The War on Cars

Have you ever been walking across the street when a driver turned into your path and almost hit you? Or riding your bike when a hostile horn-honker laid into you for delaying them to the next red light by a few seconds? If you spend any amount of time on a city's streets outside of the protective shell of a two-ton automobile, you've probably had frustrating, frightening, and infuriating experiences like these. How did you respond? Did you lash out verbally, or give them the finger? Mutter under your breath and walk away? Did you dare lay hands on their precious vehicle? Or did you do the sensible thing and buy a ten-pack of War on Cars stickers to slap up around your neighborhood? In this episode, Doug, Sarah and Aaron share their own experiences of close calls they've had with cars, plus strategies for coping. And we hear tips and stories from listeners as well. This episode is produced with support from Rad Power Bikes. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and you'll be tipped off to listener participation episodes like this one, you'll receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content, stickers, and more! *** * * * * * Pick up official podcast tees and other merch in our official store. 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. TheWarOnCars.org

Have you ever wondered what the reporters who cover the auto industry think about oversized SUVs and pickups and whether the fever for these gas-guzzling, space-hogging, planet-heating and people-killing monstrosities will ever break? Bob Sorokanich has some opinions. Bob Sorokanich was the Editor-In-Chief of Jalopnik, the news site about cars, the auto industry and transportation in general. He was also the Deputy Editor of Road & Track, one of the most historic and important auto magazines in the U.S., if not the world. In this expansive conversation, Bob talks about the changing face of automotive journalism and why most people — even the most died-in-the-wool car enthusiasts — hate the kind of driving they typically experience today. ***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.***

You may know the actor Nick Offerman as the gruff city parks director Ron Swanson on the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation or from his turn as the survivalist Bill on the HBO series The Last of Us, but he also has a lot to say about how people get around, share public space, and relate to nature. In his book Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside, Nick takes a wry and philosophical approach to our stewardship of Planet Earth, the value of working with one's hands, and the many problems with the massive agricultural systems on which we all depend. Nick Offerman joins The War on Cars to talk about his experience biking for transportation in New York City and Los Angeles, his views on masculinity and conspicuous consumption, and why the best way to explore an unfamiliar city is at the speed of a good walk. This episode is produced with support from Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest 15% discount code. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content and stickers!*** LINKS: Visit Nick Offerman's official site and follow him on Twitter. Read Nick Offerman's Call of the Candy-Ass in Outside Online. Support independent booksellers and buy Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside as well as books by other guests of The War on Cars at our official Bookshop.org page. Read Pastoral Song by James Rebanks. (Published in the UK as English Pastoral.) Watch the film Sacred Cow, narrated by Nick Offerman. And read the book! * * * * * Pick up official podcast tees and other merch in our official store. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Felix Levine. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

In episode 103, we looked at depictions of cyclists in movies such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin and TV shows such as Arrested Development and asked, "Why Does Hollywood Hate Bikes?" Our co-host Sarah Goodyear unfortunately missed that discussion, so in this exclusive bonus just for patrons of The War on Cars she brings some recent pop culture specimens to examine: the NBC sitcom American Auto and the BBC soap The Split. We also respond to listener comments about some of the movies and television shows we missed last time out — including Stranger Things, The Goonies, and Breaking Away — and follow up on some new bike-related developments on the feel-good show Ted Lasso. In this teaser, Sarah offers some thoughts on American Auto starring Ana Gasteyer. ***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.***

All car trips begin and end with a place to park, making a parking space "nothing less than the link between driving and life itself." In his new book, Paved Paradise, Henry Grabar, a staff writer at Slate, argues that the need to accommodate the short- and long-term storage of countless big metal boxes on wheels is a determinative force in the design of cities, the shape of buildings, the cost of housing and even the health of our planet. Deeply reported, highly entertaining and filled with colorful stories and characters from the worlds of affordable housing development, government and even organized crime, Paved Paradise is a refreshing look at a subject that explains the world. This episode is produced with support from Harvard University Graduate School of Design Executive Education and Radpower Bikes. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content and stickers.*** LINKS: Buy Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar and other books by podcast guests at The War on Cars Bookshop.org page. Follow Henry Grabar on Twitter. Read more from Henry at Slate. Pick up official podcast tees, sticker packs and other merch in our official store. Attend Micromobility Europe in Amsterdam in June or Micromobility America in San Francisco in October and save 20% on tickets by using the links. This episode was edited by Doug Gordon. It was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Josh Wilcox. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

