Allerton Bleeds, City Waits: How Many More?

As congestion pricing begins, unions and politicians rage. They claim tolls hurt workers and raise costs. Facts show most commuters use transit. Fewer cars mean faster emergency response. The toll funds transit upgrades. The drama masks real safety gains for all.

On January 3, 2025, public debate erupted as New York City prepared to activate congestion pricing in Manhattan. The measure, set to fund $15 billion in subway and rail improvements, drew fierce opposition from unions and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who called it a 'cash grab' that would 'increase all costs in our daily lives.' The union for FDNY EMTs argued the toll would burden low-wage workers, but data shows 90% of commuters already use public transit. City officials, including mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia, insisted emergency response would not suffer. The measure's summary notes that reducing car traffic will speed up emergency vehicles and protect passengers. The uproar highlights the tension between entrenched driving privileges and the urgent need to make streets safer for vulnerable road users.

• Congestion Pricing Is Happening: Cue the Irrational Drama from the Placard Elite and the Suburbs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-03

Two SUVs traveling east on Burke Ave collided head-on. The front passenger in one vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe lane changing as causes of the crash.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles were traveling eastbound on Burke Avenue in the Bronx when they collided. The point of impact was the left front bumper of one SUV and the right front bumper of the other. The front passenger, a 49-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies driver errors including failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. The collision caused center front end damage to one SUV and right front bumper damage to the other. No ejections occurred. The crash highlights systemic dangers posed by driver failures to yield and unsafe maneuvers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778002 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 44-year-old male SUV driver struck a stopped taxi on Bronx Park East. The collision caused injury and unconsciousness to the SUV driver. Police cited unsafe speed as the primary contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:20 on Bronx Park East near Waring Avenue in the Bronx. A 44-year-old male driver of a 2022 SUV traveling south rear-ended a stopped taxi, also heading south. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper against the taxi's left rear bumper. The SUV driver was injured and rendered unconscious, with injury severity rated as 3. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the crash. Both drivers were licensed, and the taxi was stopped in traffic when struck. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of excessive speed in urban traffic conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777668 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck a 13-year-old girl as she crossed Allerton Avenue with the signal. Her neck crushed, she lay semiconscious on the cold pavement. No driver stopped. Sirens broke the silence. The street swallowed her pain.

A 13-year-old girl was struck while crossing Allerton Avenue near Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:00 a.m. The report states the girl was 'crossing with the signal' at the intersection when a vehicle hit her, crushing her neck and leaving her semiconscious on the pavement. The police report notes, 'No car stopped.' The girl suffered serious injuries, including crush injuries to her neck. The report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but it documents that the pedestrian was lawfully crossing with the signal. The driver’s failure to stop after the collision is a central fact. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 35-year-old man suffered a serious head injury after an Audi made a left turn and struck him in the Bronx. The pedestrian was semiconscious and complained of pain and nausea. The vehicle’s front center bore the impact of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:14 in the Bronx near 2407 Boston Road. A 2013 Audi traveling north was making a left turn when it struck a 35-year-old male pedestrian. The point of impact was the vehicle’s center front end, which sustained damage. The pedestrian was injured with a head injury and was semiconscious at the scene, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the pedestrian. No driver license or vehicle type details were provided, and no pedestrian actions or safety equipment were cited as contributing factors. The data highlights the danger posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767567 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

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

Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A 2018 Honda SUV tore down Wallace Avenue and crashed, front-first, in the Bronx. The lone driver, forty, was found unconscious, bleeding, his body broken. No passengers. No movement. Only the hum of streetlights and the wreck’s quiet ruin.

A violent single-vehicle crash unfolded on Wallace Avenue near Waring Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, a 2018 Honda SUV, traveling south, 'slammed front-first at speed.' The only occupant, a 40-year-old male driver, was discovered unconscious and suffering severe bleeding and injuries across his entire body. The police report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The vehicle’s center front end bore the brunt of the impact. No other vehicles or passengers were involved. The report does not list any victim behaviors or additional contributing factors beyond the driver’s excessive speed. The scene was left to the hum of streetlights and the aftermath of unchecked velocity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck traveling north rear-ended a stopped sedan on Boston Road in the Bronx. The sedan’s driver and an 11-year-old passenger suffered neck and back injuries. Police cite driver inattention, distraction, and unsafe speed as causes.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling north on Boston Road struck the center back end of a stopped sedan also heading north. The sedan had three occupants, including an 11-year-old right rear passenger who was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. The sedan’s 44-year-old male driver sustained back injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts. The report identifies the box truck driver’s errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Unsafe Speed." The sedan was stopped in traffic prior to impact. The collision caused center front end damage to the truck and center back end damage to the sedan. No contributing factors were attributed to the injured passengers. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving and speeding in urban traffic conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751238 - 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

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

Bronx council member Kristy Marmorato led a committee to keep parking mandates near new Metro-North stations. The move blocks plans to cut car use and build more affordable housing. Cars stay king. Transit and vulnerable road users lose ground.

