Madison Avenue Bleeds: How Many More Must Fall?

Sep 8 - A sedan driver hit a cyclist at East 96th Street and Madison Avenue. The rider was semiconscious with a neck injury. Police recorded “Passing or Lane Usage Improper” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.”

A driver in a 2007 Toyota sedan, traveling north, hit a cyclist traveling south at East 96th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan at 9:26 p.m. The rider, 26, was semiconscious with a neck injury and complained of whiplash. The driver and another occupant were listed with no injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors recorded were “Passing or Lane Usage Improper” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” The sedan had left‑front bumper damage. The bike had front‑end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 6 - At Lexington and East 66th, a southbound SUV driver hit a westbound taxi in the right side. Three passengers were hurt. Both drivers were injured. Police recorded view obstructed/limited.

At East 66th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, a southbound SUV driver hit the right side of a westbound taxi. The SUV had front-end damage. The taxi’s right-side doors were damaged. Three passengers were hurt: a 28-year-old in the SUV’s front seat, and two taxi riders, both 29. Both drivers, men 47 and 34, were injured. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight and police recorded “View Obstructed/Limited” as a contributing factor. The report lists five people injured in all. No pedestrians or cyclists are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840166 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 4 - A bus driver turned right at E 66 St and 5 Ave and hit a 61-year-old woman in the intersection. She suffered lower-leg crush injuries. Police listed no driver contributing factor.

According to the police report, a bus driver making a right turn at E 66 St and 5 Ave in Manhattan hit a 61-year-old woman in the intersection. She suffered crush injuries to her lower leg. Police coded the point of impact to the bus's right front quarter panel. The crash time was 7:51 p.m. The driver held a New York license and operated a 2021 bus. The report lists no driver contributing factor. No Failure to Yield or other driver error appears in the data. Other listed parties were occupants with unspecified injury status.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• It is time to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York?, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 29 - A taxi driver going east on E 62 St hit a northbound cyclist at Lexington Avenue. The rider went down with a shoulder injury. Police recorded improper passing or lane usage.

A taxi driver hit a cyclist at E 62 St and Lexington Ave in Manhattan. The rider, a 20-year-old man, suffered a shoulder injury and stayed conscious. The taxi moved east. The bike moved north. According to the police report, officers recorded “Passing or Lane Usage Improper.” Police recorded improper passing or lane usage as a contributing factor. Data show damage to the taxi’s right front quarter panel. No serious injuries were listed for the taxi driver. The crash left the rider hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840162 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - The driver of an SUV struck a parked sedan on 5th Avenue at East 70th. Metal buckled. One driver suffered a neck contusion and remained conscious. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

The driver of an SUV struck a parked sedan on 5th Avenue near East 70th in Manhattan. One driver was injured. The injured driver sustained a neck contusion and remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The report also lists "Driver Inexperience" as a contributing factor. The SUV damaged its center front end and struck the sedan at the sedan's center back end. Vehicle occupants’ safety equipment was recorded as a lap belt and harness after the cited driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835499 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 7 - A stolen car tore through Canal and Bowery. Two lives ended. One sat on a bench. One rode a bike. The city now promises changes. Steel and speed met flesh. The street stays dangerous.

NY1 reported on August 7, 2025, that after a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery, the city will upgrade the intersection. On July 19, a stolen car, allegedly driven over 100 mph, killed Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kwok was sitting on a bench. Cruickshank rode his bike on the sidewalk. The article quotes authorities: 'A stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour...crashed into them.' The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and exposes gaps in street design. The Department of Transportation now plans safety improvements.

• Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades, NY1, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - City revives 34th Street busway. Cars lose ground. Buses and trucks get priority. Council pushes for safer, faster travel. Public input next. Streets shift for people, not traffic.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-06) reports the Adams administration will restart the 34th Street busway as part of a Midtown rezoning deal. The city promises a 'car-free 34th Street Busway' after public engagement. The plan restricts cars, giving buses and trucks priority, aiming to cut congestion and improve safety. Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher secured the commitment, linking it to 10,000 new homes. The article notes, 'Busways grant buses and trucks priority by restricting through movement for other vehicles.' Advocates welcome the move but warn other bus projects remain stalled by City Hall.

• 34th Street Busway Returns With Rezoning, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-06

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 - 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 changing lanes hit another sedan on East 96th Street. A 31-year-old woman driving suffered abdomen and pelvis contusions. Police recorded improper lane use and driver inattention.

Two sedans collided at 166 East 96th Street in Manhattan. The driver of one sedan changed lanes and struck the right rear quarter of a second sedan that was going straight. A 31-year-old woman driving was injured to her abdomen and pelvis and listed with contusions. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The report records the first vehicle's pre-crash action as Changing Lanes. Points of impact were the left front bumper and the right rear quarter panel. The second vehicle sustained right rear quarter panel damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

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 - A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, 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 ramp. Thirty people hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens wailed. Another crash this month. The ramp remains a danger.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports about 30 people were injured when two buses collided on the Port Authority Bus Terminal ramp near West 41st Street and Dyer Avenue. The FDNY said, 'only minor injuries' were reported. This marks the second bus crash at the terminal approach this month, highlighting ongoing risks for passengers. NJ Transit delays followed. The article notes, 'A collision involving multiple buses July 2 shut down all NJ Transit service.' The repeated crashes raise questions about ramp safety and traffic management.

• Thirty Hurt In Port Authority Bus Crash, Gothamist, 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