Midtown Bleeds While City Waits: Demand 20 MPH Now

Aug 6 - Officials revived a 34th Street busway as part of the Midtown South rezoning. The corridor (3rd–9th Ave) would prioritize buses, boost speeds up to 15%, and curb private traffic. Council subcommittees approved the plan; full council approval still required.

"We’re tackling New York’s housing crisis head-on by unlocking over 9,500 new homes in one of the most transit-rich, high-opportunity areas of the city, helping to bring down rents not just in Midtown, but citywide." -- Erik D. Bottcher

File number: none listed. Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committees: NYC Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) on Aug. 6, 2025. Matter quoted: "34th Street busway gets another go as part of larger Midtown rezoning plan." Council Member Erik Bottcher, representing the area, backed the rezoning and the busway. Council Member Keith Powers urged full council approval. Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the busway will continue. DOT said it did not suspend the project. The proposal would create a busway from 3rd to 9th Avenues, serve about 24 routes and aim to speed buses by up to 15%. No safety impact assessment was provided in the record.

• 34th Street busway gets another go as part of larger Midtown rezoning plan, amny.com, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 6 - Land Use committee cleared the Midtown South Mixed-Use rezoning on Aug 6. The plan unlocks over 9,500 homes, creates a car-free 34th Street busway and pedestrianized Broadway, and directs funds to the Garment District and street upgrades.

"Were tackling New Yorks housing crisis head-on by unlocking over 9,500 new homes in one of the most transit-rich, high-opportunity areas of the city  helping to bring down rents not just in Midtown, but citywide," -- Erik D. Bottcher

Bill: Midtown South Mixed-Use (MSMX) plan. File number: none provided. Status: Approved by the City Council Committee on Land Use on 2025-08-06; advances to a full Council vote. Committee: City Council Committee on Land Use. The matter, quoted in the record, calls to "redesignate 42 blocks between West 23rd and 40th Streets and Fifth and Eighth Avenues for housing development." Councilmembers Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers backed the plan; Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Eric Adams issued supportive statements. The plan includes a car-free 34th Street busway, a fully pedestrianized Broadway, $122M for Garment District support and $340M for streets and transit. No safety impact assessment or safety note was provided in the record.

• Midtown South rezoning proposal passes council land-use committee alongside community investment, amny.com, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 6 - City unpauses the 34th Street busway. Cars lose through access. Buses get priority. Streets open up for walking and cycling. Pedestrians and cyclists gain safer space tied to Midtown South rezoning.

Action: policy commitment to restore the 34th Street busway. Date: August 6, 2025. File number: none listed. Status: the Adams administration agreed to revive the busway as part of the Midtown South rezoning deal. Committee: a key Council committee was poised to vote on the rezoning when the promise was revealed. The matter states: "The Administration commits to establishing a car-free 34th Street Busway." Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher secured the commitment; Powers shared the language and praised the move. Public engagement is slated for 2025. Safety analysts say restoring the busway will cut car traffic, lower crash risk, and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists through mode shift and street reallocation.

• It’s Back! 34th Street Busway Revived In Midtown Rezoning Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 6 - Committees cleared the Midtown South rezoning. 9,535 homes allowed across 42 blocks. City won a car-free 34th Street busway and a $325M Broadway rebuild. Streets shift from cars to people. Pedestrians and cyclists gain safer space.

""This is a bold, balanced and long overdue plan,"" -- Erik D. Bottcher

Bill: Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (file number not listed). Status: Approved by the City Council Land Use Committee and Zoning Subcommittee on August 6, 2025. The matter, titled "42-block Midtown South housing plan clears hurdle as Council trims some units," permits about 9,535 homes across 42 blocks. Council Members Keith Powers and Erik D. Bottcher led negotiations; Bottcher called it "bold, balanced and long overdue." Committees trimmed some bulk and protected mid-block manufacturing in the Garment District. The plan secures a car-free busway on 34th Street and a $325 million pedestrian-oriented Broadway rebuild. These measures prioritize vulnerable road users and reclaim public space, likely increasing safety and encouraging mode shift toward walking and cycling.

• 42-block Midtown South housing plan clears hurdle as Council trims some units, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 6 - A man lay on Harlem tracks. The northbound 5 train struck him. He died at the scene. Police found no crime. His name remains unknown. Subway lines stalled. The system moved on.

NY Daily News (2025-08-06) reports a 47-year-old man was killed by a northbound 5 train at 125th St. station in Harlem. Police said, "The man was unconscious and unresponsive on the tracks." No arrests were made. The cause of his presence on the tracks is unclear. Police stated, "There was no criminality." The incident halted 4 and 5 trains. The case highlights ongoing dangers for people in subway spaces and the lack of platform barriers.

• Man Killed By Train At Harlem Station, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - Two taxi drivers collided on West 31st at 7 Ave. Police recorded driver inattention for both. A 41-year-old driver reported neck pain. The other driver, 31, was unhurt. Damage: right rear quarter, left front bumper.

Two taxi drivers collided on W 31 St at 7 Ave in Manhattan. One driver, 41, suffered a neck injury and reported whiplash. The other driver, 31, was not hurt. According to the police report, both drivers were distracted at the time. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" for each driver as the contributing factor. Impact marked the right rear quarter panel of one cab and the left front bumper of the other. Both vehicles were damaged. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833114 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Aug 4 - A moped rider hit a parked car on Broadway at West 25th. The 62-year-old rider flew off the seat and hit his head. He stayed conscious. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

A 62-year-old moped driver hit a parked vehicle on Broadway near West 25th Street in Manhattan and was ejected. He suffered a head abrasion and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the crash involved impact to the moped’s front, while the parked vehicle’s right rear bumper showed no damage. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor; the report also lists "Unspecified." No other injuries were reported. The driver was traveling west and held a license status of "Permit."

