Blood on the Pavement, Silence in City Hall

A bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV struck him on E 26 Street in Manhattan. The crash happened as the cyclist changed lanes. The driver’s inattention was a key factor in the collision, leaving the rider bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on E 26 Street near 2 Avenue in Manhattan at 12:15. A 29-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2020 Ford SUV traveling south struck him on the left rear quarter panel as he changed lanes. The SUV driver was also traveling south and was going straight ahead. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The bicyclist sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. Neither vehicle showed damage. The bicyclist was not using any safety equipment. This collision underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving, particularly when vulnerable road users like cyclists are maneuvering in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785389 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An inattentive SUV driver crashed into a taxi on East 30th. Both drivers hurt. The SUV struck the taxi’s side. Police cite distraction and inexperience. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, a crash took place at 14:10 on East 30th Street near Park Avenue South in Manhattan. A northbound Cadillac SUV collided with an eastbound Chevrolet taxi. Both drivers, men aged 31 and 55, were injured. The SUV's center front hit the taxi's right side doors. The SUV driver suffered chest injuries and whiplash; the taxi driver sustained facial injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The taxi driver had an airbag deploy; the SUV driver used no safety equipment. Driver error is identified as the primary cause. No victim actions contributed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 803 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Streets could clear. Cyclists might breathe easier. Lawmakers back the crackdown. The fight for safe passage continues.

Assembly bill A 803, now in sponsorship, proposes a bicycle lane safety program for New York City. It would enforce restrictions on bike lane use with photo devices. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Primary sponsor Zohran Mamdani leads, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill was introduced January 8, 2025. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure targets drivers who block or endanger cyclists.

• File A 803, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 803 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Streets could clear. Cyclists might breathe easier. Lawmakers back the crackdown. The fight for safe passage continues.

Assembly bill A 803, now in sponsorship, proposes a bicycle lane safety program for New York City. It would enforce restrictions on bike lane use with photo devices. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Primary sponsor Zohran Mamdani leads, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill was introduced January 8, 2025. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure targets drivers who block or endanger cyclists.

• File A 803, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

A taxi veered off Sixth Avenue, mounted the curb, and struck a crowd near Herald Square. Three pedestrians, including a child, landed in the hospital. The driver stayed at the scene. Metal, flesh, and concrete met in Midtown’s holiday rush.

Gothamist (2024-12-26) reports a Midtown crash where a taxi driver, experiencing a medical episode, drove onto the sidewalk at Sixth Avenue and West 34th Street, injuring a 9-year-old boy and two women. Police said, 'they did not suspect any criminality in the crash.' The driver, 58, remained at the scene and was taken for evaluation. Four others declined medical attention. The article notes, 'the driver was driving northbound on Sixth Avenue around 3 p.m. on Wednesday when he jumped the curb and plowed into a crowd.' The incident highlights the persistent risk posed by vehicles in crowded pedestrian zones, regardless of intent or driver health. No policy changes were announced.

• Taxi Jumps Curb, Hits Midtown Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2024-12-26

Congestion pricing stalled. Student OMNY cards left kids behind. E-vehicle crackdowns sparked debate. Police and National Guard flooded subways. Council Member Keith Powers fought for excluded students. Holden pushed e-bike licensing. Enforcement rose. Vulnerable riders faced shifting rules and uneven access.

This annual review covers 2024 NYC transit policy, with Council Member Keith Powers vocal about student OMNY card exclusions. The review, published December 23, 2024, highlights congestion pricing delays, e-vehicle crackdowns, and increased subway enforcement. The matter notes, 'parents in [Powers'] Manhattan district felt slighted that their kids were left out of the free transportation program.' Powers pressed for fair access, saying, 'we're still hearing from families whose children aren't receiving an OMNY card like their classmates.' Council Member Robert Holden pushed for e-bike licensing, drawing fire from advocates. The review documents a year of policy shifts, enforcement surges, and ongoing fights over who gets safe, affordable transit. Vulnerable riders—students, cyclists, pedestrians—remained at the mercy of city decisions.

• Rear view: A look back at the top NYC transit stories of 2024, amny.com, Published 2024-12-23

A police car crossed the line. Metal struck flesh. Samuel Williams, riding his dirt bike, was thrown and killed. Body cam footage shows the officer’s move. Another NYPD car tried the same. The city sent Williams’ family a bill.

NY Daily News (2024-12-23) reports that NYPD body camera footage shows an officer veering into the path of Samuel Williams, a 36-year-old dirt bike rider, during a pursuit on the University Heights Bridge. Williams was struck, thrown, and died from his injuries. The article states, “An officer pursuing dirt bikers suddenly crossed the double yellow line into Williams' path, causing a collision.” Another NYPD vehicle attempted a similar maneuver. The family’s attorney called it a “deadly maneuver” for a minor violation. The city later billed Williams’ family for police vehicle damages. The NYPD has not commented, citing litigation. The case raises questions about police pursuit tactics and accountability.

