The latest streets and transportation news from Streetsblog NYC.

Today’s big story was two days in the making: Our own Sophia Lebowitz covered Wednesday’s City Council hearing on a bill to ban the horse carriage trade in Central Park, but it took an extra day before opponents of the bill delivered their Trojan horse — a metaphoric statue filled with opponents of e-bikes armed to the teeth.

As a result, Speaker Julie Menin pivoted from banning horse carriages into a full-blown call for registering electric bikes, a proposal that has no safety benefit.

But it will certainly make Menin (and her pro-car pals on the Upper West and East Sides) feel good about all they’re doing to make streets safer.

Also in today’s newsletter: good news about the Red Hook Pool and very very bad news about the air we are supposed to breath.

Mamdani Will Rebuild the BQE to Last Until 2080 Despite Calls to Tear it Down
Mamdani Will Rebuild the BQE to Last Until 2080 Despite Calls to Tear it Down
By Kevin Duggan
August 24, 2026
Mayor Mamdani wants to build a temporary bypass road to allow for a 10-year, $4-billion rebuild of the BQE triple-cantilever.
Uber and Waymo Have Spent More Than $15M This Year Lobbying New York Pols
Uber and Waymo Have Spent More Than $15M This Year Lobbying New York Pols
By Austin C. Jefferson
August 24, 2026
So much for affordability. Big Tech spent massive sums to back it’s state legislative aims this year.
Monday’s Headlines: Time for Action Edition
Monday’s Headlines: Time for Action Edition
By David Meyer
August 24, 2026
Transportation Alternatives has called for a “die-in” outside City Hall this coming Wednesday amid impatience with the city’s slow progress toward eliminating traffic deaths after hit-and-run drivers killed killed three cyclists in the span of three days last week.
Hit-and-Run Drivers Killed Three Cyclists in Three Days
Hit-and-Run Drivers Killed Three Cyclists in Three Days
By David Meyer
August 21, 2026
Advocates called on the mayor to take action after a BMW driver allegedly struck Mamadou Diallo, of Canarsie, head-on before fleeing the scene.
City Floats Busway, Parking Maximums to Ease Traffic from Red Hook Redevelopment
City Floats Busway, Parking Maximums to Ease Traffic from Red Hook Redevelopment
By Kevin Duggan
August 21, 2026
Red Hook and the Columbia Street Waterfront could finally get a working bus as the city plans 6,000 more homes for the area.
City Comptroller Urges Mamdani to Cut ‘School Streets’ Red Tape
City Comptroller Urges Mamdani to Cut ‘School Streets’ Red Tape
By Poppy Wilkinson
August 21, 2026
Just 48 of the city’s 1,619 public schools participated in School Streets during the 2025-2026 school year.
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