Seven Dead, a Thousand Broken—How Many Bodies Before City Hall Acts?

Dec 16 - A taxi turned right at Amsterdam Avenue, its front end colliding with a man standing off the roadway. Blood pooled. The man, conscious, lay broken on the street, pain radiating through his body. The cab’s failure left him hurt and awake.

A taxi making a right turn at the corner of W 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue struck a 36-year-old man who, according to the police report, was 'not in roadway' and 'stood off the roadway.' The front of the cab hit the pedestrian, causing severe bleeding and injuries across his entire body. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The man remained conscious but was left injured and bleeding in the street. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing to the crash. The collision underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to yield, even to those not occupying the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779994 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 10 - A 54-year-old man on a bike slammed into a parked bus at West 39th and Ninth. He flew from the saddle, his skull cracking on the pavement. Blood pooled. The bus stood untouched. The man lay broken, head bleeding.

According to the police report, a 54-year-old male bicyclist traveling west on West 39th Street collided with a parked bus at the corner of 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The report states the cyclist was ejected from his bike, suffering a severe head injury with significant bleeding after his skull struck the pavement. The bus, a 2006 GMC, was parked and sustained no damage. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. No helmet was in use, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The narrative describes a violent impact and the aftermath: 'Blood pooled on the asphalt. The bus, untouched. The man, broken.' The crash underscores the consequences of distraction and the hazards that persist even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779708 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 25 - A yellow cab turned left on 10th Avenue, its front end smashing into a teenage cyclist’s head. The boy collapsed, unconscious, under the streetlights. The cab kept moving. The city’s cold geometry drew blood again.

A 16-year-old boy riding a bicycle was struck and seriously injured by a yellow taxi at the corner of 10th Avenue and West 33rd Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 22:40, when the taxi, described as a 2023 Ford, made a left turn and its front end hit the cyclist’s head. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver, highlighting a critical error that led to the collision. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the head and was found unconscious at the scene. The report also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but these are mentioned only after the primary driver error. The impact and resulting injuries underscore the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 13 - A 75-year-old man stood off West 18th Street. An e-bike slammed into him head-on. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the curb. The rider vanished, leaving pain and silence behind.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old pedestrian was standing off the roadway near 351 West 18th Street in Manhattan when an e-bike traveling west struck him head-on. The report states the impact tore open the man's leg, causing severe bleeding. The e-bike rider did not stop and left the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the collision, according to the report. The focus remains on the e-bike operator's failure to yield and lack of attention, which directly led to the violent injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772262 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 12 - A Ford SUV turned left on Amsterdam. Its bumper struck a 69-year-old woman crossing with the light. She fell. She died there, in the crosswalk, as traffic moved on. Outside distraction and driver error ended her life.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and West 96th Street in Manhattan. The report states she was 'crossing with the light' in the crosswalk when a Ford SUV, making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. She suffered fatal injuries to her lower leg and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors on the part of the driver. The victim’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted, but the crash was precipitated by the driver’s failure to yield and inattention. The system allowed an ordinary turn to become deadly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771114 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 23 - An 81-year-old woman pedaled east on Columbus. A taxi turned, struck her rear wheel, sent her flying. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious. Distraction behind the wheel. The street did not stop. Metal met flesh. The city moved on.

According to the police report, an 81-year-old woman riding a bike eastbound on Columbus Avenue at West 65th Street was struck from behind by a taxi making a left turn. The report states the taxi's right front bumper collided with the rear wheel of the cyclist, ejecting her from the bike. She suffered severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. The narrative describes the cab striking the cyclist from behind, emphasizing distraction behind the wheel as a key element. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist. The report details the impact and injury, highlighting the systemic danger posed by inattentive drivers operating large vehicles in busy city corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 21 - A sedan’s left turn carved a path across West 96th. A motorcycle slammed its bumper. The rider, helmetless, soared and crashed down. His shoulder shattered. Blood pooled. He stared skyward, awake, pain radiating through the morning air.

