No More Blood on Canal Street: Demand Safer Roads Now

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 - 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 10 - The driver of an SUV hit the rear of a stopped box truck at 125 Canal Street. A 41-year-old woman driving the SUV suffered a bruised elbow and arm. Police cited defective brakes and driver inexperience.

At 2:55 p.m. at 125 Canal Street in Manhattan, the driver of a Tesla SUV struck the center back end of a stopped box truck while traveling northwest. A 41-year-old woman driving the SUV was injured, recorded as a contusion (bruise) to the elbow/lower arm/hand. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Brakes Defective" and "Driver Inexperience." The report records the SUV's point of impact as center front end and the truck's as center back end; the truck was stopped in traffic and the SUV was going straight ahead. The report also notes the SUV's air bag deployed and a lap belt was used.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 4 - SUV and sedan collided on Chrystie near Canal. Two occupants hurt. Police cite improper turning. Metal struck metal. Passengers bore the force.

Two vehicles, an SUV and a sedan, crashed on Chrystie Street at Canal Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Two people were injured: a 38-year-old front passenger suffered hip and leg injuries, and a 55-year-old driver sustained back injuries. Both were conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or actions by the injured are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 25 - Sedan struck a pick-up truck’s rear on Canal. Three people hurt. Neck, head, back injuries. Metal and glass. Manhattan evening. No clear cause. Police list factors as unspecified.

A sedan crashed into the back of a pick-up truck on Canal Street in Manhattan. Three people were injured: a 28-year-old woman with neck injuries, a 47-year-old man with head trauma, and a 33-year-old man with back injuries. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling east when the sedan hit the truck’s center rear. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are identified in the data. Safety equipment use is noted for some occupants but not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823676 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - A sedan hit a nine-year-old on a standing scooter at Cherry Street and Market Slip. The child suffered chest injuries. Police cite driver inexperience. The street stayed busy. The system failed the vulnerable.

A sedan traveling north on Cherry Street struck a nine-year-old boy riding a standing scooter at Market Slip in Manhattan. The child, listed as 'Other Motorized' and 'Driver,' suffered chest injuries and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. No other injuries were specified for the sedan occupants. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The collision highlights the risk faced by vulnerable road users when driver errors occur.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822712 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - SUV hit sedan from behind on FDR Drive. Three hurt. Police cite unsafe speed and tailgating. Head injury, shock, whiplash. Metal twisted. Night air thick with sirens.

An SUV struck a sedan from behind on FDR Drive in Manhattan. Three occupants were injured, including a 29-year-old driver who suffered a head injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely' caused the crash. The SUV's left front bumper hit the sedan's left rear bumper. No mention of helmet or signal use. The crash left metal bent and people hurt, all due to driver errors listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - A cyclist swerved to avoid a pedestrian in Central Park. He fell. His head struck the curb. He died at the hospital. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. The crash happened at a crosswalk near 96th Street. The case is under investigation.

ABC7 reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian while riding an e-bike in Central Park. According to police, Nico-Garcia swerved to avoid a 41-year-old pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk near 96th Street and East Drive. He fell, struck his head on the curb, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. The pedestrian sustained minor abrasions. ABC7 notes, 'Officials say Nico-Garcia was on an e-bike and was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown.' New York City does not require cyclists over 14 to wear helmets. In Central Park, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. The incident remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing risks at crosswalks and the lack of helmet mandates for adult cyclists.

• Cyclist Killed Dodging Pedestrian In Park, ABC7, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 18 - A sedan hit a 77-year-old woman crossing with the signal at E Broadway. She suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield.

A 77-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing E Broadway in Manhattan. She was crossing with the signal and suffered a head injury. According to the police report, the driver was making a U-turn and failed to yield the right-of-way. Driver inattention and distraction were also cited as contributing factors. The report lists no injuries for the driver or passenger. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The crash highlights the danger posed by driver error at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 18 - Waymo will test robotaxis on New York streets. Human drivers will control the cars. State law blocks full autonomy. Officials stress safety. Waymo pushes for legal change. The city weighs risk. Streets wait for the next move.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Waymo will soon test its driverless taxi technology in New York City. The vehicles will not operate autonomously; human drivers will remain behind the wheel, as state law forbids fully driverless cars. Waymo is lobbying for a law change to allow autonomous operation, but the effort has stalled in the State Assembly. Mayoral spokeswoman Sophia Askari said, "Public safety is our first priority, which is why we have strong guardrails and requirements in place on any sort of autonomous vehicles." The city’s Department of Transportation is reviewing Waymo’s permit application, the first under the new Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration or Testing Permit Program. The article highlights the tension between technological ambition and regulatory caution, with policy decisions pending and no driverless operation allowed yet.

• Waymo Robotaxis Begin NYC Street Tests, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - A cyclist struck a 67-year-old man on Hester Street. The man suffered a fractured back. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard. The street stayed busy. The pain stayed sharp.

A cyclist traveling west on Hester Street struck a 67-year-old pedestrian, causing a fractured back and dislocation. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of impact. The report lists no damage to the bike. The man remained conscious after the crash. The data highlights driver inattention and failure to obey traffic controls as key factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822707 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 15 - A sedan slammed into a parked SUV on FDR Drive. Two men suffered neck injuries. Police cite unsafe speed. The crash left shock and pain in its wake. Metal twisted. Lives jarred. The road stayed open. The danger stayed real.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on FDR Drive collided with the center back end of a parked SUV. The impact injured two men: a 46-year-old SUV driver and a 51-year-old front passenger, both suffering neck injuries and shock. The sedan's front end was damaged. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted in the report. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Helmet use and turn signals are not mentioned as factors. The crash underscores the risk that speed brings to everyone on the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820423 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-13