The Sidewalk Is Bleeding—Who Will Stop It?

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

A cyclist struck a 12-year-old girl outside the crosswalk on Fifth Avenue. Both suffered leg injuries. The crash left the street marked by confusion and pain. The city’s dangers pressed in, silent and unyielding.

A crash on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan left a 26-year-old male cyclist and a 12-year-old female pedestrian injured. According to the police report, both were conscious at the scene. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his lower leg and foot. The child pedestrian reported pain and nausea, with injuries to her knee and foot. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the contributing factor. The crash occurred outside an intersection, with the cyclist traveling south and the pedestrian in the roadway. No vehicle damage was reported. The report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818584, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist turned left on Avenue of the Americas. He struck a woman crossing with the signal. She suffered a head injury. The crash happened in Manhattan. Police cite failure to yield and distraction. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A 20-year-old cyclist, heading west on West 30th Street, turned left onto Avenue of the Americas and struck a 46-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head contusion and remained conscious at the scene. The cyclist was not injured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The crash highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when following signals, and underscores the consequences when drivers—cyclists included—fail to yield and pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818095, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They protested NYPD’s push to criminalize minor bike infractions. Delivery riders, many undocumented, face court summonses for sidewalk riding and red lights. Judges toss charges. Police say it’s about compliance. Riders say it’s about targeting.

West Side Spirit reported on June 2, 2025, that hundreds of cyclists protested in Manhattan against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses for minor bike infractions. The crackdown targets delivery workers, especially undocumented riders, for offenses like sidewalk riding and nonstandard bike setups. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the move, stating, 'When it comes to traffic safety, compliance is not optional.' Protesters and advocates argue the policy is discriminatory and escalates minor violations, risking severe consequences for vulnerable workers. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called it 'really inappropriate escalation.' The article highlights confusion over traffic rules and the risk of criminalization for actions previously handled as civil matters, raising questions about enforcement priorities and the impact on immigrant communities.

• Cyclists Rally Against NYPD Crackdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-02

A taxi and a box truck turned wrong on West 35th. Metal struck metal. A 54-year-old driver took the blow in his shoulder. He felt pain and shock. The street held the weight of oversized steel and error.

A crash on West 35th Street in Manhattan involved a taxi and a box truck. One driver, age 54, suffered a shoulder injury and reported pain and shock. According to the police report, both vehicles were making right turns when the collision happened. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed. The impact hit the taxi’s left front quarter panel and the truck’s left front bumper. No passengers or bystanders were reported injured. The data shows driver error—improper turning—at the center of this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817142, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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

A taxi door swung open. A cyclist struck it. Metal hit flesh. The rider flew, hit the pavement, scraped his arm. Driver inattention cut through the afternoon. The street stayed loud. The cyclist stayed conscious. The system failed again.

A crash unfolded on East 28th Street in Manhattan. A taxi, parked at the curb, opened its door into the path of a cyclist riding east. The cyclist, a 44-year-old man, struck the door and was ejected from his bike, suffering abrasions to his arm. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the primary contributing factor. The taxi driver and two other occupants were involved but not reported injured. The crash data shows the cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this is noted only after the driver's error. The impact highlights the danger of inattentive driving and the vulnerability of those on bikes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816868, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a woman crossing 8th Avenue at West 30th Street. She suffered a bruised leg. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The street stayed busy. The crosswalk offered no protection. The car kept moving. The city did not stop it.

A 41-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing 8th Avenue at West 30th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk with no signal when the crash occurred. She sustained a contusion to her lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver, a 22-year-old man, was making a left turn in a Toyota sedan registered in New Jersey. The impact occurred at the left front bumper. The police report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian. The crash highlights the danger faced by people crossing city streets, even in marked crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814436, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV reversed on East 28th Street. The driver struck a 62-year-old man crossing midblock. The pedestrian suffered arm injuries. Police cited unsafe backing. The street stayed busy. The impact left bruises and pain.

A 62-year-old pedestrian was injured when an SUV backed into him on East 28th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing the street, not at an intersection or crosswalk, when the SUV, which had been parked, reversed and struck him. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injuries to his arm. Police listed 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor in the crash. The driver and passengers in the SUV were not reported injured. The report does not mention any other contributing factors or equipment issues for the pedestrian. The incident highlights the danger when drivers reverse without proper caution.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814129, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV hit a cyclist on West 34th. The crash left the cyclist hurt, her leg scraped and bleeding. Police cite failure to yield. Metal met flesh. The street stayed busy. Another wound in Manhattan’s grid.

A collision occurred at West 34th Street in Manhattan involving a station wagon/SUV and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 22-year-old woman, suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with abrasions reported. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The SUV was traveling straight ahead while the cyclist was making a U-turn. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV and the right front of the bike. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The police report lists only the driver’s failure to yield as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813485, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus veered close on West 28th Street. An 80-year-old man walking in the roadway took the hit. His leg bruised, his body battered. The bus kept moving. The street stayed hard.