According to the police report, a sedan was making a left turn at the corner of West 96th Street and Amsterdam Avenue when a motorcycle traveling straight struck the car’s left front bumper. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The impact ejected the 25-year-old motorcycle rider, who was not wearing a helmet, from his bike. He landed hard in the street, sustaining severe crush injuries to his shoulder and upper arm. The report describes the rider as conscious and bleeding at the scene. The collision underscores the danger posed when drivers turn improperly, cutting across the path of oncoming traffic. The police report notes the absence of a helmet only after citing driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765459 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 18 - A Dodge SUV struck a 29-year-old man crossing West 30th Street. The impact crushed his chest. He lay conscious on the pavement. Police cite aggressive driving. The SUV rolled on, undamaged. The street bore the weight of violence.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling east on West 30th Street near 11th Avenue struck a 29-year-old man who was crossing without a signal. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his chest and remained conscious at the scene. The report states, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as the contributing factor, explicitly pointing to the driver’s actions as the cause. The SUV showed no damage and continued straight after the collision. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is listed only after the driver’s aggressive behavior. The focus remains on the SUV driver's cited aggression and the resulting severe injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 26 - E-bike use surges. Streets stay deadly. Calls for licensing miss the mark. Advocates demand protected lanes, clear intersections, and employer accountability. Restrictive rules push riders to riskier modes. Real safety comes from design, not blame.

This opinion, published September 26, 2024, argues against e-bike licensing and for street redesign. The article, titled 'Opinion: Worried About E-Bike Safety? Make the Roads Safer First,' highlights the dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians due to poor infrastructure. It supports Council Member Lincoln Restler’s bill to enforce bike and bus lane obstruction rules and backs state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s proposal for employer-based delivery worker licensing. The piece states: 'Such proposals are heavy-handed and will deter and discourage e-bike ridership without effectively ensuring their safe operations on the street.' The author urges protected bike lanes, daylighted intersections, and moving Citi Bike docks off sidewalks. The message is clear: systemic fixes, not punitive measures, protect vulnerable road users.

• Opinion: Worried About E-Bike Safety? Make the Roads Safer First, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 23 - Streetsblog calls out the Times for ignoring car culture’s deadly toll. Anti-bike voices rage as double-parked cars and reckless drivers menace Long Island City. A cyclist is struck in Brooklyn. Universal daylighting advances. The city’s streets remain dangerous for the vulnerable.

On September 23, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published a media commentary titled 'Monday’s Headlines: ‘It’s the Car Culture, Stupid’ Edition.' The piece criticizes The New York Times for failing to address the harm car culture inflicts on public health and urban safety, quoting, 'The Times is so blind to car culture that it can't even blame the automobile for sedentary lifestyles.' The article highlights ongoing dangers for pedestrians and cyclists, including a cyclist struck by a driver in Brooklyn and persistent double-parking in Long Island City. It notes an Upper Manhattan community board’s vote for universal daylighting, a proven safety measure. No council members are directly named, but the commentary centers the systemic risks cars pose to vulnerable road users and the media’s failure to confront these dangers.

• Monday’s Headlines: ‘It’s the Car Culture, Stupid’ Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-23

Sep 6 - A taxi swung left on West 57th. A woman pedaled straight. Steel met flesh. Her arm broke, helmet catching the blow. She lay silent in the city’s roar. The street marked her pain, the cab rolled on.

A crash unfolded near 625 West 57th Street in Manhattan when, according to the police report, a taxi 'turned left' as a woman on a bike 'rode straight.' The collision occurred at the center front end of both vehicles. The cyclist, a 36-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her arm and was left in shock, as detailed in the report. The narrative states, 'Metal struck her arm. Bone gave. She wore a helmet. She did not rise.' The report lists the taxi as making a left turn and the bike as proceeding straight ahead. Both 'contributing factor' fields are marked 'Unspecified,' but the sequence described highlights the systemic danger of left-turning vehicles crossing paths with cyclists traveling straight. The cyclist’s helmet use is noted in the police data, but no victim actions are listed as contributing factors. The focus remains on the peril created by the taxi’s left turn across the cyclist’s path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 31 - A taxi rear-ended a KIA SUV on 9th Avenue. Metal crumpled. The 65-year-old SUV driver bled from the head, held in by his belt. Flesh split. Southbound traffic moved on. Only one man left whole.

