No More Half Measures: Blood Stains Riverdale’s Streets

A moped struck a turning sedan on Jerome Avenue. The rider, 55, flew from his seat. Blood pooled. His body broke. Sirens cut through the Bronx haze. The moped lay wrecked. Shock and pain held the street in their grip.

A violent crash unfolded on Jerome Avenue near East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx. According to the police report, a moped traveling north slammed into a sedan making a U-turn. The moped rider, a 55-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe injuries to his entire body, with heavy bleeding and shock. The sedan, driven by a 34-year-old woman, was struck on its left rear quarter panel. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were specified for the sedan’s occupants. The moped was demolished in the impact. The crash left the rider broken and bleeding as emergency crews arrived.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585250, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

A sedan turned left on Broadway. A bike rode straight. The car hit the cyclist head-on. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the Bronx asphalt. He stayed conscious, torn and bleeding, as traffic rolled past.

A sedan struck a 19-year-old cyclist head-on as it turned left on Broadway near West 254th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his leg and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not ejected from his bike. The data does not specify if safety equipment was used. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield and drive aggressively, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4562650, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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 westbound Honda sedan struck a 23-year-old woman crossing East Mosholu Parkway North. Her leg was crushed. The driver kept going straight. The car showed no damage. Failure to yield right-of-way led to blood on the asphalt.

A 23-year-old woman was crossing East Mosholu Parkway North when a westbound Honda sedan hit her, crushing her leg. According to the police report, 'A 23-year-old woman crossing the road was struck by a westbound Honda sedan. Her leg was crushed. The driver, a man alone in the car, kept going straight. The car bore no damage.' The data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 56-year-old man, was licensed and alone in the vehicle. The pedestrian was at the intersection, crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The crash left her with severe lower leg injuries. No other errors or factors are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4551794, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mazda SUV turned left at West 235th and Oxford. The driver failed to yield. Sun glare filled the windshield. The bumper struck a 99-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She died on the street. Blood marked the spot. Metal met flesh. Silence followed.

A 99-year-old woman was killed while crossing West 235th Street at Oxford Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a Mazda SUV made a left turn and struck her with its front bumper. The report states, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Glare' as contributing factors. The driver, a 53-year-old man, was licensed and driving north. The impact caused fatal head injuries and severe bleeding. The police report makes clear the driver did not yield. The woman was crossing with no signal in a marked crosswalk. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550058, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs hit a 65-year-old woman crossing West Gun Hill Road. She took the blow to the head. Blood pooled. She lay unconscious. One driver distracted. Metal bent. The street stayed quiet. The system failed her.

A 65-year-old woman was struck by two SUVs while crossing West Gun Hill Road. She suffered a severe head injury and was found unconscious and bleeding. According to the police report, one driver was distracted at the time of the crash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The impact crumpled both vehicles at the front. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and crossed without a signal, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a cause. The crash left the woman gravely hurt, while a 33-year-old male driver also reported head pain. The quiet street bore witness to another preventable tragedy.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549757, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to raise fines for illegal ATV and dirt bike use. First offenses jump to $750. Repeat violations hit $1,500. Lawmakers say the crackdown targets reckless riders. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Int 0591-2022, introduced July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety, aimed to increase fines for unlawful use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing the fines for the unlawful use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa led as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca, Louis, Brewer, Joseph, Yeger, Dinowitz, and Sanchez. The measure would have raised first-offense fines to $750 and subsequent offenses to $1,500. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst assessment was provided. The city’s most vulnerable—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—remain at risk from illegal vehicle use.

• File Int 0591-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

A moped struck an SUV turning left on Jerome Avenue. The 16-year-old rider flew from his seat, hit the ground, and suffered a deep leg wound. Blood pooled on the street. Unsafe speed and driver distraction marked the crash.

