Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Furnas

@bfurnas.bsky.social

2.9K followers 970 following 130 posts

Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives Former: @Cornell; @nycmayor. The greatest city in the world should have the greatest streets in the world. Views mine. 🗽 Join us! https://transalt.org/membership

transalt.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Ben Furnas @bfurnas.bsky.social · Dec 9

Incredibly excited and honored to join the amazing team at Transportation Alternatives!

The greatest city in the world should have the greatest streets in the world and New Yorkers deserve safe and convenient ways to get around.

Can’t wait to get to work!

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Dec 9

We're so excited to announce that TA is welcoming its next executive director: Ben Furnas!

Ben will join TA in January.

Ben, a white man in his 40s with brown hair, is wearing a blue oxford shirt and standing on the streets of New York.

22 15 190

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · 5d

New Yorkers are craving secure bike parking: this one small station has had 2,000 unique users in just two years!

More of these units — and larger facilities — will mean that more New Yorkers will have the peace of mind to try biking, without having to worry about theft.

Shabazz Stuart @shabazzstuart.bsky.social · 5d

Last month we celebrated the two year anniversary of Oonee Hudson Square with local BID.

Personally, on this journey I am most proud of the way that NYC communities have embraced our initial bike parking stations-- hard 2 believe that ppl were once skeptical bc they were afraid of blowback.

8 25

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Heatmap News @heatmap.news · 27d

Climate Week NYC is just around the corner. Don't miss our incredible lineup of speakers, including:

@bfurnas.bsky.social
@schatz.bsky.social
@casten.house.gov

Register for Heatmap House here: info.heatmap.news/heatmap-hous...

3 8

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Annie Weinstock @annieweinstock.bsky.social · 29d

I wrote about what should be done about Canal Street a couple of years ago. Glad the city is doing something but there is yet so much more that could be done.
medium.com/@reorientati...

1 2

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Sep 11

🚨 Daylighting Rally and Lobby Day September 15! 🚨

Join us, a coalition of street safety groups, and City Council members this Monday at 9:30 a.m., at City Hall Park.

We’re fighting to pass @cmjuliewon.bsky.social's Intro 1138, the bill to bring universal daylighting to New York City.

1 3 12

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Sep 8

NEW: Transportation Alternatives Calls For Investigation Into All Stalled Street Safety Projects After Corruption Charges Against Lewis-Martin

Transportation Alternatives Calls For Investigation Into All Stalled Street Safety Projects After Corruption Charges Against Lewis-Martin — Transportation Alternatives

Ingrid Lewis-Martin is facing bribery charges after allegedly working with the Argento family to stop the McGuinness Boulevard street redesign. McGuinness Boulevard is one of several street safety ...

transalt.org

1 5 32

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Sep 8

We had a great time yesterday at the Big Boro Bike Ride, celebrating cycling, advocacy, and community power!

Looking to join another ride? Join us September 21 for the Century!

1 1 3

Reposted by Ben Furnas

CM Jennifer Gutiérrez @cmjengutierrez.bsky.social · Sep 5

After a tragic accident on Scott Avenue claimed the life of 29-year-old motorcyclist Philippe Haussmann last summer, DOT has worked with the Haussmann family, advocates, local community boards, & our office to swiftly plan and implement safety improvements to the area.

Read about the plans below ⬇️

1 3

Reposted by Ben Furnas

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Sep 3

New research on the causes of irregular bus arrival times:

"The most significant contributors to the variability of headways are variability in schedules and dispatching at terminals." Bus operator experience matters, too.

doi.org/10.3390/smar...

2 6 37

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Aug 28

"It's City Hall's job to protect New Yorkers — not to sell them out to special interests. It’s a scandal that so many street safety projects are stuck in limbo, and that more New Yorkers are being hurt in crashes because of the Adams administration's inaction" - @bfurnas.bsky.social

'Safety for Sale': How City Hall Corruption Hurt New Yorkers and Slowed Bus Riders - Streetsblog New York City

Mayor Eric Adams's interventions into DOT projects at the behest of campaign donors hurt New Yorkers — literally.

nyc.streetsblog.org

2 7 13

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Jay Hightman @jay.hightman.org · Aug 25

My daughter Robyn was killed in New York City doing bicycle messenger work on June 24th, 2019 due in part because of unsafe road conditions. I fully support a safer McGuinness Boulevard.