Weird things happen when you're an investigative reporter trying to cover an international oil giant like ExxonMobil. Your plane tickets are mysteriously canceled, your hotel room gets broken into, and the local reporter that you've hired is offered a lucrative job to work on something else. In this special bonus episode for War on Cars Patreon subscribers, investigative journalist and podcaster Amy Westervelt tells us what it was like to report and produce the new season of her podcast, Drilled. It's called "Light Sweet Crude." In it, she takes us to the tiny South American nation Guyana where, in 2015, ExxonMobil discovered one of the world's largest off-shore oil reserves. Seemingly overnight, Guyana began transforming from an international environmental leader and model of sustainable development to one of the world's fastest growing petrostates. ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

In Huntsville, Alabama, it's illegal to play ball on any street, alley, or sidewalk. In Lewiston, Maine, pedestrians must keep to the right half of the crosswalk while crossing the street. And in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, bicyclists are strictly prohibited from any kind of "fancy riding." If these laws sound vague, arbitrary, and difficult to enforce, well, that might just be the point. In a groundbreaking new report, urban planner Charles Brown painstakingly identifies the vast array of transportation-related laws that are used almost exclusively to limit the mobility and freedom of Black Americans while providing no real benefit to public safety. Brown gives this repressive policy regime a name. He calls it: Arrested Mobility. This episode is produced with support from Harvard University Graduate School of Design Executive Education and Cleverhood. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content and stickers! *** LINKS: Follow Charles Brown on Twitter. Read the report: Arrested Mobility: Barriers to Walking, Biking, and E-Scooter Use in Black Communities in the United States. Subscribe and listen to the Arrested Mobility podcast Equitable Cities is an urban planning, public policy, and research firm working at the intersection of transportation, health, and equity. How Bike/Walk Laws 'Arrest' the Mobility of Black Americans (Streetsblog) * * * * * Pick up official podcast tees and other merch in our official store. Buy books from podcast guests and find other great recommendations at our Bookshop.org page. Attend Micromobility Europe in Amsterdam in June or Micromobility America in San Francisco in October and save 20% on tickets by using the links. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Josh Wilcox. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Patreon supporters who want to listen to this ad-free version of the episode on Apple Podcasts or another podcast app should check out these instructions on how to find and use your private RSS audio link from Patreon. You can also use the Patreon app or listen in your browser. TheWarOnCars.org

On our last episode, we mentioned the brief cameo that a Brompton folding bicycle had on season 2 of Ted Lasso and why that bicycle model in particular was a very deliberate choice meant to convey something special about the character who rides it, Dr. Sharon Fieldstone. For this bonus episode just for Patreon supporters, we talk with Brompton's Managing Director, Will Butler-Adams, about the chance meeting that brought him to the iconic British bicycle company, where the bike industry fits into safe streets advocacy, his thoughts on building cities for people and why his company's iconic and quirky machine is the "Swiss Army knife of bikes." ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

Chances are, if a character rides a bicycle in a movie or TV show that character is a huge loser. From The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Arrested Development, bicycles are frequently used to represent immaturity, otherness and misfortune. Thankfully, things are changing — at least a little. Witness the Citibike-riding women of Broad City or Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, the sports psychologist who counsels the cast of Ted Lasso after commuting to work on her Brompton folding bike. Journalist Nitish Pahwa of Slate joins us to discuss the ways in which Hollywood and other parts of our entertainment-industrial complex use bicycles and cars to signify power and status. This episode is produced with support from Rad Power Bikes and Cleverhood. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our regular episodes, special bonus content and stickers!*** LINKS: "Americans Are Ready to Embrace Bicycles, but There's One Thing Standing in Their Way" (Nitish Pahwa in Slate) Follow Nitish on Twitter and Mastodon. Pick up official podcast tees, stickers and other merch in our official store. Buy books from podcast guests and find other great recommendations at our Bookshop.org page. Attend Micromobility Europe in Amsterdam in June or Micromobility America in San Francisco in October and save 20% on tickets by using the links. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Josh Wilcox. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

