No More Bodies for the Machines: Demand Safety Now

• Man fatally struck by train at Harlem subway station, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 8 - DOT stands firm on Astoria’s protected bike lanes. Businesses sue. Misinformation clouds facts. Cyclists and pedestrians face delay. Safety waits while lawsuits drag on.

On August 8, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its commitment to protected bike lanes and traffic calming on 31st Street in Astoria, despite a lawsuit from local businesses. The project, not tied to a council bill or committee, aims to cut injuries on a deadly corridor. DOT spokesman Will Livingston said, “We stand firmly behind this project and will defend our work in court.” Council Member Tiffany Caban, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas backed the redesign in June. The safety analyst warns: opposition and misinformation from businesses can stall proven safety measures, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• DOT Stands By Astoria Safety Project Despite Foes’ Anti-Bike Lawsuit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 8 - Officials and advocates raced the M34 bus in Midtown. Walking beat the bus. The street choked with traffic. Buses crawled. Riders waited. The city failed its most vulnerable. Cars ruled. Transit lost.

"It’s time to get buses moving faster, and the busway will do just that. I’m proud to have fought for the busway, and I look forward to faster service on 34th Street." -- Keith Powers

On August 8, 2025, Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani joined transit advocates in Midtown. They raced the M34 bus across 34th Street to expose slow bus speeds. The event asked: 'Is it faster to walk across town or take the bus?' Russo-Lennon and others backed bus improvements, highlighting how cars choke streets and trap riders. The demonstration drew support from Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers, and city officials. The safety analyst notes this was a demonstration, not a policy change, so it does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety or system-wide outcomes.

• Victory on 34th Street: Transit groups, Manhattan pols leave bus in the dust in bustling Midtown, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 6 - City lifts the pause. 34th Street busway returns. Cars lose ground. Buses and trucks get priority. Streets calm. Pedestrians and cyclists gain safer passage. Change comes to Midtown’s core.

""I'm glad that we were able to secure a commitment on the 34th Street busway move ahead to invest in one of our busiest corridors,"" -- Keith Powers

On August 6, 2025, the Adams administration agreed to revive the 34th Street busway as part of a Midtown South rezoning deal. The matter states: "The Administration commits to establishing a car-free 34th Street Busway." Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher secured the commitment, with Powers saying, "We are recreating the success of 14th Street in Midtown." Public engagement is set for 2025. Safety analysts note busways cut private traffic, calm streets, and open space for safer walking and cycling, shifting travel away from cars and reducing risk for vulnerable road users.

• It’s Back! 34th Street Busway Revived In Midtown Rezoning Deal, Streetsblog NYC, 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 6 - Council clears Midtown South rezoning. 9,535 new homes. 34th Street busway goes car-free. Streets shift. Cars lose ground. Public space returns to people. Pedestrians and cyclists gain safety.

Bill: Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan. Status: Approved August 6, 2025, by City Council land use committee and zoning subcommittee. Covers 42 blocks, 9,535 new homes over 10 years. Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher led negotiations. Bottcher called it 'bold, balanced and long overdue.' The plan includes a car-free busway on 34th Street and a $325 million pedestrian-focused Broadway rebuild. Safety analysts note: higher-density housing and car-free streets shift space from cars to people, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through street equity and safety in numbers.

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

Aug 4 - A driver struck a cyclist in Washington Heights. The cyclist survived. Neighbors say the intersection breeds danger. The driver fled. NYPD searches. Streets remain unsafe.

CBS New York reported on August 4, 2025, that a driver hit a cyclist in Washington Heights and left the scene. The article notes, "local residents say the intersection has been a problem for some time." The NYPD is searching for the driver. The incident highlights ongoing risks at this location and points to persistent systemic hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. No mention of charges or arrests. The crash underscores the need for stronger street design and enforcement.

• Cyclist Hit By Driver In Washington Heights, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-04

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

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 25 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two buses collided on a Port Authority ramp. The rear bus hit hard. Thirty injured. Passengers left on stretchers, necks braced. Steel and glass, pain and confusion. The ramp remains a danger.

