Mustang Hits, City Shrugs: Bronx Streets Bleed While Leaders Stall

Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council eyes bigger NYPD tow pounds. Bill demands enough space to haul away law-breaking cars. Public reports would track towing. Committee shelves action. Streets wait.

Int 0179-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, would require the NYPD to run tow pounds with enough capacity to deter illegal driving. The bill, introduced February 28, 2024, and discussed again on April 28, 2025, reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to police department tow pound capacity.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Farías, Narcisse, Restler, Hudson, Louis, and Holden. The bill also calls for public reports on towing operations. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0179-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. Cyclists need steel and concrete, not paint. The bill sits in committee. Streets could change. Lives hang in the balance.

Int 0271-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Rivera, Louis, Hanif, Ossé, Brewer, Cabán, Nurse, Hudson, Salaam, Bottcher, Gutiérrez, Feliz, Won, and Joseph. The bill demands the Department of Transportation install 100 miles of protected bike lanes per year for six years. The aim: real protection for cyclists and a safer city grid.

• File Int 0271-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council targets fake and expired plates. Bill sets fines. Ten-day grace for expired tags. Crackdown aims at cars that dodge law and endanger streets. Committee on Public Safety holds the measure.

Int 0177-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates,' makes it illegal to drive with fake or expired plates, including temporary ones. Civil penalties apply, but drivers with expired plates get a 10-day cure period. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Restler, Won, Brewer, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Avilés, De La Rosa, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill targets drivers who hide behind illegal plates, a tactic often linked to hit-and-runs and reckless driving.

• File Int 0177-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to create a DOT parking squad. The bill targets illegal parking. Sponsors say it will enforce rules. Streets choke on blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

Bill Int 0264-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it would require the Department of Transportation to form a unit focused on parking violations. The matter title reads: 'Establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, and others. The bill aims to crack down on illegal parking, a known threat to people on foot and bike. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but blocked lanes endanger all who travel outside a car.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on roads beside parks over one acre. DOT can skip spots if safety or rules demand. Law aims to slow cars where families walk, run, and play.

Int 0262-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: “requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by eighteen co-sponsors. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps unless the commissioner finds a risk to safety or a conflict with DOT guidelines. The law would take effect 180 days after passage. The measure targets streets where parks meet traffic, aiming to slow cars and shield people outside vehicles.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

A 76-year-old woman suffered a head injury and whiplash as a passenger in an SUV struck on the rear quarter panel by a taxi. The crash occurred on Bronx River Parkway at 7:20 p.m., caused by unsafe lane changing by the SUV driver.

According to the police report, the crash happened on Bronx River Parkway at 19:20. A station wagon/SUV traveling northeast and a taxi traveling north collided. The SUV driver committed an unsafe lane change, striking the taxi's right rear quarter panel with the SUV's left rear quarter panel. The SUV carried four occupants; a 76-year-old female passenger in the rear suffered a head injury and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The taxi had one male driver, licensed in New York, who was going straight ahead. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error as the cause. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701043 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

SUV rolled over on Allerton Avenue. Driver impaired by alcohol, ignored traffic controls. One injured. Parked cars and a sedan struck. Metal twisted. Streets scarred. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, a 2007 Lincoln SUV traveling north on Allerton Avenue in the Bronx overturned after a collision at 16:02. The 50-year-old male driver was injured and found incoherent, complaining of pain or nausea. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error. The crash damaged the SUV, a westbound Hyundai sedan, and two parked vehicles, all struck on their sides. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695311 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Four cars tangled at speed on Bronx River Parkway. One sedan flipped. Metal twisted. A 56-year-old woman in the front seat was crushed from the knees down. She stayed conscious as chaos reigned. Unsafe speed drove the violence. The system failed her.

