No More Waiting—Lower the Speed, Save a Life

A motorcycle struck the left side of a stopped SUV on West 72 Street. The rider was ejected, suffering head injuries and incoherence. Both vehicles faced north. Limited view contributed to the crash. The motorcyclist was unlicensed but helmeted.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on West 72 Street collided with the left side doors of a stopped SUV also facing north. The motorcycle driver, a 31-year-old male, was ejected and sustained head injuries, resulting in incoherence and complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor for the crash. The motorcyclist was unlicensed but wearing a helmet at the time. The SUV driver was licensed and stopped in traffic. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the motorcycle and the left side doors of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652513 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A motorbike struck the left side of an SUV making a left turn on Broadway in Manhattan. The 23-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered a head contusion. Driver inattention and passing too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, a motorbike traveling north on Broadway collided with an SUV making a left turn. The motorbike's front center impacted the SUV's left side doors. The motorcyclist, a 23-year-old male driver, was ejected and sustained a head injury classified as a contusion with moderate severity. The report lists driver inattention and passing too closely as contributing factors. The motorcyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling north. No other injuries or victims were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652197 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate bill S 7621 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets trigger mandatory speed control tech. Sponsors push to curb repeat danger. No votes yet. Streets stay tense.

Senate bill S 7621, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed August 2, 2023, it 'relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill forces drivers with eleven points in eighteen months, or six speed/red light camera tickets in a year, to install speed-limiting devices. No safety analyst note yet. The measure aims to cut repeat speeding and protect those outside the car.

• File S 7621, Open States, Published 2023-08-02

Manhattan lawmakers want electric cars to pay less under congestion pricing. They argue EVs cut smog, so drivers deserve a break. Critics warn this move keeps streets clogged. Fewer cars mean fewer crashes. The fight pits clean air against crowded roads.

On July 31, 2023, a group of Manhattan elected officials—including Assembly Members Alex Bores, Eddie Gibbs, Deborah Glick, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright; State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Kristen Gonzalez; and Borough President Mark Levine—sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. They urged a congestion pricing discount for electric vehicles, claiming EVs 'do not contribute significantly to the smog and pollution of the Central Business District.' Assembly Member Bores led the effort, stating, 'when it comes to the environmental case, an electric vehicle is just a different profile than a gas-guzzling one.' The officials oppose credits for bridge and tunnel crossings. Congestion pricing advocates and environmental groups counter that EV discounts undermine the core goal: fewer cars, less traffic, safer streets. They note other cities are ending such breaks. The proposal highlights a tension—cleaner air versus safer, less crowded roads for all.

• Manhattan Elected Officials Urge Congestion Pricing Discount For Electric Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-31

Taxi drivers rallied at MTA headquarters. They demanded exemption from new congestion tolls. Council Member Gale Brewer backed their call. Drivers said another fee would crush them. The protest spotlighted the fight over who pays for safer, less crowded streets.

On July 18, 2023, taxi drivers with the New York Taxi Workers Alliance protested outside MTA headquarters. The demonstration targeted the Manhattan congestion pricing plan, which aims to raise $15 billion for the MTA and cut traffic. Drivers argued they already pay hefty surcharges and cannot survive another fee. Council Member Gale A. Brewer (District 6) supported the cabbies, both in a letter to MTA chairman Janno Lieber and at the rally. Brewer said, 'I support the concept, but my main topic was not to charge yellow cabs, period. Not even once.' The protest called for a full exemption for yellow and green cab drivers. The MTA has proposed tolls from $9 to $23, but drivers say even a once-a-day charge would threaten their survival. The event underscored the tension between funding transit and protecting workers who keep the city moving.

• Taxi drivers protest ahead of MTA congestion pricing meeting, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-07-18

Cops seized mopeds from Brooklyn delivery workers. Police claim safety, but data show cars and trucks cause most harm. App companies profit. Immigrant workers pay. Advocates say crackdowns punish the vulnerable, not the reckless. The city misses the real threat.

