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Even Fox News Digs Summer Streets
How much of a non-event was this year's Summer Streets in terms of media critique? In this Fox News piece, via Crooks and Liars, the story isn't traffic tie-ups or wacky spandex-clad elitists or howling business owners, but the fact that more everyday New Yorkers are taking to the streets on two wheels. Summer Streets, it seems, has become a mainstream event in just its second year. Reported the Downtown Express at the beginning of August:
August 24, 2009
Time-Polluting Daily News Honcho Goes Public
In Utah, they flip off forest rangers and wheel their ATV’s onto delicate wilderness trails. In the Virginia exurbs they lounge in air-conditioned trophy homes and write checks to stop carbon taxes. Here in NYC, they find their “Network” moment in a 25-cent bump in MTA bridge tolls, then ferret out toll-free routes into Manhattan and crow about them in the Daily News.
August 18, 2009
Congestion Study Sparks Clever Headlines, But Little Transit Talk
The latest edition of the Texas Transportation Institute's influential urban mobility report was released yesterday, prompting a flurry of media coverage focused largely on a faux-ironic theme that would do Alanis Morrissette proud -- the bad economy is giving us less traffic!
July 9, 2009
Bogotá-Gate
Step aside Jack Abramoff. In the pantheon of palm-greasing, backslapping political fixers, you're a pale imitation of Gil Peñalosa.
July 7, 2009
Fare Hike Coverage: We Know the Effect, But What About the Cause?
Ben Kabak at Second Avenue Sagas is on a roll critiquing media coverage of the MTA fare hike, which went into effect yesterday. Last week he questioned the coalition-building skills of transit advocates. Today he goes after the reporters:
June 29, 2009
Tune in Now: Ninth Avenue Road Rage Incident on CBS 2 News
Ray Bengen, the cyclist who was assaulted by the driver of a Ford Excursion blocking the Ninth Avenue bike lane, will appear tonight on the 6:00 p.m. edition of the CBS 2 local news. Ray just emailed to say the producers have confirmed they'll broadcast a segment featuring him explaining the road rage incident. Let's hope they do the story justice.
June 24, 2009
Brooklyn Carnage: Pedestrian Killed, Pedicabbie and Passengers Injured
A 65-year-old man waiting for a bus was killed Tuesday night by a 16-year-old male driving with only a learner's permit. From 1010WINS via Gothamist:
June 10, 2009
Poll Watch: Red Light Cams Lauded by Crain’s Readers
This graphic comes from an online poll Crain's put up last week, once the expansion of New York's red light camera program seemed assured. What I couldn't fit into the screenshot is the headline, which reads, in huge type, "Should NYC continue using 'spy cams' at traffic lights?"
April 14, 2009
Cycling News Photographer Catches Drivers in the Act
Wisconsin's Jeff Frings is an avid bike rider. He's also a photographer for Milwaukee's Fox 6, which may be why this report is among the most fair and balanced we've seen on cyclists' right to the road.
March 24, 2009
N.Y. Drivers’ Unexpected Ally: The New York Times Metro Desk
So the Times' William Neuman went out to interview subway and bus riders about implementing tolls on East and Harlem River bridges to help fund the MTA. Here's what he found:
March 23, 2009