Central Park Bleeds While City Hall Sleeps

A moped traveling south on 5 Avenue struck a sedan from behind. The moped’s unlicensed driver followed too closely, causing a collision. A 29-year-old male passenger was ejected and suffered facial abrasions, conscious but injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:15 on 5 Avenue involving a moped and a sedan both traveling south. The moped driver, who was unlicensed, failed to maintain a safe distance and rear-ended the sedan, a clear case of "Following Too Closely." The moped’s point of impact was the center back end of the sedan, while the sedan showed no damage. The moped carried two occupants; a 29-year-old male passenger was ejected during the collision. He sustained abrasions to his face and was conscious at the scene. The passenger was not wearing any safety equipment. No contributing factors were noted for the passenger, and the report highlights driver error as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council moves to hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters on city sidewalks. The bill targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. No mention of street safety or driver accountability.

Bill Int 0037-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 8, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk,' seeks to raise fines for sidewalk riding. Council Members Stevens (primary), Gennaro, Ung, Brewer, Brannan, and Morano sponsor the bill. The action: referral to committee. The summary states, 'This bill would increase each of the existing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, a bicycle with electric assist (commonly referred to as an “e-bike”), or an electric scooter on the sidewalk.' No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill focuses on penalties, not on street design or driver behavior.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A sedan and bicycle collided on Central Park West in Manhattan. Both drivers suffered injuries, including a concussion and bruises. The sedan driver was starting in traffic when the impact occurred. Illness was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:08 on Central Park West near West 70th Street. A 23-year-old female sedan driver, traveling north and starting in traffic, collided with a 48-year-old male bicyclist also traveling north. The sedan struck the bike at the right front bumper, impacting the bike's center back end. Both drivers were injured: the sedan driver sustained a concussion and head injury, while the bicyclist suffered contusions and injuries to the elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor, indicating a possible medical condition affecting the driver. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were specified. Neither occupant was ejected, and both remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Electeds launched 'Bike Safe' to urge cyclists to respect pedestrians. They named cars as the main killers. Delivery workers face pressure from apps. The campaign puts blame where it belongs: on reckless drivers and the systems that push workers to risk lives.

On January 19, 2024, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Council Member Erik Bottcher launched the 'Bike Safe' public safety campaign in Council District 47. The campaign, titled 'Slow Your Roll, Respect The Stroll,' urges cyclists to stop at red lights and avoid sidewalks, but Bottcher stressed, 'the vast majority of deaths and injuries are caused by cars.' Bottcher and Hoylman-Sigal both called out reckless drivers as the real threat. Assembly Member Tony Simone joined, pushing for statewide laws to curb dangerous delivery app practices. Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project highlighted how apps force delivery workers into risky behavior, but noted that new minimum pay rates help slow things down. The campaign focuses on education, not punishment, and centers the voices of workers and vulnerable road users. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• Electeds Roll Out 'Bike Safe' Campaign While Admitting Cars are the Real Source of Danger, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-19

Council Member Bottcher and colleagues launched ‘Slow Your Roll, Respect The Stroll’ to urge cyclists to respect pedestrians. They admit cars are the main killers. Five died in Bottcher’s district last year—three were pedestrians hit by drivers. The campaign runs citywide.

On January 19, 2024, Council Member Erik Bottcher unveiled the ‘Slow Your Roll, Respect The Stroll’ campaign. The effort, joined by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Tony Simone, aims to remind cyclists to stop at red lights and avoid sidewalks. Bottcher’s district saw 2,215 crashes last year, injuring 267 pedestrians and 218 cyclists; three of five fatalities were pedestrians killed by drivers. Bottcher said, 'the vast majority of deaths and injuries are caused by cars.' Simone highlighted delivery app pressure on workers to break laws. Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project noted delivery workers face daily risks and exploitation. The campaign, first in English and Spanish, will expand citywide. The focus remains: cars are the real threat, but all street users must be considered.

• Electeds Roll Out ‘Bike Safe’ Campaign While Admitting Cars are the Real Source of Danger, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-19

A Cadillac driver blacked out behind the wheel. His car crashed into westbound sedans. He suffered severe injuries. Airbags burst. No one else was reported hurt. The street bore the mark of sudden, silent danger.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old man driving a 2022 Cadillac sedan eastbound near 1 Transverse Road Number Two in Manhattan lost consciousness at 5:20 p.m. His car struck two westbound sedans, a Toyota and an Audi. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the sole contributing factor. The Cadillac driver suffered severe injuries to his entire body and was found unconscious. Airbags deployed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other driver errors were cited in the report. The crash left damage on the left front bumpers and quarter panels of the sedans. The event highlights the sudden risk when a driver loses control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696903 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Vendors vanished from the Brooklyn Bridge. City workers swept the span at midnight. Tourists walked free of tables and hawkers. The walkway opened up. No ducking, weaving, or crowding. The city seized eight vendor tables. The bridge stayed packed, but clear.

