No More Bodies in the Road: Demand Safety, Not Excuses

May Day. Streets empty. Delivery workers vanish, scared of deportation. Supporters shout for fair pay. Instacart loophole leaves many unprotected. City’s most vulnerable stay home. Their silence deepens danger. Systemic risks linger. Equity denied. Safety lost.

On May 2, 2025, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa and advocates rallied for Intro 1133 and Intro 1135, bills to expand minimum wage protections to all delivery workers, including those for Instacart. The rally, covered by Streetsblog NYC, saw few delivery workers attend. The matter summary reads: 'Advocates for delivery workers rallied on May Day in support of two pro-delivery worker bills, but many workers stayed home due to fears of deportation.' De La Rosa called for closing the Instacart loophole and ending discrimination. The chilling effect of immigration enforcement left the most at-risk workers absent. Safety analysts warn: when vulnerable workers avoid advocacy, their ability to demand safer streets and fair conditions shrinks. Systemic risks and inequities for pedestrians and cyclists persist.

• Supporters Rally, But Delivery Workers Stay Home Amid Deportation Fears, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-02

Council rallied for delivery workers. Many stayed home, fearing deportation. Instacart workers, mostly immigrants, remain excluded from wage protections. Council Member De La Rosa demanded equity. The law’s loophole leaves workers exposed, underpaid, and afraid. The fight for fair pay continues.

On May 2, 2025, the City Council, led by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, rallied for two bills: Intro 1133 and Intro 1135. Both aim to expand minimum wage protections to all delivery workers, including those for third-party grocery services like Instacart. The rally, held on May Day, highlighted the vulnerability of immigrant delivery workers, many of whom stayed home due to heightened deportation fears. De La Rosa declared, 'These workers are already being discriminated against and marginalized in our city. Let’s not make their lives harder by allowing a loophole in the law to take money out of their pockets.' The bills seek to close the 'Instacart loophole' and ensure equity for all delivery workers. The Council also passed a bill raising the cap on fees delivery apps can charge restaurants, which will result in Relay workers receiving the $21.44 minimum wage. The current law’s confusion and gaps leave many workers unprotected and at risk.

• Supporters Rally, But Delivery Workers Stay Home Amid Deportation Fears, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-02

Council passed a bill forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post warnings on rear doors. The decals tell riders to watch for cyclists before swinging open. The law aims to cut dooring. Signs come free from the city. Cyclists face less risk.

Int 0193-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, moved through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed the Council on May 1, 2025. The bill reads: 'requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door.' Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Jennifer Gutiérrez and a long list of co-sponsors. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law orders all taxis and for-hire vehicles to post warning decals on rear passenger doors, alerting riders to check for cyclists before opening. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure targets dooring, a common threat to cyclists. The bill takes effect 120 days after becoming law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

A motorscooter, racing down Edgecombe, flipped and tore through a boy’s skull. Blood pooled. The rider half-flung, a baby silent in the wreck. Speed wrote pain in flesh and concrete. The avenue held its breath.

A motorscooter traveling at unsafe speed overturned on Edgecombe Avenue near West 165th Street, according to the police report. The crash left a 9-year-old boy, a pedestrian, with severe head lacerations and in shock. The report states, 'A motorscooter, moving too fast, flipped. A 9-year-old boy struck, head bleeding. Rider half-thrown, bleeding. A baby inside the wreck, silent.' The only contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' The data shows the motorscooter was going straight ahead before losing control and overturning, with the center front end damaged. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s unsafe speed, which led directly to the collision and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809048, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

On Broadway, an SUV plowed into a young woman on an e-bike. She lay bleeding from the head, incoherent, helmetless. The SUV’s front left crumpled. The driver and passenger inside the SUV were unhurt. Metal and flesh collided, leaving one body broken.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old driver operating a station wagon/SUV struck a 20-year-old woman riding an e-bike on Broadway near West 181st Street in Manhattan at 8:38 p.m. The report states the SUV's front left quarter panel was damaged, while the e-bike was overturned. The bicyclist suffered severe head bleeding and was described as incoherent at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The SUV driver and a 79-year-old passenger were both uninjured, belted inside the vehicle. The report notes the e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after citing driver errors. The impact of driver inattention and close following left the vulnerable road user gravely hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806217, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post updates on every street safety project. Each month, the public will see which projects are planned, which are stalled, and which are done. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. Sunlight on every mile.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now on the Mayor's desk, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced November 13, 2024, and passed committee and full Council votes on April 10, 2025. The law, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan,' demands the Department of Transportation post annual and monthly updates on all benchmark projects—protected bike lanes, bus lanes, signals, and upgrades. Council Member Julie Won led as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law requires public reporting on project status, funding, delays, and overruns. This measure brings hard oversight and transparency to the city’s street safety promises.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

A stolen SUV crashed and burned at Dyckman Street. Two NYPD officers chased, then left. The driver died in flames. The cops returned to the Bronx, silent. Cameras caught their exit. The city investigates. Policy on police pursuits faces new scrutiny.

