Aug 8 - Mayor approved a car-free busway on 34th Street after walkers beat the crosstown bus in a 1.2‑mile race. The move targets faster, more reliable service for nearly 30,000 daily riders and to clear jams caused by congestion and illegal parking.

Bill number: none listed. Status: approval announced; stage: SPONSORSHIP. Committee: not listed. Key date: 2025-08-08, the day the crosstown race and public approval were reported. The matter is the "construction of a car-free busway on 34th Street between Third and Ninth avenues." Mayor Adams abandoned opposition and approved construction. Council member Zohran Mamdani celebrated, calling the buses "the slowest buses in the United States of America." Comptroller Brad Lander, Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backed the plan. Advocates say the busway will speed service for almost 30,000 daily riders. No formal safety impact analysis was provided.

• Team Pedestrian Trounces Team Bus in Annual 'Crosstown Bus Challenge', streetsblog.org, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 6 - A carriage horse named Lady collapsed and died on a Manhattan street. Workers hauled her body away. Advocates demand change. The city investigates. The fight over horse-drawn carriages grows louder.

CBS New York (2025-08-06) reports a 15-year-old carriage horse, Lady, collapsed and died at 51st Street and 11th Avenue. The city's Department of Health is investigating. The incident reignited calls for Ryder's Law, which would phase out horse-drawn carriages. Councilman Marte said, "We have animals dying because they're being overworked in the heat." The union claims horses pass annual vet checks and follow temperature rules, but critics dispute this. The case highlights ongoing debate over the safety and future of horse-drawn carriages in New York City.

• Carriage Horse Dies, Sparks Ryder's Law Push, CBS New York, 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 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 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 driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A stolen car tore off the Manhattan Bridge, slammed into a plaza, and killed a cyclist and a woman on a bench. The driver and passenger ran but police caught them. Metal met flesh. Lives ended. The city mourns.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-21) reports a stolen Chevy Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge, crashing into a Bowery plaza at 7:30am. The car killed May Kwok, seated on a bench, and Kevin Scott Cruickshank, a cyclist. The driver and passenger fled but were caught. The article quotes Kwok’s brother: “This is not a car accident. They committed a crime, and they tried to get away from the police because they're reckless.” The crash highlights the lethal risk of high-speed chases and stolen vehicles in dense city spaces. A memorial now stands for the victims.

• Stolen Car Kills Two on Bowery Plaza, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-21

• Cyclist and Pedestrian Killed After Vehicle Jumps Curb in Manhattan, The New York Times, 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 food cart broke loose from a van packed with propane and fuel. It slammed into a parked car with a woman and child inside. Both went to the hospital. Police found 76 propane tanks. The driver faces charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-17), police arrested a 31-year-old van driver after a food cart he was towing broke loose and struck a parked Kia Serrano with a woman and child inside. The article reports, "Firefighters forced entry into the van, removing 76 20-pound propane cylinders and 15 five-gallon fuel containers." The driver was charged with reckless endangerment. The incident highlights the dangers of unsecured loads and hazardous material transport on city streets. Both victims were hospitalized in stable condition. The driver attempted to withhold access to the van, further complicating the response.

• Loose Food Cart Strikes Parked Car in Manhattan, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 14 - Taxi reversed on Amsterdam. Struck a man crossing with the signal. Shoulder injury. Pain. Shock. Night fell. Street stayed dangerous.

A taxi backed north on Amsterdam Avenue at West 65th Street and struck a 32-year-old man crossing with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a shoulder injury and complained of pain and shock. The driver was licensed and uninjured. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The point of impact was the taxi's right rear bumper. No vehicle damage was noted. The crash highlights the risk to pedestrians even when following the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jul 8 - Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 8 - Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - The driver of a pickup truck hit a 16-year-old bicyclist on Broadway at West 63rd Street. The teen was ejected and suffered arm injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention/distraction.

According to the police report, the driver of a pickup truck struck a 16-year-old male bicyclist on Broadway near West 63rd Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist was ejected and recorded injuries to the elbow and lower arm, and reported pain, nausea, and shock. Vehicle records show both the pickup and the bicycle were traveling south and the pickup's point of impact was the left front bumper. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. Police recorded the bicyclist as injured and ejected; the pickup driver was listed as licensed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jul 7 - Adams’s new delivery unit launches in 2028. Forty-five peace officers, no real power. Critics say it targets riders, not bosses. Streets stay risky. No clear safety gains for walkers or cyclists.

""I am not supportive of criminal penalties."" -- Gale A. Brewer

Bill: Department of Sustainable Delivery, announced July 7, 2025. Status: Launch set for 2028 as a 45-person team within DOT. No standalone department. Council Member Gale Brewer and advocates oppose criminal penalties for delivery workers. Brewer pushes Intro. 20, requiring app companies to provide safety gear and training. Critics say the mayor’s plan punishes riders, not companies. Safety analysts note: 'No direct changes to infrastructure, enforcement, or policy for vulnerable road users; no clear safety impact can be determined.' The council may break up the plan and advance its own bills.

• Eric Adams’s ‘Dept. of Sustainable Delivery’ Isn’t Actually A Department, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 3 - Duffy urges Americans to drive to Central Park. His campaign invites more cars into crowded streets. More traffic means more risk for people walking and biking. NYC’s safety takes a hit.

On July 3, 2025, Yoshi Omi-Jarrett responded to federal Secretary Sean Duffy’s 'Great American Road Trip' campaign. The campaign, covered by Streetsblog NYC, pushes Americans to drive to landmarks like Central Park. Council Member Gale Brewer slammed the idea, saying, 'No! And no cars are allowed in Central Park!' Critics note Duffy’s plan ignores New York’s transit strengths and threatens vulnerable road users. Safety analysts warn: 'Encouraging more driving in transit-rich, congested areas increases vehicle traffic, which raises risks for pedestrians and cyclists and undermines mode shift toward safer, more equitable transportation.'

• Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park, 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

Jun 26 - A sedan hit a scooter on Broadway. The scooter rider suffered arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw pain and chaos. No one else was reported hurt.

A sedan collided with a standing scooter on Broadway at West 65th Street in Manhattan. The 34-year-old scooter rider, a woman, was injured in the arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. No other serious injuries were reported among the sedan occupants. The scooter rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash was driven by inattention behind the wheel. The impact left the vulnerable rider hurt while the sedan sustained damage to its right front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jun 23 - A limo driver lost consciousness on Amsterdam Avenue. The crash left a 71-year-old man bleeding from the face. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens cut through the Upper West Side air.

A crash at 200 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan involved a limo and two SUVs. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Lost Consciousness.' A 71-year-old male passenger suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding. The report lists no other driver errors. The injured man was not ejected and wore a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers lose control behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823617 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08