Blood on 181st: Broken Promises, Broken Bodies

Mayor Adams will ban parking near 1,000 intersections each year. The city aims to clear corners, boost sightlines, and protect people on foot. Advocates pushed for this. The plan outpaces current law but leaves thousands of corners untouched for decades.

On December 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive policy: New York City will remove car parking near 1,000 intersections annually, far exceeding the 100 intersections required by recent Council law. The effort, known as daylighting, aims to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. Adams said, 'Protecting New Yorkers is my most sacred responsibility as mayor.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers praised daylighting as 'a proven safety measure.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stressed that daylighting must include physical infrastructure to prevent reckless turns. The Department of Transportation will also add raised crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and leading pedestrian signals at 1,000 intersections next year. The city will expand speed restriction technology in its fleet and increase data transparency. Advocates and community boards have long called for these changes. With nearly 47,000 intersections citywide, the plan will take decades to reach every corner.

• Adams Says He’ll Ban Parking Near 1,000 Intersections Every Year To Make Corners Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-01

City leaders cut ribbon on new protected bike lanes in Long Island City. Concrete curbs and daylighting shield cyclists from cars. Gaps persist at key intersections and bridge connections. Advocates demand more links and stronger barriers. Progress, but not enough.

On November 30, 2023, city officials unveiled new protected bike lanes along 11th Street, 44th Drive, and Jackson Avenue in Long Island City. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, called the lanes 'life-saving' and said they fill a critical gap, connecting cyclists to the Queensboro and Pulaski bridges. The project follows years of advocacy, including a 2019 push by then-Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. Laura Shepard of Transportation Alternatives praised the concrete curbs and daylighting but warned that gaps remain—especially at confusing intersections and near truck routes. Shepard urged DOT to add more physical barriers and expand the network, noting, 'It’s exciting, but we still need a lot more.' The new lanes mark progress, but the area’s vulnerable road users still face danger from incomplete connections and blocked paths.

• Eyes on the Street: Long Island City Bike Lanes Are a Good Start — But More Needed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-30

A left-turning SUV hit a northbound sedan on Broadway. The sedan’s front passenger, a 56-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction for both drivers.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV making a left turn on Broadway collided with a Dodge sedan heading north. The sedan’s front passenger, a 56-year-old woman, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Police listed driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both vehicles. No other factors or victim errors were noted. The crash underscores the risk posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers on busy Manhattan streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682124 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 50-year-old man crossing Payson Avenue with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn. The driver was inattentive and distracted. The pedestrian suffered a hip and upper leg contusion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Payson Avenue at an intersection with the signal. The vehicle involved was a 2021 Subaru SUV traveling south and making a left turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV. The pedestrian sustained a contusion to the hip and upper leg and was conscious after the collision. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A sedan crashed into a parked SUV on Broadway. The driver was hurt, suffering back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. No one else was injured.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old man driving a 2017 Honda sedan struck a parked BMW SUV on Broadway near West 183 Street. The driver suffered back injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The sedan was damaged at the front, while the SUV was hit on its left front bumper. No pedestrians or other occupants were involved. The driver was not using any safety equipment at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Two sedans collided on Broadway near West 196th Street in Manhattan. The driver and front passenger of one vehicle suffered injuries including head trauma and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed and traffic control disregard as factors in the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Broadway in Manhattan at 11:40 p.m. The driver, a 25-year-old man, and the front passenger, a 37-year-old man, were injured. The driver suffered whole-body injuries and complained of pain and nausea, while the passenger sustained head injuries and whiplash. Both occupants were wearing lap belts and were not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. One vehicle was involved in a police pursuit prior to the crash. The collision caused center front and back end damage to the vehicles. No pedestrian involvement was noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679213 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 15-year-old on a moped struck an SUV on Saint Nicholas Avenue. He flew from the seat. His head hit hard. He died on the street. Speed played a role. The crash left a mark on Manhattan’s roads.

