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

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

E-bike rider thrown and hurt on Riverside Drive. Collision with left-turning vehicle. Rider suffered leg and foot injuries. Unsafe speed listed as cause. Manhattan street, daylight, sudden impact.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Riverside Drive near West 96th Street in Manhattan. The collision involved the e-bike traveling north and a vehicle making a left turn westbound. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The rider sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. The driver of the other vehicle was licensed and making a left turn at the time. No other contributing factors or victim errors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4530130 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

A sedan backed unsafely on Riverside Drive, striking another sedan. The driver, a 31-year-old woman, suffered knee and leg injuries. Metal crumpled. The street stayed cold and hard.

According to the police report, a Ford sedan backed unsafely on Riverside Drive and struck a Honda sedan. The driver of the Honda, a 31-year-old woman, was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor. The Ford's left side doors and the Honda's right front bumper were damaged. The injured driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. No other driver errors or victim factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4527438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Gopuff drivers clog Manhattan streets. Double-parked cars block residents. Councilmember Brewer slams the chaos. Menin demands regulation. Delivery apps dodge blame. Locals see more danger, more pollution. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price for unchecked delivery fleets.

On May 11, 2022, Councilmember Gale A. Brewer (District 6) joined calls to regulate app-based grocery delivery vehicles in Manhattan. The matter, described as 'Grocery delivery app Gopuff has begun using cars in addition to bicycles and scooters for deliveries in Manhattan,' highlights growing concern over congestion, double parking, and unlicensed vehicles. Councilmember Julie Menin sent a letter to Gopuff and requested legislation for industry regulation, including licensing. Brewer criticized the added congestion and pollution, stating, 'If Gopuff is using cars for deliveries, they are exacerbating congestion and pollution.' Both councilmembers demand action as residents report blocked streets and trapped cars. The push for regulation aims to protect neighborhoods and vulnerable road users from the dangers of unchecked delivery fleets.

• Grocery app Gopuff snubs traffic laws delivering snacks in NYC, nypost.com, Published 2022-05-11

An e-bike rider struck the right side of a parked SUV on West 85th Street. The rider suffered abrasions and injuries to the knee and lower leg. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected. Confusion contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male e-bike rider collided with the right side doors of a parked BMW SUV on West 85th Street in Manhattan. The rider sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The SUV driver, licensed in New Jersey, was parked at the time. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor to the crash. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The e-bike showed no damage, and the SUV sustained damage to its right side doors. The rider was the only injured party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4526110 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Council Member Gale Brewer pressed NYPD to obey Local Law 6. She called out the department for ignoring illegal parking and placard abuse. Brewer said the law is clear. The NYPD must act. Dangerous streets and blocked lanes remain. The city waits.

On May 5, 2022, Council Member Gale Brewer demanded NYPD compliance with Local Law 6. The law requires weekly checks of at least 25 blocks for placard abuse and illegal parking, plus monthly reports to city officials. Brewer’s letter to Commissioner Keechant Sewell stated, "The Department has not been in compliance with this law, and I respectfully ask the Department to treat illegal parking and placard abuse with the level of urgency it deserves." Brewer dismissed NYPD’s pandemic excuses, insisting, "If it's a law, you got to follow it." She warned that placard abuse endangers road users, clogs streets, and erodes trust. The NYPD has not responded. The Department of Investigation confirmed the NYPD’s failure to meet legal requirements. Brewer’s push highlights the city’s ongoing struggle to protect streets from lawless parking and official neglect.

• Manhattan Pol to NYPD: Follow the Law on Placard Misuse, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-05

An SUV made a right turn and struck an e-scooter from behind on West 79 Street in Manhattan. The e-scooter driver suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The SUV driver followed too closely, causing the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured when a 2021 Lincoln SUV struck him from behind on West 79 Street near West End Avenue. The SUV was making a right turn while the e-scooter was traveling straight north. The point of impact was the SUV's left rear bumper and the e-scooter's left front bumper. The e-scooter driver sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor to the crash. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4526113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Senator Hoylman pushes S 8916 to drop the speed for owner liability. Now, drivers face penalties for going just seven miles over the limit. The bill targets reckless speed, aims to close loopholes.

Senate bill S 8916 was introduced on April 28, 2022, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill 'reduces the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits to more than seven miles per hour over such posted maximum speed limits.' Senator Hoylman, the primary sponsor, seeks to tighten speed camera enforcement. The bill would hold more drivers accountable for speeding, a known threat to pedestrians and cyclists. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure signals a move to protect vulnerable road users.

• File S 8916, Open States, Published 2022-04-28

A taxi driver struck a parked taxi on West 80 Street just after midnight. The moving taxi hit the parked vehicle’s right front bumper with its right rear bumper. The driver, 67, suffered a head contusion but was not ejected. Both vehicles damaged.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north on West 80 Street rear-ended a parked taxi. The point of impact was the moving taxi’s right rear bumper hitting the parked taxi’s right front bumper. The driver of the moving taxi, a 67-year-old man, sustained a head contusion and was injured but remained inside the vehicle, secured by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right bumpers. The driver held a valid New Jersey license and was the sole occupant of the moving taxi.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4523008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A garbage truck making a left turn hit a 49-year-old man working in the roadway at West 75 Street and Amsterdam Avenue. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was semiconscious. The truck showed no damage. Oversized vehicle contributed.

