Blood on Broadway: No More Excuses, No More Dead Pedestrians

A cyclist, forty-three, struck a pedestrian on East Drive near 97th Street. The crash ended his life. Central Park’s paths turned deadly. The city’s promise of safe passage failed. Another vulnerable road user lost to impact.

Gothamist reported on June 19, 2025, that a 43-year-old cyclist died after colliding with a pedestrian in Central Park. The crash occurred on East Drive near 97th Street, according to the NYPD. The article states, "A 43-year-old cyclist died after colliding with a pedestrian in Central Park." No details were given about the pedestrian’s condition or the circumstances leading to the collision. The incident highlights the risks faced by cyclists and pedestrians sharing crowded park roads. The report underscores ongoing concerns about safety infrastructure and traffic management in one of New York City’s busiest public spaces.

• Cyclist Killed After Central Park Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-19

SUV struck parked car. Two injured: driver with chest trauma, passenger with whiplash. Police cite driver inattention. Metal and flesh collide. Night on the parkway turns violent.

Two SUVs collided on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, one SUV was parked when another, traveling north, struck it in the center front end. A 40-year-old male driver suffered chest injuries. A 34-year-old female passenger sustained neck injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors are noted. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left two people hurt and exposed the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City bans cars from 34th Street. Busway stretches from 3rd to 9th Avenue. Residents protest. They say more buses, not fewer cars, would help. Officials push ahead. Tensions flare. Policy shifts, but questions remain on safety and congestion.

According to the New York Post (June 14, 2025), City Hall approved a plan to ban cars on 34th Street between 3rd and 9th Avenues, creating a dedicated busway. The article details heated opposition from local residents and bus riders, who argued the plan was rushed and lacked proper traffic analysis. Stacy Rauch, a daily bus rider, said, 'The bigger problem is we don’t have enough buses.' Critics worried diverted car traffic would overwhelm nearby streets. The city compared the move to the 14th Street car ban, but residents noted differences in bus frequency. The article highlights accusations of conflicts of interest involving community board members and advocacy groups. The policy aims to prioritize buses and vulnerable road users, but leaves open questions about implementation and neighborhood impact.

• 34th Street Busway Plan Sparks Debate, New York Post, Published 2025-06-14

A flatbed slammed into a taxi’s rear on St Nicholas Place. Three people hurt. Neck and back injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal and glass. Sudden stop. Pain follows.

A flatbed truck struck the rear of a taxi on St Nicholas Place near W 155th Street in Manhattan. Three people were injured, including a 55-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, both passengers, who suffered neck injuries, and a 46-year-old male driver with a back injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The taxi and flatbed were both traveling west when the collision occurred. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors before the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824716 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

An SUV cut lanes on St. Nicholas Avenue. The driver struck a 24-year-old e-bike rider. The cyclist took a hit to the head. Paramedics found him in shock. Unsafe lane changing and blocked views led to blood on the street.

A crash unfolded at 676 St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. An SUV and an e-bike, both heading south, collided. According to the police report, the SUV made an unsafe lane change. The e-bike rider, a 24-year-old man, suffered a head injury and was left in shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The SUV’s left front quarter panel struck the e-bike’s center front end. No helmet use was noted for the cyclist, but the police report highlights driver error as the primary cause. No injuries were specified for the SUV occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817898 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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

Two bikes crashed head-on on Amsterdam Avenue. One rider, a 36-year-old man, suffered a fractured leg. Both traveled south. The crash left the injured cyclist partially ejected. No cars involved. The street bore the brunt. Blood on the asphalt.

Two cyclists collided on Amsterdam Avenue near West 145th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both were traveling south when their bikes struck head-on. One cyclist, a 36-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained a fracture and dislocation to his lower leg. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No motor vehicles were involved. One cyclist was unlicensed, according to the data. The crash resulted in significant injury, with the victim conscious at the scene. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report. The collision underscores the risks faced by cyclists, even in the absence of cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A judge stopped federal threats to choke city funds over congestion pricing. The $9 toll stands. Streets stay crowded. The fight moves to court. Safety projects hang in the balance. The city waits. The deadline looms.

Patch reported on May 27, 2025, that District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding federal funding as leverage against New York City's congestion pricing program. The judge's order 'bars the DOT from engaging in any retaliatory measures' and prevents cancellation of the toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Federal officials had threatened to withhold funds for road and street safety projects if the city continued the program. The order lasts until June 9, keeping the toll in place and leaving critical infrastructure funding uncertain. The article highlights the standoff between federal authorities and city leaders, with safety and mobility projects at risk.

