Steel Wins, Kids Lose—Lower the Limit Now

A Yamaha motorcycle struck an Acura SUV at East 237th and Furman. The rider flew, hip crushed, blood on asphalt. No helmet. Speed unforgiving. Semiconscious, he lay broken as the street swallowed the night.

According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle collided with the side of an Acura SUV at the intersection of East 237th Street and Furman Avenue in the Bronx around 9:30 p.m. The report states, 'A Yamaha slammed the side of an Acura. The rider flew. No helmet. Hip crushed. Blood on asphalt. Semiconscious. Speed too fast.' The listed contributing factor is 'Unsafe Speed.' The motorcycle rider, a 42-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe hip and upper leg injuries, described as 'crush injuries,' and was found semiconscious at the scene. The police report notes the absence of a helmet but cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The SUV, traveling north, sustained damage to its left side doors. No injuries to SUV occupants are reported. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when speed overwhelms city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi struck a sedan on East 234 Street in the Bronx. The collision hit the sedan’s left side doors, injuring a 39-year-old rear passenger. The passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash, left shaken and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:56 on East 234 Street in the Bronx. A 2022 taxi traveling west collided with a 2014 sedan traveling south. The taxi impacted the sedan’s left side doors with its center front end. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. A 39-year-old male rear passenger in the sedan was injured, suffering head trauma and whiplash. He was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report emphasizes the driver error of disregarding traffic control as the cause of the collision and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723670 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV turned left, struck motorcycle head-on. Rider thrown, suffered concussion and facial wounds. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The street ran red with risk.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling south on White Plains Road near East 241 Street in the Bronx made a left turn and collided head-on with a northbound motorcycle. The impact demolished the motorcycle. The 23-year-old motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and suffered facial injuries and a concussion, entering shock. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, pointing to critical errors by the SUV driver. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper and quarter panel. No contributing factors were attributed to the motorcyclist. The crash left one vulnerable road user badly hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup swung left across White Plains Road. A motorbike charged straight. Steel clashed. A 25-year-old man slammed down, helmeted but bleeding, sprawled and silent on the hard city street.

According to the police report, a pickup truck attempted a left turn on White Plains Road as a motorbike traveled straight through the intersection. The vehicles collided, with the pickup's right front bumper striking the center front end of the motorbike. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, highlighting driver errors that led to the crash. The 25-year-old motorbike rider suffered severe bleeding and was found unconscious, with injuries to his entire body. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'His helmet stayed on. His blood did not. He lay still, broken across the road’s hard face.' The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic control and misuse lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722051 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany passed Sammy’s Law. The city can now set lower speed limits. Lawmakers carved out wide roads, leaving many deadly corridors untouched. Advocates fought for years. Families of crash victims cheered. The fight for safer streets is not over.

Sammy’s Law, passed on April 22, 2024, as part of New York’s $273-billion state budget, grants New York City the authority to set its own speed limits on most roads. The bill, long blocked by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, finally moved forward under Governor Kathy Hochul’s push. The measure, described as 'a significant legislative achievement,' excludes roads outside Manhattan with three or more travel lanes in one direction—a concession to car-centric lawmakers. The law requires community board notification and comment, but their input is only advisory. Families of road violence victims and street safety advocates celebrated the win. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, Transportation Chair, conditioned her support on street redesigns in underserved neighborhoods. The law’s carve-out leaves many of the city’s deadliest roads unchanged, withholding proven safety benefits from major thoroughfares.

• Behind the Scenes: How Gov. Hochul Got ‘Sammy’s Law’ Over the Finish Line, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-22

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 orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...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, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Red-light running kills. Twenty-nine dead last year. Highest ever. Reckless drivers surge post-pandemic. City report demands more cameras—jump from 150 to 1,325 intersections. Officials back the bill. Victims’ families demand action. Cameras cut crashes. But the most dangerous drivers remain loose.

On March 20, 2024, the Department of Transportation released a report urging passage of a bill to expand New York City’s red-light camera program. The bill, supported by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and sponsored by State Senator Andrew Goundardes, would boost camera coverage from 150 to 1,325 intersections—about 10% of the city’s 13,700 signals. The report states: “Expanding the number of intersections with red light cameras... could substantially enhance the deterrent effect of the program and return New York City to the consistently downward trend of red light-running behavior we had seen prior to the pandemic.” Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz also supports expansion, calling for cameras at every intersection. The DOT notes that cameras have slashed T-bone crashes by 65% and rear-end collisions by 49% at monitored sites, but the statutory cap blocks broader safety gains. Relatives of crash victims joined the call, demanding the city confront driver negligence and protect the community.

• DOT Report: Rise in Red Light Running Shows Need for More Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-20

The Assembly refused to include Sammy’s Law in the state budget. The bill would let New York City lower its speed limit to 20 mph. Advocates, families, and city leaders back it. The Assembly’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed. Grief and anger mount.

On March 13, 2024, the New York State Assembly declined to advance Sammy’s Law (no bill number cited), which would let New York City set its own speed limit. The measure was left out of the Assembly’s budget, despite support from the State Senate, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the City Council. The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, did not comment. The Assembly’s move angered advocates and families, including Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets, who said, 'We are very disappointed that the Assembly didn’t follow suit.' Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the decision a failure to join 'more than 130 unions, hospitals, business leaders, and community-led organizations that recognize the urgent need for this common-sense legislation.' The Assembly’s inaction keeps city streets dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. A rally is planned to push for the bill’s passage.

