Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Barack Obama

Eyes on the Street: Obama Takes Manhattan

12:14 PM EST on November 5, 2008

obama1.jpg

A scene from Midtown early this morning, after Barack Obama was named president-elect.

obama3.jpg

On the A downtown from Inwood, new passengers were welcomed with screams and cheers at every stop. It was standing room only by the time the train reached 42 Street.

obama4.jpg

New Yorkers lined the sidewalks in Times Square. Cars rolled through slowly, drivers honking, with passengers hanging from windows waving Obama signs.

obama2.jpg
obama8.jpg
obama6.jpg

Unlike Times Square, by 2 a.m. NBC's "Election Plaza" at Rockefeller Center had pretty much cleared out.

obama7.jpg

Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7: Brad Aaron
Photo 6: Jennifer Aaron

Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York'’s dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Promoted ArchivesGovernment Organizations

Forget Free Buses: NYC Should Instead Seek ‘Audacious’ Subway Expansion

The same billion-dollar outlay that Mayor Mamdani hopes to allocate for fare-free buses should be spent instead on rewriting the subway map.

February 4, 2026
Special Features

Wednesday’s Headlines Ran Out of Film

As part of its constant pandering to drivers, the Trump administration is barring cities from using federal grants to buy traffic cameras.

February 4, 2026
E-bikes

Op-Ed: Is N.J.-Style Bikelash Coming For Your State Next?

"If a doctor treated every patient with chest pain by amputating a limb, we would call it medical malpractice. When legislators do the policy equivalent, it deserves the same label."

February 4, 2026
Today's Headlines

Tuesday’s Weaponized Headlines

The Trump administration's authoritarianism extends to transportation.

February 3, 2026
Bike Advocacy

Commentary: US DOT’s Misguided War on Bikeways

"European genes do not produce some kind of innate affinity for human-powered mobility — [and] people on any continent will use bike infrastructure if it is safe."

February 3, 2026
Winter

Shoveling a Snowy Sidewalk Is An Act of Resistance

Shoveling a sidewalk in winter is always a critical act of community care — but in an era of government assault on civil liberties, it's also an act of resistance.

February 2, 2026
See all posts