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
AARP: Older NYC Pedestrians Concerned About Drivers Failing to Yield
| | 5 Comments
Four out of 10 New York City voters age 50 and older consider motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians a serious problem, and one in four say traffic signals don’t allow enough time to cross the street, according to a poll by AARP. As part of its 2013 voter survey, AARP asked a series […]
No Charges for Motorist Who Killed Senior Margherita Nanfro in Bath Beach
| | No Comments
A Brooklyn driver who killed a senior by crashing into her on a neighborhood street in broad daylight was not charged by NYPD, though reports suggest the victim had the right of way. The 37-year-old motorist drove into Margherita Nanfro as she crossed Rutherford Place at Bay 16th Street in Bath Beach at around 12:20 […]
No Homicide Charge for Unlicensed Curb-Jumping Driver Who Killed SI Woman
| | 14 Comments
A motorist who crashed on a Staten Island sidewalk was charged by District Attorney Dan Donovan with driving without a license and drug possession, but not for killing one pedestrian and hospitalizing another. On the afternoon of June 9, a motorist jumped the curb and hit 31-year-old Christal Aliotta and her 20-year-old cousin Stephanie Canecchio as they walked […]
Bus Driver Seriously Injures Cyclist on Hudson River Greenway
| | 36 Comments
A bus driver seriously injured a cyclist on the Hudson River Greenway in Hell’s Kitchen this morning. The crash occurred at 40th Street at approximately 9:42 a.m., according to FDNY. A man was transported to Bellevue Hospital in serious condition, a Fire Department spokesperson said. Hilda Cohen tweeted the above photo of a stopped NY Waterway […]
NYPD: 1,263 Pedestrians and Cyclists Injured, 11 Killed in Traffic in May
| | 7 Comments
Twenty-five people died in New York City traffic in May, and 4,621 were injured, according to the monthly NYPD crash data report [PDF]. As of the end of May, 54 pedestrians and cyclists were reported killed by city motorists this year, and 5,669 injured, compared to 64 deaths and 6,169 injuries for the same period […]
New York’s Top Court Exhibits Depraved Indifference to Pedestrians’ Lives
| | 40 Comments
In a decision that may hinder future prosecutions of killer drivers, New York’s highest court rejected the murder conviction of a car thief who fatally struck a Brooklyn pedestrian during a high-speed NYPD chase — ruling that the defendant showed concern for others’ safety by swerving around vehicles and people as he attempted to elude […]
4 Reforms Michael Ameri Must Make to NYPD Crash Investigations
| | 3 Comments
The Daily News reported Wednesday that Deputy Inspector Michael Ameri, who made street safety a priority as commanding officer of Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct, was promoted to head up the NYPD Highway Patrol — putting him in charge of the Collision Investigation Squad. As Streetsblog has reported in detail, NYPD crash investigation protocols are ripe for […]
20 Speed Cams Issued Almost as Many Tickets in June as NYPD Has All Year
| | 8 Comments
Traffic enforcement cameras are far outpacing NYPD in ticketing drivers who speed, run red lights, and encroach on bus lanes — pointing to the need for more automated enforcement to make streets safer. A report from the city’s Independent Budget Office finds that FY 14 revenue from camera-generated tickets in those three categories was $41 million, […]
New 78th Precinct Council Leader Has a Passion for Safe Streets
| | 11 Comments
Last month, Wayne Bailey was elected to head the community council for NYPD’s 78th Precinct, which covers Park Slope, Prospect Park, and parts of adjacent neighborhoods. Bailey is a veteran neighborhood advocate and a long-time volunteer with Transportation Alternatives who has been involved with the precinct community council for years. As Streetsblog readers know, under […]
Here They Are: Meet Some of NYC’s Worst Sidewalk Hogs
| | 15 Comments
We asked for photos of NYC’s worst sidewalk-hogging businesses, and readers responded. We relaxed our guidelines a little to make room for government agencies. In the arena of public institutions that show no respect for people on foot, the United States Postal Service and employees of Metro-North in Harlem deserve special recognition. Not surprisingly, car-related […]
Another UWS Pedestrian Killed as Safety Recommendations Sit on the Shelf
| | 31 Comments
A proposal for safety improvements on the Upper West Side might have prevented the crash that killed a pedestrian Thursday, but the plan was not acted upon by Community Board 7 or DOT. At approximately 11 a.m. yesterday a 50-year-old motorist turning left from W. 95th Street onto West End Avenue struck Jean Chambers in […]
NYPD Lied About 2009 Chase That Killed Brooklyn Pedestrian Violetta Krzyzak
| | 6 Comments
Court documents indicate police were driving in pursuit of a man when he struck and killed a Greenpoint pedestrian five years ago, contrary to NYPD denials and confirming statements from witnesses who told Streetsblog the crash occurred during a high-speed chase. Jose Maldonado was driving a stolen minivan when he passed an unmarked police car […]