Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.
Ben Fried
Recent Posts
OPINION: Envisioning a Federal Program to Increase Transit Service
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It took the clarifying urgency of a severe pandemic to make transit service a national funding priority. But we need to do more, argues two advocates at TransitCenter.
Streetsblog Forever
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Here's what changed during my ten immensely rewarding years producing stories for Streetsblog - and what's still on the to-do list.
De Blasio Can Still Stop State DOT From Building Highway Ramps By the Bronx River
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So far, City Hall has watched passively as New York State DOT plows forward with a plan to cut off Hunts Point from the Bronx River with new Bruckner ramps. But the mayor still has leverage at his disposal, if he cares enough to use it.
Insurgents Topple Incumbents in a Democratic Primary That Bodes Well for Congestion Pricing
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If Democrats gain even a single State Senate seat in November, the political terrain for congestion pricing will look even better.
No More Empty Gestures — Here’s How de Blasio Can Really Divest NYC From Fossil Fuels
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Climate change is a serious threat. Selling city pension funds' stake in the fossil fuel industry to other investors is not a serious response.
DOT Now Reconsidering Morris Park Avenue Safety Redesign After Crazy Megaphone-Toting Mark Gjonaj Harassed a State Senate Candidate About It
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Alessandra Biaggi, challenging State Senator Jeff Klein in District 34, has come out in favor of the Morris Park Avenue redesign.
The Not-So-Great MTA Debate
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Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon managed to put on the most important televised discussion of the MTA among candidates for statewide office in recent memory.
Eyes on the Street: The Plant-Based Solution to Bike Lane Blockage
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The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership now has 56 planters maintaining the integrity of the Jay Street bike lane, up from 12 in early 2017.
How Hit-and-Run Drivers Get Off Scot-Free: They Tell NYPD “It Wasn’t Me”
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Evading consequences for running someone down and driving away is that simple.
DOT Aims to Beef Up North Brooklyn Bike Network Ahead of L Train Shutdown
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The plan will improve bike connections between the Bushwick bike network and Grand Street, but comes up short on Metropolitan Avenue by the BQE.
A Hit-and-Miss Debut for Dockless Citi Bikes in the Bronx
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Citi Bike launched in the Bronx yesterday with a small fleet of dockless bicycles and a lot of asterisks.
Private Trash Hauler Kills Madison Jane Lyden, 23, Biking on Central Park West
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A livery driver obstructed the unprotected bike lane on Central Park West, forcing Lyden into motor vehicle traffic.