June 21, 2022 marked the first official day of summer on many North American calendars. In New York City, though, it also marked the day that Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell oversaw the city’s annual ATV and motorcycle crushing event. This year, they said, around 900 bikes and ATVs were scheduled to meet their ultimate demise at the hands of a bulldozer operator.
While the city itself didn’t characterize this as an annual event, a quick glance backward through news stories and videos going back to at least 2016 reveals it to be such. Unlike most holidays, it doesn’t take place on the same day every year—but under the watchful eyes of more than one NYC mayor, it’s become as regular an occurrence as ceremonial ribbon-cuttings and holiday decoration-lighting events.
