Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.
Recent Posts
Cabbie Rams Cyclist, Severs Woman’s Leg, Investigation Ongoing [Updated]
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[Update: According to Cy Vance’s office, prosecutors are investigating this crash. We’ll have another post shortly.] Reports say the cab driver who maimed a pedestrian in Midtown this morning was arguing with a bike messenger, whom he rammed with his cab before driving 15 to 20 feet on the sidewalk and severing a woman’s leg, […]
Another Curb-Jumping Cab Driver Wreaks Havoc in Midtown North Precinct
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Three pedestrians were injured, two seriously, this morning when a cab driver jumped a curb in a Midtown precinct where NYPD has issued 10 speeding tickets in the last year and a half. The crash occurred at Sixth Avenue and 49th Street at approximately 11:19 a.m. Photos from the scene show the cab well up […]
Cyclist Says She Was Nearly Hit, Then Harassed, by NYPD in Upper Manhattan
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While cyclists in Midtown, the West Village and other areas have reported incidents of NYPD entrapment and wrongful ticketing this summer, a resident of Upper Manhattan says she was almost struck by officers in a marked cruiser, who then yelled obscenities at her. Our tipster, whom we’ll call Joan, is an experienced NYC cyclist. She […]
Jhonn Carlos Fernandez, 35, Killed by Motorcyclist in Washington Heights
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For the second time in less than a week, a motorcyclist has struck and killed a NYC pedestrian. The latest crash happened at around 4:20 Saturday morning, in Washington Heights. Jhonn Carlos Fernandez, 35, was walking with friends when he was struck on Amsterdam Avenue near 167th Street, according to reports. Accounts vary, but DNAinfo […]
Don’t Ask Seth Pinsky About NYCEDC Parking Development
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“The worst thing we could do is create projects that create a parking need and then not provide that parking.” That was Seth Pinsky, former head of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, in 2010. True to that philosophy, during his tenure NYCEDC incentivized and financed suburban-style parking in development projects in neighborhoods across the city, […]
Citi Bike Hit Two Million Trips on Sunday (That’s a Lot)
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In case you missed it, Citi Bike had its two-millionth trip on Sunday, 76 days after the system went live. Citi Bike continues to rack up phenomenal numbers for a program that’s just out of the gate. London bike-share had 810,000 trips in June, and just under 999,000 in July — roughly the same number of trips […]
Kenneth Yard, 65, Killed by MTA Bus Driver and Unforgiving NYC Streets
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A man who stepped out of his car onto Rockaway Boulevard was struck and killed by an MTA bus driver Sunday. Kenneth Yard, 65, was driving at around 11:40 p.m. when he began to feel unwell and pulled over, according to the Post. “He kept squeezing his head, his chest, stomach,” said his devastated wife, […]
Boy, 5, Among Three NYC Pedestrians Killed by Drivers This Weekend
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Three New York City pedestrians, including a young child, were killed by motorists over the weekend. Two of the crashes were hit-and-runs. At around 8:25 p.m. Friday, Kyrillos Gendy, 5, his mother and sister were struck by a hit-and-run driver in a Mercedes-Benz sedan in Dongan Hills. From the Times: Just before he hit the […]
Summer Streets, Week 2: Where You’ll Hear Human Voices, Not Honking
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Summer Streets is back for week two tomorrow. Expect sunny skies, warm temps, and laughter emanating from the Voice Tunnel. Oh, and no cars. The fun starts at 7 a.m. Readers report a long wait at the tunnel, so come early. Happy weekend, everybody.
Eyes on the Street: Who Will Protect the Protected Bike Lane From NYPD?
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Reader David Holowka sent these photos of NYPD breaking the law and putting cyclists’ lives at risk on Eighth Avenue, across from Madison Square Garden near a massive Citi Bike station. “Here’s the scene in front of the Main Post Office this morning,” Holowka writes. “I watched several cyclists diverted into car traffic. A nice tragedy […]
Misdemeanor Charge for Accused Unlicensed Driver in Death of Queens Senior
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A motorist who allegedly killed a senior while driving without a license, who police said was speeding, and who was reportedly wanted by authorities on another vehicular charge at the time of the crash, has been charged with a misdemeanor by Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. Rafael Diaz, 73, was crossing Atlantic Avenue in Woodhaven […]
Citi Bike Cracked Seven Trips Per Bike Yesterday (That’s a Lot)
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Citi Bike reached a milestone Tuesday. For the first time, NYC bike-share riders took over 42,000 trips, for an average of seven trips per bike. The last record-breaking day was July 31, which saw 41,895 trips. For comparison’s sake, London has never cracked six trips per bike per day, and Velib averages about five trips […]