The War on Cars

In this TWOC Extra, we present co-host Doug Gordon's full interview with Ray Magliozzi of "Car Talk," conducted in February 2019 at the WBUR studios in Boston and previously available only to Patreon supporters. Hear more about Ray's thoughts on how cities are changing to be more friendly to people who aren't in cars and learn why he sometimes runs red lights on his bike. ----- For nearly thirty years, brothers Ray and Tom Magliozzi were the hosts of NPR’s “Car Talk” and the voices of American car culture. Famous for their distinctive Boston accents and infectious laughs, Click and Clack didn’t just diagnose engine troubles, they recognized that people’s personal relationships often revolved around their automobiles. In a War on Cars exclusive, Doug sits down with Ray Magliozzi to talk about car culture, the brothers’ surprising war on SUVs, and whether or not “Bike Talk” could even be half the phenomenon “Car Talk” was… and still is. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to the extended interview with Ray Magliozzi plus TWOC stickers and other rewards. Buy a “buttery soft” War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review The War On Cars on iTunes. Show Notes: Learn more about Car Talk… …and listen to “The Best of Car Talk.” “Car Talk’s Tom Magliozzi: An Unlikely Environmental Advocate.” (ThinkProgress) Tom and Ray’s “Live Large, Drive Smaller” anti-SUV campaign. (The New Yorker) Tom and Ray’s 2007 letter to Congress in favor of higher fuel standards. (Car Talk) Dispatches from Aaron’s years-long Twitter crusade to banish “Car Talk” from WNYC. Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1 Questions? Suggestions? Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com.

No, you’ve not tuned into late-night Lite FM radio. In this special mailbag episode, Sarah and Doug hear from listeners around the world, taking your questions and comments on everything from disabled cyclists, how to make bike lanes as common as sidewalks, when to take the car keys from aging parents and grandparents, the frustrations women feel when told what to wear when riding a bicycle, whether or not cyclists should share a friendly wave with other cyclists and how to find joy while fighting a daily War on Cars. Buy a War on Cars t-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Enlist today! Support the podcast on Patreon. Rate and review the war effort on iTunes. Show Notes:  Get to know Delilah. “Cambridge’s New Bike Lane Plan is ‘Bikelash’-Proof.” (CityLab) New York City passes a new “Vision Zero Design Standards Law. (Curbed) Does what a person wears while cycling make a difference? Dr. Ian Walker tried to find out. (Bicycling, ScienceDirect, Association for Psychological Science) Find us on Twitter @TheWarOnCars, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke and Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek. Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com https://thewaroncars.org  

Autonomous cars? Who needs ‘em. If you want to improve your city then design it so that children have more autonomy. In this episode we hit the playground with architecture critic Alexandra Lange, the author of “The Design of Childhood.” To grow up into healthy, functional adults, kids need opportunities to experience freedom and independence. Alexandra argues that car-dominated streets make that more difficult. A city designed for cars is a city that’s lousy for families -- and pretty much everyone else. Plus: The surprising history of playgrounds. In celebration of our twentieth episode, the first twenty people who enlist in The War on Cars Patreon campaign after this episode drops will receive a bonus #BanCars sticker.  Buy a War on Cars t-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review the war effort on iTunes. Show Notes:  Visit Alexandra Lange’s web site and follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Buy a copy of her book, “The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids.”   How children lost the right to roam in four generations. (Daily Mail)  Peter Norton’s “Fighting Traffic” is a mind-boggling (and scholarly!) historical account of the bloody battle for city streets at the dawn of the motor age in the American city. This episode was produced by Matt Cutler. Find us onTwitter @TheWarOnCars, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1 and Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke. Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com https://thewaroncars.org

