Madison Avenue Bleeds: How Many More Must Fall?

Nov 10 - Keith Powers and other Manhattan leaders demand Mayor Adams close streets near Rockefeller Center for the holidays. They cite crushing crowds and danger. Tourists spill into traffic. The city stalls. Pedestrian safety hangs in the balance.

On November 10, 2022, Councilman Keith Powers (District 4) and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called for Mayor Eric Adams to reinstate holiday street closures around Rockefeller Center. The push follows prior years when two crosstown blocks were closed to cars to protect pedestrians. The matter, described as 'NYC pols push Eric Adams to bring back Rockefeller Center holiday street closures,' highlights the risk: 'The crowds are just enormous... it’s frankly unsafe to have tourists pushed off the sidewalk and stepping into traffic.' Powers and Levine sent a letter on November 1 but received no response. Powers said, 'The crowds are crushing and demand is overflowing.' Both officials support making the closures permanent to prevent pedestrians from being forced into traffic during peak tourist season.

• NYC pols push Eric Adams to bring back Rockefeller Center holiday street closures, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-10

Oct 21 - A 45-year-old man was struck by a taxi while crossing East 70th Street in Manhattan. The driver, distracted and inattentive, hit the pedestrian with the left front bumper. The man suffered fractures and dislocations to his lower leg and foot.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on East 70th Street struck a 45-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside an intersection. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The taxi driver was licensed and driving straight ahead at the time of impact. The vehicle showed no damage despite the collision. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian error or safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576650 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - City plans to carve out bus and bike lanes on deadly Third Avenue. Advocates and officials back the move but call it timid. No wider sidewalks. No hardened protection. Paint and plastic mark the limits. Pedestrians and cyclists still face risk.

On October 18, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation presented a redesign for Third Avenue, reviewed by Community Board 8's Transportation Committee. The plan, echoing a 2010 First Avenue project, repurposes 23 feet for cyclists and bus riders between E. 59th and E. 96th streets. Council Member Keith Powers and Borough President Mark Levine endorsed the proposal, with Levine stating, 'The redesign’s commitment to expanded protected bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes will turn this particularly dangerous stretch of the roadway into a safer, more efficient, and forward-thinking artery.' Still, Levine and advocates like Anna Melendez (Transportation Alternatives) pressed for more: wider sidewalks, hardened pedestrian islands, and real physical protection. The plan uses only paint and plastic, leaving pedestrians exposed. The proposal faces a full board vote on October 19, 2022. The city calls it a start, but the danger remains.

• Advocates Like (But Don’t Love) the DOT’s Third Ave. Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-18

Oct 13 - DOT plans to rip out car lanes on Third Ave. Buses, bikes, and people get space. Six pedestrians and one cyclist died here since 2016. Councilmember Powers backs the plan. The board votes yes. Locals want more. The city promises action in 2023.

On October 13, 2022, the Department of Transportation unveiled a sweeping redesign for Third Avenue between 59th and 96th streets. The plan, discussed in the Board’s Transportation Committee, would convert two of five northbound car lanes into a dedicated bus lane and a parking-protected bike lane, with new pedestrian islands and signal priority. The committee voted 12-1 in favor. Councilmember Keith Powers, representing District 4, supports the overhaul. A spokesperson said, 'This project will expedite commute times, improve pedestrian safety, increase spaces for bikes, and ensure that cars, buses, and bikes can share the road in harmony.' Third Avenue is a Vision Zero priority corridor, scarred by six pedestrian and one cyclist death since 2016. Hundreds of cyclists ride here daily, despite no bike lane. Residents urged swift, bold action. DOT aims to install improvements in 2023.

• City proposes complete redesign of Third Ave on Upper East Side, amny.com, Published 2022-10-13

Oct 12 - DOT will present its Third Avenue redesign. Seven lanes for cars have left little for walkers, cyclists, or bus riders. Since 2019: one pedestrian killed, 198 injured. Advocates demand fewer car lanes, protected bike paths, and wider sidewalks. Change is overdue.

