Blood on Broadway: Slow the Cars, Save the Living

A distracted sedan driver struck a helmeted 29-year-old male e-bicyclist traveling south on Broadway in Manhattan. The cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The sedan was parked and showed no damage at impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:00 near 4177 Broadway in Manhattan. The collision involved a sedan and a male e-bicyclist, age 29, who was wearing a helmet. The cyclist was ejected from his e-bike and sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm, classified as injury severity 3. The sedan was stationary, parked before the crash, and impacted on its left side doors, yet showed no damage. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash, specifically pointing to the sedan driver’s failure to maintain attention. The cyclist’s helmet use is noted but not identified as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759901 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A Ford SUV making a right turn hit a northbound bicyclist on West 158 Street in Manhattan. The cyclist suffered upper arm abrasions but remained conscious. Police cited unsafe speed as a key factor in the collision’s impact and injury.

According to the police report, a 2015 Ford SUV driven by a licensed female driver was making a right turn eastbound on West 158 Street when it collided with a northbound bicyclist. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his upper arm and shoulder but was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The report identifies unsafe speed as the contributing factor for the crash. There is no indication that the bicyclist’s behavior or equipment contributed to the collision. The driver’s failure to control speed while turning created a hazardous situation resulting in the bicyclist’s injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759505 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Streetsblog sues DOT for stonewalling public records. Six-month delays block data on deaths, projects, and official emails. The suit says DOT’s blanket stalling breaks the law and hides vital safety information from the public. DOT stays silent.

On September 17, 2024, Streetsblog filed a lawsuit against the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), alleging systematic violations of the state’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The suit, brought with the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic, targets DOT’s practice of imposing uniform six-month delays on nearly all journalist information requests. Streetsblog’s complaint states: “DOT consistently violates the state's Freedom of Information Law by delaying for six months nearly all of the requests for public information from journalists.” The delays affect at least 33 Streetsblog requests since June 2021, including data on pedestrian fatalities and DOT project records. Michael Martin Linhorst, Streetsblog’s attorney, aims to set a precedent to end these blanket delays. DOT declined to comment. The case highlights how bureaucratic stonewalling keeps critical safety data from the public, undermining transparency and accountability for vulnerable road users.

• Streetsblog to DOT: We’ll See You in Court — Again!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-17

Washington Bridge now has bus and protected bike lanes. Jersey barriers shield cyclists. Pedestrians get their own path. Councilmember De La Rosa calls old bridge an accident waiting to happen. Upgrades separate people from cars. Danger drops. City promises more safety fixes.

On September 16, 2024, the Washington Bridge connecting Manhattan and the Bronx received major upgrades: a dedicated bus lane and a two-way protected bike lane. The project, supported by Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa (District 10), was announced by the NYC Department of Transportation. The matter summary states, 'The improvements... aim to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists and provide faster bus service.' De La Rosa, who represents the area, said, 'I've never been so afraid to walk a bridge on foot... it was an accident waiting to happen.' The overhaul separates cyclists and pedestrians from cars with jersey barriers and fences, and adds protected pedestrian paths. Automated cameras will enforce the bus lane. The DOT plans further safety measures, including a leading pedestrian interval at crossings. These changes target long-standing dangers for vulnerable road users on the bridge.

• Washington Bridge between Manhattan and Bronx gets bus and protected bike lanes, gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-16

A moped traveling north on West 161 Street struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered head abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The crash involved unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way by the moped operator.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on West 161 Street in Manhattan struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained head abrasions and was conscious after the collision. The point of impact was the center front end of the moped, which was going straight ahead. The report cites the moped driver's unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The moped driver’s errors created a dangerous situation that resulted in the pedestrian's injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756303 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

City hunts for a vendor to install stop-arm cameras on school buses. The move comes after years of delay. Drivers who pass stopped buses will face fines. Advocates cheer the step. Children remain at risk as deaths rise citywide.

On September 12, 2024, the city issued a request for proposals to deploy stop-arm enforcement cameras on school buses. The Department of Transportation seeks a contractor to install technology that fines drivers who pass stopped buses. The state legalized these cameras in 2019. The City Council, led by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, passed a law in early 2022 for a six-month pilot and required annual reporting. The city enacted automated fine rules in November. Advocates, including Transportation Alternatives, praised the move: 'We know changes like this can save lives.' Suffolk County saw a 42-percent drop in violations after similar cameras. The Adams administration questioned the program's impact, noting no deaths from bus arm violations since 2014. The city has not published pilot results. The state law enabling cameras runs through 2029.

