Harlem (North): Streets That Take

May 30 - A taxi turned right on West 129th and hit a 17-year-old cyclist. The girl was ejected and injured her back. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. The street saw impact. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

A taxi collided with a 17-year-old bicyclist at West 129th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. The cyclist, traveling south, was ejected and suffered a back injury. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The taxi was making a right turn when it struck the cyclist, who was going straight. The report lists no contributing factors for the cyclist. An 82-year-old taxi occupant was also involved but not reported injured. The crash highlights driver errors and the dangers faced by vulnerable road users in New York City.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 30 - An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

May 28 - A bus hit a young woman in the crosswalk at Lenox and 135th. She crossed with the signal. The bus turned left. She suffered a head injury. Police list driver inattention and inexperience. The street stayed busy. The system failed her.

A 25-year-old woman was struck by a bus while crossing Lenox Avenue at West 135th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the bus, making a left turn, hit her. She suffered a head injury and was described as semiconscious at the scene. Police identified 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and wore a lap belt. No other injuries were reported among the bus occupants. The report highlights driver error as the primary cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817143 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 27 - A sedan followed too close on Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. The car struck a 19-year-old cyclist. The crash left the cyclist hurt. Police cite tailgating as a cause.

A 19-year-old cyclist was injured on Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd in Manhattan when a sedan, traveling south, followed too closely and struck the bike. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered abrasions to the arm. The sedan's right rear quarter panel was damaged. No other serious injuries were reported. The data lists 'Following Too Closely' as the primary driver error in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817134 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 27 - A police cruiser swerved from a taxi and slammed into two people eating outside. Sirens screamed. Metal struck flesh. Both diners and officers landed in the hospital. The street stayed open. The city kept moving. The system failed the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (May 27, 2025), an NYPD squad car struck two people seated at an outdoor dining area on Broadway and West 112th Street. The crash happened when a taxi made a left turn, prompting the police car to swerve. The article states, “The 37-year-old cab driver was given a summons for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.” Both diners and police vehicle occupants were hospitalized in stable condition. The report notes, “It was not immediately clear if authorities were responding to a call when the incident unfolded.” The incident highlights risks at curbside dining areas and ongoing dangers from driver error and street design. The investigation continues.

• Police Car Hits Diners In Manhattan Crash, New York Post, Published 2025-05-27

May 26 - An SUV struck something hard on Harlem River Drive. The left rear quarter panel crumpled. A 54-year-old woman in the front seat took the blow. She suffered back pain and whiplash. The police listed no clear cause.

A crash occurred on Harlem River Drive involving a Jeep SUV traveling north. According to the police report, the SUV sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel. Three people were involved: a 63-year-old male driver, a 63-year-old male occupant, and a 54-year-old female front passenger. The passenger was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. The report lists her injury severity as moderate. The police report states, 'Contributing factor: Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data. The crash left one person hurt, with the cause undetermined by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20

May 19 - Police handcuff cyclists. Judges toss tickets. Lawmakers protest. NYPD issues criminal summonses for minor bike infractions. Riders face court for actions once legal. Anger grows. The city’s crackdown targets the vulnerable, not the dangerous.

West Side Spirit reported on May 19, 2025, that opposition is mounting against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists for minor traffic violations. Council Member Gale Brewer criticized the move, stating, "A civil summons is a more appropriate response and thrusting people into the criminal justice system unnecessarily is bad public policy." The article notes that some officers issued summonses for actions legalized in 2019, such as cyclists proceeding with a pedestrian walk signal. Many tickets were dismissed in court due to errors by police. A class action lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist ticketed for a legal maneuver. The crackdown raises questions about enforcement priorities and the risk of criminalizing vulnerable road users instead of addressing systemic dangers.

• NYPD Faces Backlash Over Bike Summonses, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-19

May 13 - Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 6 - Box truck passed moped too close on Lenox. Moped driver suffered neck injury. Police cite passing too closely and following too closely. Streets stay harsh for riders.

A box truck and a moped collided on Lenox Avenue near West 135th Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 50-year-old woman, was partially ejected and suffered a neck injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Following Too Closely.' The moped driver was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the truck driver. The report highlights driver errors as key factors in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810948 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 2 - A garbage truck hit a man working in the street. The truck’s driver was distracted. The pedestrian suffered a leg injury. The crash happened at W 145 St and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd.

A 56-year-old man was injured when a garbage truck struck him as he worked in the roadway at W 145 St and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd in Manhattan. According to the police report, the truck was making a right turn when the driver, distracted and inattentive, hit the pedestrian. The man suffered an abrasion and injury to his lower leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The truck showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810121 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A sedan hit a woman and a child in the crosswalk on Lenox Avenue. Both were crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield. The woman suffered a bruised leg. The child was also hurt.

A sedan making a right turn at Lenox Avenue and West 133rd Street struck two pedestrians—a 59-year-old woman and a 4-year-old girl—while they crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The woman suffered a contusion to her lower leg and foot. The child was also injured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 27 - Francisco Guzman Parra died in a burning car after a police chase in Inwood. Officers left the scene unreported. Family demands answers. Two investigations run. Streets stay dangerous. System failed to protect. The dead remain silent.

CBS New York reported on April 27, 2025, that Francisco Andres Guzman Parra, 31, died after crashing a stolen vehicle on Dyckman Street in Manhattan following an NYPD pursuit. The article states, "NYPD sources said the two officers in pursuit returned to their stationhouse without reporting the crash." The FDNY later found Guzman Parra dead in the burning car. Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association claimed officers "lost sight of the car and did not know it crashed," but the family's attorney, Jeremy Feigenbaum, said their investigation "has not corroborated the officers' claim." The officers remain on leave as both the NYPD and the New York attorney general's office investigate. The case raises questions about police pursuit protocols and reporting failures.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-27

Apr 24 - Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - A sedan turned right on Lenox. The driver was distracted. A cyclist was hit and injured. Blood on the street. The system failed to protect her.

A sedan making a right turn on Lenox Avenue struck a 45-year-old woman riding a bike. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor for both the sedan and the bike. The cyclist was partially ejected and left with abrasions. No helmet use was noted as a factor. The crash left the cyclist hurt while the sedan showed no damage. Systemic danger remains for those outside the car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 22 - A cyclist flew from his bike on W 141 St. SUV and motorcycle crashed. Faces and arms bloodied. Traffic control ignored. Pain and abrasion marked the aftermath.

A crash on W 141 St at St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan involved a cyclist, a motorcycle, and an SUV. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was ejected and injured his face. The motorcycle driver, 44, suffered arm injuries. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was a contributing factor for all involved. The SUV and motorcycle drivers were also listed as injured or affected. The cyclist's helmet use was unknown, but the main cause was failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19