The Crosstown Bike Lane proposal aims to close deadly gaps in Manhattan’s east-west routes. Advocates demand more: frequent protected lanes, concrete barriers, car bans on park transverses. Cyclists and pedestrians face daily danger. The city’s timid plan leaves lives at risk.

This opinion, published July 5, 2023, urges the city to go beyond the current Crosstown Bike Lane proposal. The piece highlights the lack of east-west protected bike lanes between 55th and 158th streets, except for two blocks. It quotes: 'A proposal for crosstown bike paths on the Upper West and East sides has potential to close that gap—but should go further by significantly reducing the presence of cars on the arterial transverses cutting across Central Park.' The author criticizes Community Boards 7 and 8 for only requesting lanes every ten blocks, calling this inadequate. The editorial calls for more frequent, concrete-protected bike lanes, expanded pedestrian space, and bus lanes. It demands car bans on select park transverses, citing the death of Carling Mott and widespread resident dissatisfaction. The call is clear: timid measures leave vulnerable road users exposed. Only bold action will save lives.

• Opinion: Go Beyond the Crosstown Bike Lane Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-05

A Hyundai rolled on Audubon Avenue. Two boys, 15 and 17, crushed in the back seat. Both died. Parked cars took the hit. The driver had no license. The street fell silent. Sirens came late.

Two teenage passengers, ages 15 and 17, were killed when a Hyundai sedan overturned near Audubon Avenue and West 179th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash happened at 6:38 a.m. The Hyundai, driven by an unlicensed man, struck parked vehicles and flipped. Both boys in the back seat suffered fatal crush injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The driver’s lack of a license is documented in the data. No evidence in the report suggests any fault by the victims. The crash left the street quiet until emergency crews arrived.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643193, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A 60-year-old man crossed Post Avenue with the light. An Audi turned left. Its bumper struck his chest. Blood pooled in the crosswalk. He died there. The driver was distracted. The street fell silent.

A 60-year-old pedestrian was killed on Post Avenue near 974 when an Audi sedan, turning left, struck him as he crossed with the signal. According to the police report, 'A 60-year-old man crossed with the light. An Audi turned left. Its bumper struck his chest. He bled in the crosswalk. He died there. The driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The man was crossing at the intersection, following the signal. The Audi’s right front bumper caused fatal chest injuries. No other contributing factors were cited. The crash left the intersection quiet, marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642632, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A pickup and motorcycle collided on West Shore Expressway. The rider was thrown, limbs severed, helmet on. The truck kept moving. The pavement burned. The motorcyclist died at the scene. Improper lane usage led to deadly impact.

A 33-year-old motorcyclist died after a violent crash with a pickup truck on West Shore Expressway. According to the police report, both vehicles were changing lanes when the motorcycle struck the pickup mid-maneuver. The rider was ejected, suffering fatal injuries and limb amputation, with his helmet still on. The pavement burned as the truck continued moving. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The data does not specify which driver committed the improper lane usage, but the systemic danger of lane changes at speed is clear. The helmet is mentioned only as a detail; driver error remains the focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643195, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a Ford’s side on 80th Street. The 21-year-old rider died, head split open. His 17-year-old passenger lay unconscious, bleeding. Both were thrown from the bike. Neither wore helmets. Traffic control was ignored. Blood pooled on the street.

A Yamaha motorcycle crashed into the side of a Ford at 80th Street and 34th Avenue in Queens. The 21-year-old rider was killed, his head split open. His 17-year-old passenger was ejected, left unconscious and bleeding from the head. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. Both victims were thrown from the motorcycle. The report states neither wore helmets, but this is noted only after the driver error. The crash left one dead and one seriously injured, marking another violent night on Queens streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643896, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A man on a motorcycle hit an SUV on Caton Avenue. He flew from the bike and struck the pavement head-first. He died at the scene. The SUV driver was not hurt. The crash left the street scarred and silent.

