Morningside Heights: Drivers Keep Hitting. Officials Keep Waiting.

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 18 - SUV struck sedan from behind on Henry Hudson Parkway. Passenger in sedan suffered facial bruises. Driver followed too closely and reacted late. Impact was hard and sudden. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV traveling south on Henry Hudson Parkway rear-ended a sedan moving in the same direction. The SUV driver was cited for 'Following Too Closely' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' The crash left a 24-year-old male front passenger in the sedan with facial contusions. He was conscious, not ejected, and protected by an airbag and lap belt. The report lists driver error—failure to keep a safe distance and slow reaction—as the main causes. The collision underscores the danger when drivers do not maintain proper following distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710607 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 14 - Columbia will widen escalators at 125th Street but refuses to fund elevators. Disabled riders face long detours. Politicians and students demand action. The university’s $13-billion endowment stays untouched. Public money must fill the gap. Progress stalls. Riders wait. Access denied.

This debate centers on Columbia University’s refusal to pay for elevators at the 125th Street 1 train station, despite its West Harlem campus expansion. The project is not a council bill but a protracted standoff, with the MTA and local officials pressing Columbia to fund full ADA accessibility. The university will pay to widen escalators but insists public funds should cover elevators, citing project approval before the Zoning for Accessibility law (October 2021). Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine calls elevator access 'the top priority among station accessibility projects in the borough.' Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell’s office slams Columbia’s lack of transparency and urges investment, noting the school’s $13-billion endowment and $179 million in tax breaks. Students and disabled riders face daily hardship. The MTA, Council Member Shaun Abreu, and advocates push for progress, but Columbia stalls. No elevator, no access. Vulnerable users remain shut out.

• Columbia U. Wants Public to Pay for Transit Improvements on Campus, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-14

Mar 11 - A 32-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered head injuries after a pick-up truck made a U-turn and collided with him. The crash involved driver distraction and unsafe lane changing, resulting in minor bleeding and shock for the cyclist.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Amsterdam Avenue at 18:22. A 32-year-old male bicyclist, wearing a helmet, was traveling north when a 2019 Ford pick-up truck, traveling west and making a U-turn, struck him on the left front quarter panel. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained head injuries with minor bleeding and was in shock. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The bicyclist was not cited for any contributing factors. The collision caused damage to the front end of the bike and the left front quarter panel of the truck. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and unsafe maneuvers in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 11 - An e-scooter driver in Manhattan suffered a severe arm fracture after losing control. According to the police report, driver inexperience was a key factor. The rider wore a helmet but still sustained serious injury while slowing down on Broadway.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling north on Broadway in Manhattan was injured at 14:38. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The rider was slowing or stopping when the incident occurred, sustaining a fracture and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The driver was conscious and wearing a helmet classified as 'Helmet Only (In-Line Skater/Bicyclist).' No vehicle damage or ejection was reported. The injury severity was rated 3, indicating a serious injury. The report does not indicate any involvement of other vehicles or pedestrians, focusing solely on the rider's loss of control due to inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 7 - Council bill demands DOT fix NYCHA sidewalks first. Seniors come before all. Broken walks trip, injure, kill. Law forces city to show its work. No more hiding behind red tape.

Bill Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. It orders the DOT to prioritize sidewalk repairs at NYCHA sites, with senior housing first. The bill summary reads: 'establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Shaun Abreu, Shahana K. Hanif, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Sandy Nurse, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Lincoln Restler, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., and Farah N. Louis. The law also requires public reporting of repairs and timelines. Sidewalk neglect endangers NYCHA residents—this bill aims to force action and transparency.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 3 - SUV crashed into ambulance’s rear on Amsterdam Avenue. Driver hurt her back. Police cite tailgating. Three in ambulance. Both vehicles damaged. System failed to protect against close following.

According to the police report, a 2024 SUV rear-ended a 2020 Ford ambulance on Amsterdam Avenue near West 118 Street in Manhattan at 1:41 p.m. The SUV driver, a 46-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. The ambulance, traveling south with three occupants, was struck in the center rear. Police list "Following Too Closely" as the main contributing factor, pointing to driver error by the SUV operator. Both vehicles sustained damage. No contributing actions by ambulance occupants are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706674 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Feb 28 - Council bill demands NYPD track every time cops use cars as weapons. No more hiding behind vague stats. Each crash, each injury, must be counted. The city moves closer to truth.

Int 0255-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by Hudson, Won, Hanif, Bottcher, Brewer, Avilés, Abreu, Ossé, Krishnan, Williams, Cabán, Nurse, Sanchez, and at the Brooklyn Borough President's request. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.' It forces the NYPD to report every use of a car to control a subject. No more lumping these acts with other force. The bill aims for hard numbers and real accountability. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—will no longer be invisible in police data.

