Five Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Still Waiting for Action

Jun 6 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Christopher Street at Greenwich Avenue. The crash left the cyclist bruised and hurt in the hip and leg. Police cite unsafe speed. Metal met flesh. The street did not forgive.

A crash on Christopher Street at Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan involved a sedan and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 34-year-old man, suffered injuries to his hip and upper leg, with police noting a contusion. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor in the collision. The sedan, registered in New Jersey, struck the cyclist head-on while both were traveling straight. No injuries were reported for the sedan's driver or passenger. The data does not list any cyclist error or helmet use as a factor. The report centers the cause on driver speed, underscoring the danger faced by those on bikes in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818611 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They protested NYPD’s push to criminalize minor bike infractions. Delivery riders, many undocumented, face court summonses for sidewalk riding and red lights. Judges toss charges. Police say it’s about compliance. Riders say it’s about targeting.

West Side Spirit reported on June 2, 2025, that hundreds of cyclists protested in Manhattan against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses for minor bike infractions. The crackdown targets delivery workers, especially undocumented riders, for offenses like sidewalk riding and nonstandard bike setups. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the move, stating, 'When it comes to traffic safety, compliance is not optional.' Protesters and advocates argue the policy is discriminatory and escalates minor violations, risking severe consequences for vulnerable workers. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called it 'really inappropriate escalation.' The article highlights confusion over traffic rules and the risk of criminalization for actions previously handled as civil matters, raising questions about enforcement priorities and the impact on immigrant communities.

• Cyclists Rally Against NYPD Crackdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-02

May 31 - A taxi hit a 58-year-old man crossing at 5th Avenue and West 14th Street. The impact left him with a head injury. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. The street stayed busy. The danger was clear. The system failed.

A taxi traveling south on 5th Avenue struck a 58-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with West 14th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle’s right front bumper made contact, but the taxi sustained no damage. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection when the crash occurred. The police report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s equipment or signals. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by people on foot in New York City’s busy streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817454 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - SUV hit a 75-year-old man crossing with the signal. The impact left him semiconscious, bleeding from the head. Driver failed to yield. Inexperience played a role. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 75-year-old pedestrian was struck by an SUV while crossing Washington Street at Charles Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the man was crossing with the signal when the SUV, making a left turn, hit him. He suffered a head injury and was semiconscious, bleeding at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The driver and another occupant were not reported injured. The crash highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, especially when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 27 - A sedan hit a young woman crossing at Carmine and Bleecker. She suffered a head injury. The driver kept straight. No driver errors listed. The city’s danger remains.

A 22-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing at the intersection of Carmine Street and Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, she suffered a head injury and was conscious at the scene. The sedan, driven by a 55-year-old man, was traveling north and struck her with its left front bumper. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, as noted in the data, but the report does not assign blame. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 24 - SUV hit cyclist on Washington Sq North. Rider bruised, leg battered. Police cite driver distraction. Three SUV occupants unhurt. Bike took front-end blow.

A collision on Washington Sq North in Manhattan left a 28-year-old cyclist injured with a bruised leg after an SUV struck him. According to the police report, both the SUV driver and the cyclist were going straight when the crash occurred. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. Three SUV occupants, including a front and rear passenger, were not injured. The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel, while the bike was hit at the center front end. No other factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 24 - A distracted SUV driver struck a cyclist at West Houston. The crash left the cyclist with a leg injury and abrasions. Both vehicles moved south. The cyclist was partially ejected. The SUV driver was not hurt.

A crash at 320 West Houston Street in Manhattan involved a southbound SUV and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 25-year-old woman, suffered an abrasion and a knee, lower leg, and foot injury. She was partially ejected but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The SUV driver, a 35-year-old man, was not injured. No other contributing factors were listed for the cyclist. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The data shows the cyclist bore the brunt of the impact, while the SUV driver walked away unharmed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - A sedan hit a pedestrian on Bleecker Street. The man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The crash left him semiconscious. No driver errors listed. Streets remain dangerous.

