Statement on Cyclist Death in the Bronx

Three Men Have Been Killed While Cycling in the Bronx in the Last Two Weeks

Statement of Transportation Alternatives' Executive Director Danny Harris:

“On Saturday evening, Edward Marrow, a 43-year-old father of two from Soundview, was struck and killed by the driver of a Jeep Wrangler on Pelham Bridge in the Bronx. Marrow is at least the eighth cyclist killed on New York City streets in 2020, and the third killed this month. Seven of the eight, including Marrow, were killed by drivers piloting large vehicles, like trucks, buses and SUVs, and all of the drivers involved were male. All three of the cyclist fatalities in June have taken place in the Bronx.

Marrow’s death could have been prevented. Even though 58 percent of Bronx households do not own a car, the Bronx has very little safe cycling infrastructure -- just 3 percent of New York City's protected bike lane miles are in the Bronx -- and the road where Marrow was struck and killed is no exception. Pelham Bridge is designed for driving, with four lanes for car and truck traffic and a narrow sidewalk on only the northbound side. There are no provisions whatsoever for people on bikes. In the first quarter of 2020, while cyclist injuries were on the decline in the four other boroughs, the Bronx saw a 62 percent increase in cyclist injuries compared to the first quarter of 2019. The Pelham Bridge is set to be replaced in 2022 with better access for people on bikes. We expect that in light of this crash the Department of Transportation will work quickly to ensure this project is completed on time, and that its cycling accommodations will prevent another tragedy like this one.

For a global city, New York's protected bike lane network is far behind where it should be, and we’re paying for the slow rollout of safe cycling infrastructure with people’s lives. We have to do better, and it starts with making sure the Department of Transportation has the resources and political support it needs to build infrastructure that puts people before cars. London and Paris didn’t cut funding for safe cycling infrastructure when the pandemic hit; they doubled down. 

Phase Two of the pandemic recovery is here, and hundreds of thousands are headed back to work. Transportation Alternatives will not rest until Mayor de Blasio fully funds his Department of Transportation and comes up with a plan to ensure New Yorkers in every neighborhood have a safe way to travel.”