Inwood Bleeds, City Waits: Demand Safe Streets Now

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

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 - 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

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

Jul 25 - A firefighter fell from his motorcycle on FDR Drive. A car struck him. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. Police investigate. No arrests. The road claimed another life.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-25) reports Matthew Goicochea, 31, was killed after falling from his motorcycle and being struck by a car near E. 25th St. on FDR Drive. The driver did not remain at the scene. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the incident. The article states, "He was then struck by an unknown vehicle shortly thereafter, which did not remain on the scene." No arrests have been made. The crash highlights ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users on high-speed city highways and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Firefighter Killed in FDR Drive Collision, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-25

Jul 24 - Two buses collided on a ramp. Thirty people hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens wailed. Another crash this month. The ramp remains a danger.

Gothamist (2025-07-24) reports about 30 people were injured when two buses collided on the Port Authority Bus Terminal ramp near West 41st Street and Dyer Avenue. The FDNY said, 'only minor injuries' were reported. This marks the second bus crash at the terminal approach this month, highlighting ongoing risks for passengers. NJ Transit delays followed. The article notes, 'A collision involving multiple buses July 2 shut down all NJ Transit service.' The repeated crashes raise questions about ramp safety and traffic management.

• Thirty Hurt In Port Authority Bus Crash, Gothamist, 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 - A driver tore through Midtown, smashing cars and fleeing police. Metal scraped. Horns blared. The chase ended at Lexington and 50th. Police drew guns. The driver was arrested. Streets bore the scars.

According to ABC7 (2025-07-22), a driver struck multiple vehicles—including a police cruiser—while fleeing police through Midtown Manhattan. The pursuit began after a hit at Park Ave and ended at 50th and Lexington. The suspect, Jose Foster, faces charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and fleeing police. Witness Martina Minor said, "It felt like he was scratching like big noise and I was honking like stop and he kept doing it." The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases in dense city streets, with property damage and potential harm to bystanders.

• Police Chase Wrecks Cars In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding rental car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The car was overdue. Guns were found in the trunk. Charges followed. Debris scattered the street.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a deadly crash at Canal Street and Bowery. A blue Chevrolet Malibu, rented but never returned, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died instantly. Prosecutors say the car was moving at a 'high rate of speed.' Police found two 9mm pistols and ammunition in the trunk. The driver faces murder and manslaughter charges. The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Overdue Rental Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A stolen car tore through Chinatown. Two dead. The driver, unlicensed, had fled a Brooklyn crash months before. System failed. Streets stayed deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-07-20) reports a 23-year-old, unlicensed driver killed two people in Chinatown while driving a stolen rental. Three months earlier, she allegedly hit a pedestrian in Brooklyn and fled. Police charged her with leaving the scene and aggravated unlicensed operation, but she was released without bail, as the charges were not bail-eligible under state law. The article notes, "The out-of-control driver... had been freed without bail in April after she was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash that badly injured a pedestrian." The case highlights gaps in bail policy and enforcement for unlicensed, repeat dangerous driving.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Two In Chinatown, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A Chevy Malibu sped off the Manhattan Bridge, struck a cyclist and a woman on the sidewalk. Both died. The car hit an NYPD van. Two drivers tried to flee but were caught. No officers hurt. No charges yet.

Gothamist (2025-07-19) reports a Chevy Malibu exiting the Manhattan Bridge at Canal Street and Bowery struck and killed a cyclist and a pedestrian at 7:30 a.m. Police say two women in their 20s drove the car and 'initially tried to leave on foot,' but were taken into custody. The crash also damaged an NYPD van. No officers were injured. As of Saturday afternoon, 'the NYPD said it had not filed charges.' The deaths follow a city report of record-low traffic fatalities, highlighting ongoing risks for vulnerable road users.

• Cyclist, Pedestrian Killed Near Manhattan Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 17 - A van crashed in Midtown. Inside: dozens of propane tanks. The street held its breath. Danger rode in silence, hidden until metal met metal.

CBS New York reported on July 17, 2025, that 'dozens of propane tanks were found in a van in Midtown Manhattan after a car crash Tuesday night.' The article does not detail injuries or the cause of the crash. The presence of hazardous cargo in a crash raises questions about vehicle safety checks and enforcement. Storing large amounts of propane in a van on city streets exposes bystanders and road users to hidden risks. The incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of hazardous material transport in dense urban areas.

• Propane Tanks Discovered After Midtown Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-17