Sixteen Dead, No End in Sight—Hold Ayala Accountable Now

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 southbound bus hit a 35-year-old woman on 3rd Avenue near East 138th Street. She fell, her head bleeding onto the asphalt. The driver did not stop. Morning light caught the blood pooling beneath her as she lay conscious.

A 35-year-old woman was struck by a southbound bus on 3rd Avenue near East 138th Street at 7:50 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the bus hit the woman as she crossed without a signal, causing her to fall and suffer a severe head injury with significant bleeding. The driver did not remain at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The report notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal, but this is listed after the driver's error. The vehicle, a 2016 CHEV-TRUCK/BUS, showed no damage, and the point of impact was the left front bumper. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction for people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A baby boy, alone in darkness, was struck and killed by an unlicensed SUV driver on the Major Deegan Expressway. The driver did not stop. The child died far from any crosswalk, crushed beneath the left front bumper.

A baby boy was killed on the Major Deegan Expressway when he was struck by the left front bumper of a 2008 Toyota SUV, according to the police report. The report states the child was crossing alone in the dark, far from any crosswalk, when the unlicensed driver hit him and did not stop. The police describe the child as suffering crush injuries to his entire body and dying at the scene. The driver’s license status is listed as 'Unlicensed' in the report, and the vehicle was traveling straight ahead. The police narrative makes clear the driver left the scene. No contributing factors are specified beyond the unlicensed status and failure to remain. The focus remains on the actions of the driver and the systemic danger posed by unlicensed, hit-and-run motorists on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752519 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck barreled through East 109th and 3rd, ignoring the signal. The driver struck a 63-year-old cyclist head-on. The man flew, landed hard, and bled on the asphalt, conscious but torn. The truck’s disregard left violence in its wake.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling west on East 109th Street at 3rd Avenue 'ran the light,' disregarding traffic control. The truck struck a 63-year-old man riding a bike, hitting him headfirst. The report states the cyclist was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, lying conscious but injured on the street. The primary contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded,' highlighting the truck driver's failure to obey the signal. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver's traffic violation. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when large vehicles ignore basic traffic controls in Manhattan’s dense streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754704 - 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

A taxi rolled east near 545 East 142nd. A man walked outside the crosswalk. Steel met flesh. His leg folded, pain sharp. He stayed conscious. The street fell silent, the city’s danger exposed.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east near 545 East 142nd Street in the Bronx struck a 37-year-old man who was walking where no crosswalk marked the way. The report states the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes, 'No screech, no dent. Just his leg folded under steel.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. There is no mention of driver evasive action or vehicle damage. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The absence of a marked crosswalk and the lack of specified driver error in the report highlight the persistent systemic dangers faced by people on foot in New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota SUV hit a 25-year-old woman in the Bronx. She crossed against the signal. Her body crumpled under the wheels. She stayed conscious, pain radiating. The SUV rolled on, untouched. The intersection bore witness to her suffering.

At the corner of 127th Street and Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, a Toyota SUV struck a 25-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection. According to the police report, the woman was 'crossing against the light' when the SUV, traveling straight ahead, hit her with its center front end. The impact left her with crush injuries to her entire body, though she remained conscious at the scene. The report notes that the SUV showed 'no damage' and continued on after the collision. The police report lists the pedestrian's action as 'crossing against signal' but does not cite any specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'unspecified.' The narrative describes the violence of the impact and the pain left behind, focusing on the systemic danger present at this Bronx intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on 1st Avenue. One struck a man stepping from behind a parked car. His hip shattered. He died in the street. Alcohol and unsafe speed fueled the crash. The sun was still up. The city swallowed another life.

A 60-year-old man was fatally injured on 1st Avenue at East 105th Street in Manhattan when two sedans collided and one struck him, according to the police report. The report states, "A man stepped from behind a parked car. Two sedans collided. One struck him. His hip shattered. He died in the street." The crash occurred at 15:42 in daylight. Police explicitly cite "Alcohol Involvement" and "Unsafe Speed" as contributing factors. The sedan that struck the pedestrian was changing lanes at the time of the crash. The pedestrian's action is listed as "Emerging from in Front of/Behind Parked Vehicle," but the primary focus remains on driver errors: alcohol use and unsafe speed. These driver actions caused the deadly impact described in the police narrative.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744546 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An unlicensed, intoxicated driver sped an SUV into parked vehicles on Park Avenue. Metal screamed as the SUV tore through the street. A 26-year-old rear passenger suffered a bleeding arm injury but stayed conscious amid the wreckage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 1399 Park Avenue in Manhattan at 12:48 a.m. An unlicensed driver operating a 2015 Toyota SUV at unsafe speed collided with multiple parked cars. The report states, "an unlicensed driver in a speeding SUV plowed through parked cars. Metal screamed." Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor. The SUV carried three occupants; the right rear passenger, a 26-year-old man, sustained a severe bleeding injury to his upper arm but remained conscious. The police report explicitly identifies the driver as "unlicensed" and lists "Alcohol Involvement" and "Unsafe Speed" as key contributing factors. No errors or contributing factors were attributed to the injured passenger. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of unlicensed, impaired, and reckless driving in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739686 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel screamed at East 135th and Lincoln. A Jeep and a Honda met in the dark. Two young passengers, seatbelts biting, bones breaking. Pelvis shattered, back torn. Both awake, both hurting. Metal and flesh, twisted by force.

