No More Excuses: Demand Safety on Bronx Streets Now

A Nissan SUV hit a baby boy outside the roadway on East Tremont Avenue. The left front bumper struck his chest. He was found unconscious. He died at the scene. The driver stayed. The SUV showed no damage.

A deadly crash unfolded on East Tremont Avenue near East 177th Street. According to the police report, a Nissan SUV struck a baby boy who was outside the roadway. The left front bumper hit the child’s chest, leaving him unconscious. He died from his injuries. The report states, 'The driver stayed. The SUV bore no damage.' The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specifically cited in the data. The victim, a male infant, was not in the roadway at the time of impact. No mention of helmet or signaling factors appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611711, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Council pushed forward a battery buy-back and tough lithium-ion rules. Delivery workers’ safety and livelihoods hung in the balance. Lawmakers targeted sellers, not riders. The bills aimed to stop deadly fires without punishing those who rely on e-bikes to survive.

On March 2, 2023, the New York City Council advanced a package of lithium-ion battery safety bills. Council Member Keith Powers introduced the buy-back bill, which creates a citywide program for defective or uncertified batteries. Powers said, "We don't want to penalize businesses and workers without thinking about this strategically." The Council also moved bills from Oswald Feliz, Gale Brewer, Alexa Avilés, and Robert Holden. These measures ban uncertified batteries, require fireproof charging containers, mandate public education, and order FDNY reporting on battery fires. Speaker Adrienne Adams clarified the bills target commercial sellers, not workers. Shahana Hanif urged that policy must "keep workers" at the center. The Council and delivery workers’ union stressed that tech companies, not workers, should bear costs. The FDNY opposed the reporting bill over resource concerns. The legislation aims to curb battery fires while protecting delivery workers who depend on e-bikes.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Lithium-Ion Bills Advance in Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-02

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

The Mayor’s Management Report admits what City Hall denied: DOT missed bus and bike lane targets. Staffing shortages, missing contractors, and political meddling stalled life-saving street projects. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. Promises broke. Progress stalled. The city’s most exposed remain at risk.

On February 2, 2023, the Mayor’s Management Report confirmed failures by the Department of Transportation to meet required bus and bike lane mileage, echoing earlier Streetsblog reporting. The report covers July through October 2022 and cites 'fewer contractors available, shortages in installation materials, and general political opposition' as reasons for a 42% drop in bike lane miles and a 47% drop in bus lane miles compared to the previous year. Streetsblog’s coverage, criticized by City Hall and DOT, revealed that vacancies and political interference—especially from Council Members Bob Holden and Oswald Feliz—stalled projects like the Citi Bike expansion in Queens and the Fordham Road bus lane in the Bronx. DOT completed only 67% of its bus lane mandate and fell 17% short on bike lanes. The city’s own numbers now confirm what advocates warned: delays and obstruction put vulnerable road users in harm’s way.

• We Were Right: Mayor’s Management Report Confirms Streetsblog Reporting Previously Criticized by City Officials, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-02

A Mazda hit steel head-on on Bronx River Parkway. The driver, 42, alone, died at the wheel. No skid marks. No warning. Only silence and broken metal in the cold January dark.

A 2010 Mazda sedan crashed head-on on Bronx River Parkway. The driver, a 42-year-old man, was killed. According to the police report, he was alone and under the influence. The report states, 'No skid marks. No second chance.' The listed contributing factor is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other road users were involved or injured. The crash left the driver dead at the scene, his body broken. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as a factor. The impact was total and final, with no evidence of evasive action.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599380, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

DOT broke promises. Bike lanes unbuilt. Busways cut. Cyclists left exposed. Pedestrians wait. Council members stall. Businesses block change. Queensboro Bridge path delayed. Canal Street ignored. Ocean Parkway crumbles. City agencies fail the vulnerable. Streets stay deadly.

The Streetsies 2022 report, published December 29, 2022, by Streetsblog NYC, delivers a harsh verdict on New York City’s transportation leadership. The Department of Transportation failed to build the 30 miles of protected bike lanes and 20 miles of bus lanes required by law. The agency scaled back busway hours on Jamaica Avenue and 181st Street after local pushback. Council Member Oswald Feliz opposed Fordham Road improvements, calling them an 'existential threat.' Queens Council Member Julie Won labeled Queensboro Bridge delays 'garbage.' The DOT removed protected bike lanes during Fourth Avenue construction, endangering cyclists. The Central Park Conservancy stalled on safety studies. Canal Street and Ocean Parkway saw little progress. The report states: 'city agencies failing to prioritize or deliver on street safety and sustainable transportation commitments.' Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders—remain at risk as the city delays, dithers, and disappoints.

