The War on Cars

The Trump administration has upended the entire United States government over the last several weeks, sending Elon Musk and his minions into the guts of pretty much every federal department in a crusade for what they're calling "efficiency." Funds that were legally appropriated by Congress have been frozen, and in some cases even clawed back. The battle to preserve all sorts of spending is now in the courts. What does this all mean for federal funding of public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and the transition to EVs? And what is DOT Secretary Sean Duffy's "Woke Rescission Memo"? We talked with Beth Osborne, executive director of the advocacy organization Transportation for America, to help us understand what's at stake and how we can help defend projects we care about in our own communities. (Spoiler alert: It won't be easy!) *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of regular episodes, Patreon-only bonus content, invitations to live events, merch discounts and free stickers! *** This episode was produced with support from the Helen and William Mazer Foundation and Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount on the best and most stylish rain gear for walking and cycling. *** If you're in the New York area and are looking for a new e-bike, check out the Upway Sample Sale at their warehouse in Brooklyn on February 28th. You'll score deep discounts on e-bikes from all the major brands. Tell 'em The War on Cars sent you. *** LINKS: Transportation for America has some great resources to help you understand the federal funding picture in more detail. Some terms Beth mentions in the interview that might be unfamiliar: ISTEA (pronounced ICE-T) is an acronym referring to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, which fundamentally restructured the way federal transportation funds are disbursed. You can read more about it here. (Brookings) Justice40 refers to a Biden-era policy initiative aiming to direct 40 percent of federal investments in areas like climate, clean energy, and affordable housing to disadvantaged, disinvested communities that suffer disproportionately from pollution. Pick up official podcast tees and other merch in our official store. Purchase books from podcast guests and support independent booksellers at our official Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. TheWarOnCars.org

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.

It's the CXLIVth episode of The War on Cars, and just like in years past we're taking a look at the ads that aired during the Super Bowl. This year, there weren't a whole lot of ads specifically designed to sell cars and trucks, but there was still plenty of car-adjacent stuff to talk about—from ads highlighting the urban/suburban divide to an amazing halftime show from Kendrick Lamar featuring a Buick GNX. Rollie Williams (Climate Town) and Nicole Conlan (The Climate Denier's Playbook, The Daily Show) join us to talk about some of the commercials that aired during the big game and what they say about the state of our culture, our climate, and our politics. *** 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. *** Get tickets to our live show on April 24th in Minneapolis, presented by Our Streets. This episode was produced with support from the Helen and William Mazer Foundation and Cleverhood. Listen for the latest discount on the best and most stylish rain gear for walking and cycling. LINKS: Watch Climate Town on YouTube. Listen to The Climate Denier's Playbook. Check out Rollie's billiards channel on YouTube. Here's how Kendrick Lamar's production team found a Buick GNX for his halftime show. (Wired) Missed this year's ads? You can watch most of them here. Watch Harrison Ford in "Owner's Manual," an ad for Jeep. "Car Brands Have Been Pumping the Brakes on Super Bowl Ads" (AdWeek) Why State Farm opted out of this year's game. (CBS News) Read Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster by Mike Davis and pick up other books in our official Bookshop.org store. Pick up official podcast merch in our store. thewaroncars.org

Donald Shoup, a towering figure in the world of urban planning and a distinguished professor emeritus at the UCLA Luskin School of Public affairs, died this week. He was 86 years old. As a tribute to such an influential, brilliant, and witty scholar, we are re-releasing this episode from 2023. ---- Parking is at the heart of every fight about how we build our cities and towns, with effects that go far beyond transportation. Minimum parking requirements — laws that dictate how many parking spaces are required for various types of buildings and businesses — make housing more expensive, raise the price of goods and services and exacerbate sprawl, making congestion and the climate crisis much, much worse. Thankfully, a movement is afoot to end parking minimums, inspired by the work of Donald Shoup. Shoup, the Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA's Department of Urban Planning, is the author of the 2005 book The High Cost of Free Parking. It's an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to understand the problems with parking. Professor Shoup — aka the Shoup Dogg — joins us for a spirited conversation about how to win what he calls "the war on parking subsidies." You can find the full transcript of this episode here. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of regular episodes, Patreon-only bonus content, invitations to live events, merch discounts and free stickers! LINKS: Learn all about Donald Shoup at ShoupDogg.com. Read The High Cost of Free Parking. Join The Parking Reform Network and end parking requirements where you live. Donald Shoup gets animated on Adam Ruins Everything. This episode was produced by Doug Gordon, edited by Ali Lemer, and recorded by Josh Wilcox of the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Transcripts are by Russell Gragg. TheWarOnCars.org

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

At last, New York City started its congestion pricing program on January 5. We knew that the local mainstream press would be out in force interviewing drivers and elevating the voices of those who were against the toll. We knew that because the New York press corps has a long history of putting the people who commute by car in New York above those who don't. So we went out on congestion pricing's first weekday morning and talked to some people who weren't driving. Some of the people we talked with were random New Yorkers, but mostly we heard from advocates who knew we would be there and showed up in the freezing cold to talk about why they were so excited about the launch of this historic program. Thank you to all the people who spared some of their time on a cold morning to talk to us, especially Samir Lavingia, Charlie Todd, Chris Sanders, Alex Duncan, Rich Miller, Noel Hidalgo, Seth Solomonow, Kirby Kersels, Paul Krikler and Steve from Peekskill. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. *** 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. *** LINKS: The MTA's FAQ page answers all your questions about congestion pricing. Check out this congestion pricing traffic tracker for collected data showing the program's impact. TheWarOnCars.org

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

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. Back in 2010, the notoriously pugnacious Toronto mayor Rob Ford declared that "the war on the car is over," and vowed to halt the city's expansion of bike lanes, transit, and anything that inconvenienced motorists even slightly. Fourteen years later, his brother — Ontario Premier Doug Ford — has continued the family crusade against bike lanes. The Ford government is pushing a bill that would require provincial approval of all bike lanes that repurpose car lanes. If it succeeds, it will have a chilling effect on the ability of cities and towns of all sizes to manage their streets and keep people safe. Plus, a handful of existing bike lanes could be ripped out. Journalist Sabrina Nanji, a veteran of the Queen's Park Press Gallery and the founder of the Queens Park Observer joins us to talk about the politics behind Doug Ford's war on bikes. TheWarOnCars.org

