Aug 23 - Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

Aug 22 - Motorcycle turning left struck taxi going straight. Rider, 34, suffered leg injuries. Police cite confusion as crash factor. Manhattan street saw impact, no ejection, no other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured when his motorcycle, making a left turn, collided with a taxi traveling straight on Christopher Street in Manhattan. The impact struck the right front bumper of both vehicles. The motorcycle driver, who wore a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" twice as contributing factors, indicating confusion on the motorcycle driver's part. No other driver errors or contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656417 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - A 42-year-old woman was hit by a bike on 7 Avenue South. She was crossing with the signal when the cyclist failed to yield right-of-way. The impact caused a head contusion. The cyclist showed no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a bike struck her at the intersection of 7 Avenue South and Christopher Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the cyclist, traveling south and going straight ahead, failed to yield right-of-way. The collision caused a head contusion, classified as injury severity 3. The bike showed no damage, indicating the impact was centered on the front end. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered bruising but was not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 2 - Senate bill S 7621 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets trigger mandatory speed control tech. Sponsors push to curb repeat danger. No votes yet. Streets stay tense.

Senate bill S 7621, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed August 2, 2023, it 'relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill forces drivers with eleven points in eighteen months, or six speed/red light camera tickets in a year, to install speed-limiting devices. No safety analyst note yet. The measure aims to cut repeat speeding and protect those outside the car.

• File S 7621, Open States, Published 2023-08-02

Aug 1 - A 28-year-old man riding south on West Street was thrown from his bike. He broke his arm and dislocated his elbow. No other vehicles. No driver errors listed. He wore a helmet. The street stayed silent.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male bicyclist traveling south on West Street was ejected from his bike. He suffered a fracture and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The crash involved only the bicyclist, who was riding straight ahead when the impact occurred at the bike's center front end. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene and wore a helmet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - Manhattan lawmakers want electric cars to pay less under congestion pricing. They argue EVs cut smog, so drivers deserve a break. Critics warn this move keeps streets clogged. Fewer cars mean fewer crashes. The fight pits clean air against crowded roads.

On July 31, 2023, a group of Manhattan elected officials—including Assembly Members Alex Bores, Eddie Gibbs, Deborah Glick, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright; State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Kristen Gonzalez; and Borough President Mark Levine—sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. They urged a congestion pricing discount for electric vehicles, claiming EVs 'do not contribute significantly to the smog and pollution of the Central Business District.' Assembly Member Bores led the effort, stating, 'when it comes to the environmental case, an electric vehicle is just a different profile than a gas-guzzling one.' The officials oppose credits for bridge and tunnel crossings. Congestion pricing advocates and environmental groups counter that EV discounts undermine the core goal: fewer cars, less traffic, safer streets. They note other cities are ending such breaks. The proposal highlights a tension—cleaner air versus safer, less crowded roads for all.

• Manhattan Elected Officials Urge Congestion Pricing Discount For Electric Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-31

Jul 31 - Manhattan lawmakers want electric cars to pay less under congestion pricing. They argue EVs cut smog, so drivers deserve a break. Critics warn this move keeps streets clogged. Fewer cars mean fewer crashes. The fight pits clean air against crowded roads.

On July 31, 2023, a group of Manhattan elected officials—including Assembly Members Alex Bores, Eddie Gibbs, Deborah Glick, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright; State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Kristen Gonzalez; and Borough President Mark Levine—sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. They urged a congestion pricing discount for electric vehicles, claiming EVs 'do not contribute significantly to the smog and pollution of the Central Business District.' Assembly Member Bores led the effort, stating, 'when it comes to the environmental case, an electric vehicle is just a different profile than a gas-guzzling one.' The officials oppose credits for bridge and tunnel crossings. Congestion pricing advocates and environmental groups counter that EV discounts undermine the core goal: fewer cars, less traffic, safer streets. They note other cities are ending such breaks. The proposal highlights a tension—cleaner air versus safer, less crowded roads for all.

