Lower the Speed, Save a Life—Or Bury Another Neighbor

Nov 13 - A 46-year-old man riding a motorcycle south on West 77 Street was ejected after colliding with a bus. He suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The motorcycle showed no damage. The bus had no occupants.

According to the police report, a motorcycle driver was injured after a collision with a bus on West 77 Street. The 46-year-old male driver was ejected from his motorcycle and sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The motorcycle was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred, impacting the left front quarter panel of the bus. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any specific driver errors. The bus had no occupants and showed no damage. The motorcyclist was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - Gale Brewer rejects Holden’s e-bike registration push. She calls it ineffective and burdensome. Brewer backs bills for safer batteries and worker training. Thirty-one groups join her. Critics warn registration means more stops, fewer bikes, and more danger for riders.

On November 13, 2023, Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Upper West Side) publicly opposed Council Member Bob Holden’s proposed e-bike registration bill. The bill, not yet passed, would require every e-bike in New York City to be registered with the Department of Transportation. Brewer stated, “I do not believe a blanket e-bike registration rule will make streets safer, nor is NYC DOT equipped to establish, manage or enforce it.” She instead sponsors Intro. 1168, mandating safe lithium-ion batteries for delivery workers, and Intro. 1163, requiring worker training and identification. Thirty-one organizations endorsed Brewer’s approach, calling Holden’s bill “ineffective, dangerous, expensive, short-sighted, and bureaucratically complicated.” Council Members Rita Joseph and Sandy Nurse also withdrew support. Opponents argue the registration bill could suppress e-bike use, increase police stops in communities of color, and worsen traffic violence. Holden dismissed these concerns, insisting his bill is vital for safety.

• Key Upper West Side Pol Gale Brewer Comes Out Against E-Bike Registration Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-13

Nov 10 - A bike struck an 8-year-old boy crossing Riverside Drive with the signal. The child suffered a head injury. Police cite failure to yield and inattention by the cyclist. Impact was at the bike’s front center.

According to the police report, a bike traveling east on Riverside Drive struck an 8-year-old pedestrian who was crossing with the signal near West 85 Street. The child suffered a head abrasion. The report lists the cyclist’s failure to yield right-of-way and inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The point of impact was the bike’s center front end. There is no mention of helmet use or other safety equipment. The crash resulted from the driver’s errors; the pedestrian was not at fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678383 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - A taxi struck a bicyclist from behind on West 79 Street. The cyclist suffered chest bruises but remained conscious. The crash damaged the left side of both vehicles. Police cited the taxi driver for following too closely and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on West 79 Street collided with a bicyclist also traveling west. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old man, sustained chest contusions but was conscious at the scene. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of both vehicles. The taxi driver was cited for following too closely and unsafe speed. The bicyclist was not ejected and was wearing a helmet. The crash caused damage to the left side doors of the taxi and the left front quarter panel of the bike. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677255 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - SUV backed unsafely. Sedan driver hit. Shoulder and arm injured. Whiplash. Parkway traffic. Metal and pain. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, an SUV on Henry Hudson Parkway backed unsafely into a sedan. The sedan driver, a 49-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and restrained at the time of the crash. The SUV had been stopped in traffic before reversing. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor. No other errors or victim actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677667 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - A 43-year-old man was hit by a sedan while working in the roadway on West 86 Street. The driver, distracted and facing glare, struck the pedestrian with the vehicle’s front center. The man suffered a fractured shoulder and dislocation.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on West 86 Street struck a pedestrian working in the roadway at an intersection. The pedestrian, a 43-year-old man, sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm. The report lists the driver’s inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with glare affecting visibility. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or pedestrian error were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 4 - A sedan struck a bicyclist on West 81 Street near Amsterdam Avenue. The cyclist was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries. The driver was distracted. The bike and car both traveled northwest. The cyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan parked on West 81 Street was involved in a collision with a bicyclist traveling northwest. The bicyclist was ejected from the bike and sustained injuries to the shoulder and upper arm, with abrasions reported. The driver of the sedan was identified as inattentive or distracted at the time of the crash. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet. The sedan was damaged on its left side doors, and the bike showed damage to its center front end. The driver of the sedan was licensed, while the bicyclist was unlicensed. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677163 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 23 - Albany lawmakers move to force moped registration before sale. The bill aims to block illegal, unregistered mopeds from city streets. Dealers, not riders, would handle paperwork. Advocates say this targets bad actors and protects pedestrians from rogue machines.