""I don't like riding on this avenue. It's terrifying, it's bad," Paul Krikler said during a July town hall hearing held by state Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Upper East Side). "We deserve much wider sidewalks so we can get around, not just comfortably, but safely."" -- Liz Krueger

On October 12, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will unveil its Third Avenue redesign proposal to a Manhattan panel. The plan marks the Adams administration's first major street project. The current avenue, with seven northbound car lanes, has seen 703 crashes, one pedestrian death, and 198 injuries since 2019. The matter summary calls for 'reallocation of street space, prioritizing cycling, walking, and public transit over cars.' Advocates like Kate Fillin-Yeh (NACTO) and Paul Krikler (Community Board 8) urge protected bike lanes, busways, and wider sidewalks. Krikler says, 'We deserve much wider sidewalks so we can get around, not just comfortably, but safely.' Transportation Alternatives and Community Board 6 echo these demands. The redesign aims to shift space from cars to people, following models like Paris's Rue de Rivoli. The panel's response will shape the future of vulnerable road user safety on Third Avenue.

• TONIGHT! City Will Unveil Long-Awaited Third Ave. Redesign to Manhattan Panel, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-12

Oct 9 - New York legalized cannabis. No reliable test exists for marijuana-impaired drivers. The state scrambles to train officers and find solutions. Crashes rise in states with legal weed. Senator Liz Krueger says tax revenue will fund enforcement. Vulnerable road users face new risks.

On October 9, 2022, New York State, under Governor Hochul, accelerated cannabis legalization and opened retail shops. The Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act passed in March 2021. The state now faces a gap: 'there are concerns of increased incidences of driving while impaired after cannabis use,' the Department of Health said. Senator Liz Krueger, a key architect, stated, 'Revenue from our legalized system will be used to pay these ongoing costs.' The Department of Health seeks new technology to detect cannabis impairment, as no standard test exists. Nearly 400 officers are trained as drug recognition experts, with thousands more in training. Critics warn DWI issues should have been solved before legalization. As enforcement lags, vulnerable road users face greater danger from impaired drivers.

• Hochul hunts for marijuana DWI test as NY opens cannabis shops, nypost.com, Published 2022-10-09

Sep 22 - A moped struck an SUV pulling out from a parking spot on East 86 Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 62-year-old woman, suffered a head contusion. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a moped traveling west on East 86 Street collided with a station wagon/SUV that was starting from a parking spot. The moped driver, a 62-year-old female wearing a helmet, sustained a head injury described as a contusion. The SUV driver was also westbound but had just begun moving from a parked position. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the primary contributing factor. The impact occurred at the left rear quarter panel of the moped and the left front quarter panel of the SUV. No ejections were reported. The moped driver was conscious and injured, with no other contributing factors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 22 - Manhattan’s Community Board 8 voted 38-3 for protected crosstown bike lanes and a two-way bikeway around Central Park. The move follows a cyclist’s death on E. 85th. Advocates demanded action. The board, once resistant, now shifts toward safety for riders.

On September 22, 2022, Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB8) voted 38-3 to request 'fully protected crosstown bike lanes approximately every 10 blocks between 60th and 110th streets on both sides of Central Park, and a two-way protected bikeway around Central Park.' The resolution had earlier cleared the Transportation Committee 12-2. The measure follows the killing of cyclist Carling Mott by a truck driver on E. 85th Street, where a bike lane had been rejected in 2016. Council Members Julie Menin and Keith Powers, along with Borough President Mark Levine, backed the push. Advocates, including Mott’s boyfriend and parents of student cyclists, spoke out for safety, condemning the board’s past inaction. Only one board member, Marco Tamayo, opposed the resolution. The vote marks a sharp turn for CB8, which had long resisted protected lanes, citing security fears and local opposition. Now, the board calls for comprehensive, protected infrastructure to shield vulnerable road users.