A 35-year-old man riding a motorcycle slammed into the side of an SUV on Caton Avenue near Dahill Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the motorcyclist was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet. He was ejected from the motorcycle, struck his head, and died on the street. The SUV driver was unharmed. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data also notes the motorcyclist disregarded traffic control. The crash involved a motorcycle and an SUV, both traveling straight. The impact was severe, with the motorcycle hitting the SUV's right side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643200, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo moves to cut car dominance. Her ‘Street Code’ puts pedestrians first. Sidewalks widen. Parking vanishes. School streets grow. SUVs face higher fees. E-bikes stay. Cars lose ground. Advocates urge New York to follow Paris’s bold lead.

On June 30, 2023, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced a sweeping policy shift, introducing a new 'Street Code' that gives 'absolute priority for pedestrians.' The plan, detailed in committee and public remarks, promises to eliminate 70,000 surface parking spaces by 2026, daylight all intersections, and create 300 school streets. Hidalgo declared, 'We must protect pedestrians first.' The policy bans shared e-scooters but keeps private ones legal, expands bike infrastructure, and introduces progressive parking fees for SUVs. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives contrasted Paris’s action with New York’s inaction, noting, 'The number one danger to pedestrians is cars and trucks.' Advocates say Paris’s approach—shrinking car space, not blaming micromobility—shows how cities can save lives by putting vulnerable road users first.

• Paris Mayor Enters Fray Between E-Bikes and Pedestrians — By Fighting Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-30

A man crossed 7th Avenue. A bike hit him head-on. He fell hard. His leg throbbed. The cyclist did not stop. He vanished south into the night. Pain lingered. The street stayed empty.

A 53-year-old man was struck by a cyclist at the corner of 7th Avenue and 17th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the man stepped into the street outside the lines when a bike hit him head-on. The impact knocked him down, injuring his leg. The cyclist did not stop and continued south. The pedestrian complained of pain in his lower leg and foot. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The report notes the cyclist left the scene without rendering aid. No other vehicles or persons were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642318, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A 74-year-old man crossed with the signal. Two cars collided. One struck him. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. One driver fled. The man did not rise. Aggressive driving and speed ruled the intersection.

A 74-year-old pedestrian was killed at East Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, he was crossing with the signal when two vehicles collided and one struck him. The report states: 'A 74-year-old man, crossing with the signal, was struck and killed. His head hit the pavement. Blood spread. Two cars crashed. One fled. The light changed. He did not rise.' Driver actions listed as contributing factors include 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The man suffered a fatal head injury. The crash involved a sedan and two SUVs. One vehicle fled the scene. The victim was not at fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642411, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A sedan struck a 62-year-old man near a parked box truck on the Major Deegan Expressway ramp. The driver was distracted. The man died, his body torn by lacerations. The night was quiet. Only the crash broke the stillness.

A 62-year-old pedestrian was killed when a sedan hit him near a parked box truck on the Major Deegan Expressway ramp. According to the police report, the driver of the sedan was distracted and inattentive. The impact left the man with severe lacerations across his body. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not blamed for the crash. The sedan’s center front end struck the victim, who died at the scene. The box truck was parked and not in motion at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642857, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A 61-year-old man fell from his e-scooter on Jasmine Avenue. No other vehicles. No crash. He struck his head. The scooter stood untouched. The street was silent. He died there, under the cold lights.

A 61-year-old man riding an e-scooter on Jasmine Avenue was killed after being ejected from his vehicle. According to the police report, 'Jasmine Avenue, under cold streetlights — a 61-year-old man thrown from his e-scooter, headfirst to pavement. No crash, no wreckage. Just silence, and a still body in the dark. The scooter stood untouched.' The man suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or persons were involved. The e-scooter showed no damage. The man was the sole occupant and driver. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644509, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

Mayor Adams cut 500 crossing guard jobs. Schools near highways now lack basic protection. Queens schools plead for help. No plan replaces lost guards. Children walk busy roads alone. The city’s Vision Zero promise rings hollow. Danger grows at every corner.

