The War on Cars

TEASER: More Motonormativity with Marco Te Brommelstroet, aka "The Fietsprofessor."

5 snips
Mar 25, 2025
Marco te Brömmelstroet, also known as "The Fietsprofessor," is the Chair on Urban Mobility Futures at the University of Amsterdam and an expert on cycling culture. In this riveting discussion, he presents a new study on motonormativity, revealing why society accepts the dangers of cars while questioning biases that favor them over cycling. He contrasts transportation cultures and examines the need for advocacy against car dominance, highlighting the delicate balance between radical and moderate strategies in social movements for urban change.
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INSIGHT

Motonormativity Study

  • Marco te Brömmelstroet's study on motonormativity, co-authored with Ian Walker, explored biases in how people perceive car-related issues.
  • They used crowdfunding to gather data from the US, UK, and the Netherlands, uncovering more than initially anticipated.
INSIGHT

Hidden Motonormativity in the Netherlands

  • Despite the Netherlands' strong cycling culture, car ownership is higher there than in the UK.
  • This, along with historical context and cultural factors, contributes to a hidden motonormativity.
ANECDOTE

Parking Privileges

  • In the Netherlands, free parking is often provided while bikes must be stored.
  • Marco te Brömmelstroet uses his own suburban housing situation as an example, highlighting how this reinforces car dominance.
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