Blood on Broadway: Slow the Cars, Save the Living

Aug 26 - Mayor Adams vetoed a council push to decriminalize street vending. Vendors clustered on the narrow Brooklyn Bridge walkway. Crowding squeezes pedestrians, collides with cyclists and strollers, and can impede emergency movement, raising crash and injury risk.

""New York commuters as well as the millions of people who visit our city each year should be able to enjoy the Brooklyn Bridge without impediments to safety and pedestrian mobility,"" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

Bill: City Council package to decriminalize street vending (file number not provided). Status: vetoed by Mayor Eric Adams (veto reported last month). Committee: Committee on Immigration, chaired by Council Member Alexa Aviles. Key dates: vendors observed Aug. 25, 2025; story published Aug. 26, 2025. The article ran under the headline, "Defying a NYC ban, illegal vending thrives on iconic Brooklyn Bridge this summer." Adams issued the veto. Aviles and supporters pushed the decriminalization package and criticized enforcement barriers. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez warned vendors impede pedestrian mobility. Safety analysts note: illegal vending clusters on the narrow walkway, reduces pedestrian space, creates conflicts with cyclists and strollers, and can impede emergency movement—raising crash and injury risk.

• Defying a NYC ban, illegal vending thrives on iconic Brooklyn Bridge this summer, amny.com, Published 2025-08-26

Aug 13 - Greater Greenways will add 40 miles of new bike and walking paths. Cyclists and pedestrians gain protected, connected routes through parks and waterfronts. The plan shifts space from cars, reduces exposure to vehicles, and cuts crash risk.

""We say everyone deserves a greenway. Having access to greenways is not a privilege; it's a human right,"" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

No council bill number or committee is listed. Status: city plan announced Aug. 13, 2025; early action corridors each take about two years with completion planned for 2028. The matter is billed as "Greater Greenways plan will see dozens of new bike and walking paths coming to NYC streets, waterfronts and parks." Mayor Eric Adams announced the proposal. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez presented details and said, "We say everyone deserves a greenway." No council votes or sponsors are listed. Safety analysts note: expanding and connecting greenways provides protected, low‑stress routes for pedestrians and cyclists, reduces exposure to vehicular traffic, encourages mode shift, and promotes equitable access to safe transportation.

• ‘Greater Greenways’ plan will see dozens of new bike and walking paths coming to NYC streets, waterfronts and parks, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 13 - The Adams administration pushed a Department of Sustainable Delivery to corral app-fueled e-bike chaos. Riders run lights and ride wrong way under delivery pressure. The plan would force apps to set safe deadlines, train workers, certify bikes and batteries.

""we need to get at the root cause of why reckless e-bike riding happens in the first place: the greed of big tech companies."," -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

Bill number: none listed. Status: sponsorship; Adams administration says it sent legislation to the City Council to create a Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD). Committee: not specified. Key date: op-ed published Aug 13, 2025. Matter title quoted: "Delivery apps and bad e-bike riding." Mayor Eric Adams is named as sponsor of the DSD plan. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez wrote the op-ed and urged the Council to act, blaming app business models for reckless e-bike riding. The proposal would empower DSD to fine or suspend apps, set delivery time standards, require trip data, mandate safety training, and ensure legal e-bikes and certified batteries. Safety impact note: none provided.

• Delivery apps and bad e-bike riding, nydailynews.com, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 13 - City released the Greater Greenways master plan to link 500 miles of paths and add 40 near‑term miles. It promises car‑free stretches like Broadway but offers no cost or firm timeline. Officials pitched gains for pedestrians and cyclists amid recent bike‑lane rollbacks.

"“Our street is the backyard for many residents,”" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

Document: Greater Greenways master plan. Status: published; stage listed as SPONSORSHIP. No file number or committee is provided. Key date: plan published Aug 13, 2025; the report says construction could begin as soon as 2028. The article quotes the plan title: "NYC's new greenway master plan plots world of possibilities to get around city." Mayor Eric Adams is named in relation to the plan; Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez is quoted promoting access for pedestrians and cyclists. The piece notes the city gave no cost estimate or binding timeline and that no formal safety impact assessment or safety_impact_note was included. It also flags a recent Bedford Avenue removal of bike protections, leaving network gaps.