On October 23, 2023, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) introduced a bill in Albany to require moped dealers to register vehicles with the DMV before buyers leave the shop. The bill, supported by Assembly Member Alex Bores (D-Upper East Side), seeks to close a loophole that lets illegal mopeds flood city streets. The matter summary states: 'New legislation in Albany seeks to eliminate the use of illegal mopeds by requiring sellers to register them with the DMV before buyers can take them out of the shop.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This common-sense bill would simply ensure that the registration happens at the point of sale, before someone rides out of the shop.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker's Justice Project backs the move, stressing manufacturer responsibility. Attorney Daniel Flanzig says the law could clear streets of unregistered, dangerous vehicles. The bill is not yet law, but enforcement actions against illegal mopeds are already underway.

• State Lawmaker Seeks to Close Moped-Registration Loophole, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-23

Oct 20 - An SUV making a U-turn struck a moped rider traveling west on West 86 Street. The moped driver was ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and improper lane usage as causes.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male moped driver was injured when a 2021 SUV made a U-turn on West 86 Street and collided with the moped. The moped rider was ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and improper passing or lane usage as contributing factors. The SUV struck the moped on its left side doors, while the moped was hit at its center front end. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672758 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 16 - A distracted driver merged on Henry Hudson Parkway. A 50-year-old motorcyclist was ejected. He hit the ground hard. He suffered leg injuries and abrasions. The crash left the bike smashed at the front.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling southbound on Henry Hudson Parkway collided with another vehicle merging in the same direction. The 50-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. The motorcycle was damaged at the center front end, while the other vehicle was struck on the right front quarter panel. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673799 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - A sedan struck a station wagon on West End Avenue. Both drivers and a front passenger suffered head contusions. Airbags deployed. No ejections. Damage limited to the sedan’s front end. Injuries were moderate but serious enough to note.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male driver and a 47-year-old male front passenger were injured in a collision involving a sedan and a station wagon on West End Avenue. Both occupants sustained head contusions and were conscious at the scene. The sedan showed front-end damage, while the station wagon had no visible damage. Airbags deployed and lap belts were used. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injuries were classified as moderate, with no ejections reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669878 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - Council Member Holden’s e-bike license bill piles red tape on riders but leaves pedestrians exposed. The proposal skips real fixes—wider sidewalks, protected lanes, safer work rules. It targets e-bikes, not the cars and street chaos that truly endanger walkers.

Council Member Robert Holden introduced a bill, co-sponsored by a Council majority, to require licenses for all e-bikes. The bill, discussed in October 2023, has not specified a streamlined process for licensing. The matter’s summary states: 'Holden's bill does nothing to rectify the fundamental issues of inadequate space and dangerous workplace practices.' Holden and his colleagues push regulation, but critics say the bill ignores the real threats: narrow sidewalks, blocked crosswalks, and unsafe delivery work. The proposal would burden riders and discourage micromobility, while failing to address illegal mopeds or car dominance. State Senator Brad Hoylman’s employer-provided ID plan is cited as a better alternative. The opinion calls for protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and fair enforcement, not more bureaucracy. Holden’s bill, critics argue, misses the mark for pedestrian safety.

• Opinion: Holden’s E-Bike License Proposal Misses the Mark on Pedestrian Safety, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-11

Oct 6 - A pick-up truck struck a 55-year-old male bicyclist on Amsterdam Avenue. The cyclist was ejected and suffered facial injuries with minor bleeding. The crash happened at night. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way by the driver as a factor.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old male bicyclist was injured after being hit by a 2023 Ford pick-up truck traveling west on Amsterdam Avenue. The bicyclist, traveling north, was ejected and sustained facial injuries with minor bleeding. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor attributed to the truck driver. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The truck's point of impact was the left front quarter panel, while the bike was struck at its center front end. The driver of the truck was licensed and going straight ahead before the collision. The crash left the bicyclist semiconscious and injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 6 - An e-scooter driver crashed on West 78 Street in Manhattan. He was injured, suffering a head wound and minor bleeding. The driver was semiconscious but not ejected. Unsafe speed and following too closely caused the crash. The parked sedan was undamaged.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured on West 78 Street near Broadway in Manhattan. The driver suffered a head injury and was semiconscious with minor bleeding. The report lists unsafe speed and following too closely as contributing factors. The e-scooter struck a parked 2014 Chevrolet sedan, which sustained no damage. The driver was licensed in New York and was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. No safety equipment was used by the driver. The collision impacted the center front end of the e-scooter. The report does not indicate any fault or actions by other parties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669168 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A cyclist struck a 77-year-old woman crossing with the light at West 76th and Amsterdam. She fell hard. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. The cyclist kept riding. The woman lay conscious, bleeding from the head. The street stayed loud and indifferent.