What if we told you that some of the biggest, most exciting, and potentially transformative victories in The War on Cars are being fought and won these days by people working on affordable housing? In this special Patreon-only episode of the podcast we are talking to one of those people -- Matt Lewis, communications director of California YIMBY. In the last few years, California YIMBY has launched an impressive barrage of legislation aimed at making housing more affordable by challenging the mid-20th century "California Dream" of single-family, automobile-dependent, suburban sprawl. Housing, transportation, climate, equity and inclusivity... For YIMBYs it's all the same issue. ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

"15-minute cities" are having a moment, and not exactly in a good way. How did a mundane urban planning concept turn into the latest grist for the culture-war mill? Why does the idea of making it easier to walk to school or the grocery store have some people afraid that they won't be able to leave their homes for more than 15 minutes? And why do some think this is all a plot by the World Economic Forum to force people to "own nothing and be happy"? We break down this conspiracy theory and ask if we can ever get back to reality. This episode is produced with support from Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content and stickers!*** Friends of The War on Cars receive 20% off tickets to Micromobility Europe, the world's largest conference for small electric vehicles, June 8 & 9th in Amsterdam. Pick up official podcast tees and other merch in our official store. Buy books by podcast guests and check out our book recommendations at our official Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

EPISODE 101: FEMINIST CITY WITH LESLIE KERN Cities have almost always been designed by men, prioritizing men's needs as defined by the traditional male-female binary. But as scholar and author Leslie Kern writes in her book, Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World, a truly feminist city could be, "an ongoing experiment in living differently, living better, and living more justly in an urban world." Sarah talks with Dr. Kern about how gender influences the way we move through our streets, and how adopting a feminist perspective could make our cities more humane and livable for everyone, regardless of gender identity. This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content and free stickers!*** LINKS: Find out more about Dr. Leslie Kern's work. Buy Feminist City and other books by podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page. Pick up official The War on Cars merch in our store. This episode was produced and edited by Sarah Goodyear. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. TheWarOnCars.org

It's our annual Super Bowl roundup, where we analyze the car ads that ran during the Big Game and ask what they say about driving and, more importantly, U.S. culture. This year's ads included Will Ferrell cruising through a post-zombie-apocalyptic Las Vegas in a shiny GMC EV, a heroic "Binky Dad" who drives a KIA Telluride like no one would ever drive one in real life, and a parody ad that we thought won the night — and said a lot about how male fragility and big trucks are interconnected. ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.***

This marks the 100th episode of The War on Cars, and we're feeling pretty good about it! In our centenary edition, we go all the way back to Episode 1 and ask what we got right, what we got wrong—and what the heck has been happening since we launched back in September of 2018. Then we hear from listeners around the world about what The War on Cars means to them. Here's to the next hundred! This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of all our regular episodes, exclusive bonus content and free stickers!*** LINKS: Take a stroll down memory lane with us and listen back to Episode 1: Why the World Needs a War on Cars. Here's listener Alex Dyer's project to break car culture. Buy The War on Cars merch in our store and books by podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer and recorded by Walter Nordquist of the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

What does the recent culture-war freakout over gas stoves have in common with efforts to maybe, possibly, just a little, pretty please, slightly reduce the many harms of automobiles, especially large SUVs? And of all the thing he could have chosen in his (pretty lame, if you ask us) attempt to bait climate activist Greta Thunberg on Twitter, why did Andrew Tate use his luxury car collection — and a picture of him filling one of them up — to signify his conspicuous fossil fuel consumption? ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for access to this and all of our bonus content.***

Is it acceptable to harm another person? To steal someone's private property? To bend health and safety rules just to save a few minutes or make more money? According to a new study, it might depend on whether or not a car is involved. Dr. Ian Walker, a professor of environmental psychology at Swansea University in Wales, joins us for a fascinating discussion about the unconscious biases we all share in favor of cars, how those assumptions shape our streets, and how they prevent the kind of change needed to make them safer. It's a phenomenon he and his co-authors call "motonormativity." This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and free stickers!*** LINKS: Read the full study: Motonormativity: How Social Norms Hide a Major Public Health Hazard. Learn more about Dr. Ian Walker. How closely do drivers pass cyclists? According to Dr. Walker's research, it depends. What if people behaved in grocery stores the way they do behind the wheel of a car? (PSA via Norway's State Road Administration) Buy The War on Cars merch in our store and books by podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page. This episode was edited by Ali Lemer and recorded by Josh Wilcox of the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