On August 7, 2024, the City Council's Land Use Committee, led by Kristy Marmorato, amended a rezoning plan (no bill number provided) for areas near two new Metro-North stations. The committee rejected the Adams administration's push to eliminate parking requirements, instead voting to retain mandates and lower building heights. Marmorato argued, "We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities," and prioritized drivers over reducing car dependency. The proposal, part of the Mayor's 'City of Yes for Housing Opportunity' plan, aimed to boost affordable housing and transit-oriented development. Marmorato's stance, echoed in multiple statements, keeps parking at the center and limits safer, walkable streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the move preserves car dominance and its dangers for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Council Trades Housing Affordability for Car Parking Near New Metro-North Stops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-07

A parked sedan was struck on its left side by an SUV starting from parking on Arnow Avenue in the Bronx. A 5-year-old occupant riding outside the sedan suffered abdominal and pelvic contusions. Driver inattention was cited as a factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:52 on Arnow Avenue in the Bronx. A station wagon/SUV was starting from parking when it collided with a parked sedan, impacting the sedan's left rear quarter panel and left side doors. The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. The 5-year-old female occupant of the sedan, riding or hanging on the outside without safety equipment, sustained contusions to the abdomen and pelvis and was conscious at the scene. The police report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper awareness while starting from parking. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights risks posed by driver distraction during low-speed maneuvers in residential areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 15-year-old moped driver, unlicensed and inexperienced, collided head-on with an SUV on Boston Road. The impact injured the teen’s lower leg and knee. The SUV sustained damage to its right rear quarter panel. The crash exposed critical driver errors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:40 on Boston Road in the Bronx. A 15-year-old male moped driver, unlicensed and lacking experience, struck a 2023 Ford SUV traveling east. The moped’s left front bumper collided with the SUV’s right rear bumper, causing damage to the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. The teen driver, who was not wearing safety equipment, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor, highlighting the moped driver’s lack of licensing and skill. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. This collision underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed and inexperienced vehicle operators on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council members and developers vow to build up to 200 parking spaces per project near new Bronx Metro-North stations. Despite no city parking mandates, car storage dominates debate. Transit access takes a back seat. Vulnerable road users face more cars, more risk.

On July 10, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on proposed rezonings around new Metro-North stations in the Bronx. The matter, titled 'Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council,' focused on whether to require parking in new residential and commercial projects. Council Members Amanda Faris, Kevin C. Riley, Rafael Salamanca, and Kristy Marmorato all pressed for developers to include parking, despite the city's move to waive mandates. Riley called parking 'a huge issue.' Developers, including Baker Development, promised up to 200 spaces per project. Bronx City Planning Director Paul Philips said, 'We certainly expect developers to provide parking.' The debate ignored the danger more parking brings: more cars, more conflict, more risk for people walking and biking. No safety analyst weighed in, but the outcome is clear—transit-oriented in name, car-centric in practice.

• Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-10

Two SUVs crashed on Burke Avenue. One driver sped and changed lanes. Both men hurt—one with a concussion, one with a fractured hip. Metal twisted. Streets silent after impact.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Burke Avenue in the Bronx at 19:09. The eastbound driver, 22, was unlicensed and drove at unsafe speed while changing lanes. He suffered a concussion. The northbound driver, 36, was struck in the hip and upper leg, sustaining a fracture, distortion, and dislocation. He was conscious but wore no safety equipment. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as driver errors. The impact crushed the front of both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of speed and improper lane use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped hit a 45-year-old woman mid-block on White Plains Road. She lay semiconscious, blood pooling from her head. The rider did not yield. The Bronx street stayed hard. The blood stayed red. Impact left silence and sirens.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on White Plains Road in the Bronx struck a 45-year-old woman who was not at a crossing. The collision occurred mid-block at 2823 White Plains Road at 10:50 a.m. The report states the woman was left semiconscious, suffering severe bleeding from a head injury. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the incident overall. The narrative notes, 'The rider did not yield.' No other contributing factors are listed for the pedestrian. The focus remains on the moped operator's failure to yield, which led directly to the severe injury of the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734620 - 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