• Upper East Side Community Board Votes for Crosstown Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-22

Sep 21 - A 27-year-old man was struck by a sedan while working in the roadway on East 85 Street near Park Avenue. The driver, making a left turn, failed to pay attention and improperly used the lane. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male pedestrian was injured while working in the roadway at the intersection of East 85 Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan. The driver, operating a 2021 Ford sedan, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The report lists driver inattention and improper lane usage as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact at the right front bumper. The driver was licensed and traveling westbound at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566188 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 21 - Two cyclists rode north on Madison Avenue. The e-bike struck the rear of the bicycle. The 57-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured elbow and dislocated arm. Driver inattention caused the crash. No helmet was worn.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling north on Madison Avenue rear-ended a bicycle going in the same direction. The bicyclist, a 57-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained a fractured elbow and dislocated arm. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead at the time of impact. The bicycle showed no damage, while the e-bike had damage to its center front end. The injured cyclist was conscious but suffered serious upper limb injuries. No safety equipment was worn by the bicyclist. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction among cyclists sharing the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - A motorscooter driver was ejected and suffered head injuries after a collision with an SUV changing lanes on East 62 Street. The scooter struck the SUV’s right front bumper. Unsafe speed was a contributing factor. The rider was semiconscious and injured.

According to the police report, a motorscooter traveling north on East 62 Street collided with a northbound SUV that was changing lanes. The motorscooter driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained head injuries, resulting in a semiconscious state and complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV’s point of impact was the right front bumper, while the motorscooter’s center front end was damaged. Both drivers were licensed men. The motorscooter driver was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers of lane changes combined with excessive speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4564169 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - Manhattan Community Board 8 voted 12-2 for protected crosstown bike lanes after a truck killed cyclist Carling Mott on E. 85th Street. The board demanded urgent action from DOT. Local councilmembers joined the call. The city now faces pressure to act.

On September 7, 2022, Manhattan Community Board 8's Transportation Committee passed a resolution by a 12-2 vote urging the Department of Transportation to install protected bike lanes on every 10 cross streets along Central Park and a two-way protected lane around the park. The resolution followed the death of 28-year-old cyclist Carling Mott, killed by a truck driver on E. 85th Street. The matter, described as a push to 'bring safe bike routes to the neighborhood,' saw support from councilmembers Keith Powers and Julie Menin, who called on DOT to revisit the 85th Street lane and improve safety infrastructure. Advocates and residents backed the plan, demanding action to prevent more deaths. DOT is reviewing the location for possible upgrades. The board's vote renews a fight stalled since 2016 by political opposition.

• Upper East Side Panel Supports Crosstown Bike Lanes — Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-12

Sep 10 - A sedan struck a bicyclist making a left turn on East 94 Street. The cyclist was ejected and suffered hip and upper leg injuries. The driver failed to yield and drove at unsafe speed. The bicyclist was left in shock with pain complaints.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on East 94 Street collided with a bicyclist making a left turn northwest. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, resulting in complaint of pain and nausea. The report lists driver errors including unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way. The sedan's left front bumper struck the bicyclist. The bicyclist was in shock after the crash. The sedan driver was licensed; the bicyclist's license status was unlicensed. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The crash highlights dangerous driver behavior leading to serious injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563671 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 9 - A man on a bike slammed into the back of a stopped SUV on Park Avenue. He flew forward, face-first, blood on the street. He was conscious, forty-three, his face broken by the asphalt. The SUV sat still. The city did not stop.

A 43-year-old man riding a bike struck the rear of a stationary SUV at East 73rd Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the cyclist hit the back of the stopped vehicle, was partially ejected, and suffered facial injuries with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash left blood on the asphalt and the cyclist conscious but hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - A taxi struck a moped on East 79 Street in Manhattan. The taxi driver and passenger suffered head and face contusions. Unsafe speed and driver distraction contributed to the crash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained at impact.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on East 79 Street collided with a moped traveling north near Park Avenue. The taxi's right side doors were impacted by the moped's front end. The taxi driver, a 58-year-old man, and a 60-year-old female passenger were injured, suffering contusions to the head and face. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report lists unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The moped driver was unlicensed. Driver inexperience also contributed to the passenger's injury. No ejections occurred. The crash highlights the dangers of speeding and distracted driving in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563421 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - City Hall stalls on a council-approved plan for school bus stop-arm cameras. Streets near schools stay dangerous. Children walk past risk. Council Member Keith Powers urges action. Advocates press for automated enforcement. The mayor keeps the tool unused.

