Blood on Broadway: Slow the Cars, Save the Living

A 37-year-old bicyclist was partially ejected and injured in Manhattan. The sedan was parked when the crash occurred. The bicyclist suffered a neck contusion and remained conscious. Driver inattention was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and injured after colliding with a parked sedan in Manhattan near West 160 Street. The bicyclist sustained a neck contusion and remained conscious at the scene. The sedan, a 2016 Jeep, showed no damage and was stationary before the crash. The bicyclist was traveling east and struck the left side doors of the sedan. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver of the sedan was licensed and the vehicle was registered in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Two SUVs collided on West 165 Street in Manhattan. Both vehicles were traveling north. The rear SUV struck the front SUV’s back end. The male driver of the front SUV suffered chest injuries and was conscious. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on West 165 Street in Manhattan. Both vehicles were traveling north when the rear SUV impacted the center back end of the front SUV. The front SUV’s male driver, age 59, sustained chest injuries and was conscious at the scene. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the driver’s actions but does not specify failure to yield or other errors. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. There were no ejections or pedestrian involvement noted. The crash caused damage to the center front end of the rear SUV and the center back end of the front SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

DOT will expand e-scooter sharing to eastern Queens next year. Bronx rollout saw millions of rides, no deaths. Advocates back the move but demand real safety infrastructure. City officials tout equity and climate benefits. Riders wait for safer streets.

On October 13, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced the expansion of its e-scooter share program to eastern Queens. The program, which launched in the Bronx in 2021, logged nearly 3 million trips with zero fatalities and few serious injuries in its first year. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, "Shared e-scooter service can play an important role in providing sustainable options to connect eastern Queens commuters to transit hubs, commercial corridors, and other neighborhood destinations." Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards both voiced support, highlighting the program's focus on underserved communities and environmental benefits. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged the city to pair the expansion with protected infrastructure, warning that safe streets must come with new mobility. The DOT will continue outreach ahead of the launch, expected in the second half of 2024.

• DOT: Eastern Queens E-Scooter Expansion Will Launch Next Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

Brooklyn Community Board 6 called on Mayor Adams to ban parking near intersections. The board passed a resolution urging daylighting at all possible crossings. Members cited blocked sightlines and deadly crashes. The vote was overwhelming: 33 to 3. Action now, not after tragedy.

On October 12, 2023, Brooklyn Community Board 6, representing Park Slope, Gowanus, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Red Hook, passed a resolution demanding Mayor Adams and the Department of Transportation end the city’s exemption that allows cars to park up to crosswalks. The resolution urges the city to daylight 'all possible' intersections with physical barriers, quoting: 'We don’t want to wait for tragedy, we know what works and we want to get it done.' Board co-chair Doug Gordon and member Marc Torrence led the push, highlighting the danger of blocked sightlines. The board also backed a new city law requiring daylighting at 100 intersections per year starting in 2025. The measure passed 33-3. The board’s action follows deadly crashes and echoes similar calls from Queens and Manhattan boards. Daylighting is proven to reduce crashes and protect pedestrians.

• Brooklyn Board Wants Adams to Stop Letting Cars Dangerously Block Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-12

Cyclists mourn 26 dead. They blame City Hall. The mayor shrugs. Advocates ride in protest. Councilmember Brooks-Powers calls DOT’s failure to track bike lane progress 'unacceptable.' The city falls short on protected lanes. Streets stay deadly. Anger grows.

"DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said his agency isn’t even keeping track of its progress on Streets Plan compliance, which also requires the construction of 30 miles of bus lanes annually, a situation described as 'unacceptable' by Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On October 11, 2023, Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31) criticized the Department of Transportation’s oversight during a council hearing on bike infrastructure. The matter, described as 'Cycling safety advocacy and protest; criticism of mayoral transportation policy; city council oversight of bike infrastructure implementation,' centers on a record 26 cyclist deaths so far in 2023—the highest since Vision Zero began. Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called DOT’s lack of progress tracking on the Streets Plan 'unacceptable.' The city has built only 13.5 of the required 50 miles of protected bike lanes this year. Advocates accuse Mayor Adams of abandoning cyclists and failing to meet legal safety obligations. Protesters rode from Union Square to City Hall, demanding action as the death toll climbs.