• Manhattan Elected Officials Urge Congestion Pricing Discount For Electric Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-31

Jul 26 - Two sedans crashed late at night on West 11 Street in Manhattan. One driver suffered head injuries and abrasions. Alcohol was involved. The impact damaged front and rear bumpers. The injured driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on West 11 Street near Greenwich Street in Manhattan at 11:21 p.m. One driver, a 33-year-old man, was injured with head abrasions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The crash involved alcohol, a contributing factor noted by police. One sedan was traveling west going straight ahead, while the other was parked. The moving vehicle struck the left rear bumper of the parked sedan, damaging its left front bumper and the right front quarter panel of the moving car. The report lists alcohol involvement as the key driver error. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 26 - Two SUVs collided on Jones Street in Manhattan. The rear vehicle followed too closely and struck the front vehicle. Both drivers, women aged 37 and 24, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling north on Jones Street collided when the rear vehicle struck the front vehicle's center back end. The rear driver failed to maintain a safe distance, contributing to the crash by following too closely. Both vehicles were Ford SUVs from 2018. The front passenger, a 24-year-old woman, and the driver, a 37-year-old woman, were injured with neck pain and whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained by lap belts. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648928 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 23 - A taxi struck a 36-year-old male bicyclist on Clarkson Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries with minor bleeding. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and following too closely as factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a taxi and a bicycle collided on Clarkson Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old man, was injured with wounds to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and experienced shock. The report lists driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and following too closely. The taxi was traveling east and struck the bike with its left front bumper, while the bike was also moving east and impacted with its right front bumper. The bicyclist was not ejected and suffered minor bleeding. No other occupants were involved. The police report identifies the taxi driver’s failure to yield as a key contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 19 - Two sedans slammed together on Avenue of the Americas. Both drivers ignored traffic control. A 66-year-old front passenger took the hit, suffering arm and hand injuries. Metal twisted. The city kept moving.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Avenue of the Americas at Washington Place in Manhattan. Both drivers disregarded traffic control devices, leading to the crash. The impact struck the right front of both vehicles. A 66-year-old male front passenger was injured, suffering abrasions and trauma to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary driver error for both drivers. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647073 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - Cops seized mopeds from Brooklyn delivery workers. Police claim safety, but data show cars and trucks cause most harm. App companies profit. Immigrant workers pay. Advocates say crackdowns punish the vulnerable, not the reckless. The city misses the real threat.

On July 14, 2023, NYPD officers from Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct seized illegal mopeds from delivery workers outside fast-food chains. The enforcement action follows years of crackdowns dating back to Mayor Bloomberg, ramped up under Mayor de Blasio. Police say the seizures make streets safer, but city crash data show cars and trucks—not e-bikes or mopeds—cause most pedestrian injuries. Delivery worker Roziev Akmal warned, 'Livelihoods will be ruined because of the seizure.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project called it 'another example where you see deliveristas being economically impacted.' State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Council Member Gale Brewer cited constituent complaints, but advocates and legal experts argue enforcement targets workers, not the root causes. The crackdown leaves low-paid, mostly immigrant workers exposed to fines, lost income, and road danger, while app companies escape responsibility.

• Latest Cop Crackdown on Deliveristas Misses the Point: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-14

Jul 8 - A pickup truck struck parked cars on Washington Street. A 31-year-old man was thrown partway from an SUV. He died at the scene. Police cite driver distraction. The street was quiet. Metal twisted. The man did not move.

A pickup truck veered into parked vehicles near 712 Washington Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 31-year-old man was partially ejected from a parked SUV and died beside the vehicle's crushed front. The report states: 'Near 712 Washington Street, a pickup veered into parked cars. A 31-year-old man was thrown partway from the SUV. He died beside its crushed front. The cause: distraction.' The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other errors or factors are cited in the data. The man was not blamed in the report. The crash left the street still and silent, marked by the violence of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - SUV hit stopped sedan from behind on Christopher Street. Sedan driver, 39, suffered head injury and whiplash. Police cite driver distraction. Impact crushed sedan’s rear. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old man driving a sedan was stopped in traffic on Christopher Street when an SUV traveling west struck the sedan’s center back end. The sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The report lists Driver Inattention/Distraction as the contributing factor. The SUV’s front and the sedan’s rear were damaged. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642032 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - Paris rips out parking. Sidewalks widen. Intersections clear. Mayor Anne Hidalgo puts pedestrians first. No crackdown on e-bikes. Cars, not cyclists, face the squeeze. Advocates say New York should follow. Fewer cars, more space for people. The numbers demand it.