• Streetsies 2022: New York’s Biggest Failures and Disappointments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-29

An e-bike struck a woman and a toddler crossing Webster Avenue. Blood ran down their bodies. The rider did not stop. The woman stayed upright, torn and bleeding. The child bled from the head. Both were conscious. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 19-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl were hit by an e-bike while crossing Webster Avenue near East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, both pedestrians were crossing with the signal when the e-bike rider struck them and did not stop. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her entire body but remained awake. The child had minor bleeding from the head. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The crash left both victims injured at the intersection, underscoring the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591659, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Councilman Oswald Feliz backs a bill forcing landlords to post FDNY fire warnings about e-bike batteries. Six dead, 140 injured this year. Fires spark in homes, endanger tenants and delivery workers. The city moves to curb uncertified batteries and inform the public.

Bill requires NYC landlords to display FDNY safety bulletins on e-bike battery fire risks. Introduced by Councilman Oswald Feliz (District 15) on November 27, 2022. The measure responds to at least 140 e-bike battery fires in 2022, with six deaths and 140 injuries. Feliz said, 'We must ensure that products sold in our city are safe for New Yorkers.' The bill restricts uncertified batteries and supports FDNY’s education campaign. The bulletin warns tenants about the dangers of charging and storing e-bike batteries at home. State Senator Liz Krueger also pushes for tighter battery regulations. The council’s action targets a growing threat to vulnerable residents—delivery workers and tenants—who face deadly fires in their homes and workplaces.

• NYC landlords must post FDNY safety bulletin warning of e-bike battery fires, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-27

A van struck a 95-year-old woman in a marked Bronx crosswalk. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the street. Another woman, 65, was also hit. Both survived. The van driver failed to yield. Distraction played a role. The danger was clear.

A van traveling east on Thwaites Place near Olinville Avenue struck two women, ages 95 and 65, as they crossed in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the 95-year-old suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The 65-year-old also sustained a head injury and reported pain. Both pedestrians were crossing with no signal present. The police report states: 'A van struck a 95-year-old woman head-on in a marked crosswalk. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. She lived.' The driver, a 64-year-old man, failed to yield the right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted, as listed in the contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal risk to pedestrians when drivers do not yield and lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584230, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man crossed East Kingsbridge Road with the signal. A car’s left front bumper hit him. His eye was torn. Blood pooled in the crosswalk. He stayed conscious. Failure to yield left him marked and bleeding.

A 50-year-old man was crossing East Kingsbridge Road with the signal when a vehicle’s left front bumper struck him. According to the police report, 'Failure to yield left its mark in skin, not just law.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his eye but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The man was in the crosswalk, following the signal, when he was hit. No other contributing factors were noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581659, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal screams on the Cross Bronx. Three sedans tangle. An unlicensed driver veers, chaos follows. Passengers bleed and groan. A young man slumps, head pouring blood. Shock grips survivors. Unsafe lane changes leave bodies broken, lives upended.

Three sedans crashed on the Cross Bronx Expressway. According to the police report, an unlicensed driver changed lanes unsafely, triggering a violent collision. Seven people were injured, including a 27-year-old man found incoherent and bleeding from the head behind the wheel. Passengers suffered back and head injuries, many in shock, with complaints of pain and nausea. The police report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the primary contributing factor for both vehicles involved in the initial impact. One driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left metal twisted and lives shaken, all from a single reckless move.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583286, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mazda sedan hit a man on Bronx River Parkway. He was outside the crosswalk. The car’s front bumper crushed him. He died in the road. The night was dark. No driver errors were listed. The system failed to protect him.

A 30-year-old man was killed on Bronx River Parkway when a southbound Mazda sedan struck him with its front bumper. According to the police report, 'A 30-year-old man lay outside the crosswalk. A southbound Mazda struck him with its front bumper. His body was crushed. He died there, in the dark, on the road.' The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries. The driver, a 48-year-old man, was not reported injured. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the police data. The crash highlights the deadly risk for pedestrians on major roadways, especially at night and outside marked crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578447, 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 Volkswagen SUV hit a 65-year-old man crossing Bronx River Parkway before dawn. The impact killed him instantly. His body was torn open. He died alone in the dark. The SUV’s front end bore the brunt. No other injuries reported.

A 65-year-old man was killed when a northbound Volkswagen SUV struck him head-on as he crossed Bronx River Parkway before sunrise. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The SUV’s center front end took the impact, resulting in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, described as severe lacerations to the entire body. The driver, a 36-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the police report. No other occupants were hurt. The crash left the pedestrian dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574336, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Hall blocks street redesigns. Adams’s aides halt bus lanes, bike paths, pedestrian zones. Projects stall at political whim. DOT morale drops. Vulnerable road users wait. Streets stay deadly. Bureaucracy wins. Safety loses.