We're not going to sugarcoat it. That election was tough. But there are some points of hope that can help us make our way forward. We got together in the studio to look at victories around the country for transit and safe streets, and to discuss how we can all hang in there together and continue making positive change in our communities. *** 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 *** LINKS: The good news from Nashville (Nashville Scene) The good news from Seattle (The Urbanist) Alexis Mercedes Rinck wins Seattle City Council seat The good news from San Francisco (SF Standard) New York legalizes jaywalking (The New York Times) Alameda County election results Pick up merch in our official store This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

Adam McKay is the Academy Award–winning screenwriter, director, and producer behind such movies as Don't Look Up, The Big Short, Vice, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and more. He is also the founder of Yellow Dot Studios, a nonprofit production studio that raises awareness and mobilizes action on the climate emergency. Adam joins us to discuss his career and the existential anxiety that led him to write and direct the star-studded Don't Look Up, one of the most successful Netflix movies of all time. We also hear about the books, films, and music that inspired him, and why humor is a useful tool for tackling serious subjects. Plus: Adam's relationship with driving, the power of visual storytelling, and why he thinks the age of the car is already over… even if most people don't know it yet. Thank you to Sheyd Bags and Cleverhood for their support. For the latest discount codes, listen to the episode. *** 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 *** SHOW NOTES: Check out Car Commercial 419 and all the excellent work from Yellow Dot Studios. (Donate here!) Books, movies, and music mentioned in this episode: Generation Dread by Britt Wray; Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neal Postman; A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit; and The Vortex by Scott Carney & Jason Miklian The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957); Dr. Strangelove (1964); and Dogtooth (2009) Public Enemy; LL Cool J; Kurtis Blow; Run-DMC; and Eric B. & Rakim ***** Pick up official podcast merch in our store. Purchase books from podcast guests at our Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Kaden Pryor at Third Wheel Podcast Studio in Los Angeles. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Sound effects from the BBC Sound Effects Archives © 2024 BBC. TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a bonus episode that was previously only available to Patreon supporters of The War on Cars. If you want to hear more bonus episodes like this, please sign up today! We'll taking a very short break to work on our book and will be back with brand new episodes in November.*** Perhaps you've seen pictures of a person walking around in a large, wearable wooden frame meant to illustrate the space taken up by one person in a private automobile. That's the gehzeug — or walkmobile — and it was invented by the Austrian civil engineer and professor Hermann Knoflacher. Professor Knoflacher, 84, is the head of the Institute of Transportation at the Vienna University of Technology. Long before the current global pandemic, he compared cars to a virus. Rather than searching for vaccines and other ways to fight this particular threat, humanity has actively helped the spread of cars, much to the detriment of the built environment, human health and safety, and even our future on this planet. It's a provocative analogy, but Knoflacher makes a compelling case. SHOW NOTES: The Car Is Like A Virus, Says Urban Planner But This Is One Pandemic That Politicians Can Prevent (Carlton Reid, Forbes) Excellent Uber Ad Distills the Problem With Uber in Crowded Cities (Angie Schmitt, Streetsblog) "Driving is worse than an addiction" (In German: Deutschlandfunk Kultur) "The driver is absolutely anti-social" (In German: Manager Magazin) "Vienna has been my patient for decades" (In German: Kurier) Virus Auto (Hermn

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. Patty Wiens is the Bike Mayor of Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. We met Patty on our trip to Edmonton for the Winter Cycling Congress back in February and were really struck with her energy and drive as an advocate for people who ride bikes in her city. We talked with Patty about how she became a Bike Mayor and how people in Winnipeg are organizing to create better streets for people in a very car-centric place. She also told us about how the community has been protesting against recent traffic violence in the city, including one case in which an Indigenous woman named Tammy Bateman was struck and killed by police driving through a city park. Thanks to Ali Lemer for editing this episode. If you aren't yet a Patreon subscriber of The War on Cars, maybe now is the time! Subscribe for $3, $5, or $10 per month. We'll send you stickers and you'll have access to ad-free episodes and bonus conversations like this one. We really appreciate the support, and we couldn't produce the podcast without you. TheWarOnCars.org

Zoning is an invisible force that dictates how and where we can build housing, offices, factories, parks and more. It dictates how we access such places and can reinforce car dependency, often in ways that burden the communities that can least afford it, reinforce segregation, and exacerbate climate change and other environmental harms. In her new book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes our World, author Sara Bronin argues that zoning does not have to lead to negative outcomes, and that if we understand its power, we can use zoning to build the kinds of communities everyone deserves. Bronin dives into the history of zoning and tells the stories of the many activists and planners in cities such as Hartford, Baltimore and Minneapolis who have learned to harness zoning for good. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon for ad-free versions of regular episodes and access to exclusive bonus content. Plus, we'll send you stickers. *** LINKS: Pick up Key to the City by Sara Bronin and books by other podcast guests at Bookshop.org. Learn more about Sara Bronin. Get official podcast merch in our store. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

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. During the recent US Open Tennis Championships in New York City, top-seeded American player Jessica Pegula got some attention when she posted an Instagram reel showing her taking the subway from Manhattan to the event venue in Queens. "I don't like taking a car, and I like trains," she said. "So I always try and take the train." We can relate. Pegula's post inspired us to have a discussion about other sports stars who, at least occasionally, like to skip the luxury SUV or Lamborghini in favor of non-car modes (LeBron!)—and why we should care about it. (As for Pegula, opting for the subway obviously didn't hurt her tournament one bit—she made it to the final, her first time to do so in a Grand Slam!) If you aren't yet a Patreon subscriber of The War on Cars, maybe now is the time! Subscribe for $3, $5, or $10 per month. We'll send you stickers and you'll have access to ad-free episodes and bonus conversations like this one. We really appreciate the support, and we couldn't produce the podcast without you.

