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
No Summonses for DSNY Driver Who Killed Man in Crown Heights Crosswalk
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A pedestrian crossing with the right of way was struck and killed in Crown Heights Sunday by a city sanitation worker who was not charged or ticketed by NYPD. Gedalia Gruntzweig, 25, was walking with friends when, at approximately 9:08 a.m., he was hit at the corner of Carroll Street and Kingston Avenue. Published reports […]
Actually, de Blasio’s Vision Zero Blueprint Has a Lot for Cab Drivers to Like
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Bhairavi Desai may not believe speeding by cab drivers is a problem in NYC, but for someone whose job is to look out for cabbies’ best interests, there should be a lot to like about Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero proposals. Desai is executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. She has called automated speed […]
De Blasio Wants Albany to Make Careless Driving a Crime [Updated]
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As part of his Vision Zero agenda, Mayor Bill de Blasio wants Albany to elevate careless driving to a criminal offense, increasing penalties while making it easier for police to hold reckless motorists accountable. Enacted in 2010, Hayley and Diego’s Law was intended as a default infraction for crashes that injure pedestrians and cyclists. But under Ray […]
Rosenthal Wants TLC Licenses Revoked for Serious Failure to Yield Crashes
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Legislation from City Council Member Helen Rosenthal would revoke hack licenses of cab drivers who kill or seriously injure pedestrians and cyclists while failing to yield. Through a change to city administrative code that governs the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the legislation would require the suspension of the driver’s TLC license, pending an investigation, after a […]
Sneckdowns 4: Ain’t Snow Stoppin’ Us Now
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Since our last round-up, the sneckdown has drawn attention from publications as varied as The Economist, The Week, Fast Company, Village Voice, Atlantic Cities, and Treehugger. With coverage and photos piling up like so much traffic-calming slush, sneckdown emissary and archivist Clarence Eckerson posted a detailed explainer, dating the concept back to the 1990s. Meanwhile, the city […]
DOT Eyes Improvements for Deadly Grand Avenue in Maspeth
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After meeting with Assembly Member Marge Markey, DOT is planning an engineering fix for the Maspeth intersection where a senior was killed by a driver making an illegal turn, and is considering improvements at other dangerous locations along deadly Grand Avenue. Angela Hurtado, 68, was struck as she crossed Grand Avenue at 69th Place in the […]
Brooklyn CB 7 Working for Safer Streets in Sunset Park
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Community Board 7 in Brooklyn continues to emerge as a force for safer neighborhood streets. This week, the CB 7 transportation and public safety committees held a joint meeting to address pedestrian safety issues in the district, which encompasses Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. The board also sent a letter this month to the 72nd […]
Is Killing Someone While Unlicensed Worse Than Turning Without a Signal?
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After the death of Angela Hurtado, we wrote that aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree is “a go-to top charge” for prosecutors when an unlicensed driver kills someone. But the story of Orlando Findlayter suggests it’s a catch-all for any traffic offense committed while driving without a license. In case you missed it, Findlayter […]
80-Year-Old Pedestrian and MTA Bus Driver Killed in Separate Crashes
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In the last 24 hours, an 80-year-old pedestrian and an MTA bus driver were killed in crashes in Brooklyn and Manhattan. At around 1:35 p.m. Tuesday, Margarita Seda was struck by the driver of a GMC vehicle as she crossed Grand Street at Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, according to WCBS and the Daily News. WCBS reported […]
Brooklyn CB 3 Votes Against Saving Lives in Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill
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On Monday, Brooklyn Community Board 3 voted against a Slow Zone in a crash-prone area that encompasses parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill. Opponents said slowing down drivers would cause gridlock, and the board doubted that slower speeds would reduce crashes, according to DNAinfo. The proposed zone is bordered by Washington Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, Bedford […]
Eyes on the Street: City Can’t Keep Up With Snowy Sidewalk Complaints
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New Yorkers are told to notify 311 about sidewalks that need to be cleared of snow and ice. That’s what I did after I came across the 214th Street steps on Saturday, but as of today my request has yet to be acted on. Over two days after what was at the time the most […]
SOTC: De Blasio Name Checks Vision Zero, But Not the Transit-Equity Link
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Mayor Bill de Blasio gave a mention to Vision Zero in his first State of the City address. Near the top of his speech, de Blasio said: “Through Vision Zero, we have begun putting into place ambitious new policies to end the tragic and unacceptable rash of pedestrian deaths on our city streets.” That was […]