No More Names on the List: Act Now to Stop the Street Toll

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 13 - A motorcyclist struck debris on Shore Road. Glare blinded him. He crashed. His leg broke. His foot twisted. He stayed conscious. The road and light failed him.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man riding a motorcycle north on Shore Road was injured after swerving to avoid an object in the roadway. The report cites glare and other vehicular factors as contributing causes. The rider, wearing a helmet, suffered a fracture, distortion, and dislocation to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The motorcycle's undercarriage was damaged. The crash highlights the danger of poor visibility and roadway hazards. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 3 - Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 7 - Bronx council member Kristy Marmorato led a committee to keep parking mandates near new Metro-North stations. The move blocks plans to cut car use and build more affordable housing. Cars stay king. Transit and vulnerable road users lose ground.

On August 7, 2024, the City Council's Land Use Committee, led by Kristy Marmorato, amended a rezoning plan (no bill number provided) for areas near two new Metro-North stations. The committee rejected the Adams administration's push to eliminate parking requirements, instead voting to retain mandates and lower building heights. Marmorato argued, "We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities," and prioritized drivers over reducing car dependency. The proposal, part of the Mayor's 'City of Yes for Housing Opportunity' plan, aimed to boost affordable housing and transit-oriented development. Marmorato's stance, echoed in multiple statements, keeps parking at the center and limits safer, walkable streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the move preserves car dominance and its dangers for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Council Trades Housing Affordability for Car Parking Near New Metro-North Stops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-07

Aug 3 - SUV slammed front-first on City Island Road. Two women in back seats took the hit. Head and leg injuries. Both awake, both strapped in. Driver reacted to another vehicle. System failed them.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV traveling west on City Island Road struck with its center front end. Two rear passengers, women aged 45 and 41, suffered head and leg injuries. Both were conscious and secured with lap belts and harnesses. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unspecified' as contributing factors, pointing to driver error in response to outside conditions. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 28 - Two sedans collided head-on on Bruckner Expressway. The licensed female driver suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Police cited unsafe speed and driver distraction as causes. The unlicensed male driver was traveling southbound at impact.

According to the police report, the crash involved two sedans traveling southbound on Bruckner Expressway. The licensed female driver, age 21, was injured with whiplash and entire body trauma but was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The collision occurred at the center front end of both vehicles, with damage extending to the left side doors of the female driver's sedan. The report lists unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The male driver of the other sedan was unlicensed, traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the injured driver, focusing instead on the errors of the unlicensed driver and unsafe driving conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746397 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A KTM motorcycle struck a merging Nissan on Pelham Parkway. The rider, 56, was thrown from his bike, left unconscious and bleeding. Both drivers were distracted. The crash left the road stained and silent.

According to the police report, a KTM motorcycle collided with a Nissan sedan as the car merged onto Pelham Parkway near Shore Road. The crash occurred at 13:35 in the Bronx. The 56-year-old motorcyclist was ejected from his bike, suffering severe bleeding and injuries across his entire body, and was found unconscious at the scene. The report states both drivers were inattentive and distracted, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for each. The sedan was struck on its left side doors; the motorcycle impacted with its center front end. The narrative describes the rider flying from the bike, the aftermath marked by silence and blood on the asphalt. No mention is made of victim behavior contributing to the collision. The report centers on driver distraction as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740558 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - A 55-year-old female driver suffered head injuries and whiplash in a Bronx crash. The convertible’s right front quarter panel struck another vehicle’s left front bumper. Police report lists unspecified contributing factors but no victim fault.

