No More Excuses: Demand Safety on Bronx Streets Now

Council bill cracks down on property owners who ignore broken sidewalks. Fines reach $250 for failing to fix hazards. The measure aims at those who leave cracks and gaps where people walk. The city wants action before someone gets hurt.

Int 1320-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on June 11, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Council Members Oswald Feliz (District 15, primary) and Carlina Rivera (District 2, co-sponsor), would impose a civil penalty of up to $250 on property owners who fail to repair sidewalk defects as directed by the Department of Transportation. The bill summary states: 'This bill would subject owners of real property to a maximum civil penalty of $250 if they fail to complete sidewalk repairs as directed by the Department of Transportation.' Owners also face fines if they ignore sidewalk defects that pose immediate danger. The measure was referred to committee and awaits further action. The bill puts responsibility on owners to keep walking space safe for all.

• File Int 1320-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-11

A man lay on Bronx asphalt, battered by rage, then struck by an ambulance. Metal met flesh twice. Sirens and violence. The street offered no shelter. He left in critical condition. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

CBS New York reported on April 29, 2025, that a man in the Bronx was critically injured after a road rage assault left him lying in the street, where he was then struck by a passing ambulance. The article states: “Authorities say a man injured in a road rage assault in the Bronx was also hit by a passing ambulance while lying on the street.” The sequence highlights multiple failures: violent driver behavior escalated to physical harm, then emergency response vehicles encountered a vulnerable person in the roadway. The incident underscores gaps in street safety and emergency protocols, exposing risks faced by those left exposed on city pavement.

• Bronx Man Struck After Road Rage, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-29

Council bill orders NYPD to verify temporary plates and VINs on ticketed cars. Cops must publish quarterly parking enforcement reports. Sponsors push for sunlight on enforcement. Committee shelves the bill for now. Streets wait. Danger lingers.

Int 1252-2025, introduced April 24, 2025, sits with the Committee on Public Safety. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to police department parking enforcement," demands the NYPD confirm license plates and VINs on vehicles with temporary tags or those ticketed for violations. The NYPD must also release quarterly reports on parking enforcement. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Oswald Feliz, Lincoln Restler, Robert F. Holden, and Chris Banks sponsor the measure. On April 28, 2025, the committee laid the bill over. The bill aims to expose enforcement gaps and bring accountability, but for now, the city’s most vulnerable—pedestrians and cyclists—see no immediate relief. The system stalls. The risk remains.

• File Int 1252-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

A Tesla turned left on Crotona Ave. An e-scooter slammed its side. The rider’s head struck hard. Blood spilled. He stayed conscious. No helmet. A baby sat inside the car. The night pressed in, silent and cold.

At Crotona Avenue and Claremont Parkway in the Bronx, a Tesla sedan made a left turn as an e-scooter approached, according to the police report. The e-scooter, traveling straight, struck the right side doors of the turning Tesla. The report states the 28-year-old e-scooter rider hit head-first and suffered severe bleeding, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative notes, 'Blood ran. He stayed conscious. No helmet.' A baby was present in the car. The police report lists the Tesla's pre-crash action as 'Making Left Turn' and the e-scooter as 'Going Straight Ahead.' No specific driver errors are cited, but the sequence of events centers on the left turn across the scooter’s path. The report notes the scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but does not list this as a contributing factor. The crash left the e-scooter rider injured and the night heavy with aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806857, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two cars raced down Southern Boulevard. Bullets flew. A red sedan crashed into a stop sign. One man, shot in the torso, called a cab to the hospital. He died. The other driver fled. Police found chaos and shell casings.

According to NY Daily News (April 2, 2025), two drivers exchanged gunfire while speeding south on Southern Blvd. near the Bronx Zoo. The 27-year-old victim, driving a red Hyundai, was shot and crashed into a stop sign at Southern Blvd. and Garden St. He called a cab to St. Barnabas Hospital but died from his injuries. The other driver, in a black Honda CR-V, fled the scene. A local deli worker described the scene: 'There were a whole lot of rounds. It was crazy.' Police are investigating and have made no arrests. The incident highlights the lethal mix of firearms and reckless driving on city streets, endangering everyone nearby.

• Gunfire Erupts Between Drivers Near Bronx Zoo, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-02

On Webster Avenue, a turning SUV blocked a moped’s path. The moped struck the SUV’s front. The rider’s helmet split. His head took the blow. He stayed conscious, injured and alone. The SUV rolled on, untouched. The street went silent.

A crash occurred on Webster Avenue near Ittner Place in the Bronx, involving a station wagon/SUV and a moped, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was making a left turn when the moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV's right front bumper. The moped rider, a 30-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his head. The police report attributes the collision to 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The moped rider's helmet cracked under the impact, but he remained conscious at the scene. The SUV sustained no damage, while the moped absorbed the force. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793291, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

New York opens its e-bike trade-in. Four hundred delivery workers can swap dangerous, uncertified bikes for safe, legal models. The program targets deadly battery fires. But 400 is a drop in the bucket. Tens of thousands remain at risk. The danger lingers.