A violent crash unfolded at Jerome Avenue and East 204th Street in the Bronx. A 16-year-old moped rider, traveling south, collided with a westbound SUV making a left turn. According to the police report, 'A moped slammed into an SUV turning left. The 16-year-old rider flew from the seat, no helmet, no belt. He hit the ground hard. His leg split open. Blood ran toward the curb.' The teen was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his leg. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV driver, age 46, was not reported injured. The report notes the moped rider wore no helmet, but only after citing driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545351, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Hyundai slammed its right front near 5520 Broadway. The driver looked away. Doors crumpled. In the back, a 77-year-old woman struck hard, her head bleeding. She stayed conscious. The crash left pain and blood in its wake.

A sedan traveling north near 5520 Broadway in the Bronx crashed when the driver became distracted. According to the police report, 'The driver had looked away.' The right front of the Hyundai struck hard, crushing the doors. A 77-year-old woman, riding unbelted in the right rear seat, suffered head injuries and was left bleeding but conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Other occupants, including a 10-year-old boy and two 39-year-old women, were present but not reported as seriously injured. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The crash shows the danger when drivers lose focus, with passengers bearing the cost.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547438, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed Albany’s speed camera expansion. Cameras now run all day, every day. Seven members opposed. Supporters cited lives lost when cameras slept. Opponents called it a tax. The vote followed a deadly year. Danger stalks city streets, especially near schools.

On May 26, 2022, the New York City Council voted 43-7 to approve Albany’s extension and expansion of the city’s speed camera program. The measure, handled by the Transportation Committee, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7. The matter summary: 'The City Council approved Albany's extension and expansion of New York's speed camera program, allowing cameras to operate 24/7, but not before several council members voiced opposition.' Chairwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers urged action, saying, 'We must use all the tools at our disposal.' Council Members Joan Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and David Carr opposed, calling cameras a financial burden. Eric Dinowitz defended the program: 'If you don't want a speeding ticket, don't speed.' The vote came after a year of high road deaths, with special risk near schools.

• Amid Epic Crisis of Road Deaths, Some Members of the City Council Still Oppose Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-26

Council bill Int 0401-2022 would force the city to install speed humps on streets bordering parks over one acre. The measure targets reckless driving near green spaces. The transportation committee filed the bill at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0401-2022 was introduced in the City Council on May 19, 2022, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by sixteen co-sponsors. The bill would have required the Department of Transportation to install speed humps on all roadways next to parks at least one acre in size, unless the DOT commissioner found installation unsafe or inconsistent with guidelines. The bill was filed without passage at the end of the session. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0401-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

A flatbed swung wide on White Plains Road. Steel met flesh. A 49-year-old man fell, torn and unconscious. Parked cars scraped and silent. The Bronx street held the wreckage and the hush.

A flatbed truck making a U-turn on White Plains Road struck a 49-year-old pedestrian, leaving him with severe lacerations and unconscious on the pavement. According to the police report, 'A flatbed swung wide in a U-turn. It struck a 49-year-old man, tearing his body.' The crash also damaged parked vehicles. The police report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No evidence in the report suggests any error or fault by the pedestrian. The impact and aftermath left the street marked by violence and silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4521554, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel crushed in on West 242nd. Three sedans, nose to tail. A young woman, alone, head bleeding, pinned behind the wheel. Sirens cut the Bronx air. Metal and glass. No way out. The street held her fast.

Three sedans collided on West 242nd Street near Broadway in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 24-year-old woman, driving alone, was trapped and suffered head injuries and crush wounds. She was conscious but bleeding. The crash involved two other drivers, both men, ages 20 and 27. No contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the report. The police noted the woman was not using any safety equipment. All vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred. The report lists no other injuries. The impact left the woman pinned, with steel pressing in, and nowhere to go.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4522429, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan sedan hit hard on Henry Hudson Parkway. The right front smashed into the front passenger. An 18-year-old woman took the blow to her hip and leg. She stayed conscious. She screamed. The crash left pain and fear in the dark.

