Blood on Broadway: Slow the Cars, Save the Living

Assembly bill A 2610 targets bus lane cheaters. Sponsors back cameras and owner liability. The goal: keep bus lanes clear, speed up buses, cut crashes. No votes yet. The fight for safer streets rolls on.

Assembly bill A 2610, now in sponsorship, aims to extend bus rapid transit camera enforcement. The bill, titled "Relates to owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus operation-related local law or regulation traffic restrictions," was introduced January 26, 2023. Primary sponsor Alicia Hyndman leads, joined by Deborah Glick, Sarahana Shrestha, Manny De Los Santos, Zohran Mamdani, and others. The bill would hold vehicle owners liable for bus lane violations and expand photo enforcement. No votes have been recorded. The measure seeks to keep bus lanes clear, speed up transit, and reduce risk for those outside cars.

• File A 2610, Open States, Published 2023-01-26

DOT keeps school street safety spending secret. Councilmember Rita Joseph demands answers. Streets with schools see more crashes, more injuries. The agency refuses to break out costs or salaries. Families and advocates call for transparency. Children remain at risk.

On January 25, 2023, the City Council, led by Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph (District 40), pressed the Department of Transportation for transparency on school street safety spending. The matter, titled 'How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say,' exposes DOT’s refusal to disclose project costs or School Safety Unit salaries. Joseph expressed disappointment: 'New Yorkers deserve to know how the DOT is working to make school streets safer.' Councilmember Shahana Hanif also criticized DOT’s inability to track safety projects. Despite Commissioner Rodriguez’s promise of 100 safety projects, the agency denied a FOIL request, claiming costs are not tracked. Advocates and families condemned the lack of accountability. The Department of Education also refused to comment. The city’s silence leaves children exposed on dangerous streets.

• How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say., streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-25

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

DOT poured new sidewalk, cut a bus detour, and painted red bus lanes at Pelham Bay Park. Riders now move straighter, faster, safer. Crosswalks grew. Concrete replaced chaos. Thousands of Bronx commuters feel the change underfoot and in the ride.

On January 24, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced sidewalk expansion and new contraflow bus lanes at Pelham Bay Park station in the East Bronx. The project, begun in September 2021 and finished last fall, added 1,285 square feet of sidewalk, a new median, and red bus-only lanes on Westchester Avenue. The DOT worked with the MTA to cut a circuitous bus detour, giving Bx12 and other riders a direct path. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'DOT’s work at Pelham Bay Park... may be only one-10th of a mile, but the impact for thousands of riders will be gigantic.' New York City Transit President Richard Davey added, 'Bus lanes don't have to be miles long to deliver a huge impact.' The changes serve 64,000 daily riders, expanding space for pedestrians and shortening bus trips. More crosswalks now connect the busy transfer point, making the area less hostile for those on foot.

• DOT Widens Sidewalk, Adds Contraflow Bus Lane to Help East Bronx Commuters, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-24

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Steel tore open at West 165th and Broadway. Taxi and BMW slammed head-on. A young man in the back seat bled through his clothes. Three passengers hurt. The street stayed dark. No driver errors listed. The city did not stop.

A taxi and a BMW collided head-on at the corner of West 165th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Three passengers were injured. According to the police report, 'A taxi and a BMW collided head-on. Steel crumpled. A 21-year-old man in the back seat, no belt, bled through his clothes. He stayed conscious. The dark stayed quiet.' The injured included a 21-year-old male passenger with severe bleeding. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No helmet or signal issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4601666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A 26-year-old male bicyclist struck the left side of a parked SUV on Fort Washington Avenue. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The driver’s inattention caused the crash. The bicyclist wore a helmet.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Fort Washington Avenue collided with the left side doors of a parked 2019 Toyota SUV. The bicyclist sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The SUV showed no damage, while the bike’s front center end was damaged. The bicyclist wore a helmet, but the crash was caused by the driver's failure to notice the cyclist. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599407 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Cyclists lay down on Ninth Street where a truck killed Sarah Schick. Their bodies blocked traffic. The city finally promised a redesign. DOT will add signal changes now. For years, officials ignored calls to fix this deadly stretch. Now, pressure mounts.

