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

Jun 8 - City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

May 31 - A van turned left on Avenue C. A sedan drove straight on Houston. The sedan hit the van’s front. One driver suffered a shoulder injury. Others escaped with minor or no injuries. Failure to yield caused the crash. Steel met flesh. Pain followed.

Two vehicles collided at East Houston Street and Avenue C in Manhattan. According to the police report, a van was making a left turn while a sedan traveled straight ahead. The sedan struck the van’s front. One driver, a 37-year-old man, suffered a shoulder injury and reported pain and shock. Others involved, including another driver and passengers, had minor or unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or helmet or signal issues are noted in the data. The crash highlights the danger when vehicles fail to yield during turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816709 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 30 - An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for seniors. More elders could ride. Streets may see more slow, unprotected cyclists. Danger from cars remains. Bill sits in committee. No safety fixes for traffic threats.

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,' requires the Department of Transportation to set lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The measure aims to boost senior cycling but does not address street safety or car violence. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025.

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

May 28 - Council pushes bill for cheaper bike share for New Yorkers over 65. More seniors could ride. The city’s streets may see older cyclists in the mix. The committee now holds the bill.

Bill Int 1288-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 28, 2025, and re-referred June 4, it mandates a discounted bike share rate for seniors 65 and older. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.” Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, and Menin. The Department of Transportation would require bike share operators to offer this rate. No safety analyst note was provided.

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

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 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 seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

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

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 27 - A judge stopped federal threats to choke city funds over congestion pricing. The $9 toll stands. Streets stay crowded. The fight moves to court. Safety projects hang in the balance. The city waits. The deadline looms.

Patch reported on May 27, 2025, that District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding federal funding as leverage against New York City's congestion pricing program. The judge's order 'bars the DOT from engaging in any retaliatory measures' and prevents cancellation of the toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Federal officials had threatened to withhold funds for road and street safety projects if the city continued the program. The order lasts until June 9, keeping the toll in place and leaving critical infrastructure funding uncertain. The article highlights the standoff between federal authorities and city leaders, with safety and mobility projects at risk.

• Judge Halts Federal Attack On Tolls, Patch, Published 2025-05-27

May 25 - A taxi slammed into a sedan’s rear on the Williamsburg Bridge Outer Roadway. A three-year-old passenger was hurt. Metal crumpled. Shock followed. The crash left one child injured and others shaken. Police listed no clear cause. The danger remains.

A crash occurred on the Williamsburg Bridge Outer Roadway involving a taxi and a sedan. According to the police report, the taxi struck the center back end of the sedan while both vehicles were traveling west. Seven people were involved. A three-year-old girl riding in the left rear seat of the sedan suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock. Other occupants, including both drivers and several adult passengers, were listed with unspecified injuries or no visible complaints. The police report did not specify any contributing factors or driver errors. The impact was severe enough to damage the front of the taxi and the rear of the sedan. No mention was made of helmet or signal use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 21 - City will rip up Fifth Avenue. Sidewalks will double. Lanes for cars will shrink. Trees, benches, and light will fill the space. Pedestrians, long squeezed, will finally get room to breathe. The city bets big on feet, not fenders.

amNY reported on May 21, 2025, that New York City will begin a $400 million redesign of Fifth Avenue in 2028, stretching from Bryant Park to Central Park. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Fifth Avenue is a bustling boulevard... with more people walking down the street every hour than fill Madison Square Garden during a sold-out Knicks game.' The plan nearly doubles sidewalk widths and expands pedestrian zones, cutting space for vehicles. The redesign adds tree buffers, benches, and stormwater upgrades. Pedestrians make up 70% of avenue traffic but have less than half the space. The overhaul shifts priority from cars to people, aiming to reduce systemic danger and reclaim the street for those on foot.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-21

May 19 - An SUV hit a cyclist and a pedestrian at Houston and Avenue C. Both men suffered bruises. The cyclist was ejected. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. Streets ran red with pain.

A crash on East Houston Street at Avenue C in Manhattan left a 28-year-old cyclist and a 27-year-old pedestrian injured. According to the police report, the SUV was going straight while the cyclist made a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection. Both the cyclist and pedestrian suffered contusions. The cyclist was ejected and hit his head. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - A GMC SUV struck a 46-year-old man at Clinton and Delancey. The pedestrian suffered a chest contusion. The crash left him conscious but bruised. Impact came from the SUV’s front end.

A GMC SUV traveling west struck a 46-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection of Clinton Street and Delancey Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured in the chest and remained conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle’s center front end made contact. No driver errors were specified in the data. The pedestrian was at the intersection when hit and suffered a contusion. No further details on vehicle type or driver actions were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - A Mexican Navy ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge. Two crew died. Over twenty were hurt. The mast snapped. Crew dangled from ropes. The ship lost power and drifted. Federal investigators are probing tugboat actions and safety procedures.

Gothamist reported on May 19, 2025, that a Mexican Navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two crew and injuring more than twenty. The vessel, Cuauhtémoc, departed Pier 17 with tugboat assistance and struck the bridge less than five minutes later. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, focusing on the tugboat's role and operational protocols. 'Part of our investigation will be to look into the tugboat's policies and procedures,' said NTSB investigator Brian Young. The ship reportedly lost power and drifted into the bridge. Videos showed crew members harnessed to the masts at impact. The incident raises questions about vessel departure procedures, communication, and oversight in busy city waterways.

• Brooklyn Bridge Ship Collision Kills Two, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-19

May 18 - Steel and wood cracked. Masts snapped. Sailors clung to rigging, high above the East River. Two died. Seventeen hurt. The ship drifted, out of control, after a mechanical failure. Chaos on deck. Heavy traffic above. The bridge stood. Lives did not.

According to the New York Post (May 18, 2025), a Mexican navy training ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge after an apparent mechanical failure. The vessel, Cuauhtémoc, was leaving New York with 277 aboard when its three 147-foot masts hit the bridge and broke. Video captured the moment: 'The sound when the masts hit the bridge sounded like the loud snapping of a big twig,' said witness Nick Corso. Two sailors died and 17 were injured, most critically those on the masts. Emergency crews responded quickly. Mayor Eric Adams stated, 'We are praying for everyone on board and their families.' The bridge was inspected and reopened. The incident highlights the dangers of mechanical failure and the vulnerability of those working above deck amid city infrastructure.

• Tall Ship Slams Brooklyn Bridge, Two Dead, New York Post, Published 2025-05-18

May 17 - Taxi hit a parked SUV on Stanton Street. One driver suffered back injury. Police list all factors as unspecified. Night, metal, pain, and shock. System failed to protect.

A taxi collided with a parked SUV at 161 Stanton Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, a 42-year-old male driver suffered a back injury and was in shock. The SUV was parked; the taxi was passing. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. No mention of helmet or signal use. The crash left one person hurt and exposed the ongoing risk to road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814558 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 17 - A cyclist riding south on Chrystie Street struck a vehicle and suffered arm injuries. The crash left the rider bruised and partially ejected. No driver errors were listed in the report.

A 43-year-old male cyclist was injured on Chrystie Street at East Houston Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling south when he collided with a vehicle going east. The cyclist was partially ejected and sustained a contusion to his arm. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded. No information was provided about helmet use or signaling. The crash underscores the risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815333 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

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