There's been a lot of talk this election season about Project 2025, the initiative from the Heritage Foundation to prepare for a potential second Trump administration. Understandably, much of the conversation about Project 2025 has been about the stakes for abortion access, rights for LGBTQ+ people, protections for civil servants, the Department of Education, Social Security and much more. But there's also a 10-page chapter about the Department of Transportation, written by a former Trump administration official, that outlines a lot of ideas and plans that could spell doom for many vital progressive transportation projects, change how funding is distributed, and deeply harm the nation's ability to address climate change. Kevin DeGood, the director of Infrastructure Policy at the Center for American Progress, joins us to walk through what's in this document and what's at stake for transportation in this election. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon to receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content, stickers, and more! *** This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount codes. * * * * LINKS: VOTE! Find out if you're registered and look up when, where, and how you can vote at Vote.org. Learn more about Kevin DeGood and the Center for American Progress. Project 2025 author: "Bike Lanes Don't Make Cycling Safe". Really? Subscribe to our new YouTube channel. Follow The War on Cars on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Bluesky and Mastodon. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! * * * * * Pick up official podcast tees and other merch in our official store. Purchase books from podcast guests and support independent booksellers at our official Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

Why do Americans spend lots of money to visit walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly European cities, only to come back to the U.S. and oppose all those things where they live? Rick Steves has some thoughts. Countless people know and love the popular travel writer for his guidebooks and long-running television programs, which encourage people to explore Europe's "backdoor" destinations—those off-the-beaten-path locations that have just as much or more to offer than its more touristy cities and sights. Rick takes a thoughtful and philosophical approach to travel and believes it offers people important lessons for becoming better global citizens. He is also an activist and philanthropist who believes in the power of local advocacy; he has funded affordable housing in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, and is pursuing a one-man effort to turn a downtown roundabout into an Italian-style piazza. Please note: This episode was recorded before Rick announced his recent cancer diagnosis. We wish him all the best and many more years of inspiring people to explore the world. * * * * * ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive ad-free versions of regular episodes and exclusive bonus content. Plus, we'll send you stickers.*** This episode was produced with support from Pinhead Locks and Cleverhood. Listen for the latest discount codes. * * * * * LINKS Learn more about all things Rick Steves. Pick up a copy of Rick's book Travel as a Political Act and the 40th edition of his travel guide Europe Through the Back Door as well as books by other podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page. "When he's not traveling around Europe, writing about Europe or running his multimillion-dollar European tour company, the prolific TV host and author likes to squeeze in some local activism." (Washington Post) Rick Steves Wants to Set You Free (New York Times) The Future in our Hands, the Norwegian movement Rick mentions in the episode. * * * * * Buy official podcast merch in our store. Follow The War on Cars on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Bluesky and Mastodon. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Justin Fernandez at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

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. In June, Doug attended Velo-city, an annual cycling summit hosted by the European Cyclists' Federation that brings the bike world together. This year's conference was held in the Belgian city of Ghent. While there, Doug wandered the exhibition floor talking with people from all over the world — including elected officials, city planners, advocates, industry representatives, academics and bike-curious regular citizens — about why it was important for them to attend Velo-city and what lessons and knowledge they hoped to take home. As you'll hear in this bonus episode, the fight to make cities safer, more sustainable and more equitable truly is a global effort. Thanks to the European Cyclists' Federation for having The War on Cars at Velo-City and to Ali Lemer for editing this episode. TheWarOnCars.org

Episode 133: Listener Origin Stories (Patreon bonus re-release) We're taking a short break to work on our forthcoming book and some of our upcoming fall shows. We'll be back with new free episodes in early September. In the meantime, please enjoy this re-release of our Patreon bonus episode from December 26, 2023. You can get all of our Patreon bonus episodes and more subscriber-only content – plus stickers! – by signing up to support us at www.patreon.com/thewaroncarspod. (A new Patreon-exclusive bonus episode will be released in two weeks.) * * * * * Last November we told you our origin stories. Everything from early driving lessons to our experience living in car-dependent places has informed our journey to becoming radicalized, so to speak, into The War on Cars. Now it's your turn! We put out the call to our Patreon supporters for their origin stories, and — wow! — did you deliver. We heard from people all over the world about how they began to see the problems with car dominance, with stories ranging from gradual realizations to sudden epiphanies. Plus, we heard from a few friends and former guests of the podcast. (Not all heroes wear capes, but one you'll hear from at the top of the show most certainly does.) Honestly, we were so impressed and inspired by everyone's stories. We often tell people that we have the smartest and most engaged audience in podcasting and this episode is undeniable proof of that. Thank you for all you do in your neck of the woods to fight for safety, sustainability, equity, and more. * * * * * Thank you to Bull Moose Soft Goods and Cleverhood for their support. For the latest discount codes, listen to the episode. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and you'll be tipped off to listener participation episodes like this one, and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content, stickers, and more! *** * * * * * Pick up podcast tees and other merch in our official The War on Cars store. Purchase books from podcast guests and support independent booksellers at our official Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

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. This month's exclusive Patreon bonus episode is an interview with Holden Ringer, who recently finished walking more than 4,000 miles across the country from the starting point of LaPush, Washington. Holden is a 26-year-old originally from Dallas, Texas, and he used his odyssey to fundraise for the organization America Walks, as well as to raise awareness about active transportation and meet with fellow-minded advocates along the way. As he says, "Advocacy is built into the activity." Not long after he reached the Atlantic Ocean in May, we sat in New York's Bryant Park and talked about what he saw and learned during his year-plus odyssey on America's roads, pushing a stroller he named Smiley.

