Chelsea’s Streets Bleed While City Hall Sleeps

A taxi and a limousine collided on 10th Avenue in Manhattan. The taxi driver, merging unsafely, struck the limo’s front left bumper with the taxi’s right rear. The taxi driver suffered an upper arm injury and lost consciousness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 10 Avenue near West 30 Street in Manhattan at 1:00 PM. The collision involved a 2019 Toyota taxi and a 2023 Cadillac limousine, both traveling north. The taxi driver was merging when the crash happened, striking the limousine's left front bumper with the taxi's right rear bumper. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the primary contributing factor, explicitly identifying the taxi driver's error. The taxi driver, a 29-year-old male, was injured with an upper arm and shoulder injury, was unconscious, and complained of pain or nausea. He was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The limousine driver was not reported injured. This crash highlights the dangers of unsafe lane changes in dense Manhattan traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769972 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 47-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck at a Manhattan intersection. The driver, making a right turn, failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered a hip and upper leg contusion but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:50 AM on 7th Avenue near West 16th Street in Manhattan. A 47-year-old male pedestrian, crossing with the signal at the intersection, was struck by a 2013 Honda SUV making a right turn southbound. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruise to the hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The report cites driver errors including Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not identified as a contributing factor. The incident highlights driver failure to yield and inattentiveness as primary causes of injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769967 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus making a left turn struck a northbound sedan on 12 Ave in Manhattan. The sedan driver suffered head injuries but remained conscious. Police cited failure to yield and oversized vehicle as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, at 8:37 AM on 12 Ave near W 42 St, a bus was making a left turn when it collided with a sedan traveling straight northbound. The bus impacted the sedan's center front end with its right side doors. The sedan driver, a 51-year-old male, sustained head injuries and was conscious after the crash. Police identified driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and the bus being an oversized vehicle as contributing factors. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to the front of the sedan and the bus's right front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan slammed into a northbound e-scooter on 10th Avenue. The rider took the blow, suffering hip and leg injuries. Police blamed the crash on the sedan driver’s disregard for traffic control.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on 10th Avenue struck a northbound e-scooter near West 35th Street in Manhattan. The e-scooter rider, a man, was injured in the hip and upper leg and suffered abrasions. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, showing the sedan driver failed to obey signals or signs. The e-scooter rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash stemmed from the driver’s error. This collision highlights the danger drivers pose to vulnerable road users when traffic rules are ignored.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766817 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 56-year-old man was injured crossing West 23 Street at 9 Avenue. The sedan, making a left turn, struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered bruises and lower leg injuries. Driver inattention and failure to yield caused the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on West 23 Street was making a left turn at 9 Avenue when it struck a 56-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian was conscious but sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle's point of impact was the left front bumper, and no vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was at an intersection and legally crossing, emphasizing the driver's errors as the cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on West 42 Street in Manhattan at 3:26 a.m. The driver of one vehicle suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. Police cited alcohol involvement and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on West 42 Street near 12 Avenue in Manhattan at 3:26 a.m. Two sedans traveling north collided, with impact centered on the front end of one vehicle and the rear of the other. The driver of the rear vehicle, a 40-year-old male occupant, was injured with a fractured elbow and dislocation but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors to the collision. Both drivers were licensed, with the injured driver using a lap belt. The police report focuses on the driver's errors, highlighting the role of impaired driving and unsafe maneuvers in causing the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765675 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge SUV struck a 29-year-old man crossing West 30th Street. The impact crushed his chest. He lay conscious on the pavement. Police cite aggressive driving. The SUV rolled on, undamaged. The street bore the weight of violence.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling east on West 30th Street near 11th Avenue struck a 29-year-old man who was crossing without a signal. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his chest and remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor, explicitly pointing to the driver’s actions as the cause. The SUV showed no damage and continued straight after the collision. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is listed only after the driver’s aggressive behavior. The focus remains on the SUV driver's cited aggression and the resulting severe injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound SUV collided with an eastbound sedan on 8th Avenue near West 36th Street. The sedan’s driver, a 40-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as a key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:50 PM on 8th Avenue near West 36th Street in Manhattan. A 2020 Ford SUV traveling north struck a 2020 Tesla sedan traveling east. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front bumper and the sedan’s right rear quarter panel. The sedan’s 40-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining neck pain and shock, and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the SUV driver as a contributing factor to the collision. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead before the crash. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761767 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 52-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an e-bike struck her while she was getting on or off a vehicle outside an intersection. The crash exposed a failure to yield right-of-way by the e-bike operator.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Manhattan near 555 10 Avenue at 10 p.m. A 52-year-old female pedestrian was injured with contusions and trauma to her knee, lower leg, and foot while getting on or off a vehicle outside an intersection. The vehicle involved was an e-bike with no occupants other than the operator. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor to the collision. This driver error led directly to the pedestrian’s injury. The pedestrian was conscious and sustained injury severity level 3. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian behavior or safety equipment were noted in the report. The incident highlights the dangers posed by e-bike operators failing to yield to pedestrians in shared spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face deadly risk. Lawmakers demand action. Streets must protect the vulnerable.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The measure calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program' using cameras to enforce bike lane rules. Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the resolution. The text states: 'enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The council demands Albany act. Cyclists die while drivers block lanes. The bill aims to hold motorists accountable and protect those most at risk.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face deadly risk. Lawmakers demand action. Streets must protect the vulnerable.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The measure calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program' using cameras to enforce bike lane rules. Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the resolution. The text states: 'enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The council demands Albany act. Cyclists die while drivers block lanes. The bill aims to hold motorists accountable and protect those most at risk.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face death and injury. Lawmakers want action. Streets remain dangerous. The fight for safety continues.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The resolution calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program...to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the measure. The bill would let New York City use cameras to fine drivers who invade bike lanes. Cyclists are killed and injured when cars block their space. The council demands Albany act to protect vulnerable road users.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face death and injury. Lawmakers want action. Streets remain dangerous. The fight for safety continues.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The resolution calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program...to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the measure. The bill would let New York City use cameras to fine drivers who invade bike lanes. Cyclists are killed and injured when cars block their space. The council demands Albany act to protect vulnerable road users.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

