Chelsea’s Streets Bleed While City Hall Sleeps

Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

E-scooter and bike collided on West 34th. Rider struck, left with bruised leg. Police cite improper passing and close following. Streets stay dangerous for those outside cars.

An e-scooter and a bike collided on West 34th Street near 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The e-scooter rider, a 29-year-old woman, suffered a bruised leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Following Too Closely.' These driver errors led to the impact. No helmet or signal issues were listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the risks faced by vulnerable road users in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805344 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders trees and plants on new medians between bike lanes and car traffic. Concrete gets green. Barriers grow roots. The city must build for life, not speed.

Int 1233-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 10, 2025, it demands new medians between bicycle lanes and motor vehicles be built for trees and vegetation, pending feasibility. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. They push the city to plant, or allow planting, in every new median. The law would take effect 120 days after passage. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Senate bill S 7336 pushes more speed cameras and targets hidden plates. Sponsors want sharper eyes on reckless drivers. School zones stay under watch. The city’s most vulnerable stay exposed.

Senate bill S 7336, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, titled 'Relates to the use of certain photo speed violation monitoring systems for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction; repealer,' lets cameras catch drivers who hide or alter plates and extends speed camera use in school zones. Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill’s focus: more enforcement, less evasion. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear—more eyes on the street, more pressure on reckless drivers.

• File S 7336, Open States, Published 2025-04-10

A cyclist hit a woman crossing with the signal on W 18th Street. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention as the cause.

A cyclist traveling south on W 18th Street struck a female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered an abrasion to her knee and lower leg. The cyclist, a 23-year-old man, was not injured. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The cyclist was using a lap belt and harness. The report does not mention any other causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a cyclist on West 34th. The cyclist, 22, suffered leg injuries. Police cite improper lane usage. The crash left the cyclist in shock. No damage to vehicles. System failed to protect.

A 22-year-old cyclist was injured when a sedan struck him at 408 W 34th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and a sedan, both traveling east. The cyclist suffered injuries to his leg and was left in shock. Police list 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No vehicle damage was reported. The report highlights driver error and a system that left a vulnerable road user hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck struck a man sitting in the street at West 40th and 9th. The man died at the scene. The driver stayed. Police are investigating. No arrests. The victim’s name is not known.

Patch reported on April 7, 2025, that a man was killed by a box truck at West 40th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The article states, “Police determined that a box truck, operated by a 75-year-old man, was traveling southbound on 9 Avenue when the vehicle collided with the victim, who was sitting in the roadway.” The driver remained at the scene and was not injured. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity has not been released. The incident highlights the persistent risk to people in city streets and the need for scrutiny of how large vehicles interact with vulnerable road users. The investigation is ongoing.

• Box Truck Kills Man In Hell's Kitchen, Patch, Published 2025-04-07

Council’s new rules slash outdoor dining in poor neighborhoods. Roadway seating banned in winter. Sidewalk cafes crowd pedestrians. Car parking wins. Small businesses struggle with high fees and red tape. City blames Council. Council blames DOT. Pedestrians lose space.

In March 2025, New York City’s Council and Mayor Adams clashed over outdoor dining rules. The 2023 Council bill banned street-side dining from December to March, restoring thousands of spaces to private car storage. The bill’s summary notes, 'outdoor dining is shrinking back to wealthier neighborhoods.' Mayor Adams signed the regulations. Assembly Member Tony Simone called the process 'overburdensome.' Advocates like Sara Lind and Christine Berthet slammed the rules as inequitable and harmful to pedestrians, saying sidewalk cafes now crowd walking space while car parking is prioritized. The Department of Transportation and Council trade blame for the system’s failures. Small businesses face high fees and complex applications, locking out many restaurants. Pedestrian advocates warn the new law pushes more tables into sidewalk space, squeezing walkers and prioritizing cars over people.

• Outdoor Dining Shrinks Back To Wealthier Neighborhoods as Mayor, Council Point Fingers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-31

A 26-year-old man suffered a fractured leg after a distracted SUV driver struck him at a Manhattan intersection. The pedestrian was getting on or off a vehicle when the crash occurred. The driver’s inattention caused serious injury without vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of W 25 St and 112 in Manhattan at 1:52 AM. The pedestrian was getting on or off a vehicle when a 2016 Mazda SUV traveling north went straight ahead and struck him. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained a severe injury described as a fractured, distorted, or dislocated knee, lower leg, or foot, resulting in shock. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was significant enough to injure the pedestrian but not the SUV. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle properly in terms of direction but failed to maintain attention, leading to the collision. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803528 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 29-year-old bicyclist was violently thrown after colliding with a moped on West 28th Street near Ninth Avenue. The rider suffered a fractured, dislocated upper arm and was ejected from his bike. Driver errors included improper turning and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:10 AM on West 28th Street at Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. A bicyclist and a moped collided while traveling at speed. The bicyclist, a 29-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm. The report identifies the primary contributing factors as "Turning Improperly" and "Unsafe Speed" by the drivers involved. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. The moped was traveling east going straight ahead, and the bike was traveling south. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike but not on the moped. The incident highlights driver errors, specifically improper turning maneuvers and excessive speed, as central causes of the severe injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling west collided with a northbound bicyclist on West 35th Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Police cite the sedan driver’s disregard for traffic control as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:10 on West 35th Street near 10th Avenue in Manhattan. A sedan traveling west struck a bicyclist going north. The point of impact was the left side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the bike. The bicyclist, a 25-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. Additionally, the bicyclist’s confusion or error was noted but driver error was primary. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. This collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers disregarding traffic controls in busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802010 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Tony Simone cheered Hochul’s fight to keep congestion pricing alive. He praised her stand against demolishing neighborhoods for Penn Station. But he drew a line: the station’s future should not be a bargaining chip for safer, saner streets.