How can we fight a War on Cars when cars might be turning into the last bastion of affordable housing in many cities and suburbs? In this episode, we talk about how the crises in transportation, housing and climate are converging in California parking lots — some of which are becoming de facto communities. Stepping in to help us understand what’s going on in the Golden State is Alissa Walker, who writes for Curbed LA and cohosts LA Podcast. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive stickers, T-shirts, exclusive access to special audio content and more. Buy an official War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review The War On Cars on iTunes. Show Notes: Alissa Walker drills down on SB50 and other (so-far failed) legislation to address California’s twin crises of transportation and housing. Follow her on Twitter for all the latest on LA’s streets. Mark Horvath talks to people who have become homeless on his YouTube channel, Invisible People (his interview with Conrad, a veteran living in an LA parking lot, is here). You can find out more about him and support his work on his Patreon page. Safe Parking LA advocates for the interests of people who have become homeless and are living in their cars. The Public Policy Institute of California has a snapshot of the state’s growing homelessness problem. In this NPR story, you’ll hear from a California woman who is leasing a car through Uber so she can have a place to live. 99 Percent Invisible did an episode about the dream (or nightmare) of vertical trailer park living in Ready Player One. Henry Grabar writes about the “I’ve got mine” worldview of America’s gerontocracy for Slate.

It’s the most controversial question in all of urban biking: Why do cyclists run red lights, ride on sidewalks and go the wrong way down one-way streets? In this episode, Aaron, Sarah and Doug talk to New York City cyclists about why they behave the way they do. Plus, we seek out a higher authority for an interpretation of the legal and ethical dilemmas people on bikes confront while moving through cities. When cyclists flout the law, is it a sign that they’re all selfish scofflaws? Or are they engaging in a simple act of civil disobedience that can lead to better, safer streets and rules that reflect the difference between bikes and cars? Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive stickers, T-shirts, exclusive access to special audio content and more.  Buy an official War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review The War On Cars on iTunes. SHOW NOTES: Doug sits down with Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall for a “Pedestrian/Cyclist Summit” (The Josh Marshall Show) Cyclists Break Far Fewer Road Rules Than Motorists, Finds New Video Study (Forbes) Oregon’s “Idaho Stop” bill faces headwinds in Senate (BikePortland.org) Our special Klezmer version of The War on Cars theme was produced by the brilliant Michael Hearst. Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1. Questions? Suggestions? Email us a voice memo and perhaps we'll use it in an upcoming mailbag episode. We love hearing from you guys: thewaroncars@gmail.com

Once a year, the world descends on Manhattan for the New York International Auto Show, an extravagant, multimillion-dollar celebration of all things car. From the most “sinister” Dodge Challenger to a Kia that can sense a driver’s mood and adjust the vehicle’s interior accordingly, the Auto Show isn’t just a showcase for new products, it’s a vision of the future of the North American city—a future that is built around the car. What will it take for foot soldiers in the War on Cars to go up against this well-funded juggernaut? Is it possible that a band of guerrilla activists, spurred by tragedy and armed with nothing more than red cups and tomatoes, can take on an empire? Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive stickers, t-shirts, exclusive access to special audio content and more. Buy an official War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review The War On Cars on iTunes. SHOW NOTES:  Aaron infiltrates the International Auto Show and reconnoiters the Kia HabaNiro, Subaru's greenwashing, the new Rolls Royce SUV, and one particular set of vehicles that were well designed for the urban environment.  Cyclist Killed Was a Longtime Bike Advocate Who "Lived and Breathed Making the Streets Safer" (WAMU 88.5)  D.C. Bike Advocate’s Death Highlights Slow Progress Toward Safe Streets (Streetsblog USA) Simple but Empowering: Cyclists Place Red Cups Along Bike Lanes to Show How Vulnerable They Are” (Bicycling) Bike Lanes Need Barriers, Not Just Paint (Curbed) Paint Is Not Enough: Red Cup Project Shines Light On Bike Lane Dangers (WBZ4 CBS Boston) Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1. This episode was produced by Ben Ellman.  Questions? Suggestions? Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com.

In 2002, Theresa Sareo, an up-and-coming singer, had her life changed forever when a reckless driver hit her as she stood on a Manhattan sidewalk waiting to cross the street. She lost her leg and nearly died, making her one of the millions of people injured by automobiles in the United States every year. In New York City alone, the toll was more than 59,000 people in 2018. Theresa tells her story of recovery and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive TWOC stickers and other rewards. Buy a War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review the podcast on iTunes. Show notes: Visit Theresa Sareo’s personal website to find out more about her story and her music. Read the New York magazine article about the crash and its aftermath. Find data about auto-related injuries and fatalities on New York City’s crash data map. Follow us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars. Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1, Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke, and Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek. This episode was produced and edited by Sarah Goodyear. Do you have an issue you want to discuss with us on the show? Send a voice memo to: thewaroncars@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. 