NOTE: This is part two of a two-part episode. To hear both parts right now and without ads, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. In part two of our deep dive on John Forester and his 1976 book Effective Cycling, we take a look at the paltry data and research underpinning the alleged safety benefits of vehicular cycling and the long-term impact Forester had on cycling for transportation in the United States. Even though cities such as New York started building protected bicycle lanes in earnest in the late 2000s and early 2010s — and even though quality bike infrastructure has existed in places such as Davis, California for decades — John Forester's legacy continued well into the 21st century, with federal guides such as AASHTO's "Green Book" discouraging or even prohibiting things such as parking-protected bikeways until as recently as 2018. On top of that, many of Forester's disciples held positions atop major advocacy organizations and city bike planning departments for years, and used their influence to prevent the construction of protected bike lanes. In a lot of ways, we're still pedaling in the world John Forester created. This episode was sponsored by Bull Moose Softgoods and Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount codes. LINKS/SOURCES Read Peter Flax in conversation with John Forester, via Bicycling Magazine. Northeastern University's Peter Furth takes on John Forester. STUDY: "Risk of injury for bicycling on cycle tracks versus in the street," by Lusk, Furth, et. al. PAPER: "A Historical Perspective on the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities and the Impact of the Vehicular Cycling Movement," Schultheiss, Sanders, and Toole, 2018 AASHTO's Draft Bikeway Guide Includes Protected Bike Lanes and More, Streetsblog 2016 Key Design Guide to Finally Include Protected Bike Lanes, Streetsblog 2018 'Death Of A 'Dinosaur:' Anti-Cycleway Campaigner John Forester Dies, Aged 90, by Carlton Reid in Forbes Read Bike Boom: The Unexpected Resurgence of Cycling, by Carlton Reid. Read Bike Battles: A History of Sharing the American Road, by James Longhurst. How the former Dallas bicycle coordinator held back cycling infrastructure for years, via the Texas Observer. Dallas' Former Bike Czar Tells Newbie Riders to Go Play in Traffic, via the Dallas Observer Access John Forester's website via the Wayback Machine. If you're a glutton for punishment, pick up a copy of John Forester's Effective Cycling. Grab some merch in our official store! This episode was edited by Yessenia Moreno. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. https://thewaroncars.org/

NOTE: This is part one of a two-part episode. To hear both parts right now and without ads, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars. "Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles." That quote is the core philosophy of John Forester, the father of vehicular cycling. Forester, who died in 2020, was a major figure in the the world of cycling advocacy and transportation policy, and his influence shaped street design and bicycle safety in the United States for decades. We take a deep dive into Forester's 1976 book, Effective Cycling. Part guidebook, part encyclopedia, part polemic, Effective Cycling explains why cyclists should not be afraid to ride not just in traffic, but as traffic. Throughout the book, Forester dismisses anyone who might be afraid of taking the lane with fast-moving cars and trucks as suffering from what he calls the "cyclist inferiority complex" and asserts that only a strict adherence to the principles of vehicular cycling can keep everyone safe. Who was John Forester? What is vehicular cycling? Why are we talking about a book that was published almost fifty years ago? It's all here in this mega episode. This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood and Pinhead Locks. Listen for the latest discount codes. LINKS/SOURCES Read Peter Flax in conversation with John Forester, via Bicycling Magazine. Northeastern University's Peter Furth takes on John Forester. STUDY: "Risk of injury for bicycling on cycle tracks versus in the street," by Lusk, Furth, et. al. PAPER: "A Historical Perspective on the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities and the Impact of the Vehicular Cycling Movement," Schultheiss, Sanders, and Toole, 2018 AASHTO's Draft Bikeway Guide Includes Protected Bike Lanes and More, Streetsblog 2016 Key Design Guide to Finally Include Protected Bike Lanes, Streetsblog 2018 'Death Of A 'Dinosaur:' Anti-Cycleway Campaigner John Forester Dies, Aged 90, by Carlton Reid in Forbes Read Bike Boom: The Unexpected Resurgence of Cycling, by Carlton Reid. Read Bike Battles: A History of Sharing the American Road, by James Longhurst. How the former Dallas bicycle coordinator held back cycling infrastructure for years, via the Texas Observer. Dallas' Former Bike Czar Tells Newbie Riders to Go Play in Traffic, via the Dallas Observer Access John Forester's website via the Wayback Machine. If you're a glutton for punishment, pick up a copy of John Forester's Effective Cycling. Grab some merch in our official store! This episode was edited by Yessenia Moreno. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. https://thewaroncars.org/

Cyprine Odada is the Executive Director of Critical Mass Nairobi and an urban planner specializing in active mobility. Ever since founding the Kenyan capital's chapter of Critical Mass, the largest gathering of non-competitive cyclists in Africa, Cyprine has helped get more people on bikes from different neighborhoods, ages, and social and economic groups, changing the perception of who rides a bike in Nairobi and building more political support for bike infrastructure in a city where cars dominate. By focusing on the joy of cycling and the way in which the bicycle can connect people and create community, Cyprine is doing what she can to transform Nairobi into a cycling city, inspiring other African cities along the way. This episode was recorded on the floor of the Velo-city Conference in Ghent in June 2024. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon.*** LINKS: Watch Cyprine Odada's presentation at TedX in 2020 Learn more about Critical Mass Nairobi Follow Critical Mass Nairobi on Instagram Learn more about the Velo-city conference Grab some merch in our official podcast store. This episode was produced and edited by Doug Gordon. https://thewaroncars.org/

Because it has the word "engineering" right in there, the field of traffic engineering is something most people assume is governed by science and rational rules. But a new book, written by a traffic engineer himself, argues that is not the case at all. In Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion That Science Underlies Our Transportation System, Wes Marshall — a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver — says that the idea that the design of our transportation system is based on science couldn't be further from the truth. By examining a century's worth of history, studies, old professional journals and current standards, Marshall argues that his colleagues need to do some deep soul searching about the rules they follow so that they no longer design a system that kills tens of thousands of people per year. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. *** This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood and Bullmoose Softgoods. Listen for the latest discount codes. Pick up a copy of Killed by a Traffic Engineer and books by all of our podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page. Grab some merch in our official store! This episode was edited by Yessenia Moreno. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. https://thewaroncars.org/