On July 14, 2023, NYPD officers from Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct seized illegal mopeds from delivery workers outside fast-food chains. The enforcement action follows years of crackdowns dating back to Mayor Bloomberg, ramped up under Mayor de Blasio. Police say the seizures make streets safer, but city crash data show cars and trucks—not e-bikes or mopeds—cause most pedestrian injuries. Delivery worker Roziev Akmal warned, 'Livelihoods will be ruined because of the seizure.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project called it 'another example where you see deliveristas being economically impacted.' State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Council Member Gale Brewer cited constituent complaints, but advocates and legal experts argue enforcement targets workers, not the root causes. The crackdown leaves low-paid, mostly immigrant workers exposed to fines, lost income, and road danger, while app companies escape responsibility.

• Latest Cop Crackdown on Deliveristas Misses the Point: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-14

Cops seized mopeds from Brooklyn delivery workers. Police claim safety, but data show cars and trucks cause most harm. App companies profit. Immigrant workers pay. Advocates say crackdowns punish the vulnerable, not the reckless. The city misses the real threat.

On July 14, 2023, NYPD officers from Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct seized illegal mopeds from delivery workers outside fast-food chains. The enforcement action follows years of crackdowns dating back to Mayor Bloomberg, ramped up under Mayor de Blasio. Police say the seizures make streets safer, but city crash data show cars and trucks—not e-bikes or mopeds—cause most pedestrian injuries. Delivery worker Roziev Akmal warned, 'Livelihoods will be ruined because of the seizure.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project called it 'another example where you see deliveristas being economically impacted.' State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Council Member Gale Brewer cited constituent complaints, but advocates and legal experts argue enforcement targets workers, not the root causes. The crackdown leaves low-paid, mostly immigrant workers exposed to fines, lost income, and road danger, while app companies escape responsibility.

• Latest Cop Crackdown on Deliveristas Misses the Point: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-14

A man crossed Columbus Avenue. A moped hit him head-on. His leg split. Blood pooled on the street. The rider did not stop. The man stayed awake, pain sharp and real. The moped vanished south, leaving injury behind.

A 33-year-old man was crossing Columbus Avenue near West 70th Street in Manhattan when a southbound moped struck him head-on. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a severe leg injury and remained conscious at the scene. The moped did not stop and continued south. The report notes the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but lists driver inattention as a primary cause. The crash left the man bleeding on the asphalt while the moped rider fled, unmarked and unaccounted for.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A pick-up truck struck the rear of a stationary SUV on Henry Hudson Parkway. The truck driver, a 51-year-old man, suffered bruises and arm injuries. Both vehicles were traveling north. The SUV showed no damage; the truck’s front end was damaged.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old male driver in a 2019 pick-up truck collided with the rear of a 2010 Ford SUV on Henry Hudson Parkway. The truck was traveling straight ahead northbound when it impacted the center back end of the SUV. The SUV sustained no damage, while the truck’s center front end was damaged. The truck driver was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. No other occupants or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646426 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Tempers flared on W. 103rd Street. Council Member Gale Brewer called in a mediator. Residents clashed over keeping the Open Street. Pedestrians and children gained space. Drivers lost parking. DOT pressed on. Community split. Safety, inclusion, and slow traffic hung in the balance.

On July 11, 2023, Council Member Gale Brewer intervened in a fierce dispute over the Open Streets program on W. 103rd Street, Upper West Side. The matter, described as a 'heated debate,' forced Brewer to bring in mediator Ayanna Behin for a community meeting. Community Board 7 had already voted 38-1 to support DOT’s plan for permanent safety upgrades—planters, neckdowns, and traffic calming. The project, according to supporters, is 'inclusive, safe,' and will make 'intersections a lot safer.' Opponents cited lost parking and process concerns. Brewer acknowledged the deep divides: generational, class, and car-ownership. DOT will proceed, weighing community feedback. The fight spotlights the city’s struggle to prioritize vulnerable road users over cars.

• Fight Over a Single UWS Open Street is So Bitter, Council Member Called in a Mediator, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-11

Councilmember Lincoln Restler stepped in as tempers flared over the fate of W. 103rd Street’s Open Street. Residents clashed over safety, parking, and public space. Despite mediation, the street’s future remains uncertain. DOT plans safety upgrades, but divisions run deep.