• Judge Halts Federal Attack On Tolls, Patch, Published 2025-05-27

A woman riding home on her e-bike was attacked late at night. She suffered grave brain injuries. The assailant stole her bike, fled, and dumped it in the river. The path had no lights, no cameras. She was left defenseless.

Gothamist reported on May 24, 2025, that Diana Agudela, a 44-year-old e-bike commuter, was brutally beaten on Randall's Island on May 16. The suspect, Miguel Jiraud, was arraigned on attempted murder and assault charges. Prosecutors said Jiraud, on parole and wearing a GPS anklet, attacked Agudela after 11:30 p.m., stole her e-bike, and discarded it in the East River. Agudela is not expected to survive, having undergone multiple brain surgeries. The article quotes Agudela’s daughter: “We need more protection, we need more lights.” The path where the attack occurred lacked lighting and surveillance. The incident highlights gaps in infrastructure and safety for vulnerable road users.

• E-Bike Commuter Beaten On Randall's Island, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-24

A sedan slammed into a parked car on Broadway near West 152nd. Two people in the sedan suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash left the front of the BMW mangled and the back of the Lexus smashed. No pedestrians were involved.

A BMW sedan traveling south on Broadway struck the center back end of a parked Lexus near West 152nd Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, two occupants of the BMW—a 33-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat and a 37-year-old male driver—were injured, both suffering neck injuries and shock. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The Lexus was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The BMW sustained heavy front-end damage, while the Lexus was hit at the rear. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a woman crossing St Nicholas Avenue. She suffered leg injuries. Glare was listed as a factor. The crash left her hurt in the intersection.

A sedan making a left turn struck a 43-year-old woman crossing St Nicholas Avenue at West 148th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured in her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Glare' as a contributing factor in the crash. The driver, a 23-year-old man, was not reported injured. The impact occurred at the intersection, leaving the pedestrian with internal and leg injuries. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814408 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A van turned left at unsafe speed. The driver struck a man on an e-scooter. The rider suffered head injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.

A refrigerated van making a left turn on West 145th Street collided with a 39-year-old man riding an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider suffered head injuries and crush wounds. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor. The van’s left front bumper struck the rider. The report does not list any errors by the e-scooter operator. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A father mourns his daughter, killed by an SUV on the Upper West Side. Advocates gather in Albany. They press lawmakers for action. Speeders roam. Streets stay deadly. The call is clear: fix the system, stop the pain.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-05-14) reports on Families for Safe Streets and other advocates lobbying in Albany after a 13-year-old girl was killed by an SUV. The coalition pushes for the SAFE Streets Package, including speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders and the 'Idaho stop' for cyclists. The article quotes Darnell Sealy-McCrorey: 'This epidemic is preventable. It doesn't have to be this way.' Lawmakers show mixed support. Some cite privacy fears or question the seriousness of multiple speeding violations. Jackson Chabot notes, 'A lot of people have understood the bill because of the tragic and fatal crashes recently.' The piece highlights the urgent need for policy change to address reckless driving and systemic danger on city streets.

• Grieving Families Demand Safer Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

Police ticket cyclists for obeying walk signals. Law says cyclists can cross with pedestrians. NYPD ignores it. Tickets pile up. One rider fights back in court. The city’s policy stands, unmoved by the law.

According to the New York Post (May 13, 2025), cyclist Oliver Casey Esparza filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, alleging officers wrongfully ticket cyclists for running red lights even when they follow pedestrian crossing signals, as permitted by a 2019 City Council law. The suit claims, 'the city maintains a policy and practice of detaining, ticketing, and prosecuting cyclists who lawfully ride through an intersection when the pedestrian control signal indicates white/walk.' Esparza received a $190 summons at Third Avenue and East 42nd Street, Manhattan, despite acting within the law. The lawsuit names current and former NYPD commissioners, accusing them of knowingly violating civil rights. The article notes a sharp rise in tickets for cyclists in early 2025. The NYPD declined to comment. The case highlights a gap between city law and police enforcement, raising questions about policy compliance and systemic accountability.

• Cyclist Sues NYPD Over Red Light Tickets, New York Post, Published 2025-05-13

Two cars collided on Broadway. Drivers distracted. Three passengers suffered back injuries. Metal twisted. Whiplash followed. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two vehicles, an SUV and a sedan, collided on Broadway at West 139th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, both drivers were inattentive and distracted. Three passengers, all riding in the rear seats, sustained back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left metal bent and passengers hurt, underscoring the risks when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04