Why don't more women ride bicycles in London? The advocacy group London Cycling Campaign wanted to know, and so they asked. What they discovered was disturbing: Among more than a thousand women surveyed, nine out of ten said they experienced verbal abuse and aggression while biking. Ninety-three percent said drivers had used vehicles to intimidate them. One in five said they had given up riding permanently or temporarily after they had been harassed. And when women reported incidents of aggression to the police? The cops almost never followed up. We spoke with the London Cycling Campaign's Kate Bartlett about what women face on the road and what advocates are doing to make cycling safer and more accessible for all. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. *** This episode was sponsored by Pinhead Locks and Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount codes. LINKS: Check out the London Cycling Campaign's initiative to get more women out and riding freely. Merch! Pick up The War on Cars t-shirts, stickers and more in our store. Purchase books from podcast guests and support independent booksellers at our official Bookshop.org page. thewaroncars.org

In this emergency episode, we discuss New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's 11th-hour decision to "indefinitely suspend" congestion pricing, the program that would have charged drivers to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Her move, announced in a prerecorded video on Wednesday, June 5th, came mere weeks before congestion pricing was set to launch, jeopardizing what was set to be a major funding source for transit and a revolutionary plan to reduce traffic in a way never seen before in the United States. Why did Hochul do this? Is it bad politics or atrociously bad politics? What does this mean for the future of the New York City subway system, commuter rail, accessibility, the environment, the economy and even democracy itself? More importantly, we discuss what you can do if you live or work in the New York metropolitan area and want to see Hochul's flip flop reversed. We also discuss what effect this could have on cities across the U.S. that might be considering a congestion pricing program of their own. WARNING: We swear a lot in this one. To support everything we do at The War on Cars please become a Patreon subscriber. You'll receive access to exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free versions of regular episodes, free stickers and more. We depend on listener support, so thanks! HELP SAVE CONGESTION PRICING: Contact Governor Kathy Hochul and tell her to implement congestion pricing as planned: 1-518-474-8390 Local advocacy organizations have their own calls to action and can help you contact elected officials: Riders Alliance Transportation Alternatives Tri-State Transportation Campaign SHOW NOTES: House Democrats pressured Hochul to tank congestion pricing. (Politico) Noto a whole lotta teachers drive into Manhattan. (Hellgate NYC) Read Aaron's take on Representative Hakeem Jeffries and congestion pricing from 2008. (Streetsblog) Hear our original thoughts on congestion pricing back in episode 111 with Diana Lind. This episode was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Josh Wilcox. It was edited by Doug Gordon. thewaroncars.org

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. For this month's exclusive Patreon bonus episode, we take a look at three states that have attempted to ban everything from bus rapid transit to taxing driving by vehicle miles traveled. While most of these initiatives have failed, one of these states successfully banned bus wraps, but not because bus wraps make it harder to see out of bus windows. What is going on? We take a look at recent news from Indiana, Arizona and Florida. thewaroncars.org

An unlikely cycling revolution is happening in one of the coldest big cities on the planet: Edmonton, Alberta. Despite freezing temps, lots of sprawl, big trucks and an economy built on pulling oil out of the Albertan tar sands, the Western Canadian city is in the midst of a four-year, $100 million CAD investment in active transportation that will connect far-flung neighborhoods with a network of safe, high-quality, protected bike lanes. Many of these bike lanes will even get priority over roads for cars when it comes to snow removal. We traveled to the home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers to attend the Winter Cycling Congress, where we talked with the people pushing for this transformation, including the city's former mayor, Don Iveson. Plus, hear our appearance on drive-time radio in the heart of oil country. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. *** This episode was sponsored by Bullmoose Soft Goods and Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount codes. LINKS: Tom Babin of Shifter says Edmonton is "the most exciting bike city in North America." Learn more about Edmonton's former mayor, Don Iveson and City Councillor Michael Janz. Check out The Winter Cycling Federation and listen to Sarah's dispatch from the 2020 Winter Cycling Congress in Finland. Read all about the Edmonton Bike Plan. Learn more about "Oil Country Urbanism" from Oh The Urbanity! and check out About Here on YouTube. Lorne Gunter of the Edmonton Sun thinks charging drivers to park is a "war on cars." Buy toques, t-shirts, stickers and more in The War on Cars merch store. Save 10% with code BIKEMONTH. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Doug Gordon and Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

The United States has built a transportation system centered around automobiles. But one-third of the nation's population can't drive, whether because of disability, age, financial hardship, immigration status, or any of a host of other factors. Those tens of millions of people are often invisible to planners and elected officials, and that's why Anna Letitia Zivarts, herself a low-vision nondriver and a longtime activist for better transportation choices, has written a new book titled When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press). We talked with Anna about how, by designing our transportation future for those who can't or don't feel comfortable driving, we could build a system that works better for everyone and that would be more equitable, safer, and more environmentally sustainable. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. *** This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount code. LINKS: Buy Anna Zivarts's book, When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency, at The War On Cars Bookshop store or from your local bookseller. You can follow Anna on X. Buy t-shirts, stickers, hats and more in The War on Cars merch store. It's Bike Month so save 10% with code BIKEMONTH. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

***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.*** We were getting ready to record our "Cybertrash" episode with Ed Niedermeyer last month when Ed happened to bring to our attention to this "deeply weird" ten minute-long extended car ad. It's a promotional video for Dodge's new, "Next-Gen Charger," the electric-powered version of the very same "muscle cars" that Doug confronted at the New York International Auto Show in Episode 85 and Aaron rode along with back in Episodes 92 and 96. The move from gas-guzzling, window-rattling, V8 engines to electric motors has clearly plunged Dodge into an identity crisis. They spent decades building their brand on obnoxiously loud and dangerously sociopathic gas guzzlers. How will they ever convince their loutish loyal customers to switch over to (supposedly) clean, quiet, big government-mandated electric cars? In this video we get an answer to that question. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis is going to try to sell his muscle e-cars with rightwing dog whistles and a Make Dodge Great Again pitch. But he barely even sounds like he has convinced himself. A lot like Elon Musk's Cybertruck marketing, the Dodge promo video is simultaneously super weird and extremely revealing about what American car culture is really all about. We had some extra time with Ed in the studio so we had to talk about it with him. And we put that together for as a Patreon bonus. If you aren't yet a Patreon subscriber of The War on Cars, maybe now is the time! Subscribe for $3, $5, or $10 per month. We'll send you stickers and you'll have access to ad-free episodes and bonus conversations like this one. We really appreciate the support. We couldn't produce the podcast without you.