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." This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free versions of all new episodes, Patreon-only bonus content and free stickers! Buy The War on Cars merch in our store. 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. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

In Part 1, Welcome to Muscle Car City, we met Denys da Menace, a young New York City guy who does "donuts" and "burnouts" in a souped-up Dodge Charger as part of the Brooklyn Hemi Boyz car club. Then in Part 2, We Are in the Movie, we rode along in what was supposed to be the biggest, loudest, craziest car meet of the summer. Now Sarah, Doug, and Aaron are going to break it down and talk about it. Why did muscle-car culture become so big during the first two years of the pandemic? How do car club members afford to keep their expensive hobby going? And why are we allowing automakers to put these products on public streets while encouraging young men to use them as dangerously as possible? In Part 3, we're Deconstructing Muscle Car City. * * * * * * * * This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content and we'll send you stickers too. LINKS: 'Menacing' Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye goes 203 mph, will start at $80K (Detroit Free Press) Dodge's idiotic Chief Donut Maker reality TV-style marketing campaign featuring professional wrestler, Bill Goldberg (Dodge) Welcome to the Royal Posh Auto Spa, where Aaron interviewed muscle car owner, Carlos. 2022 Hess Flatbed Truck with Hot Rods! (YouTube) This episode was produced by Aaron Naparstek, edited by Ali Lemer, and recorded by Josh Wilcox of the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

***Happy holidays! This is a rerelease of our interview with Jessie Singer, the author of There Are No Accidents, which originally came out in February 2022 as Episode 80. It's one of our favorite episodes from 2022. We'll be back with new episodes in January.*** What do we mean when we say something is an "accident"? When a motorist kills a pedestrian or cyclist it is often described in the press and the criminal justice system as a "car accident" — even when there is a clear cause such as a driver who was drunk, distracted or speeding. According to a new book by journalist Jessie Singer, events that most people describe as accidents are anything but. Singer argues that who lives and dies by accident in America is not random but utterly predictable. Using the word, she says, protects the powerful and leads to "the prevention of prevention." You can find the full transcript of this episode here. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive access to ad-free bonus episodes and other beneifts. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us!

It's been hard to escape the ongoing disaster that is Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter. But anyone who has been paying attention to Musk's understanding of transportation (or lack thereof) as well as his dig-tunnels-quick scheme saw all of this coming a long time ago. ***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for access to this and all of our bonus content.***

We headed over to our sponsor Rad Power Bikes' new Brooklyn showroom last week to meet with founder and CEO Mike Radenbaugh and test drive his newly launched three-wheeler, the Rad Trike. The trike is very cool, beautifully designed, and tons of fun to ride. Manufacturing an e-trike is a big gamble for the young company. But Radenbaugh believes the Trike is his most accessible and transformational product yet, with huge potential to get lots more Americans out of their gas-guzzling SUVs and into lighter, cleaner, smarter, and more affordable electric vehicles. Can The War on Cars be won on tricycles? LINKS: "The RadTrike is the latest weapon in Rad Power Bikes' ongoing war on cars." (By Andrew J. Hawkins of The Verge)The Teenage Tinkerer Behind an E-Bike Revolution (New York Times)Rad Power Bikes: Mike Radenbaugh (How I Built This with Guy Raz) * * * * * *Support The War on Cars on Patreon and you'll get exclusive access to ad-free bonus content and more. Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Aaron Naparstek and Doug Gordon. It was produced and edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

