Blood on 181st: Broken Promises, Broken Bodies

Sep 7 - On St Nicholas Ave at W 193 St, a driver in a Chevy sedan made a U-turn and hit a 24-year-old bicyclist. The rider went down unconscious with internal injuries. Police list the car driver unlicensed.

On St Nicholas Ave at W 193 St in Manhattan, a driver in a 2015 Chevy sedan made a U-turn and hit a man on a bike. The 24-year-old bicyclist suffered internal injuries and was listed unconscious. According to the police report, the sedan driver was "Unlicensed" and was "Making U Turn" when the collision occurred. The impact on the car was the "Left Front Bumper." No specific contributing factors beyond "Unspecified" were recorded. The bicyclist was the only person reported injured; the driver and two other occupants were listed without injuries. This was a crash between a sedan and a bike at St Nicholas Ave and W 193 St.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - An e-scooter rider was hurt in a crash with a taxi on Broadway at Fairview. The rider suffered an arm bruise. Police noted unsafe speed and also listed “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.”

An e-scooter rider was injured in a collision with a taxi at Broadway and Fairview Ave in Manhattan. The rider, a 30-year-old man, sustained an arm contusion and was listed as injured. The taxi is a 2021 Tesla operating as a cab. According to the police report, contributing factors included “Unsafe Speed” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” Police recorded unsafe speed by the taxi driver. They also noted that second factor. Crash data show the taxi listed as parked and the scooter traveling straight south before impact, with the scooter’s front and the taxi’s right rear quarter panel noted as points of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840902 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 31 - A northbound SUV rear-ended a pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. The SUV driver and front passenger suffered whiplash. Two rear passengers were listed uninjured. Police cited Following Too Closely and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

The driver of an SUV rear-ended a northbound pickup on Henry Hudson Parkway. The SUV sustained center front-end damage with right-front impact to the pickup's center rear. The SUV driver, age 28, complained of neck pain and was listed with whiplash. The front passenger, age 30, complained of back pain and was listed with whiplash. Two rear occupants were listed without injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were "Following Too Closely" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded tailgating and driver inattention as the driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• It is time to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York?, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 27 - A cyclist going straight on Sherman hit a 50-year-old woman near Thayer. She reported back pain and shock. Police recorded pedestrian/bicyclist error and confusion.

On Sherman Avenue near Thayer Street in Manhattan, a northwest-traveling cyclist going straight ahead hit a 50-year-old woman on foot. The impact was to the bicycle’s front. The woman reported back pain and shock; police listed her as injured. The cyclist’s injury status was unspecified. According to the police report, Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion was recorded as a contributing factor for both the cyclist and the pedestrian. Police coded the pedestrian as not in the roadway and not at an intersection. The crash was logged under collision ID 4839564 in zip code 10040.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839564 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - Northbound on the Henry Hudson. A sedan’s left rear gets struck. A young rider goes down, partly ejected. Knee torn. Helmet on. Police cite driver inattention. Steel wins. Flesh pays.

An 18-year-old motorcyclist heading north on Henry Hudson Parkway struck the left rear of a northbound sedan. The rider was injured, partially ejected, and suffered a leg injury; he wore a helmet. Sedan occupants had unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” That driver error set the stage for impact. The sedan showed damage to the left rear bumper; the motorcycle’s front end took the hit. No other factors were listed beyond inattention. Helmet use is noted for the motorcyclist, but it comes after the cited driver inattention in the record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - DOT drops a greenway blueprint. Brooklyn takes the lead. Protected paths cut fights with traffic and stitch gaps from Greenpoint to Sheepshead Bay. If built, people on foot and bikes get space. Cars lose ground.

