Blood on the Asphalt: Bronx Leaders Stall While Pedestrians Die

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-02-13

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-02-13

A 16-year-old boy was struck while crossing Mosholu Parkway away from an intersection. The vehicle hit him center front. He suffered a neck fracture and dislocation. The driver was going straight south. No driver errors were specified.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Mosholu Parkway while crossing outside a crosswalk or signal. The vehicle, traveling south and going straight ahead, struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained a severe neck injury described as a fracture and dislocation. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond unspecified causes. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No information on the vehicle type or driver details was provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4603031 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

A pick-up driver killed Edwin Rivera, 62, at Broadway and W. 238th in the Bronx. The driver fled. This stretch has seen hundreds of crashes. Councilmember Eric Dinowitz opposed safety upgrades. The city left this intersection dangerous. Rivera paid the price.

On December 31, 2022, Edwin Rivera was struck and killed by a pick-up truck driver at Broadway and W. 238th Street in Council District 11. The driver fled. The intersection sits in Councilmember Eric Dinowitz’s district. Dinowitz recently opposed a proposal to make Riverdale Avenue safer. The article states, 'Council District 11, which is represented by Eric Dinowitz, who recently opposed an effort to make Riverdale Avenue in his district safer.' The Department of Transportation installed safety measures north of Van Cortlandt Park, but not at the site of Rivera’s death. In 2022, Dinowitz’s district saw 1,659 reported crashes, injuring 135 pedestrians and 27 cyclists. The city’s inaction left a deadly gap. Rivera is the latest victim.

• Pedestrian Killed at a Dangerous Bronx Intersection that City Has Failed to Make Safe, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-04

Senate bill S 343 seeks a clear, public safety score for cars. The DMV would post these ratings. Lawmakers push for sunlight on danger. Pedestrians face risk. The system aims to expose it.

Senate bill S 343 was proposed on January 4, 2023. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Creates a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles,' would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to post these ratings online. Primary sponsor Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The measure targets transparency. It puts the danger of cars in plain sight. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 343, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

Assemblyman Dinowitz pushes a bill to slap New Jersey drivers with a $50 fee. The move answers NJ’s threat to block data sharing. Without cooperation, speeders dodge camera tickets. Streets stay dangerous. Lawmakers trade barbs. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

Bill number not specified. On September 28, 2022, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced a proposal in the New York State Legislature. The bill, now in committee, would impose a $50 fee on vehicles registered in states—like New Jersey—that refuse to share driver data for traffic enforcement. The measure responds to a New Jersey Senate bill blocking DMV data sharing, which could undermine New York City’s automated speed camera program. Dinowitz said, 'There's going to have to be a price to pay if my bill passes.' Safe streets advocates and NYC DOT warn that blocking data sharing lets speeders escape penalties, fueling traffic violence. The bill’s text states it 'authorizes the imposition of a $50 fee on vehicles entering NYC which are registered in states which do not cooperate with New York in the enforcement of traffic infractions through the use of photo-monitoring devices or signal monitoring systems.' The fight leaves vulnerable road users at risk, as enforcement gaps let reckless drivers go unpunished.

• NY bill threatens new $50 fee to NJ drivers as congestion pricing feud heats up, gothamist.com, Published 2022-09-28

Two sedans slammed together on the Major Deegan. The rear driver, age 27, took a hard hit to the neck. Unsafe speed and lane changing fueled the crash. Metal twisted. The road stayed open. The danger remains.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on the Major Deegan Expressway collided when the rear vehicle struck the center back end of the front sedan. The 27-year-old male driver of the rear car suffered neck injuries and whiplash. He was conscious and restrained at the scene. The report lists unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors. Both vehicles were going straight before impact. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563527 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 31-year-old man was struck on the Major Deegan Expressway. The SUV hit him with its left front bumper. He suffered a head injury and was unconscious. The crash involved pedestrian confusion in the roadway. The driver was going straight southbound.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2018 Jeep SUV traveling south on the Major Deegan Expressway. The impact occurred at the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian was unconscious with a head injury. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was performing other actions in the roadway when the collision occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Hyundai SUV stopped in traffic rear-ended a Honda sedan going straight ahead on Broadway. The sedan’s female driver, 48, suffered neck injuries and shock. Driver distraction caused the crash. Both vehicles damaged at center impact points.

