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
Do Not Collaborate With Hatred
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Andrew Cuomo and Chuck Schumer must refrain from making any overtures unless and until Trump conclusively renounces, with complete and utter finality, the racist, anti-democratic platform that he campaigned on.
Democrats Who Embrace the Trump Infrastructure Plan Are Suckers
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As painful as it is to deal with the reality of a Donald Trump presidency, if you think highways and sprawl are a terrible mistake, the time to mobilize is now. One of the first things on Trump’s agenda, after dismantling Obama’s social and environmental legacy to the greatest extent possible, is a huge round of infrastructure spending. […]
What Changed Yesterday, and What Didn’t
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America just elected Donald Trump, who got a foothold in national politics by fanning a conspiracy theory about Barack Obama’s country of origin, who ran a campaign premised on a naked appeal to racist anger and resentment, who shredded every norm of conduct on his way to the presidency. He’s going to occupy the White […]
Election Day Open Thread
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We’re a 501(c)3 and can’t endorse candidates for office. What we can do is remind people to vote. Judging by the lines this morning, New Yorkers are plenty motivated. At PS 152 in Brooklyn, the mechanics of the polling place seemed to be working fine, but it still took nearly an hour to cast a ballot. […]
This Week: Vote! And Buy a Ticket to Our 10-Year Benefit
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Only one day to go until this never-ending campaign season wraps up. If you want a short distraction from election jitters or you need a mental break from calling swing state voters, tickets are on sale for our 10-year benefit, one week from today. Buy a seat to support a great cause and give yourself a brief reprieve from constantly refreshing […]
Unlicensed Van Driver Kills Infant in Stroller on Astoria Boulevard [Updated]
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U/D Queens: Astoria Blvd & 93 St, Baby struck by a van, baby was pronounced DOA at the hospital, NYPD has the driver into custody. pic.twitter.com/gcKWhZiDVi — NYScanner (@nyscanner) October 28, 2016 A van driver backing out of a driveway on Astoria Boulevard struck and killed an eight-month-old boy in a stroller at around 10 […]
Cycling Is Up Across the Board in NYC, But Not Without Disparities
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The number of New Yorkers who regularly ride a bike has risen markedly in recent years, and the trend is especially pronounced among high school students, according to a report published today by the Department of Health [PDF]. While the general upward trend cuts across gender, race, and income levels, the data also show that the […]
Will the MTA Deliver Bus Service That People Want to Use?
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“You have to have a mass transit system that people want to use,” Governor Cuomo asserted at a transportation-themed press event today. At least he got that much right. Cuomo’s transit announcements tend to glorify grand edifices like a new Penn Station train hall, boondoggles like a roundabout AirTrain link to LaGuardia by way of Flushing, or […]
Good Riddance to the Prospect Park West Bike Lane Lawsuit
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The people suing to remove the Prospect Park West bike lane have given up, more than five years after initiating a lawsuit that nearly sank New York City’s bike program. In a statement, Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety (“organizations” that, to the best of my knowledge, now stand in for two people — former […]
DOT’s 5-Year Plan: Faster Buses, Smarter Parking, 5-Boro Citi Bike, Lots More
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NYC DOT published a new strategic plan yesterday [PDF], marking the first time the agency has refreshed its guiding document under Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. In addition to synthesizing a lot of work that DOT has previously announced (pedestrian safety plans, Select Bus Service routes, a wider Brooklyn Bridge promenade), the update includes several new projects and initiatives. The […]
MTA Teams Up With City DOTs. Which Transit Agency Will Join Next?
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Announcing @MTA as our first transit member! Innovative street design is essential for good transit service.https://t.co/NoHXoYTuyv — NACTO (@NACTO) August 22, 2016 Last week, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority joined the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the federation of local DOTs whose policy guidance and street design manuals are popularizing a more multi-modal approach to urban transportation […]
DOT Will Study Widening the Brooklyn Bridge Walking and Biking Path
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The days of pedestrians and cyclists fighting for scraps of space on the Brooklyn Bridge may be numbered. NYC DOT has initiated a study of expanding the narrow promenade, which is too crowded to work well for pedestrians or cyclists for most of the year. The Times reports that the city has retained engineering firm AECOM […]