E-bike use surges. Streets stay deadly. Calls for licensing miss the mark. Advocates demand protected lanes, clear intersections, and employer accountability. Restrictive rules push riders to riskier modes. Real safety comes from design, not blame.

This opinion, published September 26, 2024, argues against e-bike licensing and for street redesign. The article, titled 'Opinion: Worried About E-Bike Safety? Make the Roads Safer First,' highlights the dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians due to poor infrastructure. It supports Council Member Lincoln Restler’s bill to enforce bike and bus lane obstruction rules and backs state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s proposal for employer-based delivery worker licensing. The piece states: 'Such proposals are heavy-handed and will deter and discourage e-bike ridership without effectively ensuring their safe operations on the street.' The author urges protected bike lanes, daylighted intersections, and moving Citi Bike docks off sidewalks. The message is clear: systemic fixes, not punitive measures, protect vulnerable road users.

• Opinion: Worried About E-Bike Safety? Make the Roads Safer First, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-26

A Tesla sedan struck a 43-year-old male bicyclist on West 17th Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The crash was caused by driver inattention and distraction, leaving the rider injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a 2023 Tesla sedan was stopped in traffic on West 17th Street in Manhattan when it struck a bicyclist traveling westbound. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The point of impact was the left side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the bike. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash, cited twice. The bicyclist was not ejected and remained conscious after the collision. The sedan driver held a valid New York license, while the bicyclist had a permit. No victim behaviors or helmet use were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers to vulnerable cyclists in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Streetsblog calls out the Times for ignoring car culture’s deadly toll. Anti-bike voices rage as double-parked cars and reckless drivers menace Long Island City. A cyclist is struck in Brooklyn. Universal daylighting advances. The city’s streets remain dangerous for the vulnerable.

On September 23, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published a media commentary titled 'Monday’s Headlines: ‘It’s the Car Culture, Stupid’ Edition.' The piece criticizes The New York Times for failing to address the harm car culture inflicts on public health and urban safety, quoting, 'The Times is so blind to car culture that it can't even blame the automobile for sedentary lifestyles.' The article highlights ongoing dangers for pedestrians and cyclists, including a cyclist struck by a driver in Brooklyn and persistent double-parking in Long Island City. It notes an Upper Manhattan community board’s vote for universal daylighting, a proven safety measure. No council members are directly named, but the commentary centers the systemic risks cars pose to vulnerable road users and the media’s failure to confront these dangers.

• Monday’s Headlines: ‘It’s the Car Culture, Stupid’ Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-23

Manhattan crawls. UN General Assembly brings gridlock. Streets close. Traffic drops below 4 mph. DOT urges mass transit. Cyclists get a temporary lane. Permanent fix in the works. Emergency response slows. Hoylman-Sigal sounds alarm. No relief in sight.

On September 23, 2024, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and the New York City Department of Transportation announced the slowest Manhattan traffic of the year as the United Nations General Assembly convenes. The DOT warns, 'motorists should expect the slowest traffic of the year in Midtown,' with average speeds dipping below 4 mph and key streets closed. Hoylman-Sigal, co-author of a new traffic report, highlights that Midtown speeds are the slowest since records began—20% slower than a decade ago. The report notes emergency response times have suffered. DOT continues a temporary bike lane for cyclists and micro-mobility users, with plans for a permanent design. Hoylman-Sigal supports congestion pricing and safer streets, but Governor Hochul has paused the plan. The city expects more gridlock days through December. Vulnerable road users face narrowed space and slower emergency help as cars choke Midtown.

• Brace for the slowest Manhattan traffic of the year. The UN is in town., gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-23

A Tesla sedan and an e-scooter collided head-on at West 34th Street in Manhattan. The e-scooter driver, a 55-year-old man, was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries. The crash involved disregard for traffic control and rider confusion.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:00 PM on West 34th Street, Manhattan, involving a Tesla sedan traveling east and an e-scooter traveling south. Both vehicles impacted center front ends. The e-scooter driver, a 55-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected and sustained a shoulder and upper arm injury classified as severity 3, along with contusions. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The driver errors include failure to obey traffic signals or controls, which led to the collision. The e-scooter driver’s helmet use is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. This crash highlights the dangers of disregarding traffic controls and the confusion that can arise for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound bicyclist was ejected and injured after a collision with an eastbound sedan at West 36 Street and 9 Avenue in Manhattan. The bicyclist suffered upper arm injuries and bruising. Police cited vehicular factors as contributing causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 11:00 AM on West 36 Street near 9 Avenue in Manhattan. A sedan traveling east and a bicycle traveling north collided, with impact on the sedan's center front end and the bicycle's left front bumper. The 31-year-old male bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained upper arm injuries and contusions. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' factors as the primary contributing causes, indicating driver errors related to vehicle operation. The bicyclist's safety equipment status is unknown, and no pedestrian or bicyclist errors were cited as contributing factors. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. This collision highlights the dangers posed by vehicle movements in busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756457 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04