On July 11, 2023, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) intervened in a heated Upper West Side dispute over the Open Streets program on W. 103rd Street. The matter, titled 'Fight Over a Single UWS Open Street is So Bitter, Council Member Called in a Mediator,' saw Restler mentioned as a mediator in a conflict marked by sharp divides. Community Board 7 had previously voted 38-1 to make the Open Street permanent, with DOT planning safety improvements like planters and neckdowns. The meeting, facilitated by Ayanna Behin, exposed generational and class rifts. Supporters cited safety and inclusion for pedestrians and youth. Opponents focused on lost parking and process. Despite the mediation, the Department of Transportation intends to move forward, adjusting plans based on feedback. Vulnerable road users remain at the center of the debate, as the city weighs public space against car dominance.

• Fight Over a Single UWS Open Street is So Bitter, Council Member Called in a Mediator, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-07-11

A 27-year-old man on an e-scooter was injured when an SUV making a left turn struck him on West 60 Street. The rider suffered a hip and upper leg contusion. The crash involved pedestrian confusion and disregarded traffic control.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male e-scooter rider was injured after being struck by a 2014 SUV making a left turn on West 60 Street. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper and the e-scooter's center front end. The rider sustained a contusion to his hip and upper leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists contributing factors as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" and "Traffic Control Disregarded." The SUV driver was licensed and traveling west, while the e-scooter rider was traveling south. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The collision highlights driver errors involving traffic control disregard and confusion by the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642437 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Paris rips out parking. Sidewalks widen. Intersections clear. Mayor Anne Hidalgo puts pedestrians first. No crackdown on e-bikes. Cars, not cyclists, face the squeeze. Advocates say New York should follow. Fewer cars, more space for people. The numbers demand it.

""Hoylman-Sigal did say that banning privately owned e-bikes was 'going too far,' the paper reported, but he also did not focus the safety concerns on drivers and on the city's failure to widen sidewalks, create new micromobility lanes or daylight intersections."" -- Brad Hoylman-Sigal

On June 30, 2023, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced a sweeping policy shift: the new 'Street Code.' The plan, described as giving 'absolute priority for pedestrians,' will remove 70,000 parking spaces by 2026, daylight all intersections, widen sidewalks, and expand bike lanes. Hidalgo rejects harsh measures against e-bikes, focusing instead on reducing car dominance and discouraging SUVs through progressive parking fees. Council Member Gale A. Brewer, District 6, is mentioned in the context of New York’s contrasting approach, where enforcement often targets e-bikes rather than cars. Advocates highlight that cars and trucks cause most pedestrian injuries and deaths. They urge New York to emulate Paris—reclaiming street space from cars, not blaming micromobility. The data is clear: fewer cars mean safer streets for all.

• Paris Mayor Enters Fray Between E-Bikes and Pedestrians — By Fighting Drivers, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-30

A 59-year-old woman was injured while getting on or off a vehicle on West 63 Street in Manhattan. She suffered a head abrasion. The e-scooter hit her center front, causing moderate injury. No driver errors were specified.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old female pedestrian was injured on West 63 Street near West End Avenue in Manhattan. She was getting on or off a vehicle when an e-scooter traveling west struck her at the center front end. The pedestrian sustained a head abrasion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for the crash, only unspecified factors related to the pedestrian. The e-scooter was moving straight ahead at the time of impact. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The collision caused moderate injury but no ejection or loss of consciousness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Lynn Schulman calls for a public referendum to end NYC’s carriage horse trade. She slams council inaction and union power. Streets remain deadly for horses and people. The city’s leaders stall. The public demands change. The fight continues.

On June 27, 2023, Council Member Lynn Schulman (District 29) published an editorial urging a public referendum to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The editorial, titled "With politicians fearful of the TWU, a public referendum is the answer," criticizes the City Council’s failure to act on a bill that would replace horses with electric carriages. Schulman highlights that only 18 of 51 council members sponsor the bill, despite strong public support and past campaign promises. She names Justin Brennan, Gale Brewer, Julie Menin, and herself among those who have not advanced the legislation. Schulman blames union influence for the council’s inaction, citing 115 accidents and 27 horse deaths over decades. She calls for a citizen ballot initiative to bypass political gridlock and protect both horses and the public from ongoing street danger.