According to NY Daily News (April 3, 2025), two NYPD officers from the 50th Precinct pursued a stolen Honda CR-V into Manhattan. The driver crashed at Dyckman Street and Henry Hudson Parkway. The car burst into flames. The officers left the scene and did not report the crash, later returning to their precinct and finishing their shift. Surveillance footage captured their patrol car leaving. Both officers have been suspended. The article notes, 'Both officers have been suspended as the NYPD's Force Investigation Division investigates their actions.' The crash comes after NYPD restricted police pursuits, limiting them to cases involving felonies or violent misdemeanors. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department now relies on 'advanced tools of modern-day policing' instead of risky chases. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the dangers of police pursuits and the need for strict adherence to new policies.

• Officers Flee Scene After Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-03

A BMW SUV struck a 64-year-old man crossing Broadway. The left bumper ripped his face open. He lay bleeding on the pavement, conscious, far from any crosswalk. The streetlights blinked. The city moved on. The wound marked the night.

A 64-year-old man was struck and severely injured by a BMW SUV near 5203 Broadway in the Bronx, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 21:58, with the SUV’s left front bumper tearing into the pedestrian’s face. The report states the man was crossing against the signal and was not at an intersection when the collision happened. The narrative describes him lying conscious and bleeding on the pavement, far from any crosswalk, as the streetlights blinked overhead. According to the police report, the vehicle was traveling straight ahead when the impact occurred. The contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian are listed as 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the devastating impact and the systemic danger present on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802535, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel screamed on Henry Hudson Parkway. Two sedans, too fast, turned right and collided. Two young men slumped inside, heads bleeding, semiconscious. The echo of unsafe speed lingered in the wreckage, leaving blood and silence behind.

Two sedans collided on Henry Hudson Parkway in the early morning hours, leaving two 22-year-old men injured and semiconscious, both suffering severe head wounds. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'making right turn' when they crashed. The report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the scene: 'Steel kissed steel. The Honda's side split. The BMW's nose crushed. Two young men, both 22, slumped inside, heads bleeding. Semiconscious. Silent. The speed still echoed in the wreckage.' The data shows both drivers were licensed and neither occupant was ejected. The focus remains on driver actions—unsafe speed and improper turning—as the root causes of this violent crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798349, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

On Broadway near West 190th, a parked sedan’s door swung wide. A cyclist, heading south, struck it head-on. His arm split open, blood running to the gutter. Police cite driver distraction. Metal, motion, pain—no warning, no helmet, just impact.

A cyclist suffered a severe arm injury when he collided head-on with a parked sedan’s door on Broadway near West 190th, according to the police report. The crash occurred as the sedan’s right side door was opened directly into the cyclist’s path. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist, a 25-year-old man, was conscious but bleeding heavily from his arm. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The sedan was stationary, and its right rear quarter panel was damaged. The incident underscores the danger posed when drivers or passengers open doors without checking for oncoming cyclists, as detailed in the police narrative: 'No warning. Just metal, motion, and the sound of pain on pavement.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793934, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council members push residential parking permits north of 60th Street. Experts warn permits won’t ease parking or cut out-of-town cars. Studies show permits fuel demand, not safety. The plan risks blocking street improvements. Vulnerable road users get nothing but more danger.

This proposal, led by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, seeks a residential parking permit pilot north of 60th Street in Manhattan. The bill is under discussion as congestion pricing nears. The matter claims permits will keep out-of-city cars from dodging fees. DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione testified that resident-owned cars, not outsiders, drive parking scarcity. Experts like Jon Orcutt and Charles Komanoff warn that permits act as 'hunting licenses,' fueling demand and frustration. Studies from other cities show no relief for residents and no safety gains. The article concludes that residential parking permits will not solve parking woes and could stall vital street improvements, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• Analysis: Residential Parking Permits Would Be Bad for City Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-18

City Council passed a law forcing DOT to repaint pavement markings within five days after resurfacing. Streets stripped bare by fresh asphalt must get lines back fast. Delays require public notice. The law aims to keep crosswalks and lanes visible, protecting walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced January 8, 2025, passed March 15, and became Local Law 28 of 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law orders DOT to install pavement or temporary markings within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must post notices explaining the delay and set a new timeline. DOT must also report yearly on compliance. The law responds to a simple fact: missing markings mean danger for people on foot and bike. With this law, the city moves to close that deadly gap.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council Member Carmen De La Rosa’s bill, Intro 1050, would gut injury insurance for taxi and app drivers. Victims of traffic violence would face crushing medical bills. Survivors, like Lauren Pine, say $50,000 coverage vanishes in days. Council hears pleas to reject the cut.

