Chase Tralka
@chasetralka.com
Flight Instructor • Amateur Urbanist
Cyclist • Skier • Saxophonist • Jazz Listener • Oxford Comma User
Penn Stater • GW C̶o̶l̶o̶n̶i̶a̶l̶ Revolutionary
Cyclist • Skier • Saxophonist • Jazz Listener • Oxford Comma User
Penn Stater • GW C̶o̶l̶o̶n̶i̶a̶l̶ Revolutionary
One of my firmest-held urbanist beliefs is that full-size SUVs and pickup trucks (e.g., Ford F-150, Toyota Sequoia, etc.) should require a CDL to operate. This article explains why.
"based on the best available data, the model reached a sobering estimate: The shift toward vehicles with higher hoods caused about 3,000 deaths from 2016 to 2024.
The estimate is conservative in many ways." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The estimate is conservative in many ways." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Deadly Rise of Giant Trucks and S.U.V.s (Gift Article)
The vehicles on American roads have grown larger — and they are killing thousands more pedestrians, a Times investigation found.
www.nytimes.com
June 23, 2026 at 2:59 AM
One of my firmest-held urbanist beliefs is that full-size SUVs and pickup trucks (e.g., Ford F-150, Toyota Sequoia, etc.) should require a CDL to operate. This article explains why.
Reposted by Chase Tralka
Mayor Mamdani should move parking enforcement back to the Department of Transportation. (Giuliani moved it from DOT to the NYPD in 1996, so it's not as if this is some rule that was handed down from God to Moses.)
Today in Placard Abuse: The 'Lieutenant’s Girlfriend' Who Parks Illegally - Streetsblog New York City
Meet a driver who gets the gold medal for placard corruption.
nyc.streetsblog.org
March 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Mayor Mamdani should move parking enforcement back to the Department of Transportation. (Giuliani moved it from DOT to the NYPD in 1996, so it's not as if this is some rule that was handed down from God to Moses.)
Reposted by Chase Tralka
If you're cold, they're cold... NYPL edition.
February 24, 2026 at 5:15 PM
If you're cold, they're cold... NYPL edition.
Don't threaten me with a good time, John.
Billionaire John Catsimatidis threatens to close Gristedes chain if socialist Zohran Mamdani elected NYC mayor
Billionaire John Catsimatidis threatens to close Gristedes chain if socialist Zohran Mamdani elected NYC mayor
"Will Mamdani run the supermarkets with union help? When people start shoplifting, will he even have cops arrest them," Catsimatidis pondered.
nypost.com
June 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Don't threaten me with a good time, John.
I'm not a hockey expert, but leaving Conner McDavid wide open in the high slot seems like a bad idea...
February 21, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I'm not a hockey expert, but leaving Conner McDavid wide open in the high slot seems like a bad idea...
I've been thinking a lot about what the most-logical next cities would be for congestion-relief pricing and I really think Chicago and Boston are the best options. Both have good metro and regional rail networks, clearly defined CBDs, and logical geographic boundaries.
Congestion-relief pricing has been a big success in #NYC.
Car traffic is down, transit ridership is up.
Another city that could benefit? #Chicago.
With its compact core, transit efficiency would jump if cars were limited.
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/02/12/n...
Car traffic is down, transit ridership is up.
Another city that could benefit? #Chicago.
With its compact core, transit efficiency would jump if cars were limited.
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/02/12/n...
February 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I've been thinking a lot about what the most-logical next cities would be for congestion-relief pricing and I really think Chicago and Boston are the best options. Both have good metro and regional rail networks, clearly defined CBDs, and logical geographic boundaries.
I deeply, truly, passionately hate the Eagles, so I am choosing this moment to channel my anger at John Mara, Joe Schoen, and the entire NY Giants ownership and management team for squandering our time with Saquon.
February 10, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I deeply, truly, passionately hate the Eagles, so I am choosing this moment to channel my anger at John Mara, Joe Schoen, and the entire NY Giants ownership and management team for squandering our time with Saquon.
Caught the open-gangway C train today. The four high school girls who got on with me are shook.
February 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Caught the open-gangway C train today. The four high school girls who got on with me are shook.
Friendly neighborhood (recovering) cybersecurity consultant here: One of the easiest and best things you can do to reduce the risk of identity theft is to put freezes on all four (yes, four--don't forget Innovis) of your credit reports.
Data brokers can keep selling your social security number, says new CFPB chief
Data brokers can keep selling your social security number, says new CFPB chief
Bessent, a former hedge fund manager, reportedly “shut down” the CFPB.
buff.ly
February 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Friendly neighborhood (recovering) cybersecurity consultant here: One of the easiest and best things you can do to reduce the risk of identity theft is to put freezes on all four (yes, four--don't forget Innovis) of your credit reports.
Don't threaten me with a good time, Linda.
February 1, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Don't threaten me with a good time, Linda.