On January 20, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced plans to redesign the unprotected portion of Ninth Street after a fatal crash. The action followed a 'die-in' protest by cyclists at the site where a truck driver killed Sarah Schick. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'We are making immediate signal adjustments to improve safety in this area. We are also committed to delivering a design solution that makes this stretch of Ninth Street safer for cyclists.' Council Member Shahana Hanif added, 'We know that this corridor has been unsafe for far too long and promises had been made after death after death almost the last 20 years.' The city will unveil a redesign in the coming months and adjust signals now. Advocates blame years of inaction for repeated deaths. The matter remains urgent for all who use Ninth Street.

• FINALLY: DOT Says it Will Redesign Unprotected Portion of Ninth St. as Cyclists Stage ‘Die-In’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-20

A 25-year-old female driver in an SUV suffered chest injuries and whiplash after rear-ending another vehicle on Henry Hudson Parkway. The crash occurred at 8:30 a.m. Her reaction to an uninvolved vehicle and following too closely caused the impact.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female driver operating a 2014 Ford SUV was injured in a crash on Henry Hudson Parkway. She sustained chest injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists her reaction to an uninvolved vehicle and following too closely as contributing factors. The SUV struck the center front end of another vehicle while traveling northbound. No ejection occurred. The driver was licensed in New York. The crash highlights driver errors that led to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597707 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

A 31-year-old woman was hit by a sedan making a left turn on West 166 Street. She was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The impact struck her knee and lower leg. She suffered bruises but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on West 166 Street made a left turn and struck a 31-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The collision impacted the right front bumper of the vehicle, causing injury to the pedestrian's knee, lower leg, and foot. She sustained contusions and bruises but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the traffic signal when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Bike New York will collect and refurbish bikes for asylum seekers. DOT will supply Vision Zero helmets. The program aims to break isolation and connect new arrivals to the city. Bikes mean freedom, access, and hope for those left on the margins.

On January 12, 2023, Bike New York announced an initiative to provide free refurbished bicycles and equipment to asylum seekers in New York City. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will supply Vision Zero helmets to recipients. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez praised cycling’s power to connect working-class communities and boost life expectancy, saying, "It's about increasing life expectancy, and it's about connecting the working class community." Bike New York CEO Ken Podziba called the program "a transformational power of cycling" to help immigrants acclimate and thrive. The effort responds to the isolation and transportation barriers faced by asylum seekers. Bike donations are accepted at locations in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. No formal council bill or vote is attached to this announcement.

• Bike New York Seeks Your Bike to Help Struggling Asylum Seekers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-12

Senate bill S 343 seeks a clear, public safety score for cars. The DMV would post these ratings. Lawmakers push for sunlight on danger. Pedestrians face risk. The system aims to expose it.

Senate bill S 343 was proposed on January 4, 2023. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Creates a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles,' would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to post these ratings online. Primary sponsor Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The measure targets transparency. It puts the danger of cars in plain sight. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 343, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

NYC DOT’s 2022 projects hit hard. Speed cameras, open streets, and protected bike lanes cut crashes and deaths. Pedestrians and cyclists gained ground. Streets changed. Lives saved. Some locals pushed back, but the city pressed forward. The numbers show progress.

Streetsblog NYC’s 'Streetsies 2022' roundup, published December 27, 2022, highlights major NYC DOT projects that reshaped city streets. The article celebrates a 7% drop in traffic fatalities and fewer pedestrian deaths, crediting street redesigns. Projects include 24-7-365 speed cameras, Paseo Park’s permanent open street, Schermerhorn Street’s two-way protected bike lane, Fifth Avenue’s car-free Sundays, Apolline’s Garden intersection redesign, and Emmons Avenue’s new bike lane. Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez pushed for speed cameras everywhere crashes happen, stating, 'we should have speed cameras everywhere there are crashes.' Despite some local resistance, the city removed parking and created public space, especially after fatal crashes. These changes, backed by council support and public demand, show clear safety gains for vulnerable road users.

