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
Hooray for Placard Fraud Busts — Now When Will de Blasio Address the Real Problem?
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Much more common than a detailed forgery are parking violations committed with real placards, or the use of informal signifiers of authority to scare away enforcement agents.
Placard Abusers Gravitate to Upgraded Inwood Crosswalk as Soon as the Stripes Are Dry
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This is just one example of how placards directly undermine DOT's street safety projects, which often rely on low-cost methods, like striping, that are easily circumvented by placard holders.
Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Cyclist Jeremy Morales at Nostrand and Church Avenues in Brooklyn
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Morales was at least the eighth person killed by a hit-and-run driver while biking or walking in NYC in 2017. Most hit-and-runs in the city don't result in arrests or tickets.
The Restoration of NYC Principal Parking Perks Reveals the Warped Priorities of Placard Culture
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In a pair of Bloomberg-era decisions, an arbitrator and a judge agreed that school administrators were entitled to free parking on the job, and said taking transit to work was a hardship for DOE employees.
Motorist Who Killed Matthew von Ohlen and Fled the Scene Convicted of Manslaughter
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Juan Maldonado killed von Ohlen in the summer of 2016. On Monday, a jury convicted him of second-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene, and reckless driving.
Witness: Speeding Driver Ran Red and Struck Cyclist. NYPD: Nah, Victim’s Fault.
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A Citi Bike rider suffered severe head trauma in a collision that NYPD claims he caused. But the only witness interviewed in the press says the victim was following the rules.
NYC Drivers Injured 970 Pedestrians and Cyclists in August, and Killed Seven
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City Hall reported 81 pedestrians and cyclists killed by city motorists through August, and 9,060 injured, compared to 100 deaths and 9,850 injuries in the first eight months of 2016.
People Are Dying Because Cuomo’s Leaderless DMV Is Failing to Regulate Dangerous Motorists
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The New York State DMV, which has been without a commissioner for years, is refusing to answer questions about this week's deadly Queens bus crash.
State Lawmakers Are Failing at MTA Oversight
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In 2016, neither the Assembly nor the State Senate held a single oversight hearing about the decline of NYC transit service.
De Blasio’s No Leader on Transportation and Climate
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The mayor's strategy on climate policy lacks an essential quality of leadership: courage.
NYPD: “No Criminality Suspected” After Turning Box Truck Driver Kills Cyclist in Tribeca
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Yan Jindee was one of four cyclists killed or severely injured by New York City drivers in five days. Transportation Alternatives issued a statement calling on Mayor de Blasio to build more protected bike lanes.
Dump Truck Driver Pleads to Misdemeanor for Killing Woman Outside Javits Center
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Carlos Torres hit Elise Lachowyn as he turned from W. 37th Street onto 11th Avenue. The truck was registered in New Jersey, making it exempt from New York’s crossover mirror requirement.