• NYC's new greenway master plan plots world of possibilities to get around city, gothamist.com, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 9 - The driver of an SUV made a U-turn on Amsterdam Ave and hit a northbound e-biker at W 156th. The 43-year-old rider was ejected and suffered head injury; he remained conscious and complained of whiplash.

The driver of an SUV made a U-turn on Amsterdam Ave at W 156 St and struck a northbound e-bike. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old man, was ejected and sustained a head injury and a complaint of whiplash; he remained conscious. According to the police report, contributing factors included "Turning Improperly" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper," along with "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The report lists the SUVs pre-crash action as "Making U Turn," the SUV point of impact as the left rear quarter panel and the e-bikes damage at the center front end. Police recorded these driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Aug 9 - Two northbound sedans stacked on Henry Hudson Parkway. A rear-end crash injured a 27-year-old driver and a 28-year-old passenger. Children in back seats were listed as involved. Police recorded Following Too Closely by involved drivers.

Two northbound sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. The driver of a 2023 Toyota struck the rear of a 2014 Honda. A 27-year-old female driver suffered a neck injury and a contusion. A 28-year-old female rear-seat passenger was also listed as injured. Children riding in the back seats were listed as involved. According to the police report, "contributing factors: Following Too Closely, Following Too Closely." Police recorded Following Too Closely for multiple involved drivers. Point-of-impact data show a center-front strike to a car’s center-rear and a third vehicle in the chain. Safety fields list Air Bag Deployed and Lap Belt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Aug 9 - Adams and DOT propose registering delivery apps, issuing worker IDs and reflective vests, mandating training, and requiring vehicle reporting. The rule pins safety on riders. It burdens vulnerable delivery workers and ignores dangerous street design.

File number: none. Status: proposed rule; committee: not applicable. Key dates: proposed July 28, 2025 and published for public comment; event noted Aug 9, 2025. The matter, "NYC Unveils Plan to Register Food Delivery Workers," would require app-based companies to register with DOT, assign unique ID cards, mandate safety training and reflective vests, and report vehicle types. Mayor Eric Adams announced the proposal and is quoted promoting safer streets. DOT Commissioner Ydanis A. Rodriguez backed the plan. A safety analyst warned that while training and gear may offer individual benefits, the policy shifts burdens onto vulnerable delivery workers, ignores systemic street design and enforcement problems, and lacks evidence of population-level safety gains.

• NYC Unveils Plan to Register Food Delivery Workers, BKReader, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 8 - A driver sped at 109 mph. Concrete barriers now ring the crash site. DOT will shrink lanes and cut speed limits. Change comes slow. Pedestrians and cyclists paid the price.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-08-08) reports DOT will install concrete barriers and narrow lanes at Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street exit after a driver killed a cyclist and pedestrian at 109 mph. DOT plans to lower the speed limit from 35 to 20 mph, pending public comment. The article notes, 'the bridge currently functions like a Mario Kart-style speed boost.' DOT will also 'fast-track community engagement on a full redesign.' The crash highlights the danger of wide lanes and high speeds at a busy pedestrian crossing. Policy changes lagged until tragedy forced action.

• DOT Lowers Speed, Adds Barriers On Canal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 8 - Officials raced the M34 on Aug. 7. Walkers beat the bus by seven minutes. The M34 averages 5.5 mph for 28,000 daily riders. Sponsors push a car-free 34th Street busway and pedestrianized Broadway to speed service and cut congestion.