""Hoylman-Sigal did say that banning privately owned e-bikes was 'going too far,' the paper reported, but he also did not focus the safety concerns on drivers and on the city's failure to widen sidewalks, create new micromobility lanes or daylight intersections."" -- Brad Hoylman-Sigal

On June 30, 2023, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced a sweeping policy shift: the new 'Street Code.' The plan, described as giving 'absolute priority for pedestrians,' will remove 70,000 parking spaces by 2026, daylight all intersections, widen sidewalks, and expand bike lanes. Hidalgo rejects harsh measures against e-bikes, focusing instead on reducing car dominance and discouraging SUVs through progressive parking fees. Council Member Gale A. Brewer, District 6, is mentioned in the context of New York’s contrasting approach, where enforcement often targets e-bikes rather than cars. Advocates highlight that cars and trucks cause most pedestrian injuries and deaths. They urge New York to emulate Paris—reclaiming street space from cars, not blaming micromobility. The data is clear: fewer cars mean safer streets for all.

• Paris Mayor Enters Fray Between E-Bikes and Pedestrians — By Fighting Drivers, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-30

Jun 22 - Albany keeps the keys. The Assembly refused to vote on Sammy’s Law. The city stays locked out of lowering its own speed limits. Advocates rage. Another year, another failure. Streets remain fast. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay exposed.

Sammy’s Law, blocked again. The bill—named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a van at age 12—would let New York City set its own speed limits, dropping the default to 20 mph and some streets to 10 mph. The Senate passed it 55-7, but the Assembly ended its June 22, 2023 session without a vote. Assembly sponsor Linda Rosenthal said, 'We just can't be deterred.' Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal called the failure 'heartbreaking.' Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring it to the floor. Advocates say the city’s hands are tied while deaths and injuries mount. The Council and Mayor Adams support the bill. For the third year, Albany blocks local control. Streets stay dangerous. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Sammy’s Law advocates angry after push to give NYC power over its speed limit fails in Assembly, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-22

Jun 20 - A 38-year-old woman was injured while getting on a taxi in Manhattan. The taxi struck her on the left rear quarter panel. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was inattentive.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old female pedestrian was injured while getting on a taxi in Manhattan near Gansevoort Street. The taxi, traveling west and going straight ahead, struck her on the left rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. No damage was reported to the taxi. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered a bruise but was not ejected. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639603 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - A sedan hit a 31-year-old man walking near Christopher Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered facial abrasions. The driver was traveling west, struck the pedestrian with the vehicle’s front center. Alcohol was involved in the crash.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a sedan traveling west near 95 Christopher Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to his face. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The sedan’s point of impact was the center front end, indicating the driver failed to avoid the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead at the time. No other contributing factors were specified. The pedestrian’s actions are unknown, and no safety equipment or signals were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by impaired driving in areas with pedestrian activity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639033 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - Sammy’s Law hit a wall in Albany. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly. Advocates and families mourn another delay. Streets stay fast. Vulnerable lives remain at risk.

Sammy’s Law, a bill to let New York City set and lower its speed limits, stalled in the Assembly on June 19, 2023. The bill passed the state Senate but did not reach a vote in the Assembly, blocked by Speaker Carl Heastie and opposition from outerborough members. The City Council, including Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, supported the measure with a home rule message. The bill’s summary: 'allow New York City to set speed limits as low as 10 mph on some streets and 20 mph citywide.' Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill in the Assembly. Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams both backed it. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal called it 'common sense.' Advocates, including Amy Cohen, mother of the bill’s namesake, vow to keep fighting. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill’s failure leaves city streets unchanged and vulnerable road users exposed.

• Sammy’s Law bill to let NYC set speed limit falters, supporters hoping special Assembly session will finally push it through, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-19

Jun 17 - A man crossing a marked crosswalk was struck by a sedan backing north on Downing Street. The driver was inattentive and backed unsafely. The pedestrian suffered a shoulder contusion and bruise. The vehicle showed no damage. The victim remained conscious.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured while crossing a marked crosswalk on Downing Street. The sedan, traveling north, was backing when it struck the pedestrian. The report lists driver errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Backing Unsafely." The pedestrian sustained an upper arm and shoulder contusion and bruise but remained conscious. The vehicle, a 2018 Ford sedan, showed no damage. The pedestrian was not at fault; the crash resulted from the driver's failure to maintain attention and safe backing practices.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639028 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19