Seven Dead, a Thousand Broken—Why Won’t NYC Slow the Streets?

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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

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

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 2025-08-04

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

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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

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

State senators debate cutting the $15 congestion toll. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backs a lower fee if safety and transit gains hold. Liz Krueger wants $1 billion for the MTA. Jabari Brisport slams the rushed process. Trump vows to kill the tolls.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), discussed reducing the $15 base congestion pricing fee. The debate, reported by Gothamist, centers on whether a lower toll could unfreeze the program while still funding the MTA. Hoylman-Sigal said, "Nobody's wedded to $15. We are wedded to the improvements that congestion pricing will provide for mass transit or safety on our streets for cleaner air." Sen. Liz Krueger is open to a new fee if it raises $1 billion yearly. Sen. Jabari Brisport criticized the lack of study and feedback in the process, calling it "irresponsible." Any change needs legislative, MTA, and federal approval. Trump has promised to end congestion pricing if elected. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers weigh lower congestion pricing fee – but Trump could kill tolls if elected, gothamist.com, Published 2024-07-02

Albany stalls. The MTA faces a $15 billion hole. Lawmakers argue over reviving congestion pricing with a lower toll. Transit hangs in the balance. Streets stay clogged. Riders and walkers wait for answers. No fix. No funding. Danger lingers.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), debated the future of congestion pricing and MTA funding. The matter, reported as 'MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls,' highlights confusion and division. Hoylman-Sigal supports lowering the toll, saying, 'The goal should be mend it don’t end it.' He urges keeping the program alive to save mass transit. Sen. Liz Krueger is open to tweaks if goals are met. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow opposes any revival. The MTA faces a $15 billion shortfall after the program’s pause. Policy experts warn that lowering the toll could weaken congestion relief and transit funding. No clear plan exists. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as gridlock and uncertainty persist.

• MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls: ‘I don’t know anything’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-02

A cyclist hit a young woman on Amsterdam Avenue. She fell, her head bleeding, semiconscious in the street. The bike rolled on, unscathed. The force landed square, the harm hers alone. The night echoed with sirens and blood.

A 25-year-old woman was struck by a cyclist traveling northeast on Amsterdam Avenue, according to the police report. The collision left her semiconscious in the street, suffering severe bleeding from a head injury. The narrative states, 'She fell, head bleeding, semiconscious in the street. The rider kept straight. No damage to the bike. The front wheel hit center. The damage was hers alone.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the cyclist and the pedestrian. The cyclist was going straight ahead at the time of impact, and the point of contact was the center front end of the bike. No damage was reported to the bicycle. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The harm was borne entirely by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two e-scooters slammed together on Riverside Boulevard. A 14-year-old boy hit face-first. Blood pooled on the pavement. He was conscious, wounded, and young. Unsafe speed tore through the afternoon. The city’s danger cut deep.

According to the police report, two e-scooters collided at speed near Riverside Boulevard and West 61st Street in Manhattan. The crash left a 14-year-old boy injured, bleeding from the face but conscious. The report states, 'Two e-scooters collided at speed. A 14-year-old boy hit face-first. Blood on the pavement.' The listed contributing factor is 'Unsafe Speed.' No helmet use was recorded for the injured boy. The data shows both vehicles were going straight ahead before impact, and the severity of the injury was high. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the threat posed by unsafe speed on city streets, especially for young and vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car moving east on West 58th Street struck a 29-year-old woman head-on before sunrise. Her body was crushed. She died alone in the street, unnamed, as the city slept. The impact left silence and loss in its wake.

According to the police report, a woman was walking in the roadway near West 58th Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan at 3:41 a.m. when an eastbound car struck her head-on. The report states her body was crushed and she died at the scene, 29 years old, alone in the dark. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and the car was traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No information is provided about the vehicle type or the driver. The victim's actions are described as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly force of the car and the lack of identified driver error in the report highlight the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially in the early hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

State Senate passed a bill to double fines for illegal moped dealers. Dealers must register mopeds or face $2,000 penalties. Lawmakers shift blame from riders to vendors. Delivery workers back the move. The bill now heads to the Assembly.

Senate Bill, sponsored by Sen. Liz Kruger (D-Manhattan), passed on June 3, 2024. It doubles fines for unauthorized moped dealers from $1,000 to $2,000 and requires registration at the point of sale. The bill is expected to pass the Assembly, where Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas co-sponsors. The matter summary states: 'Fines against unauthorized moped dealers would be doubled.' Kruger said, 'My bill makes sure we know who is selling mopeds.' González-Rojas added, 'The bill will help alleviate some of the challenges we see around mopeds.' Advocates like Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project support enforcement at the point of sale, noting many dealers are unlicensed. The bill targets vendors, not riders, aiming to protect vulnerable delivery workers and pedestrians.

• ‘The Moped Crisis’: Bill Doubling Fines For Unauthorized Dealers Passes Senate, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-03

A Ford pickup stopped in traffic was struck from behind by an Alfa sedan. Metal crumpled. The pickup driver, 49, belted in, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The sedan driver’s failure to maintain distance caused the crash. Impact left lasting harm.

On Central Park West near 68th Street, a Ford pickup truck was stopped in traffic when an Alfa sedan traveling north struck it from behind, according to the police report. The sedan’s point of impact was its center front end, colliding with the pickup’s center back end. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors linked to the sedan driver. The pickup driver, a 49-year-old man, was belted in with a lap belt and harness and sustained neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The police report explicitly attributes the crash to the sedan driver’s failure to maintain a safe following distance. No contributing factors were assigned to the pickup driver. The collision caused significant metal deformation and left the pickup driver with crush trauma and neck injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724931 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Pre-dawn on 8th Avenue, a Ford SUV plowed into a parked tractor-trailer. Metal shrieked. Four inside, belted, left bloodied and broken. The truck’s rear split open. Shock and pain filled the silence. Unsafe speed and failure to yield ruled the scene.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling north on 8th Avenue collided with the rear of a parked tractor-trailer, tearing open the truck’s rear and crushing the SUV’s front. The crash occurred in the pre-dawn hours, shattering the quiet with metal and glass. All four occupants of the SUV—aged 23 to 36—suffered serious injuries, including head trauma and crush injuries, and were left in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the SUV occupants, with the driver specifically cited for failing to yield. The tractor-trailer was parked and unoccupied at the time of impact. The narrative describes the violence of the crash: 'The front folded. Metal screamed. Four inside: arms broken, heads bloodied, bodies crushed.' The data points to driver error and systemic danger as the root causes of this early-morning disaster.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04