Bill/file number: none listed. Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committees: NYC Council subcommittees on Zoning and Franchises, and Land Use approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan one day earlier. Key dates: race on Aug. 7, 2025; article published Aug. 8, 2025. Matter titled "Victory on 34th Street: Transit groups, Manhattan pols, leave bus in the dust in bustling Midtown" centers a proposed car-free 34th Street busway. Zohran Mamdani joined the Aug. 7 stunt and said, "These are the slowest buses in the United States of America." CM Erik Bottcher and CM Keith Powers backed the plan. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Eric Adams also voiced support. Transportation Alternatives' Ben Furnas praised the busway. No formal safety impact note was provided.

• Victory on 34th Street: Transit groups, Manhattan pols, leave bus in the dust in bustling Midtown, amny.com, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 8 - A rush-hour race on Aug 8, 2025 showed walkers beat the M34. City leaders pushed a 34th Street busway to cut cars, speed buses and free crosstown trips. Prioritizing buses and pedestrians should reduce traffic violence and boost equity.

Bill number: none. Status: demonstration and momentum for the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan after subcommittees approved it the day before. Committee: NYC Council subcommittees. Key dates: Aug 7, 2025 (subcommittee approval), Aug 8, 2025 (bus-versus-walk race). Matter quoted: "The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan... includes a busway limiting cars on a major segment of 34th Street." Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon joined the demonstration. Zohran Mamdani raced and called buses the slowest in the nation. Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers publicly backed the busway; Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez also voiced support. Limiting car access and prioritizing buses and pedestrians is likely to reduce traffic violence, improve equity, and help vulnerable road users.

• Victory on 34th Street: Transit groups, Manhattan pols leave bus in the dust in bustling Midtown, AMNY, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - SUV turned into a Bronx driveway. Struck a woman. Driver sped off. She died at the hospital. Police hunt the hit-and-run. No arrests. Another night, another life lost to careless driving.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-07), a 44-year-old woman died after an SUV driver "slammed into her at West 174th Street and Macombs Road" while turning into a driveway. The driver did not stop, instead "speeding down the long driveway into a back parking lot." The victim was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital and pronounced dead. Police are still searching for the driver. The article highlights the ongoing danger of drivers failing to yield and fleeing crash scenes, underscoring persistent gaps in enforcement and accountability.

• Driver Turns, Strikes Woman, Flees Bronx, New York Post, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - A carriage horse named Lady collapsed and died on a Manhattan street. Workers hauled her body away. Advocates demand change. The city investigates. The fight over horse-drawn carriages grows louder.

CBS New York (2025-08-06) reports a 15-year-old carriage horse, Lady, collapsed and died at 51st Street and 11th Avenue. The city's Department of Health is investigating. The incident reignited calls for Ryder's Law, which would phase out horse-drawn carriages. Councilman Marte said, "We have animals dying because they're being overworked in the heat." The union claims horses pass annual vet checks and follow temperature rules, but critics dispute this. The case highlights ongoing debate over the safety and future of horse-drawn carriages in New York City.

• Carriage Horse Dies, Sparks Ryder's Law Push, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-06

Aug 4 - A driver struck a cyclist in Washington Heights. The cyclist survived. Neighbors say the intersection breeds danger. The driver fled. NYPD searches. Streets remain unsafe.

CBS New York reported on August 4, 2025, that a driver hit a cyclist in Washington Heights and left the scene. The article notes, "local residents say the intersection has been a problem for some time." The NYPD is searching for the driver. The incident highlights ongoing risks at this location and points to persistent systemic hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. No mention of charges or arrests. The crash underscores the need for stronger street design and enforcement.

• Cyclist Hit By Driver In Washington Heights, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 1 - An SUV driver hit an e-bike rider at W 165th and Amsterdam. The man took a shoulder hit and road rash. Police cite driver inattention. Sirens cut the night. Another rider down on a big avenue.

