Inwood Burns While Leaders Stall: Deadly Streets, Broken Promises

A sedan making a left turn struck the left rear bumper of a parked bus on W 218 St in Manhattan. The sedan driver, a 53-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and shock. Alcohol involvement was noted as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:33 on W 218 St near 9 Ave in Manhattan. A sedan traveling northeast was making a left turn when it collided with the left rear bumper of a parked bus. The bus was stationary and unoccupied at the time. The sedan driver, a 53-year-old man, was injured with neck trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. He was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver impairment. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were specified. The impact damaged the left rear quarter panel of the sedan and the left rear bumper of the bus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound sedan struck a parked car on W 215 St in Manhattan. The female driver suffered a head injury and shock. Police cited alcohol involvement and driver distraction as key factors in the collision. Airbags deployed; no ejections occurred.

According to the police report, a female driver traveling north on W 215 St collided with a parked sedan, impacting the left front bumper of her vehicle against the center back end of the parked car. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, was injured with a head injury and experienced shock. The report highlights 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness, and the airbag deployed. There were no ejections. The parked vehicle had no occupants at the time. This collision underscores the dangers posed by impaired and distracted driving in Manhattan's streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799702 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight trucks on the BQE by 60%. City officials want Albany to extend the program. Councilmember Restler and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez call for more enforcement. The tech fines violators, cuts danger, and protects crumbling roads.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez urged state lawmakers to extend and expand the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, 'Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE.' Restler said he hopes for similar results on the Staten Island-bound lanes. The bill authorizing the program is set to expire, prompting calls for urgent legislative action. Rodriguez called the technology a 'national model.' Lawmakers want to expand the system to other sites, including the Washington Bridge. The crackdown aims to reduce illegal truck loads, which threaten road safety and infrastructure.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, amny.com, Published 2025-03-04

Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight truck crossings on the BQE by 60%. Councilmember Lincoln Restler backs the tech and calls for state lawmakers to extend the program. The city wants expansion before the enabling law expires. DOT hails the results.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) urged state lawmakers to extend the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, overweight truck crossings on the Queens-bound BQE dropped from 7,920 daily to about 3,041 per month—a 60% reduction. The sensors are set to expand to the Staten Island-bound side this year. Restler said, "Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE." The Department of Transportation and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez praised the program's impact and called it a potential national model. With the authorizing law set to expire, city officials are pressing Albany to extend and expand the program.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-04

DOT slowed Third Avenue’s traffic lights from 25 to 15 mph. Drivers fumed. E-bikes surged. Councilmember Julie Menin said she got no warning. Residents felt blindsided. DOT claims safety, but the street churns with tension. No crash deaths since the 2023 redesign.

On February 19, 2025, the Department of Transportation retimed traffic signals on Third Avenue between 60th and 96th Streets, dropping the pace from 25 mph to 15 mph. The DOT called it a 'minor adjustment' to make the street safer for pedestrians and more comfortable for cyclists and drivers. Councilmember Julie Menin (District 5) said, 'We received no communication whatsoever about these very significant changes.' Menin wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, demanding answers and citing a lack of community input. Residents and drivers complained the change slowed cars and let e-bikes speed unchecked. DOT data shows no crash deaths since a 2023 redesign added bike and bus lanes. The move sparked debate over safety, transparency, and the balance between driver convenience and vulnerable road user protection.

• NYC’s Third Avenue traffic light slowdown sparks fury as locals complain of e-bike ‘racetrack’, nypost.com, Published 2025-02-19

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Councilmember De La Rosa and others want permits for residential parking. Congestion pricing pushed more drivers uptown. Lawmakers say outsiders take local spots. Critics warn permits may spur more car ownership. No clear plan for safety or curb use.

On February 8, 2025, Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called for a City Council pilot program to restrict street parking to permit holders. The debate follows congestion pricing, which, as the bill summary states, has made free street parking uptown scarce and pushed more drivers into residential neighborhoods. State Senator Robert Jackson sponsors a parallel bill in Albany. De La Rosa and Jackson argue that local residents lose parking to out-of-state drivers. Councilmember Gale Brewer warns that low permit prices could increase car ownership and worsen parking shortages, citing past failures in other cities. Kate Slevin of the Regional Plan Association questions whether a permit system would be enforced, given the city's history of placard abuse. The bill's impact on vulnerable road users remains unaddressed. No safety improvements or curb space repurposing are included.

