Inwood Bleeds, City Waits: Demand Safe Streets Now

Mayor Adams launched a new Vision Zero push. The plan targets drivers and cyclists at crosswalks. NYPD vows strict enforcement. Advocates fear bias against cyclists. The city promises safer intersections, raised crosswalks, and more bike corrals. Warnings end. Tickets begin.

On January 19, 2022, Mayor Adams announced a new Vision Zero enforcement effort. The initiative, not a council bill but a citywide policy, requires all drivers and cyclists to stop for pedestrians at unsignalized crosswalks. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, a former council member, claims the rule protects pedestrians: 'Pedestrians are the ones that we are so committed to protecting in this particular initiative.' Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Sewell stressed enforcement: warnings will end, compliance will be enforced. Advocates like George Calderaro and Jon Orcutt warn of NYPD bias and a crackdown on cyclists. The plan includes engineering fixes at 1,000 intersections, raised crosswalks, more bike corrals, and a public awareness campaign. Advocacy groups back infrastructure but demand fair enforcement, not targeting cyclists. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• Mayor Adams’s ‘Turbo-Charged’ Vision Zero Includes a Back Door to Massive NYPD Crackdown on Cyclists, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-19

Ydanis Rodriguez faced the press. He promised more protected bike lanes. He backed Citi Bike growth in poor neighborhoods. He stayed vague on speed limits and price hikes. He pledged equity, but details were thin. Riders wait for action.

On January 19, 2022, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez held his first press conference since taking over the $1.3-billion agency. Rodriguez reaffirmed support for expanding Citi Bike, especially in underserved communities, and for strengthening protected bike lanes. He also voiced support for local control over speed limits and speed cameras, echoing the Crash Victims Rights & Safety Act. Rodriguez said, 'expanding Citi Bike to the underserved community is critical,' but offered few specifics, citing the need for internal review and consultation with the mayor. He acknowledged a 3 percent budget cut but maintained commitment to bike lane protection. Rodriguez's stance signals intent to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, but concrete plans remain unclear. The press and public await firmer commitments and timelines.

• Ydanis Rodriguez Meets the Press: What a Nice Guy (Who Didn’t Say Much), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-19

A junked Mercedes sat outside Assembly Member Al Taylor’s Harlem office for weeks. After Streetsblog’s story, Sanitation hauled it away. Resident Wendy Frank had reported the car. She waits for action on more abandoned vehicles nearby. Danger lingers. Action came late.

On January 18, 2022, the Department of Sanitation removed a derelict car from outside Assembly Member Al Taylor’s Harlem office. The car had been abandoned for over two weeks. Streetsblog’s headline reads: "Streetsblog Gets Action: That Derelict Car in Harlem Has Finally Been Removed." Harlem resident Wendy Frank reported the car to the 32nd Precinct in late December. She continues to press city agencies to clear other derelict and abandoned vehicles nearby. The Sanitation Department handles derelict cars, while NYPD deals with abandoned ones. Frank’s persistence forced action, but the city’s slow response leaves more hazards on Harlem streets. No council bill or formal vote was involved in this enforcement action.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: That Derelict Car in Harlem Has Finally Been Removed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-18

A burnt, gutted Mercedes sat for weeks in a Harlem crosswalk. Residents reported it. The city stalled. Only after media pressure did police tag it for removal. The car blocked space meant for people. The system failed to protect vulnerable road users.

On January 17, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported an abandoned, vandalized Mercedes-Benz left for three weeks on Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 147th and 148th streets. The car sat in a cross-hatched no-parking zone, blocking pedestrian space. Resident Wendy Frank filed complaints with the 32nd Precinct and 311, and alerted Assembly Member Al Taylor’s office. Taylor did not respond. The Department of Sanitation, after media inquiry, updated the complaint and police finally tagged the car for removal. The matter highlights civic dysfunction: 'This has become a problem for area residents and it is frustrating that the issue is not being addressed by the city and our elected representatives,' Frank said. The city’s slow response left vulnerable road users exposed to danger, showing systemic neglect.

• Check Out This Abandoned Car in Harlem!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-17

Bike New York blasts DOT for weak bike lanes and empty mileage targets. Advocates demand real protection, more concrete, and fewer painted lanes. They call for action, not excuses. The city’s cyclists face danger. The city must do better.

On January 7, 2022, Bike New York sent a letter to new DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The advocacy group declared, "The DOT bike program you inherit today is no longer a global leader or effective innovator." They criticized the agency for chasing mileage targets over safety and for letting police, film crews, and city vehicles block bike lanes. Bike New York called for physically protected lanes, more concrete, and an end to painted lanes and community board vetoes. Director Jon Orcutt said, "Bike lanes that are merely paint are obsolete and mostly useless to New Yorkers on bicycles in today’s city." DOT spokesman Seth Stein said Rodriguez agrees that a world-class protected bike lane network is key to safer streets and will consider the recommendations. The push is clear: vulnerable cyclists need real protection, not empty promises.

• Bike NY to DOT: The City’s Cycling Program is No Longer a World Leader, So Fix It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-12

Fifth Avenue stays dangerous. DOT stalls on promised redesign. Bike lane, busway, and pedestrian fixes remain on paper. Local business pressure blocks progress. Community Board 5 approved. Crashes and injuries mount. Council Member Powers urges action. Vulnerable road users wait.

"Powers reiterated that he’s supported the entirety of the plan on Fifth Avenue from the beginning, and wants the Adams administration – and new DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez – to move forward with the bike lane immediately." -- Ydanis A. Rodriguez

The Fifth Avenue redesign, announced in 2020 under former Mayor de Blasio, remains stalled as of January 10, 2022. The project, once a bold car-free busway, was scaled back to a protected bike lane and minor pedestrian upgrades. No new bus lane. Community Board 5 approved the plan, but DOT has not started work. Council Member Keith Powers supports the full plan and calls for immediate action on the bike lane, urging the Adams administration and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez to move forward. Local business interests, led by the Fifth Avenue Association, oppose the project, citing pandemic recovery concerns. Transportation Alternatives’ Cory Epstein says, 'Busways and bike lanes are good for the economy, good for our climate, and good for our Vision Zero goals.' Since the project’s announcement, crashes and injuries continue on the corridor. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the city delays.

• Despite End of Holiday Season, DOT Has No Update on Long-Stalled Fifth Ave. Project, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-10