Madison Avenue Bleeds: How Many More Must Fall?

May 30 - Senate backs S 6802. Albany gets school speed cameras. One no vote. Cameras aim to slow drivers near kids. Program ends 2028. Lawmakers move to shield children from reckless speed.

Senate bill S 6802, introduced by Neil D. Breslin, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in Albany. The bill passed committee on May 30, 2023, with only one senator, Andrew J. Lanza, voting no. The official summary reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2028.' Breslin led sponsorship. Seventeen senators voted yes. The program targets driver speed near schools, aiming to protect children and other vulnerable road users. The law sunsets at the end of 2028.

• File S 6802, Open States, Published 2023-05-30

May 18 - Senate bill S 7099 orders complete street design in all DOT projects with state or federal funds. Streets must serve walkers, cyclists, and riders. No more car-first blueprints. Gounardes leads. Hoylman-Sigal, Krueger back him.

Senate bill S 7099, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York Senate. Filed May 18, 2023, the bill 'requires inclusion of complete street design for state and local transportation projects undertaken by DOT or which receive both federal and state funding and are subject to DOT oversight.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the measure. Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Liz Krueger co-sponsor. The bill demands every street project under DOT control put people first—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. No safety analyst note is available yet. The bill aims to end car-centric planning.

• File S 7099, Open States, Published 2023-05-18

May 16 - Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-05-16

May 6 - A 52-year-old female bicyclist was ejected and injured on East 77 Street in Manhattan. The crash involved driver inattention and other vehicular factors. She suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. The bicyclist was conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old female bicyclist riding northbound on East 77 Street was involved in a crash caused by driver inattention and other vehicular factors. The bicyclist was ejected from her bike and sustained abrasions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report notes the bicyclist was unlicensed and traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred at the left side doors of her bike. The crash also involved another vehicle traveling northbound, impacting its right front quarter panel. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash and suffered injury severity level 3. No helmet or signaling factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4627582 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 26 - A 39-year-old male bicyclist was injured on East 77 Street near Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV, stopped in traffic, struck the cyclist on the left side. The rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Driver error involved improper lane usage.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2019 SUV traveling west on East 77 Street struck him on the left side doors. The SUV was stopped in traffic before the collision. The bicyclist, also traveling west, was going straight ahead and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified. The crash highlights the dangers posed by improper lane usage in shared road spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 21 - Taxi struck cyclist on East 90 Street. Rider thrown, left with bruises and leg injuries. Police cite driver distraction and bad lane use. Metal twisted. Blood on the street.

According to the police report, a taxi and a bicycle collided on East 90 Street near Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 55-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The taxi hit the cyclist with its right side doors. The report lists driver errors as "Passenger Distraction" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The cyclist was conscious after the crash. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The taxi, driven by a licensed male, carried two occupants. The crash damaged the taxi’s right side doors and the bike’s front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 21 - A 75-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing at an intersection with the signal. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 3 Avenue and 1406 in Manhattan. She was crossing with the signal when a 2021 GMC SUV traveling north struck her with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her elbow and lower arm and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The SUV showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622699 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - City Council pressed delivery apps to protect workers from deadly e-bike battery fires. Two bills would force companies to provide safe batteries and fireproof charging. FDNY and city officials backed the push. Delivery workers face grave risk. Action is overdue.

On April 18, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on e-bike battery safety. The focus: Intro. 949 and Intro. 950. These bills, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Sanitation, and FDNY to run a buyback program for safe lithium-ion batteries and mandate companies provide fireproof charging containers. The matter title calls on delivery app companies to 'step up' and protect workers from deadly battery fires. Powers declared, 'We're failing as policy makers if we're not protecting folks from that.' Assistant Commissioner Carlos Ortiz and FDNY Code Counsel Julian Bazel testified in support. Both bills have majority Council backing. The Adams administration supports the spirit of the buyback. Delivery workers, mostly low-income immigrants, face high costs for safe batteries and deadly risk from unsafe ones. In 2023 alone, 63 lithium-ion fires caused 52 injuries and five deaths. The Council’s action targets this systemic danger.

