No More Empty Chairs: Demand Safe Streets Now

Council pushes DOT to post clear bus lane signs on every block. Hours and days must be public, online and on the street. Riders and walkers get clarity. No more guessing. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait for answers.

Int 0647-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to post signs on every block with bus lane restrictions, showing exact hours and days. DOT must also keep this information updated online. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to bus lane restrictions.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Kevin C. Riley, Chris Banks, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Amanda Farías, and Yusef Salaam co-sponsored. The bill aims to end confusion for all street users. Clear rules mean fewer surprises. The measure awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0647-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council moves to form an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must join. The board will send reports twice a year to city leaders. The aim: track, review, and recommend guard placement. Streets near schools stay dangerous.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls for an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. The board would include the NYPD, Department of Transportation, and Department of Education. According to the bill summary: 'Such advisory board would be responsible for submitting biannual reports, relating to recommended deployment of school crossing guards, to the Mayor, the City Council Speaker and the Police Commissioner.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, Won, Cabán, Riley, Farías, Restler, Williams, Narcisse, Banks, Louis, Brooks-Powers, Marmorato, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill demands city agencies work together, but it does not guarantee more guards or safer crossings. The danger for children at city intersections remains.

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

Council wants NYPD to show where crossing guards stand. The bill orders a map online. Streets are dangerous. Kids cross in chaos. The public will see the gaps. The city must face the truth in plain sight.

Int 0447-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment," demands the NYPD post an online map showing where crossing guards are stationed. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Menin, Salaam, Brewer, Marte, and others, including a request from the Bronx Borough President. The bill is for 'informational purposes only,' but the impact is clear: families and advocates will finally see where the city leaves children exposed. The measure forces transparency. It makes the city’s priorities visible block by block.

• File Int 0447-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A Chevy SUV barreled into a freight truck on the Cross Bronx Expressway. The driver, unbelted and distracted, died alone at the scene. The truck slowed; the SUV did not. Metal, glass, and blood marked the highway’s edge.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV traveling eastbound on the Cross Bronx Expressway crashed straight into the rear of a slowing freight truck. The sole occupant, a 38-year-old male driver, suffered fatal head injuries and internal bleeding, dying at the scene. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The SUV struck the truck's center rear while the truck was slowing or stopping. No other injuries were reported. The police narrative states, 'A Chevy SUV drove straight into a slowing freight truck. The driver, 38, unbelted, struck his head. Internal bleeding. No one else in the car. He died there, alone, before the lights came.' The data highlights driver distraction as the critical factor in this deadly collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4702972, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel screamed down Webster Avenue. A Ford SUV, chased by police, crashed into a parked sedan. A woman in the front seat took the blow. The airbag burst. Blood ran. Her head split open, deep and raw, but she stayed conscious.

A violent collision erupted on Webster Avenue when, according to the police report, a Ford SUV under police pursuit slammed into a parked sedan. The report states that a 37-year-old woman, seated in the front passenger seat of the sedan, suffered severe head lacerations as the airbag deployed. She remained conscious despite the deep wound. The police report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, highlighting driver error at the heart of the crash. The SUV, described as being in 'Police Pursuit' at the time, struck the sedan with force, causing significant damage to the center back end of the parked vehicle. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The sequence of events underscores the danger posed by reckless driver actions and high-speed pursuits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703123, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0037-2024 would hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, or scooters on city sidewalks. The measure targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. Lawmakers say it will deter reckless riding. The bill sits in committee. No vote yet.

Int 0037-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill's title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), James F. Gennaro, Justin L. Brannan, Gale A. Brewer, and Sandra Ung back the measure. The bill would raise fines for anyone caught riding a bike, e-bike, or scooter on sidewalks. Supporters say higher penalties will curb sidewalk riding and protect pedestrians. The bill awaits further action in committee. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A car turned left at Walton Avenue and East 171st Street. The driver struck an 18-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled in the crosswalk. She stayed conscious, face injured. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed wet and silent.

