No More Excuses: Demand Safety on Bronx Streets Now

Council Member Oswald Feliz killed a plan to fix Fordham Road’s bus lane. He then parked and drove in that same lane. His car racked up tickets for bus lane violations and speeding in school zones. Riders wait. Cars rule. Danger lingers.

On January 4, 2024, Bronx Council Member Oswald Feliz was exposed for opposing the Department of Transportation’s plan to improve the Fordham Road bus lane, according to Streetsblog NYC. The plan promised faster commutes for tens of thousands. Instead, Feliz and Bronx power brokers pushed a weak compromise: repainting the lane and expanding bus lane cameras. The matter summary states, 'Feliz has been a staunch opponent of the Department of Transportation's plan to improve the existing Fordham Road bus lane.' Feliz’s Honda Accord was cited three times for bus lane violations, including twice on Fordham Road, and six times for speeding in school zones since 2020. He claimed the car was 'shared.' Bus speeds barely improved, rising from 6 to 6.3 mph—still below the Bronx average. Vulnerable road users—bus riders, pedestrians—remain at risk. The council member’s actions show disregard for safety and transit equity.

• EXCLU: Council Member Oswald Feliz, Who Killed a Bronx Bus Lane, Enjoys Parking In It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-04

Mayor Adams missed legal targets for protected bike and bus lanes in 2023. Projects were delayed or canceled. The city cited staff shortages and budget cuts. Council members condemned the failures. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Promises faded. Danger persists.

In 2023, Mayor Adams failed to meet the mandates of the 2019 Streets Master Plan, which required 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of protected or enhanced bus lanes. The law, championed by then-Speaker Corey Johnson, aimed for safer, more equitable streets. Key projects, including bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard and Ashland Place, and bus lanes on Fordham Road, were stalled or abandoned. The Department of Transportation blamed staff shortages and budget cuts. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'Thirty-plus miles of completed new bike lane is of course better than none, but falls far short of Streets Plan requirements.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other members voiced frustration but admitted limited power to enforce compliance. Council Member Chi Ossé was mentioned in coverage. Without mayoral commitment, the plan’s promise to protect vulnerable road users remains unfulfilled. The city’s vision for safer streets is at risk.

• In 2023, Mayor Adams Basically Erased the 'Streets Master Plan', streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-02

Advocates fought City Hall’s pro-car moves all year. Bus lanes were canceled. Bike lanes were scaled back. Council Member Oswald Feliz sided with powerful interests to block Fordham Road’s busway. Riders Alliance called the mayor’s transit policy a betrayal.

The 2023 review, published December 27, spotlights fierce advocacy for safer streets and better transit. The article details how Council Member Oswald Feliz (District 15) joined U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat to oppose the Fordham Road busway, leading Mayor Adams to cancel the project. The matter title asks, 'Who is the Activist of the Year?' and highlights setbacks: 'City Hall canceled bus lanes, scaled back bike lanes and stalled open streets.' Feliz’s opposition helped powerful interests defeat the busway, leaving only more enforcement cameras. Riders Alliance, once supportive of the mayor, revoked his 'bus mayor' title, calling his administration’s transit policy 'a betrayal.' The piece underscores how advocates, not politicians, drove progress for vulnerable road users, even as official actions fell short.

• 2023 in Review: Who is the Activist of the Year?, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-12-27

Advocates fought City Hall all year. They demanded safer streets for cyclists, walkers, and bus riders. Bureaucrats stalled. Politicians caved. Still, activists won scraps—bike lanes, traffic calming, wage gains for delivery workers. The fight for vulnerable road users never stopped. The city resisted. Advocates pushed back.

This advocacy campaign, highlighted in the December 27, 2023 Streetsblog NYC article, reviews the relentless push by New York City activists for safer streets. The piece, titled '2023 in Review: Who is the Activist of the Year?', details how groups like Make McGuinness Safe, Worker's Justice Project, Riders Alliance, and Astoria's r/MicromobilityNYC subredditors challenged City Hall's pro-car inertia. Despite setbacks—canceled bus lanes, watered-down bike projects—advocates secured protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and a minimum wage for delivery workers. Council members and city officials often opposed or delayed these measures, but activists, including Bronwyn Breitner and Ligia Guallpa, kept pressure on. The article underscores that every gain for vulnerable road users came from organized, persistent advocacy, not government initiative.