On January 3, 2024, the city implemented a total vendor ban on the Brooklyn Bridge. The Department of Transportation and NYPD cleared all souvenir stands and food sellers at midnight. A sign now reads, 'No vending allowed.' Councilmember Gale A. Brewer, District 6, was mentioned for introducing a related bill last month to restrict sales only on narrow sections. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Tourists and New Yorkers alike deserve to walk across it and enjoy its beauty without being packed together like sardines or risking their safety.' The ban aims to improve pedestrian flow on the crowded bridge, which sees over 34,000 walkers on a fall weekend. Supporters of vendors mourned the loss of affordable food and art. Tourists welcomed the extra space and easier passage.

• Tourists enjoy vendor-free Brooklyn Bridge as ban goes into effect, gothamist.com, Published 2024-01-03

City Hall will ban all street vendors from bridges like the Brooklyn Bridge starting January 3. Officials claim the move will ease crowding and reduce danger for walkers. Vendors, many disabled or veterans, say the ban guts their livelihoods overnight.

On January 2, 2024, City Hall announced a blanket ban on street vendors from city bridges, effective January 3. The policy, not a council bill but a mayoral action, follows months of warnings and public debate. Mayor Adams said, "Tourists and New Yorkers alike deserve to walk across it and enjoy its beauty without being packed together like sardines or risking their safety." The Department of Transportation cited overcrowding and safety risks on the Brooklyn Bridge, where daily pedestrian numbers have doubled since 2021. Vendors and advocates, including Mohamed Attia of the Street Vendor Project, condemned the ban for stripping workers—many disabled or veterans—of income with no safety net. Upper West Side Council Member Gale Brewer proposed a compromise bill to allow regulated vending on wider bridge sections, but the administration pushed ahead with a total ban. The city claims the measure will protect pedestrians, but offers no new space or support for displaced vendors.

• New Year’s Leave! City To Kick Vendors Off Bridges Tomorrow, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-02

Council calls for state action on Sammy’s Law and SAFE Streets Act. The bills would let New York City lower speed limits and give crash victims new rights. Lawmakers push to curb deadly driving and protect those on foot and bike.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The resolution, introduced April 11, 2023, and filed December 31, 2023, calls for 'allowing New York City to establish a lower speed limit, and enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led sponsorship, joined by Gutiérrez, Restler, and others. The package aims to cut speeds, redesign streets, and support crash victims. It would let the city set safer limits, require safe passing for cyclists, and mandate complete street design. The council’s action spotlights the urgent need to protect people walking, biking, and riding in New York.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31

MTA stalls on a delivery worker hub at W. 72nd and Broadway. Residents and Community Board 7 oppose the plan. The Parks Department pushes forward. Delivery workers wait. The street stays hostile. No rest. No charge. No safety for the most exposed.

The proposed delivery worker hub, announced in October 2022 by Sen. Chuck Schumer and Mayor Adams, would convert old newsstands at W. 72nd Street and Broadway into rest stops with bike parking, seating, and charging stations. Community Board 7 voted against the plan, citing safety and congestion fears. Katina Ellison of the West 71st Street Block Association called the idea 'clearly terrible and dangerous.' CB 7’s Andrew Albert, also on the MTA board, supports charging stations but wants a different site. Ken Coughlin of CB 7 called the opposition hypocritical, noting the neighborhood’s reliance on delivery workers. Council Member Gale Brewer supports smaller, less invasive infrastructure. The Parks Department plans to proceed, but no timeline is set. Vulnerable road users—delivery workers—remain exposed, with no safe place to rest or recharge.

• MTA Reviewing Proposed Upper West Side Delivery Worker Hub Amid Ongoing Pushback, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-20

Council Member Gale Brewer pushes a bill to allow some street vendors on wide bridge paths. The measure rejects a total ban. It sets strict limits: only on spans at least 16 feet wide, with 20 feet between sellers. Enforcement remains a challenge.

On December 15, 2023, Council Member Gale Brewer introduced a bill in the New York City Council to regulate street vending on bridges. The bill, debated in committee, would permit vendors only on bridge walkways at least 16 feet wide and require 20 feet between each seller. Bridge approaches would remain off-limits. Brewer stated, 'I believe strongly that a full ban on vendors is not necessary,' and argued for clear, enforceable rules. The Department of Transportation had proposed a total ban on vending across all city-owned bridges, citing overcrowding. Brewer’s bill seeks a middle ground, allowing limited vending while addressing safety and crowding. Vendor advocates welcomed relief from a total ban but warned the spacing rule would be hard to enforce. The bill’s fate remains undecided.