On June 26, 2023, Heather Beers-Dimitriadis, Chair of Queens Community Board 6, published an opinion blasting Mayor Adams’s decision to cut 500 crossing guard positions. The statement, titled 'Opinion: Mayor Adams’s Crossing Guard Cuts are Unconscionable,' highlights the urgent need for crossing guards, especially near busy roads and highways. Beers-Dimitriadis writes, 'The one thing we can't do is cut headcount without a workable plan to ensure that our students get to and from school safely.' She recounts years of unmet requests for more guards and points to a 2013 tragedy where a child was killed near school. The statement accuses the administration of lacking data, facts, and a plan to protect children, noting, 'By failing to release a plan that ensures that our children get to and from school unharmed, Adams has, in a sense, removed school-aged children from the Vision Zero policy.' The timing is dire: pedestrian and cyclist deaths are up. The city’s most vulnerable—children—are left exposed.

• Opinion: Mayor Adams’s Crossing Guard Cuts are Unconscionable, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-26

A sedan veered onto the sidewalk on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The driver had fallen asleep. The car struck a 19-year-old woman head-on. She died at the scene. The street stayed quiet. The danger was sudden and final.

A 2021 Hyundai sedan traveling west on Rockaway Beach Boulevard near Beach 108th Street left the roadway and mounted the sidewalk. According to the police report, the driver 'fell asleep.' The sedan struck a 19-year-old woman who was standing on the sidewalk. She suffered fatal head injuries and died where she stood. The police report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. The victim was not in the roadway and played no role in the crash. The impact came from the center front end of the sedan. No other contributing factors are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640443, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

A Dodge sedan tore down Belt Parkway. It hit hard. The unlicensed driver and a woman in back were thrown from the car. Both died from head wounds. The wreckage sprawled across the asphalt. Speed killed. The night stayed silent.

Two people died in a violent crash on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, a Dodge sedan, driven by an unlicensed 35-year-old man, was speeding west when it crashed. The impact ejected both the driver and a 29-year-old woman riding in the back seat. Both suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The sedan was demolished. No driver errors are listed for the other vehicle involved. The woman was not using any safety equipment, but this is noted only after the primary cause: unsafe speed by the unlicensed driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640445, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

DOT will harden W. 22nd Street with neckdowns, bump-outs, and granite blocks. Drivers lose free parking. Pedestrians and cyclists gain shorter crossings, clear sightlines, and protection from cars. Despite driver backlash, the city moves to make safety permanent.

On June 23, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a proposal to install permanent traffic-calming infrastructure on W. 22nd Street in Chelsea. The plan, described as 'formalizing the traffic calming effects from the open streets and enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists,' will narrow the block with painted neckdowns and bump-outs, add granite blocks and planters, and repurpose curbside space now used for free parking. The local community board voted unanimously to support the proposal, with some recommendations to adjust bump-out locations and bike parking. DOT urban designer Kaarin Patterson emphasized the project's focus on safety and public space. Resident Samir Lavingia said, 'Lives are more important than free parking, it's just as simple as that.' Despite opposition from some drivers, the city prioritizes vulnerable road users and moves forward with the plan.

• DOT Proposes Permanent Traffic Calming For W. 22nd Open Street, Despite Driver Backlash, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23

A 58-year-old man rode his e-bike north on Broadway. An SUV turned left and hit him head-on. He flew from the bike. Blood pooled on the street. He died there. The driver was inattentive. The city lights stayed broken above.