• 2023 in Review: Who is the Activist of the Year?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-27

Council tried to stop drivers from hiding plates. The bill set steep fines and jail for obscured tags. It died in committee. The streets stay the same. Scofflaws keep rolling, plates unreadable, danger unchecked.

Int 1260-2023 was introduced on December 6, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to prohibit parking, standing, stopping, or operating a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the parking, standing, stopping, or operation of a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates.' Council Members Oswald Feliz (primary), Gale A. Brewer, Erik D. Bottcher, and Robert F. Holden sponsored the measure. It would have imposed fines up to $1,000 and jail time for repeat offenders. The bill was filed at session’s end, leaving enforcement unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed to drivers who hide from accountability.

• File Int 1260-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-06

Sen. Teresa Ruiz pushes a bill to fight temp tag fraud in New Jersey. The measure adds security, tightens dealer rules, and raises penalties. The Senate Transportation Committee moves it forward. Lawmakers cite public safety. Dealers warn of new burdens.

On November 28, 2023, New Jersey state Sen. Teresa Ruiz introduced a bill targeting temporary license plate fraud. The bill, advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee, proposes 'new security features for temp tags, stricter requirements for car dealers, and harsher penalties for illegal activity.' Ruiz, who sponsored the bill, stressed, 'Tougher regulations and fines are needed to weed out bad actors.' The Motor Vehicle Commission helped develop the proposal and plans its own regulatory overhaul. The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, represented by Jim Appleton, warned the bill could 'punish or burden the legitimate players.' Similar efforts are underway in Georgia and New York City, where Council Member Oswald Feliz has introduced related bills. The measure aims to close loopholes that let drivers evade accountability, a known risk to public safety.

• Top NJ Lawmaker Proposes Major Reforms to Fight Temporary License Plate Fraud, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-28

Bronx Council Member Oswald Feliz pushes a bill forcing delivery companies to give workers safe e-bikes and batteries. Seventeen council members back it. Delivery giants resist. They call it unworkable. Workers face fire risk. City Hall sides with safety. The fight continues.

On November 22, 2023, Bronx Council Member Oswald Feliz introduced a bill in the New York City Council requiring delivery companies to provide safe, certified e-bikes and batteries to their workers. The bill, supported by 17 sponsors, aims to curb deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries. The matter summary states, 'Delivery companies are opposing a new bill...that would require them to provide delivery workers with safe, certified e-bikes and batteries.' Feliz, joined by advocates like Ligia Guallpa, argues that companies profit from deliveristas and must bear the cost of safety. Delivery giants Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub oppose the bill, calling it 'simply infeasible' and propose a centralized fund instead. The Adams administration, represented by Carlos Ortiz, supports the bill, insisting business apps are responsible for worker safety. The bill remains under council consideration, with the debate ongoing.

• Delivery Companies Don’t Want to Supply Delivery Workers With Safe Batteries and Bikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-22

A sedan slammed head-on into an SUV on Claremont Parkway. The Hyundai’s front crumpled. The 26-year-old woman behind the wheel died alone. No passengers. No escape. The SUV showed no damage. Night fell heavy on the Bronx.

A 26-year-old woman driving a 2012 Hyundai sedan struck an SUV head-on near 495 Claremont Parkway in the Bronx. According to the police report, her car crumpled at the front. She was the only occupant and died at the scene. The SUV sustained no damage and had no reported injuries. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The woman was not wearing a seatbelt, as noted in the data, but no other factors are cited. The crash left one dead and highlighted the violence of head-on impacts on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680996, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup hit a motorbike from behind on Southern Boulevard. The rider, helmetless, flew from his seat. His head struck the street. He died under the truck’s lights. Police cite driver inattention. The Bronx street claimed another life.

A 37-year-old man riding a motorbike was killed on Southern Boulevard near East 180th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, a pickup truck struck the motorbike from behind. The impact ejected the rider, who was not wearing a helmet, and his head hit the pavement. He died at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The collision involved a moped and a pickup truck, both traveling south. The report notes the rider was helmetless, but only after citing driver inattention as the primary cause. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680373, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter tore through the Bronx night. It ran the light. It hit a man crossing with the signal. Steel crushed his leg. He screamed but stayed awake. The driver had no license. The street stayed loud.