• Déjà-Vu All Over Again: Assembly Balks on ‘Sammy’s Law,’ Bill Sponsor Silent, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-13

A sedan sped through East 239 Street and hit a Lime scooter. The scooter rider, age 22, suffered leg abrasions. Police cited the sedan driver for ignoring traffic control and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, a 2009 Honda sedan traveling north on East 239 Street collided with a westbound Lime scooter near Bronx Boulevard at 12:38 a.m. The sedan struck the scooter's left front bumper. The scooter rider, a 22-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. No contributing factors were attributed to the scooter rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709707 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

A 78-year-old man crossing White Plains Road was hit by a westbound pick-up truck. The impact struck his chest, causing abrasions and moderate injury. The driver’s inexperience contributed to the crash, with no vehicle damage reported.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing White Plains Road outside an intersection. The pedestrian was struck by the right front bumper of a 2023 Chevrolet pick-up truck traveling westbound. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor to the collision. The pedestrian suffered chest injuries and abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed in New York and was the sole occupant of the vehicle. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver inexperience in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710232 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A collision on Carpenter Avenue in the Bronx injured a front-seat passenger. The crash involved a pick-up truck and an SUV driven without a license. The SUV driver disregarded traffic controls, causing a violent impact that bruised the passenger’s head.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:12 AM on Carpenter Avenue in the Bronx. The collision involved two vehicles: a 2023 pick-up truck traveling east and a 2011 SUV traveling south. The SUV driver was unlicensed and failed to obey traffic control, a critical driver error cited in the report. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV and the center front end of the pick-up truck. A 31-year-old male front passenger in the SUV sustained a head contusion and was injured but remained conscious. He was secured by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger’s behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers disregarding traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 27-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and suffered a severe elbow injury after a sedan failed to yield right-of-way on Monticello Avenue. The cyclist was wearing a helmet but was left incoherent at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:30 PM on Monticello Avenue in the Bronx. A 27-year-old male bicyclist, traveling north and wearing a helmet, was partially ejected from his bike and sustained a fracture and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report identifies the contributing factor as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the sedan driver, who was going straight ahead. The bicyclist was incoherent after the impact, highlighting the severity of the collision. The sedan, a 2022 Toyota registered in New Jersey, was also traveling straight ahead. The bicyclist was unlicensed but this was not cited as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Members Marte and Dinowitz push for covered bike parking in parks and city buildings. The bill demands weather-proof shelters and storage, aiming to meet the city’s cycling surge. Lawmakers want fewer cars, more bikes, and safer streets for all.

On February 29, 2024, Council Member Chris Marte introduced a bill in the New York City Council requiring covered bike parking in parks and city-owned buildings. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Member Eric Dinowitz, is under committee review. The legislation states, 'the city would have to install between one and five weather-proof enclosures with six to eight spaces apiece, depending on the size of the park.' Parks over 2.5 acres must have at least one shelter; parks over 250 acres need five. City buildings over 10,000 square feet, including public schools, must provide bike storage for workers and visitors. Marte said, 'If we want to get off the reliance of people commuting by car, we have to offer them alternative ways to get there.' The Parks Department and city agencies must report on implementation or explain impracticality. This bill targets safer, more accessible bike infrastructure for New Yorkers.

• Pols Want Covered Bike Parking at Parks, City Buildings, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-29

Albany leaders raid transit funds to pay drivers. Advocates rage. Sixteen groups demand OBTA money fix buses and trains, not bankroll toll rebates. Lawmakers ignore pleas. Millions outside Manhattan lose. Streets stay deadly. Transit riders wait. Cars win.

On February 23, 2024, sixteen advocacy groups sent a letter to Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. They condemned the use of Outer Borough Transit Account (OBTA) funds for toll rebates instead of transit improvements. The OBTA, created in 2018 from a surcharge on Manhattan taxi and for-hire rides, was meant to boost transit service or lower fares outside Manhattan. Yet, $22.2 million has gone to toll rebates for drivers in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Only one transit project—the Far Rockaway City Ticket—has seen funding. Riders Alliance Director Danny Pearlstein said, “The Outer Borough Transit Account should clearly also help the millions of people outside Manhattan who don't have cars and who depend on public transit.” Lawmakers have not responded. Vulnerable road users—bus riders, train passengers, pedestrians—remain sidelined as car subsidies persist.

• Advocates Slam Albany Pols for Using Transit Fund to Encourage Driving, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-23

A turning sedan struck a parked car on White Plains Road. The driver, a 37-year-old woman, suffered facial wounds and shock. Police cited driver inexperience. Metal twisted. Blood spilled. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn on White Plains Road near East 233 Street in the Bronx crashed into a parked sedan at 18:53. The driver, a 37-year-old woman, was injured with facial wounds and minor bleeding and experienced shock. Police listed 'Driver Inexperience' as the contributing factor. The impact crushed the center front of the moving car and the center back of the parked car. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim actions were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703465 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13