"New Yorkers love their parks and waterfront and greenways are the way they increasingly reach and enjoy these wonderful spaces," -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

On 2025-08-14, NYC DOT released “Greater Greenways: New York City’s Greenway Plan.” Status: executive policy plan released. No bill number. No Council committee. Focus: Brooklyn links, a 25-mile waterfront route, Eastern Parkway fixes, and an IBX-aligned greenway. BKReader’s Kaya Laterman reported the rollout. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Deputy Mayor Jeff Roth backed the push. No council members were cited. The plan promises wider, safer space for walkers and riders through industrial corridors and across creek gaps. Safety impact: positive. Separated, continuous routes reduce conflicts with cars, support mode shift and safety in numbers, and can improve cross-borough equity if the city builds.

• Where Will NYC Add Greenways in Brooklyn?, BKReader, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 13 - City leaders promise new greenways. Paths will link boroughs, close gaps, and shield walkers and cyclists from cars. No timeline. No budget. Safety remains uncertain as protections vanish elsewhere.

Gothamist (2025-08-13) reports New York City released its first greenway master plan in 30 years, aiming to connect and expand pedestrian and bike paths across all boroughs. The plan proposes 40 new miles of greenways, but officials gave no cost or timeline. The article notes the city recently removed cyclist protections on Bedford Avenue, sparking outrage. Councilmember Rivera called it 'a plan for future generations that leaves no neighborhood behind.' Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez said the goal is for all New Yorkers to 'bike and walk safe.' The plan responds to a 2022 City Council law, highlighting gaps in current infrastructure and the need for safer, connected routes.

• City Unveils Ambitious Greenway Expansion Plan, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-13

Aug 13 - City rolls out Greater Greenways. Forty miles of new bike and walking paths. Cyclists and pedestrians get space. Cars lose ground. Safer routes cut through parks and waterfronts. Crash risk falls.

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

On August 13, 2025, the Adams administration announced the Greater Greenways plan. The city aims to 'dramatically expand the network of bike and pedestrian pathways through natural spaces and waterfronts around the Five Boroughs.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Eric Adams led the push. No council bill number or committee is listed. The plan promises over 40 miles of new greenways, connecting neighborhoods and parks. Safety analysts note: expanding dedicated bike and pedestrian pathways separates vulnerable users from traffic, slashing crash risk and encouraging more people to walk or bike. The city signals a shift—more space for people, less for cars.

• ‘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 9 - City targets delivery companies. New rules demand registration, worker IDs, safety gear. Reflective vests, tracking, and penalties loom. Systemic street danger remains. Burden shifts to workers.

On August 9, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez proposed new rules for app-based delivery companies. The plan, now open for public comment, would require companies to register with DOT, assign unique ID cards to workers, and provide mandatory safety training and gear. Adams said, 'Our administration is committed to creating safer, more sustainable streets for everyone.' The rules demand reflective vests and reporting of vehicle types. Critics warn of risks to undocumented workers. A safety analyst notes: while training and gear may help individuals, the policy fails to address systemic traffic dangers and shifts responsibility onto vulnerable workers instead of drivers or city infrastructure.

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

Aug 8 - Officials and advocates raced the M34 bus in Midtown. Walking beat the bus. The street choked with traffic. Buses crawled. Riders waited. The city failed its most vulnerable. Cars ruled. Transit lost.

On August 8, 2025, Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani joined transit advocates in Midtown. They raced the M34 bus across 34th Street to expose slow bus speeds. The event asked: 'Is it faster to walk across town or take the bus?' Russo-Lennon and others backed bus improvements, highlighting how cars choke streets and trap riders. The demonstration drew support from Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers, and city officials. The safety analyst notes this was a demonstration, not a policy change, so it does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety or system-wide outcomes.

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

Aug 7 - A stolen car tore through Canal and Bowery. Two lives ended. One sat on a bench. One rode a bike. The city now promises changes. Steel and speed met flesh. The street stays dangerous.

NY1 reported on August 7, 2025, that after a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery, the city will upgrade the intersection. On July 19, a stolen car, allegedly driven over 100 mph, killed Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kwok was sitting on a bench. Cruickshank rode his bike on the sidewalk. The article quotes authorities: 'A stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour...crashed into them.' The crash highlights risks from reckless driving and exposes gaps in street design. The Department of Transportation now plans safety improvements.