On January 28, 2025, the Department of Transportation launched New York City's e-bike and moped trade-in program, born from a 2023 law introduced by Council Member Keith Powers. The program, praised by Council Member Oswald Feliz, allows 400 delivery workers to exchange uncertified, fire-prone bikes for certified, street-legal models. The law followed a spike in lithium-ion battery fires—277 in 2024, killing six. The $2 million program offers bikes and spare batteries, but only scratches the surface for the city’s estimated 80,000 delivery workers. Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project called the effort a step toward safer, cleaner mobility. Applications close February 17. The program’s reach is small, leaving most workers exposed to the same deadly risks.

• Apply Yourself: Tiny Number of Delivery Workers Will Get Safe E-Bikes in City Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-28

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

A motorscooter slammed into an SUV turning left on Boston Road. The 19-year-old rider, helmetless, was hurled to the pavement, head torn open. Aggressive driving and failure to yield left blood on Bronx concrete at midday.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at Boston Road and East 179th Street in the Bronx when a station wagon/SUV made a left turn and was struck by a motorscooter traveling straight. The report states the SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way and cites 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The 19-year-old male motorscooter rider was ejected from his seat, suffering severe head lacerations and was found conscious at the scene. The narrative describes the rider as not wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The SUV sustained damage to its right side doors, while the motorscooter's front end was crushed. The crash unfolded in broad daylight, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver aggression and failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772958, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

DOT will install a two-way busway on East Tremont Avenue next spring. Cars must turn off; only buses and trucks allowed. The move targets slow, crowded buses. Most locals ride transit. The plan keeps parking, speeds up buses, and centers people, not cars.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a new two-way busway for East Tremont Avenue between Third Avenue and Southern Boulevard, to be installed in spring 2025. The proposal was presented to the Municipal Services Committee of Bronx Community Board 5. DOT’s plan, first floated in June 2024, restricts the 0.6-mile stretch to buses and trucks, forcing cars to turn off at the first opportunity. The matter summary notes, 'Bronx bus riders are about to get a short stretch of relief.' Council Member Oswald Feliz represents the district but has not publicly supported or opposed this project. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, however, called for better bus service, stating, 'We need better buses to move across our borough from east to west.' DOT’s outreach found most shoppers and workers use transit or walk, not drive. The agency chose not to remove parking, responding to business concerns. The busway aims to speed up the Bx36, the Bronx’s fifth-busiest bus, and serve a low-income, car-free majority.

• DOT: Tremont Ave. Busway to Be Installed in Spring, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-11

Hundreds of Bronx and Manhattan bus riders demand a Fordham Road busway. Mayor Adams scrapped the plan after business protests. Council Member Oswald Feliz objected. Riders face slow, crowded buses. The city’s repainting of old lanes failed. Riders want action.

On October 21, 2024, hundreds of bus riders from the Bronx and Upper Manhattan signed an open letter to Mayor Eric Adams demanding the Fordham Road busway. The campaign, organized by Riders Alliance, followed the administration’s cancellation of the busway after pushback from local businesses and politicians, including Council Member Oswald Feliz (District 15), who voiced objections. The letter states, 'We need and deserve a contemporary design that addresses current conditions on Fordham Road.' Riders report 'outrageously slow and congested bus service every day.' The city’s Department of Transportation repainted old bus lanes, but speeds declined. The Bx12 Select bus now averages just 9.4 miles per hour. Despite higher speeds than the city average, conditions remain dire. The city has failed to meet legal mandates for new bus lanes, leaving vulnerable road users—bus riders—stranded in gridlock.

• Hundreds of Bronx, Manhattan bus riders sign letter to Mayor Adams demanding Fordham Road busway, amny.com, Published 2024-10-21

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

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

An ambulance turned left on Southern Boulevard and hit a parked SUV. Inside, a baby girl died. The Bronx street fell silent. Metal met metal, and a life ended before it began. No warning. Only aftermath.

According to the police report, an ambulance making a left turn on Southern Boulevard near Bedford Park Boulevard struck a parked SUV. Inside the SUV, a baby girl was killed. The report states, 'An ambulance turned left and struck a parked SUV. Inside, a baby girl died.' The crash occurred in the Bronx at 16:08. No contributing factors were specified by police, but the narrative makes clear the ambulance was in motion, executing a left turn, while the SUV was stationary and parked. The infant, listed as a passenger, suffered fatal injuries. No driver errors or victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors in the report. The silence after the crash underscores the sudden, devastating impact of a moment’s action on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759668, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cyclist blew through the light at East 178th and Boston. The bike struck a 74-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She fell, blood pooling from her head. The bike stood upright. She did not. She stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a cyclist traveling south on Boston Road disregarded traffic control at the corner of East 178th Street and Boston Road. The report states the cyclist 'ran the light.' A 74-year-old woman, identified as a pedestrian, was crossing the intersection with the signal when the collision occurred. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors on the part of the cyclist. The pedestrian’s action—'Crossing With Signal'—is noted in the report, underscoring that she was lawfully in the crosswalk when struck. The bike showed no damage, but the impact left the woman bleeding on the street. The crash highlights the danger when drivers, regardless of vehicle type, ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748342, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Mayor Adams killed the Fordham Road bus lane redesign. Buses crawl at five miles per hour. NYPD ticketing does little. Riders stew in traffic. Council Member Sanchez backed the upgrade. Council Member Feliz opposed. Both stay silent. The street remains hostile.

