No More Excuses: Demand Safe Streets Before Another Life Is Lost

Jul 22 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - The driver of a box truck changing lanes struck a southbound sedan on Broadway. Two passengers were injured. A 22-year-old man suffered whole-body injuries. A 24-year-old woman sustained a head injury. Police recorded no contributing factors.

A box truck driver changing lanes collided with a southbound sedan at 5219 Broadway. Two passengers were hurt. A 22-year-old man suffered injuries to his entire body. A 24-year-old woman sustained a head injury. According to the police report, the box truck was changing lanes while the sedan was going straight. Police noted the sedan sustained damage to its right front bumper and the truck to its left front bumper. The report does not list specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both injured passengers were recorded as using lap belts and harnesses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829563 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 21 - A speeding rental car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The car was overdue. Guns were found in the trunk. Charges followed. Debris scattered the street.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery. A blue Chevrolet Malibu, rented but never returned, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died instantly. Prosecutors say the car was moving at a 'high rate of speed.' Police found two 9mm pistols and ammunition in the trunk. The driver faces murder and manslaughter charges. The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Overdue Rental Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail-eligible under state law. The article notes, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - The driver of a sedan made a left turn and hit two pedestrians at W 230 St and Broadway. A 20-year-old woman suffered a leg injury. An infant boy suffered a head abrasion. Police recorded driver inattention.

The driver of a Ford sedan was making a left turn at W 230 St and Broadway and hit two pedestrians. A 20-year-old woman sustained a leg injury. An infant boy sustained a head abrasion and was conscious. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was the contributing factor. Police noted point of impact at the vehicle's left front bumper and listed the pre-crash action as making a left turn. The report did not list other contributing factors. The vehicle had one occupant; no vehicle occupants were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 19 - 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

Jul 17 - A van crashed in Midtown. Inside: dozens of propane tanks. The street held its breath. Danger rode in silence, hidden until metal met metal.

CBS New York reported on July 17, 2025, that 'dozens of propane tanks were found in a van in Midtown Manhattan after a car crash Tuesday night.' The article does not detail injuries or the cause of the crash. The presence of hazardous cargo in a crash raises questions about vehicle safety checks and enforcement. Storing large amounts of propane in a van on city streets exposes bystanders and road users to hidden risks. The incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of hazardous material transport in dense urban areas.

• Propane Tanks Discovered After Midtown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - A DOT worker fixing a sign was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near miss in lower Manhattan. The cyclist fled. The worker bled on the street. Police are searching. No arrests. Another morning, another wound.

NY Daily News (2025-07-16) reports a city DOT worker was slashed by a delivery cyclist after a near collision at Broadway and Cedar St. The worker was fixing a street sign when the cyclist nearly hit his truck. Witnesses said, 'They weren't even in the bike lane, they were parked on the corner.' After the argument, the cyclist cut the worker's arm with a box cutter and fled. The DOT worker was treated and released. Police are searching for the cyclist. The incident highlights the dangers of street work and the tense interactions between vehicles and vulnerable road users.

• DOT Worker Slashed After Near Collision, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 12 - A 71-year-old passenger died. A 79-year-old driver struck two cars, then a pole. Metal twisted. Lives changed. The street stayed silent.

CBS New York (2025-07-12) reports a 71-year-old passenger died after a crash in Co-op City, Bronx. Police said a 79-year-old driver 'slammed into two cars before hitting a light pole.' The sequence ended in fatal injury. The article highlights the impact but does not detail causes. The crash underscores risks for passengers and raises questions about driver fitness and street design. No blame is assigned. The facts stand stark.

• Passenger Dies After Bronx Car Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 10 - A van hit a 23-year-old road worker on the Major Deegan Expressway. He suffered contusions to his entire body and was conscious at the scene. Police listed an oversized vehicle as a contributing factor.

A 23-year-old man working in the roadway on the Major Deegan Expressway was struck and injured by a van. According to the police report, "the van was classified as an oversized vehicle, which was listed as a contributing factor." The worker suffered contusions to his entire body and was conscious at the scene. Police recorded "Oversized Vehicle" as the contributing factor. The van was a 2025 FRHT-TRUCK/BUS registered in NY, traveling south and going straight ahead. Vehicle damage was reported as none. No other pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 8 - Dinowitzes fight the Harlem River Greenway bike lane. They defend parking. Cyclists and walkers wait for safe passage. DOT says protected lanes save lives. The Bronx stays exposed.

""We support bike lanes."" -- Jeffrey Dinowitz

On July 8, 2025, Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz and Council Member Eric Dinowitz publicly opposed the city's plan for a protected bike lane on Bailey Avenue, part of the Harlem River Greenway. The matter, described as an 'anti-car crusade,' centers on the removal of 46 parking spots. The Dinowitzes claim the redesign ignores community voices. DOT and local advocates argue the project will cut injuries and deaths, citing crash data. A safety analyst notes the Greenway will create safe, separated space for pedestrians and cyclists, reducing harm and boosting active travel. The Dinowitzes support bike lanes in principle but resist changes that reduce parking.

• ‘Anti-Car Crusade’: Dinowitzes Slam Bronx Harlem River Greenway Bike Lane Touted by Mayor, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 8 - Dinowitzes fight the Harlem River Greenway bike lane. They defend parking. Cyclists and walkers wait for safe passage. DOT says protected lanes save lives. The Bronx stays exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz and Council Member Eric Dinowitz publicly opposed the city's plan for a protected bike lane on Bailey Avenue, part of the Harlem River Greenway. The matter, described as an 'anti-car crusade,' centers on the removal of 46 parking spots. The Dinowitzes claim the redesign ignores community voices. DOT and local advocates argue the project will cut injuries and deaths, citing crash data. A safety analyst notes the Greenway will create safe, separated space for pedestrians and cyclists, reducing harm and boosting active travel. The Dinowitzes support bike lanes in principle but resist changes that reduce parking.