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 29 - On West 34th at Sixth, a northbound SUV driver failed to pay attention and hit a stopped SUV. A 73-year-old back-seat passenger suffered a back contusion. Others had unspecified injuries. Police recorded driver inattention.

Two SUVs collided on West 34th Street at Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. The driver of a northbound Ford SUV hit the rear of a Toyota SUV that was stopped in traffic. A 73-year-old woman riding in the right rear seat suffered a back contusion. Others, including both drivers and another passenger, were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' caused the collision. Police recorded driver inattention by the northbound driver as the contributing factor. The stopped vehicle had center rear damage. The striking vehicle had center front damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 29 - A driver in a parked sedan and a southbound cyclist collided on E 17th at 5th. The cyclist, 21, suffered severe head cuts. The driver, 72, was unhurt. Police recorded Failure to Keep Right.

A southbound cyclist and a parked sedan collided on E 17 Street at 5 Avenue in Manhattan. The crash happened at 10:42 a.m. The cyclist, 21, suffered severe head lacerations and was listed as injured. The driver, 72, was not hurt. According to the police report, the cyclist’s head was the site of injury. Police recorded “Failure to Keep Right” as a contributing factor. The sedan had damage to the left front quarter panel. Police noted damage to the front of the bike. No other contributing factors were recorded. The case is logged under collision ID 4831257.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 29 - City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

Jul 24 - A 35-year-old man on a motorized scooter struck road debris and a defective pavement patch on West 32nd. He suffered a facial abrasion and was reported in shock. Police cited obstruction and pavement defects as causes.

A 35-year-old man driving a motorized scooter was injured on West 32nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Obstruction/Debris' and 'Pavement Defective.' He suffered a facial abrasion and was reported in shock. Police recorded no driver errors and listed no other vehicles or people involved. The report attributes the incident to hazardous street conditions: debris in the roadway and a defective pavement area. The driver struck the obstruction and the broken pavement, and the contact produced the facial injury recorded by officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 24 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him and fled. He died at Bellevue. The driver did not stop. Police are investigating. No arrests. The city lost a rescuer. The road remains dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports that Matthew Goicochea, 31, fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive near East 25th Street and was struck by a vehicle that left the scene. Police said, "an unknown vehicle hit his motorcycle moments later and left the scene." The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The driver’s failure to remain highlights persistent hit-and-run risks on city highways. The incident underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the need for systemic safety improvements.

• Firefighter Killed After FDR Drive Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Dozens rallied at City Hall. They demanded Ryder's Law. Council Member Holden led. NYCLASS joined. The call was sharp: end horse carriages. The industry faces fierce opposition. The council stalls. The danger remains.

"It was the city of New York that contributed to Ryder's death. We're all responsible for what happened. We all were horrified that day on Ninth Avenue when Ryder collapsed in front of horrified onlookers in the heart of my district in Hell's Kitchen, and it gave renewed energy to the movement to end the tourist horse carriage trade in NYC. But here we are, all this time later, the bill still hasn't passed. The bill still doesn't have a hearing." -- Erik D. Bottcher

On July 23, 2025, Council Member Robert Holden and animal advocates rallied at City Hall, demanding passage of Ryder's Law to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Holden, has not yet reached a council vote or hearing. The rally followed a 'not guilty' verdict in a high-profile horse abuse case. The matter, described as a push 'to end the horse carriage industry in NYC,' drew support from NYCLASS and others. Holden blasted city oversight as 'inexcusable.' Despite the outcry, a safety analyst notes: ending horse carriages will not significantly improve safety for pedestrians or cyclists, since carriages are a small part of street traffic and their removal does not fix systemic road dangers.

• Horse carriages: Animal advocates rally at City Hall to end industry after ‘not guilty’ verdict in horse abuse case, AMNY, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 22 - A southbound driver hit a 31-year-old e-bike rider on E 20th in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured and dislocated lower leg. Police recorded driver inattention as the contributing factor.

An e-bike rider was injured in a midday collision on E 20th Street in Manhattan. The rider, a 31-year-old bicyclist, suffered a dislocation and fracture to the lower leg. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was listed as the contributing factor. The crash involved a southbound e-bike and an unspecified southbound vehicle, both described as going straight ahead. Vehicle records show a left-front-bumper point of impact. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver as the listed error. No other contributing factors were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829954 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 22 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. It struck Kevin Cruickshank, a cyclist, and May Kwok, seated on a bench. Both died. The driver fled. Canal Street remains a deadly corridor for walkers and riders.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-21), a stolen Chevy Malibu sped through a median at Bowery and Canal, killing cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok, who sat on a bench. The driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article quotes Families for Safe Streets: 'Canal Street is one of the most dangerous streets in all of Manhattan—notorious for pedestrian and cyclist fatalities—and a comprehensive redesign is needed to prioritize safety.' The crash highlights ongoing risks from reckless driving and the urgent need for safer street design.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. Two lives ended. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a crash months before. System let her walk. Steel met flesh. The city failed to stop it.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown with a stolen rental car. Months earlier, she hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail eligible under state law. The article notes, "Three months before the fatal high-speed Saturday morning smash up... the 23-year-old driver allegedly clipped a woman... and fled." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat offenders.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A driver failed to yield on West 34th and hit a 23-year-old woman crossing with the signal at Avenue of the Americas. She suffered a bruised lower leg and was left in shock.

A driver failed to yield and hit a 23-year-old woman who was crossing West 34th Street at Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. She suffered a contusion to her lower leg and was in shock after the impact. According to the police report, the contributing factors were 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing with the signal. No vehicle make, model, or registration details were provided in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829244 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02