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
DOT Unveils Livable Streets Makeover for Approach to Brooklyn Bridge Park
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Last week NYC DOT presented plans for expanded pedestrian areas and upgraded bike markings on Old Fulton Street, which serves as the primary gateway to the recently opened Pier 1 of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The plan [PDF] calls for a new pedestrian plaza, treatments to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists crossing highway exits, and […]
Got a Job Opening? Place Your Ad on the Streetsblog Jobs Board
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I’m pleased to announce that Streetsblog is adding a new service: the Streetsblog jobs board. If you have a job opening in the fields of urban planning, transportation engineering, or livable streets advocacy, you’ll reach a talented pool of people by placing the position on Streetsblog. Posting on Streetsblog gets the word out about your […]
Brad Lander: PPW Redesign Process Was Open, Transparent, and Democratic
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Before today’s proceedings in Brooklyn Supreme Court, Council Member Brad Lander led a rally in support of the Prospect Park bike lane out in front of the court building, explaining the lengthy public process that preceded the installation of the redesign. Streetfilms’ Robin Smith brings us the highlights. Every day in court is an opportunity […]
PPW Bike Lane Case Adjourned Until July 20
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Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan rendered no decision today on the lawsuit filed by opponents of the Prospect Park West bike lane against the City of New York and Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. Bunyan adjourned the case until July 20 after the plaintiffs asked for time to review documents they recently obtained via a […]
For Nearly Two Years, Ex-NYC DOT Chief Has Undercut the Signature Street Safety and Sustainable Transportation Agenda of Her Successor
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Tomorrow, Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan is expected to weigh in for the first time on the core arguments brought by opponents of the Prospect Park West redesign against the City of New York. Ostensibly, the dispute is between the anti-bike lane groups known as “Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes” (NBBL) and “Seniors for […]
Eyes on the Street: Parking Meter Reincarnated as Bike Rack
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Hundreds of defunct parking meters are on their way to a second life as bike racks. Reader Joanna Oltman Smith sends this photo of DOT handiwork on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, where the columns of defunct coin-slot meters have been awaiting rebirth as bike racks for some time. Muni meters took over many blocks […]
CB 8 Votes For Car-Free Park Trial, Declares All Cyclists Scofflaws
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Manhattan Community Board 8 voted Wednesday night in favor of a car-free Central Park trial this summer, joining an increasingly long list of community boards in support of the proposal. My unofficial tally of the roll call had the final vote at 36-8 in favor. The car-free park trial has picked up committee votes at […]
Cuomo to Introduce Statewide Distracted Driving Bill With Teeth
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Andrew Cuomo said today that he will introduce a bill to toughen state provisions intended to protect people from drivers who text or use portable electronic devices of any sort behind the wheel. The bill closes loopholes and adds stricter penalties for distracted driving, which contributes to more than 10,000 crashes per year in New […]
Eyes on the Street: Huge Grand Army Plaza Ped Islands Under Construction
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Construction has started on NYC DOT’s project to greatly expand the pedestrian zones at the north end of Grand Army Plaza. The result of a years-long community-based planning process led by the Grand Army Plaza Coalition, these pedestrian improvements will reclaim a lot of asphalt and give people a much more direct walking route to […]
Casey Neistat Explains RCNY § 4-12(p)
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Well this is embarrassing. This video from Casey Neistat, of Neistat Brothers fame, is right in Streetsblog’s wheelhouse but went totally viral before we got it up on the site. Even the Today Show beat us to the punch. Still, it’s a good way to go out on a Thursday. Here’s the relevant city rule […]
Eyes on the Street: Chowing Down in Midtown’s Public Spaces
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Yesterday the 18th Annual Taste of Times Square filled up the crossroads of the world, serving dishes to throngs of people. DNAinfo reports that the event broke with tradition a little bit, and the vendors were better off for it: This year the festival concentrated all its booths on Broadway, instead of to placing them […]
Jokester Ulrich Welcomes Serious Discussion of Traffic Safety… Just Not Now
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Council Member Eric Ulrich, reportedly a top candidate to take on the suddenly vulnerable Anthony Weiner in New York’s 9th congressional district, kept it classy yesterday when asked to explain his own embarrassing Twitter behavior. After telling a constituent to “get a life” for suggesting that bike lanes and traffic calming can help prevent crashes […]