Elon Musk's gigantic, stainless steel, 1980s sci fi movie–inspired Cybertruck is starting to show up on city streets. Perhaps you've had the misfortune of seeing one rolling through your neighborhood. If not, you've almost certainly seen some of the vehicle's many truly epic fails on the Internet. The Cybertruck might not work very well, but it still appears to be wildly popular. More than two million people have deposited $250 to get in line for the opportunity to buy one. Journalist Ed Niedermeyer is the author of "Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors." In this episode, Ed joins us to analyze the Cybertruck as a cultural text and also just to revel in its overwhelming absurdity. What is the Cybertruck? And what does its apparent popularity say about who we are and where we are headed collectively? This is the Cybertruck launch event we've all been waiting for. This episode was sponsored by Sheyd Bags and Cleverhood. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. *** LINKS: Buy Edward Niedermeyer's book, Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors from your friendly neighborhood bookshop. You can follow Ed Niedermeyer on Bluesky and Threads. The Cybertruck fails are being collected and shared on r/CyberStuck on Reddit. This week's big one? Cybertruck accelerator pedals are falling off. This, by journalist Victoria Scott is a good read: A Cultural Critique of the Tesla Cybertruck in Road & Track. If the audio clips in this episode weren't enough, you can watch Elon Musk's bizarre performance at the New York Times DealBook Summit. Buy t-shirts, stickers, hats and more in The War on Cars merch store. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Yessenia Moreno. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

In the 20th century, planners and policymakers smashed Interstate highways through the middle of every major city in the United States. In the 21st century, we understand the many ways that urban freeways were economic, environmental, and racial justice disasters. And yet, incredibly, the State of Texas is planning to spend over $64 billion in the next few years to widen highways through the middle of its three largest cities, Houston, Dallas and Austin. Journalist Megan Kimble has been reporting on the Texas freeway fight for years now. Her new book -- published today -- is City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America's Highways. In it, she tells the stories of the communities in the path of TxDOT's bulldozers and the brave Texans fighting against long odds to save their homes, neighborhoods, and cities from a seemingly implacable foe. What if, instead of expanding the aging and outmoded urban freeways dividing our cities, we tore them down? *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. *** LINKS: Megan Kimble's new book is City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America's Highways. It is excellent! Find it in The War on Cars store on Bookshop.org or get it from your neighborhood bookseller. Buy t-shirts, stickers, hats and more in The War on Cars merch store. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was produced and edited by Aaron Naparstek. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

It has never been more expensive to insure a car in the United States. Today, the average annual premium for full coverage is more than $2,500, up from more than $1,700 just a few years ago. There are a lot of reasons for this—including the high price of cars, supply chain issues, and the rising frequency and severity of crashes—but no matter how you add it up it's a huge problem in a country where driving is a ticket to full participation in society. Despite this, what if we told you that car insurance is still way too cheap? That's something most people don't understand until they or someone they love is directly affected by traffic violence. Today, mandatory state minimum coverage requirements have not kept up with the rising cost of car crashes, something all of us subsidize whether we drive or not—and that crash victims often pay for with life and limb. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** LINKS: Learn more about Michelle DuBarry and her advocacy for a Made Whole Doctrine in Oregon. Why Car Insurance in America is Actually Too Cheap, by Daniel Knowles in The Economist. Buy a copy of Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What To Do About It by Daniel Knowles and get books by previous podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page. Steve Vaccaro: "New York City's best-known lawyer advocate for bicyclist and pedestrian rights." Auto Insurance Spike Hampers the Inflation Fight (New York Times) NHTSA: Traffic Crashes Cost American $340 Billion in 2019 Buy t-shirts, stickers, hats and more in The War on Cars merch store. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was written, produced and edited by Doug Gordon. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

In January, we held our third annual live show at Caveat on Manhattan's Lower East Side. We were so thrilled to be in the same room as so many listeners and friends of the podcast. We were also happy to welcome Bernie Wagenblast, the voice of the New York City subway system, to The War on Cars. Bernie's voice is instantly recognizable to millions of people — even if they don't necessarily know who she is. Bernie's personal story and the way she's using her platform are also inspiring legions of New Yorkers and people around the world, and we were so glad she could join us on stage for some conversation and fun. Plus, don't miss a pro-car comedian interrupting our show and Bernie reading our Letterman-inspired Top 10 list of transportation announcements we'd like to hear. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest Cleverhood discount code. LINKS: The Voice of the Subway Speaks for Herself, at Last. (New York Times) Bernie Wagenblast, the voice of the NYC subway, finding her true voice after sharing her transition. (CBS News) Charlie Dektar on "How to Make New York City More Car-Friendly" (The New Yorker) Buy official War on Cars merch at our store. Buy books from podcast guests at our Bookshop.org page Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded live at Caveat in Manhattan on January 31st, 2024. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

***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.*** In this bonus episode, we continue the conversation we had in Episode 120 about the car ads from Super Bowl LVIII. These two didn't air during the big game, but one is a bit on an antidote to the excess of the typical U.S. automobile commercial while the other is part of a series that ran during NFL postseason games and lots of other big televised events. The first, from a famous Dutch beer company, shows the world as we'd like it to be. The second, courtesy of Korean automaker Hyundai, shows the world where it might be headed.