An 18-year-old woman riding in the front seat of a Nissan sedan suffered hip and leg injuries when the car struck with its right front on Henry Hudson Parkway at 3:43 a.m. According to the police report, the impact left her conscious and screaming in pain. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. The driver and another rear passenger, both 18, were also in the car but did not report serious injuries. The vehicle was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. All occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. The police report highlights the obstructed view as a key factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4523346, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Bronx Community Board 8 shot down a DOT plan to slim Riverdale Avenue. The 3-2 vote blocks traffic calming, bike lanes, and safer crossings. Elected officials pushed left-turn signals instead. The street remains wide, fast, and dangerous for walkers and cyclists.

On April 1, 2022, Bronx Community Board 8's Traffic and Transportation Committee voted 3-2 against the Department of Transportation's proposed road diet for Riverdale Avenue. The plan, described as a '.75-mile-long road diet,' aimed to reduce lanes, add traffic calming, and install bike lanes. Council Member Eric Dinowitz and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz opposed the DOT's turning bays, pushing instead for left-turn signals at two intersections. The committee echoed their stance, citing concerns about traffic and parking. The matter title: 'Riverdale Rumble: Bronx Panel Rejects DOT Road Diet Plan for Super-Wide Avenue.' DOT officials stressed the area's high rate of crashes, especially harming seniors and children, but the board's advisory vote leaves the avenue wide and perilous for vulnerable road users.

• Riverdale Rumble: Bronx Panel Rejects DOT Road Diet Plan for Super-Wide Avenue, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-01

Council Member Eric Dinowitz blasted DOT’s Riverdale Avenue road diet plan. He called the agency’s process secretive and unacceptable. Dinowitz demanded real engagement. The proposal aims to curb crashes. Another local, Christian Amato, backed the plan, citing past safety gains.

On March 25, 2022, Council Member Eric Dinowitz publicly criticized the Department of Transportation’s proposal for a 'road diet' on Riverdale Avenue. The plan, discussed before Community Board 8 or Dinowitz himself, drew fire for what Dinowitz called 'unacceptable' and lacking transparency. The matter, titled 'Riverdale Avenue Rumble: Bronx Pol Dinowitz Objects to DOT’s Move on ‘Road Diet’,' centers on a traffic-calming redesign to address frequent crashes. Dinowitz stated, 'I'm not against the plan, because I don't know what it is,' but demanded better outreach. Christian Amato, another local politician, voiced strong support, referencing positive results from Morris Park Avenue. The DOT confirmed the proposal includes a bike lane and seeks community feedback. No formal council vote has occurred. The bill’s safety impact was not assessed.

• Riverdale Avenue Rumble: Bronx Pol Dinowitz Objects to DOT’s Move on ‘Road Diet’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-25

Councilmember Eric Dinowitz slammed DOT’s Riverdale Avenue road diet plan. He called out the agency for secrecy, not substance. The Bronx stretch is deadly. Dinowitz wants more transparency, not fewer lanes. The fight leaves vulnerable road users in limbo.

On March 25, 2022, Councilmember Eric Dinowitz of District 11 made a public statement opposing the Department of Transportation’s proposed ‘road diet’ for Riverdale Avenue. The plan, aimed at a crash-prone Bronx corridor, was criticized by Dinowitz for a lack of transparency: 'A city agency should not be run this way.' He insisted he is not against the plan itself, but objects to DOT’s process, which bypassed him and Community Board 8. Dinowitz’s stance echoes his past opposition to bus lanes that reduce parking, though he supports bike lanes that do not remove vehicle lanes. The proposal, which includes a bike lane, remains under review. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided for this action.

• Riverdale Avenue Rumble: Bronx Pol Dinowitz Objects to DOT’s Move on ‘Road Diet’, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-03-25

A 68-year-old man crossed Riverdale Avenue with the signal. A car sped south and hit him head-on. Blood pooled. His head split. He lay still as traffic moved past. The street stayed cold. He did not rise.

A 68-year-old pedestrian was struck head-on by a southbound car while crossing Riverdale Avenue near 3515 with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was traveling at an unsafe speed and failed to avoid the man in the crosswalk. The report also lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. The impact caused severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The man was left lying motionless as traffic continued. No information about the vehicle or driver was provided in the report. The victim was crossing legally at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4505525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15