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
Eyes on the Street: Media Envy in DC
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In Washington for the National Bike Summit, Clarence Eckerson snapped a shot of this ad for the capital’s NBC affiliate and its reporter Joe Krebs (described in his bio as “an avid swimmer and cyclist”). In January, Dave Alpert at Greater Greater Washington noted the astounding difference between livable streets coverage in his city, where […]
Tomorrow: Join TSTC in Thanking the City for Making Streets Safer
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To counter the full-tilt assault from the press and, as of yesterday, in the courts, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign will hold a rally Wednesday morning to thank Mayor Bloomberg and city transportation officials for making New York streets more accommodating to pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders. On the steps of City Hall, TSTC will present […]
Tell Electeds and the Media: I’m a New Yorker, and I Want Safer Streets
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Does Anthony Weiner really intend to someday rip out all the bike lanes in New York City? Or was his remark to Mayor Bloomberg “on a balmy night last June” merely a topical quip blown out of proportion in last week’s Times profile of Janette Sadik-Khan? We’ve queried Weiner’s office to find out, but the […]
Marty Golden’s Truck Safety Bill Advances in the Senate
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A little-known bill that could save lives has cleared the State Senate Transportation Committee. Under S.3151, sponsored by Brooklyn Republican Marty Golden, trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds that are driven on city streets would be required to have convex (or “crossover”) mirrors allowing their drivers to see what’s directly in front of them. This sounds […]
NYPD’s Selective Approach to Selective Enforcement in Central Park
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NYPD’s official stance on traffic violations committed by cyclists in Central Park is one of zero tolerance. At least that’s the word from Captain Philip Wishnia, commander of the Central Park Precinct, who met with the parks and preservation committee of Community Board 7 this week. The West Side Spirit reports that when committee members […]
Virginia Cops Flag Injured Pedestrians for Interference
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Car-free New Yorkers have plenty to worry about these days, what with their crazy notions of personal safety under attack from seemingly all sides. But police in Woodbridge, Virginia are upping the ante by ticketing pedestrians hit by drivers. Via Grist and TBD, photographer Jay Mallin tells the tale: two men, hit on the same […]
Pedestrians and Cyclists Come First at D.C. Street Safety Hearing
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“If we want to give meaning to multi-modal transportation … and if we want a vibrant city, then we must encourage safety for people who walk and bicycle.” That was Phil Mendelson, the city council member in Washington, DC, who chaired a hearing on pedestrian and cyclist safety earlier this month (as quoted by TBD). […]
Eyes on the Street: Breakfast in the Bike Lane
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The sun rose in the east today. In other news, a cycling Streetsblog reader found her path to work impeded by New York’s Finest. Attached is a photo I took at 7:54 this morning on the Broadway bike lane between 57th and 58th streets. The squad car parked in the bike lane contained two police […]
Traffic Safety Group Counters Red Light Cam Propaganda With Brutal Truth
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You’ve probably heard some variant of the saying “If slaughterhouses had windows, there would be a lot more vegetarians.” Well, if this video from the Traffic Safety Coalition were aired at every debate over red light cameras, there would be a hell of a lot more red light cameras. Brace yourself before you hit play. […]
East Siders Press Case for Traffic Enforcement to NYPD, Vance
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Residents of the Upper East Side, fed up with reckless drivers and reeling from recent pedestrian deaths, took advantage of an opportunity to make their case directly to NYPD this week. At a Monday night meeting of the 19th Precinct community council, reports DNAinfo, locals spoke of being afraid to cross the street, and asked […]
Levin Traffic Task Force Gets to Work
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A traffic task force spearheaded by Brooklyn Council Member Steve Levin and the Boerum Hill Association convened for the first time Wednesday night. Levin’s district includes several neighborhoods battered by traffic heading to and from the free East River bridges, and local residents have been engaged for years in efforts to make streets safer, eventually […]
Insurance Institute Study: Red Light Cameras Reduce Traffic Deaths
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A new study shows that, despite their supposed reputation as government revenue collectors, red light cameras are saving lives. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that red light cameras prevented 159 deaths between 2004 and 2008 in 14 of the largest cities in the U.S., and that 815 deaths would have been prevented had […]