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
Brad Lander: Bring on the Prospect Park West Bike Lane
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Marty Markowitz may have gummed up plans to make walking and biking in Park Slope safer and more convenient, but the Prospect Park West bike lane has a champion in the City Council. District 39 rep Brad Lander says he wants the project to move forward. Brad Lander. Photo: New York City Council "I support […]
Downtown Brooklyn Already Bracing for BQE Reconstruction
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Sometime around 2019, the state DOT will begin reconstructing the segment of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway that runs through downtown Brooklyn. There are years and years of review before a shovel goes in the ground, but when construction starts, local streets already jammed with trucks and car commuters heading for free East River bridges will […]
With Pedestrian Deaths Up, Mayor, DOT, and NYPD Pledge Safer Streets
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Pledging that "even one traffic fatality is one too many," Mayor Bloomberg joined DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and NYPD transportation chief James Tuller today to release new information on traffic deaths in New York City. In 2009, 256 people died as a result of traffic-related injuries on city streets, a 12 percent drop from 2008 […]
How Would Mr. Spock Design U.S. Transportation Policy?
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If U.S. transportation policy was a species from "Star Trek," you’d have to go with the Tribble: lacking any discernible purpose except to reproduce the same form with suffocating regularity. The result is a transportation network marked by car-dependence, exorbitant gas consumption, and high rates of crash-related injuries and death. Would logical transportation policies have […]
NYPD Precinct Chiefs Complacent in the Face of Deadly Driving
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Last night’s get-together on traffic safety put on by Brooklyn CB 2 had some pleasantly unexpected highs and predictably low lows. Bill Harris, a longtime CB rep, told the crowd that he loves the city’s new bike and pedestrian infrastructure, which he said is "humanizing the city." Shortly thereafter, CB member Nancy Wolf called for […]
Turn Out Tonight to Talk Street Safety With Brooklyn CB 2
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A quick note about tonight’s meeting on motorist-cyclist relations put on by Brooklyn Community Board 2. "Sharing the Road, Sharing the Responsibility" — a panel discussion with NYCDOT, NYPD, Transportation Alternatives, and AAA — is an important one for cyclists to attend. This community district includes the approaches to the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. If […]
Transit Takes Another Hit: $104 Million More in MTA Cuts on the Table
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Governor Paterson released a draft budget proposal today in which the dedicated taxes and fees that fund the MTA take another big hit. In a statement, MTA Chair Jay Walder said the budget would deliver $104 million less than expected for the agency in 2010. That $104 million comes on top of $143 million the […]
Tonight: Come Celebrate Streetfilms and Meet Veronica Moss
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Just a quick reminder: Tonight’s your chance to chat up Clarence, Elizabeth, and Robin at the first Streetfilms Spectacular. We’ll have snacks, drinks, and a Q&A with everybody’s favorite lobbyist, Veronica Moss. There’s also a rumor going around that the traffic-calming Sasquatch might make an appearance, but I make no guarantees. Here’s where to RSVP, […]
Electeds React: East Side Plan Should Do More for Buses
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Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, and State Senator Liz Krueger want to see the MTA and DOT take their plan for First and Second Avenues further. Elected officials gave plans for redesigning First and Second Avenues positive reviews today, tempered by the desire to improve the initial outline presented by the MTA […]
MTA, DOT Sketch Out East Side Plans: Separated Lanes for Bikes, Not Buses
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One configuration in the plan calls for a protected bike lane and a curbside bus lane. Image: MTA/NYCDOT The MTA and NYCDOT released an outline last night for faster bus service and safer biking and walking on First and Second Avenues. The redesign is the flagship project in New York City’s plans to enhance its […]
WNYC: East Side Plans Feature Separate Lanes for Bikes, But Not Buses
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WNYC’s Andrea Bernstein is reporting that plans for Bus Rapid Transit on First and Second Avenues include protected bike lanes but not physically separated bus lanes. Bernstein says the MTA would not allow the bus lanes to be separated from traffic: The city and MTA are poised to unveil a proposal for BRT on these […]
One Month After Fatal Bike Crash, NYPD Hasn’t Answered Key Questions
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NYPD’s F.O.I.L. Unit denied a request for information about the crash that killed cyclist Solange Raulston in December, citing an ongoing investigation after published reports indicated that the driver had already been cleared. On December 13, Solange Raulston was struck and killed by a truck driver as she was biking on Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. […]