• ‘Anti-Car Crusade’: Dinowitzes Slam Bronx Harlem River Greenway Bike Lane Touted by Mayor, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 6 - A high-speed electric unicycle struck a cyclist on Central Park’s crowded West Drive. The unicycle rider landed in critical condition. Congestion and speed collided. Chaos followed. Bystanders watched. Sirens wailed.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-06) reports a crash on Central Park’s West Drive, where an illegal electric unicycle hit a cyclist. The unicycle, capable of speeds over 40 mph, struck Carolyn Backus, who was riding a standard bike. The unicycle operator was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. NYPD initially charged Backus with leaving the scene, but the charge was dropped. A spokesperson clarified, 'She also remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics.' The incident highlights risks from high-speed, illegal vehicles in crowded park spaces.

• Electric Unicycle Slams Cyclist In Park, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 5 - Sedan turned wrong on Broadway, struck e-bike. Rider thrown, leg fractured. Police cite improper turn and driver distraction. Danger at the intersection left a cyclist hurt.

A sedan making a U-turn on Broadway at West 232nd Street collided with an e-bike traveling straight. The e-bike rider, a 25-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a fractured leg. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The sedan's improper maneuver and lack of focus led to the impact. The rider was not blamed in the report. No mention of helmet use or signals as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 3 - A Mustang jumped the curb in Melrose. Six pedestrians fell. Screams echoed. The driver fled. Scaffolding twisted. Blood on the sidewalk. No arrests. The city waits for answers.

ABC7 reported on July 3, 2025, that a Ford Mustang struck six pedestrians after mounting the curb at East 149th Street and Courtlandt Avenue in the Bronx. Surveillance showed the car turning left while people crossed with the right of way. The driver accelerated, hit a woman, then continued under scaffolding, injuring five more. Witnesses described panic and pain: "People were yelling, were in pain," said Vivian Cole. The suspects abandoned the damaged car and fled. All victims were hospitalized with minor injuries. The Buildings Department confirmed the crash damaged the shed but not the vacant building. No arrests have been made.

• Mustang Plows Bronx Sidewalk, Six Hurt, ABC7, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 3 - Mayor Adams halts 34th Street busway. Streets stay clogged. Pedestrians and bus riders lose. Car dominance remains. Safety and equity stalled.

On July 3, 2025, the Adams administration paused the 34th Street busway project, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The matter, described as a 'highly-anticipated 34th Street busway,' had support from Council Members Erik Bottcher, Keith Powers, and others. Bottcher called it 'transformative,' promising fewer crashes and faster buses. Powers slammed the last-minute reversal. Safety analysts warn: canceling the busway preserves car dominance, discourages transit, and keeps streets unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The project’s future is uncertain. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 3 - Traffic deaths in New York City fell 32% in early 2025. Eighty-seven lives lost, the lowest since 1910. Fewer pedestrians and cyclists killed. Streets still dangerous, but the toll shrinks.

"Traffic deaths reached the lowest level in recorded history during the first six months of this year because of Vision Zero's focus on safer street designs, expanded public education, and targeted traffic enforcement." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On July 3, 2025, BKReader reported city data showing a 32% drop in traffic deaths for the first half of 2025. The Department of Transportation released the numbers. The report, titled 'NYC Traffic Deaths Reach Record Low,' credits Vision Zero: speed cameras, protected bike lanes, lower e-bike speeds, and targeted enforcement. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Traffic deaths reached the lowest level in recorded history during the first six months of this year.' Mayor Eric Adams praised strong enforcement. A 32% reduction signals a major safety gain for all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists.

• NYC Traffic Deaths Reach Record Low, BKReader, Published 2025-07-03

Jul 2 - DOT expands Summer Streets. Manhattan goes car-free from Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood. Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn join. Twenty-two miles open for people. Fewer cars. More safety. Streets belong to walkers and riders.

On July 2, 2025, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the expansion of the Summer Streets program. The event, now in its 18th year, will stretch from the Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood, covering Manhattan’s full length. Car-free Saturdays run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August weekends, with additional routes in Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, and Brooklyn. Rodriguez said, 'the city's venerable Summer Streets program is all grown up.' David Meyer reported the news. Safety analysts note: expanding Summer Streets increases car-free space, encourages walking and cycling, supports mode shift, and improves safety for vulnerable road users by reducing vehicle exposure.

• Wednesday’s Headlines: Return of Summer Streets Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02

Jul 2 - DOT claims fewer deaths but blocks a protected bike lane. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. City touts Vision Zero, yet undermines real safety. Streets stay deadly.

On July 2, 2025, NYC DOT, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, defended the Adams administration's Vision Zero record while fighting a protected bike lane in court. The agency argued there is no legal difference between protected and unprotected lanes, despite a 32% drop in fatalities. Rodriguez said, 'Our streets are public and belong to everyone.' Still, DOT supported removing Bedford Ave's protected lane. No council member sponsored this; it was a direct agency action. Safety analysts warn: opposing protected lanes undermines system-wide safety for vulnerable users and signals a lack of commitment to lasting change.

• DOT Boss Defends Adams’s ‘Vision Zero’ Record As Agency Fights A Bike Lane in Court, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-02