• Streetsies 2022: Vote for The Best Project of the Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-27

City officials push Albany to drop the drunk driving threshold from 0.08 to 0.05 percent. The bill lingers in committee. Drunk drivers killed 42 New Yorkers last year. Messaging still centers on not drinking, not on not driving.

Senate Bill sponsored by John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon seeks to lower New York’s DWI blood-alcohol threshold from 0.08% to 0.05%. The bill, re-submitted in the last legislative session, remains stuck in committee. At a December 22, 2022 press conference, DOT Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione said, 'There is not really a safe level of drinking and driving, but the law suggests there is.' Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and NYPD’s Kim Royster also spoke, focusing on enforcement and urging drivers to avoid drinking before driving. Advocates like Alisa McMorris of Mothers Against Drunk Driving called for stronger messaging: 'We want people to make choices before they leave their home.' Despite evidence that lowering the threshold could cut traffic deaths by 10%, city messaging still stops short of telling people not to drive to events where they plan to drink.

• How to Cut Drunk Driving — Discourage the Drinking … Or the Driving?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-22

City and state officials want to drop the legal blood-alcohol limit to 0.05. The bill sits in committee. Drunk drivers killed 42 people last year. Officials talk tough but focus on drinking, not driving. The danger remains for those outside the car.

Senate and Assembly bill, sponsored by Sen. John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, seeks to lower New York’s drunk driving threshold from 0.08 to 0.05 percent BAC. Announced at a December 22, 2022 press conference, the bill has stalled in committee for years. The matter aims to redefine DWI: 'driving while intoxicated would be defined as anything above a blood-alcohol content of 0.05 percent.' Simon and Liu back the measure; city DOT and NYPD leaders joined them. DOT Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione said, 'There is not really a safe level of drinking and driving, but the law suggests there is.' In 2021, 42 people died in drunk driving crashes, up 60 percent from previous years. Officials promise enforcement and education, but their messaging targets drinking, not the act of driving. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while the law lags.

• How to Cut Drunk Driving — Discourage the Drinking … Or the Driving?, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-12-22

An SUV made an unsafe lane change and collided with a sedan on Amsterdam Avenue. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered back injuries and shock. Both vehicles sustained damage on their left sides. The crash occurred in Manhattan's 10033 zip code.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling east on Amsterdam Avenue made an unsafe lane change and struck a sedan traveling south. The sedan's 29-year-old male driver was injured, suffering back trauma and shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors by the sedan driver. The SUV impacted the sedan's left front bumper, damaging its left front, while the SUV's left rear quarter panel was damaged. The sedan driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other occupants or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A 19-year-old male bicyclist was injured in Manhattan after an SUV made a left turn and collided with his e-bike. The rider suffered a head contusion but was conscious and wearing a helmet. The crash happened on West 169 Street near Broadway.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike westbound on West 169 Street was struck on the right side by a station wagon/SUV making a left turn. The bicyclist sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene, wearing a helmet. The SUV had no visible damage, while the e-bike showed damage to the center front end. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any failure to yield or other driver errors explicitly. The collision occurred near Broadway in Manhattan's 10th council district. No ejection occurred, and the bicyclist was the sole occupant of the e-bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4598369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Two sedans crashed in Manhattan near 128 Fort Washington Avenue. One driver made a left turn, the other went straight. Both drivers and a passenger suffered whiplash and injuries to limbs. Traffic control was disregarded, causing the impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan. One vehicle was making a left turn while the other was traveling straight north. The collision involved the center front end of one sedan and the left front bumper of the other. The crash injured a 29-year-old male driver and a 41-year-old female passenger. Both suffered whiplash and injuries to the shoulder, knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver errors including "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Other Vehicular" contributing factors. The passenger was not ejected and wore no safety equipment; the driver wore a lap belt. The crash caused damage to the front bumpers of both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4588768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16