Aug 8 - Mayor approved a car-free busway on 34th Street after walkers beat the crosstown bus in a 1.2‑mile race. The move targets faster, more reliable service for nearly 30,000 daily riders and to clear jams caused by congestion and illegal parking.

Bill number: none listed. Status: approval announced; stage: SPONSORSHIP. Committee: not listed. Key date: 2025-08-08, the day the crosstown race and public approval were reported. The matter is the "construction of a car-free busway on 34th Street between Third and Ninth avenues." Mayor Adams abandoned opposition and approved construction. Council member Zohran Mamdani celebrated, calling the buses "the slowest buses in the United States of America." Comptroller Brad Lander, Council Members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backed the plan. Advocates say the busway will speed service for almost 30,000 daily riders. No formal safety impact analysis was provided.

• Team Pedestrian Trounces Team Bus in Annual 'Crosstown Bus Challenge', streetsblog.org, 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 6 - A carriage horse fell and died on West 52nd. The street filled with shouts. Advocates gathered. The city’s old debate flared again. The animal lay still. The wheels kept turning.

ABC7 reported on August 6, 2025, that a carriage horse named Lady collapsed and died in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. The incident revived calls to ban horse-drawn carriages, with advocates urging passage of Ryder's Law to phase out the trade. The article quotes Councilmember Holden: "They work the horses to death, and it's sickening." The city’s health department and Cornell University are investigating the cause. No driver error is cited, but the event spotlights ongoing policy debate over animal safety and urban traffic.

• Horse Collapses, Dies On Manhattan Street, ABC7, Published 2025-08-06

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 - Two northbound cyclists collided on Central Park West. A 58-year-old man suffered a leg contusion and was conscious at the scene. Police cited improper lane use. One rider was left injured and complaining of a bruise.

Two cyclists riding north on Central Park West collided late at night. A 58-year-old man suffered a contusion to his knee and lower leg and was listed as injured and conscious. According to the police report, "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" contributed to the crash. The record also notes "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a factor. Police data show both bikes were traveling straight; the driver of one bike contacted the center back end of the other and the struck bike had center front end damage. No other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jul 29 - City, BIDs, and agencies plan a $3 million study to reshape 14th Street. The goal: safer space for walkers, cyclists, and buses. The busway may become permanent. Cars lose ground. Change moves slow.

New York Magazine - Curbed (2025-07-29) reports city officials and business groups will fund a $3 million, two-year study to redesign 14th Street. The plan aims for a 'complete street'—space for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and limited cars. The article notes, 'Their (mostly) shared goal is to make 14th into what's often called a complete street.' The study will assess traffic flow and street dynamics. The busway, which restricts cars, may become permanent. No crash or injury data is cited, but the focus is on systemic street changes, not individual driver actions.

• City Eyes Overhaul For 14th Street, New York Magazine - Curbed, 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 - A driver in an SUV turned right onto the 79th Street Transverse and hit a 32-year-old man on an e-bike. He suffered abrasions and lower-leg injuries. Police listed failure to yield and unsafe speed.

An SUV turning right on the 79th Street Transverse at Central Park West collided with a northbound e‑bike. The cyclist, a 32-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed.' Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The SUV's right front quarter panel struck the e‑bike's center front. The driver was licensed; the rider was conscious at the scene. Reports list the bicyclist's safety equipment as none but do not cite it as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jul 22 - A stolen car tore through Bowery and Canal. Two lives ended in seconds. Blood, wreckage, tequila, guns left behind. The driver ran. Bystanders paid the price.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-22), a stolen rental car struck and killed May Kwok, 63, and Kevin Scott Cruickshank, 55, at Bowery and Canal. Prosecutors said the driver, Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, fled the scene, leaving 'an open bottle of tequila and two 9mm guns in the wreck.' Surveillance video captured the car plowing into a woman on a bench and a passing cyclist. Romero faces murder, manslaughter, and vehicular homicide charges. Passenger Kennedy Lecraft faces charges for possession of stolen property. The crash highlights the lethal risk of unchecked speeding and stolen vehicles on city streets.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian in Chinatown, New York Post, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 21 - A speeding car tore through Chinatown. It struck a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Both died at the scene. The driver faces murder charges. The car was a long-overdue rental. Debris scattered. Lives ended in seconds.

Gothamist (2025-07-21) reports a driver faces murder and manslaughter charges after a deadly Chinatown crash. The car, a weeks-overdue rental, sped off the Manhattan Bridge and struck a cyclist and a pedestrian, killing both. Police found two 9mm pistols in the trunk. The article states, "the car was traveling westbound off the Manhattan Bridge at a high rate of speed" and "struck Cruickshank, Kwok and an unoccupied NYPD vehicle." The passenger faces charges for unauthorized use and weapons possession. The crash highlights risks from unreturned rentals and high-speed driving in dense city streets.