According to the police report, at 17:10 in the Bronx near Orchard Beach Road, a 55-year-old female driver operating a 2015 convertible was injured in a collision. The vehicle was traveling west, going straight ahead, when impact occurred at the convertible’s right front quarter panel and the other vehicle’s left front bumper. The driver sustained head injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated at 3. The report cites unspecified contributing factors without detailing driver errors or victim fault. The driver was conscious and not ejected. Vehicle damage was noted on the convertible’s right rear bumper. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - A box truck overturned on the Bruckner Expressway after colliding with a parked SUV. The truck driver, a 56-year-old woman, suffered injuries and was semiconscious. Police cited driver inexperience and distraction as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:06 AM on the Bruckner Expressway involving a box truck and a parked SUV. The box truck, traveling north, overturned after impacting the center back end of the stationary SUV. The driver of the box truck, a 56-year-old female occupant, was injured and found semiconscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV driver was parked at the time of impact, and no injuries to that occupant were reported. The truck's overturn and the nature of the impact highlight the dangers posed by inexperienced drivers operating large vehicles on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 10 - Council members and developers vow to build up to 200 parking spaces per project near new Bronx Metro-North stations. Despite no city parking mandates, car storage dominates debate. Transit access takes a back seat. Vulnerable road users face more cars, more risk.

On July 10, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on proposed rezonings around new Metro-North stations in the Bronx. The matter, titled 'Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council,' focused on whether to require parking in new residential and commercial projects. Council Members Amanda Faris, Kevin C. Riley, Rafael Salamanca, and Kristy Marmorato all pressed for developers to include parking, despite the city's move to waive mandates. Riley called parking 'a huge issue.' Developers, including Baker Development, promised up to 200 spaces per project. Bronx City Planning Director Paul Philips said, 'We certainly expect developers to provide parking.' The debate ignored the danger more parking brings: more cars, more conflict, more risk for people walking and biking. No safety analyst weighed in, but the outcome is clear—transit-oriented in name, car-centric in practice.

• Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-10

Jul 5 - An e-bike rider was ejected and injured in a crash on Shore Road. The 61-year-old male suffered facial contusions and bruises. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors but notes no other vehicles involved or driver errors.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old male e-bike rider was injured and ejected from his vehicle traveling southwest on Shore Road at 19:05. The rider sustained facial contusions and bruises, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies the point of impact as the center front end of the e-bike, with damage to the center back end. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors or violations cited. The rider was not wearing any safety equipment. The incident highlights the vulnerability of e-bike riders to injury even without clear fault assigned to other parties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - A 22-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on the Bruckner Expressway. The cyclist, unlicensed and under the influence of alcohol, suffered abrasions and whole-body injuries. No vehicle damage was reported in this early morning crash.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male bicyclist was riding northbound on the Bruckner Expressway at 3:03 AM when he was ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor and notes the bicyclist was unlicensed. The bicyclist sustained abrasions and injuries to his entire body but remained conscious. The bike showed no damage, and no other vehicles were involved or damaged. The report highlights the bicyclist's alcohol involvement and unlicensed status as key factors in the crash. There is no indication of other vehicle driver errors or victim fault. The incident underscores the dangers posed by impaired and unlicensed cycling on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 30 - Assembly Member Benedetto backed a campaign donor’s bid to dodge city idling fines. DJ Transportation owes $65,000 for idling. Advocates say fumes harm neighborhoods. The company refuses to electrify. Disabled riders are used as a shield. Health loses. Industry wins.

On May 30, 2024, Bronx Assembly Member Michael Benedetto testified in support of exempting DJ Transportation from New York City’s anti-idling law. The matter, heard by city officials, centered on whether companies serving students with disabilities should avoid fines for running engines. Benedetto argued, "I believe DJ Ambulette should be ... given a variance to let them have their buses idle to properly maintain their temperature on their buses." DJ Transportation, a campaign donor, owes over $65,000 in unpaid fines and has not committed to electrifying its fleet. Benedetto denied any influence from donations. The Department of Environmental Protection and advocates rejected claims that idling is needed for temperature control, citing community health risks. Critics condemned the use of disabled clients as justification for continued pollution. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Bronx Pol Wants City to Exempt Campaign Donor From Idling Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-30