On October 17, 2022, Streetsblog NYC reported that City Hall, under Mayor Adams, is obstructing key street safety projects. The article, titled 'A NIMBY City Hall: Adams Appointees Thwart Key Bike and Bus Projects,' details how the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) delays or blocks bus lanes, bike lanes, Citi Bike expansion, and pedestrianization. Appointees Tiffany Raspberry and Menashe Shapiro, both lacking transportation backgrounds, are named as obstacles. Council Members Francisco Moya, Bob Holden, and Oswald Feliz, all Adams allies, have influenced these delays. DOT officials describe a new layer of bureaucracy: 'The threshold for stopping any single project, it’s almost nonexistent.' Projects like Northern Boulevard bus lanes and Fordham Road improvements are on hold. DOT morale is low. The city’s promise of $904 million for street safety is undermined by political interference. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as progress stalls.

• ‘A NIMBY City Hall’: Adams Appointees Thwart Key Bike and Bus Projects, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-17

Oswald Feliz halted DOT’s Fordham Road bus lane. He demanded a year’s pause. The move stalls safer, faster transit. Thousands of daily bus riders wait. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. Cars keep ruling the street. The city’s promise fades.

On October 2, 2022, Councilmember Oswald Feliz of District 15 opposed the Department of Transportation’s plan to convert segments of Fordham Road to bus and delivery-only lanes. Feliz asked DOT to pause the redesign for at least 12 months, citing concerns about traffic diversion and business impacts. The matter, reported as 'Eric Adams’ ambitious bus lane plans hit roadblock on NYC’s Fordham Road,' details how Feliz’s opposition blocks a key part of Mayor Adams’ pledge to build 20 new miles of bus lanes. DOT’s proposal aimed to restrict private vehicle traffic and prioritize buses and deliveries, a move supported by transit advocates and local polls. But Feliz’s action keeps the status quo: crowded streets, slow buses, and danger for those outside cars. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Eric Adams’ ambitious bus lane plans hit roadblock on NYC’s Fordham Road, nypost.com, Published 2022-10-02

A Ford SUV turned right. An e-bike kept straight. The SUV hit the rider. She flew, landed hard. Abdomen crushed. She lay conscious on the asphalt. She died there. The driver failed to yield. The Bronx street stayed silent.

A Ford SUV turned right onto East 188th Street near Park Avenue in the Bronx. An e-bike, ridden by a 67-year-old woman, traveled straight. The SUV struck her. She was ejected, suffered severe abdominal injuries, and died at the scene. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor. The SUV's driver, a 63-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but the report lists driver failure to yield as the cause. No other injuries were reported. The crash left a vulnerable road user dead, her life ended by a turn not given.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569876, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Avilés rejects NYCHA’s blanket e-bike ban. She calls for battery safety rules, not sweeping crackdowns. Her plan shields delivery workers and seniors. Bronx and Manhattan council members back tighter battery standards. NYCHA reviews feedback. No comment yet.

On September 16, 2022, Council Member Alexa Avilés challenged NYCHA’s proposed blanket ban on e-bikes across public housing. In a letter to NYCHA CEO Greg Russ, Avilés urged targeted battery safety rules instead of a broad ban, warning, 'NYCHA's all-out ban could hurt workers and residents more.' She offered eight recommendations, including federal study, safe battery storage, and clear rules for mobility devices. Bronx Council Member Oswald Feliz announced plans for legislation requiring certified batteries, while Manhattan’s Gale Brewer is drafting a ban on second-hand batteries and pushing for delivery app accountability. The matter is under review after the comment period closed September 6. NYCHA declined to comment. Avilés’s stance centers on protecting delivery workers and vulnerable residents while addressing real fire risks from faulty batteries.

• Pol Pitches More Options to a Blanket E-Bike Ban on NYCHA Property, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-16

A 12-year-old boy rode south on East 180th. An SUV turned left at Honeywell. Metal hit flesh. The boy flew, hit the pavement hard. Blood streaked his arm. Skin torn from bone. He was conscious. He was hurt.

A 12-year-old bicyclist was injured at the corner of East 180th Street and Honeywell Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the boy was riding south when an SUV turned left and struck him. The impact threw him from his bike, causing severe lacerations to his arm. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The boy was not wearing a helmet, but the primary cause cited is driver inattention. He was conscious at the scene, with visible injuries and blood. The SUV showed no damage. The crash highlights the danger faced by young cyclists when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566542, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel tore open on East 182nd. Two cars ran the light. Seven people hurt. One man pinned, paralyzed, his leg destroyed. Blood on the street. Head wounds, broken limbs, pain. The night held its breath. Traffic control meant nothing.

Two vehicles—a sedan and an SUV—collided on East 182nd Street at 2:30 a.m. Seven people were hurt. According to the police report, both cars disregarded traffic control. One 26-year-old driver was pinned, conscious, and reported paralysis with severe leg injury. Passengers suffered head trauma, arm and leg injuries, and pain across their bodies. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for both drivers. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left the street silent, marked by broken bodies and shattered steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555314, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15