A violent multi-car collision unfolded on Bronx River Parkway late at night, involving a taxi and three sedans. According to the police report, the crash occurred at high speed, with one vehicle overturning and several others sustaining heavy damage. The report states, 'Bronx River Parkway, northbound, late at night — a taxi and three sedans collided at speed. One flipped. A 56-year-old woman in the front seat was crushed from the knees down. She did not lose consciousness.' The only contributing factor listed by police is 'Unsafe Speed,' underscoring the role of excessive velocity in the crash. No victim behavior is cited as a factor. The collision left the front-seat passenger with severe crush injuries to her lower legs, highlighting the ongoing danger posed by unchecked speed on city parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A crash on Bronx River Parkway injured two occupants. Both suffered whiplash. Driver distraction and following too closely caused the collision. The impact was severe, damaging the vehicles involved.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on Bronx River Parkway, injuring two occupants. A 33-year-old female driver and a 42-year-old female passenger both sustained whiplash. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The driver, operating with a permit, failed to maintain safe distance, leading to the collision. Both were wearing lap belts and harnesses at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692131 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Bronx River Parkway. The 19-year-old female driver suffered elbow and lower arm injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling south. The impact struck the center back end of one car and the center front end of the other.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on Bronx River Parkway collided in a rear-end crash. The 19-year-old female driver of the rear vehicle was injured, sustaining elbow, lower arm, and hand injuries along with whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt at the time. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. The front vehicle was impacted at its center back end, while the rear vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans slammed together on Southern Boulevard. Four people hurt. Bruises and abrasions marked their bodies. Drivers failed at the merge. Metal crumpled. No one was ejected. Night split open by impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Southern Boulevard near Mosholu Parkway at 23:05. Both drivers and two passengers suffered injuries to the abdomen, pelvis, and lower legs, including bruises and abrasions. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor, showing driver error in merging or lane use. Both vehicles took damage to the left front bumper from a center front-end crash. All occupants were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. No one was ejected. The crash involved a 2018 Mercedes sedan heading east and a 2010 Toyota sedan heading west. No victim errors or equipment failures are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 66-year-old man was struck at Mosholu Parkway and Southern Boulevard. The driver, distracted and speeding, hit him head-on. The man suffered fractures and dislocations to his leg and foot.

According to the police report, a 66-year-old male pedestrian was struck at the intersection of Mosholu Parkway and Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. The driver, traveling east and going straight, hit the man with the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention/distraction and unsafe speed as contributing factors. No details on the vehicle type or driver identity were provided. The pedestrian was in the roadway at the time. The report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions or safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672863 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 8079 would force scooter riders to get licensed, insured, and schooled. No license, no sale. Lawmakers push paperwork, not street fixes. Vulnerable users still face the same steel threat.

Assembly Bill A 8079, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Filed September 27, 2023, it aims to require a safety manual, licensing, and insurance for electric scooter operators in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes a bicycle and electric scooter operator's safety manual; provides for the issuance of a license...; requires liability insurance for electric scooters in cities having a population of one million or more.' Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr. leads, with Rebecca Seawright, Michael Benedetto, Deborah Glick, Jeffrion Aubry, David McDonough, and Michael Novakhov co-sponsoring. The bill targets paperwork and compliance. It does not address the core dangers faced by pedestrians and cyclists on city streets.

• File A 8079, Open States, Published 2023-09-27

Two SUVs collided on Bronx Park East. The 23-year-old female driver of the rear vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling north. Driver distraction caused the crash. The injured driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Bronx Park East in the Bronx. The 23-year-old female driver of the rear SUV was injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead northbound when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the center back end of the front vehicle and the center front end of the rear vehicle. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan merging south hit a stopped SUV’s rear on Bronx River Parkway. Two SUV occupants suffered whiplash and back injuries. Unsafe speed and lane change listed as causes. Metal crumpled. Traffic stopped. Pain followed.

According to the police report, a 2015 sedan merging southbound on Bronx River Parkway struck the right rear bumper of a stopped 2023 SUV. The SUV carried two people: a 52-year-old woman driving and a 17-year-old male passenger. Both suffered whiplash and back injuries. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" and "Unsafe Lane Changing" as contributing factors. The sedan’s right front and the SUV’s right rear were damaged. Both vehicles were traveling south; the SUV was stopped in traffic. No ejections occurred. All occupants were conscious. The report does not mention any other contributing factors or safety equipment use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04