• Delivery Apps Should ‘Step Up’ to Help Workers Avoid Deadly Lithium-Ion Fires, City Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-18

Apr 14 - A 24-year-old man crossing Lexington Avenue with the signal was hit by an SUV making a left turn. The vehicle struck him center front. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The driver failed to yield and was distracted.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Lexington Avenue at an intersection with the signal. The pedestrian was struck by a 2020 Jeep SUV traveling south and making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, resulting in shock. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - A sedan struck the back of a dump truck on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. The sedan driver, a 34-year-old man, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles traveled north. The sedan was parked before the crash; the truck was starting in traffic.

According to the police report, a 2017 sedan rear-ended a 2016 dump truck on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. The sedan driver, a 34-year-old man, sustained back injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The dump truck had two occupants and was starting in traffic, while the sedan was parked before the collision. The report lists "Other Vehicular" as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed. The sedan's front center impacted the truck's rear center. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - Uber teams with Zoomo and Equitable Commute Project. They fund e-bike battery trade-ins. The move targets deadly fires from cheap batteries. Delivery workers get safer gear. Mayor Adams and Council Member Powers back the push. Private money steps in where policy lags.

On April 11, 2023, Uber announced a partnership with Zoomo and the Equitable Commute Project to fund two e-bike battery buy-back and trade-in programs. The effort comes as New York City faces a surge in deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries used by delivery workers. The initiative, supported by Mayor Adams and Council Member Keith Powers, aims to get safer, certified batteries into the hands of low-income delivery workers. Powers introduced legislation for a citywide buy-back program, stressing, 'we have to make sure that alongside shutting down the market for unsafe batteries, we remember that there are people affected by this.' Uber will also donate $100,000 to the FDNY Foundation for e-bike safety education. The city’s recent plan to combat battery fires highlights the need for private companies to take responsibility. This partnership marks a rare moment of corporate action to protect vulnerable workers from systemic danger.

• Finally! Uber Helps Fund Two Battery Buy-Back Programs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-11

Apr 11 - Councilmember Restler joins Bronx and Queens colleagues to target fake license plates. The bill slaps heavy fines on dealers selling sham tags. Lawmakers say ghost cars dodge cameras, endanger streets, and let reckless drivers vanish. The crackdown aims to stop the chaos.

Intro 988, introduced on April 11, 2023, targets the sale of fake license plates in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Oswald Feliz, Marjorie Velázquez, and Lincoln Restler, amends laws to ban selling counterfeit tags, with fines starting at $1,000 for first offenses and $2,000 for repeat violations. The measure was brought before the City Council and discussed at a City Hall press conference. The matter summary states the bill 'goes after the unscrupulous used car dealers profiting considerably off a huge black market for phony tags.' Restler, as a sponsor, joins efforts to curb the spread of ghost cars, which evade speed cameras and tolls, making streets more dangerous for everyone. Lawmakers stress that the goal is deterrence, not revenue, and call for further action from online marketplaces and federal agencies.

• Bronx pol proposes crackdown on ‘ghost cars’ with phony plates, amny.com, Published 2023-04-11

Apr 4 - City Council pushes for $3 million to swap dangerous batteries and $61 million more for Fair Fares. They demand safer streets, more paving, and equity for communities hit hardest by crashes. Speaker Adams and Brooks-Powers lead the charge. City Hall resists.

On April 4, 2023, the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, issued its budget response to the mayor’s $103-billion plan. The Council’s $2.7-billion proposal calls for a near-doubling of Fair Fares funding, $3 million for a battery swap and fire outreach program for delivery workers, and $45.1 million more for road paving. The Council also demands increased investment in street safety infrastructure, especially in communities of color facing high crash rates. Brooks-Powers said, 'New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality services and investments in infrastructure citywide.' Council Member Keith Powers called the battery swap program a 'down payment.' The Council’s push aims to restore cuts and address deadly street conditions. City Hall, citing fiscal pressures, remains cautious but open to negotiation.

• Council Budget Response: $3M for Battery Swaps and $61M for Fair Fares (Among Other Things), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-04

Mar 21 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Mar 21 - Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Mar 10 - State senators pressed DOTs to fight e-bike stigma and protect riders. They called for education, better battery rules, and fair treatment for delivery workers. City Hall’s inaction leaves e-bike users exposed. Bans loom while agencies stall. Vulnerable riders pay the price.