An SUV driver hit a 38-year-old man riding an e-bike at West 165th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan at 1:15 a.m. The rider suffered a shoulder injury and abrasions and remained conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. Police recorded inattention by the driver. The SUV’s right front bumper made contact, and the crash damaged the vehicle’s front end, per the report. The SUV had two occupants and was registered in New York; the driver was licensed. No other injuries were reported. The crash occurred in the 33rd Precinct area.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831917 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jul 29 - A 44-year-old man was struck by a vehicle on West 168th Street in Manhattan. He suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. He remained conscious. The police report lists no vehicle type, driver errors, or contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man pedestrian was struck on West 168th Street in Manhattan and suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. He remained conscious. The report does not identify the vehicle type. The report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors. Police records show the pedestrian’s injury as a head wound with severe bleeding and list him as injured and conscious. The crash file contains no narrative of driver actions and no recorded contributing factors in the data provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08

Jul 29 - City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-29

Jul 27 - A teen drove drunk, wrong-way, head-on into a car. Two men died. The driver fled. The city failed to stop him. A wedding became a funeral.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-27), a 17-year-old allegedly drank at a Midtown club, then drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. He crashed head-on into Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin, killing both. The teen, Jimmy Connors, fled, leaving his injured passenger. The article states, “Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.” An off-duty NYPD officer pursued Connors but did not call 911. The lawsuit names the driver, club, NYPD, and city, raising questions about underage drinking enforcement and police response. Connors faces charges including second-degree murder.

• Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom-To-Be, New York Post, Published 2025-07-27

Jul 24 - Two buses collided on a Port Authority ramp. The rear bus hit hard. Thirty injured. Passengers left on stretchers, necks braced. Steel and glass, pain and confusion. The ramp remains a danger.

ABC7 reported on July 24, 2025, that a New Jersey Transit bus rear-ended another on the Port Authority ramp near Dyer Avenue and West 39th Street. Surveillance video showed the rear bus 'zooming up the ramp and ramming the rear of the bus in front of it so hard that it physically pushed the bus forward.' At least 30 people suffered minor injuries, with 27 hospitalized. FDNY cited 'musculoskeletal injuries, neck pain, back pain.' The ramp, a known bottleneck, is set for replacement by 2032. The crash highlights risks in current bus terminal infrastructure and driver speed on crowded ramps.

• Rear Bus Slams Into Another At Port, ABC7, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Microhub zones sit empty. Trucks clog curbs. Cargo bikes idle. Streets choke on double-parked vans. Pedestrians and cyclists dodge danger. The city’s promise breaks. Risk remains.

""Creating designated locations where trucks can transfer packages to smaller, cleaner, and greener options for neighborhood-wide deliveries can reduce truck traffic, improve residents' quality of life, and help us shift to a more sustainable future."" -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On July 23, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported on the NYC DOT microhub delivery pilot. The program, launched in April, aimed to shift parcel transfers from trucks to cargo bikes at three Upper West Side sites. The matter summary states: 'Microhub parking zones reserved for e-commerce firms to offload parcels from trucks to cargo bikes and hand-carts routinely go unused.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez backed the plan, but only Amazon and Net-Zero Logistics used their hubs. UPS trucks kept blocking streets. DOT threatens to revoke unused permits. The safety impact is negative: unused microhubs mean trucks still crowd curbs, missing a chance to protect pedestrians and cyclists from large vehicles.

• Eyes on the Street: UPS Blows Off DOT’s ‘Microhubs’ Delivery Pilot, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 22 - The driver of a taxi hit a 58-year-old cyclist making a left turn on Riverside Drive at West 165th. The cyclist suffered a contusion to the knee and lower leg and remained conscious. Police recorded 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded'.

The driver of a taxi struck a 58-year-old cyclist who was making a left turn at Riverside Drive and West 165th Street. The cyclist was injured, sustaining a contusion to the knee and lower leg and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash involved "Unsafe Speed" and "Traffic Control Disregarded." The report also lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" for the cyclist after the driver factors. Police recorded the taxi’s point of impact as the right front bumper against the cyclist’s right side. No injuries were reported for the taxi occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830051 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-08