• New Bill Would Allow Some Street Vendors on Bridges Amid Push for Total Ban, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-15

Upper West Side’s board voted 8-1 to demand crackdowns on unregistered mopeds. The resolution urges city and state to punish illegal dealers, enforce laws, and back Albany’s registration bill. Lawmakers say loopholes fuel chaos. Immigrants often misled. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 14, 2023, Community Board 7’s transportation committee passed a resolution, 8-1, demanding action against unregistered mopeds. The board called on the Department of Motor Vehicles to impose civil penalties on unregistered dealers and urged city and state officials to enforce laws against selling non-street-legal mopeds. The resolution also asks the city to consider a buy-back program for gas-powered mopeds. The matter, titled 'Upper West Side Panel Backs Resolution to Rein in Dangerous Mopeds,' supports Albany legislation requiring sellers to register mopeds with the DMV before sale. State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Alex Bores sponsor the bill. Bores said, 'We need to cut off the flow of these vehicles before they get onto these streets.' The board’s move aims to close loopholes, protect vulnerable road users, and address the chaos caused by unregistered mopeds.

• Upper West Side Panel Backs Resolution to Rein in Dangerous Mopeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

Gale Brewer rejects Holden’s e-bike registration push. She calls it ineffective and burdensome. Brewer backs bills for safer batteries and worker training. Thirty-one groups join her. Critics warn registration means more stops, fewer bikes, and more danger for riders.

On November 13, 2023, Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Upper West Side) publicly opposed Council Member Bob Holden’s proposed e-bike registration bill. The bill, not yet passed, would require every e-bike in New York City to be registered with the Department of Transportation. Brewer stated, “I do not believe a blanket e-bike registration rule will make streets safer, nor is NYC DOT equipped to establish, manage or enforce it.” She instead sponsors Intro. 1168, mandating safe lithium-ion batteries for delivery workers, and Intro. 1163, requiring worker training and identification. Thirty-one organizations endorsed Brewer’s approach, calling Holden’s bill “ineffective, dangerous, expensive, short-sighted, and bureaucratically complicated.” Council Members Rita Joseph and Sandy Nurse also withdrew support. Opponents argue the registration bill could suppress e-bike use, increase police stops in communities of color, and worsen traffic violence. Holden dismissed these concerns, insisting his bill is vital for safety.

• Key Upper West Side Pol Gale Brewer Comes Out Against E-Bike Registration Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-13

A 53-year-old cyclist, merging south on Central Park West, was hit by an SUV’s front bumper. He flew from his bike, landed headfirst, and bled on the pavement. The driver was distracted. The cyclist was left semiconscious. No helmet was worn.

A 53-year-old man riding a bike southbound on Central Park West was struck by the left front bumper of a southbound SUV. According to the police report, the cyclist was merging when the SUV hit him, causing him to be ejected and land headfirst on the pavement. He suffered severe bleeding and was semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver’s distraction. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Albany lawmakers move to force moped registration before sale. The bill aims to block illegal, unregistered mopeds from city streets. Dealers, not riders, would handle paperwork. Advocates say this targets bad actors and protects pedestrians from rogue machines.

On October 23, 2023, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) introduced a bill in Albany to require moped dealers to register vehicles with the DMV before buyers leave the shop. The bill, supported by Assembly Member Alex Bores (D-Upper East Side), seeks to close a loophole that lets illegal mopeds flood city streets. The matter summary states: 'New legislation in Albany seeks to eliminate the use of illegal mopeds by requiring sellers to register them with the DMV before buyers can take them out of the shop.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This common-sense bill would simply ensure that the registration happens at the point of sale, before someone rides out of the shop.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker's Justice Project backs the move, stressing manufacturer responsibility. Attorney Daniel Flanzig says the law could clear streets of unregistered, dangerous vehicles. The bill is not yet law, but enforcement actions against illegal mopeds are already underway.

• State Lawmaker Seeks to Close Moped-Registration Loophole, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-23

A sedan traveling west struck a northbound bicyclist on Central Park West near West 97th Street. The cyclist suffered a head injury and was semiconscious with minor bleeding. The bike’s front center and sedan’s left front bumper were damaged.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided on Central Park West at West 97th Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old man, was injured with a head wound and was semiconscious at the scene. The bike was traveling north, and the sedan was traveling west, both going straight ahead before the crash. The point of impact was the bike’s center front end and the sedan’s left front quarter panel. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not specify driver errors or contributing factors for the sedan. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No ejection occurred. The driver of the sedan was licensed in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07