Jul 3 - A cyclist and e-unicycle rider collided in Central Park. The cyclist stayed for paramedics. Police dropped charges. The crash left one man in critical condition. Enforcement against cyclists rises. Streets remain tense.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-03) reports that Manhattan prosecutors dropped charges against Carolyn Backus, a cyclist accused of fleeing after colliding with an electric unicycle rider in Central Park. The DA's office stated, "She also remained on scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive." The NYPD initially charged Backus, but the law applies only to motor vehicles. The crash left the unicycle rider critically injured. The article highlights increased NYPD enforcement against cyclists and e-bike riders, raising questions about policy focus and the treatment of non-motorized road users.

• Charges Dropped In Central Park Collision, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-03

Jun 25 - A man, 65, crossing W 34th with the signal, was hit and injured. Arm broken. Police cite driver for following too closely. The street stayed loud. The pain stayed sharp.

A 65-year-old man was crossing W 34th Street at 12th Avenue with the signal when a vehicle struck him. He suffered injuries to his arm and was left unconscious. According to the police report, the driver was cited for 'Following Too Closely.' The report lists no other contributing factors. The pedestrian was in the intersection, obeying the signal. The crash left him with pain and trauma. The data does not specify the vehicle type or further details about the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823833 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 19 - A cyclist swerved to avoid a pedestrian in Central Park. He fell. His head struck the curb. He died at the hospital. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. The crash happened at a crosswalk near 96th Street. The case is under investigation.

ABC7 reported on June 19, 2025, that Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after colliding with a pedestrian while riding an e-bike in Central Park. According to police, Nico-Garcia swerved to avoid a 41-year-old pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk near 96th Street and East Drive. He fell, struck his head on the curb, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. The pedestrian sustained minor abrasions. ABC7 notes, 'Officials say Nico-Garcia was on an e-bike and was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown.' New York City does not require cyclists over 14 to wear helmets. In Central Park, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. The incident remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing risks at crosswalks and the lack of helmet mandates for adult cyclists.

• Cyclist Killed Dodging Pedestrian In Park, ABC7, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 17 - A sedan making a U-turn hit a moped on West 23rd. The moped driver was injured. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. Metal met flesh. System failed the vulnerable.

A sedan collided with a moped at 215 W 23rd Street in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 24-year-old man, was injured with leg trauma and partial ejection. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The sedan was making a U-turn when it struck the moped, which was traveling straight. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The report lists driver errors as primary causes. No mention of helmet use or signals as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 9 - A driver ran a red light, struck a cyclist, then reversed and fled. The crash hurled the bike onto the sidewalk. The cyclist lay bleeding, bones shattered, memory gone. Witnesses watched in shock. Police later arrested the fleeing driver.

ABC7 reported on June 9, 2025, that police arrested Shannon Nunez, 37, for leaving the scene after hitting a cyclist at 5th Avenue and West 13th Street. The article states, "Witnesses say the driver had just blown through a red light," before striking Myung Jin Chung, 52, and fleeing in reverse. The impact left Chung with severe injuries: broken bones, a concussion, and memory loss. He required 16 hours of surgery. Video captured the driver fleeing. The incident highlights the dangers of red-light running and hit-and-run crashes. The arrest follows public concern over driver accountability and street safety in Manhattan.

• Driver Arrested After West Village Hit-and-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 7 - A police chase tore through Upper Manhattan. A crash. Flames. Francisco Guzman Parra died trapped in the wreck. Officers drove past, never stopped. Video shows the moment. No help came for minutes. The street bore the cost.

Patch reported on June 7, 2025, that NYPD officers pursued Francisco Guzman Parra from The Bronx to Upper Manhattan. Security video shows the pursued SUV crashing and catching fire at Dyckman Street. Officers arrived seconds later but did not stop, instead driving away as flames grew. Guzman Parra died in the fire. The article quotes Guzman's sister: "No help was offered, and then how long he burned for." Officers were suspended after the incident. A police union spokesperson claimed officers could not see the wreck. The department is reviewing whether officers failed to report the deadly crash. The case raises questions about NYPD pursuit protocols and response obligations.