A man crossing Claremont Parkway at Crotona Avenue was struck by a motorscooter. According to the police report, the pedestrian crossed with the signal when the motorscooter came fast, front first, and hit him. The impact crushed the man’s lower leg. The driver was unlicensed. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The motorscooter’s center front end struck the pedestrian. The report does not mention any errors by the pedestrian. The crash left the victim conscious but in pain, with severe crush injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679501, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 54-year-old woman at Webster Avenue and East 184th Street. She lay bleeding, scalp torn, head wounded. The car showed no damage. The street fell silent after the crash. Blood marked the spot where she fell.

A sedan struck a 54-year-old woman in the intersection of Webster Avenue and East 184th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 54-year-old woman in the intersection. She lay conscious, blood running from her head, scalp torn. The car bore no damage. The street held the silence that follows impact.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the report. The vehicle, a sedan, showed no visible damage after the crash. The woman was injured while crossing at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676143, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter slammed into a parked taxi on Webster Avenue. Steel tore flesh. The 27-year-old rider lost part of his arm. The street stayed busy. He did not. Driver inexperience and following too closely marked the crash.

A motorscooter rider, age 27, struck a parked taxi on Webster Avenue near East 174th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the rider lost part of his arm in the crash. No one was inside the taxi at the time. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The motorscooter hit the center back end of the taxi while traveling south. The impact was severe, resulting in an amputation injury to the rider's arm. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672792, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Local Law 39 bans uncertified e-bike batteries. Certified ones are scarce and costly. Delivery workers can’t afford them. Many stick with unsafe batteries or switch to gas mopeds. Council debates bills to force app companies to provide safe bikes. Enforcement begins. Danger remains.

Local Law 39, discussed at a City Council hearing on October 23, 2023, bans uncertified lithium-ion batteries. The law aims to protect delivery workers and consumers from battery fires. Council Members Oswald Feliz and Marjorie Velazquez back new bills requiring app-based delivery companies to provide safe e-bikes and batteries. Velazquez called the bill a 'key' step for safety. Advocates like Ligia Guallpa of the Worker's Justice Project testified that certified batteries are too expensive and in short supply. Delivery workers, facing high costs and legal threats, often keep using unsafe batteries or turn to gas-powered mopeds. App companies resist, citing worker status and costs. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has started enforcement, but the core danger persists: safe batteries are out of reach for many, leaving workers exposed.

• Law Barring Unsafe Batteries Has Unintended Consequence: Safe Ones are Now Too Expensive for Workers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-23

Bronx bus riders cut ties with Mayor Adams after he scrapped Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. Riders called out broken promises, accusing Adams of siding with drivers over transit users. Council Member Feliz and others lobbied against the plan. Riders feel abandoned.

On September 29, 2023, Bronx bus riders publicly disinvited Mayor Eric Adams from a planned Fordham Road bus ride. The protest followed Adams's decision to halt long-planned bus lane upgrades, a move that left tens of thousands of daily riders without relief. The Riders Alliance, representing local transit users, wrote, 'You turned around and caved to a handful of drivers who don't even live in the Bronx. How could you betray us like that?' Council Member Oswald Feliz, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and business interests opposed both the original and compromise busway plans. Despite Adams's earlier promises to prioritize Fordham Road and expand bus priority projects, riders say improvements have stalled. The mayor's office defended its record, but Bronx riders remain frustrated and distrustful.

• Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-29

A sedan raced south on Boston Road. It hit a woman mid-street. Her hip shattered. She lay conscious but paralyzed. The driver fled. The street stayed quiet. Metal bent. Lives broke.

A sedan traveling south on Boston Road near East 178th Street struck a 33-year-old woman who was crossing mid-block. According to the police report, the car was moving at unsafe speed. The impact shattered the woman’s hip and left her paralyzed but conscious. The right side of the sedan crumpled. The driver did not remain at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665135, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Mayor Adams scrapped the Fordham Road bus lane upgrade. Local business and political pushback won. The city will only repaint old lanes and boost camera enforcement. Riders, mostly pedestrians and transit users, lose out. Advocates call it a betrayal. Streets stay dangerous.