• File Int 0255-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 19 - A moped driver was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries after a collision with an SUV making a left turn on West 125 Street. Police cited failure to yield and driver distraction as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:45 on West 125 Street involving a 2017 Nissan SUV and a moped. The SUV driver, licensed and making a left turn, struck the moped traveling straight east. The moped driver, unlicensed and male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a fractured, dislocated lower leg and foot injury. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors, emphasizing driver errors by the SUV operator. The moped driver’s unlicensed status is noted but not cited as a contributing factor to the crash. The collision impact was on the SUV's right front quarter panel and the moped's center front end, highlighting the point of contact and severity of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Feb 13 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

Feb 8 - A pick-up truck turned left on West 125th. The driver, inexperienced and distracted, struck a 71-year-old woman. She suffered chest injuries and shock. Pain and nausea followed. The street bore the mark of driver error.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck traveling west on West 125 Street made a left turn and struck a 71-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian suffered chest trauma, shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2008 GMC pick-up truck with one passenger. The point of impact and vehicle damage are marked as 'Other.' No contributing factors related to the pedestrian were listed. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver inexperience and distraction in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Jan 16 - Thousands of cars without plates clog New York streets. City agencies barely act. Drivers dodge tickets and accountability. Council Members Nurse and Abreu demand action. The city shrugs. Plateless cars stay. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

Council Member Shaun Abreu introduced a bill in September 2023 to streamline the Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) towing of plateless vehicles. The bill remains stalled after DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch testified against it, citing operational and legal hurdles. The matter, discussed in the Sanitation Committee led by Council Member Sandy Nurse, highlights a citywide crisis: over 51,000 complaints about plateless cars in 2023, but only 1,821 removals. The article quotes Nurse—'Cars with ghost plates are a risk to public safety'—and Abreu, who calls the city’s inaction a repurposing of public space for dumping. Despite a DSNY/NYPD task force, enforcement remains weak. The city’s failure leaves reckless drivers unaccountable and endangers everyone outside a car.

• No License Plates? No Problem! Scofflaw Drivers Remove Tags Yet Rarely Get Caught, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-16

Jan 16 - Thousands of cars without plates clog city streets. Enforcement is weak. Only a fraction get towed. Council Member Sandy Nurse calls ghost plates a public safety risk. The city’s response is slow. Vulnerable road users pay the price for inaction.

On January 16, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on traffic enforcement for plateless vehicles. The Sanitation Committee, chaired by Council Member Sandy Nurse (District 37), led the debate. The hearing focused on the city’s failure to remove unregistered, plateless cars. In 2023, over 51,000 complaints were filed, but only 1,821 cars were towed. Nurse said, 'Cars with ghost plates are a risk to public safety.' Council Member Shaun Abreu pushed for a bill to streamline the Department of Sanitation’s towing process, but DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch opposed it, citing legal and operational hurdles. The NYPD and DSNY formed a task force, but advocates and councilmembers say it is not enough. The city’s lack of action leaves vulnerable road users exposed to reckless, untraceable drivers.

• No License Plates? No Problem! Scofflaw Drivers Remove Tags Yet Rarely Get Caught, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-16

Jan 16 - SUV turned left on Amsterdam Avenue. Struck a 67-year-old man crossing with the signal. Driver failed to yield. Pedestrian suffered knee and leg injuries. He stayed conscious. No damage to the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old man was crossing Amsterdam Avenue at West 114 Street with the signal when a 2015 Jeep SUV, making a left turn, struck him with its left front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver's contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious after the crash. The driver, a licensed woman from New Jersey, was alone in the vehicle. No damage was reported to the SUV. The police report attributes the crash to the driver's failure to yield; the pedestrian was crossing lawfully with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695580 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 18 - A taxi hit hard on Morningside Drive. Four SUVs crumpled. Metal shrieked. A 44-year-old man burned in the back seat. His chest blistered. He stayed awake. Airbags hung limp. Smoke filled the street.

A violent crash erupted near 50 Morningside Drive in Manhattan. According to the police report, a taxi struck at unsafe speed, colliding with four SUVs. The impact left a 44-year-old male passenger in the taxi with severe chest burns. He remained conscious as airbags deployed and the street filled with smoke. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No helmet or signal issues are noted. The crash underscores the danger when drivers exceed safe speeds. The man’s injuries came as metal twisted and vehicles piled up. The police report details the chaos: 'A taxi hit fast. Four SUVs crumpled. Metal screamed. A man, 44, burned in the back seat. His chest blistered. He stayed conscious. Airbags hung limp. The street smoked.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Nov 30 - A 37-year-old man on an e-scooter suffered a concussion after a collision on Riverside Drive in Manhattan. The rider was conscious and not ejected. The crash caused head injury but no vehicle damage was reported. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling south on Riverside Drive was injured in a collision. The rider sustained a head injury resulting in a concussion but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors identified. The e-scooter showed no damage, and the point of impact was noted as 'Other.' No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The report does not mention any safety equipment or helmet use. The crash highlights the risks faced by vulnerable road users even when no clear fault is assigned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17