Gramercy Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand 20 MPH Now

Oct 4 - A bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with an SUV on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV hit the bike’s left side as both traveled south. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 2nd Avenue near East 19th Street in Manhattan around 6 p.m. A 53-year-old male bicyclist traveling south was struck on his left side by a southbound 2022 Subaru SUV. The point of impact was the SUV’s center front end against the bike’s left side doors. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor attributed to the SUV driver. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761244 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 24 - A sedan making a left turn collided with a southbound bicyclist on East 20 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist was ejected, suffering head injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield as contributing factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:10 on East 20 Street near 2 Avenue in Manhattan. A 2024 sedan, traveling northeast and making a left turn, struck a southbound bicyclist going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike and the right front bumper of the sedan. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained head injuries and whiplash, resulting in injury severity level 3 and shock. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the crash. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The sedan driver held a valid license, while the bicyclist had a permit. This collision highlights critical driver errors leading to severe injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 22 - A distracted cyclist struck a 51-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal at an intersection in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The cyclist failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:10 on East 16 Street near Irving Place in Manhattan. The pedestrian, a 51-year-old man, was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a cyclist traveling southbound. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors on the part of the cyclist. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The cyclist's vehicle, a bike, showed no damage and was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report explicitly identifies the cyclist's distracted behavior and failure to yield as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758036 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 19 - A cyclist tore up 3rd Avenue, speed unchecked. He flew from his bike, face smashing hard on East 24th’s pavement. Blood pooled. The night held its breath. He lay semiconscious, helmetless, broken and still.

A 28-year-old cyclist suffered severe facial injuries after crashing on 3rd Avenue at East 24th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when he struck at high speed, his bike’s front end crushed. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, with additional mention of 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was ejected from the bike, landing face-first on the pavement, and was found semiconscious and bleeding. No helmet was worn, as noted in the police report, but the primary causes cited are the rider’s aggressive actions and unsafe velocity. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when speed and aggression combine on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 17 - A 27-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation after colliding with a parked garbage truck on East 23 Street in Manhattan. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The truck was stationary at impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 AM on East 23 Street near 1 Avenue in Manhattan. A 27-year-old male bicyclist traveling north was ejected upon impact with a parked garbage or refuse truck. The truck was stationary, with damage to its right front bumper. The bicyclist sustained a fracture, distortion, and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment at the time. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not indicate any driver errors by the truck operator, as the vehicle was parked. The collision highlights the dangers posed by parked large vehicles to vulnerable road users, especially cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757627 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - A taxi making a left turn collided with a southbound motorcycle on 3 Avenue. Both drivers suffered whiplash injuries. The crash involved driver inattention and unsafe lane changing, resulting in upper arm and neck injuries for occupants.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 3 Avenue near East 15 Street in Manhattan at 16:24. A taxi traveling north was making a left turn when it collided with a motorcycle traveling southbound. The taxi's right front bumper and quarter panel were damaged, and the motorcycle sustained front-end damage. The motorcycle driver, a 32-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash, while a 42-year-old female passenger on the motorcycle sustained upper arm injuries and whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both drivers, with the motorcycle driver also committing unsafe lane changing. No pedestrian or cyclist behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and improper lane changes in vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758842 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 10 - 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 2024-09-10

Sep 3 - G train rolls again. After months of silence, trains run from Queens to Brooklyn. Riders endured shuttle buses, slow streets, no dedicated lanes. Council Member Restler praises upgrades, slams city for missing bus lanes. Modern signals promise speed, but funding future hangs in balance.

On September 3, 2024, the G train returned to full service after a summer shutdown for signal modernization. The $368 million project, led by the MTA, replaced century-old signals with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC), aiming for faster, more reliable service. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) praised the MTA’s handling and shuttle bus communication but criticized the city for not creating dedicated bus lanes during the closure, saying, 'They expressed dismay, however, that the city had not constructed a dedicated lane so shuttle buses could move faster.' Restler called for renewed investment in the MTA, including the resumption of congestion pricing, to fund future upgrades. The project continues through 2027, but no more full shutdowns are planned. The lack of bus lanes during the outage left vulnerable riders exposed to slow, crowded streets.

• Back on track: G train returns to full service following summer shutdown, amny.com, Published 2024-09-03

Aug 20 - A man’s skull cracked on Park Avenue South. A northbound cyclist struck him head-on and did not stop. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The rider vanished. The city’s traffic violence left another body broken, another story unfinished.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old man was struck by a northbound cyclist near 287 Park Avenue South, close to 28th Street in Manhattan. The cyclist hit the pedestrian head-on, causing severe head trauma; the victim lay semiconscious on the asphalt with a cracked skull. The cyclist did not remain at the scene and continued riding north. The report notes the pedestrian stepped into the street without a signal, but does not list any driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The critical driver error highlighted is the cyclist's failure to stop after the crash, as detailed: 'The rider did not stop. The bike rode on.' This incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - A taxi struck a bicyclist merging lanes southbound near 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cited the taxi driver for disregarding traffic control and unsafe lane changing as key factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:40 near 272 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. A taxi traveling southbound collided with a bicyclist who was merging lanes in the same direction. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies the taxi driver’s failure to obey traffic control signals and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors. The bicyclist was unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the bike and the left front bumper of the taxi. The taxi driver was licensed and operating a 2015 Toyota vehicle. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors such as disregarding traffic controls and unsafe lane changes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749555 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 13 - DOT cuts Bedford Slip’s car-free hours. The plaza, once open all week, will now close to cars only on weekends. Locals and advocates wanted more. Businesses pushed back. Most neighbors don’t own cars. The fight for safe space continues.