• NYPD Officer Veers Into Dirt Biker’s Path, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-23

A taxi struck a bicyclist on East 38 Street near Queens Midtown Tunnel. The rider suffered a fractured dislocation and full-body injuries. Police cite the taxi driver’s traffic control disregard and unsafe speed as causes. The cyclist wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 13:21 on East 38 Street in Manhattan involving a taxi and a bicyclist. The taxi driver, traveling south, struck the bicyclist traveling east, impacting the bike’s right front quarter panel with the taxi’s right front bumper. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors attributed to the taxi driver. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old male wearing a helmet, sustained severe injuries including a fractured dislocation affecting his entire body but was not ejected and remained conscious. The police report does not assign any contributing factors to the bicyclist. This crash underscores the dangers posed by drivers ignoring traffic controls and speeding in Manhattan’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782541 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling northeast struck the left rear quarter panel of a parked sedan on East 26th Street in Manhattan. The impact injured a 41-year-old female passenger, causing neck trauma and shock. Driver inattention was cited as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:30 PM on East 26th Street near 1st Avenue in Manhattan. A 2022 Toyota sedan, traveling northeast, collided with the left rear quarter panel of a parked 2019 Hyundai sedan. The impact injured a 41-year-old female occupant seated in the right rear passenger seat of the parked vehicle. She suffered neck injuries and was in shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The driver of the striking vehicle was licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction leading to collisions with stationary vehicles and injury to passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill faces fierce pushback. Advocates warn it targets immigrants and delivery workers. Business groups fear new costs. Supporters say it brings accountability. Streets remain deadly. Cars still kill most. Debate rages. No easy answers.

Intro. 606, known as Priscilla’s Law, was introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden of District 30. The bill, debated on December 12, 2024, sits before the City Council. It would require all e-mobility devices not covered by the state DMV to register with the city’s Department of Transportation. The bill’s summary states it aims to increase accountability for e-bike riders after fatal crashes. Holden, the sponsor, cited dangers from unregulated e-vehicles and hit-and-runs. Advocacy groups, including Los Deliveristas Unidos and Open Plans, argue the bill would unfairly criminalize immigrants and delivery workers, and increase police stops for people of color. The NYC Hospitality Alliance warns of new financial and administrative burdens for small businesses. Both sides agree cars cause far more deaths, but the bill’s critics say better street design, not registration, would protect vulnerable road users.

• Immigrant, hospitality advocacy groups push back on NYC e-bike licensing bill, amny.com, Published 2024-12-12

Fifth Avenue turned car-free for its 200th birthday. Politicians cheered a $150 million redesign. Fewer lanes. Wider sidewalks. Thousands walked where cars once ruled. Council Member Keith Powers joined the call: make the street safer for people, not traffic.

On December 10, 2024, Council Member Keith Powers (District 4) joined Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine to celebrate Fifth Avenue’s 200th anniversary and announce a major redesign. The event, held during the third annual Fifth Avenue Holiday Open Street, made the avenue car-free between 48th and 57th Streets. The $150 million plan, as described by Madelyn Wils, will reduce traffic lanes from five to three and widen sidewalks between Bryant Park and Central Park. Powers and other officials voiced strong support for prioritizing pedestrians, echoing Levine’s call to 'do better here' and make Fifth Avenue a true pedestrian destination. The redesign aims to reclaim space for people, not cars, and signals a shift toward safer, more vibrant streets for all vulnerable road users.

• 5th Avenue at 200: Magnificent Manhattan thoroughfare celebrates past while looking toward the future, amny.com, Published 2024-12-10

Council Member Keith Powers backs a bill to cut NYCHA’s endless sidewalk sheds. The plan aims to shrink shed sprawl, speed up repairs, and reclaim public space. Residents lose sunlight and safety to these hulking structures. The council moves to change that.

Bill details: City Council legislative proposal on sidewalk shed reform, introduced by Council Member Keith Powers (District 4) and others. The bill is under council review as of December 10, 2024. The measure seeks to overhaul regulations that force NYCHA to keep up over 400 sidewalk sheds—spanning 25 miles—often long after repairs finish. The matter summary states, 'reforming parts of the city’s broader shedding regulations that are a poor fit for NYCHA and a nuisance citywide.' Powers and co-sponsor Erik Bottcher aim to reduce shed length, extend inspection cycles, and allow more art and color on scaffolds. Jamie Rubin, NYCHA board head, supports the bill, noting that current rules rob residents of sunlight, safety, and outdoor space. The bill promises to remove unnecessary sheds, reclaim millions in wasted funds, and improve daily life for public housing residents.

• NYCHA has its own scaffold problems, nydailynews.com, Published 2024-12-10

A taxi struck the rear of a sedan traveling east on East 34th Street in Manhattan. The sedan driver suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and whiplash. Police cited other vehicular factors as contributing causes. Both drivers were licensed men.

According to the police report, at 14:50 on East 34th Street near Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, a taxi traveling east collided with the rear of a sedan also traveling east. The point of impact was the taxi's left rear bumper hitting the sedan's center back end. The sedan driver, a 32-year-old licensed male, sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and complained of whiplash. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error or vehicle interaction issues. Both drivers were licensed men operating their vehicles legally. The taxi driver was not ejected and was conscious. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights the dangers of rear-end collisions and driver errors in vehicle operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779594 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 42-year-old man suffered head abrasions after an SUV hit him outside an intersection on FDR Drive. The vehicle’s right front bumper made impact as it traveled south. The pedestrian was conscious but injured, with unspecified contributing factors noted.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2021 Chevrolet SUV traveling south on FDR Drive struck him outside an intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right front bumper, causing head abrasions and a level 3 injury severity. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian and no explicit driver errors such as Failure to Yield or speeding were cited. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even outside crosswalks when vehicles maintain right-of-way without yielding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777391 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04