A 15-year-old boy riding a Zhilong moped died after colliding with a GMC SUV near Saint Nicholas Avenue and West 185th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the moped rider was traveling at unsafe speed and was ejected from his seat, suffering fatal head injuries. The crash occurred as both vehicles went straight ahead. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The boy was not wearing any safety equipment, which is noted after the driver error. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver. The impact crushed the moped’s front and the SUV’s left front quarter panel. The street bears the cost of speed and force.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A box truck struck a stopped pickup on West 185 Street in Manhattan. Both drivers were injured. The pickup’s front passenger suffered knee and leg bruises. The truck driver sustained whiplash. The crash was caused by driver distraction.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south on West 185 Street rear-ended a parked pickup truck. The pickup was stopped in traffic when the box truck hit it from behind. The pickup’s front passenger, a 29-year-old male, was injured with contusions to his knee and lower leg. The truck driver, a 36-year-old male, suffered whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts. The report lists driver inattention and outside car distraction as contributing factors. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The impact was centered on the back end of the pickup and the front end of the box truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Council Member Chi Ossé condemned DOT for stalling the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The lane, long promised and long dangerous, remains unbuilt. Ossé demanded action. Cyclists keep dying. DOT offered no timeline. The city’s failure leaves lives at risk.

On November 2, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the protected bike lane project on Bedford Avenue. The project, which was supposed to upgrade a painted lane to a parking-protected lane, has been pushed to at least next spring. Ossé wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, calling the delay 'unacceptable' and demanding a firm installation date. He stated, 'The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected.' Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, echoed his frustration, citing record cyclist deaths and urgent need for safety. The DOT has not responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights the city’s repeated failures to deliver promised street safety improvements.

• Council Member Chi Ossé Blasts DOT For Delaying — And Maybe Killing — Bedford Ave Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-02

A 19-year-old motorcyclist merged improperly into a taxi traveling south on Saint Nicholas Avenue. The motorcycle struck the taxi’s right front bumper. The rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries but was not ejected and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male motorcyclist, unlicensed and without safety equipment, merged improperly into a taxi traveling south on Saint Nicholas Avenue. The motorcycle impacted the taxi’s right front bumper. The motorcyclist, the sole occupant of his vehicle, sustained internal injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The taxi driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report lists "Turning Improperly" as a contributing factor. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The motorcyclist was not ejected and remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 72-year-old box truck driver suffered chest injuries during a left turn on Broadway. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected. Illness and fatigue contributed to the crash. The truck's front end was damaged in the impact.

According to the police report, a 72-year-old male box truck driver was injured while making a left turn on Broadway. The driver sustained internal chest injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists illness and fatigue as contributing factors to the crash. The truck, a 2016 Ford, suffered damage to its center front end. There is no mention of other vehicles or pedestrians involved. The driver was licensed in New York and was using a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash. The incident highlights the risks posed by driver health and alertness issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670501 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

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

A motorcycle struck a sedan turning left on Riverside Drive. The 33-year-old male rider was ejected, suffering a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. The sedan’s right rear quarter panel was damaged. The rider was conscious but injured.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling west on Riverside Drive collided with a northbound sedan making a left turn. The motorcycle driver, a 33-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a fracture and dislocation to his elbow and lower arm. The sedan was damaged on its right rear quarter panel. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver did not yield properly during the turn. The motorcycle driver was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669791 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

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 56-year-old male driver suffered a bruised elbow in a crash on West 181 Street. An SUV traveling west struck a parked sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The driver was conscious and restrained. Illness was noted as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling west on West 181 Street collided with a parked sedan, impacting its left rear quarter panel. The SUV’s driver, a 56-year-old man wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained contusions to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. The report lists illness as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The parked vehicles included a second SUV and another sedan, both unoccupied. The collision caused damage to the front quarter panel of the SUV and the rear quarter panel of the sedan. The driver’s injury severity was classified as moderate.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 46-year-old man rode south on Henry Hudson Parkway. He was unlicensed. No helmet. He struck the right front of his Vespa. Thrown from the moped, his skull hit hard. He died alone in the dark. No other vehicles involved.

A 46-year-old man was killed while riding a Vespa southbound on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, 'A 46-year-old man, unlicensed and bareheaded, was thrown from his southbound Vespa. The right front struck. His skull bore the blow. He died alone in the dark. Crush injuries. No one else involved.' The report lists the driver as unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. The only contributing factors noted are 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash. The man was ejected from the moped and suffered fatal head injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

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 taxi crashed into a parked SUV in Washington Heights. Four taxi occupants suffered whiplash to head, neck, and back. Police cite driver distraction as the cause. Metal twisted. No one ejected.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north struck a parked SUV on Wadsworth Avenue in Manhattan. Four people in the taxi were injured: the 27-year-old male driver and three female passengers, ages 36, 41, and 44. All suffered whiplash, with injuries to the head, neck, and back. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash. The taxi's right front and the SUV's left rear took the impact. No one was ejected from either vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

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