Blood on the Bronx Asphalt: Who Will Stop the Next Crash?

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

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 2025-08-04

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

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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

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

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

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

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

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

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 2025-08-04

A Jeep swung right on Middletown Road. Its bumper smashed a young man’s face. Blood spilled. The man stood, conscious, pain etched in every breath. Four inside the car rolled on, untouched. The sedan bore no scar. The street bore the wound.

A 26-year-old pedestrian suffered severe facial bleeding when a Jeep sedan making a right turn struck him with its left front bumper on Middletown Road, according to the police report. The report states the man remained upright and conscious after the impact, though blood poured from his face. Four occupants inside the Jeep felt nothing, and the vehicle itself showed no damage. The police report lists the driver’s pre-crash action as 'Making Right Turn' and notes the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative underscores the violence of the collision and the physical toll on the pedestrian, while the driver’s actions—turning right—set the stage for the impact. No evidence in the report suggests any pedestrian behavior contributed to the crash. The pain remained on the street, unshared by those inside the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A 2023 Honda crashed into a stopped sedan on Sackett Avenue near Eastchester Road. The driver of the struck car suffered crushing spinal injuries. Police cite distraction and tailgating. Metal, speed, and inattention closed the gap with brutal force.

According to the police report, a 2023 Honda sedan traveling south on Sackett Avenue near Eastchester Road crashed into the rear of a stopped 2014 Honda sedan at 6:42 a.m. The driver of the stationary vehicle, a 29-year-old woman, was left semiconscious with severe crush injuries to her back, described as 'crushed at the spine, semiconscious, held only by a lap belt.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The narrative states, 'Distraction and speed closed the gap too late.' The driver of the moving vehicle failed to maintain attention and adequate distance, leading to a violent rear-end collision. No contributing factors are attributed to the injured driver. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by driver distraction and tailgating on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A 22-year-old on a Suzuki slammed into a pickup’s rear on East Tremont. A tire failed. He flew off, legs torn, bleeding out on Bronx asphalt. No gear, only pain. The road gave no mercy, just blood and steel.

A violent collision unfolded on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx when a 22-year-old motorcyclist struck the rear of a Ford pickup truck, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 2:00 PM, with both vehicles traveling southeast. The police report cites 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The motorcyclist, operating a 2004 Suzuki, was partially ejected from his bike and suffered severe lacerations to his legs. The narrative states, 'A tire gave out. He flew partway off. Legs torn. Awake. Bleeding.' The report further notes the rider wore no protective gear. Driver actions—specifically following too closely—are listed as primary causes. The pickup truck sustained damage to its left rear bumper, while the motorcycle’s front end was crushed. The crash left the young rider conscious but gravely injured, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver error and mechanical failure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700216 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04