Aaron Naparstek
AARON NAPARSTEK is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparsteks journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. Naparstek is the author of "Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage" (Villard, 2003), a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the endless motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Prior to launching Streetsblog, Naparstek worked as an interactive media producer, pioneering some of the Web's first music web sites, online communities, live webcasts and social networking services. Naparstek is currently in Cambridge with his wife and two young sons where he is enjoying a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He has a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Naparstek is a co-founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition. You can find more of his work here: http://www.naparstek.com.
Recent Posts
If Congestion Pricing Fails, Rest Assured, There’s Always Plan B
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Copenhagen-based Flickr photographer Zakkalicious tells us that this cartoon was originally published in the May 1933 issue of Toy World magazine and also appeared in David Herhily’s 2004 book, "Bicycle."
Ad Nauseam: State Farm on the Humiliation of Biking to Work
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Drop what you’re doing, click the "play" button and enjoy 30 seconds of outstanding car culture courtesy of State Farm. The Scene: An African American actor with a shaved head, conservative gray suit and slightly stiff demeanor asks, "Where can you find me? At the intersection of gas prices can not get any higher and […]
Brodsky Presents Dems With a Choice: God’s Love or Al D’Amato
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Richard Brodsky is using this letter to rally opposition to congestion pricing. To get a sense of the issues that congestion pricing advocates will have to address in the State Assembly, download this letter that Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky circulated to his fellow Democrats yesterday. In it, Brodsky repeats the debunked claim that congestion pricing […]
We Win!!!… a Trip to Albany?
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This morning’s Crain’s Insider names Streetsblog one of the winners of Monday’s congestion pricing vote in City Council. While we’re honored, no one around here is spiking the ball or dancing in the end zone until New York’s famously dysfunctional state legislature is done doing whatever it is they’re going to do to the plan. […]
NY1 Poll: How do You Want Your Legislator to Vote?
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Beneath an ad banner hawking the BMW X5 sports ute ("with an optional third row seat!"), the NY1 web site is running a congestion pricing Snap Poll that asks, "How would like your state lawmakers to vote on congestion pricing?" Vote right here. Also Partnership for New York president Kathy Wylde is on NY1 tonight […]
Robots Against Congestion Pricing
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A Streetsblog reader on the Upper West Side of Manhattan tells us that he just received an anti-congestion pricing robo-call on his home phone. No word on whose voice was being used, who is funding it, or what districts are being called. This much we know: I just received an automated call opposing congestion pricing. […]
Queens Pols Rally to Keep Using Gioia’s District as Their Doormat
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Tony Avella, Leroy Comrie, Melinda Katz, David Weprin "and other possible members of the Queens Delegation" are holding an anti-congestion pricing rally tomorrow morning at 8:00 on the Queens side of the 59th Street Bridge, according to an e-mail from the Queens Civic Congress. Notably, Eric Gioia (right), who represents the traffic-burdened district where the […]
Rev. Billy Preaches Bikes & Transit at the NYC Auto Show
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Thousands of people flocked to the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center on Saturday. There, in the very belly of the beast, Reverend Billy and his Stop Shopping Driving Gospel Choir held services. That is, until the state troopers kicked them to the curb. StreetFilms’ Elizabeth Press was there.
The Onion: Feds Unveil $270 Billion Program for Bad Drivers
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From the Onion via Planetizen’s Friday Funny: Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters unveiled a new $270 billion federal project Monday to build special lanes for dangerous and careless drivers on most major U.S. highways. "These new lanes are for the millions of drivers who can’t be bothered with speed limits, turn signal use, or not […]
London’s Very Cool “Look Out for Cyclists” Ad
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Watch out NYC DOT with your LOOK campaign. Here comes Transport for London with a new bike safety advert called, Do the Test. Have you done it yet? You’ll spend the first minute or so having absolutely no idea what any of it has to do with traffic safety or cycling. But stick with it. […]
Details of the Mayor’s Residential Parking Permit Proposal
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Potential residential parking permit stickers, curbside regulations, and David Yassky. Here are some more details about the residential parking permit program proposed today by Mayor Bloomberg and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan: A residential parking permit (RPP) plan will be included in the congestion pricing legislation that will be introduced in the City Council and State […]
Mayor Bloomberg Announces New Residential Parking Program
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DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler (in back), Mayor Bloomberg, Boerum Hill Association President Sue Wolfe and Council Member David Yassky. Thanks to another 11:30am press conference in Midtown, I figured Streetsblog might be the only press to cover Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement of a new, citywide residential parking permit program. But, no. There […]