According to the police report, a taxi crashed into the rear of a KIA SUV at 9th Avenue and West 37th Street in Manhattan at 3:20 p.m. The report states, 'A taxi slammed into the back of a KIA SUV. The 65-year-old driver bled from the head. Lap belt held him in. Flesh split.' The SUV driver, a 65-year-old man, suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors in the crash. The taxi struck the center front end into the SUV’s left rear bumper, both vehicles traveling south. The data points to driver error—specifically inattention and aggression—as the cause of the violent impact. No evidence in the report attributes the crash to any action by the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 22 - Three new elevators now run at 14th Street. Riders with disabilities can reach platforms once blocked. The overhaul cost $300 million. More elevators are coming. But 23 other stations wait, stalled by lost congestion pricing funds. Access remains uneven. Riders pay the price.

On August 22, 2024, construction finished on three new elevators at the 14th Street subway complex, serving the F, M, and L lines, with connections to the 1, 2, and 3. The project, a $300 million overhaul, is part of ongoing MTA accessibility efforts. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who represents District 47, praised the work: "There is a fundamental right to access mass transit. And today we are taking an important step forward in making that right real to all New Yorkers." The upgrades will make the complex fully accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Still, 23 other stations remain on hold after congestion pricing was paused, freezing $15 billion in planned improvements. Only 30% of stations are accessible. The future for vulnerable riders is uncertain without new funding.

• Construction finished on three new elevators at 14th Street subway complex, amny.com, Published 2024-08-22

Aug 18 - A bus turned left at West 42nd and 8th. Steel met flesh. A young woman’s leg split open. Blood pooled on the concrete. Neon lights flickered overhead. The bus rolled on, unscathed. She lay in shock, pain radiating through her broken limb.

A young woman, age 20, was struck and severely injured by a bus making a left turn at the intersection of West 42nd Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan, according to the police report. The report states the bus was traveling east and turning left when it hit the pedestrian, resulting in a severe leg injury and significant bleeding. The victim lay in shock beneath the neon lights, her injury described as 'knee-lower leg foot' trauma. The bus sustained no damage, and the driver, licensed in Virginia, was the sole occupant. The police report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian. The narrative notes the woman was 'crossing against the light,' but no driver errors such as 'Failure to Yield' are cited in the report. The focus remains on the impact and the systemic risks at busy intersections where large vehicles and pedestrians converge.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748679 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 16 - A dump truck rolled north on 10th Avenue. Steel struck a man’s skull as he crossed. Blood pooled on the street. The truck did not stop. Heat shimmered above the pavement. The man lay unconscious, head bleeding, life paused at the curb.

A 42-year-old man was struck by a northbound dump truck at the corner of 10th Avenue and West 16th Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The report states, 'A dump truck rolled north. A man crossed without a signal. Steel struck skull. He dropped hard. Blood spread. Eyes closed. Heat rose from the pavement. The truck kept going.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury, severe bleeding, and was found unconscious. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The vehicle, a 2017 KW-TRUCK/BUS dump truck registered in New Jersey, continued north after the collision and did not sustain damage. The report notes the point of impact as the right rear quarter panel. No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, and there is no mention of pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor beyond crossing without a signal, which is listed descriptively, not causally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748458 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 16 - A 93-year-old woman crossing Central Park West with the light was struck by an e-scooter. Blood pooled by her head. She stayed conscious. The scooter’s front end crumpled. The rider did not yield. Systemic danger, flesh and steel, collide.

