The War on Cars

Grant Ennis, a lecturer at Monash University, discusses his book "Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Harms Our Health and the Environment." He reveals the deceptive tactics used by automobile manufacturers and road builders, exploring the denialism and deceptive frames in the industry's approach to road deaths. Ennis also tackles the impact of car dependency on civil society and democracy. This thought-provoking podcast sheds light on how major industries manipulate the public to maintain an unhealthy and unsafe status quo.

The podcast delves into the harmful effects of leaded gasoline and chlorofluorocarbons, discussing their unintended consequences on health and the environment. It explores the impact of leaded gasoline on the automobile industry and its detrimental effects on human health. The chapter also discusses the unintended consequences of technological advancements, such as air conditioning and refrigerators, and the clash between anarchists and the police in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The tragic death of Thomas Midgely and its allegorical nature are also explored.

In this bonus episode just for Patreon supporters of The War on Cars, we do a quick news roundup before getting to the thing that matters most: WINNING. Last month we reached out to our liteners and asked them to send us their wins, from policy and infrastructure victories to cultural changes they helped usher in, even at just the individual level. Let's face it: it's a tough world out there so celebrating victories big and small is really important. Thanks to all of you, we are making progress in The War on Cars one parking space at a time. ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

Congestion pricing in Manhattan, future of private cars in cities, opposition to congestion pricing, potential paradigm shift, challenges of implementation, negative environmental consequences of widening highways, future of transportation with self-driving cars and electric vehicles.

While working on Episode 110, Back to School with the Bike Bus, we spoke with Sam Balto, a phys ed teacher in Portland, Oregon, who goes by @CoachBalto and who's become one of the most visible advocates in the global movement for active transportation for kids. We used some of his comments in that episode, but our conversation was so juicy we knew we wanted to share it in full. Sam does a great job of explaining why bike buses are so much fun and so good for kids, and why you might find yourself tearing up when you watch his videos: "We want our children to thrive. And the bike bus movement is sort of the first story of children thriving since the pandemic." Maybe you'll be inspired to start a bike bus or walking school bus where you live! ***This is a preview of a Patreon bonus episode. To hear the full episode and for complete access to all our exclusive bonus content become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

Discover the concept of bike buses and their popularity in various countries. Explore the impact of bike buses on children's mobility and the promotion of safe streets. Discuss the need for more support from local authorities for bike bus networks. Explore the joy and benefits of biking to school, including increased independence and academic performance. Highlight the emotional reactions and gratitude towards supporters and sponsors of the podcast.

Veronica O. Davis, Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations for the city of Houston, talks about repairing a system that divides communities and achieving true equity. She shares advice on community engagement in street improvement projects and how to involve all stakeholders. The podcast also discusses the importance of prioritizing marginalized groups in transportation and the necessity of a war on cars for safer roads.

The rising problem of mopeds and motorcycles in New York City bike lanes is impossible to ignore but the solutions are anything but simple. Recently, journalist and friend of the podcast Aaron Gordon wrote an essay for his newsletter titled "Biking in New York City Has Gotten Worse," in which he laments the change that's happened in recent years of larger and faster motorized vehicles using the city's bike lanes. We're not talking pedal-assist e-bikes and cargo bikes or even the Arrow e-bikes that have long been preferred by New York's delivery workers. We're talking full-on mopeds and motorcycles—electric and gas-powered alike—many of which are unlicensed and, even if they did have the proper registration, generally do not belong in bike lanes. In this coversation, we talk about how and why this problem has grown, largely due to the major food-delivery app companies which wash their hands of any responsibility for providing their workers, all of whom are categorized not as employees but as contractors, with fair wages, benefits, and even street-legal vehicles. Can government force the app companies to step up? What should people who advocate for safe streets and bike infrastructure do? It's complicated. ***This is a preview of a Patreon bonus episode. To hear the full episode and for complete access to all our exclusive bonus content become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

Bob Sorokanich, an automotive journalist, discusses the changing face of automotive journalism, his thoughts on winning the war on cars, and the disappearance of tactile experiences in modern cars.

This special episode of The War on Cars was recorded live before a sold-out audience at Caveat on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and was styled after a community board meeting... except instead of people yelling at each other about parking spaces and bike lanes, a fantastic time was had by all.   ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***