• With politicians fearful of the TWU, a public referendum is the answer, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-27

Council grilled city plans for curbside car chargers. Advocates warned: car plugs block bike lanes, trap the curb. Brewer said delivery workers need e-bike charging, not car stations. No e-bike chargers installed yet. The fight for street space rages on.

On June 26, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The session, led by Council Member Gale Brewer, focused on the matter: 'Charging Ahead? The City Needs Plugs for E-Bikes, Not Cars.' Brewer emphasized, 'I don't hear people calling me up, saying, I need a charging station for my electric car.' Advocates Jackson Chabot and Samir Lavingia argued that curbside EV chargers for cars would 'lock in' car use and block future bike lanes or outdoor dining. Eric McClure of StreetsPAC warned against re-privatizing the curb for car owners. Both Chabot and Lavingia backed Council Member Justin Brannan's bill to require EV-ready parking in garages. Despite city plans, no e-bike charging stations have been installed yet. The hearing spotlighted the urgent need to prioritize vulnerable road users over private cars.

• Charging Ahead? The City Needs Plugs for E-Bikes, Not Cars, Advocates and Pols Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-26

A 46-year-old man driving a sedan on West 61 Street in Manhattan was injured in a crash while making a left turn. The vehicle struck an object with its front center. The driver suffered a head abrasion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on West 61 Street near Columbus Avenue in Manhattan. The driver was operating a 2023 Hyundai sedan traveling south and was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage in the same area. The driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The injury was a head abrasion, and the driver remained conscious. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating impaired operation. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640616 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Albany keeps the keys. The Assembly refused to vote on Sammy’s Law. The city stays locked out of lowering its own speed limits. Advocates rage. Another year, another failure. Streets remain fast. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay exposed.

Sammy’s Law, blocked again. The bill—named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a van at age 12—would let New York City set its own speed limits, dropping the default to 20 mph and some streets to 10 mph. The Senate passed it 55-7, but the Assembly ended its June 22, 2023 session without a vote. Assembly sponsor Linda Rosenthal said, 'We just can't be deterred.' Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal called the failure 'heartbreaking.' Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring it to the floor. Advocates say the city’s hands are tied while deaths and injuries mount. The Council and Mayor Adams support the bill. For the third year, Albany blocks local control. Streets stay dangerous. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Sammy’s Law advocates angry after push to give NYC power over its speed limit fails in Assembly, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-22

Albany keeps the keys. The Assembly refused to vote on Sammy’s Law. The city stays locked out of lowering its own speed limits. Advocates rage. Another year, another failure. Streets remain fast. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay exposed.

Sammy’s Law, blocked again. The bill—named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a van at age 12—would let New York City set its own speed limits, dropping the default to 20 mph and some streets to 10 mph. The Senate passed it 55-7, but the Assembly ended its June 22, 2023 session without a vote. Assembly sponsor Linda Rosenthal said, 'We just can't be deterred.' Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal called the failure 'heartbreaking.' Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring it to the floor. Advocates say the city’s hands are tied while deaths and injuries mount. The Council and Mayor Adams support the bill. For the third year, Albany blocks local control. Streets stay dangerous. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Sammy’s Law advocates angry after push to give NYC power over its speed limit fails in Assembly, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-22

Sammy’s Law hit a wall in Albany. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly. Advocates and families mourn another delay. Streets stay fast. Vulnerable lives remain at risk.

Sammy’s Law, a bill to let New York City set and lower its speed limits, stalled in the Assembly on June 19, 2023. The bill passed the state Senate but did not reach a vote in the Assembly, blocked by Speaker Carl Heastie and opposition from outerborough members. The City Council, including Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, supported the measure with a home rule message. The bill’s summary: 'allow New York City to set speed limits as low as 10 mph on some streets and 20 mph citywide.' Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill in the Assembly. Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams both backed it. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal called it 'common sense.' Advocates, including Amy Cohen, mother of the bill’s namesake, vow to keep fighting. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill’s failure leaves city streets unchanged and vulnerable road users exposed.

• Sammy’s Law bill to let NYC set speed limit falters, supporters hoping special Assembly session will finally push it through, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-19