A northbound cyclist hit a 77-year-old woman as she crossed West 76th Street at Amsterdam Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, the woman fell and suffered severe bleeding from the head. She remained conscious as blood pooled on the crosswalk. The cyclist did not stop. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The victim was crossing with the light. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667967 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 2 - A 54-year-old woman crossing Broadway with the signal was struck by an SUV making a U-turn. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries, left in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Broadway at West 80th Street in Manhattan. The driver of a 2015 SUV was making a U-turn and struck her with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the crash occurred. The report lists driver errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in injury severity level 3 and shock. No safety equipment or contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - A cyclist lies in critical condition after a crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street. Councilmember Shahana Hanif calls out the city’s inaction. The intersection has claimed lives before. The community rallies, but danger remains. Cyclists keep dying. The city stalls.

On September 26, 2023, Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39) issued a statement following a severe crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street in Park Slope. The incident left Jacob Priley, a cyclist and advocate, critically injured. Hanif highlighted the intersection’s deadly history, referencing the 2021 death of Arcellie Muschamp. She pressed the Department of Transportation for urgent safety upgrades, saying, 'How many more crashes until the DOT pays attention?' Hanif noted the recent completion of a protected bike lane on Ninth Street but stressed that more action is needed. She thanked neighbors for their support and vowed to work with the DOT. So far in 2023, 3,702 cyclists have been injured and 22 killed on New York City streets. The city’s pace on safety remains too slow for those at risk.

• Brooklyn rallies behind biker critically injured in Park Slope crash, raises funds for medical bills, amny.com, Published 2023-09-26

Sep 14 - City Council passed a battery buy-back bill. Delivery workers can swap unsafe batteries for certified ones. New rules target deadly lithium-ion fires. Lawmakers demand delivery companies step up. Fourteen dead, over 100 hurt this year. Enforcement on uncertified sales begins soon.

"My bill will make sure the situation changes." -- Gale A. Brewer

On September 14, 2023, the New York City Council passed a package of bills to fight lithium-ion battery fires. The main bill, introduced by Council Member Keith Powers, creates a city-funded buy-back program for delivery workers to exchange faulty batteries and devices for safe, certified ones. The matter summary states the program aims to address the high cost of certified batteries, which can be prohibitive for low-paid workers. Council Members Oswald Feliz and Gale Brewer sponsored additional bills: Feliz's requires safe bikes and batteries for deliveries, while Brewer's mandates delivery apps provide safety training and equipment. Brewer also called for the Department of Transportation to update its safety course. Powers said, "We will provide them the opportunity to surrender that unsafe equipment and receive a safe replacement." The Council's action follows 180 battery fire incidents, 14 deaths, and over 100 injuries this year. Lawmakers push for delivery companies to take responsibility for worker safety and equipment standards. Enforcement against uncertified battery sales will begin soon.

• Council Passes Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Bills to Curb Lithium-Ion Fires, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-14

Sep 12 - A 67-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with an SUV on West 86 Street near Central Park West. The rider suffered fractures and dislocations to his lower leg and foot. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound at impact.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old male bicyclist wearing a helmet was injured when his e-bike collided head-on with a 2022 SUV traveling east on West 86 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both the SUV driver and the bicyclist. The SUV's front center end struck the e-bike's front center end while both were going straight ahead. No other safety equipment or signals were noted. The bicyclist's injury severity was classified as serious but he remained conscious.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662004 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 4 - Pickup slammed into sedan’s rear on Henry Hudson Parkway. Sedan driver, 27, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Both vehicles damaged. No other factors listed.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old man driving a sedan was injured when a pickup truck struck his car from behind on Henry Hudson Parkway. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling north and going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The pickup hit the sedan’s left rear bumper, damaging both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660717 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19