Two riders dead on the Bronx River Parkway. The pattern didn’t start there.

Jan 3 - As congestion pricing begins, unions and politicians rage. They claim tolls hurt workers and raise costs. Facts show most commuters use transit. Fewer cars mean faster emergency response. The toll funds transit upgrades. The drama masks real safety gains for all.

On January 3, 2025, public debate erupted as New York City prepared to activate congestion pricing in Manhattan. The measure, set to fund $15 billion in subway and rail improvements, drew fierce opposition from unions and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who called it a 'cash grab' that would 'increase all costs in our daily lives.' The union for FDNY EMTs argued the toll would burden low-wage workers, but data shows 90% of commuters already use public transit. City officials, including mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia, insisted emergency response would not suffer. The measure's summary notes that reducing car traffic will speed up emergency vehicles and protect passengers. The uproar highlights the tension between entrenched driving privileges and the urgent need to make streets safer for vulnerable road users.

• Congestion Pricing Is Happening: Cue the Irrational Drama from the Placard Elite and the Suburbs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-03

Dec 24 - Before dawn on Bronxdale Avenue, two cars collided head-on. Five young adults, semiconscious, crushed in metal. Parked cars struck, glass and blood on the street. Speed and alcohol tore silence, leaving bodies broken where the morning began.

On Bronxdale Avenue near Cruger Avenue in the Bronx, two vehicles collided head-on, according to the police report. The crash occurred before dawn and left five young adults semiconscious and pinned inside the wreckage, suffering head, chest, and neck injuries. The police report states, 'Five young adults, semiconscious, pinned in twisted steel. Head, chest, neck—broken. Parked cars struck.' The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor, and also notes the presence of alcohol at the scene. Multiple parked vehicles were hit in the aftermath. The data shows all injured persons were vehicle occupants, with no evidence of pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The violence of the impact and the resulting injuries underscore the danger when speed and impairment intersect on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781384 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 21 - Ten vehicles slid uncontrollably north on Hutchinson River Parkway, metal screaming in collision. A 45-year-old woman riding front right died at the scene, her body broken. Slippery pavement caused the crash, listed repeatedly as the sole factor.

According to the police report, a chain-reaction crash occurred early morning on Hutchinson River Parkway when ten cars slid northbound on black ice. The report states, "Ten cars slid north on black ice. Metal screamed." The sole contributing factor cited for every vehicle involved is "Pavement Slippery." All vehicles were traveling straight ahead before losing control. A 45-year-old woman, a front right passenger, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The report notes her death repeatedly, once for each vehicle involved. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were listed, only the hazardous road condition. Another occupant, a 14-year-old rear passenger, was injured with back injuries and whiplash, also linked to slippery pavement. The victim’s safety equipment use is unknown. This crash highlights the systemic danger of multiple vehicles losing traction simultaneously on icy roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - A car struck a 13-year-old girl as she crossed Allerton Avenue with the signal. Her neck crushed, she lay semiconscious on the cold pavement. No driver stopped. Sirens broke the silence. The street swallowed her pain.

A 13-year-old girl was struck while crossing Allerton Avenue near Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:00 a.m. The report states the girl was 'crossing with the signal' at the intersection when a vehicle hit her, crushing her neck and leaving her semiconscious on the pavement. The police report notes, 'No car stopped.' The girl suffered serious injuries, including crush injuries to her neck. The report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but it documents that the pedestrian was lawfully crossing with the signal. The driver’s failure to stop after the collision is a central fact. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 1 - A 26-year-old e-bike rider slammed into a turning SUV on Bronxdale Ave. His head split open. Blood streaked the frame. The SUV turned left. The e-bike went straight. The street fell silent.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old man riding an e-bike was severely injured when he collided with the front quarter panel of a Honda SUV making a left turn on Bronxdale Ave near White Plains Rd. The report states the SUV was 'Making Left Turn' while the e-bike was 'Going Straight Ahead.' The e-bike rider suffered severe head lacerations and was not wearing a helmet. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the SUV turning left and the e-bike proceeding straight, resulting in a violent impact that left the rider's head split open and blood on the frame. The data highlights the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers turn across their path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769860 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 4 - A sedan plowed into a slowing Mack truck on Bruckner Expressway. Metal shrieked. The driver’s chest crushed, his arm torn. He stayed conscious as silence followed. Police cite inattention and tailgating. The road swallowed another body.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on Bruckner Expressway when a sedan, traveling north, crashed into the back of a slowing Mack tractor truck. According to the police report, the sedan driver suffered severe injuries, including chest trauma and an arm amputation, but remained conscious at the scene. The report states the sedan 'slammed into the back of a slowing Mack truck,' with the impact crushing the driver’s chest and folding the bumper 'like paper.' Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The truck was slowing or stopping when struck. The report makes no mention of any actions by the truck driver contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the sedan driver’s failure to pay attention and maintain a safe distance, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760999 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 22 - A man sprawled on East Tremont Avenue, head gashed, blood pooling in the Bronx night. No car lingered. Sirens cut the silence. The street bore witness to violence, leaving a lone pedestrian broken beneath the city’s indifferent lights.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old man was found bleeding with severe head lacerations on East Tremont Avenue near 3675 in the Bronx. The narrative describes the pedestrian lying in the roadway, his head torn open, with no vehicle present at the scene. The report states the incident occurred away from an intersection and outside a crosswalk. No vehicle type, driver information, or contributing factors were listed in the police data. The silence of the street, the absence of a car, and the presence of severe injury underscore the vulnerability of pedestrians and the persistent dangers that haunt city roads. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions or behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758507 - 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

Sep 2 - A 66-year-old man crossed Hutchinson River Parkway at night. Four cars hit him in sequence. He died there, body broken under headlights and steel. The road offered no signal, no pause, only relentless speed and impact.

