72nd and Columbus was included in the map (Google Maps)
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Transportation Alternatives, Families for Safe Streets, and Open Plans have released a new interactive map identifying the most dangerous intersections in New York City — and several Upper West Side locations appear on the list.
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The analysis, unveiled Tuesday with less than two weeks left in the current City Council term, highlights 118 intersections citywide where at least five people have been killed or seriously injured since the start of 2022. The groups say nearly three million New Yorkers live within a half-mile of one of these crossings.The push comes as advocates urge the City Council to pass Intro 1138, a bill that would require “universal daylighting” at all intersections. Daylighting is the practice of banning cars from parking too close to a corner so drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians have a clear line of sight. While many intersections citywide currently allow parking right up to the crosswalk, supporters of the bill argue that reducing visual obstructions would prevent deadly or severe crashes.
Among the newly identified problem areas, four Upper West Side intersections were flagged for having five or more fatalities or serious injuries over the past three years:
- West 96th Street & Broadway — 6 people killed or seriously injured
- Central Park West & the 79th Street Transverse — 6 people killed or seriously injured
- Columbus Avenue & West 72nd Street — 6 people killed or seriously injured
- Central Park West & West 65th Street — 5 people killed or seriously injured
The groups behind the map say their findings underscore the need for a citywide approach, rather than intersection-by-intersection fixes. “Dangerous intersections are a critical, urgent, serious issue in every neighborhood of our city,” Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives said at a press event announcing the data.
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The Department of Transportation, responding to the broader analysis, noted that its own internal review identified 61 intersections with five or more serious injuries or fatalities — about half the number cited by the advocacy groups. A DOT spokesperson said the agency “will continue to use every tool available – including targeted daylighting – to make our streets safer.”According to the map, the single most dangerous obstructed intersection in Manhattan is 120th Street and Lenox Avenue, which saw nine deaths or serious injuries since 2022. The other boroughs showed similarly troubling hotspots.
Advocates have emphasized that many of the worst incidents happen near schools, senior centers, and high-pedestrian-traffic corridors. At Tuesday’s announcement, speakers urged Council leadership to bring the daylighting bill up for a vote before the session ends on December 18.
In the meantime, the new map offers New Yorkers — including Upper West Siders — a clearer look at where the most significant risks lie when crossing the street.
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