@fam4safestreets.bsky.social
@familiesforsafestreets.bsky.social
@transalt.bsky.social

Robyn Hightman Found a Life on Bikes. In an Instant It Was Gone.

The miraculous and tragic story of a life transformed by cycling

www.bicycling.com

6 31 190

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Bike New York @bikenewyork.bsky.social · Aug 27

To make this a more effective safety strategy, it would help if DOT actually informed people this is a thing (old pic from the N Point St in SF)

2 11

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Annie Weinstock @annieweinstock.bsky.social · Aug 21

I teased some initial thoughts about the new Flatbush center bus lane designs with @nyc.streetsblog.org a few weeks ago. Now @walterhook.bsky.social and I have done an in-depth analysis. In short, there are critical issues that must be resolved.
reorientations.medium.com/designing-a-...

Designing a BRT on Flatbush is complicated

The details will make it or break it

reorientations.medium.com

1 2 5

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Aug 20

BREAKING: "If These Allegations Are True, The Adams Administration Takes Bribes; New Yorkers Die": Statement from Transportation Alternatives on the Alleged Corruption Charges Facing Lewis-Martin and the Argentos

Read our full statement here:

"If These Allegations Are True, The Adams Administration Takes Bribes; New Yorkers Die": Statement from Transportation Alternatives on the Alleged Corruption Charges — Transportation Alternatives

Ingrid Lewis-Martin is allegedly facing corruption charges after working with the Argento family to stop the McGuinness Boulevard street redesign. NEW YORK — Today, Transportation Alternatives relea...

transalt.org

1 4 20

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · Aug 12

A devastating crash in Astoria has left three people dead. I'm heartbroken for the victims and their loved ones.

We can't normalize this. It's time to commit to streets that are safe for everyone.

3 dead after car crashes into coffee truck, pedestrians in Astoria

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was speeding before slamming into the parked coffee truck.

abc7ny.com

79 510 4.2K

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Aug 12

There's plans to make Astoria safe, but they haven't moved forward.

In June, DOT presented on a street safety project for 19th Avenue, and local elected officials and community advocates have also also called for a comprehensive street safety plan. assembly.state.ny.us/write/upload...

assembly.state.ny.us

1 2 2

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Piglet @piglet.bsky.social · Aug 8

the peds beat the bus riders by *8* minutes!!! over 1.5 miles.

“Thirty-Fourth Street today and 42nd Street tomorrow," says @bfurnas.bsky.social executive director of Transportation Alternatives, one of the race hosts. great advocacy.

42nd St. will be danceable!

1 6

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Aug 8

People have been wrongly claiming bike lanes hurt business ever since the first bike lane was built.

But let's set the record straight: the data is anything BUT unclear.

Bike lanes:
💼 support local businesses
📉 reduce commercial vacancies

Gothamist headline: Astoria business group sues NYC to block new bike lane below subway tracks

2 4 34

Ben Furnas @bfurnas.bsky.social · Aug 6

A huge win - activism works!

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Aug 6

Coming soon to Midtown:
🚌 34th Street Busway
🚶‍♀️ Pedestrianized Broadway

After years of advocacy, transformative change is coming to the heart of New York City. We're bringing the successes of the 14th Street busway to 34th Street!

Ben Furnas @bfurnas.bsky.social · Jul 31

New signage on Bedford Avenue.

24 140

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Transportation Alternatives @transalt.org · Jul 17

Do you know a kid who needs a bike? A generous donor in Harlem has donated a bike that's perfect for a child around 3'6" to 3'9" tall.

Go to transalt.org/bikematch to apply!

3 23

Reposted by Ben Furnas

Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · Jul 17

The legal battle over the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane continues...

@emilylip.bsky.social explains the latest developments: youtube.com/shorts/KoQO9...