• Deadly Crash Spurs Chinatown Upgrades, NY1, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 3 - Drivers in two sedans crashed at Pinehurst Avenue and West 178th Street. A 32-year-old driver suffered a back bruise. Police recorded driver inattention. One driver was turning right. The other was going straight.

Two drivers in sedans collided at Pinehurst Avenue and West 178th Street in Manhattan. The driver of a 2022 Ford sedan was making a right turn while heading south. The driver of a 2018 Kia sedan was traveling east, going straight. A 32-year-old man driving one sedan was injured with a back contusion; he was conscious and his air bag deployed. No injury was recorded for the 63-year-old driver of the other sedan. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was a contributing factor. Police recorded driver inattention as the driver error. Impact damaged the Ford’s right rear and the Kia’s front. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed as involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834409 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 3 - A driver struck a cyclist at West 181st and Cabrini. The driver fled. The cyclist went to the hospital. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

CBS New York (2025-08-03) reports a bicyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run at West 181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard in Washington Heights. The crash happened just after noon. The driver left the scene, leaving the cyclist injured. The article states, "A bicyclist was hospitalized after being injured in a hit and run." No details on the driver or vehicle were released. The incident highlights ongoing risks for cyclists and the persistent issue of drivers fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Cyclist Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Uptown, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 2 - Drivers in a Honda SUV and a Ford sedan collided on Riverside Drive near Broadway. Two men suffered head bruises. Police recorded Unsafe Speed and Turning Improperly. Metal buckled. Passengers rattled.

Two drivers in a Honda SUV and a Ford sedan collided on Riverside Drive near Broadway in Manhattan. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The driver of the SUV was westbound; the sedan's driver was eastbound. A 35-year-old front passenger and a 34-year-old driver suffered head contusions. Police recorded Unsafe Speed and Turning Improperly by the drivers as contributing factors. Five other occupants, including teenagers, were involved; their injuries were listed as unspecified. The SUV carried four people, the sedan two. The street took the force. The passengers paid for it.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - The driver of an SUV changed lanes unsafely on Henry Hudson Parkway and collided with another northbound vehicle. A front-seat passenger suffered head and neck injuries; the driver reported pain and nausea. Police cited Unsafe Lane Changing and Following Too Closely.

An SUV traveling north on Henry Hudson Parkway collided with another northbound vehicle after a lane change. A 44-year-old front-seat passenger suffered head and neck injuries and complained of whiplash. The SUV carried two occupants; the driver, a 38-year-old woman, reported pain and nausea. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Following Too Closely' caused the crash. Police recorded those driver errors as contributing factors. The SUV's right rear quarter panel struck the other vehicle's left front quarter panel; damage included roof damage to the SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - Two vehicles collided on Madison Avenue. One slammed into scaffolding. Eight people hurt. Steel and glass scattered. Early morning chaos. No word yet on why.

ABC7 reported on July 31, 2025, that a car and SUV crashed on Madison Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, sending one vehicle into scaffolding. Eight people were injured, but none critically. The article states, 'There is no word on the cause of the crash. So far, no charges have been filed.' Video from Citizen App showed the aftermath. The crash highlights the risks of vehicle collisions near pedestrian infrastructure. No details on driver actions or city response were given.

• Eight Injured As Cars Hit Scaffolding, ABC7, Published 2025-07-31

Jul 30 - A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 29 - A man shoved his girlfriend onto subway tracks at Fulton Street. The train crushed her legs. She survived, but lost both limbs. He fled, but police caught him. The court sentenced him to 18 years.

Gothamist (2025-07-29) reports a Brooklyn man received 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to pushing his girlfriend onto the tracks at Manhattan's Fulton Street Station on March 9, 2024. Prosecutors said Christian Valdez threw her as a train entered, causing injuries that led to both legs being amputated. District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a 'life-threatening act of domestic violence in our transit system.' Valdez fled but was arrested hours later. The case highlights the vulnerability of transit riders and the severe consequences of violence in public spaces.

• Woman Loses Legs In Subway Attack, Gothamist, 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