On March 18, 2025, Assemblyman Tony Simone (District 75) issued a statement on congestion pricing and Penn Station redevelopment. The matter, titled 'Hochul will defy Trump deadline to stop NYC congestion pricing — but insists president still backs her Penn Station revamp plan,' centers on Governor Hochul’s refusal to halt congestion pricing despite federal pressure. Simone, representing the Penn Station area, voiced support for both congestion pricing and a bold Penn Station overhaul, saying, 'It’s time to build a big bold Penn Station. I’m glad that she’s talking to the president about it.' He opposed linking the two projects, stating, 'I don’t think they should be connected.' Simone also welcomed Hochul’s resistance to Amtrak’s expansion plans that would raze neighborhoods. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this action.

• Hochul will defy Trump deadline to stop NYC congestion pricing — but insists president still backs her Penn Station revamp plan, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-18

Two cyclists traveling south on W 40 St collided when one followed too closely. The trailing rider partially ejected, suffering abrasions and lower leg injuries. Both bikes showed no damage, but the impact left one rider injured and conscious.

According to the police report, two bicycles traveling south on W 40 St collided in Manhattan at 17:35. The crash involved a rear-end impact where the trailing bicyclist struck the lead cyclist. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the collision. The injured bicyclist, a 27-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He remained conscious during the incident. Both bicycles showed no damage despite the impact. The trailing cyclist was unlicensed, but no other driver errors were noted. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers of close following distances among cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge Charger struck a street sweeper, spun out, and pinned an NYPD officer against his patrol car in the West Village. Both the officer and the driver landed in the hospital. The street saw chaos, metal, and speed.

NY Daily News (March 14, 2025) reports a crash at W. 13th St and Seventh Ave. A Dodge Charger, heading south, changed lanes and hit a street sweeper. The car spun several times and pinned a uniformed officer between vehicles. Surveillance footage showed the Charger 'appeared to be speeding,' according to a witness. The officer tried to escape but was struck. Both the officer and driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No charges have been filed. The incident highlights the dangers of lane changes and speed on city streets, raising questions about enforcement and street design.

• Officer Pinned By Spinning Dodge Charger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-14

A Manhattan bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after colliding with a taxi distracted by passengers. The taxi was stopped in traffic when the impact occurred on its right side doors. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a taxi on West 20th Street in Manhattan at 11:58 AM. The taxi, carrying two occupants, was stopped in traffic traveling east when the bicyclist, also traveling east, struck the right side doors of the vehicle. The report cites passenger distraction as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating the taxi driver’s attention was compromised. The bicyclist sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected from the bike. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist’s behavior or equipment. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798905 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 74-year-old woman suffered severe chest injuries after an SUV struck her while she crossed legally on West 31st Street. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting her with the vehicle's center front end during a left turn.

According to the police report, at 20:02 on West 31st Street near 9th Avenue in Manhattan, a 2013 SUV driven by a licensed male driver was making a left turn when it struck a 74-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal but was hit by the vehicle's center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained a severe chest injury described as a fracture, distortion, and dislocation, with an injury severity level of 3. The driver’s error in not yielding during the left turn directly led to the collision. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797616 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two bicyclists traveling opposite directions collided head-on on Avenue of the Americas. One rider suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury. Police cited improper lane usage as the cause. Both cyclists were conscious and not ejected from their bikes.

According to the police report, two bicyclists collided at the center front ends of their bikes on Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan around 12:30 PM. Both were traveling straight ahead, one southbound and the other northbound. The injured bicyclist, a 34-year-old male, sustained contusions and bruises to his shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious and was not ejected from his bike. The report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in lane positioning or passing maneuvers. The injured cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was noted on the center front end of one bike. The crash underscores the dangers posed by improper lane use among bicyclists sharing the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796778 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A stolen minivan tore through Harlem. The driver ran from police. He struck Devon Hughley on a scooter. Hughley died at Harlem Hospital. The driver fled. Police used facial recognition. They arrested Enesin Delarosa. Grief lingers. Memorials remain.

According to the NY Daily News (2025-03-06), Enesin Delarosa, 26, was arrested for fatally striking Devon Hughley, 45, while fleeing an NYPD car stop in Harlem on November 2. The article reports Delarosa was driving a stolen minivan and "allegedly hit Hughley near W.155th St. and St. Nicholas Ave. while fleeing a traffic stop." Delarosa faces charges of manslaughter, leaving the scene, fleeing police, and possession of stolen property. The crash highlights the lethal risk of high-speed police pursuits and the dangers posed by stolen vehicles in dense urban areas. Memorial posters for Hughley remain in his building. The article quotes Hughley's sister, Yvette Palmer: "the arrest brought some peace."

• Scooter Rider Killed Fleeing Traffic Stop, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-06

Assembly bill A 6225 drops the speed for owner liability to seven miles over the limit. Drivers face penalties sooner. Carroll and Simone sponsor. Aimed at curbing reckless speed. Streets may get safer. No safety analyst note yet.

Assembly bill A 6225 was introduced on February 27, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to reducing the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits,' lowers the threshold for owner liability to more than seven miles per hour over the posted limit. Assembly Members Robert C. Carroll (primary sponsor, District 44) and Tony Simone (co-sponsor, District 75) back the measure. The bill seeks to hold drivers accountable at lower speeds. No safety analyst note is available yet.

• File A 6225, Open States, Published 2025-02-27