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
Needed: A Federal Program to Boost Transit Service
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Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on Transit Center and is republished with permission. On March 13, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, the Federal Transit Administration responded to the emergency by enabling transit agencies to spend federal funds to run buses and trains. It was a break with longstanding policy. Normally, federal grants are reserved […]
Learning from Nashville’s Failed Transit Measure
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Ballot measures can expand and improve transit. But if Nashville is any example, it can backfire. Here are some lessons all cities can learn.
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.
NYC Reconsidering Safety Redesign After Rant By Crazy Megaphone-Toting Pol
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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.
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.
What You Need to Know About NYC’s Uber Cap
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The City Council is on the verge of passing bills that will help workers in the for-hire car industry and cut down on excess traffic.
It’s Time to Stop Tinkering With Bike-Share and Go Big
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Mayor de Blasio can say bike-share is available in all five boroughs, but he still can’t stake a claim to expanding bike-share as a real transportation option.
Uber and Lyft Are Overwhelming Urban Streets, and Cities Need to Act Fast
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Contrary to the story Uber, Lyft, and their peers like to tell, ride-hailing services are not reducing traffic in American cities. Nor will they, even if they meet their goals for converting solo passenger trips to shared rides, according to new research from transportation analyst Bruce Schaller.