The War on Cars

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.

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, presale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. Back in September, Sarah moderated a conversation with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo as part of Climate Week events in New York City. The event was presented by the Clean Cities Campaign and Respire, a Paris-based nonprofit that focuses on improving air quality. We talked about her work removing cars from the city, reducing air pollution, and cleaning up the Seine. Become a Patreon supporter of the podcast for access to the entire episode. Order our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, out now from Thesis, an imprint of Penguin Random House. And catch us on tour this fall and beyond. Tickets for live shows are on sale now!

Today we celebrate the publication of our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves From the Tyranny of the Automobile. In this episode, we serve up a sample of the audiobook and talk about some of the things we learned and that surprised us during the process of bringing Life After Cars to publication. Also, who should play us in the movie version? Listen to hear our thoughts and let us know your opinion. We are so grateful to all of our listeners and supporters for making this day possible. Go out there and get your copy of Life After Cars wherever books are sold. Our Bookshop.org link. Please support independent booksellers! Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of regular episodes, Patreon-only bonus content, Discord access, invitations to live events, merch discounts and free stickers! Thanks to Upway and Cleverhood for sponsoring this episode. www.lifeaftercars.com

Ted Mann, a Bloomberg News reporter known for his investigative work, dives into the impact of Trump's DOT policies on transportation funding. He reveals how critical multimodal grants are being clawed back for not being 'car-centric.' Small towns like Fairfield, Alabama face severe funding cuts, jeopardizing vital bike and pedestrian projects. Ted explains the political and legal ramifications of these changes and discusses alternative funding solutions for municipalities, shining a light on the pressing need for sustainable transport options.

Tim Gill, a London-based scholar and advocate for children's mobility, discusses the dire state of children's physical and mental health due to restricted outdoor freedoms. He emphasizes that playgrounds alone aren't enough and calls for vibrant, play-friendly neighborhoods. Tim champions the concept of doorstep play, arguing for spaces reclaimed from cars. He shares innovative examples like Vauban’s car-free design and Rotterdam's family-focused transformations. Framing child-friendly cities as climate action, he proposes practical steps to restore children’s outdoor experiences.

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, presale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. If you spend any time at all on social media, you've seen countless videos of all kinds of different people talking about all kinds of different things with one setting in common: the car. We got together in the studio with journalist and author Mathew Rodriguez to discuss the way cars have become our nation's premier social media content studios—and all the weirdness that entails. We talked drive-thrus, "Who the F*** Did I Marry," monetizing the school pickup line, and the way that cars have become the backdrop for the great unscrolling American self-documentation effort. Become a Patreon supporter of the podcast for access to the entire episode. Pre-order our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, coming in October from Thesis, an imprint of Penguin Random House. And catch us on tour this fall and beyond. Tickets for live shows are on sale now!

Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller and former City Council member, shares insights on bike lanes and urban advocacy. He reflects on his political journey, particularly his defense of the Prospect Park West bike lane, as a pivotal moment in his career. Lander discusses how courage and coalition-building are essential not only for urban safety but also in the broader fight against fascism. He touches on the Reckless Driver Accountability Act and the need for community solidarity in improving road safety.

In a thought-provoking discussion, the hosts delve into studies revealing how cars contribute to social isolation and decreased life satisfaction. They argue that car-centric communities exacerbate loneliness and hinder connections, particularly in marginalized areas. The conversation highlights the importance of walkable neighborhoods and public gathering spaces as antidotes to this epidemic. Additionally, they touch on the paradox of car ownership as a freedom symbol, while advocating for better transportation options like bike lanes and public transit.

Yonah Freemark, a researcher at the Urban Institute, dives into the hot topic of free bus service in New York City. He explores the implications of eliminating fares and discusses how it could impact ridership and public safety. The conversation navigates through successful examples from other cities and examines potential public health benefits. With a focus on accessibility and equity, Freemark addresses the complexities of making transit systems more inclusive. It's a thought-provoking discussion on shaping urban transportation for the future.

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, presale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. While we were researching and writing "Life After Cars" last year, we read and pulled information from dozens upon dozens of books. There were also a handful of books that caught our attention but that, try as we might, didn't quite warrant inclusion in our own. In this Patreon exclusive, we talk about two of these books: "Road Safety: How to Reduce Accidents" by T.S. Skillman (1965) and an anthology called "He Rides Beside You" (1957). For very different reasons, both are fascinating examples of the mindset of people who knew a life before cars and, more than halfway into the 20th century, were grappling with the reality of life during cars. Become a Patreon supporter of the podcast for access to the entire episode. Pre-order our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, coming in October from Thesis, an imprint of Penguin Random House. And catch us on tour this fall and beyond. Tickets for live shows are on sale now!