In what's become an annual tradition, we take a critical look at the car ads that aired during the Super Bowl and consider what they say about driving, culture, consumerism, and the United States… which is all the same thing, right? The big story this year is not so much which car companies chose to spend $7 million for 30 seconds of air time but which chose not to and why. (There were zero ads from the Big Three U.S. automakers; that's the first time that's happened in 23 years.) Still, there were still some notable commercials featuring beloved movie stars, reckless driving, and stories that tugged at our heart strings. It's all here in episode CXX of the podcast. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content, merch discounts, stickers, and more.*** LINKS: Watch all the 2024 Super Bowl commercials. (USA Today) None of the Big Three U.S. automakers ran a Super Bowl ad this year. (Detroit Free Press) Pick up official War on Cars merch at our store. Buy books by podcast guests at our Bookshop.org page. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Yessenia Moreno. Our special Big Game theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear and Michael Hearst. https://thewaroncars.org/

Did you ever see a car advertisement that you thought was so ridiculously irresponsible it should be banned? Well, the people at Adfree Cities, an advocacy group based in the United Kingdom, did, and they decided to do something about it. They went up against Toyota over an ad for the Toyota Hilux SUV that shows drivers ripping through sensitive natural areas and cities—and they won, getting the ad taken off the airwaves and the streets. We talked with two members of the organization, Veronica Wignall and James Ward, about how they're tackling the auto industry's most egregious marketing campaigns, as well as their larger mission to create "happier, healthier cities free from the pressures of corporate outdoor advertising." ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest Cleverhood discount code. LINKS: Check out Adfree Cities and their partner organization, Badvertising. See the Toyota Hilux ad that UK regulators deemed "had not been prepared with a sense of responsibility to society." It's not too late to register for the Winter Cycling Congress, February 22 – 24 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It will be freezing and we will be there! Get your merch at The War on Cars store. Find us on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and Facebook. Follow and please review us on Apple Podcasts. This episode was produced by Sarah Goodyear. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

This is a preview of a special bonus episode for Patreon supporters of The War on Cars! In the last episode of the podcast we spent some time with Baruch, Shawon, and their battery-swapping startup company, PopWheels. When I started working on that episode, I figured I was going to learn a lot about e-bikes, batteries, and the delivery app business. And I did. But over the course of more than a half dozen interviews and conversations between May and December 2023, I also learned a lot about Bangladeshi politics, immigration, and life in New York City as an e-bike delivery worker. One of my favorite interviews for this episode took place on a crisp, sunny, Tuesday morning last October. I biked out to East New York, Brooklyn to meet Shawon and his friend Fokhrul, a Bangladeshi delivery worker who uses PopWheels battery-swapping network. (Shawon and Fokhrul asked me not to use their last names because they have asylum-seeker cases working their way through the legal system). We found a park bench and spent the morning talking about the political oppression they faced in Bangladesh, their arduous, months-long journey to the United States, and what their lives are like here in New York City. It was super interesting and I enjoyed it a lot. But, as often happens with these things, only tiny bits of this conversation made it into Episode 118. So, for this special bonus episode I wanted to share more of my interview with Shawon and Fokhrul with you. I also had some fun additional bits and pieces of tape with Baruch that never made it into the last episode. So, you'll find some of that woven in here too. I hope you enjoy hanging with Shawon, Fokhrul and Baruch as much as I did. You can join us as a Patreon supporter to listen to the whole thing. -- Aaron

Baruch Herzfeld is the CEO and co-founder of PopWheels, where he is working to develop New York City's first e-bike battery-swapping network. PopWheels aims to solve the growing problem of e-bike battery fires. The company believes that giving e-mobility users a quick, convenient, and safe way to recharge their batteries is absolutely essential to pushing gas-burning cars and trucks out of cities once and for all. But Baruch's really big idea is this: He is betting that the light, clean, electric transportation fleet of the future is already up and running on the streets of New York City. And it isn't being brought to us by Big Tech, Big Auto or Elon Musk, it is being driven by tens of thousands of immigrant e-bike delivery workers. What if there is a high-tech urban mobility revolution happening right under our noses, but we can't see it because the people who are bringing it to our city are mostly invisible to us? ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** See The War on Cars LIVE at Caveat on NYC on Wednesday, January 31st. In-person tickets are sold out but you can still catch the livestream! LINKS: Baruch Herzfeld's battery-swapping company, PopWheels: Stop Charging, Start Swapping Mayor Adams Launches Lithium-ion Battery-Charging Pilot for Delivery Workers to Safely Charge in Public, NYC.gov, December 5, 2023 When will NYC do something about e-bike fire deaths? Nicole Gelinas for the New York Post, November 19, 2023 F.D.N.Y. Commissioner Blames E-Commerce Giants in Deadly Battery Fires, by Michael Rothfeld for the New York Times, November 13, 2023 E-bike charging stations coming to NYCHA in wake of deadly lithium-ion battery fires, New York Daily News, June 25, 2023 Opinion: E-bike Battery Regulation Isn't Anti-immigrant or Anti-worker. It's Common Sense. By Baruch Herzfeld in City Limits, November 14, 2022 Brooklyn's Bicycle Man Uses Two Wheels To Bring Hasids and Hipsters Together, by Nathaniel Popper for The Forward, August 29, 2009 ***** Register for the Winter Cycling Congress, February 22 – 24 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It will be freezing and we will be there! Get your merch at The War on Cars store. Find us on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and Facebook. Follow and please review us on Apple Podcasts. This episode was reported, produced and edited by Aaron Naparstek. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org!

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2024 by bringing you our conversation with David Zipper, one of the hardest-working analysts on the transportation scene today. You may be familiar with David from his writing at Bloomberg CityLab, Slate and Fast Company, where he relentlessly covers road safety, climate change, and the future of micromobility. We talked with David about the excesses of the auto industry, our road fatality crisis, the absurd way speed limits are determined on American streets, and whether we might ever be able to swap out our bloated SUVs for electric golf carts. Or if that's too much to ask, will cities at least start charging people more for driving massive glacier melters? LINKS: You can find out all about David Zipper's work, along with links to his writing, at his website. See David on NBCDFW's excellent series about why Dallas is such a deadly place to drive. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest Cleverhood discount code. See The War on Cars LIVE at Caveat on NYC on Wednesday, January 31st. Tickets are going fast! Register for the Winter Cycling Congress, February 22 - 24 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We will be there! Buy official War on Cars merch at our store. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

Last month the three hosts told their origin stories, or how they first became aware of the problems associated with cars and automobile dependency. Our stories included everything from lessons learned during early driving lessons to our individual experiences living in car-dependent places. The response to that episode was so great that we put out the call to our Patreon supporters to tell us their origin stories. We heard from people from all over the world — including a few friends and former guests of the podcast — who all wanted to share how they were radicalized into 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, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