• Cyclists decry record fatalities on NYC streets this year, amny.com, Published 2023-10-11

A sedan struck a moped near Audubon Avenue. The moped driver, 28, was thrown and injured in the hip and leg. Police cited driver inattention. Both vehicles took heavy damage.

According to the police report, a sedan heading west on West 168 Street collided with a southbound moped near Audubon Avenue in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 28-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered hip and upper leg injuries, along with shock and pain. Police cited the sedan driver for inattention or distraction. The impact hit the sedan's right front bumper and the moped's left side. No other contributing factors were listed. The moped driver was not using any safety equipment. Both vehicles were damaged in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

City Hall moves to ban vendors from every bridge. Officials cite crowding, safety, and strain on old spans. Police already sweep Brooklyn Bridge. Vendors protest. The rule targets carts, tables, and generators. DOT will hold a hearing November 15.

On October 6, 2023, the city proposed a sweeping ban on all street vendors from the pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and approaches of New York’s 789 bridges. The Department of Transportation (DOT) published the rule, citing 'overcrowding on the Brooklyn Bridge' and concerns about 'impediments to safety and pedestrian mobility.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'These proposed rules would make it safer and easier for pedestrians to enjoy the Brooklyn Bridge.' Police have already begun enforcement, removing vendors at Mayor Adams’s direction. Mohamed Attia of the Street Vendor Project called the move 'disappointing,' arguing that helping vendors comply with siting rules would be safer. A virtual hearing is set for November 15. The proposal is not yet law and awaits public input.

• City Seeks All-Out Ban on Vendors on Every Bridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-06

A 30-year-old male bicyclist suffered bruises and arm injuries after a sedan made a right turn and passed too closely. The impact hit the bike’s front center and the sedan’s right front quarter panel. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided near West 158 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old man, was injured with contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists "Passing Too Closely" twice as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain safe distance while making a right turn. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The sedan’s right front quarter panel and the bike’s center front end were the points of impact. The bicyclist remained conscious and was not ejected from the bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667806 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A moped hit an SUV’s side at West 160th and Saint Nicholas. The rider, 25, was ejected. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. He lay incoherent, pain thick in his voice. The moped was crushed. Sirens cut the morning.

A violent crash unfolded at the corner of West 160th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. A moped slammed into the side of an SUV. According to the police report, the moped rider, age 25, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The moped was demolished. The SUV’s right side doors were damaged. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Two sedans crashed on Broadway in Manhattan. The female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way. Impact hit left rear quarter panel of one car and right front bumper of the other.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on Broadway collided. The female driver of the 2008 Mazda, aged 57, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the left rear quarter panel of the Ford and the right front bumper of the Mazda. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant in her vehicle. The crash highlights errors in yielding and driver control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A 25-year-old unlicensed female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash in a sedan crash on Henry Hudson Parkway. The vehicle struck an object on the right rear bumper. Tinted windows and inadequate windshield contributed to the collision.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female driver, unlicensed in New York, was injured in a crash on Henry Hudson Parkway. She was the sole occupant of a 2018 sedan traveling south. The vehicle sustained damage to the right rear bumper after impact. The driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Contributing factors listed include tinted windows and an inadequate windshield. The report notes no ejection occurred. Driver errors include operating the vehicle without a valid license. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664928 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

A taxi struck the rear of a vehicle stopped in traffic on West 179 Street. Three occupants suffered neck injuries with whiplash. The taxi driver was inattentive. All injured remained conscious and were not ejected from their seats.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling south on West 179 Street rear-ended a vehicle stopped in traffic. The impact occurred at the center back end of the taxi and the center front end of the other vehicle. Three occupants in the taxi were injured, all suffering neck injuries described as whiplash. The injured included the driver and two passengers, all conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The taxi driver’s contributing factor was listed as Driver Inattention/Distraction. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

The Bronx has no DOT borough commissioner. Crashes rise. Council Member Salamanca demands answers. Leadership is missing. Accountability is thin. Other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits. Streets stay dangerous. DOT promises a hire. The clock ticks.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s leadership and street safety in the Bronx. Council Member Rafael Salamanca (D-Concourse Village) pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, stating, "There is no borough commissioner in the borough of the Bronx." The Bronx has lacked a permanent commissioner since November 2021. Salamanca demanded a timeline for filling the role, arguing, "There needs to be a level of accountability and our level of accountability is reaching out to that borough commissioner. Please speed it up." DOT responded that street safety projects are not planned or implemented by borough commissioners, but Salamanca insisted the vacancy leaves the Bronx exposed as crashes and injuries rise. All other boroughs have commissioners. The Bronx waits for leadership as danger mounts.

