Blood on the Crosswalks: How Many More Must Die Before They Act?

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program." Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

A 47-year-old man was hit at East Houston and Ludlow. He suffered back injuries and shock. Pain and nausea followed. No driver errors listed. The street remains dangerous for those on foot.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of East Houston Street and Ludlow Street in Manhattan at 1:30 p.m. The man suffered back injuries and was in shock, reporting pain and nausea. The report does not specify the type of vehicle involved or any driver actions. No contributing factors, such as failure to yield or driver error, are listed. No victim behavior is cited as a cause. The absence of vehicle and driver details highlights gaps in crash reporting and the persistent risks faced by pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729674 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

A sedan turned left on East Houston. It struck an 18-year-old pedestrian in the crosswalk. The young man suffered bruises and arm injuries. The car showed no damage. The street left the pedestrian hurt.

According to the police report, a 2013 Ford sedan made a left turn at East Houston Street and Chrystie Street in Manhattan at 13:03. The sedan struck an 18-year-old male pedestrian in the intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal. He suffered a contusion and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for the sedan. The vehicle showed no damage, though the impact was at the right front quarter panel. The crash highlights the risk pedestrians face from turning vehicles at busy crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726850 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a cyclist on Pitt Street. The rider, 61, took abrasions to his arm. Both moved north. Metal met flesh. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 2019 Jeep sedan and a bicycle, both heading north on Pitt Street near Delancey Street, collided at their right side doors. The 61-year-old male cyclist suffered abrasions to his shoulder and upper arm but stayed conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist. No driver errors or violations are detailed. No helmet or signal use is noted as a factor. The crash shows the risk cyclists face when cars and bikes share tight city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726936 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on FDR Drive. A 20-year-old passenger suffered arm abrasions. Police cited improper turning and failure to yield. The crash left the passenger hurt and exposed the danger of driver error.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on FDR Drive at 1:14 a.m. One driver was changing lanes, the other going straight. The crash struck the left front bumper of one car and the right front of the other. Police listed 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. A 20-year-old female front passenger was injured, suffering abrasions and an elbow-lower-arm-hand injury. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Driver errors—improper turning and failure to yield—were central to this crash, exposing systemic risk on this Manhattan highway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717601 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council targets hidden plates. Bill makes it a crime to park, stop, or drive with covered tags. Fines reach $1,000. Jail time possible. Committee weighs action. Streets demand accountability.

Int 0766-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 11, 2024. The bill reads: “prohibiting the parking, standing, stopping, or operation of a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates.” Council Member Oswald Feliz leads, joined by Holden, Bottcher, Gennaro, Marte, Restler, Ung, and Paladino. The bill sets fines up to $1,000 and possible jail for violators. Each offense is a misdemeanor. The council aims to strip cover for reckless drivers, making it harder to dodge tickets and accountability. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear: end the shield for lawless driving.

• File Int 0766-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A 34-year-old bicyclist suffered a back injury and shock after a collision with an unlicensed SUV driver in Manhattan. The SUV was parked before impact; no vehicle damage was reported. The bicyclist was not ejected and wore no safety equipment.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Manhattan near Pitt Street at 16:10. The collision involved a 2011 Honda SUV and a bicyclist traveling northbound. The SUV driver was unlicensed and had been parked prior to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the bike. The bicyclist, a 34-year-old male, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from his bike. The SUV sustained no damage. The report lists the SUV driver's license status as unlicensed, indicating a critical driver error. The bicyclist's contributing factors are unspecified, and no safety equipment was used. The data highlights systemic danger posed by unlicensed drivers operating vehicles in the city.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714064 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

A 75-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a sedan on East Houston Street. The cyclist was not ejected and experienced shock. The sedan struck the bike’s left rear quarter panel with no reported vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 5:20 AM on East Houston Street in Manhattan involving a sedan and a bicycle. The bicyclist, a 75-year-old male, was injured with contusions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of the sedan, which sustained no damage. The bicyclist was riding straight ahead southwest and was not ejected from the bike. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not identify any driver errors or contributing factors related to the sedan driver. There is no mention of helmet use or crossing signals as contributing factors. The data highlights a collision involving a vulnerable road user and a motor vehicle with unclear driver fault but serious injury to the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712390 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Two sedans traveling north collided on Norfolk Street in Manhattan. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both drivers were licensed women going straight ahead.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Norfolk Street in Manhattan collided at 8:00 PM. The rear sedan struck the center back end of the front sedan, which sustained damage to its center front end. The driver of the rear vehicle, a 23-year-old woman, was injured with contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors to the crash. Both drivers were licensed women from New York, traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 33-year-old female passenger suffered a head contusion during a lane change on a slippery FDR Drive. The SUV’s front center impacted, causing injury despite no ejection. Slippery pavement contributed to the crash, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:50 on FDR Drive involving a 2021 Toyota SUV traveling south. The driver, a licensed male, was changing lanes when the vehicle's center front end impacted, resulting in injury to a 33-year-old female passenger seated in the middle rear seat. The passenger sustained a head contusion and was conscious but injured. The report identifies 'Pavement Slippery' as the primary contributing factor, cited twice, indicating hazardous road conditions played a critical role. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted beyond the lane change maneuver. The passenger was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by slippery pavement during lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707699 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Three sedans collided mid-turn on FDR Drive. Metal shrieked. A 57-year-old man crushed at the wheel. A six-year-old girl pinned in the back seat, neck injured, crying. Southbound traffic surged past. No one stopped. Systemic failure echoed in steel.

According to the police report, three sedans crashed near FDR Drive and Delancey Street during a right turn. The report states, 'Three sedans slammed mid-turn. A man, 57, crushed at the wheel. A 6-year-old girl pinned in the back seat, neck hurt, crying.' Both the man and the child suffered crush injuries, with the girl sustaining neck trauma. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. These driver errors—improper turning and tailgating—created a chain reaction that left two people injured. The report notes that southbound traffic continued moving and no one stopped. The focus remains on the hazardous driver behaviors and the systemic dangers present at this Manhattan intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707032 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04