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
A 90-Second Appeal to Fix Woodhaven Boulevard With BRT
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The BRT for NYC coalition recently released this short video that succinctly makes the case for change on Woodhaven Boulevard in southeast Queens. If you haven’t personally experienced Woodhaven as a pedestrian or bus rider, it’s a good introduction to what’s at stake as NYC DOT and the MTA move forward with a project to […]
This Fare Hike Is Just a Hint of What’s to Come
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With the MTA set to raise fares 4 percent over the next two years, it’s time for the bi-annual spectacle of fare hike hearings, where political appointees absorb the brunt of straphanger anger so Governor Cuomo doesn’t have to. This time around, the proposed increase in fares isn’t that big — a larger hike was […]
Vance Serves Up Excuses for Failure to Prosecute Motorists Who Kill
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On November 14, the same day that Transportation Alternatives convened a national Vision Zero symposium at Brooklyn Law School, Fordham Law School held a day-long event examining the legacy of “Bloomberg’s New York.” Among the speakers: Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who sat on an afternoon panel on public safety. Streetsblog founding editor Aaron Naparstek […]
If Central Park Was Car-Free, New Safety Measures Could Be in Place 24/7
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Four major pedestrian crossings on the Central Park loop will be redesigned to shorten walking distances and alert approaching drivers and cyclists, the city announced today. The new crossing treatments are part of a package that will also lower the speed limit on the loop from 25 to 20 mph. Two people were killed by […]
First Look: Woodhaven BRT Could Set New Standard for NYC Busways
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NYC DOT and the MTA have developed three design concepts for Select Bus Service on Woodhaven Boulevard and Cross Bay Boulevard in southeast Queens, and two of them go further than previous SBS routes to keep cars from slowing down buses [PDF]. All of the options include some measures to shorten crossing distances for pedestrians […]
SF Voters Reject Measure to Enshrine Free Parking and Stop Livable Streets
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Voters slammed Prop L. It’s clear: San Franciscans want to put the automobile era behind us for a more livable city. @NoOnPropL — Streetsblog SF (@StreetsblogSF) November 5, 2014 In case you need a little pick-me-up this morning, here’s some good news out of San Francisco. Voters resoundingly rejected Proposition L, a local ballot measure […]
Here They Are — Your Car-Free Street Scenes From Marathon Day
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If you can get to the course early enough, marathon Sunday lets you roam freely, for one morning, on some of New York’s most atrocious traffic sewers. Here’s a look at how some people made the most of the car-free time. #marathonfunday Kids riding on Flatbush! pic.twitter.com/RSUtGAFJNr — Hilda Cohen (@HildaBikes) November 2, 2014 Fourth […]
Remember This Hashtag – #marathonfunday
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Quick, what’s the biggest car-free event of the year? Summer Streets gives New Yorkers the longest stretch of contiguous roadway with no traffic, but marathon Sunday might reclaim more asphalt — even if you don’t count the route itself, all the car-free side streets along the way add up. Of course, if you get up […]
Citi Bike Expansion Map: 375 New Stations for Uptown, Queens, and Brooklyn
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The rumors were on target and the wait is over for New York City bike-share: With new management and new capital, the system is on track to cover a lot more ground. Here’s the map of the expanded Citi Bike service area that’s in the works, courtesy of Streetsblog’s Stephen Miller. City officials including Transportation Commissioner […]
The Streets Ball Is Tonight! Get Tickets Online Til 2 PM
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The Streets Ball is finally here — our big annual benefit starts tonight at 7 at the Invisible Dog off the Bergen Street F/G stop. If, like me, you’re the type of person who always buys tickets at the last possible moment, here’s the deal: You can get tickets online until 2 p.m. today. We’ll also […]
The Growing Political Muscle of the Campaign for a Verrazano Bike/Ped Path
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This Saturday, close to 100 people gathered at the Alice Austen House on the North Shore of Staten Island to demand a walking and biking path across the Verrazano Bridge. And in a sign of the campaign’s growing political potency, several elected officials came out to announce their support for the idea, including Assembly Member […]
Eyes on the Street: NYPD Does Its Part to Fuel Brooklyn Bridge Tensions
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Embarrassed by two German artists who reached the top of the Brooklyn Bridge’s west tower this summer (or was it the All-Powerful Bike Lobby?), NYPD has adopted an ingenious solution: Put a motor vehicle on it! A reader who wishes to remain anonymous sends these observations about the new NYPD security theater at NYC’s most […]