• NYPD Pursuit Ends In Fatal Fire, Patch, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 2 - Two sedans collided on 11th Avenue. One driver struck the rear of a parked car. Head injury reported. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Sirens echoed. The street bore witness to another wound.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 11th Avenue at West 43rd Street in Manhattan. One sedan, traveling straight, crashed into the center back end of a parked sedan. A 39-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and reported pain and nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was wearing a harness. The crash highlights the danger of distraction behind the wheel, as noted by police. No other injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 2 - Two cars collided on West 38th. Metal struck metal. A young driver and a rear passenger suffered bruises and whiplash. Both felt shock. Police blamed following too closely. The street fell silent as injuries mounted.

Two sedans crashed on West 38th Street at 11th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the collision happened when one vehicle followed too closely, striking the other from behind. A 22-year-old male driver suffered a facial contusion. A 35-year-old female rear passenger sustained whiplash. Both reported shock. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No other errors or helmet or signal issues are noted. The impact damaged the center back end of one car and the front end of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of close pursuit on crowded city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818089 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 2 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. Police targeted cyclists, not reckless drivers. Riders stopped at every light, exposed the law’s absurdity. One cyclist jailed for lacking ID. Drivers who injure go free. Cyclists demand fair treatment, safety, respect.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 2, 2025, that hundreds of New Yorkers joined a mass ride to protest the NYPD’s intensified enforcement against cyclists. The demonstration, which began at Union Square, challenged new policies issuing criminal summonses for minor cycling offenses. Riders followed traffic laws, highlighting the crackdown’s contradictions. One cyclist, Erin Poland, said the policy 'is not actually protecting cyclists [but] putting them in more danger.' Another, Tara Pham, noted, 'I’ve been hit by vehicles twice... those drivers face no criminal charges.' The article details how police arrested a Citi Bike rider for not moving aside and lacking ID, while drivers who injure vulnerable road users often avoid serious consequences. The piece underscores the disparity in enforcement and questions the effectiveness and fairness of current NYPD tactics.

• Cyclists Protest NYPD Crackdown in Manhattan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-02

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 30 - An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

May 29 - A taxi struck a man crossing at West 42nd and 12th Avenue. The pedestrian suffered a head injury. The driver was unlicensed. Passengers in the taxi were unharmed. The street stayed busy. The city moved on.

A taxi making a left turn at West 42nd Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan struck a 48-year-old man who was crossing at the intersection. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and was listed as conscious, with a contusion. The driver of the taxi was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported among the taxi's passengers. The police report lists no specific contributing factors for the crash. The only traffic violation documented is the driver's unlicensed status. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816946 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 29 - A cyclist hit a woman crossing with the signal on 10th Avenue at West 41st Street. She suffered a bruised shoulder and was semiconscious. Police cited improper passing or lane usage. The bike showed no damage. The street stayed busy. Danger lingered.

A crash occurred at the intersection of 10th Avenue and West 41st Street in Manhattan. A 54-year-old woman, crossing with the signal, was struck by a cyclist. According to the police report, she suffered a contusion to her upper arm and was semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The cyclist’s bike had no reported damage. No other injuries were specified. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the risks pedestrians face even when following traffic signals, especially when drivers or cyclists fail to use lanes properly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816954 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 27 - A police cruiser swerved from a taxi and slammed into two people eating outside. Sirens screamed. Metal struck flesh. Both diners and officers landed in the hospital. The street stayed open. The city kept moving. The system failed the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (May 27, 2025), an NYPD squad car struck two people seated at an outdoor dining area on Broadway and West 112th Street. The crash happened when a taxi made a left turn, prompting the police car to swerve. The article states, “The 37-year-old cab driver was given a summons for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.” Both diners and police vehicle occupants were hospitalized in stable condition. The report notes, “It was not immediately clear if authorities were responding to a call when the incident unfolded.” The incident highlights risks at curbside dining areas and ongoing dangers from driver error and street design. The investigation continues.

