Blood on the Pavement, Silence in City Hall

A 37-year-old man on an e-scooter was struck by an SUV turning left on East 38 Street in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured knee and lower leg. The SUV driver failed to yield and was distracted at impact.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured when a 2023 Audi SUV made a left turn on East 38 Street and struck him. The e-scooter rider sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" by the SUV driver. The e-scooter showed no damage, indicating the impact was primarily on the rider. The SUV's left front quarter panel was damaged at the point of impact. No helmet or other safety equipment was noted as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4629000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A bus passed too closely to a sedan on Manhattan’s 1 Avenue near East 38 Street. The sedan driver, 24, suffered a severe back injury with fracture and dislocation. The bus showed no damage. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a bus traveling north on 1 Avenue passed too closely to a sedan making a right turn. The point of impact was the bus's right front bumper against the sedan's left rear bumper. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old male, sustained a serious back injury described as a fracture and dislocation. The report lists "Passing Too Closely" twice as contributing factors, indicating driver error by the bus operator. The sedan driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The bus showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4629261 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 29-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in Manhattan after an SUV made a left turn. The cyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male bicyclist traveling north was struck by a 2017 SUV making a left turn in Manhattan near 575 1 Avenue. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The SUV's left front quarter panel collided with the bike's center front end. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet. The crash highlights driver errors including failure to yield while turning and unsafe speed. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A station wagon SUV struck a sedan from behind on East 34 Street. The sedan’s front passenger, a 54-year-old man, suffered bruises and arm injuries. The crash involved driver distraction and left rear quarter panel damage on the sedan.

According to the police report, a 2018 Tesla sedan traveling north on East 34 Street was rear-ended by a 1999 Mercedes SUV traveling east. The SUV struck the sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The sedan’s front passenger, a 54-year-old man, was injured with contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. Both drivers were licensed. The collision caused damage to the left rear quarter panel of the sedan and the center front end of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4627390 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A northbound SUV struck a parked sedan on FDR Drive. The sedan’s left rear bumper took the hit. Two men and one woman were injured. The driver suffered whiplash; the passenger had facial abrasions. Tire failure and following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV traveling straight ahead rear-ended a parked sedan on FDR Drive. The sedan sustained damage to its left rear bumper. The SUV’s driver was cited for following too closely. Tire failure on one vehicle also contributed to the collision. Two men and one woman were injured. The driver of the SUV, a 45-year-old man, suffered whiplash. A 40-year-old female passenger in the sedan sustained facial abrasions. Both occupants were conscious and not ejected. The report lists contributing factors as tire failure, reaction to an uninvolved vehicle, and following too closely. No pedestrian involvement or helmet use was noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626703 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 29-year-old woman was struck by an SUV on East 32 Street in Manhattan. She was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, driven by a distracted driver, hit her with the left front bumper. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her entire body.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing East 32 Street at an intersection with the signal. The vehicle involved was a Mercedes SUV traveling north, occupied by three people. The driver was licensed in Pennsylvania. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644503 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

City Council pressed delivery apps to protect workers from deadly e-bike battery fires. Two bills would force companies to provide safe batteries and fireproof charging. FDNY and city officials backed the push. Delivery workers face grave risk. Action is overdue.

On April 18, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on e-bike battery safety. The focus: Intro. 949 and Intro. 950. These bills, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Sanitation, and FDNY to run a buyback program for safe lithium-ion batteries and mandate companies provide fireproof charging containers. The matter title calls on delivery app companies to 'step up' and protect workers from deadly battery fires. Powers declared, 'We're failing as policy makers if we're not protecting folks from that.' Assistant Commissioner Carlos Ortiz and FDNY Code Counsel Julian Bazel testified in support. Both bills have majority Council backing. The Adams administration supports the spirit of the buyback. Delivery workers, mostly low-income immigrants, face high costs for safe batteries and deadly risk from unsafe ones. In 2023 alone, 63 lithium-ion fires caused 52 injuries and five deaths. The Council’s action targets this systemic danger.

• Delivery Apps Should ‘Step Up’ to Help Workers Avoid Deadly Lithium-Ion Fires, City Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-18

A 32-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured after a collision with a Ford SUV making a left turn on 2 Avenue near East 32 Street. The rider was ejected and suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The SUV showed no damage.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn on 2 Avenue when it collided with a southbound e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 32-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected and sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists driver errors as unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction. The SUV had no visible damage, and the e-scooter was struck on its center front end. The injured rider was conscious at the scene. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and excessive speed in interactions between motor vehicles and vulnerable e-scooter riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622852 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A taxi backing up on East 27th Street hit a 27-year-old female bicyclist. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was inattentive and distracted at the time of collision.

According to the police report, a taxi driver backing southeast on East 27th Street struck a bicyclist traveling east. The 27-year-old female cyclist was injured, sustaining abrasions and trauma to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The taxi impacted the left rear quarter panel, while the bike suffered damage to its center front end. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from her bike. No safety equipment was noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during vehicle maneuvers such as backing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621368 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Uber teams with Zoomo and Equitable Commute Project. They fund e-bike battery trade-ins. The move targets deadly fires from cheap batteries. Delivery workers get safer gear. Mayor Adams and Council Member Powers back the push. Private money steps in where policy lags.

