Peter D. Norton

Peter Norton, a historian and author of Fighting Traffic, joins producer Ilana Strauss to discuss the transformation of American streets in the early 20th century. They explore public outrage over automobile-related fatalities, revealing how car companies strategically reshaped city planning. Norton shares insights on protests and key figures like Walter Pentlarge, who fought for speed governors. The duo uncovers how corporate interests made cars a necessity, leading to a culture where pedestrians became secondary to traffic flow.

Historian Peter Norton, known for his insights on America’s automotive history, delves into the early 20th century's struggle between pedestrians and cars. He recounts the public outrage over rising traffic fatalities in the 1920s and the push for safety measures like speed governors. Norton highlights the collaboration between a car salesman and a traffic expert which led to reengineering city streets for cars, prioritizing vehicles over pedestrians, and ultimately reshaping American urban landscapes to foster car dependency.

Peter Norton, a historian of technology and associate professor at the University of Virginia, explores the fascinating history of roads and their early users. He reveals that highways were once designed for bicycles, not cars. The conversation highlights how innovations like scooters and roller skates challenged road norms and how societal attitudes shifted towards cars. Norton argues that current scooter trends reflect a lack of efficient mobility options in cities, pushing for designs that accommodate bikes, scooters, and pedestrians over vehicles.