A sedan traveling east struck a 26-year-old man on Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, leaving him semiconscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver and passengers in the sedan were not reported injured. The only injury recorded was to the pedestrian, who was in the roadway at the time of the crash. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814350 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

May 19 - Police handcuff cyclists. Judges toss tickets. Lawmakers protest. NYPD issues criminal summonses for minor bike infractions. Riders face court for actions once legal. Anger grows. The city’s crackdown targets the vulnerable, not the dangerous.

West Side Spirit reported on May 19, 2025, that opposition is mounting against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses to cyclists for minor traffic violations. Council Member Gale Brewer criticized the move, stating, "A civil summons is a more appropriate response and thrusting people into the criminal justice system unnecessarily is bad public policy." The article notes that some officers issued summonses for actions legalized in 2019, such as cyclists proceeding with a pedestrian walk signal. Many tickets were dismissed in court due to errors by police. A class action lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist ticketed for a legal maneuver. The crackdown raises questions about enforcement priorities and the risk of criminalizing vulnerable road users instead of addressing systemic dangers.

• NYPD Faces Backlash Over Bike Summonses, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-19

May 17 - SUV driver opened door into cyclist’s path. Cyclist ejected, hit head, bled. Police cite driver inattention. Manhattan street, evening. Metal, flesh, shock. System failed the vulnerable.

A cyclist riding west on West 13th Street at Avenue of the Americas was struck when an SUV driver opened a door into her path. The cyclist, a 40-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered a head injury with minor bleeding. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The SUV was parked at the time. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment, as noted in the report, but the primary factor listed is driver inattention. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver or occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - SUV slammed into a car’s rear on Morton Street. Passenger in back seat suffered neck injury. Police cite following too closely and driver distraction. Streets stay dangerous for those inside.

A station wagon/SUV rear-ended another vehicle on Morton Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' A 26-year-old female passenger in the rear seat was injured, suffering neck trauma and whiplash. Two other occupants, including the driver, were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The police report highlights driver errors as the main contributing factors. No mention of helmet or signal use was listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812937 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 13 - 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

May 12 - A sedan hit a 24-year-old woman on Greenwich Ave. She suffered arm injuries. Police cite unsafe speed and failure to yield. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A sedan traveling south on Avenue of the Americas struck a 24-year-old female pedestrian at Greenwich Ave. She sustained a contusion to her arm and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the driver was traveling at unsafe speed and failed to yield the right-of-way. These driver errors are listed as contributing factors. The impact left the pedestrian injured, underscoring the persistent risks faced by those on foot in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813427 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 7 - Six died when a sightseeing helicopter shattered midair over the Hudson. The fuselage, rotor, and tail tore loose. Loud bangs echoed. The craft plunged. No black box. No warning. Only fragments and silence left behind.

NY Daily News reported on May 7, 2025, that federal officials released images showing a sightseeing helicopter breaking apart in midair before crashing into the Hudson River, killing six. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report details how the Bell 206L-4 split into three pieces: 'the fuselage, the main rotor system, and the tail boom.' Witnesses heard 'several loud 'bangs'' before the breakup. The helicopter had flown eight tours that day, all with the same pilot, who had less than 50 hours in this model. The aircraft had a prior maintenance issue with its transmission assembly and lacked flight data recorders. The NTSB noted the pilot wore video-capable sunglasses, but they remain missing. The crash highlights gaps in oversight and the risks of repeated tour flights without robust recording or inspection requirements.

• Helicopter Breaks Apart Over Hudson River, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-07

May 3 - SUV door swung open. Cyclist struck, leg bruised. Shock followed. Alcohol listed. Greenwich Ave, Manhattan. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A cyclist, age 63, was injured when an SUV door opened into her path on Greenwich Ave at Jane St. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Alcohol Involvement.' The cyclist suffered a leg contusion and shock. The SUV was parked before the impact. The report lists no driver errors beyond confusion and alcohol involvement. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the data. No other injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810987 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03