• Chinatown Crash Kills Cyclist, Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-21

Jul 20 - A stolen Chevy Malibu tore through Bowery and Canal, crushing a cyclist and a woman on a bench. Metal, bodies, silence. The driver fled. Two lives ended in seconds. The street swallowed them whole.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-20), a stolen Chevy Malibu jumped a median at Bowery and Canal, striking cyclist Kevin Cruickshank and pedestrian May Kwok. Both died. The car, driven by Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, crashed into an NYPD van. Romero and a passenger fled but were caught. Police found drugs and alcohol in the car. The article notes Romero faces a separate charge from a previous crash. The incident highlights the lethal risk of stolen vehicles and the failure of current safeguards to protect people outside cars.

• Stolen Car Kills Cyclist, Bench Sitter, New York Post, Published 2025-07-20

Jul 19 - A car sped off the Manhattan Bridge, jumped the curb, struck a cyclist and a pedestrian. Both died. The driver and passenger tried to flee. Police caught them. Metal, speed, and chaos at Canal and Bowery.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that a Chevy Malibu jumped the curb near Canal Street and Bowery, killing a cyclist in his 30s and a pedestrian in her 60s. The two women in the car attempted to flee but were arrested. Mayor Eric Adams cited 'the rate of speed was pretty high' and called for action against reckless driving. The car also struck a parked police van. Charges are pending as police investigate. The crash highlights ongoing dangers at busy intersections and the deadly impact of speed.

• Car Jumps Curb, Kills Two in Chinatown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-19

Jul 18 - A sedan struck a cyclist on Central Park West. The cyclist took a blow to the head. Police cite driver inattention and passing too closely. Metal met flesh. The street stayed cold.

A sedan collided with a cyclist on Central Park West near West 102nd Street in Manhattan. The 29-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and was reported conscious, with a contusion. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s left front bumper took damage. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver or other occupants. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and pass too close to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-06

Jul 17 - A van crashed on 42nd and 10th. Inside: 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 of diesel, dozens of propane tanks. The driver tried to hide the keys. Hazmat teams cleared the danger. Police made an arrest.

ABC7 (2025-07-17) reports NYPD found 75 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel, and 76 propane cylinders in a van after a Manhattan crash. The driver "tried to get rid of his keys" and claimed he couldn't open the vehicle. Hazmat teams removed the fuel. The driver faces charges for reckless endangerment and fire code violations. The Manhattan DA is handling the case. The incident highlights risks from hazardous cargo on city streets and gaps in enforcement.

• Van Crash Reveals Fuel Stockpile In Midtown, ABC7, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 8 - Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 8 - Austin Celestin blasts city’s e-bike crackdown. Says car-first streets endanger walkers and riders. Calls for real redesign. Enforcement alone leaves vulnerable users exposed.

On July 8, 2025, Austin Celestin spoke out against harsh e-bike enforcement in New York City. The debate, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted Amsterdam’s balanced approach: licensing e-bikes and expanding bike infrastructure. Celestin called the city’s crackdown 'hypocrisy' without safer streets, quoting, 'enforcement can't fix the problems of car-first design.' He opposes enforcement without redesign and supports infrastructure expansion. The safety analyst warns: 'Harsh enforcement against e-bikes without improving street design places undue burden on vulnerable users, discourages mode shift, and fails to address systemic safety issues, potentially reducing overall safety for pedestrians and cyclists.'

• Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 7 - Adams’s new delivery unit launches in 2028. Forty-five peace officers, no real power. Critics say it targets riders, not bosses. Streets stay risky. No clear safety gains for walkers or cyclists.

""I am not supportive of criminal penalties."" -- Gale A. Brewer

Bill: Department of Sustainable Delivery, announced July 7, 2025. Status: Launch set for 2028 as a 45-person team within DOT. No standalone department. Council Member Gale Brewer and advocates oppose criminal penalties for delivery workers. Brewer pushes Intro. 20, requiring app companies to provide safety gear and training. Critics say the mayor’s plan punishes riders, not companies. Safety analysts note: 'No direct changes to infrastructure, enforcement, or policy for vulnerable road users; no clear safety impact can be determined.' The council may break up the plan and advance its own bills.

• Eric Adams’s ‘Dept. of Sustainable Delivery’ Isn’t Actually A Department, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-07

Jul 3 - Duffy urges Americans to drive to Central Park. His campaign invites more cars into crowded streets. More traffic means more risk for people walking and biking. NYC’s safety takes a hit.

On July 3, 2025, Yoshi Omi-Jarrett responded to federal Secretary Sean Duffy’s 'Great American Road Trip' campaign. The campaign, covered by Streetsblog NYC, pushes Americans to drive to landmarks like Central Park. Council Member Gale Brewer slammed the idea, saying, 'No! And no cars are allowed in Central Park!' Critics note Duffy’s plan ignores New York’s transit strengths and threatens vulnerable road users. Safety analysts warn: 'Encouraging more driving in transit-rich, congested areas increases vehicle traffic, which raises risks for pedestrians and cyclists and undermines mode shift toward safer, more equitable transportation.'

• Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30