Central Park Bleeds While City Hall Sleeps
Central Park: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
Blood on the Loop
A woman walks in Central Park. A cyclist rounds a bend. A horse breaks loose. The city calls it a park, but the numbers say otherwise. In the last twelve months, 35 people were injured here. One was seriously hurt. No one died, this time. But the tally grows.
A crash between two horse-drawn carriages sent both drivers to the hospital. The police said the operators would recover. The horses, too. But the scars run deeper. The animal advocacy group NY Class used the moment to demand a ban on carriage horses. The city has not answered. Police say the operators are expected to be okay, and the horses were not severely injured.
A week before, a horse ran wild through the park. Pedestrians jumped fences. Cyclists shouted warnings. Hayley was there: “I was there with my friend walking on the sidewalk and almost got trampled by the poor horse. It was so terrifying.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
From 2022 to now, 217 people have been injured in 383 crashes in Central Park. Six were seriously hurt. One died. The deadliest machines are not the ones you expect. Trucks killed. Cars and SUVs maimed. Bikes and mopeds left blood on the pavement. The young are not spared. Four children were hurt in the last year alone.
Leadership: Words, Not Deeds
The city talks about Vision Zero. It talks about safety. But the park remains a gauntlet. No new laws. No new protections. The horses run. The cars speed. The people bleed. The silence from City Hall is louder than the sirens.
What Now?
This is not fate. This is policy. Call your council member. Demand lower speeds. Demand real protection for people, not cars. Demand an end to the slow violence. Don’t wait for the next name to be carved into stone.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Runaway Carriage Horse Sparks Park Panic, New York Post, Published 2025-05-19
- Horse-Drawn Carriages Collide In Central Park, ABC7, Published 2025-05-27
- Runaway Carriage Horse Sparks Park Panic, New York Post, Published 2025-05-19
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653002, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Bicyclist Dies In Manhattan Collision, Patch, Published 2025-05-04
▸ Other Geographies
Central Park Central Park sits in Manhattan, Precinct 22, District 6, AD 69, SD 47, Manhattan CB64.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Central Park
SUV Hits Bicyclist on Central Park West▸A 65-year-old male bicyclist was injured on Central Park West. The SUV struck him with its right front bumper. The cyclist suffered abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries. The crash involved driver inattention and traffic control disregard.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Central Park West involving a station wagon/SUV and a bicyclist. The 65-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries. The SUV struck the cyclist with its right front bumper. The report lists driver errors including driver inattention/distraction and traffic control disregarded. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet and was not ejected from his bike. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling north, while the bicyclist was traveling east, both going straight ahead before the crash. The impact caused no damage to the bike but damaged the SUV's right front bumper.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524359,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
SUV Left Turn Hits Bicyclist on Central Park West▸A 38-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2017 Ford SUV making a left turn on Central Park West. The bike struck the SUV’s left front bumper. The rider suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious and helmeted.
According to the police report, a 38-year-old male bicyclist traveling south on Central Park West collided with a southbound 2017 Ford SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist sustained a head abrasion but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver errors as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" for the bicyclist. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other factors or victim errors were noted.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513449,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Hits Pedestrian Crossing With Signal▸A 38-year-old man crossing Central Park West was struck by a northbound cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a neck contusion and bruising. The crash involved driver inattention and obstruction. The cyclist showed no vehicle damage after impact.
According to the police report, a cyclist traveling north on Central Park West struck a 38-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a neck injury classified as a contusion and bruise and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with obstruction or debris at the scene. The cyclist was going straight ahead and impacted the pedestrian at the center front end of the bike. No damage was reported to the bicycle. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the crossing signal when the collision occurred.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512586,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Injured Striking Debris on Central Park West▸A 25-year-old male cyclist hit debris on Central Park West late at night. He was thrown forward, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The bike’s front right quarter panel was damaged. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.
According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Central Park West collided with obstruction or debris on the roadway. The impact occurred at the bike’s center front end, damaging the right front quarter panel. The cyclist was not ejected but sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the presence of hazardous material on the road caused the crash. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver error identified is failure to avoid the obstruction, leading to the injury.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511183,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
E-Bike Rider Ejected in Manhattan Collision▸A 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The collision involved a sedan and improper lane usage by the e-bike driver.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan involving a sedan and an e-bike. The 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and sustained a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound, as was the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The e-bike rider was conscious but seriously injured. No helmet use was reported. The crash highlights dangers from improper lane use and unlicensed operation.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497100,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A 65-year-old male bicyclist was injured on Central Park West. The SUV struck him with its right front bumper. The cyclist suffered abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries. The crash involved driver inattention and traffic control disregard.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Central Park West involving a station wagon/SUV and a bicyclist. The 65-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining abrasions and hip-upper leg injuries. The SUV struck the cyclist with its right front bumper. The report lists driver errors including driver inattention/distraction and traffic control disregarded. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet and was not ejected from his bike. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling north, while the bicyclist was traveling east, both going straight ahead before the crash. The impact caused no damage to the bike but damaged the SUV's right front bumper.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524359, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
SUV Left Turn Hits Bicyclist on Central Park West▸A 38-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2017 Ford SUV making a left turn on Central Park West. The bike struck the SUV’s left front bumper. The rider suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious and helmeted.
According to the police report, a 38-year-old male bicyclist traveling south on Central Park West collided with a southbound 2017 Ford SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist sustained a head abrasion but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver errors as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" for the bicyclist. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other factors or victim errors were noted.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513449,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Hits Pedestrian Crossing With Signal▸A 38-year-old man crossing Central Park West was struck by a northbound cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a neck contusion and bruising. The crash involved driver inattention and obstruction. The cyclist showed no vehicle damage after impact.