According to the police report, a 2019 Hyundai SUV stopped in traffic on Broadway was rear-ended by a 2021 Honda sedan traveling north. The sedan’s 48-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining neck pain and shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The crash caused damage to the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4562180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided on Major Deegan. A 17-year-old front passenger took a head injury and concussion. Driver inattention and tailgating fueled the crash. The teen stayed conscious, belted in after impact.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveled south on the Major Deegan Expressway when the rear SUV struck the front SUV from behind. The front passenger, a 17-year-old male, suffered a head injury and concussion. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors. The injured passenger wore a lap belt and harness. The rear SUV's right front bumper was damaged. No other factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4559687 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council heard fierce debate on congestion pricing. Dinowitz slammed credits for New Jersey drivers. Truckers and ride-share drivers bristled at high tolls. Advocates warned of more diesel trucks in the Bronx. The plan’s impact on vulnerable New Yorkers remains unclear.

On August 10, 2022, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (District 81) joined a heated policy debate over New York City’s congestion pricing plan. The proposal would charge drivers up to $23 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Dinowitz opposed credits for New Jersey drivers, calling them unfair. The debate, covered by gothamist.com, highlighted concerns from truckers, ride-share drivers, and advocates. The matter summary reads: 'Debate over NYC congestion pricing picks up as more effects of the plan emerge.' Critics, including Rep. Ritchie Torres, warned the plan could push more diesel trucks onto the Cross Bronx Expressway, raising public health and equity concerns. The council has not yet assessed the plan’s direct impact on vulnerable road users.

• Debate over NYC congestion pricing picks up as more effects of the plan emerge, gothamist.com, Published 2022-08-10

DOT will narrow Riverdale Avenue in the Bronx. Four lanes become two, with a center turn lane. Council Member Eric Dinowitz objects to the process, not the safety plan. Community Board 8 voted no. DOT cites crash deaths. The project moves forward.

On August 4, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) confirmed it will proceed with the Riverdale Avenue road diet, narrowing the Bronx street from four lanes to two with a center turning lane. The matter, presented to Bronx Community Board 8’s Transportation Committee, was rejected in a close vote. Council Member Eric Dinowitz voiced strong opposition to the DOT’s process, calling it 'undemocratic' and criticizing the lack of community input, though he did not oppose the road diet itself. The DOT justified the changes by citing significant crash and injury data, and pointed to successful safety improvements from similar projects elsewhere in the Bronx. Dinowitz stated, 'I have been deeply troubled throughout this process due to the constant misrepresentation of facts and the lack of responsiveness to the community.' Despite local resistance, the DOT moves forward, prioritizing safety on a corridor marked by multiple fatalities.

• Bronx Pol Loses Fight Against Street Safety as DOT Moves Ahead on Riverdale Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-04

A motorcycle slammed into an SUV on Major Deegan Expressway. The rider flew off, hit hard, and suffered leg injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Both vehicles were headed south. Metal twisted. Flesh bruised.

According to the police report, a motorcycle rear-ended a sport utility vehicle on the Major Deegan Expressway. The motorcyclist, a 50-year-old man, was ejected and suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Police list driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling south, going straight. The SUV was damaged at the center front end; the motorcycle was struck at the center back. The motorcyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted in the report. The crash underscores the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547742 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 21-year-old woman driving an SUV struck a southbound cyclist on Broadway in the Bronx. The cyclist suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. Confusion by the cyclist contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old female driver in a 2017 Mazda SUV traveling north on Broadway collided head-on with a southbound cyclist. The cyclist sustained neck injuries and whiplash, experiencing shock but was not ejected from the bike. The report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and wearing a lap belt. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. No driver errors by the SUV operator were specified in the report. The crash highlights the dangers cyclists face when confusion leads to collisions with larger vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A southbound SUV struck the right rear quarter of a sedan on Henry Hudson Parkway. The sedan’s female driver, 25, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained damage at impact points.

According to the police report, a 2007 SUV traveling south on Henry Hudson Parkway collided with the right rear quarter panel of a 2019 sedan also heading south. The sedan’s 25-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining neck trauma and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV’s left front quarter panel and the sedan’s right rear quarter panel were damaged. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-31