On April 11, 2023, Uber announced a partnership with Zoomo and the Equitable Commute Project to fund two e-bike battery buy-back and trade-in programs. The effort comes as New York City faces a surge in deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries used by delivery workers. The initiative, supported by Mayor Adams and Council Member Keith Powers, aims to get safer, certified batteries into the hands of low-income delivery workers. Powers introduced legislation for a citywide buy-back program, stressing, 'we have to make sure that alongside shutting down the market for unsafe batteries, we remember that there are people affected by this.' Uber will also donate $100,000 to the FDNY Foundation for e-bike safety education. The city’s recent plan to combat battery fires highlights the need for private companies to take responsibility. This partnership marks a rare moment of corporate action to protect vulnerable workers from systemic danger.

• Finally! Uber Helps Fund Two Battery Buy-Back Programs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-11

Councilmember Restler joins Bronx and Queens colleagues to target fake license plates. The bill slaps heavy fines on dealers selling sham tags. Lawmakers say ghost cars dodge cameras, endanger streets, and let reckless drivers vanish. The crackdown aims to stop the chaos.

Intro 988, introduced on April 11, 2023, targets the sale of fake license plates in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Oswald Feliz, Marjorie Velázquez, and Lincoln Restler, amends laws to ban selling counterfeit tags, with fines starting at $1,000 for first offenses and $2,000 for repeat violations. The measure was brought before the City Council and discussed at a City Hall press conference. The matter summary states the bill 'goes after the unscrupulous used car dealers profiting considerably off a huge black market for phony tags.' Restler, as a sponsor, joins efforts to curb the spread of ghost cars, which evade speed cameras and tolls, making streets more dangerous for everyone. Lawmakers stress that the goal is deterrence, not revenue, and call for further action from online marketplaces and federal agencies.

• Bronx pol proposes crackdown on ‘ghost cars’ with phony plates, amny.com, Published 2023-04-11

A moped and taxi collided on East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 59-year-old man, was partially ejected and injured with abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Driver inexperience and improper lane usage caused the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred between a moped and a taxi on East 42nd Street near Lexington Avenue. The moped driver, a 59-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inexperience and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. The moped driver was unlicensed and wearing a helmet. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling southbound alongside the moped when the impact occurred on the moped's left front quarter panel and the taxi's right side doors. The injuries were classified as moderate, and the moped driver remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618520 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

City Council pushes for $3 million to swap dangerous batteries and $61 million more for Fair Fares. They demand safer streets, more paving, and equity for communities hit hardest by crashes. Speaker Adams and Brooks-Powers lead the charge. City Hall resists.

On April 4, 2023, the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, issued its budget response to the mayor’s $103-billion plan. The Council’s $2.7-billion proposal calls for a near-doubling of Fair Fares funding, $3 million for a battery swap and fire outreach program for delivery workers, and $45.1 million more for road paving. The Council also demands increased investment in street safety infrastructure, especially in communities of color facing high crash rates. Brooks-Powers said, 'New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality services and investments in infrastructure citywide.' Council Member Keith Powers called the battery swap program a 'down payment.' The Council’s push aims to restore cuts and address deadly street conditions. City Hall, citing fiscal pressures, remains cautious but open to negotiation.

• Council Budget Response: $3M for Battery Swaps and $61M for Fair Fares (Among Other Things), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-04

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

A 27-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after a collision with an SUV in Manhattan. The bike struck the SUV’s left front bumper. The rider suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee and lower leg. The SUV driver was licensed and unhurt.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male bicyclist was injured and ejected after colliding with a 2020 Honda SUV traveling east on East 44th Street in Manhattan. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists contributing factors as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" and "Passing Too Closely." The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bike sustained damage to its front end. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The SUV showed no damage. The crash highlights risks from close passing and confusion involving vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4613143 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 46-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with a Jeep SUV making a left turn. The impact struck the bike's left side. The rider suffered bruises and whole-body injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling west in Manhattan made a left turn and struck a northbound bicyclist at the left side doors. The 46-year-old male bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with alcohol involvement. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed in New Jersey and the bicyclist was licensed in New York. The collision caused damage to the left side doors of both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612370 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

City Council pushed forward a battery buy-back and tough lithium-ion rules. Delivery workers’ safety and livelihoods hung in the balance. Lawmakers targeted sellers, not riders. The bills aimed to stop deadly fires without punishing those who rely on e-bikes to survive.

On March 2, 2023, the New York City Council advanced a package of lithium-ion battery safety bills. Council Member Keith Powers introduced the buy-back bill, which creates a citywide program for defective or uncertified batteries. Powers said, "We don't want to penalize businesses and workers without thinking about this strategically." The Council also moved bills from Oswald Feliz, Gale Brewer, Alexa Avilés, and Robert Holden. These measures ban uncertified batteries, require fireproof charging containers, mandate public education, and order FDNY reporting on battery fires. Speaker Adrienne Adams clarified the bills target commercial sellers, not workers. Shahana Hanif urged that policy must "keep workers" at the center. The Council and delivery workers’ union stressed that tech companies, not workers, should bear costs. The FDNY opposed the reporting bill over resource concerns. The legislation aims to curb battery fires while protecting delivery workers who depend on e-bikes.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Lithium-Ion Bills Advance in Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-02

A taxi struck a 17-year-old male bicyclist making a right turn on East 28 Street. The cyclist suffered injuries to his elbow and lower arm, experiencing shock and pain. The taxi impacted the bike’s front center and right side doors were damaged.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on East 28 Street collided with a bicyclist making a right turn. The 17-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining elbow and lower arm injuries and was in shock. The taxi’s right side doors were damaged on impact. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor, indicating a driver error by the taxi operator. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified. The crash highlights the dangers cyclists face when motor vehicles fail to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609169 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-02-28