The War on Cars

This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, plus ad-free versions of regular episodes, merch discounts, pre-sale tickets to live shows and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. Last month we had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Ray Delahanty, aka City Nerd on YouTube, for a live show presented by the Hunter College School of Urban Policy & Planning in New York. Our conversation with Ray covered everything from New York City exceptionalism to the latest data about congestion pricing. Plus, we surveyed the audience about their transportation choices and answered questions from Patreon supporters. We're big fans of City Nerd and were so delighted to work with Ray on this live show. We love partnering with local advocacy organizations, non-profits, and educational institutions for live events, so if you'd like to host The War on Cars in your city, please reach out! Subscribe on Patreon for access to the entire episode.

Join Rollie Williams, host of Climate Town, and Nicole Conlan, writer at The Daily Show, as they dissect how Super Bowl ads reflect our cultural climate. They tackle the decreasing focus on car commercials, the absurdity and humor in advertisements, and the evolving messages surrounding race and inclusion in the NFL. Their insights cover the juxtaposition of urban versus suburban living, the challenges of raising families in cities, and the critique of nostalgia in marketing all amidst a pressing climate crisis.

Donald Shoup, a celebrated urban planner and professor emeritus at UCLA, shares his insights on parking policies and their profound effects on cities. He critiques minimum parking requirements that inflate housing costs and worsen climate issues. Shoup advocates for a movement to eliminate these subsidies, emphasizing flexible planning models and parking benefit districts. The discussion highlights innovative solutions for a fairer commuting experience, including 'parking cash out,' and underscores the need for equitable reform in urban spaces.

This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, plus ad-free versions of regular episodes, merch discounts, pre-sale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. You’ve probably heard us talking about how we have written a book that will be coming out this fall. We are super excited to share more about that very soon. We’ve spent a lot of the last year in the research and writing process. And what became apparent very soon was that there were a lot of things that we weren’t going to be able to fit into the book, no matter how hard we tried. So we put together a little bonus episode for you on one of the fascinating things we found that just didn’t make the final draft.  It’s a book called The Romance of the Automobile Industry: Being the Story of Its Development—Its Contribution to Health and Prosperity—Its Influence on Eugenics—Its Effect on Personal Efficiency—and Its Service and Mission to Humanity as the Latest and Greatest Phase of Transportation.  Published in 1916, it’s essentially a 460-page ad, lavishly illustrated with pictures of bewhiskered white men and their inventions. And even after all the time we’ve spent thinking about cars, this book still had some surprises. (And yes, you read that right…he talks about eugenics. We’ll explain.) Subscribe on Patreon for access to the whole bonus episode!

As the new Trump regime begins, we talked with Dani Simons—who until recently led the Office of Public Affairs for the federal Department of Transportation—about the Biden administration’s legacy on transportation. What are the stakes as we go from Amtrak Joe and DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to an administration made up of oil barrels disguised as people? What are the last four years’ biggest achievements on the transportation front? How do we communicate better about federal investments in active transportation? And how do we hold onto the hard-fought policies aimed at pedestrian safety and mitigating the climate crisis? This episode was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Justin Fernandez. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to bonus content, ad-free versions of regular episodes, free stickers, merch discounts, early access to live shows, and more. ***  Purchase tickets to our April 24th live show in Minneapolis, presented by Our Streets. LINKS: The Wall Street Journal’s Dorothy Rabinowitz and the Citibike moral panic (original video here) Eliot Spitzer at the Mayflower Hotel New York City’s Open Streets program and Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC And if you were wondering what Dani meant when she said “NHTSA,” that’s the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. TheWarOnCars.org  

Seth Solomonow, a former NYC Department of Transportation employee, shares his insights on the launch of congestion pricing in New York City. He discusses its expected benefits for reducing traffic and funding public transportation. Advocates express excitement for a cultural shift away from car dominance. Solomonow also highlights personal experiences that underscore the need for safer streets and urges for continued dialogue to sustain public support. The conversation reveals both optimism and the challenges ahead for urban mobility in the city.