A 58-year-old man riding an e-bike northbound on Broadway at Conway Street in Brooklyn was killed when a southbound SUV made a left turn and struck him head-on. According to the police report, the SUV driver was inattentive and distracted. The report also lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma. The police report states, 'He flew from the saddle. Head trauma. Broken lights above. Blood on the street. He died there, alone.' The data notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The crash left one man dead and a city street marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640064, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23

The Addabbo Bridge, once deadly for cyclists, will soon get a barrier-protected, two-way bike lane. Years of city-state wrangling delayed safety. Advocates cheer the link to Brooklyn, Queens, and the Rockaways. Cyclists want clearer DOT communication during the switch.

The Addabbo Bridge protected bike lane project, announced by the NYC Department of Transportation on June 22, 2023, ends years of jurisdictional confusion between city and state DOTs. The plan replaces a painted 'murderstrip' with an 11-foot-wide, two-way protected lane and a five-foot buffer, connecting to the Jamaica Bay Greenway. The matter summary states: 'The painted bike lane on the Addabbo Bridge, once dubbed a "murderstrip" for the danger it posed to cyclists, will soon be replaced by a barrier-protected, two-way bike lane.' Advocates like Brian Hedden (Brooklyn Greenway Initiative) and Laura Shepherd (Transportation Alternatives) praised the project, calling for more such infrastructure. Cyclists voiced concern over the removal of existing markings before the new lane is installed, urging better DOT communication. The project is part of the city's legal mandate to build 50 miles of protected bike lanes in 2023.

• The Addabbo Bridge Protected Bike Lane Is Almost Here (Seriously), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-22

Pedestrian deaths soared in 2022. At least 7,508 people on foot died. The toll is the highest in 41 years. Wide, fast roads and big vehicles fueled the carnage. Officials call for urgent change. Pleas to drivers are not enough.

A June 22, 2023 report from the Governors Highway Safety Association revealed that pedestrian deaths in the U.S. reached 7,508 in 2022—the highest in four decades. The report, covered by Streetsblog NYC, states: 'Pedestrian deaths in the United States climbed once again in 2022, reaching their highest point in 41 years.' Safety analyst Pam Shadel Fischer called for a 'kitchen sink approach,' stressing road design, public education, and equitable enforcement. She warned, 'the onus is really on drivers to be on the lookout for people on foot.' The report blames wide arterials, large vehicles, and dark conditions for the spike. Officials admit that asking drivers to be careful is not enough. Federal regulators are considering new rules, but advocates say more must be done to protect those outside cars.

• Pedestrian Deaths Set a Four-Decade Record in 2022 (Yes, Again), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-22

Queens Community Board 1 voted to demand daylighting at all intersections. The move came hours after a driver who killed 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun faced court. The board called for concrete, bollards, or planters to keep cars from blocking sightlines. No opposition.

On June 20, 2023, Queens Community Board 1 unanimously passed a resolution urging the city to implement universal daylighting—clearing parked cars from all intersections. The board’s letter to the Department of Transportation calls for physical barriers, not just paint, to keep corners clear. The matter, described as a call for 'standard installation,' was championed by Transportation Committee Chair Dominic Stiller. Board member Huge Ma stated, 'Ultimately, we are just asking DOT to follow the law. It will save lives.' The vote followed the court appearance of the driver who killed Dolma Naadhun, age 7, at a crosswalk blocked by parked cars. The board cited national guidelines and urged the city to include daylighting in all future street work. No members opposed or debated the measure.

• ‘Standard Practice’: Queens Panel Endorses Universal Daylighting as Driver Who Killed Dolma Goes to Court, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-21

A 17-year-old girl died on Cross Island Parkway. She rode outside a Honda motorcycle. The bike turned left. She was ejected, helmeted, and killed. The driver had only a permit. Inexperience and speed led to tragedy. The road stayed silent.

A 17-year-old girl was killed while riding on the outside of a 2002 Honda motorcycle on Cross Island Parkway just after midnight. According to the police report, the motorcycle made a left turn when the passenger, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The driver, a male with only a permit, was operating the motorcycle at an unsafe speed. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The victim was a passenger, not responsible for the crash. The report notes she was helmeted, but the primary causes were driver error and inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639069, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-23