• Amid Rash of Crashes, DOT Has No Bronx Borough Commissioner, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-13

The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Council grilled DOT for stalling on bus and bike lanes. Law demands these lanes. Streets stay deadly. Commissioner Rodriguez faced anger. Restler and others demanded answers. Riders and walkers pay the price for delay.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s failure to deliver required bus and bike lanes. The hearing, led by the Committee on Transportation, featured testimony from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and others criticized the agency for 'continuously falling behind on legally required bus and bike lanes.' The matter title reads: 'NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog.' Restler’s action was to publicly challenge DOT’s delays. No safety analyst note was provided, but the council’s frustration highlights the risk: every missed lane leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-09-12

Serious injuries from traffic crashes surged nearly 10 percent in spring 2023. Pedestrians and cyclists bore the brunt. The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan saw the worst rates. City law forced new data into the open. The carnage continues. Bold action is demanded.

A new report released September 11, 2023, shows a sharp rise in serious traffic injuries in New York City. The data, analyzed by Transportation Alternatives, covers 4,224 severe injuries from January 2022 to June 2023. In the second quarter of 2023 alone, 784 people—192 pedestrians and 124 cyclists among them—were seriously hurt, up from 718 the year before. The law requiring this data was sponsored by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. The report’s title calls this a 'preventable public health crisis.' Philip Miatkowski of Transportation Alternatives blames decades of policy that 'prioritize cars over people and leave behind our most vulnerable.' The data shows the Bronx had 23 percent more serious injuries per capita than the city average, Brooklyn 27 percent more, and Manhattan’s cyclist injuries were 77 percent higher per capita. The city’s DOT claims safety redesigns are underway, but the toll on vulnerable road users keeps climbing.

• Serious Traffic Crash Injuries on the Rise: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-11

The city promised bollards at schools and intersections. The Department of Transportation stalled. No new barriers since 2020. Council’s mandate faded to paperwork. Streets stay exposed. Children and pedestrians wait. The city’s promise sits unkept. Danger lingers at the curb.

In 2017, the City Council passed a bill—drafted by then-Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez—requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to install safety bollards at 50 schools and 20 intersections each year. The bill’s final version only mandated annual reporting, not installation. According to agency reports, DOT has not installed a single bollard under this law since July 1, 2020. Rodriguez called bollards 'the only tool that we have in our hands' to protect pedestrians. The DOT claims its reporting obligation covers only installations by the Security Infrastructure Working Group, which has done nothing since 2020. The Council’s law did not mention this group. The city’s failure leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as the original safety promise remains unmet.

• City ‘Security Group’ is Not Installing Safety Bollards at Intersections, Schools, Plazas as Council Once Sought, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-08

DOT wants wider, four-wheeled cargo bikes on city streets. The agency says more cargo bikes mean fewer trucks, less danger, cleaner air. Commissioner Rodriguez pushes back on critics. The rules are open for public comment. Streets change. Trucks lose ground.

On September 7, 2023, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez issued a policy statement on proposed cargo bike regulations. The rules, now open for public comment, would allow pedal-assist cargo bikes up to 48 inches wide and with four wheels, expanding from the current 36-inch, three-wheel limit. Rodriguez writes, 'we proposed rules that would expand low or no-emission options for freight deliveries.' He stresses the goal: fewer trucks, safer streets, and more sustainable freight. The statement rebuts industry claims about throttle bans and powered trailer restrictions, clarifying that state law governs those issues. Rodriguez invites public feedback, promising DOT will review all comments before adopting any rule. The move signals a shift: more space for cargo bikes, less for trucks, and a step toward safer, cleaner streets for everyone outside a car.

• DOT Commish: We Want to Get the Rules Right for Cargo Bikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07

A moped traveling north hit a westbound sedan’s left rear quarter on West 157 Street. The moped driver, a 28-year-old man, suffered bruises and full-body injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor. No ejection occurred.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north collided with the left rear quarter panel of a westbound sedan on West 157 Street. The moped driver, a 28-year-old male occupant, sustained contusions and injuries to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan was operated by a licensed male driver from Pennsylvania. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The crash caused damage to the front center of the moped and the left rear quarter of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658192 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14