A new generation of urban leaders is rising to power and they’re kicking butt and challenging long-standing assumptions about the role of the car in the city. Among them is Corey Johnson, New York City’s new City Council Speaker. At 37 years old, Corey is the first bonafide, avocado toast–eating Millennial to hold citywide elected office. We ride the subway with Corey to learn more about his plans to “break car culture” in the Big Apple. So can Millennials win the War on Cars? What even is a Millennial anyway? Plus, a special round-up of the all-time great historic speeches in The War on Cars. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive TWOC stickers and other rewards. Buy a War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review the podcast on iTunes. Show Notes: Watch New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s 2019 State of the City Address on Vimeo. Or read a transcript of the speech. "Why Housing Policy Is Climate Policy," by California State Senator Scott Wiener and Prof. Daniel Kammen. Vancouver, British Columbia Legislative Assembly Member Bowinn Ma teaches her fellow elected officials about induced demand. Car-free Oklahoma City Councilor JoBeth Hamon has “resting bicycle face.” And here are some more exciting, up-and-coming local elected officials: Michelle Wu, Boston; Lisa Bender, Minneapolis; Pete Buttigieg, South Bend; Scott Wiener, San Francisco; Mitra Jalali Nelson, St. Paul; Jason Dozier, Atlanta; Rob Dooling, Washington D.C.; Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn; Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle; Meghan Sahli-Wells of Culver City is “burning calories, not carbon.” Check out this Twitter thread for dozens more urban leaders who are fighting and winning The War on Cars. Thanks for all of your suggestions and tips. The full report that Corey Johnson’s office released along with his speech: “A Case for Municipal Control and a Comprehensive Transportation Vision for the Five Boroughs.” And a very special thanks to Steve Ross for his impressions of FDR, JFK and Reagan. You can find more of Steve’s work on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars. Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1, Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke. Our show is produced and edited by Curtis Fox Productions @curtisfox. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email or send a voice memo to: thewaroncars@gmail.com.

For nearly thirty years, brothers Ray and Tom Magliozzi were the hosts of NPR's "Car Talk" and the voices of American car culture. Famous for their distinctive Boston accents and infectious laughs, Click and Clack didn’t just diagnose engine troubles, they recognized that people’s personal relationships often revolved around their automobiles. In a War on Cars exclusive, Doug sits down with Ray Magliozzi to talk about car culture, the brothers’ surprising war on SUVs, and whether or not “Bike Talk” could even be half the phenomenon “Car Talk” was… and still is. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to the extended interview with Ray Magliozzi plus TWOC stickers and other rewards. Buy a “buttery soft” War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review The War On Cars on iTunes. SHOW NOTES: Learn more about Car Talk… …and listen to “The Best of Car Talk.” “Car Talk’s Tom Magliozzi: An Unlikely Environmental Advocate.” (ThinkProgress) Tom and Ray’s “Live Large, Drive Smaller” anti-SUV campaign. (The New Yorker) Tom and Ray’s 2007 letter to Congress in favor of higher fuel standards. (Car Talk) Dispatches from Aaron's years-long Twitter crusade to banish "Car Talk" from WNYC.  Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1 and producer Curtis Fox @curtisfox Questions? Suggestions? Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com.

What if you could get around quickly and reliably in a state-of-the-art vehicle that you didn’t have to drive, park, fuel, or insure? No, it’s not an Uber or a self-driving car... it’s the bus! In this episode, we talk to Cam Hardy of the Better Bus Coalition in Cincinnati, Ohio, about why buses are chronically unloved and underfunded. Plus, we look at attempts to make buses cool through the power of advertising, and hear the latest battle news from the global War on Cars. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive TWOC stickers and other rewards. Buy a War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Rate and review the podcast on iTunes. Show notes: Cincinnati’s Better Bus Coalition Cam Hardy’s epic Facebook Live bus rant “The Bus” from Greater Toronto’s GO Transit Midttraffik bus ad from Denmark Human Transit, Jarrett Walker’s blog Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1, Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, and producer Curtis Fox @curtisfox. Questions? Suggestions? Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com.