No More Blood on Canal Street: Demand Safer Roads Now

Jul 19 - A stolen car vaulted off the Manhattan Bridge, crushed a woman on a bench, hurled a cyclist into a storefront. The driver and passenger fled on foot. Police caught them a block away.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-19), a 23-year-old woman driving a stolen Chevrolet Malibu lost control exiting the Manhattan Bridge, slamming into a Chinatown pedestrian island at Bowery and Canal. The crash killed May Kwok, 63, who was sitting on a bench, and a 55-year-old cyclist. Witnesses described the scene as 'crumpled...like a piece of tinfoil.' The driver and passenger tried to flee but were stopped by bystanders and arrested nearby. The article highlights the deadly risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of people on city streets.

• Stolen Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-19

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 2025-12-14

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 2025-12-14

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 2025-12-14

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 2025-12-14

Jun 20 - A bronze Toyota struck a parked black Ford in Manhattan. The driver, a young woman, was cuffed by a security investigator. Tension flared. The arrest was later voided. No injuries reported. The incident drew scrutiny and sparked internal review.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-20), a young woman driving a bronze Toyota collided with a parked black Ford Expedition belonging to New York Attorney General Letitia James’ security detail. Video shows the vehicles touching in a V shape. Investigator Nelson Yu, a retired NYPD detective, confronted the woman, demanding identification and handcuffing her after she failed to produce ID. Yu ordered, 'Get out of the car and show some ID,' and later, 'Get in the car! You're not going anywhere!' The woman was placed in the back seat of Yu’s vehicle. The arrest was later voided. The Attorney General’s office stated, 'OAG is investigating this matter internally and will not have further comment at this time.' The incident highlights the risks of parked vehicles and the escalation that can follow minor collisions, especially when law enforcement is involved.

• Security Detail Cuffs Woman After Crash, New York Post, Published 2025-06-20

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 2025-12-14

Jun 19 - Shops still soup up e-bikes. City leaders talk of a 15 MPH cap. State law stands in the way. Critics slam the plan as toothless or unfair. Enforcement remains unclear. Riders and pedestrians face the same old risks.

West Side Spirit reported on June 19, 2025, that New York City is considering a 15 MPH speed limit for e-bikes, but implementation faces legal and bureaucratic delays. Mayor Eric Adams said, "there’s going to be a whole rule making process to make sure that we comply and follow the laws." Critics argue the plan singles out e-bikes while ignoring faster, heavier vehicles. Ben Furans of Transportation Alternatives called it "half-baked and ill-conceived," noting that "bikes and cars sharing the same road would be subject to different speed limits and consequences." Janet Schroeder of the E-Bike Safety Alliance doubts the rule will matter without real enforcement. The NYPD already issues thousands of criminal summonses to cyclists for minor violations, raising questions about fair and effective policy. No new enforcement methods or crash data were cited.

• City Floats 15 MPH E-Bike Limit, West Side Spirit, 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 2025-12-14

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 2025-12-14

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 2025-12-14

Jun 15 - Buses crawl. Riders wait. The city weighs a busway on 34th Street. Some cheer for faster trips and safer crossings. Others fear cars will flood side streets. The board backs the plan. The street waits for change.

West Side Spirit reported on June 15, 2025, that the NYC Department of Transportation’s plan to convert 34th Street into a busway drew mixed reactions at a Community Board 6 meeting. The board voted 31-5 in favor. Supporters called current bus speeds 'painfully slow' and urged the city to 'prioritize pedestrians and transit users.' Critics worried about diverted car traffic clogging residential streets, with one resident calling for a 'traffic study' and 'action plan.' The DOT says the busway could boost bus speeds by 15 percent. The proposal would force cars to exit 34th Street quickly or face tickets, echoing rules on 14th Street. The debate highlights the tension between transit improvements and neighborhood traffic concerns.

• 34th Street Busway Sparks Debate, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-15

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

Jun 13 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 12 - A box truck turned into a cyclist on Madison Street. The cyclist suffered a leg injury. Police cite improper turning and driver inexperience. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed busy. The cyclist bled.

A box truck and a cyclist collided on Madison Street near Catherine Street in Manhattan. The 55-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering a contusion and lower leg trauma. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The truck driver was licensed and uninjured. The cyclist was conscious but hurt. The police report lists no helmet or signaling issues. The truck had no visible damage. The crash underscores the danger when large vehicles turn into the path of vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821627 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-14