• City Seeks Contractor for School Bus ‘Stop Arm’ Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

A new protected bike lane will run 1.5 miles on Bedford Avenue. Barriers will shield cyclists from traffic. Pedestrian islands and medians will slow cars. The city moves after years of crashes, deaths, and delays. Ossé calls it overdue. Work starts now.

On September 11, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) and the Department of Transportation announced a protected bike lane for Bedford Avenue. The project, not a council bill but a city action, follows years of advocacy and delay. The DOT will convert a painted, often-blocked bike lane between Dean Street and Flushing Avenue into a protected corridor. The official summary states: 'The addition of a parking-protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue will create a critical cycling link...while making the road safer for everyone.' Ossé, who previously criticized DOT delays, said, 'This project is a win for everyone.' The lane will address a Vision Zero Priority Corridor with five pedestrian deaths and nearly 400 crashes since 2019. New medians, pedestrian islands, and traffic-calming measures will target deadly intersections. Advocates call it critical safety infrastructure, the first of its kind in the district.

• Protected bike lanes are coming to Bedford Avenue, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-09-11

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

A protected bike lane will soon run on Bedford Avenue, replacing paint with concrete and flex-posts. Five pedestrians died here since 2020. The new lane shields cyclists from traffic, narrows crossings for walkers, and marks a hard-won step for safety advocates.

On September 10, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced the installation of a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, a Vision Zero priority corridor. The project, first proposed in spring 2023, will run northbound from Dean Street to Flushing Avenue. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "The addition of a parking-protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue will create a critical cycling link in an area where bicycle ridership is booming, while making the road safer for everyone." City Council Member Chi Oss, who criticized delays, now calls the project "a win for everyone." The plan uses concrete barriers, flex-posts, and painted pedestrian islands to shield vulnerable users. Since 2020, five pedestrians have died on this stretch. The project responds to years of advocacy and high crash rates, aiming to protect walkers and cyclists in a busy, dangerous corridor.

• Wow, The Bedford Avenue Protected Bike Lane Is Really Happening, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-10

Federal grant sends $12 million to New York City. The money will build a single crash database. Multiple agencies will share data. AI will analyze patterns. City officials say this will save lives. Advocates have demanded this for years. The city finally acts.

On September 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded New York City $12 million for post-crash data integration. The grant funds a new database merging crash findings from police, ambulance, hospitals, DMV, and DOT. The city will use AI to analyze patterns and improve safety. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez praised the grant, saying, 'This grant will help us save lives by better harnessing new advances in AI technology and more comprehensively analyzing crashes.' $2.4 million will equip city fleet vehicles with 360-degree cameras and AI. Street safety advocates have long called for this comprehensive, public health approach. The city’s Health Department has not updated serious injury or fatality data since 2017, but this grant aims to change that by integrating data across agencies and improving outcomes for vulnerable road users.

• Huge Grant: Feds Send City $12M to Improve Post-Crash Analyses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-06

Another school year. No stop-arm cameras. City Council passed the law years ago. Mayor Adams stalls. Children cross streets. Drivers ignore bus signs. Other cities act. New York waits. Danger lingers at the curb. Twelve kids dead this year. No change.

The City Council authorized automated school bus stop-arm cameras nearly three years ago, with then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez sponsoring the law. The measure aimed to catch drivers who ignore bus stop signs, fining them up to $300 per violation. Despite the law, New York City has not implemented the cameras. A six-month pilot on 30 buses ended without public results. Mayor Adams has delayed action, with City Hall offering no timeline. Other New York counties have issued thousands of violations and seen drops in illegal passing. Advocates like Alexa Sledge of Transportation Alternatives call the cameras 'essential' to protect children, noting twelve have died in traffic this year. The city’s inaction leaves kids exposed while other jurisdictions move ahead.

