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

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 police cruiser swerved from a taxi and slammed into two people eating outside. Sirens screamed. Metal struck flesh. Both diners and officers landed in the hospital. The street stayed open. The city kept moving. The system failed the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (May 27, 2025), an NYPD squad car struck two people seated at an outdoor dining area on Broadway and West 112th Street. The crash happened when a taxi made a left turn, prompting the police car to swerve. The article states, “The 37-year-old cab driver was given a summons for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.” Both diners and police vehicle occupants were hospitalized in stable condition. The report notes, “It was not immediately clear if authorities were responding to a call when the incident unfolded.” The incident highlights risks at curbside dining areas and ongoing dangers from driver error and street design. The investigation continues.

• Police Car Hits Diners In Manhattan Crash, New York Post, 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 2025-11-03

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 - 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 20 - City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20

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 2025-11-03

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 2025-11-03

May 18 - A Mexican navy tall ship lost power and smashed its masts into the Brooklyn Bridge. Nineteen people hurt. Screams echoed. Sailors dangled from broken rigging. Police boats rushed in. The ship drifted, helpless, under the city’s iron span.

According to the New York Post (May 18, 2025), the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge after losing power and drifting in reverse. The vessel’s towering masts struck the bridge roadbed around 8:30 p.m., injuring 19 crew and passengers, four seriously. Witnesses described chaos: 'The sails hit the bridge and then people were falling off of the boat sails.' Police boats responded within minutes, guiding the damaged ship to safety and rescuing those aboard. The incident highlights the risks of large vessels navigating under city bridges, especially when mechanical failure removes control. The article notes the ship was on a goodwill visit, carrying 277 mostly cadet crew.

• Tall Ship Slams Brooklyn Bridge, Injures Nineteen, 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 2025-11-03

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 2025-11-03

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 12 - A driver ran a red, struck a cyclist, reversed hard, nearly hit him again. The victim lay bleeding, bones shattered, memory gone. Witnesses screamed. The driver sped off, blowing another light. Police search. The street remains dangerous.

ABC7 reported on May 12, 2025, that a hit-and-run driver seriously injured cyclist Myung Jin Chung at 5th Avenue and West 13th Street. The driver "blew through a red light," struck Chung, then reversed, nearly hitting him again, and fled after running another red. Chung suffered broken bones, a concussion, and needed 16 hours of surgery. Witnesses described the scene as 'petrifying.' Police have video evidence but no arrests. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the consequences of reckless driving in New York City.

• Cyclist Crushed In West Village Hit-And-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-05-12

May 10 - A sedan struck an e-scooter on Columbia Street. The scooter rider took the hit in the abdomen. Police cite driver inattention. Three car occupants unhurt. The street stays dangerous.

A sedan making a left turn collided with an e-scooter on Columbia Street at Stanton. The 50-year-old e-scooter rider suffered an abdominal injury. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Three people in the sedan, including the driver and two passengers, were not injured. The e-scooter rider was the only person hurt in the crash. The report lists no errors for the scooter rider. The crash highlights the risk for vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 10 - Sedan struck SUV at E Houston and Avenue D. Driver ran traffic control, turned wrong. Two rear passengers suffered head injuries. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens cut the night.

A sedan collided with an SUV at E Houston Street and Avenue D in Manhattan. Two rear passengers, a 43-year-old man and woman, suffered head injuries. According to the police report, the driver disregarded traffic control and turned improperly. These driver errors—'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly'—led to the crash. The impact hit the SUV’s right side and the sedan’s front. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Passengers wore lap belts. The crash left two hurt and exposed the danger of ignoring signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811671 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 8 - A box truck reversed on Madison Street. It struck a 34-year-old man crossing outside a crosswalk. The man suffered arm abrasions. The truck showed no damage.

A box truck, backing southwest on Madison Street, hit a 34-year-old pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered abrasions to his arm and remained conscious. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The truck sustained no damage. No driver errors were recorded in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

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