On July 29, 2024, Mayor Adams’ cancellation of the Fordham Road offset bus lane left Bronx riders stranded in slow traffic. The Department of Transportation had proposed moving the bus lane off the curb to block double-parking, but Adams scrapped the plan. The matter: 'Mayor Adams' decision to shelve plans for an upgraded bus lane to Fordham Road last year has had a predictable result: buses on the crosstown Bronx route are still crawling at the same slow speed.' Council Member Pierina Sanchez supported the redesign. Council Member Oswald Feliz opposed it. Both declined comment. NYPD enforcement replaced design, but ticketing is weak and driver behavior unchanged. Riders remain frustrated, waiting for city leaders to act. Vulnerable road users—bus passengers—bear the cost.

• Fordham Rd. Still Hell for Bus Riders After Mayor Adams Scrubbed a Better Road Design, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-29

A sedan struck a left-turning e-bike on Webster Avenue near Clay. Metal crashed. The 21-year-old rider was hurled, hip shattered, blood on the street. The driver, distracted, walked away. Three in the car unhurt. System failed the vulnerable again.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Webster Avenue collided with an e-bike making a left turn near Clay Avenue. The report states, 'The driver was distracted.' The e-bike rider, a 21-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe hip injuries and lacerations, described as 'hip shattered' and 'blood pooled.' The sedan's three occupants were uninjured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. No helmet was used by the e-bike rider, but this is noted only after the driver’s errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and unsafe maneuvers, with the vulnerable road user bearing the brunt of the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747478, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped tore through East Tremont and Crotona. Metal shrieked. A woman, 43, took the force in her leg. Signals meant nothing. The morning heat pressed down as pain pooled on the street.

A crash at East Tremont Avenue and Crotona Avenue in the Bronx left a 43-year-old woman with severe crush injuries to her knee and lower leg. According to the police report, a moped traveling southwest with two occupants 'slammed head-on.' The report states, 'Signals were ignored,' and lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The moped's center front end bore the brunt of the impact. The injured woman, riding as a rear passenger, remained conscious at the scene. Police data highlights that the driver failed to obey traffic controls, directly contributing to the collision. No information in the report attributes any contributing behavior to the passenger. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739919, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped crashed into a sedan’s flank on Crotona Avenue. The young rider flew off, hip torn open, blood pooling on the asphalt. Under the Bronx night, he lay conscious, battered, and still. The crash left him grievously wounded.

According to the police report, a moped slammed into the left side doors of a sedan near 1720 Crotona Avenue in the Bronx at 10 p.m. The 18-year-old moped rider was ejected from his vehicle, suffering severe lacerations and a split hip. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors in the crash. The moped’s center front end struck the sedan’s side, leaving the rider conscious but gravely injured on the street. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'His hip split open on the asphalt. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, torn and still, under the Bronx night.' The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but only after highlighting the improper lane usage and unsafe speed as primary causes. The collision underscores the dangers faced by vulnerable road users amid driver error and hazardous street conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737095, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Six vehicles collide on Decatur Avenue. A moped flips. The unlicensed, helmetless rider is crushed and broken but conscious. Metal screams, glass rains. One sedan flees police. Unsafe speed rips through the Bronx dusk, leaving wreckage and pain.

According to the police report, chaos erupted on Decatur Avenue near East Bedford Park Boulevard when six vehicles collided. A moped, operated by an unlicensed and helmetless 41-year-old man, overturned and left its rider ejected and crushed, suffering injuries to his entire body but remaining conscious in the aftermath. The report states that 'Unsafe Speed' was a contributing factor. One sedan, an Audi driven by an unlicensed man, was engaged in a police pursuit and fled the scene. The violence of the crash is underscored by the report’s vivid description: 'Metal screamed. Glass rained.' The moped’s lack of safety equipment is noted in the data, but the central danger stemmed from driver actions—specifically, unsafe speed and a police pursuit. No evidence in the report attributes fault to the moped rider’s behavior beyond these systemic and driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739219, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped and sedan collided head-on on East Fordham Road. The moped driver’s leg split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Helmet on, eyes open, he lay motionless as traffic rolled past. Steel unscathed. Flesh broken.

A violent head-on collision between a moped and a sedan erupted on East Fordham Road near Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, according to the police report. The crash left the 61-year-old moped driver with severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. The report states both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when they collided, with the moped’s left front bumper and the sedan’s right front bumper taking the impact. Despite the force, neither vehicle sustained damage. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. The moped rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the focus remains on the driver errors that led to the crash. The man remained conscious, lying still in the street as traffic continued around him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735845, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14