At 1:35 a.m. at the corner of East 135th Street and Lincoln Avenue, a Jeep SUV and a Honda sedan collided, according to the police report. The impact left a 21-year-old woman with a shattered pelvis and a 28-year-old man with severe back injuries. Both were passengers, both were conscious, both wore seatbelts, and both suffered crush injuries. The police report states that both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' before the crash, with the Jeep traveling north and the Honda heading east. The Jeep's right front quarter panel and the Honda's left front bumper bore the brunt of the collision. No specific driver errors were cited in the report; contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The violence of the crash and the resulting injuries underscore the dangers passengers face when vehicles collide at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota sedan slammed on Brook Avenue, its front crumpled. A woman pinned in the back seat, a man trapped at the wheel. Both conscious, both broken. Sirens split the silence before dawn. Passing too closely left bodies shattered.

According to the police report, a Toyota sedan traveling south on Brook Avenue near East 146th Street crashed before dawn. The sedan's front end was crushed. A 33-year-old man, identified as the driver, was trapped at the wheel with crush injuries to his lower body. A 43-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was pinned in the back seat, suffering injuries to her entire body. Both occupants were conscious when first responders arrived. The police report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the driver. The narrative describes a violent impact: 'A Toyota sedan crushed at the front. A woman, 43, pinned in back. A man, 33, trapped at the wheel. Both conscious. Both broken.' No contributing factors are attributed to the passenger. The report centers driver error as the cause of this severe crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 Toyota SUV reversed on East 138th Street. Its distracted driver struck a woman stepping down from a vehicle. Her knees and feet were crushed. She stayed upright, conscious. The Bronx street bore the weight.

According to the police report, a woman was injured on East 138th Street in the Bronx when a Toyota SUV backed up and struck her as she stepped down from another vehicle. The report states, 'A Toyota SUV backed up. Its bumper struck her legs. She stayed upright, conscious. Her knees and feet crushed beneath the weight. The driver was distracted.' The victim, a 56-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her knees and feet. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The impact and injuries resulted from the driver’s failure to pay attention while reversing. No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732480 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A diesel truck reversed near East 132nd Street. Its rear bumper struck a 68-year-old man standing off the road. Bones shattered. The truck rolled on. The man stayed conscious, pain radiating through his crushed leg.

According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck was backing west near 650 East 132nd Street in the Bronx when its right rear bumper struck a 68-year-old man. The report states the pedestrian was 'off the road' and 'not in roadway' at the time of impact. The collision resulted in severe crush injuries to the man’s knee, lower leg, and foot, but he remained conscious. The report notes, 'Bones crushed. He stayed awake. The machine rolled on.' No damage was reported to the truck. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' and does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a cause. The incident underscores the lethal risk heavy vehicles pose, even when vulnerable road users are not in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718348 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man lay still on East 106th, struck down by a northbound bike. The street was silent. The front of the bike bore the mark of impact. No one spoke. He died where he fell, another life ended at the curb.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the intersection of East 106th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan after being struck in the head by a northbound cyclist, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:17, and the victim died at the scene. The report notes the front of the bike was visibly marked from the collision. The contributing factors for both the cyclist and the pedestrian are listed as 'Unspecified' in the police data, offering no further detail on driver error or pedestrian behavior. The narrative underscores the quiet aftermath and the fatal outcome for the pedestrian. The focus remains on the deadly impact and the unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A man on an e-bike slammed confusion at East 96th and 1st. The front end buckled. Blood streamed from his face. He stayed conscious. The street held him. The bleeding would not stop. The night pressed in.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike northbound at the corner of East 96th Street and 1st Avenue was injured in a crash, according to the police report. The report states that the e-bike's front end crumpled on impact and the rider suffered severe bleeding from the face but remained conscious on the street. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the primary contributing factor. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The report describes the crash as a head-on collision with confusion, emphasizing the vulnerability of the rider and the unforgiving nature of the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Two SUVs slammed together on East 141st Street. Metal shrieked. A 33-year-old man, riding up front, bled from the head but stayed conscious. One driver held no license. Speed ruled the moment. The street showed no mercy.

According to the police report, two station wagons—both SUVs—collided on East 141st Street. The crash involved a 33-year-old front passenger who suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The report states, 'Two SUVs collided at speed. Metal tore. A 33-year-old man, front passenger, bled from the head. He wore a harness. He stayed awake.' The crash occurred at 10:13 a.m. One of the drivers was unlicensed, as confirmed by the report: 'One driver held no license.' The primary contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' No evidence in the report suggests any passenger error or contributing behavior. The focus remains on driver actions—speeding and operating a vehicle without a license—both systemic dangers that led to violent injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695487 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04