The War on Cars

In this engaging discussion, Amy Steli, an artist and urban planner from New Orleans, shares her insights on the devastating impacts of the Claiborne Expressway on the Treme neighborhood, highlighting lost businesses and increased crime. Richard Levy, a civil rights activist from Syracuse, recounts his role in opposing the construction of I-81 through the 15th Ward, emphasizing community solidarity and the challenges faced. Both guests reflect on the broader implications of highway development, underscoring its tragic legacy and ongoing fight for urban renewal.

***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.*** We were out in Portland, Oregon, for our book tour in November, and spent a lot of great time hanging out with Jonathan Maus, the legendary founder of Bike Portland. We sat down with Jonathan in his backyard shed/studio and talked about how a great bike city can get even better, the importance of transit, and how media is an important part of the movement for more human cities. Order our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile. And catch us on tour in 2026: Tickets for live shows are on sale now! www.thewaroncars.org

Join the hosts as they share vivid travel tales from their book tour across cities like Austin and Houston. They discuss the surprising impacts of freeway expansions, while highlighting successful urban reclaiming efforts. Delight in their observations of vibrant local cultures, including Austin's community resilience and Denver's placemaking successes. They also touch on serious topics like homelessness and transit funding crises. Expect heartfelt moments as they celebrate the kindness of locals and the stories shared with them along the way!

Join the hosts as they hit the road to promote their new book, sharing lively experiences across vibrant cities. From exploring the bike-friendly streets of San Francisco to discussing Vancouver's freeway-free vision, they highlight the beauty of urban life. A candid look at the struggles of car dominance in Washington, DC, and insightful reflections on San Diego's transit challenges provide food for thought. They even meet a listener on their journey, reminding us of the community built around urban advocacy. Life after cars looks brighter!

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!