On September 7, 2022, the Adams administration declined to implement a City Council-approved program allowing cameras on school bus stop arms to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. The bill, sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and co-sponsored by Keith Powers (District 4), aimed to protect children near schools. The matter summary states the law was 'an innovative way to further our goal of promoting street safety.' Powers urged the mayor and DOT to act. Despite evidence from other cities and strong support from advocates like StreetsPAC and Transportation Alternatives, City Hall cited a lack of recent deaths and continued to evaluate the program. The Council bill permitted, but did not require, the enforcement program. Advocates argue the city is missing a proven tool to hold reckless drivers accountable and keep children safe.

• As School Returns, Mayor Adams Keeps a Street Safety Tool in the Drawer, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-09-07

Sep 7 - Mayor Adams shelved a council-approved plan for school bus stop-arm cameras. The law lets the city catch drivers who pass stopped buses. Streets near schools stay dangerous. Advocates push for action. City Hall stalls. Children remain exposed.

Bill number not specified. The City Council passed a law allowing a school bus stop-arm camera program. The measure, sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and co-sponsored by Keith Powers, empowers the city to install cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. On September 7, 2022, Mayor Adams’s administration chose not to implement the program, citing ongoing evaluation and a lack of recent deaths from such incidents. Council Member Powers urged the mayor and DOT to use this tool, calling it 'an innovative way to further our goal of promoting street safety.' Activists from StreetsPAC and Transportation Alternatives criticized the delay, noting that streets near schools are especially dangerous for children, particularly in Black and brown neighborhoods. Evidence from other cities shows stop-arm cameras catch hundreds of violations quickly. The law leaves the program to mayoral discretion. City Hall supports speed cameras but has not acted on stop-arm enforcement.

• As School Returns, Mayor Adams Keeps a Street Safety Tool in the Drawer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-07

Aug 26 - An 82-year-old man was struck on Lexington Avenue while emerging from behind a parked vehicle. The sedan hit him head-on. He suffered a head injury and minor bleeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at impact.

According to the police report, an 82-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Lexington Avenue after emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle. He was struck by a sedan traveling eastbound, which impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and minor bleeding, and was reported to be in shock. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors or violations were noted. The collision caused damage to the sedan's center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4559177 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - The city tore down an award-winning outdoor dining space in Koreatown. Officials promised plazas or bike racks, not more parking. But the site became car storage. Council Member Powers wants something better. The city’s promise to reimagine public space rings hollow.

On August 25, 2022, New York City removed an unused outdoor dining structure in Koreatown. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, claimed, "the future of New York City is reimagining the use of public space." Mayor Eric Adams said he was open to plazas, bike racks, or curb extensions—anything but more car storage. Despite these statements, the site became street parking. Council Member Keith Powers, representing the district, said, "I would love something more interesting here than parking," and called for renewed discussion on a permanent outdoor dining program. The city’s action contradicts its stated vision. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• NYC Transforms Site of Award-Winning Outdoor Dining Space Into Street Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-25

Aug 18 - E-bike slammed into a 37-year-old woman outside the crosswalk. She took the hit to her arm and head. Driver was distracted and inexperienced. Concrete bore the blood. She stayed conscious.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling east on East 76 Street struck a 37-year-old female pedestrian who was not at an intersection. The pedestrian suffered a concussion and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The e-bike’s center front end took the impact. The pedestrian remained conscious after the crash. No mention of safety equipment or pedestrian actions appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556520 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19