Harlem’s Streets Bleed—It’s Time to End the Killing Field

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Sedan hit a northbound cyclist on Saint Nicholas Avenue. The impact threw the 36-year-old man from his bike. He suffered chest fractures and dislocations. Police cite driver error. The street claimed another body.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Saint Nicholas Avenue struck a northbound bicyclist at 9:30 AM. The 36-year-old cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered severe chest injuries, including fractures and dislocations. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's center front end. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error by the sedan operator. The cyclist wore a helmet, but helmet use was not a contributing factor. The crash left the cyclist injured and conscious. The focus remains on the sedan driver's actions that led to this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730335 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 44-year-old man riding south on Lenox Avenue was ejected and injured. A distracted driver struck him. The crash left the cyclist with leg wounds. Systemic danger and inattention collided in Manhattan.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured near 393 Lenox Avenue in Manhattan at 20:21. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The cyclist, riding south, suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was wearing a helmet. The impact came from another vehicle, unspecified in the report, striking the right side of the bike. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted drivers. No victim fault is mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730569 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A sedan swung wide on West 155th. An e-scooter rider, straight ahead, collided and flew. Blood pooled on the blacktop. The man, gasping, lay conscious, his skull split. Driver inattention and unsafe lane change carved the night.

According to the police report, a sedan making a U-turn on West 155th Street collided with a man riding an e-scooter who was traveling straight. The report states the sedan driver engaged in 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The impact ejected the 39-year-old e-scooter rider, sending him headfirst onto the pavement. The narrative describes him as lying conscious, gasping, with severe head lacerations and a split skull. The police report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver errors. The collision underscores the danger posed by inattentive driving and improper lane changes, which left a vulnerable road user grievously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 16-year-old girl riding east on West 135 Street was injured when an SUV traveling north hit her on the bike's left side. The impact caused bruising and lower leg injuries. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, compounding the crash.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old female bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2021 SUV on West 135 Street at 15:27. The SUV, driven by a licensed female driver going straight north, struck the bicyclist on the left side doors. The bicyclist suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" by the SUV driver as a contributing factor. Additionally, the bicyclist's own confusion or error is noted under "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion." The SUV showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact, but the collision caused significant injury to the vulnerable bicyclist. No safety equipment was used by the bicyclist, but this was not listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724625 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 37-year-old woman crossing 7 Avenue in Manhattan suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a distracted driver hit her. The impact left bruises and contusions, highlighting the dangers of driver inattention on city streets late at night.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at 22:30 on 7 Avenue near West 139 Street in Manhattan. The 37-year-old female pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk when she was struck. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. The vehicle involved is unspecified and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. This incident underscores the critical role of driver focus in preventing harm to vulnerable pedestrians in urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731631 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A bus backing unsafely struck a sedan traveling north on West 154 Street. The sedan’s driver and front passenger suffered back injuries and bruises. The bus was making a U-turn when its right front bumper collided with the sedan’s left side doors.

According to the police report, a bus traveling southeast on West 154 Street was making a U-turn and backed unsafely, striking a northbound sedan. The point of impact was the bus’s right front bumper against the sedan’s left side doors. The sedan’s driver, a 37-year-old man, and front passenger, a 36-year-old woman, were both injured with back contusions and bruises. Both occupants were conscious and not ejected. The bus driver was licensed and operating a 2019 Ford bus. The sedan driver was licensed in Georgia. The primary contributing factor cited in the report is the bus driver’s failure to back safely. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights the danger posed by unsafe backing maneuvers in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan veered at West 141st and St. Nicholas, striking a 22-year-old cyclist. The driver, distracted and failing to hold the lane, sent the rider flying. Blood pooled. The cyclist lay conscious, head bleeding, the bike twisted in the street.

A crash unfolded at the corner of West 141st Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan, where a sedan struck a 22-year-old cyclist, according to the police report. The report states the sedan driver was 'distracted' and failed to maintain lane position, citing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, landing head-first and suffering severe bleeding, with injuries focused on the head. The police report describes the aftermath: 'He flew, landed head-first. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He lay conscious, bleeding.' The bike was left twisted on the street. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver errors. The collision highlights the lethal consequences when drivers fail to pay attention and maintain proper lane discipline.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Van and bike collided eastbound on West 145 Street. Eighteen-year-old bicyclist thrown, face bruised. Van left undamaged. Impact struck bike’s front, van’s left quarter. System failed to protect the rider.

According to the police report, a van and a bicycle collided while both traveled eastbound on West 145 Street at 16:06. The 18-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and suffered facial contusions. The crash struck the bike’s center front and the van’s left front quarter panel. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor for both the van driver and the bicyclist, indicating driver-related errors. The van, a 2013 model registered in New York, sustained no damage. The bicyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after driver errors. No victim behavior was cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722311 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan turned left on West 153 Street and struck a southbound bicyclist. The rider suffered a head injury and concussion. Police cite confusion as a factor. The crash left the cyclist hurt and exposed.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn on West 153 Street near Macombs Place in Manhattan struck a southbound bicyclist at 6:55 AM. The impact was to the sedan's right front bumper and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 31-year-old man, was conscious but suffered a head injury and concussion. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan driver was licensed and turning left, a maneuver that demands caution. The sedan showed no damage, but the bicyclist was left injured, underscoring the danger faced by those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 10-year-old boy riding a bike southbound on West 146 Street was injured in a collision. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify driver errors or victim fault. The child was not ejected and suffered shock and injury.

According to the police report, a 10-year-old male bicyclist traveling southbound on West 146 Street was injured in a crash at 8:05 p.m. The bicyclist was the sole occupant and driver of the bike and was not ejected. The report notes the bicyclist suffered shock and an injury severity rated as 3, but the nature of the injury is unknown. The collision involved another vehicle also traveling southbound, with impact at the left front bumper. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified for the bicyclist and does not cite any driver errors or failures to yield. No helmet or safety equipment was used by the bicyclist, but this is not listed as a contributing factor. The data focuses on the collision impact and injury without assigning fault to the victim or the other party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A distracted driver struck a 38-year-old man crossing West 145 Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and concussion. The impact occurred at the vehicle’s center front end, causing serious harm at a busy intersection.

According to the police report, a vehicle traveling westbound on West 145 Street struck a pedestrian at the intersection near 7 Avenue. The pedestrian, a 38-year-old male, sustained a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion. The point of impact was the vehicle’s center front end, and the vehicle sustained damage to the right front bumper. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash, repeated twice for emphasis. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. No other contributing factors involving the pedestrian were noted. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in busy Manhattan intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716108 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 42-year-old man was injured crossing West 135 Street at an intersection. A BMW sedan making a left turn struck him, causing abrasions and lower leg injuries. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive, according to the police report.

At approximately 8:25 PM on West 135 Street in Manhattan, a BMW sedan traveling northeast made a left turn and struck a 42-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. According to the police report, the driver committed a Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and exhibited Driver Inattention/Distraction. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage despite the center front end impact. The report highlights the driver’s errors as primary contributing factors. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714792 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan struck a box truck from behind on West 145 Street, injuring the sedan driver. The impact damaged the sedan’s right front quarter panel and the truck’s left front bumper. Driver distraction and tailgating caused the crash.

According to the police report, at 14:07 on West 145 Street, a 26-year-old male sedan driver was injured when his vehicle collided with a box truck ahead. The sedan’s right front quarter panel and the truck’s left front bumper sustained damage. The sedan driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, suffered a neck injury described as whiplash and remained conscious. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling westbound and going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The sedan driver’s distraction and failure to maintain a safe distance led directly to the rear-end collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714578 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

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