Statement from Transportation Alternatives on Announced Improvements to Canal Street

19 New Yorkers have been killed or seriously injured on Canal Street since 2022.

Canal Street is a Vision Zero Senior Pedestrian Priority Corridor. All nine pedestrian fatalities along Canal Street since Vision Zero began have been New Yorkers over the age of 55.

NEW YORK — This morning, DOT announced that the City will be lowering the speed limit, adding safety barriers, and narrowing lanes at the intersection of Canal Street and Bowery in Chinatown. A few weeks ago, New Yorkers Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok were killed by a reckless driver at this very intersection. 

Statement from Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives: 

"This is a real victory for activism in the wake of the horrible crash. The best time to fix Canal was decades ago, and the second-best time is now. 

“Aging New Yorkers, especially seniors in Chinatown, are the most harmed by a dangerous Canal Street. Just a few weeks ago, two New Yorkers were killed by a reckless driver — 63-year-old May Kwok, was taking respite on a bench in what should be a plaza and safe haven for pedestrians, and 55-year-old cyclist Kevin Scott Cruikshank was riding his bike from Morningside Heights to Coney Island. In the brief moments they shared near one another, a speeding driver coming down the Manhattan Bridge took their lives. These were two beloved New Yorkers from different walks of life who should be with us today. Hopefully, with these changes, May’s bench will become a safe place for anyone to spend a sunny day, and Canal Street will be a safe haven for all who use it. 

“We can’t wait to see an improved and safer Bowery & Canal, but activists, elected officials, and community organizations have spent far too much time waiting for and demanding these simple changes. Canal Street is only as safe as its most dangerous block, and even after these changes, the vast majority of the corridor will remain deadly. We’re expecting the City to stick to its promised timeline, and we won’t stop fighting to #FixCanal until it’s truly and completely fixed. Now is time to act, and we look forward to working with DOT to ensure these improvements are fully realized.”  

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