An 18-year-old woman was struck by a car while crossing Walton Avenue at East 171st Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the driver made a left turn and hit her in the face as she crossed with the signal. The report states, 'Blood spilled in the crosswalk. She stayed conscious. The driver did not yield.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The woman suffered severe bleeding to her face but remained conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors were cited. The data does not specify the vehicle type or details about the driver. The crash underscores the danger faced by pedestrians even when they have the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686783, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An unlicensed teen on a motorcycle slammed into an SUV on the Cross Bronx Expressway. He flew from the bike and died on the asphalt. His helmet stayed on. Three other vehicles kept moving. The crash left one dead and a city unchanged.

An 18-year-old unlicensed male motorcyclist was killed after striking the left rear bumper of a Honda SUV on the Cross Bronx Expressway. According to the police report, 'An unlicensed 18-year-old on a motorcycle hit a Honda SUV at speed, flew from the bike, and died on the asphalt. His helmet stayed on. Three other vehicles kept going. His body did not.' The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The data notes that his helmet remained on, but no helmet use is listed as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the occupants of the SUV or the other vehicles involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684769, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW slammed into a Toyota’s rear on the Major Deegan. Metal tore. A 36-year-old man in the Toyota bled from the head. He stayed conscious. The harness held. His skin split where steel did not. Blood on the expressway. Sirens followed.

A crash on the Major Deegan Expressway left a 36-year-old man injured. According to the police report, a BMW struck the rear of a Toyota. The impact crumpled metal and split skin. The Toyota’s driver, belted in, suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' The BMW’s front hit the Toyota’s back. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead. The man’s harness held him in place, but the force cut deep. No other injuries were reported. The report does not specify further driver errors or contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678001, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan and moped collided head-on at Webster Avenue and East 168th. The impact threw a 32-year-old woman from the moped. She landed hard, her leg torn open, blood pooling on the asphalt. No helmet. She screamed into the night.

A crash at Webster Avenue and East 168th Street in the Bronx left a 32-year-old moped passenger severely injured. According to the police report, a moped turned right and a sedan turned left, colliding head-on. The woman, riding on the moped, was ejected and suffered a serious leg injury with severe bleeding. The report notes she wore no helmet. Both drivers' actions are listed as 'Unspecified' in contributing factors, with no further detail on specific driver errors. The violence of the crash and the lack of protection for the moped passenger led to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688701, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an e-scooter slammed into a parked pickup on Shakespeare Avenue. He flew from the scooter. His head hit the ground. Blood pooled on the street. He died there. The crash left a life ended and a city marked.

A 47-year-old man riding an e-scooter southbound on Shakespeare Avenue near Jerome Avenue struck a parked Dodge pickup truck. According to the police report, the scooter crumpled on impact and the rider was ejected, suffering fatal head injuries. The report notes the rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. No driver errors by another party are listed in the data. The only contributing factors recorded are 'Unspecified.' The parked truck sustained no damage. The man died at the scene, leaving another mark on the Bronx’s dangerous streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675146, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped sped west on East 168th. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, crashed hard. He flew from the seat, head smashing pavement. Blood pooled. Sirens cut the dark. Aggression and speed left a man broken in the Bronx.

A 28-year-old moped rider was severely injured at East 168th Street and Sheridan Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. He lost control, was ejected, and struck his head, suffering severe bleeding and semiconsciousness. The report lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The moped was traveling west when the crash occurred. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash highlights the dangers of aggressive driving and high speed. Helmet use is noted only because the police report lists 'None' under safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672277, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 26-year-old man on a moped slammed into a stopped dump truck on East 170th. He flew off, struck his head, and died in the street. Blood on Bronx asphalt. Unsafe speed marked the crash. The city swallowed another life.