Such a fun evening bringing together so much of the NYC Urbanist community to hear @thewaroncars.bsky.social and @nerd4cities.bsky.social at Hunter College
February 1, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Such a fun evening bringing together so much of the NYC Urbanist community to hear @thewaroncars.bsky.social and @nerd4cities.bsky.social at Hunter College
Reposted by Chase Tralka
This is not helpful and will make no one safer anywhere.
January 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This is not helpful and will make no one safer anywhere.
Got stuck walking down the street behind a guy smoking a cigarette and it’s amazing that less than 20 years ago that was like an every time you went outside occurrence. The drop off in the number of people smoking is truly something we should talk more about.
January 28, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Got stuck walking down the street behind a guy smoking a cigarette and it’s amazing that less than 20 years ago that was like an every time you went outside occurrence. The drop off in the number of people smoking is truly something we should talk more about.
Reposted by Chase Tralka
Tell everyone you know: Do not rank Adams. Do not rank Cuomo.
YMMV, but I'm ranking Brad Lander first.
YMMV, but I'm ranking Brad Lander first.
I'm going to become the Joker. www.bold-decision.com/nycmayorpoll
January 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Tell everyone you know: Do not rank Adams. Do not rank Cuomo.
YMMV, but I'm ranking Brad Lander first.
YMMV, but I'm ranking Brad Lander first.
Reposted by Chase Tralka
CC SABATHIA
HALL OF FAMER
HALL OF FAMER
January 21, 2025 at 11:19 PM
CC SABATHIA
HALL OF FAMER
HALL OF FAMER
Reposted by Chase Tralka
Urbanism is the radical idea that people who are not in cars still count as people.
January 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Urbanism is the radical idea that people who are not in cars still count as people.
Reposted by Chase Tralka
There was less gridlock and fewer drivers traveling into the core of Manhattan, new data from the first week of New York City’s new congestion pricing program showed.
Less Traffic, Faster Buses: Congestion Pricing’s First Week
Early data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority suggests that traffic has dropped around Manhattan’s core.
www.nytimes.com
January 14, 2025 at 12:57 AM
There was less gridlock and fewer drivers traveling into the core of Manhattan, new data from the first week of New York City’s new congestion pricing program showed.
I own a car in Manhattan (UWS) and use it regularly (unfortunately, general aviation airports in North Jersey aren't the most transit-accessible). I do everything humanly possible to avoid driving into Lower Manhattan. Anyone who willingly does so needs a wellness check performed on them.
January 12, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I own a car in Manhattan (UWS) and use it regularly (unfortunately, general aviation airports in North Jersey aren't the most transit-accessible). I do everything humanly possible to avoid driving into Lower Manhattan. Anyone who willingly does so needs a wellness check performed on them.
Reposted by Chase Tralka
This is why you should call it decongestion pricing.
“I see a difference, definitely,” said Tony, who has spent 18 years as a bus operator for the MTA.
“There have been no delays the entire week, and when I look to my left and right down the avenues I can see all the way down – I’ve never seen it like that.” nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/01/10/m...
“There have been no delays the entire week, and when I look to my left and right down the avenues I can see all the way down – I’ve never seen it like that.” nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/01/10/m...
MTA Drivers: Slowest Bus in Manhattan Is Faster Since Congestion Pricing
The slowest bus in Lower Manhattan is moving faster this week since congestion pricing began, bus drivers say.
nyc.streetsblog.org
January 11, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is why you should call it decongestion pricing.
Reposted by Chase Tralka
Pulling for Penn State not because I hate this ND team but because I want to see @treblaw.bsky.social throw a hoagie into the sun
January 10, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Pulling for Penn State not because I hate this ND team but because I want to see @treblaw.bsky.social throw a hoagie into the sun
Reposted by Chase Tralka
Hey Siri, what's the Streisand Effect?
Please remove this fabricated post by our reporter.
January 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Hey Siri, what's the Streisand Effect?
The rapid success of congestion pricing has me thinking of the quote from the movie Apollo 13, “From now on, we are living in a world where Man has walked on the moon. It’s not a miracle… we just decided to go.”
Bowery/Canal at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge, where the gridlock has just disappeared
January 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The rapid success of congestion pricing has me thinking of the quote from the movie Apollo 13, “From now on, we are living in a world where Man has walked on the moon. It’s not a miracle… we just decided to go.”
This is too good. Mandatory reading.
I wrote about Car Brain, the people who cannot calm down about NYC's new congestion pricing toll, and the media that exists to make sure they never calm down about anything. defector.com/democracy-di...
Democracy Dies As Awful Man No Longer Able To Freely Drive 18 Blocks In Manhattan | Defector
It is not very difficult to learn true and useful things about the new congestion pricing toll system that New York City switched on last weekend, but it is much easier to learn untrue things about it...
defector.com
January 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
This is too good. Mandatory reading.