Intro 1050, introduced by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa (D-Inwood), is under City Council review. The bill would cut the required minimum personal injury protection insurance for yellow cabs, liveries, and app-based drivers from $200,000 to $50,000. At a recent hearing, Lauren Pine, a nurse and crash survivor, testified: 'The minimum $50,000 no fault insurance was exhausted within the first week or so of my hospitalization.' Pine urged the Council to oppose the bill, warning that victims of traffic violence would be left financially devastated. Transportation Alternatives’ Ben Furnas also opposed the bill, stating, 'This legislation will ultimately make it more expensive and difficult to access care, treatment, and support after a traffic crash.' The bill is generating support among some council members, but advocates and survivors demand the Council maintain current coverage to protect crash victims.

• Opinion: Weakening Injury Insurance Coverage for Cabbies Will Harm Victims of Road Violence, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-12

A 77-year-old woman walking along Harlem River Drive was crushed by a southbound SUV. The driver left her unconscious on the asphalt and did not stop. The city’s traffic violence spares no one, not even the oldest among us.

A 77-year-old woman was struck and severely injured by a southbound SUV on Harlem River Drive, according to the police report. The narrative states the woman was 'walking with traffic' when the vehicle's left front bumper 'crushed her body.' She was left unconscious on the roadway with injuries to her entire body. The driver did not remain at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further explanation for the driver’s actions. The vehicle involved was a 2024 SUV, registered in New York, traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report makes no mention of any victim behavior contributing to the collision. This incident highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians from drivers who fail to remain at the scene after a crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792174, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan tore down W 204th Street, the driver distracted. Metal shrieked as it struck a parked truck. The driver’s head hit hard. Blood pooled. He was conscious, but crushed and silent. Distraction behind the wheel left only pain and wreckage.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old man drove his sedan southbound on W 204th Street near 9th Avenue and crashed straight into a parked truck. The report states the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered head injuries and crush injuries, though he remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The parked truck was unoccupied at the time. The impact crumpled metal and left the sedan’s front end destroyed. No other injuries were reported. The report makes clear that distraction behind the wheel was the direct cause of this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782808, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or hurt the most. The city must report back. The law dies when the pilot ends. Streets remember every scar.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings. The official title: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program and the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The bill demands at least five marked sites per borough, targeting places with the most injuries and deaths from bad driving. After the pilot, the city must report on results and recommend next steps. The law sunsets when the pilot ends. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

City Council passed a law forcing DOT to check with FDNY before approving open streets, bike lanes, or big street changes. Firehouses get notified. Council members and boards get updates. The law aims for more eyes, more voices, but adds hurdles for street redesigns.

Bill Int 0104-2024, now Local Law 6 of 2025, was enacted by the City Council on January 18, 2025, after passing both the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council in December 2024. The law requires the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department before approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, or major transportation projects. The official matter title states the law amends the city code to require DOT to consult with FDNY and notify affected firehouses before moving forward. Primary sponsor Kalman Yeger, with co-sponsors including Joann Ariola, Robert Holden, Lynn Schulman, and others, pushed the bill through. The law expands notification and comment rights for firehouses and community boards, adding new steps before any street or lane changes. No safety analyst assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users. The law’s effect: more agencies weigh in, but the process for safer streets grows longer and more complex.

• File Int 0104-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

A man on a bike, helmeted, struck hard by a distracted driver on Broadway. He lay unconscious, blood on his face, as the car’s front quarter crumpled. The cold street carried the violence forward. The city did not yield.

A 38-year-old man riding a bike southbound on Broadway at West 220th Street was struck by a vehicle, according to the police report. The cyclist, who wore a helmet, was left unconscious with severe facial lacerations. The report states the crash occurred when a driver, traveling straight ahead, collided with the cyclist, crumpling the car’s right front quarter panel. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative describes the aftermath: the cyclist lying in the cold, bloodied and unmoving, while the street remained unchanged. No contributing factors are attributed to the cyclist’s behavior. The crash highlights the ongoing systemic danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792369, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council bill Int 1138-2024 would ban parking and standing within 20 feet of crosswalks. It forces the city to install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections each year. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors include Bottcher, Won, and the Public Advocate.

Int 1138-2024, introduced December 5, 2024, is under review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is 'Laid Over in Committee.' Its title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.' Council Member Erik D. Bottcher is the primary sponsor, joined by Julie Won, Jumaane Williams, and others. The bill prohibits standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and mandates the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year. The law also requires citywide outreach and reporting. This measure aims to keep sightlines clear at crossings, a known danger zone for people on foot and bike. The bill has not yet received a vote.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05