Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Open Plans

Thursday’s Headlines: Car Harms Index Edition

We all know that cars are killing our city, but reasonable minds may differ on exactly how.

Enter, the Car Harms Tournament — the Twitter brainchild of our parent company, Open Plans (you know it from its innovative proposal to create an Office of Public Space Management that tout le monde is talking about).

In this March Madness-style contest, the "top" 32 car harms are seeded from worst (the way cars kill) to only-slightly-less-worst (the way cars cause congestion that wastes everyone's time).

So click on the tweet below (or click here), and vote! (For more detailed matchups, visit the Open Plans Instagram page.) Polls are open until tomorrow:

In other news:

    • From the assignment desk: Mayor-elect Eric Adams will join Oonee CEO Shabazz Stuart in Domino Park at 9:30 a.m. today to toast the company's Mini unit, "the first secure bike parking facility that is designed for the curb." If this catches on, many curbside spaces currently set aside for one car can be transformed into locked parking for several bikes.
    • Outrage of the day: Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. dropped his case against former Assembly Member (and powerful county Democratic Party chief) Keith Wright for dooring a cyclist on the grounds that Wright wasn't "operating" the car when he opened his door into a bike rider. Besides, "dooring" is only subject to a traffic ticket, not a criminal offense, but still... (NYDN, NY Post)
    • The business section of amNY continued its multi-part series on grocery delivery services, this time focusing on the plight of workers.
    • The MTA is still pushing the narrative that customers have not returned to the subway because of crime (NYDN). Meanwhile, the agency said it would put more cops on buses to stop fare beating (amNY).
    • But at least fare hikes are off the table until after the June primary election (NYDN, NY Post). That said, the agency is far from flush — so deluded drivers should put aside all that talk that "We don't need congestion pricing because the Biden infrastructure bill is so generous" (amNY). As always, Aaron Gordon had the seminal tweet thread:
https://twitter.com/a_w_gordon/status/1461116980103110659?s=11
    • And in other MTA news, the agency's board approved the purchase of 60 electric buses, at $1 million each. (NYDN)
    • And Access-a-Ride is still under fire for bad service. (The City)
    • Get ready for those wide turnstiles you see in other cities, as the MTA finally moves ahead with a basic improvement for people using wheelchairs. (NY Post)
    • Rest in peace: A worker on the Manhattan Bridge fell to his death. (NY Post, Gothamist)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Cyclist: Cop Pulled a Taser During Summons Chase

In a dramatic escalation of the NYPD's criminal crackdown on bike riders, a police officer pulled a stun gun while chasing a cyclist for allegedly running a red light on a regular bike.

May 30, 2025

Albany Pols Seize the Helm(et)

Helmet laws remain controversial — they're the "common-sense" approach pushed by lawmakers who ignore that studies show they don't improve safety.

May 30, 2025

Tisch Reveals Real Reason for Her E-Bike Crackdown: E-Bike Licensing

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch doubles down on her cycling criminalization campaign, saying e-bike licensing is the only other option.

May 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: A ‘Critical’ Moment Edition

Cyclists will protest against the NYPD's bike crackdown with a Critical Mass ride to City Hall on Friday. Plus more news.

May 30, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Astoria’s Big Beautiful 31st Avenue Bike Boulevard

Streetsblog paid a visit to New York City's widest on-street protected bike lane ever, which is up and running in Astoria.

May 30, 2025
See all posts