• With congestion pricing in effect, push for parking permits in NYC gains momentum, gothamist.com, Published 2025-02-08

A 67-year-old man crossing at a marked crosswalk was struck by a sedan making a U-turn. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive, causing serious hip and upper leg injuries. The pedestrian was conscious and bruised at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on W 205 St near 10 Ave in Manhattan at 3:23 PM. A sedan traveling south was making a U-turn when it struck a 67-year-old male pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg and was conscious with contusions and bruises. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factors. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, indicating the collision happened during the U-turn maneuver. The driver was licensed and operating a 2003 Volkswagen sedan with two occupants. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during complex vehicle maneuvers in pedestrian zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791575 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

Speed cameras slash reckless driving. At school zones, speeding drops 94 percent. But the program expires soon. DOT Commissioner Rodriguez urges Albany to act. State Sen. Gounardes backs expansion. Cameras save lives. Delay risks more deaths. Lawmakers hold the key.

Bill to reauthorize New York City's speed camera program is pending in Albany. The program, covering 750 school zones, needs state approval before June. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez calls speed cameras 'one of the most effective tools' to stop deadly driving. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who sponsored the last reauthorization, says, 'my bill to expand the speed camera program has saved lives.' The city wants stronger penalties for repeat offenders and action on license plate fraud, which lets millions of violations go unpunished. The report shows cameras cut speeding by 94 percent and reduce injuries and deaths. The program faces political hurdles, but the evidence is clear: speed cameras protect people on foot and bike. Lawmakers must decide whether to keep this life-saving tool.

• DOT to Albany: Don’t Forget to Reauthorize Our Life-Saving Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-24

Assembly bill A 2642 orders new safety tech in every car. The DMV must set rules. Lawmakers push for change. Streets could see fewer crashes. The fight for safer roads moves to Albany.

Assembly Bill A 2642, now in sponsorship, would require advanced safety technology in all vehicles statewide. The bill, introduced January 21, 2025, directs the DMV commissioner to set rules and regulations. The matter reads: 'Mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state; requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate certain rules and regulations.' Brian Cunningham leads as primary sponsor, joined by Steven Raga, Chris Burdick, Tony Simone, Manny De Los Santos, Jen Lunsford, and Jo Anne Simon. The bill aims to force carmakers and drivers to adopt life-saving tech. No safety analyst has yet assessed its direct impact on vulnerable road users.

• File A 2642, Open States, Published 2025-01-21

A sedan traveling southeast on Isham Street hit a 32-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered severe leg injuries, including fractures and dislocations. The driver’s inattention caused the collision at a Manhattan intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southeast on Isham Street in Manhattan struck a 32-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection near Sherman Avenue. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including fractures and dislocations. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely to the pedestrian rather than the car. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were noted. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in urban intersections, where pedestrians legally crossing remain vulnerable to inattentive motorists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789059 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams wants $4 million a year to block cars from crosswalks. Granite blocks, bike racks, and barriers will guard corners. Most pedestrian deaths happen at intersections. The city has ignored its own parking ban. Activists demand real change. The fight continues.

On January 17, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams proposed a budget boost to $3.85 million per year for 'hardened daylighting' at intersections. The plan, detailed by City Hall's Office of Management and Budget, aims to install granite blocks, bike racks, and other barriers at hundreds of corners. Adams said, 'We are ... keeping New Yorkers safe on our streets ... by improving road safety at hundreds of targeted traffic intersections.' State law bans parking within 20 feet of intersections, but New York City exempts itself, fueling deadly crashes—55 percent of pedestrian deaths and 79 percent of injuries happen at intersections. Council members and grassroots activists are pushing to end the city's carveout and require the Department of Transportation to add barriers to 1,000 intersections a year. Jackson Chabot of Open Plans said, 'Hardening is what makes daylighting actually work, so the budget item is really crucial to expanding it across the city.' The push follows the 2023 death of 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun at a poorly designed corner. The fight for safer streets is far from over.

• Mayor Adams Proposes $4M Per Year to ‘Harden’ Dangerous Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-17

Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator 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 bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

A 30-year-old man suffered head injuries after a sedan struck him while he emerged from behind a parked SUV on Sherman Avenue. The driver’s inattention and unsafe speed caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian with abrasions and a serious head injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:48 AM on Sherman Avenue in Manhattan. A 30-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a northbound sedan collided with him as he emerged from in front of or behind a parked SUV. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right front quarter panel struck the pedestrian near the parked SUV’s left rear quarter panel. The pedestrian’s location and action were 'Pedestrian Not at Intersection' and 'Emerging from in Front of/Behind Parked Vehicle.' No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and improper lane usage in areas with parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08