A bus struck an 80-year-old pedestrian on West 28th Street at 7th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the bus was 'Passing Too Closely' while changing lanes. The pedestrian suffered a contusion to his lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the main contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the bus driver or other occupants. The police report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian as a contributing factor. The bus sustained no damage. The crash highlights the danger when large vehicles fail to leave enough space for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809971, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An e-scooter struck a man crossing West 23rd. Both the pedestrian and the rider suffered leg injuries. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. The street stayed busy. The crash left bruises and scrapes. Danger moved fast and close.

A crash on West 23rd Street at Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan left a 36-year-old pedestrian and a 43-year-old e-scooter driver injured. According to the police report, both suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection when the e-scooter, traveling west, struck him. The e-scooter driver was wearing a helmet. The police report makes clear that driver error—failure to yield and inattention—played a central role in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809200, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi slammed into a cyclist on East 21st Street near Broadway. The crash threw the 39-year-old rider from his bike, leaving him bruised and clutching his arm. Sirens echoed as traffic snarled and bystanders watched the aftermath unfold.

According to the police report, a taxi and a cyclist collided on East 21st Street at Broadway in Manhattan. The 39-year-old male cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a contusion to his arm. The report lists both vehicles as traveling straight ahead, with the point of impact at the center front of the taxi and the center back of the bike. The police report cites 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for the crash, offering no further detail on driver actions. No mention is made of helmet use or signaling as a factor in the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808384, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi turned left near 206 Fifth Avenue and struck four men on foot. Blood pooled on the street. Bones broke. One man’s knee shattered. Alcohol and speed fueled the impact. The city’s night swallowed their cries.

According to the police report, a taxi making a left turn near 206 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan struck four male pedestrians late at night. One victim bled from the leg, another’s foot was crushed, and a 65-year-old man suffered a broken knee and shock. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The sedan involved was operated by an unlicensed driver. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to pedestrian behavior. The crash resulted in multiple serious injuries to people on foot, with driver impairment and unlicensed operation called out as key dangers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807203, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Night air split by metal and bone at East 20th and 5th. A sedan’s left turn collides with a cyclist heading south. The rider, thrown from his bike, lands hard. Blood darkens his leg. Sirens echo. He stays conscious, clutching a bruised knee.

A sedan making a left turn at the intersection of East 20th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan collided with a southbound cyclist late at night. According to the police report, the 34-year-old male bicyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a contusion to his knee and lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The cyclist was the only person injured. The sedan’s point of impact was its left front bumper, while the bicycle was struck at the center front end. No driver errors or helmet use are cited as contributing factors in the official data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807583, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 30-year-old man walking along a Manhattan highway suffered knee and lower leg injuries when an SUV struck him from behind. The driver’s failure to maintain distance and distraction caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian bruised and injured.

According to the police report, a 2019 Ford SUV traveling east on a Manhattan highway struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian walking along the roadway near West 32nd Street. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV. The report cites the driver’s errors as 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was walking with traffic. The collision caused center front end damage to the vehicle. The pedestrian remained conscious but was injured. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior or safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800478, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An SUV traveling east struck a parked flatbed truck on East 26th Street in Manhattan. The SUV driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries, enduring shock and minor bleeding. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on East 26th Street in Manhattan at 7:00 AM. A 39-year-old male driver of a 2023 SUV was traveling east when he collided with the right rear bumper of a parked flatbed truck. The point of impact was the SUV's left front bumper, which sustained damage. The driver was injured, suffering knee, lower leg, and foot injuries, and experienced shock with minor bleeding. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted. The flatbed truck was stationary at the time of impact. The driver was licensed in New York and was the sole occupant of the SUV. The collision highlights the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799316, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan making a left turn collided with a bicyclist traveling straight on W 25 St in Manhattan. The bicyclist was ejected and suffered back injuries, shock, and complaints of pain. Driver inattention was cited as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:00 PM on W 25 St near Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. A sedan, traveling west and making a left turn, struck a bicyclist who was going straight northwest. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained back injuries, shock, and complaints of pain or nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted. The sedan had two occupants, and the driver was male. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's front center.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799151, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck, left parked on Avenue of the Americas, lurched forward and struck a 33-year-old man behind the wheel of another vehicle. He wore a harness. He did not move again. Cold air hung over the still street.

According to the police report, a box truck parked near 851 Avenue of the Americas suddenly lurched north and struck a 33-year-old man who was behind the wheel of another vehicle. The man, identified as the driver and sole occupant, wore a lap belt and harness but was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred at 8:10 a.m. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical lapse in driver vigilance. The truck, registered in Ohio and operated by a licensed driver from Louisiana, was supposed to be stationary but instead moved forward, causing fatal impact. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and the dangers posed by large vehicles left unattended on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792075, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 54-year-old woman suffered full-body injuries after an SUV failed to yield while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle hit her on East 26th Street in Manhattan. The driver caused the crash by not yielding right-of-way.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on East 26th Street near 5th Avenue in Manhattan at 9:58 AM. A 54-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2019 Infiniti SUV, traveling east and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the driver as the contributing factor. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed but sufficient to cause serious injury. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way directly led to the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790470, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14