According to the police report, a cyclist traveling north on Central Park West struck a 38-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a neck injury classified as a contusion and bruise and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with obstruction or debris at the scene. The cyclist was going straight ahead and impacted the pedestrian at the center front end of the bike. No damage was reported to the bicycle. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the crossing signal when the collision occurred.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512586,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Injured Striking Debris on Central Park West▸A 25-year-old male cyclist hit debris on Central Park West late at night. He was thrown forward, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The bike’s front right quarter panel was damaged. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.
According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Central Park West collided with obstruction or debris on the roadway. The impact occurred at the bike’s center front end, damaging the right front quarter panel. The cyclist was not ejected but sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the presence of hazardous material on the road caused the crash. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver error identified is failure to avoid the obstruction, leading to the injury.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511183,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
E-Bike Rider Ejected in Manhattan Collision▸A 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The collision involved a sedan and improper lane usage by the e-bike driver.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan involving a sedan and an e-bike. The 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and sustained a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound, as was the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The e-bike rider was conscious but seriously injured. No helmet use was reported. The crash highlights dangers from improper lane use and unlicensed operation.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497100,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A 38-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a collision with a 2017 Ford SUV making a left turn on Central Park West. The bike struck the SUV’s left front bumper. The rider suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious and helmeted.
According to the police report, a 38-year-old male bicyclist traveling south on Central Park West collided with a southbound 2017 Ford SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist sustained a head abrasion but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver errors as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" for the bicyclist. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other factors or victim errors were noted.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513449, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Hits Pedestrian Crossing With Signal▸A 38-year-old man crossing Central Park West was struck by a northbound cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a neck contusion and bruising. The crash involved driver inattention and obstruction. The cyclist showed no vehicle damage after impact.
According to the police report, a cyclist traveling north on Central Park West struck a 38-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a neck injury classified as a contusion and bruise and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with obstruction or debris at the scene. The cyclist was going straight ahead and impacted the pedestrian at the center front end of the bike. No damage was reported to the bicycle. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the crossing signal when the collision occurred.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512586,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Injured Striking Debris on Central Park West▸A 25-year-old male cyclist hit debris on Central Park West late at night. He was thrown forward, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The bike’s front right quarter panel was damaged. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.
According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Central Park West collided with obstruction or debris on the roadway. The impact occurred at the bike’s center front end, damaging the right front quarter panel. The cyclist was not ejected but sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the presence of hazardous material on the road caused the crash. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver error identified is failure to avoid the obstruction, leading to the injury.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511183,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
E-Bike Rider Ejected in Manhattan Collision▸A 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The collision involved a sedan and improper lane usage by the e-bike driver.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan involving a sedan and an e-bike. The 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and sustained a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound, as was the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The e-bike rider was conscious but seriously injured. No helmet use was reported. The crash highlights dangers from improper lane use and unlicensed operation.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497100,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A 38-year-old man crossing Central Park West was struck by a northbound cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a neck contusion and bruising. The crash involved driver inattention and obstruction. The cyclist showed no vehicle damage after impact.
According to the police report, a cyclist traveling north on Central Park West struck a 38-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a neck injury classified as a contusion and bruise and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with obstruction or debris at the scene. The cyclist was going straight ahead and impacted the pedestrian at the center front end of the bike. No damage was reported to the bicycle. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the crossing signal when the collision occurred.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512586, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Cyclist Injured Striking Debris on Central Park West▸A 25-year-old male cyclist hit debris on Central Park West late at night. He was thrown forward, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The bike’s front right quarter panel was damaged. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.
According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Central Park West collided with obstruction or debris on the roadway. The impact occurred at the bike’s center front end, damaging the right front quarter panel. The cyclist was not ejected but sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the presence of hazardous material on the road caused the crash. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver error identified is failure to avoid the obstruction, leading to the injury.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511183,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
E-Bike Rider Ejected in Manhattan Collision▸A 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The collision involved a sedan and improper lane usage by the e-bike driver.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan involving a sedan and an e-bike. The 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and sustained a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound, as was the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The e-bike rider was conscious but seriously injured. No helmet use was reported. The crash highlights dangers from improper lane use and unlicensed operation.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497100,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A 25-year-old male cyclist hit debris on Central Park West late at night. He was thrown forward, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The bike’s front right quarter panel was damaged. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious.
According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Central Park West collided with obstruction or debris on the roadway. The impact occurred at the bike’s center front end, damaging the right front quarter panel. The cyclist was not ejected but sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Obstruction/Debris' as the contributing factor twice, indicating the presence of hazardous material on the road caused the crash. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver error identified is failure to avoid the obstruction, leading to the injury.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511183, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
E-Bike Rider Ejected in Manhattan Collision▸A 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The collision involved a sedan and improper lane usage by the e-bike driver.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan involving a sedan and an e-bike. The 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and sustained a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound, as was the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The e-bike rider was conscious but seriously injured. No helmet use was reported. The crash highlights dangers from improper lane use and unlicensed operation.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497100,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The collision involved a sedan and improper lane usage by the e-bike driver.
According to the police report, a collision occurred on Transverse Road Number Three in Manhattan involving a sedan and an e-bike. The 25-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected and sustained a fractured shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The e-bike driver was unlicensed and traveling westbound, as was the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the e-bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The e-bike rider was conscious but seriously injured. No helmet use was reported. The crash highlights dangers from improper lane use and unlicensed operation.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497100, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15