No More Blood on Canal Street: Demand Safer Roads Now

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 23 - Tolls still hang over Third Avenue. Deadlines pass. Courts hold the answer. Fewer cars enter Manhattan. Millions flow to transit. The fight is bureaucratic, not on the street. Riders wait. The city’s pulse slows, but the outcome is uncertain.

West Side Spirit reported on May 23, 2025, that New York’s congestion pricing tolls remain in place despite three missed federal deadlines to remove them. The article details a standoff between the MTA, New York State, and U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who demands the tolls be taken down, threatening to withhold highway funds. The MTA argues the legality of the tolls and seeks a court injunction, stating, 'congestion pricing is legal and proper.' The system, operational since January 2025, has reduced daily vehicle entries into Manhattan’s core by 76,000 in April and raised $159 million in the first quarter. The dispute highlights tensions over funding priorities and the impact on lower-income drivers, but the courts, not drivers or pedestrians, will decide the fate of the tolls.

• Congestion Pricing Tolls Face Legal Showdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-23

May 21 - A car passed too close on Henry Street. The right front bumper hit a woman working in the road. She suffered back injuries and shock. The street saw danger. The system failed to protect her.

A 33-year-old woman was injured on Henry Street in Manhattan when a vehicle passed too closely and struck her with its right front bumper. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Passing Too Closely.' The pedestrian was working in the roadway and suffered back injuries and shock. No other contributing factors were listed. The crash highlights the danger faced by people working on city streets when drivers fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 21 - Fifth Avenue will change. Wider sidewalks. Shorter crossings. More trees. The city pours $400 million into a stretch from Bryant Park to Central Park. Construction waits until 2028. The street will shift for people, not cars.

CBS New York reported on May 21, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams announced a $400 million investment to redesign Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park. The plan, called 'The Future of Fifth,' will double sidewalk space, shorten crosswalks, and add over 230 tree planters. Adams said, 'We're making Fifth Avenue more walkable, greener and safer.' The project aims to address sidewalk congestion and improve safety for pedestrians. City Councilmember Keith Powers noted, 'you can feel congestion on the sidewalks.' Construction is set to begin in 2028. The redesign signals a shift in city policy, prioritizing vulnerable road users and reclaiming space from cars.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-21

May 20 - A Mexican navy training ship slammed backward into the Brooklyn Bridge. Two cadets died. Nineteen were hurt. The ship carried 277 crew. Investigators found no hull breach. The cause of the sudden reverse remains unknown. Repairs are underway.

According to ABC7 (published May 20, 2025), the Mexican navy training vessel Cuauhtémoc struck the Brooklyn Bridge after accelerating in reverse, killing two cadets and injuring nineteen. The ship, carrying 277 sailors and officers, had just left South Street Seaport when it unexpectedly backed into the bridge at 6.1 knots. NTSB investigators boarded the vessel three days later, seeking to determine why the ship moved backward instead of forward. 'We are not determining a probable cause, and we're not going to speculate,' said NTSB Board Member Michael Graham. Ship tracking data and weather conditions raised questions about mechanical or operational errors. No hull damage was found that would prevent moving the vessel. The incident highlights the risks of large vessel navigation near city infrastructure and the need for thorough investigation into mechanical and procedural safeguards.

• Mexican Navy Ship Backs Into Brooklyn Bridge, ABC7, Published 2025-05-20

May 18 - A tall ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge. The mast hit hard. Four passengers now fight for life. Nineteen hurt. Lights died. Harnessed sailors thrown. The river churned. The bridge stood. The vessel drifted, battered and silent.

According to amny (published May 18, 2025), a Mexican naval tall ship, the Cuauhtémoc, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge while sailing the East River on May 17. The mast struck the bridge near the walkway, injuring at least 19 people, with four in critical condition. Eyewitness Jack Cassidy described, 'As it came up to the bridge, it hit the bridge, around the walkway side, and just collapsed. All the lights went off.' The ship carried 277 passengers. Officials later confirmed no one fell into the water. The incident raises questions about navigation protocols and clearance for large vessels under city bridges, especially during major public events.

• Tall Ship Slams Brooklyn Bridge Walkway, amny, Published 2025-05-18

May 17 - A driver turned right on Canal. An in-line skater, crossing with the signal, was struck and bruised. The skater was conscious, hurt in the arm. No vehicle damage. Danger at the intersection remains.