On September 22, 2023, Mayor Adams abandoned plans for major bus improvements on Fordham Road in the Bronx. The plan, once promised by the mayor, would have installed offset bus lanes. Instead, the Department of Transportation will only repaint existing lanes and consider more automated enforcement. The move came after opposition from Council Member Oswald Feliz, Belmont BID Chair Peter Madonia, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and local institutions. The official matter: 'Adams administration is abandoning plans for major improvements to bus infrastructure on Fordham Road.' DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno confirmed, 'we are repainting curbside bus lanes and continuing automated bus lane enforcement.' Advocates and MTA officials condemned the reversal, noting that most shoppers and visitors arrive by transit or on foot. The city missed its legal bus lane targets last year. Vulnerable road users—bus riders, pedestrians—remain exposed to slow service and unsafe streets.

• ‘Betrayal’: Adams Caves to Opposition, Abandons Bus Improvement Plan on Fordham Road, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-22

Online giants sell illegal, uncertified batteries and mopeds to New Yorkers. City law bans these sales, but enforcement lags. Council Member Feliz pushes new rules. Delivery workers risk fire, injury. Buy-back program launches. Federal action looms. Danger persists.

On September 21, 2023, Bronx Council Member Oswald Feliz introduced legislation to crack down on online sales of illegal lithium-ion batteries and mopeds. The bill responds to ongoing violations of Local Law 39, which bans uncertified batteries not approved by UL Solutions. Despite this, online retailers like Amazon continue to sell these dangerous products. The matter summary states: 'Online retailers such as Amazon are selling illegal, uncertified lithium-ion batteries and mopeds to New York City residents, despite city laws prohibiting such sales.' Feliz’s proposal aims to close enforcement gaps and protect delivery workers, who often rely on cheap, unsafe batteries. Lawmakers also approved a citywide buy-back program for faulty batteries. Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced federal legislation to set safety standards and hold online marketplaces accountable. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is investigating but has yet to issue penalties. Advocates demand action to stop the flow of deadly batteries into city homes and streets.

• Online Retailers Selling Illegal Batteries and Mopeds to City Buyers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-21

A 27-year-old man died on Bronx River Parkway. He rode a moped at unsafe speed. Alcohol played a role. He struck headfirst, ejected, killed on the cold asphalt. No helmet. The night ended in silence and loss.

A deadly crash took place near Southern Boulevard on Bronx River Parkway in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 27-year-old man riding a moped was killed after being ejected and striking headfirst. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The man was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary causes cited are speed and alcohol. The crash left the rider dead at the scene, with severe head injuries. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The tragedy unfolded in the early morning darkness, leaving a life lost to preventable danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663145, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Council passed a battery buy-back bill. Delivery workers can swap unsafe batteries for certified ones. New rules target deadly lithium-ion fires. Lawmakers demand delivery companies step up. Fourteen dead, over 100 hurt this year. Enforcement on uncertified sales begins soon.

On September 14, 2023, the New York City Council passed a package of bills to fight lithium-ion battery fires. The main bill, introduced by Council Member Keith Powers, creates a city-funded buy-back program for delivery workers to exchange faulty batteries and devices for safe, certified ones. The matter summary states the program aims to address the high cost of certified batteries, which can be prohibitive for low-paid workers. Council Members Oswald Feliz and Gale Brewer sponsored additional bills: Feliz's requires safe bikes and batteries for deliveries, while Brewer's mandates delivery apps provide safety training and equipment. Brewer also called for the Department of Transportation to update its safety course. Powers said, "We will provide them the opportunity to surrender that unsafe equipment and receive a safe replacement." The Council's action follows 180 battery fire incidents, 14 deaths, and over 100 injuries this year. Lawmakers push for delivery companies to take responsibility for worker safety and equipment standards. Enforcement against uncertified battery sales will begin soon.

• Council Passes Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Bills to Curb Lithium-Ion Fires, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-14

A Ford SUV turned right on East Fordham. An e-scooter kept straight. Metal hit flesh. The 21-year-old rider flew sideways, leg torn open. He landed unconscious in the street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The SUV’s bumper bore the mark.

A Ford SUV made a right turn on East Fordham Road near East Kingsbridge Road. An e-scooter, driven by a 21-year-old man, continued straight. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The SUV struck the e-scooter, hitting the rider with its right front bumper. The impact left the e-scooter rider partially ejected and unconscious, suffering severe lacerations to his leg. The police report notes the rider’s license had never been granted. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers disregard traffic controls and vulnerable road users are left exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662382, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15