Hell’s Kitchen Bleeds: City Stalls, Bodies Fall

Oct 11 - SUV driver without license lost consciousness, crashed into parked sedan on West 51st. Driver seriously hurt. Parked car’s occupants escaped injury. Systemic risk and driver error exposed.

According to the police report, an unlicensed SUV driver traveling west on West 51st Street in Manhattan lost consciousness and struck a parked sedan. The SUV’s center front end hit the sedan’s right rear bumper. The SUV driver suffered serious injuries and was found unconscious. The sedan, occupied by two people, sustained damage but its occupants were not injured. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' and 'Physical Disability' as contributing factors for the SUV driver, along with his unlicensed status. No errors were attributed to the sedan’s occupants. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the vulnerability of stationary vehicles in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763685 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 10 - An unlicensed e-scooter driver traveling south collided with a northbound bicyclist on West 57 Street in Manhattan. Both operators were avoiding objects in the roadway. The bicyclist was ejected and suffered an eye injury, wearing a helmet at the time.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:53 on West 57 Street in Manhattan. The collision involved a northbound bicyclist and a southbound e-scooter driver, both reportedly avoiding objects in the roadway. The e-scooter driver was unlicensed, a critical factor in the crash. The bicyclist, a 28-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained an eye injury classified as severity level 3, with contusions and bruising. He was wearing a helmet, noted as safety equipment, but no contributing factors were attributed to his actions. The report highlights the unlicensed status of both drivers and the hazardous conditions caused by objects in the roadway, emphasizing systemic dangers rather than victim fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 10 - A 23-year-old woman was injured at a Manhattan intersection when a dump truck making a left turn hit her with its left front bumper. She suffered bruises and lower leg injuries while crossing with the signal. The truck showed no damage.

According to the police report, a dump truck traveling south on 9 Avenue was making a left turn onto West 45 Street when it struck a 23-year-old female pedestrian crossing at the intersection with the signal. The impact occurred at the truck's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered bruising. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian but notes unspecified contributing factors overall. The truck driver was licensed and operating a 2023 vehicle registered in New Jersey. Vehicle damage was reported as none, indicating the force of impact was sufficient to injure the pedestrian without damaging the truck. The crash highlights the danger posed by turning trucks to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 7 - A 24-year-old male bicyclist suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding in a crash on 8th Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist was not ejected and was in shock. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors without driver fault details.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on 8th Avenue in Manhattan was injured at 8:05 AM. The bicyclist sustained facial injuries with minor bleeding and was not ejected from the bike. The report notes the bicyclist was the sole occupant and was going straight ahead at the time of impact, which occurred at the center front end of the bike. No vehicle damage was recorded. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified and does not cite any driver errors or failures to yield. No pedestrian or victim behaviors were identified as contributing factors. The incident highlights a crash involving a vulnerable road user with unclear cause but no explicit driver fault documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 6 - An unlicensed e-bike rider collided with a parked SUV on West 48 Street, Manhattan. The 23-year-old male rider was ejected, unconscious, and suffered a neck injury. The SUV was stationary at impact, sustaining damage to its right rear bumper.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:18 on West 48 Street in Manhattan. The e-bike driver, a 23-year-old male, was traveling south and collided with a parked 2022 Chevrolet SUV facing east. The SUV was stationary before impact, with damage to its right rear bumper. The e-bike rider was ejected from his vehicle, rendered unconscious, and sustained a neck injury classified as severity level 3. The report notes the e-bike driver was unlicensed, while the SUV driver was licensed. The contributing factors for the e-bike rider are unspecified, but the unlicensed status indicates a driver error. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed operators and the vulnerability of e-bike riders in collisions with stationary vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762036 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 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

Sep 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

Sep 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

Sep 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

Sep 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

Sep 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

Sep 25 - A northbound bicyclist was partially ejected and suffered head injuries after an SUV making a right turn struck him at 11th Avenue. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the cyclist with abrasions and serious trauma to the head.