Since 1964, the Hess Corporation has released a toy truck for the holiday season, an annual tradition that's highly anticipated by children and collectors alike. Models have included gas tankers, fire trucks, motorcycles, RVs, race cars, and even a Space Shuttle, almost all in the fossil fuel company's iconic green-and-white color scheme. But this year, perhaps reflecting the times, the Hess Corporation has released a Police Truck and Cruiser, "a specialized law enforcement response team that will inspire and unleash the inner hero in everyone." We're not sure what kind of trouble is brewing in Santa's workshop, but the truck looks like what would arrive in response to a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, the cruiser, the smaller truck-within-the-truck, is an "armored-response vehicle" that gives off big Cybertruck vibes… if the Cybertruck included a battering ram and could actually work off-road. We discuss the 2023 Hess Truck and what it says about the state of the world. Plus, since we're not the target audience for this toy or its marketing, we hear a kid explain what makes the Hess Truck fun and cool. **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.** 2023 Hess Truck ad. (YouTube) Learn more about the Hess Truck (Hess) They Hess Truck's Back And It's Worse Than Ever (Steve DaSilva, Jalopnik) TheWarOnCars.org

In his new book, Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping The Future of Our Planet, independent conservation journalist Ben Goldfarb writes about how roads and cars are wreaking havoc on nature across the globe. He reports back about the people trying to save everything from butterflies to deer to wallabies to salamanders from the destructive power of motordom. Plus, he helps us analyze a couple of egregious ads that show how humans use roads to assert our dominion over the natural world…to our own eventual detriment. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest Cleverhood discount code. LINKS: Pick up Ben Goldfarb's Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping The Future of Our Planet at our official Bookshop.org page. See The War on Cars LIVE at Caveat on NYC on Wednesday, January 31st. Tickets are going fast! Register for the Winter Cycling Congress, February 22-24 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We will be there! Buy official War on Cars merch at our store. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. TheWarOnCars.org

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has declared it's time to end what he calls "the war on motorists." First, the Conservative Party leader announced he was delaying the UK's commitment to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars. He followed that with what he called his "plan for motorists," which would severely restrict local efforts to implement low-traffic neighborhoods, 20 mph speed limits, bus-only lanes, and other policies intended to benefit people walking, cycling, and taking transit. Finally, he scrapped a major portion of HS2, a high-speed rail line linking some of the UK's biggest cities. So… what the hell is happening in the UK? With similar setbacks in Berlin, Madrid, New York and elsewhere, is this part of a broader global backsliding? Are we losing the The War on Cars or is the prime minister just grasping at culture-war straws? The Guardian's Peter Walker returns to the podcast to help us figure it all out. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest Cleverhood discount code. SHOW NOTES: "Sunak 'backs drivers,' announces scaling back of HS2, and delays the UK's ban on gas-powered vehicles by five years. (Peter Walker & colleagues, The Guardian) Rishi Sunak says he's "slamming the brakes on the war on motorists." (The Sun) King Charles III makes his first "King's Speech." (YouTube) British Transport Secretary Mark Harper on "sinister" 15-minute-city plans. (The Independent) Hear Peter Walker discuss his book, The Miracle Pill, on this Patreon bonus episode of The War on Cars. Pick up Peter Walker's How Cycling Can Save the World at our official Bookshop.org page. See The War on Cars LIVE at Caveat on NYC on Wednesday, January 31st. Tickets are going fast! Register for the Winter Cycling Congress, February 22-24 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We will be there! Buy official War on Cars merch at our store. Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. TheWarOnCars.org

Have you ever found yourself wondering, how did Aaron, Doug and Sarah get mobilized into the war on cars? What made them this way? If so, you're in luck. In this bonus episode, exclusively for Patreon supporters, we dive deep into our own pasts and reveal how our personal experiences with cars drove us to activism, research, writing…and ultimately, The War on Cars podcast as you know it today. You'll learn how Doug dealt with a soul-crushing commute in Atlanta and how Sarah drove recklessly on the California coast. You'll also hear the words of wisdom Aaron's father imparted during their first driving lesson. ***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.***

Since he was elected mayor in 2020, John Bauters has gained an international reputation for his work to transform transportation and housing in the tiny city of Emeryville, which is wedged between Oakland and Berkeley on the shores of San Francisco Bay. Emeryville, population 13,000, is only one square mile in area. But it's home to some big employers, including Pixar, and several big box stores. It also has I-80 blasting through it, and it is a major hub for Amtrak, regional rail, and freight rail. It's a challenging environment in which to create a green city with a great active transportation network. But that's exactly what Bauters has been working toward for his whole term. We visited with him, rode some of the great bike and park network that Emeryville has been building, and talked about the kind of political will that's necessary to make real change. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers.*** This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest Cleverhood discount code. LINKS: Follow John Bauters on X, if you're still there. Really. It's worth it. Ride along with Mayor Bauters and Streetfilms through the streets of Emeryville. (YouTube) 'Why the mayor of tiny Emeryville matters' (The Real Deal) Register for the Winter Cycling Congress, February 22-24 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We will be there! Buy official War on Cars merch at our store. Find us on Mastodon, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and whatever godforsaken new social media platform pops up next. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. TheWarOnCars.org

In his new book, Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Harms Our Health and the Environment, Grant Ennis — a lecturer at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia — identifies the "nine devious frames" that corporations such as automobile manufacturers and road builders use to advance their interests, manipulate the public and maintain a status quo that harms human health and the environment. Dark PR is a thought-provoking book that shines a light on the tactics used by major industries to lock in an unhealthy, unsafe and unsustainable status quo. Ennis offers some food for thought for safe streets advocates as we try to improve our world and fight back against these powerful interests. Special thanks to Cleverhood for their support. For the latest discount code on the best rain gear for cycling and walking, listen to the episode. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, stickers, and more.*** LINKS: Buy Dark PR as well as titles by other podcast guests at our Bookshop.org page. Watch "Human Traffic Signals," a PSA from Buick of Shanghai. Here's GM's vision of driving in 1976... as imagined in 1956. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association thinks the solutions to traffic safety are pretty complex. Buy official War on Cars merch at our store. Find us on Mastodon, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Follow and review The War on Cars on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! TheWarOnCars.org