• Police Car Hits Diners In Manhattan Crash, New York Post, Published 2025-05-27

May 23 - A truck slammed into two sedans stopped in traffic on West 30th Street. One driver suffered a head injury. The crash left metal twisted and nerves frayed. Following too closely turned a line of cars into a scene of pain.

A crash unfolded on West 30th Street at 12th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, a garbage truck traveling north struck two sedans that were stopped in traffic. One driver, a 43-year-old man, suffered a head injury and was in shock. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The truck's right front bumper hit the rear bumpers of both sedans. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors. The data shows the truck driver failed to maintain safe distance, leading to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 23 - Tolls still hang over Third Avenue. Deadlines pass. Courts hold the answer. Fewer cars enter Manhattan. Millions flow to transit. The fight is bureaucratic, not on the street. Riders wait. The city’s pulse slows, but the outcome is uncertain.

West Side Spirit reported on May 23, 2025, that New York’s congestion pricing tolls remain in place despite three missed federal deadlines to remove them. The article details a standoff between the MTA, New York State, and U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who demands the tolls be taken down, threatening to withhold highway funds. The MTA argues the legality of the tolls and seeks a court injunction, stating, 'congestion pricing is legal and proper.' The system, operational since January 2025, has reduced daily vehicle entries into Manhattan’s core by 76,000 in April and raised $159 million in the first quarter. The dispute highlights tensions over funding priorities and the impact on lower-income drivers, but the courts, not drivers or pedestrians, will decide the fate of the tolls.

• Congestion Pricing Tolls Face Legal Showdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-23

May 21 - City will rip up Fifth Avenue. Sidewalks will double. Lanes for cars will shrink. Trees, benches, and light will fill the space. Pedestrians, long squeezed, will finally get room to breathe. The city bets big on feet, not fenders.

amNY reported on May 21, 2025, that New York City will begin a $400 million redesign of Fifth Avenue in 2028, stretching from Bryant Park to Central Park. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Fifth Avenue is a bustling boulevard... with more people walking down the street every hour than fill Madison Square Garden during a sold-out Knicks game.' The plan nearly doubles sidewalk widths and expands pedestrian zones, cutting space for vehicles. The redesign adds tree buffers, benches, and stormwater upgrades. Pedestrians make up 70% of avenue traffic but have less than half the space. The overhaul shifts priority from cars to people, aiming to reduce systemic danger and reclaim the street for those on foot.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-21

May 20 - Two bikes crashed head-on. One rider, age 59, suffered leg abrasions. Police cite traffic control ignored. Both wore helmets. The street saw blood and confusion.

Two bicyclists collided head-on at 220 W 26th Street in Manhattan. One cyclist, a 59-year-old woman, was injured with abrasions to her leg. The other, age 35, was not reported injured. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Other Vehicular' factors and 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' Both riders were wearing helmets, as noted in the report. The collision left one cyclist partially ejected and hurt. The data points to ignored traffic control as a key factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

May 20 - City targets 34th Street. Buses get priority. Cars must turn off. Goal: faster rides, fewer crashes. Officials cite 14th Street’s gains—speed up, crashes down. Change comes for Midtown. Riders wait for relief.

amNY reported on May 20, 2025, that New York City’s Department of Transportation proposed a dedicated busway for 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues. The plan aims to boost bus speeds by 15% for tens of thousands of daily riders. Private cars and taxis could enter but must turn off at the first legal opportunity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'After seeing tremendous success on 14th Street where buses have sped up, traffic has virtually disappeared, and far fewer New Yorkers are getting hurt in crashes we are excited to propose a similar design on 34th Street.' The 14th Street busway, launched in 2019, increased bus speeds by up to 24% and reduced crashes. The 34th Street plan seeks similar safety and efficiency gains, with community input shaping the final design.

• City Plans 34th Street Busway Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-20