Friday’s Headlines: Big Victories Edition
What a day in the livable streets world. Just click on the headline to find out what you missed!
By
Streetsblog
12:04 AM EST on January 29, 2021
What a day for the livable streets crowd, eh?
It started when the New York Times previewed a big announcement from the mayor’s State of the City address — that the city had finally capitulated to advocates and would create more cycling and pedestrian space on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges. Despite the scant details, everyone ran with the story (including Streetsblog, the Daily News, the Post, Gothamist, the Wall Street Journal, amNY, Brooklyn Paper, and, of course, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal).
Then, later in the day, the State of the City address itself had lots of promises:
- Streetsblog covered the biggest news, obviously. (And, as far as we know, we were the only outlet that pointed out that the mayor’s 3,706-word speech did not use the word “bus,” “subway” or “transit” even once.)
- The Post focused on new powers for the Civilian Complaint Review Board and on a proposal to give communities more say in the naming of new precinct commanders. (amNY also covered that angle.)
- The Daily News oddly led with the already reported Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridge story.
- Gothamist and the Times took the broader view of the notion of “recovery.”
- City and State did a “by the numbers” take.
In other news:
- A judge blocked the MTA’s plan to cut token booth clerks because it’s a “service cut” requiring public hearings. (NYDN, NY Post)
- As we noted yesterday, the Council did indeed approve thousands of new street vendor permits. (amNY)
- The Times did one of its cute interactive features about the history of Brooklyn street addresses.
- At least Newark still has a Penn Station! (Gothamist)
- This is weird: Citi Bike is coming to Bay Ridge — but only a thin, two-block-wide stretch of the very top of the neighborhood, whose community board is notoriously anti-bike. (Brooklyn Reporter)
Have a great weekend. It will be cold.
This piece was the work of the Streetsblog staff.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Mamdani Budget Could Tank Queens Subway Expansion He Once Supported
Mayor Mamdani's budget funds a High Line-like Queens park that could prevent future attempts to revive a deactivate rail line.
March 25, 2026
D.C. Advocates Sue To Save Key Bike Lane From Trump
We previously reported that the Trump administration might soon move to dismantle key cycle tracks in the nation's capital. Unfortunately, we were right.
March 25, 2026
New York’s Forgotten 2,000-Mile Bike Network—And What It Can Teach Us Today
How a bold 1890s experiment led to one of the nation’s most-extensive greenway networks.
March 25, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines: Working for the Yankee Bus Lane Edition
Bx6 bus riders in the Bronx are getting a crosstown speed boost with a long-in-the-works reconstruction of 161st Street. Plus more news.
March 25, 2026
‘Game Changer’: DOT To Add Southbound Bike Lane Through Key Gap in Village
Going south on a bike through Greenwich Village will no longer go south.
March 24, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.