ABC7 reported on July 24, 2025, that a New Jersey Transit bus rear-ended another on the Port Authority ramp near Dyer Avenue and West 39th Street. Surveillance video showed the rear bus 'zooming up the ramp and ramming the rear of the bus in front of it so hard that it physically pushed the bus forward.' At least 30 people suffered minor injuries, with 27 hospitalized. FDNY cited 'musculoskeletal injuries, neck pain, back pain.' The ramp, a known bottleneck, is set for replacement by 2032. The crash highlights risks in current bus terminal infrastructure and driver speed on crowded ramps.

• Rear Bus Slams Into Another At Port, ABC7, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 22 - A rented sedan sped off the Manhattan Bridge. It struck a cyclist and a pedestrian on Canal Street. Both died at the scene. Police found alcohol and guns in the car. The driver tried to flee. The city failed to keep them safe.

Gothamist (2025-07-22) reports a Staten Island driver, Autumn Ascencio Romero, faces murder and other charges after killing a cyclist and a pedestrian in Chinatown. Prosecutors say she lost control of a rented car at high speed, striking Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Police found 'an open bottle of tequila in the car’s passenger area' and two pistols in the trunk. Witnesses saw the driver and a passenger try to flee. Romero had been charged in a prior Brooklyn crash involving a suspended license. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and gaps in enforcement.

• Driver Held After Chinatown Crash Kills Two, Gothamist, 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 cyclist pedaled through Bowery and Canal. A speeding car lost control. Metal struck flesh. The rider died. Streets stayed loud. Danger lingered.

CBS New York (2025-07-20) reports that Kevin Cruickshank, 55, was killed while cycling at Bowery and Canal. Police said a 'speeding car lost control and struck him.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk to cyclists at busy intersections. The article notes the victim's identity and the circumstances but does not detail any charges. The incident underscores the threat posed by speeding vehicles and the need for stronger street safety measures.

• Cyclist Killed By Speeding Car In Chinatown, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A Chevy sedan struck a cyclist and a pedestrian at Canal and Bowery. Both died at the scene. The drivers tried to flee but were caught. Metal twisted. Lives ended. The street stayed dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu killed a cyclist and a pedestrian near the Manhattan Bridge at 7:30 a.m. Police say the car 'slammed into the two victims.' Two women driving the car tried to flee but were detained. No charges were filed by Saturday afternoon. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. The deaths follow recent city claims of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting persistent risk at busy crossings.

• Chevy Sedan Kills Two Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 17 - A DOT worker fixing a sign near a bike lane was slashed by an e-bike rider with a box cutter. Blood on Broadway. The rider fled. The worker survived. No arrests. The city keeps moving.

According to amny (2025-07-17), a DOT worker was attacked by an e-bike rider at Broadway and Cedar Street while repairing a street sign. Police said the worker backed up his truck, nearly causing a crash with the cyclist. The rider then "whipped out a box cutter and slashed the worker in his left arm and back." The assailant fled. DOT condemned the attack, calling it "abhorrent." No arrests have been made. The incident highlights tensions at work sites near bike lanes and underscores the need for safe conditions for street workers.

• DOT Worker Slashed By E-Biker Downtown, amny, Published 2025-07-17

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jul 3 - Mayor Adams halts 34th Street busway. Streets stay clogged. Pedestrians and bus riders lose. Car dominance remains. Safety and equity stalled.

""The 14th Street busway is a great example of what happens when you do deep public engagement but also remain committed to the goal of speeding up bus service. Elected officials representing this area have come out in support of it. We have a great example from 14th Street that proves out this kind of project, and we do not want to find out another example from this administration of them making last minute decisions to pull important projects without consulting with the elected officials or giving us an alternative plan."" -- Keith Powers

On July 3, 2025, the Adams administration paused the 34th Street busway project, as reported by Streetsblog NYC. The matter, described as a 'highly-anticipated 34th Street busway,' had support from Council Members Erik Bottcher, Keith Powers, and others. Bottcher called it 'transformative,' promising fewer crashes and faster buses. Powers slammed the last-minute reversal. Safety analysts warn: canceling the busway preserves car dominance, discourages transit, and keeps streets unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The project’s future is uncertain. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30