Longwood Bleeds: City Stalls, Streets Kill

Council grilled delivery apps on June 21. Seven bills target reckless e-bike riding, battery fires, and low pay. Lawmakers want apps to answer for worker traffic violations and vehicle safety. Pedestrians and cyclists face daily danger. Councilmember Schulman called for accountability.

On June 21, 2024, the NYC Council's Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection held a hearing on seven bills regulating delivery apps. The bills aim to address 'myriad health and safety concerns' from e-bike crashes, battery fires, and low pay. Councilmember Lynn Schulman, District 29, spoke out: 'Right now, delivery workers are essentially incentivized for speed... This often results in driving recklessly, often putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.' Three bills would make apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash responsible for vehicle safety and compliance, require them to provide safety-compliant e-bikes, and ensure mopeds are registered. Other bills target pay transparency and tip protections. Councilmembers Shaun Abreu and Rafael Salamanca also spoke in support. The measures seek to hold companies accountable for dangers faced by vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• Delivery apps in NYC could be held responsible for workers following traffic laws, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-21

A pick-up truck traveling east struck a parked sedan on Stebbins Avenue in the Bronx. The sedan’s driver, a 41-year-old man, suffered back injuries and shock. Multiple vehicles were damaged in the chain of collisions. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, at 12:15 a.m. on Stebbins Avenue in the Bronx, a pick-up truck traveling east collided with a parked sedan. The point of impact was the center front end of the pick-up and the left rear quarter panel of the sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 41-year-old male occupant, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock. He was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report does not specify contributing driver errors, listing them as 'unspecified.' Several other parked vehicles, including sedans, were damaged in the incident. The crash highlights the dangers posed by moving vehicles striking parked cars and the resulting injuries to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735518 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 33-year-old man suffered head injuries after an SUV hit him while he emerged from behind a parked vehicle in the Bronx. The crash happened at night with limited visibility, causing a center front impact to the vehicle and abrasions to the pedestrian.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:33 PM in the Bronx near 941 Intervale Avenue. A 33-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2012 Hyundai SUV traveling south struck him with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle when the collision happened. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver's limited visibility played a role in the crash. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and abrasions but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Longwood Avenue, Bronx. Both struck pedestrians not in the roadway. A man and woman suffered fractures and dislocations. Driver followed too closely. Both pedestrians seriously hurt.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Longwood Avenue in the Bronx collided while making left turns. The crash occurred off Southern Boulevard, not at an intersection. Two pedestrians, a 41-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, were struck and seriously injured. The man suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The woman sustained similar injuries to her abdomen and pelvis. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a driver error and notes pedestrian confusion as a contributing factor. Both pedestrians were conscious at the scene but sustained severe injuries. The crash highlights the danger of drivers failing to maintain safe distances and the risks faced by pedestrians outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733080 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Council and mayor strike deal to rein in last-mile warehouses. Delivery vans choke streets. Residents breathe fumes. Councilmember Alexa Avilés and others demand rules. New permits, pollution checks, and safety reviews loom. City promises action. Advocates vow to watch.

On May 30, 2024, the New York City Council and Mayor Adams' administration agreed to pursue regulation of last-mile delivery warehouses. The deal emerged during negotiations over the 'City of Yes for Economic Opportunity' zoning plan, which the Council approved. The matter summary notes, 'the administration has pledged to support future legislation to cut pollution from these warehouses and propose rules to restrict new facilities.' Councilmember Alexa Avilés (District 38) and 28 colleagues sent a letter demanding stricter oversight. Avilés and advocates want special permits and environmental reviews to protect neighborhoods from traffic, pollution, and safety hazards. Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer promised a bill empowering the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate warehouse vehicle emissions. Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. stressed the Council’s leverage: 'It gets to a point where you have to use your power of voting to get the attention of the city.' The City Planning Commission and Council must vote again before rules take effect. Advocates and councilmembers will monitor the administration’s follow-through.

• NYC's 'last-mile' delivery warehouses face a potential reckoning with regulation, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-30

A 14-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a southbound sedan on Prospect Avenue. The vehicle struck the pedestrian at an intersection, causing contusions and bruises. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old male pedestrian was injured at an intersection on Prospect Avenue when a 2016 Nissan sedan traveling southbound struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding, and no pedestrian actions were noted as contributing. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed collision. The pedestrian's exact actions prior to the crash remain unspecified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730589 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

A 63-year-old man suffered chest injuries and shock after a sedan struck him while making a left turn in the Bronx. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive, causing the pedestrian to be hit outside an intersection with no vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old male pedestrian was injured with chest trauma and shock after being struck by a 2013 Cadillac sedan traveling south on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx at 8:15 a.m. The driver was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection, and the vehicle sustained no damage despite the center front end impact. The driver was licensed and from Connecticut. The pedestrian's actions are unknown and not listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights driver errors in yielding and attention as central causes of the pedestrian's injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turning right struck two pedestrians crossing with the signal in the Bronx. Both suffered upper arm and facial injuries, left in shock. The driver’s inattention and inexperience caused the collision, with no vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 2014 Dodge sedan traveling west on Kelly Street was making a right turn when it struck two pedestrians at the intersection. Both pedestrians, a 23-year-old woman and an infant, were crossing with the signal. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrians sustained injuries to the shoulder and face, including contusions and abrasions, and were left in shock. The vehicle sustained no damage and the point of impact showed no damage, indicating the collision's nature. The driver was licensed in New York. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers even when pedestrians follow crossing signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726692 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A female driver starting from a parking spot struck a southbound sedan on Beck Street in the Bronx. The sedan driver suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries, reporting pain and nausea. Police cited driver inexperience as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:12 on Beck Street in the Bronx. A 2019 SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, was starting from a parking position when it collided with a southbound 2022 sedan. The point of impact was the SUV's center front end against the sedan's left rear quarter panel. The sedan's 51-year-old female driver, wearing a lap belt, sustained injuries to her abdomen and pelvis and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report explicitly lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing behaviors by the sedan driver. The collision highlights risks posed by inexperienced drivers maneuvering from parked positions into active traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721585 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

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

Council pushes for borough-based DOT teams. Staff must answer traffic requests fast. Response tied to need. Three-month deadline. Action targets slow fixes. Vulnerable road users wait less.

Int 0853-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 18, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating borough-based traffic request response teams,' requires the Department of Transportation to assign staff to each borough, matching staff numbers to request volume. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, and Rafael Salamanca, Jr. back the measure. The teams must respond to traffic requests within three months. The bill aims to cut delays that leave dangerous conditions unaddressed, giving vulnerable road users a better shot at safer streets.

• File Int 0853-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18