How do dense, walkable cities influence what people wear? Derek Guy has some thoughts. Otherwise known as The Menswear Guy, Derek rose to fame on social media for his takes on men's fashion, but he also dips his toes into urbanism from time to time, arguing that the ecosystems that support quality craftsmanship and expert tailoring are strongest in places where it's easy to get around without a car. Derek joins us to talk about what the great fashion capitals of the world have in common, why Tokyo is a hotbed of fashion enthusiasts and craftspeople, how the housing crisis is affecting style, and more.  *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to bonus content, ad-free versions of regular episodes, free stickers, merch discounts and more. ***  Become a Patreon supporter to get pre-sale tickets to our live show on April 24th in Minneapolis, presented by Our Streets. This episode was produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen for the latest discount on the best and most stylish rain gear for walking and cycling. LINKS:  Follow Derek Guy on Bluesky, Instagram, and other social media sites. Read more from Derek Guy at Die, Workwear. Read Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style and Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change, both by W. David Marx Pick up official podcast merch in our store. thewaroncars.org Read 

This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, plus ad-free versions of regular episodes, merch discounts, pre-sale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. For our year-end bonus episode, we asked our Patreon supporters to tell us the best things that happened to them or in their communities in 2024. We heard from listeners around the globe about the many victories, from the political to the personal, that stood out to them in the past year and that give them hope for the future. There was a lot to celebrate, including lower speed limits, new bike commutes, and a string of victories at the local level that mean progress in The War on Cars.

Why do people behave so badly behind the wheel of a car? Why do reporters and the police use passive language to describe automobile crashes and traffic violence? How do the words we use make a difference in street safety? Dr. Tara Goddard, one of the top scholars studying what it is that cars do to our brains and the way we treat each other in the world, has some thoughts — and she’s done the research. Tara is an associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. Her work focuses on creating a just transportation system through safe roadway design and inclusive transportation planning. We talked with her about “motonormativity,” how race influences how drivers treat pedestrians, and why language matters if we want to change the conversation about whom streets are for. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to bonus content, ad-free versions of regular episodes, free stickers, merch discounts, early access to live shows, and more. ***   This episode was produced with support from Cleverhood and Sheyd Bags. Listen for the latest discount codes. Buy tickets to our live show with CityNerd on January 31, 2025, at Hunter College in New York City. LINKS: Follow Tara on Bluesky. Some of Tara’s studies:  “Racial Bias in Driver Yielding at Crosswalks” (Transportation Research) “Does News Coverage of Traffic Crashes Affect Perceived Blame and Preferred Solutions? Evidence from an Experiment” (Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives) “Windshield Bias, Car Brain, Motonormativity: Different Names, Same Obscured Public Health Hazard” (Transport Findings) Some other things we discuss in the episode: Dr. Ian Walker’s research and our interview with him (Episode 99: Car Brain with Dr. Ian Walker) Sarah’s piece, “How I Became an Urban Monster in Just 10 Minutes” (Bloomberg CityLab) “Death of Cyclist in Paris Lays Bare Divide in Mayor’s War Against Cars” (New York Times) “The glare of the sun caused the westbound vehicle to jump the curb” (Emily Walters on Bluesky) Laura Laker’s new “Road Collision Reporting Guidelines” Get official podcast merch in our store. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Josh Wilcox. Our music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our transcriptions are done by Russell Gragg. TheWarOnCars.org  

From mockumentaries to dramas to situation comedies, Ed Begley Jr. has done it all. His truly one-of-a-kind acting career has seen him work with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and more. But beyond his impressive resume, Ed Begley Jr. is also known for his environmental activism. He's probably the most famous person to have owned some version of an electric vehicle for a lot longer than most people have even been aware of EVs. Ed has been been committed to environmental conservation since at least the 1970s, and he’s designed his life so that it's as free of fossil fuels as possible, with solar panels on the roof, an e-bike in the garage, and a house chosen for its proximity to transit. Notably, he’s taken the LA Metro to the Academy Awards, making a statement in an industry and a city where fancy cars and conspicuous consumption are signs of success. In this fun conversation, Ed Begley Jr. invites us into his home to talk about his work, his activism, and his philosophy about life. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content, stickers, merch discounts, and more. Plus, get pre-sale access to our upcoming live show in New York with CityNerd! *** This episode was produced with the generous support of the Helen & William Mazer Foundation. Check out the latest offerings from our friends at Cleverhood and Sheyd Bags.  LINKS: Buy Ed Begley Jr.’s memoir, To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step on It! at our official Bookshop.org page. Hayden Begley documented her dad’s trip to the Oscars via LA Metro on TikTok. The Actor Who Who Rides the Subway to the Oscars (NY Times) Support Streets For All in Los Angeles by becoming a member. Grab some podcast merch in our official store. This episode was edited by Doug Gordon. It was recorded by Avishay Artsy. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org