According to the police report, a garbage truck traveling west on West 75 Street made a left turn and struck a 49-year-old male pedestrian working in the roadway at the intersection with Amsterdam Avenue. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was semiconscious at the scene. The truck, occupied by a licensed male driver, showed no damage upon impact. The report lists "Oversized Vehicle" as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors are specified. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers posed by large vehicles operating in busy Manhattan intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4519277 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A new survey shows most drivers use phones while driving. Calls, texts, video chats—nothing stops them. Distracted driving kills. The public wants action. Advocates demand tougher rules, better tech, and higher fines. The toll mounts. Streets stay dangerous.

On March 30, 2022, a survey commissioned by Selective Insurance and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety revealed that 70 percent of licensed drivers used a mobile device while driving in the past three months. The survey, which polled 2,073 U.S. adults, found that 86 percent of those driving for work used a device, and nearly a third joined video calls while driving. The matter summary states: 'A whopping 70 percent of drivers used their cellphones while driving in the last three months, according to a new survey—a startling statistic amid a nationwide spike in traffic crashes and fatalities.' Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, called for advanced safety technologies in all new vehicles. Brenda Hall of Selective Insurance urged employers to enforce distracted driving policies. The survey highlights broad public support for stricter distracted driving enforcement, advanced vehicle safety tech, and higher penalties. No council bill or committee action is attached, but the findings fuel calls for urgent policy change.

• Three-Quarters of Licensed Drivers Used a Mobile Device While Driving, New Survey Finds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-30

A 22-year-old bicyclist suffered a head injury and concussion in a collision involving a pick-up truck and an SUV on West 96 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected. Improper lane usage by a driver contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a crash involving a pick-up truck and a sport utility vehicle on West 96 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist sustained a head injury and concussion but remained conscious and was not ejected from his bike. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error. The pick-up truck struck the bicyclist on the left rear quarter panel while traveling west. The bicyclist was traveling south and had no safety equipment. The SUV and bike both sustained front-end damage. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A pick-up truck turning right struck a bicyclist going straight on Amsterdam Avenue. The 57-year-old cyclist suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The truck’s right front bumper hit the bike’s front center. Driver inattention caused the crash.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck making a right turn on Amsterdam Avenue collided with a bicyclist traveling straight ahead. The bicyclist, a 57-year-old man, sustained a head contusion and was conscious after the crash. The point of impact was the truck’s right front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both the truck driver and the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The truck had two occupants, and the driver was licensed. The bicyclist was unlicensed. No other factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4508893 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

City wants to loosen idling rules. Community Board 4 says no. Advocates warn of dirtier air, sicker kids. DEP claims clarity, but enforcement already weak. Spectrum wants a break. No one supports it. Drivers idle near playgrounds, hospitals. Danger grows.

On March 4, 2022, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held a public hearing on a proposed rule change to New York City's vehicle idling law. The change would broaden the definition of 'processing device,' letting more vehicles idle legally. Manhattan Community Board 4 voted unanimously to reject the change, warning, 'These exemptions... would create an argument that just about any activity that requires power in a vehicle is an idling defense.' State Sen. Brad Hoylman testified, 'Drivers most often idle in front of highly trafficked pedestrian areas... those that live near large roadways face serious health repercussions.' Advocates, residents, and Dr. Patrick Schnell all opposed the proposal, citing health and environmental harm. Spectrum requested a variance, but all testimony opposed it. The DEP claims the change clarifies the law, but enforcement is already weak and large companies are frequent violators. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• AIRBORNE ASSAULT: City Considers Weakening Idling Law that Will Lead to More Pollution, Advocates Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

A 30-year-old man was struck by a southbound taxi on Broadway near West 81st Street. The pedestrian crossed against the signal and suffered a head contusion. The taxi's right front bumper made impact. The victim remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a taxi traveling south on Broadway struck him at the intersection near West 81st Street. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, which is listed as a contributing factor under 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The taxi, a 2015 Chevrolet, was going straight ahead and impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper, causing a head contusion. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle properly. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal was the sole contributing factor identified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4509754 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

A 47-year-old woman was struck by a taxi making a left turn on Broadway at West 83rd Street. She was crossing with the signal when the taxi failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered bruises and leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on Broadway made a left turn and struck a 47-year-old female pedestrian crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. Additionally, pedestrian confusion or error was noted but does not assign blame. The taxi showed no vehicle damage, and the driver was licensed. The impact occurred at the taxi's left front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4507244 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Council members move to ban delivery apps from touting fast times. They say speed promises push riders to risk lives. Brewer slams dark stores for skirting zoning. Gorillas drops its 10-minute pledge, adds store pickup. Riders and pedestrians remain in danger.

On February 25, 2022, Council Member Gale A. Brewer (District 6) joined calls to rein in grocery delivery apps. The bill, still in early stages, aims to ban advertising of rapid delivery times. The matter summary reads: 'ban apps from advertising quick delivery times, arguing they encourage delivery workers to break traffic laws and endanger themselves and pedestrians.' Brewer also pressed for enforcement against 'dark stores' operating in retail zones. She criticized Gorillas' changes as cosmetic, saying, 'They're doing this just to conform [to zoning rules] but it's not really their model.' Councilman Christopher Marte is leading the bill. No safety analyst has formally assessed the impact, but the council’s focus is clear: speed kills, and zoning violations breed chaos.

• Grocery app Gorillas drops 10-minute delivery pledge, adds store pick-up option, nypost.com, Published 2022-02-25