A 66-year-old pedestrian was killed on Hutchinson River Parkway after being struck by four vehicles in succession, according to the police report. The incident occurred at night, with the man crossing the dark roadway outside a crosswalk. The report states, 'Four cars struck him. One after another. Crush injuries. Whole body. No signal. No time. He died there, under headlights, beneath steel and speed.' All vehicles involved were traveling straight ahead, with points of impact listed as undercarriage, right front bumper, center front end, and left front quarter panel. Police data lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the crash and the pedestrian, offering no further detail on driver actions. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The sequence of impacts and the lack of a crossing signal highlight the systemic danger faced by pedestrians on high-speed parkways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 2 - A 2018 Honda SUV tore down Wallace Avenue and crashed, front-first, in the Bronx. The lone driver, forty, was found unconscious, bleeding, his body broken. No passengers. No movement. Only the hum of streetlights and the wreck’s quiet ruin.

A violent single-vehicle crash unfolded on Wallace Avenue near Waring Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 2018 Honda SUV, traveling south, 'slammed front-first at speed.' The only occupant, a 40-year-old male driver, was discovered unconscious and suffering severe bleeding and injuries across his entire body. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The vehicle’s center front end bore the brunt of the impact. No other vehicles or passengers were involved. The report does not list any victim behaviors or additional contributing factors beyond the driver’s excessive speed. The scene was left to the hum of streetlights and the aftermath of unchecked velocity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

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 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

May 23 - Abandoned poles and wires block sidewalks, trap walkers, and threaten cyclists. This bill sets strict deadlines for removal and transfer. Delay ends. Streets clear. Danger cut.

Int 0921-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 23, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Justin L. Brannan with Holden, Vernikov, Marmorato, and Paladino, demands owners remove abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances within 60 days—or immediately if dangerous. Transfers to new poles must happen in 30 days. The matter title reads: 'timelines for the removal of abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances, and the transfer of appurtenances to newly erected poles.' Swift action means fewer sidewalk traps and less risk for those on foot or bike.

• File Int 0921-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-23

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 4 - A Florida pickup turned right on Buhre Avenue. A 47-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck. Her neck crushed, pain etched in the street. She stayed conscious. The truck bore no scars. The city marked another wound.

A 2018 Nissan pickup truck with Florida plates turned right on Buhre Avenue near Bruckner Boulevard, striking a 47-year-old woman who was crossing at the intersection. According to the police report, the woman was 'crossing with the signal' when the collision occurred. She suffered crush injuries to her neck but remained conscious at the scene. The police report notes that the pickup truck showed 'no damage' after the impact. The driver was making a right turn at the time of the crash. The only contributing factors listed in the report are 'Unspecified.' The narrative underscores the violence of the impact: 'Her neck crushed. She stayed conscious. The truck showed no damage. The street held her pain.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, emphasizing the systemic danger present at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 29 - Two SUVs collided southbound on Bruckner Expressway at 2:15 a.m. One flipped, crushing steel and bursting airbags. A 20-year-old driver escaped conscious but with a torn arm. Police cite pedestrian confusion as the crash’s key factor.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling southbound on Bruckner Expressway collided at 2:15 a.m. One vehicle overturned and was described as 'demolished.' The 20-year-old male driver crawled out conscious but with severe lacerations to his arm. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are mentioned. The narrative states, 'Pedestrian confusion sparked it,' without further detail on pedestrian actions. Both vehicles were going straight ahead before impact. The focus remains on the violent consequences of the crash and the systemic dangers, with no victim behavior cited beyond the pedestrian confusion noted by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724250 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 17 - Metal twisted on Bronxdale Avenue. A sedan’s front end gone, two young men trapped inside, bruised but conscious. Distraction behind the wheel tore flesh and steel. The silence after impact held only pain and the echo of inattention.

Two young men, both 26, were injured when a sedan crashed near 1753 Bronxdale Avenue in the Bronx, according to the police report. The report states the vehicle’s front end was destroyed, with both occupants—driver and front passenger—suffering crush injuries to their entire bodies. Both men were conscious but bruised beneath their seat belts. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The narrative describes a head-on collision, metal folding inward, and the aftermath marked by silence and pain. No other contributing factors are listed for the victims. The focus remains on the driver’s distraction, as documented by police, which led directly to the violent impact and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718502 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19