Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Polly Trottenberg

Friday’s Headlines: The Polly Tyler Moore Show

News is all around, no need to waste it.

We won't speculate on whether she can turn the world on with her smile, but DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg certainly took a nothing day yesterday and suddenly made it all seem worthwhile.

The city's road czar invited the press to a simple ribbon-cutting for two new, worthy and exciting bike lane projects, but the event itself had lots of hidden gems that reporters polished.

Our own Dave Colon asked Trottenberg about whether new cyclists should feel comfortable given that most of her protected lanes don't connect to anything other protected lanes. Her answer surprised us, so we wrote it up. (Guse of the Newsuh played it straight, though pointed out some of the equity issues that we did, too.)

And Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez got laughs (but no headlines) by championing Trottenberg as a the secretary of the federal Department of Transportation if Joe Biden wins the presidency.

And would-be mayor Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams complained about the slow pace of bike lane construction in less-privileged neighborhoods — prompting an immediate backlash on Twitter, given the Beep's continued insistence that he be allowed to park his official cars in a public park. Here's one example:

https://twitter.com/BayRidgeDrivers/status/1324385700008071168

It was a great day. Now, in other news:

    • Two weeks ago, we asked the mayor if he thought that a police force that endorsed Trump could keep the peace in the event of post-election protests. The mayor said they would, but the evidence is mounting that he was wrong. More videos emerged from last night's police misconduct, including from freelance reporter Scott Heins, Wall Street Journal reporter Katie Honan, Gothamist reporter Christopher Robbins (who captured Public Advocate Jumaane Williams getting roughed up), and the Daily News's Brittany Kriegstein. The Daily News did indeed cover it, albeit with eerie detachment. At amNY, Mark Hallum seems to be getting tired of the mayor playing dumb on the issue. Gothamist Jake Offenhartz had a hot take:
    • Oh, and by the way, the NYPD official in charge of handling racial harassment was unmasked as ... a racist! (NY Times, NYDN, NY Post)
    • Trash is going to collect on city streets this winter because of budget cuts that we pointed out months ago. (NYDN)
    • Larry Penner is worried that the MTA won't make good on its promise to electrify the Port Jefferson branch on the LIRR (TRB). And if you're a Penner completist, check out his letter about the glory days of Brooklyn (Brooklyn Daily Eagle).
    • You know you're doing something right when Macartney Morris is impressed — as he is with the Crescent Street protected bike lane in Queens. But the advocate isn't satisfied because the lane needs more protection for cyclists. So take a minute and follow his link to send a letter to DOT.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New DOT Report Questions Daylighting As Council Bill Gains Steam

Is DOT saying cars blocking your view is safe?

January 18, 2025

Larry Penner, Federal Transit Official and Letter Writer, is Dead

The former federal transit official, who had a second career as one of the most prolific writers of letters to the editors of scores of area newspapers, died on Thursday.

January 17, 2025

BLUNDER ROAD: Garden State has Spent $1M in Failed Bid to Block Congestion Pricing

Jersey pols have spent big and talked big on their anti-congestion pricing efforts as their own transit agency has fallen into disrepair.

January 17, 2025

Congestion Pricing Gets Kids To School On Time, Data Shows

Data shared with Streetsblog shows school buses traveling faster and being late less since congestion pricing began.

January 17, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Fun in the Sun Edition

The mayor is going down to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Trump, eh? Plus other news.

January 17, 2025
See all posts