On March 2, 2023, State Sen. Jessica Ramos and colleagues sent a letter to city and state DOTs urging action against the 'demonization' of e-bikes and e-scooters. The letter, signed by Ramos and State Sen. Liz Krueger, demanded more education on safe riding and battery use, warning, 'We cannot allow a narrative to build against a vital, green, and growing mode of transportation.' Ramos criticized City Hall for failing to post speed limits and design streets for e-mobility. Krueger backed battery safety bills, while Councilman Bob Holden pushed for outright bans, citing deaths and injuries. The senators warned that inaction could lead to blanket bans, hitting delivery workers hardest. The city’s plan for safe charging hubs faces local opposition. DOT claims a 'holistic approach,' but vulnerable riders remain at risk as agencies drag their feet.

• State Pols Call on DOTs to Counter E-Bike ‘Demonization’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-10

Mar 2 - City Council pushed forward a battery buy-back and tough lithium-ion rules. Delivery workers’ safety and livelihoods hung in the balance. Lawmakers targeted sellers, not riders. The bills aimed to stop deadly fires without punishing those who rely on e-bikes to survive.

On March 2, 2023, the New York City Council advanced a package of lithium-ion battery safety bills. Council Member Keith Powers introduced the buy-back bill, which creates a citywide program for defective or uncertified batteries. Powers said, "We don't want to penalize businesses and workers without thinking about this strategically." The Council also moved bills from Oswald Feliz, Gale Brewer, Alexa Avilés, and Robert Holden. These measures ban uncertified batteries, require fireproof charging containers, mandate public education, and order FDNY reporting on battery fires. Speaker Adrienne Adams clarified the bills target commercial sellers, not workers. Shahana Hanif urged that policy must "keep workers" at the center. The Council and delivery workers’ union stressed that tech companies, not workers, should bear costs. The FDNY opposed the reporting bill over resource concerns. The legislation aims to curb battery fires while protecting delivery workers who depend on e-bikes.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Lithium-Ion Bills Advance in Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-02

Feb 23 - A bus turned right at Fifth Avenue and East 60th. Its rear wheels caught a 69-year-old woman. Her leg was crushed beneath the weight. She lay broken on the pavement. The bus rolled on, untouched. The city swallowed her pain.

A bus struck a 69-year-old woman at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 60th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the bus turned right and its rear wheels crushed the woman’s leg as she crossed at the intersection. She suffered severe crush injuries to her lower leg and foot. The bus sustained no damage. The driver, a 55-year-old man, reported chest pain but remained conscious. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. The violence of the turn left a pedestrian broken on the street, while the bus continued on, unscathed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4608006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - Assembly Bill 4637 would use cameras to keep cars out of bike lanes. The bill targets drivers who block protected lanes. Sponsors say it will protect cyclists from deadly crashes.

Assembly Bill A 4637, now in the sponsorship stage, aims to create a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced on February 21, 2023, enforces restrictions on protected bike lanes using photo devices. The matter title reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill targets drivers who endanger cyclists by blocking protected lanes. No safety analyst note is available.

• File A 4637, Open States, Published 2023-02-21

Feb 16 - Mayor Adams told Albany: the city pays enough for the MTA. State lawmakers pushed back. Hochul wants the city to cover more. The fight over who funds transit leaves riders in limbo. No new money means service cuts or fare hikes loom.

On February 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany to oppose Governor Hochul’s proposal for New York City to contribute an extra $500 million annually to the MTA. Adams argued, “MTA is a statewide obligation. We’re doing our share.” State lawmakers, including Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and State Senator Liz Krueger, countered that the city should help. Hochul’s budget would shift more costs—like Access-A-Ride and student Metrocards—to the city. Progressive lawmakers suggested taxing the wealthy and freezing fares. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins warned, “To increase fares would be detrimental.” The debate continues as the legislature drafts its own budget. No direct safety analysis was provided, but funding gaps threaten transit service, putting vulnerable riders at risk.

• Adams To Albany: Someone Fund The MTA; Albany To Adams: Someone Fund The MTA, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-16