On August 13, 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it would end 24/7 pedestrianization of Bedford Slip in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The decision, not a council bill but a DOT action, follows a six-week trial during the G train shutdown. DOT will allow car-free hours only on weekends from late September through year’s end. The matter summary: 'DOT Rejects 24-7 Open Street for ‘Bedford Slip,’ Preferring Weekend-Only Hours.' Council Member Lincoln Restler, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez supported a permanent plaza. Katie Denny Horowitz of the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance vowed to keep pushing for full-time closure. DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno said the agency is working with residents on a long-term vision. Most local households rely on transit, biking, or walking. The decision leaves vulnerable road users with less protection during the week.

• DOT Rejects 24-7 Open Street for ‘Bedford Slip,’ Preferring Weekend-Only Hours, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-13

Aug 10 - North Brooklyn residents and lawmakers demand DOT keep Bedford Slip car-free. The plaza, born of subway repairs, became a haven for pedestrians. Over 3,100 back it. Officials urge permanence. Opponents’ safety fears never came true. The fight for public space continues.

On August 10, 2024, North Brooklynites rallied to keep the temporary pedestrian plaza at Bedford Slip, a half-block offshoot of Bedford Avenue north of Nassau Avenue, car-free. The Department of Transportation (DOT) had closed the street to traffic during G train repairs, but plans to reopen it to vehicles. The matter, described as a push to 'continue this vital public space project as a permanent fixture,' drew support from Rep. Nydia Velázquez and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, who sent letters urging DOT to make the plaza permanent. Local organizations, businesses, and over 3,100 petitioners back the effort, citing increased community use and safety. Previous concerns about traffic and safety did not materialize. The plaza is part of a broader movement to reclaim streets for pedestrians in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.

• ‘Save the Slip’: North Brooklynites Urge DOT to Keep Temporary Plaza, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-10

Aug 2 - A 60-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries after his sedan collided with a parked car on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The crash, caused by driver inattention, damaged both vehicles and left the driver bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:02 on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The 60-year-old male driver of a 2023 Tesla sedan was traveling south when he struck a parked sedan on its left side. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the moving vehicle and the left front quarter panel of the parked vehicle. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, along with 'Other Vehicular' factors. The driver sustained a neck injury classified as severity level 3 and complained of contusions and bruises but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. Both vehicles sustained damage to their respective impact points. The driver held a valid New York license. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745774 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 30 - A bicyclist suffered elbow abrasions after an SUV struck him head-on on East 18th Street. The crash, caused by the SUV driver's failure to yield right-of-way, left the cyclist injured but conscious, highlighting dangerous driver errors in Manhattan.

According to the police report, at 11:06 AM on East 18th Street near 2 Avenue in Manhattan, a 25-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2021 Honda SUV struck him at the center front end. The SUV was traveling eastbound, and the bicyclist was heading southbound. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield to the bicyclist. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious and was not ejected from his bike. The bicyclist was unhelmeted, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. This collision underscores the critical impact of driver errors, specifically failure to yield, in causing injuries to vulnerable road users in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744228 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - A 42-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered head injuries after a taxi collided with him on East 21st Street in Manhattan. The driver disregarded traffic control, causing the crash that left the cyclist bruised and injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:49 on East 21st Street near 3 Avenue in Manhattan. A taxi traveling north and a bicyclist traveling west collided. The bicyclist, a 42-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained head injuries, including contusions and bruises. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. The taxi's front center end struck the bicyclist, but the vehicle sustained no damage. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's actions. The driver’s failure to comply with traffic control directly led to the collision and serious injury of the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 17 - A taxi struck a 20-year-old woman in a marked Manhattan crosswalk. She suffered serious leg injuries and shock. The crash left her hurt and exposed the danger taxis pose to people on foot at city intersections.

According to the police report, a taxi collided with a 20-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection of 145th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan at 10:15 p.m. The woman was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. She sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. No passengers were in the taxi at the time. The incident highlights the ongoing risk taxis present to pedestrians at city crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A bus struck a bicyclist from behind on East 23rd Street in Manhattan. The 22-year-old cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the bus driver’s failure to maintain safe distance and improper lane use as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:05 on East 23rd Street near 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. A 2017 Ford bus, traveling east and making a right turn, collided with a westbound bicyclist stopped in traffic. The point of impact was the bus's right rear quarter panel striking the bike’s right rear quarter panel. The bicyclist, a 22-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies the bus driver’s errors as "Following Too Closely" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The bicyclist’s confusion is noted but not blamed. The bus driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time. This collision highlights the dangers posed by close following distances and improper lane maneuvers by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741357 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19