• City School Year to Start Without Promised Bus Stop Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A sedan traveling north on Broadway struck a 29-year-old in-line skater at an intersection in Manhattan. The skater suffered full-body injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling straight ahead northbound on Broadway in Manhattan collided with a 29-year-old male in-line skater at an intersection near West 173 Street. The point of impact was the sedan's right front bumper. The skater, described as an occupant with helmet use, sustained injuries to his entire body and was reported in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The report explicitly lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle was a 2010 Infiniti sedan registered in Georgia, occupied by a single driver. No contributing factors related to the victim's actions were noted. The collision caused damage to the sedan's right front bumper and resulted in serious injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 40-year-old man suffered head injuries and shock after an SUV failed to yield at an intersection on Audubon Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck, sustaining minor bleeding and serious injury to the head.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 PM on Audubon Avenue near West 168th Street in Manhattan. A 2024 SUV traveling south struck a 40-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street with the signal at the intersection. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors attributed to the vehicle driver. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and was in shock, with minor bleeding noted. The vehicle sustained damage at an unspecified point of impact. No information about driver license status or pre-crash actions was provided. The report clearly identifies driver error in failing to yield and disregarding traffic control as the cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752885 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

New York will close 71 streets to cars outside schools this fall. The city adds more car-free zones for kids. Streets once deadly will now be safer for walking, play, and learning. The move targets neighborhoods hit hardest by crashes.

""Through our Open Streets program, we have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children to safely learn, develop new skills, and make pick-ups and drop-offs much easier for parents and guardians."" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On August 29, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a record 71 school streets will close to cars this fall. The expansion, not tied to a specific council bill, builds on the Open Streets program, made permanent in 2021. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said, 'We have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino celebrated the new open street at PS 129, calling it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play. Funding comes from the Public Space Equity Program, with $30 million focused on under-resourced areas. Street Lab will provide programming and street furniture. The program responds to past investigations showing higher crash and injury rates outside schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The city will directly fund management and operations starting in 2025, aiming to make these safety gains permanent.

• More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29

City plans to widen Park Avenue medians north of Grand Central. Officials promise greenery and safety. No commitment yet on protected bike lanes. Advocates push for cycling space. Public input will follow. The corridor remains dangerous for riders and walkers.

On August 27, 2024, the city announced a plan to redesign and widen Park Avenue medians between 46th and 57th Streets. The project, not yet assigned a bill number, is led by Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The plan aims to make Park Avenue 'greener, safer and more welcoming,' but leaves out key details: 'All ideas are welcome,' Rodriguez said, refusing to commit to a protected bike lane. Rep. Jerry Nadler voiced support for sustainable transit, including Citi Bike. Advocates like Jon Orcutt highlighted the lack of bike lanes in the area, calling for urgent action. The Request for Proposals is open for four weeks to women and minority-owned firms, with public input to follow. The absence of a protected bike lane keeps vulnerable road users at risk.

• City Will Put the ‘Park’ Back in Park Ave., But Details (Bike Lane? Road Diet?) Are Left Out, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

Two sedans collided head-on and rear-end on West 170 Street in Manhattan. The driver of one vehicle suffered chest injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both drivers were licensed men traveling westbound.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on West 170 Street in Manhattan collided, with impact at the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. The crash occurred at 5:10 am. The driver of the 2011 Honda sedan, a 43-year-old man, sustained chest injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the collision. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the victims' actions or safety equipment. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV struck a bicyclist on Audubon Avenue. The rider hit the ground. Blood on the knee and leg. Both moved straight. Police blame confusion. No driver errors listed. No vehicle damage. Manhattan street, early morning.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Audubon Avenue near West 172 Street in Manhattan at 2:05 AM. An SUV and a bicyclist, both traveling straight, collided. The 44-year-old male bicyclist suffered abrasions to his knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the only contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are cited. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The bicyclist was not ejected. The use of safety equipment is unknown.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Dodge sedan veered head-on into a southbound pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. Steel folded. Two men in the truck died crushed. The Dodge driver held no license. The road stayed dark. Impact and error left only silence.

According to the police report, at 2:25 a.m. on Henry Hudson Parkway, a Dodge sedan veered and struck a southbound pickup truck head-on. The report states, "Steel folded. Two men inside the truck, ages 38 and 40, died crushed." The contributing factor cited is "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The Dodge driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash, as documented in the vehicle data. The collision resulted in fatal crush injuries to both the driver and front passenger of the pickup. The police report makes no mention of any contributing actions by the victims. The report highlights the unlicensed status of the Dodge driver and improper lane usage as key factors in this deadly crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 65-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan backed into him on Saint Nicholas Avenue. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian bruised and in shock off the roadway.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2019 Acura sedan traveling west on Saint Nicholas Avenue backed into him at around 5 p.m. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of impact. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The sedan’s point of impact was the center back end, indicating the driver failed to observe the pedestrian while backing. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle with two occupants. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during backing maneuvers in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750483 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06