According to the police report, at 16:40 in Manhattan near 711 11th Avenue, a 56-year-old male bicyclist traveling north was struck by a southbound SUV making a right turn. The impact occurred at the center front end of both vehicles. The bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained head injuries classified as severity level 3, including abrasions. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor on the part of the SUV driver. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and operating a 2024 Porsche SUV. No damage was reported on the SUV, indicating the bicyclist bore the brunt of the collision. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist’s actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759614 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 23 - 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

Sep 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

Sep 20 - A sedan struck a bicyclist from behind on West 58th Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered a back injury but remained conscious. The crash occurred as both vehicles traveled eastbound, with the sedan following too closely, causing the collision.

According to the police report, the crash happened on West 58th Street in Manhattan at 3:20 PM. A sedan traveling eastbound rear-ended a bicyclist also moving eastbound. The bicyclist, a 51-year-old man, was injured in the back and remained conscious after the impact. The report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the sedan driver, indicating a failure to maintain a safe distance behind the cyclist. The sedan's point of impact was the center front end, while the bike was struck at the center back end. The bicyclist was not ejected and was wearing a helmet, but no contributing factors related to the victim were noted. Vehicle damage was reported on the bike but not on the sedan. This crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers who do not maintain proper following distance behind vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759186 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 16 - A pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck while crossing outside an intersection in Manhattan. The victim was conscious and sustained contusions. The vehicle was traveling south, going straight ahead at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at 675 9 Avenue in Manhattan around 5:00 AM. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and was performing other actions in the roadway when struck. The victim sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The vehicle involved was traveling south and going straight ahead. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian and the driver, but does not specify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No information on vehicle type, driver identity, or license status was provided. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report does not attribute fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 13 - An SUV traveling west on West 51 Street passed too closely to an e-scooter, striking the rider’s left side. The 29-year-old female e-scooter driver suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:45 on West 51 Street in Manhattan. An SUV and an e-scooter, both traveling westbound, collided when the SUV passed too closely to the e-scooter. The point of impact was the left side doors of the e-scooter and the right side doors of the SUV. The e-scooter driver, a 29-year-old female, was injured with a fracture and dislocation to her knee and lower leg. She was conscious and not ejected from her vehicle. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's error. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The e-scooter driver was not cited for any contributing factors, and no helmet or crossing signal use was noted as relevant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755859 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 13 - Box truck struck a man on West 48 Street. He suffered chest wounds and bled. He lay semiconscious as sirens wailed. No driver errors listed. The street stayed hard and cold.

According to the police report, a 2019 HINO box truck traveling north on West 48 Street in Manhattan struck a male pedestrian. The man suffered chest injuries and minor bleeding. He was semiconscious at the scene. The point of impact was the right side doors of the truck. The report lists no driver errors or specific contributing factors. The pedestrian's contributing factors are marked as unspecified. The truck showed no damage. The driver held a valid New York license. The crash left a pedestrian hurt, with no clear cause named in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 6 - A taxi swung left on West 57th. A woman pedaled straight. Steel met flesh. Her arm broke, helmet catching the blow. She lay silent in the city’s roar. The street marked her pain, the cab rolled on.

A crash unfolded near 625 West 57th Street in Manhattan when, according to the police report, a taxi 'turned left' as a woman on a bike 'rode straight.' The collision occurred at the center front end of both vehicles. The cyclist, a 36-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her arm and was left in shock, as detailed in the report. The narrative states, 'Metal struck her arm. Bone gave. She wore a helmet. She did not rise.' The report lists the taxi as making a left turn and the bike as proceeding straight ahead. Both 'contributing factor' fields are marked 'Unspecified,' but the sequence described highlights the systemic danger of left-turning vehicles crossing paths with cyclists traveling straight. The cyclist’s helmet use is noted in the police data, but no victim actions are listed as contributing factors. The focus remains on the peril created by the taxi’s left turn across the cyclist’s path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 1 - Two sedans collided on West 39th Street in Manhattan. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles were traveling westbound when the crash occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:56 AM on West 39th Street, Manhattan. Two sedans traveling westbound collided when the rear vehicle struck the right rear bumper of the front vehicle. The driver of the rear sedan, a 32-year-old male wearing a lap belt, was injured with neck pain and experienced shock. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The front vehicle was stopped in traffic, while the rear vehicle was going straight ahead before impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused damage primarily to the right rear bumper of the rear vehicle and the left front bumper of the front vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752565 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18