According to the police report, an e-scooter traveling north on Central Park West at West 65th Street struck a 93-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with the signal. The report states, 'An e-scooter struck a 93-year-old woman crossing with the light. She stayed conscious. Blood pooled near her head. The scooter’s front end crumpled. The rider did not yield.' The primary contributing factor listed is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The data makes clear that the e-scooter operator failed to yield to a pedestrian lawfully crossing, resulting in a violent collision. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing with the signal, but only after citing the driver’s failure to yield as the cause. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the systemic risk posed to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 1 - A distracted bus driver rolled through West 14th and 7th. Metal struck a man stepping down. His face split. Blood pooled on the curb. The bus did not stop. The city’s machinery moved on, unmarked, leaving pain behind.

A pedestrian was severely injured at the corner of West 14th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan when a bus, traveling north, struck him as he was getting off a vehicle. According to the police report, the bus driver was inattentive and distracted at the time of the crash. The narrative states, 'The bus did not stop. Metal passed flesh. His face tore open. Blood pooled near the curb. The driver was distracted. The bus rolled on, unmarked.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The 46-year-old man suffered severe facial lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. No mention is made of any pedestrian error or behavior contributing to the crash. The bus sustained no damage, and the driver continued without stopping, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver distraction in New York City’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747288 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 29 - A Chevy SUV hit a 31-year-old woman at West End Avenue and West 64th Street. She fell, blood pooling beneath her head. The front grill bore the mark. The street held her silence. Shock widened her eyes as sirens approached.

A 31-year-old woman was struck by a Chevy SUV while in the crosswalk at West End Avenue and West 64th Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The report describes the woman lying in shock, bleeding from the head, with severe lacerations. The SUV's center front end bore visible damage. Police note the pedestrian was at the intersection, engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' The driver was traveling straight ahead in an eastbound direction. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further details on driver behavior. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of the pedestrian, who suffered significant head injuries. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior are cited beyond her presence in the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 19 - Council Speaker Adams wavers on using new power to lower speed limits. She calls for district input. Advocates warn: patchwork rules endanger lives. Uniform 20 mph limit saves people. Council delays action as streets stay deadly.

On July 19, 2024, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams addressed the Council’s authority under Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City lower its speed limit. The matter, discussed in Streetsblog, quotes Adams: “Each Council member is going to have to weigh in on how they feel it should be enacted or should not be enacted in their district.” Adams hesitated to commit to a citywide 20 mph limit, instead suggesting community-by-community decisions. Eric McClure of StreetsPAC called this approach “chaotic and dangerous,” pushing for a uniform 20 mph limit to save lives. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged a comprehensive, data-driven plan. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Brad Hoylman-Sigal pressed the Council to use its new powers. The Department of Transportation clarified its limited authority. The Council’s delay leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Speaker Adams: Council May Not Use its ‘Sammy’s Law’ Power to Lower Speed Limits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-19

Jul 12 - New state law forces moped and e-bike sellers to register vehicles, educate buyers, and ban unsafe batteries. Lawmakers say this closes loopholes, shifts blame from workers, and aims to cut rising crashes. Streets see more mopeds, more injuries, more tension.

On July 12, 2024, Governor Hochul signed a package of eight bills into law, including new moped and e-bike safety regulations. The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Alex Bores, requires retailers to register mopeds at the point of sale, provide safety information, and prohibit the sale of substandard lithium-ion batteries. The law also mandates crash reporting and new safety training for first responders. Hoylman-Sigal said, 'I've received more complaints about the hazards these mopeds cause than just about any other issue.' Bores added, 'By requiring the registration of mopeds at point of sale and the collection of e-bike collision data, we are making our streets safer and increasing accountability.' The law shifts accountability to retailers, aiming to improve street safety without penalizing delivery workers. Council Member Shekar Krishnan and State Senator Liz Kruger also voiced support, highlighting the dangers of unregistered mopeds and the need for better buyer education. The law responds to a sharp rise in moped-related injuries and community complaints across New York City.

• Moped and E-Bike Safety Legislation Becomes State Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-12