A 26-year-old man riding a moped was killed after crashing into a stopped dump truck near East 170th Street and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'A 26-year-old man on a moped, unlicensed and helmetless, struck a stopped dump truck. He flew from the seat. His head hit. Blood on the street. He died there.' The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary listed cause was unsafe speed. No injuries were reported for the dump truck or bus drivers. The moped rider died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654945, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A lone SUV veered south on Major Deegan. The driver slammed the dash. No seatbelt. Chest crushed. He died before dawn. The road stayed silent. Metal and flesh, broken by a sudden move.

A 28-year-old man died after crashing his 2002 Honda SUV on the Major Deegan Expressway. According to the police report, the SUV swerved south at 2:14 a.m. in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. The driver, alone in the car, was not wearing a seatbelt. He struck the dashboard and suffered fatal chest injuries. The police listed 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor. No other people were involved. The report notes the absence of safety equipment only after citing the driver’s reaction as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655277, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on a motorcycle hit an SUV mid-turn on Jerome Avenue. He flew from the bike. His head struck the pavement. He died at the scene. Unsafe speed and improper turning marked the crash. The street fell silent.

A 35-year-old man riding a motorcycle was killed after colliding with an SUV making a U-turn on Jerome Avenue. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed and turning improperly. The motorcyclist, who was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet, was ejected from his bike and suffered fatal head injuries. The SUV's right front bumper was struck as it turned. Parked cars lined the street, but no other injuries were reported. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. Helmet use is noted only because it appears in the data after driver errors. The crash left one man dead and a community shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653345, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep turned left on West Fordham Road. A bike kept straight. Steel hit flesh. The 18-year-old cyclist’s arm split open. Blood pooled on the Bronx street. Sirens broke the morning. The rider stayed conscious, pain sharp and bright.

An SUV collided with a bicyclist on West Fordham Road near the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. The 18-year-old cyclist, traveling straight, was struck by a Jeep making a left turn. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was listed as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm and was partially ejected from his bike but remained conscious. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash highlights the danger when drivers turn across the path of vulnerable road users at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651935, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A Yamaha motorcycle ripped south on Major Deegan. It hit hard. A 25-year-old woman, helmeted, flew from the wreck. Blood pooled on the asphalt. She lay semiconscious, head torn, silence closing in. The machine was demolished. Speed ruled. Lives broke.

A Yamaha motorcycle crashed southbound on Major Deegan Expressway. According to the police report, the motorcycle traveled at unsafe speed before striking and demolishing. A 25-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was ejected. She suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious, bleeding on the roadway. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors. The passenger wore a helmet, as noted in the data, but the force of the crash left her badly injured. The machine lay wrecked. No other injuries were reported. The night ended in silence and blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649954, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a 62-year-old man near a parked box truck on the Major Deegan Expressway ramp. The driver was distracted. The man died, his body torn by lacerations. The night was quiet. Only the crash broke the stillness.

A 62-year-old pedestrian was killed when a sedan hit him near a parked box truck on the Major Deegan Expressway ramp. According to the police report, the driver of the sedan was distracted and inattentive. The impact left the man with severe lacerations across his body. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not blamed for the crash. The sedan’s center front end struck the victim, who died at the scene. The box truck was parked and not in motion at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642857, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council sought to clear streets of cars with missing or obscured plates. The bill ordered quick towing of vehicles blocking space or hiding identity. Filed at session’s end, it aimed to cut hazards for those on foot or bike. No action taken.

Int 1116-2023 was introduced on June 22, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Sanitation and NYPD to tow vehicles that block streets or lack visible, valid license plates, registration, or inspection stickers. The matter summary reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to towing vehicles that are an encumbrance on the street or that lack, improperly display, or obscure valid license plates, registration stickers, inspection stickers, or vehicle identification numbers.” Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Salamanca, Brannan, Feliz, Stevens, Ung, Riley, and Schulman. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no further action. Removing untraceable or abandoned vehicles could have reduced street dangers for pedestrians and cyclists, but the measure stalled.

• File Int 1116-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-06-22