Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.
Recent Posts
Seriously, Why Is Anthony Weiner So Terrified of Bike Lanes?
| | 26 Comments
If Anthony Weiner has anything in common with his mentor Chuck Schumer, it is that he thrives on attention. And now that he’s created a niche for himself on the national stage as the unapologetic, in-your-face liberal congressman from Noo Yawk, he’s apparently gained a following of disaffected young Democrats who don’t necessarily feel represented […]
No Joke: New York Transit Riders Need Separated Bus Lanes
| | 9 Comments
It’s sad because it’s true. When comedian Mark Malkoff set out to generate some publicity by racing the M42 on a child’s tricycle — and winning — he illustrated nicely the frustration and indignity endured by hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers every day. In his smartly-produced video, you can see that, unlike a bus, […]
Witness Says Driver Ran Red Light in Crash That Killed Queens Pedestrian
| | 23 Comments
At least one witness told police that a driver ran a red light before a collision last week that resulted in the death of a Jackson Heights pedestrian, according to reports. In the early afternoon of March 21, Margaret Choberka, 82, was walking near her home at 32nd Ave. and 70th St. when the drivers […]
Tonight and Thursday: DOT Accepting Public Input on 34th Street Revamp
| | No Comments
Just a quick reminder about the NYCDOT open houses for the 34th Street Transitway, to be held today and Thursday. Though the initial plan to make 34th Street more accessible to the vast majority of its users has been compromised considerably, bus riders and pedestrians still have a lot to gain by making their presence […]
Cameras Reduce Crashes, Red-Light Running in Newark
| | 4 Comments
One year after Newark installed cameras at its most dangerous intersections, crashes and instances of red-light running were down by sizable margins. According to the Traffic Safety Coalition, the city has reduced crashes by 16 percent and red light running violations by 40 percent at intersections with cameras — a total of 10 across Newark. […]
Weiner: There’s No Need for “Warfare Over Bike Lanes”
| | 22 Comments
Queens Congressman Anthony Weiner has edged a little closer to clarifying his now-infamous “tearing out your [expletive] bike lanes” remark. Though he previously seemed to confirm what many suspected — that the Times, in its zeal for a juicy lede, turned an off-the-cuff exchange with Mayor Bloomberg into an indictment of transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan […]
Ad Nauseam Double Feature: Safe Subaru vs. Deadly Dodge
| | 16 Comments
If you’ve been watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which resumes tonight, you’ve probably seen this Subaru spot, called “Baby Driver.” In it, a distressed father leans into the passenger side window, imploring his preschool-age daughter to be careful on the road — stay off the freeways, put the phone away — to the point […]
Eyes on the Street: NYPD Cruiser Rammed in Park Slope
| | 7 Comments
Courtesy of reader Joanna Oltman Smith, this was the scene in Park Slope this morning, hours after a collision between a speeding driver and NYPD officers on Fifth Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets. Details from the Brooklyn Paper: One witness said the car was doing at least 70 mph when it tore through the […]
NYCEDC’s Yankee Stadium Parking Debacle: Who Woulda Thought?
| | 20 Comments
In news that should surprise no one, the taxpayer-financed Yankee Stadium parking garages have been declared an unmitigated disaster. Anyone could have seen the deal was a loser from the start — that a sports stadium served by subways, buses and a new commuter rail station, a stadium that would have fewer seats for fans, […]
Even Critics of Prospect Park West Lane Don’t Buy the “Unsafe” Argument
| | 2 Comments
The Park Slope Patch (an AOL publication, for what it’s worth) did a few word-on-the-street interviews on Prospect Park West, asking passersby what they think about the bike lane. Not everyone they talked to thinks the lane is needed — it’s about 50-50, giving critics a disproportionate say relative to their numbers. But note that […]
Miracles Are for Movies: No World-Class Bus Service for 34th Street
| | 6 Comments
Three years ago, when Streetsblog first wrote up NYC DOT’s proposal for a transitway and pedestrian plaza on 34th Street, we called it a “transit miracle.” For this story, however, there will be no Hollywood ending. The city will undoubtedly tout the latest design, expected to be unveiled today, as an improvement for pedestrians and […]
Brits Get the Clearest View of Park Slope Bike Lane Fight
| | 12 Comments
If you just landed in the city or you’ve been off the grid for the past eight months, you might be wondering what the heck is going on on Prospect Park West. To catch yourself up, dive into this exquisite piece from the Guardian’s Matt Seaton. Seaton’s blow-by-blow masterfully sets the scene: the controversial, effective […]