A 20-year-old woman, in-line skating and crossing Canal Street with the signal, was struck by a southbound vehicle making a right turn onto Baxter Street. According to the police report, she suffered a contusion to her arm but remained conscious. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No vehicle damage was recorded. The skater was in the intersection, following the signal, when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 17 - Police ticket cyclists for crossing with the walk signal. The law allows it. Officers ignore the rule. Riders get criminal summonses. The city’s own code is clear. Bikers move with pedestrians. Enforcement lags behind the law. Riders pay the price.

West Side Spirit (May 17, 2025) reports that Oliver Casey Esparza filed a class-action lawsuit against the NYPD and city officials. He claims police issue red-light summonses to cyclists who cross intersections with the white pedestrian walk signal, despite a 2019 law permitting this. The article quotes Transportation Alternatives: “That 5-7 second head start can mean the difference between being hit by a turning car and being seen by a turning car.” Esparza says officers ignore the rule, issuing criminal summonses instead of traffic tickets. The suit highlights a gap between city policy and street enforcement, raising questions about NYPD training and the city’s commitment to safe cycling.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red-Light Tickets, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-17

May 14 - Two SUVs struck on Canal and Allen. One driver hurt, shoulder and arm. Others shaken. Metal and glass. No clear cause. Streets stay dangerous.

Two SUVs collided at Canal Street and Allen Street in Manhattan. One driver, age 47, suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury and reported whiplash. Others in both vehicles were listed as occupants or passengers, with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the crash involved a parked SUV and another making a right turn. No contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the report. The data lists no pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The report notes lap belts for some occupants, but does not cite safety equipment as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 14 - A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

May 8 - Two SUVs crashed on the Manhattan Bridge Lower. Driver distraction led to impact. Two men injured. Metal twisted. Sirens echoed. Pain and shock followed in the night.

Two station wagons collided on the Manhattan Bridge Lower level. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred. Two men, ages 38 and 75, suffered injuries. The 38-year-old driver reported arm pain and shock. The 75-year-old, riding outside a vehicle, was semiconscious with fractures and dislocations. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. No other causes were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811799 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 5 - Four vehicles jammed up on Manhattan Bridge. Two drivers suffered neck injuries. Metal crumpled. Traffic stopped. No clear cause. The city’s danger, laid bare in steel and pain.

A crash involving four vehicles—three SUVs and a sedan—occurred on the Manhattan Bridge upper roadway. According to the police report, two drivers, a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, sustained neck injuries and whiplash. Several other occupants, including a passenger and a child, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' Multiple vehicles were stopped in traffic when the collision happened. No driver errors were identified in the data. The incident highlights the risk and violence of multi-car pileups on city bridges.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810643 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 4 - Three dead in two weeks. Cyclist crushed in Soho. Pedestrian killed crossing Woodhaven. Another cyclist struck by fire truck in Queens. Protected lanes grow, but streets remain perilous. City claims progress. The toll mounts. The danger persists.

amNY reported on May 4, 2025, that a surge in deadly collisions has struck New York City as spring brings more cyclists and pedestrians to the streets. On May 1, a cyclist died after hitting a van's open door and being thrown under a truck at Broome and Centre Streets. On April 25, a motorcyclist struck and killed Breanna Henderson as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard. On April 19, a fire truck responding to an emergency collided with a cyclist, who died at the scene. The article notes, 'each of which is under investigation by the NYPD.' The city’s Department of Transportation points to expanded protected bike lanes—87.5 miles added in three years—and new barriers, but the recent deaths highlight ongoing systemic risks for vulnerable road users.

• Spring Collisions Expose Street Dangers, amny, Published 2025-05-04

May 3 - Taxi and sedan collided on FDR Drive. Improper lane use sent two men and a woman to the hospital. Passenger suffered neck and internal injuries. Crash cut through the morning calm.

A taxi and a sedan crashed on FDR Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' A 30-year-old female passenger in the taxi suffered neck and internal injuries. Two men, ages 42, were also injured. Both vehicles were traveling north and going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists improper lane usage as the primary contributing factor. No other causes are cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810794 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 2 - A sedan hit a 17-year-old cyclist on Bowery at Grand. The teen suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver distraction. The street stayed open. Metal met flesh. The city moved on.

A sedan traveling north on Bowery collided with a 17-year-old cyclist heading east at Grand Street. The cyclist, a teenage girl, was injured in her knee and lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The driver of the sedan was a 68-year-old man. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the risk faced by cyclists when drivers lose focus, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809914 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15

May 1 - SUV and limo collided on Bowery at Canal. Two drivers hurt. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass, pain and blood. The city’s danger, again laid bare.

Two vehicles, a station wagon SUV and a limo, collided at Bowery and Canal Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both drivers were injured—one suffered head wounds with minor bleeding, the other reported chest pain and nausea. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the risks faced by vehicle occupants when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-12-15