike registration and access, with enforcement and infrastructure gaps persisting.

• Wrong Way Signs Mark Bike Lanes, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-18

SUV hit an 81-year-old woman as she crossed Broadway with the signal. Driver was distracted. Victim suffered leg and internal injuries. Streets failed her.

An SUV struck an 81-year-old woman crossing Broadway at West 82nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, distracted and inattentive, made a left turn and hit her. The victim suffered injuries to her leg and internal trauma. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. Passenger distraction was also noted. The driver was licensed in New Jersey. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

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

Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Adams’s new delivery unit launches in 2028. Forty-five peace officers, no real power. Critics say it targets riders, not bosses. Streets stay risky. No clear safety gains for walkers or cyclists.

""I am not supportive of criminal penalties."" -- Gale A. Brewer

Bill: Department of Sustainable Delivery, announced July 7, 2025. Status: Launch set for 2028 as a 45-person team within DOT. No standalone department. Council Member Gale Brewer and advocates oppose criminal penalties for delivery workers. Brewer pushes Intro. 20, requiring app companies to provide safety gear and training. Critics say the mayor’s plan punishes riders, not companies. Safety analysts note: 'No direct changes to infrastructure, enforcement, or policy for vulnerable road users; no clear safety impact can be determined.' The council may break up the plan and advance its own bills.

• Eric Adams’s ‘Dept. of Sustainable Delivery’ Isn’t Actually A Department, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-07