In the spring of 2021, War on Cars co-host Aaron Naparstek started noticing lots of big loud muscle cars rumbling around New York City emblazoned with Instagram accounts. He began following cars on social media, immersing himself in a world of burnouts, donuts, street races, and takeovers. What happens when car culture meets social media and a city's street network becomes the infrastructure for thousands of clout-seeking muscle car enthusiasts' social network? To find out, Aaron brought The War on Cars to New York City's "biggest, craziest car meet" of the year. This is the second of a three-part series. You might want to listen to Part 1, "Welcome to Muscle Car City," before you listen to this. * * * * * * * * This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: Instagram Accounts: Denys da Menace Whiteline Certified Team Macksauce Team No Hesitation Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Naparstek. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for access to this and all of our bonus content. As thanks, we'll send you stickers!*** Advice columnist and activist Dan Savage was our guest for episode 95, "Make Love Not Cars with Dan Savage." We had some fun side conversations that didn't make their way into the final edit so we're presenting them here for our Patreon supporters. Hear Dan's thoughts on driving in Los Angeles and how he feels about the rise of e-bikes. Subscribe for access! TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive, ad-free bonus episode. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for access to this and all of our exclusive ad-free bonus content. As thanks, we'll send you stickers!*** Major League Soccer player Tesho Akindele, a star forward who most recently played for the Orlando City Soccer Club, is also an outspoken urbanist who has used his social media presence to promote walkability, bikeability, density and affordable housing to sports fans in Florida, across the country and around the world. In this ad-free bonus episode just for Patreon supporters, Tesho talks about his journey to the soccer field, his first exposure to War-on-Cars-adjacent issues and his favorite neighborhoods in Orlando and the US. He also offers some thoughts on why cars are such potent status symbols among his fellow pro athletes. TheWarOnCars.org

Dan Savage, the writer and activist behind the long-running advice column Savage Love, does not have a driver's license. In fact, he pretty much hates cars. Dan tells us what the early days of ACT UP and the fight for marriage equality can teach other social movements, including the worldwide movement against car dominance. Ever the advice columnist, Dan answers real questions from listeners. If we win the war on cars, where will teenagers go to get it on? Why do drivers frequently scream homophobic slurs at cyclists? And what's the relationship between polyamory and having too many bikes? This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 15% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the coupon code in the episode. Thanks also to Transit Center. Listen to their new podcast, High Frequency, wherever you get your podcasts. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content.*** LINKS: Learn more about Dan Savage. Read Savage Love in The Stranger. Listen to Dan's podcast, Savage Lovecast. Buy The Committment by Dan Savage and other books by podcast guests in our official Bookshop.org store. Follow and review The War on Cars on Apple Podcasts. It really does help 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. Our logo was created by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

Jonathon Stalls doesn't approach the streetscape as a planner or as a journalist or as a politician. He approaches it — and this is his term — as a "walking artist." Jonathan is the Denver-based author of a new book called Walk: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles per Hour. For years, he has been leading urban walking excursions that have included planners and elected officials, inviting them to feel for themselves what it's like to walk the car-centric streets of the communities they serve. Sarah spoke with Jonathon about his book, his Pedestrian Dignity project, which connects with people around the country on social media platforms, and about a shared passion for helping others explore the world outside the confines of the metal boxes known as cars. LINKS: Visit Jonathon's website to connect with him on social media and find out more about the work that he does. Buy Walk and books by other podcast guests at Bookshop.org. This episode is sponsored by the ModeShift podcast from PostScript media, and by Cleverhood. Support The War on Cars on Patreon for exclusive access to ad-free bonus content and fun stickers! Grab some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us. This episode was produced, recorded and edited by Sarah Goodyear. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

Late last summer, Doug headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and decided to see if anything bikey was going on. As luck would have it, a kids' ride organized by local advocates was scheduled for the same weekend he was there. You've heard of a pub crawl? This was a playground crawl that took parents, caregivers and kids from one park to another using a combination of city streets and separated trails. In this episode, we hear directly from the tireless volunteers and advocates working to make Milwaukee better for bicycling. Events like this are where the rubber meets the road, literally and figuratively, when it comes to building the kinds of connections and culture that leads to a safer city for people who aren't in cars. ***** Tickets are on sale now for The War on Cars LIVE at Caveat on Tuesday, November 1st @ 7 PM. This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. For 20% off anything in the Cleverhood store, listen for the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! Support The War on Cars on Patreon for exclusive access to ad-free bonus content and fun stickers! LINKS: Enjoy Milwaukee's Oak Leaf Trail and Hank Aaron Trail. Grab some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us. This episode was produced, recorded and edited by Doug Gordon. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

You see a lot of muscle cars on New York City streets these days. And with their modified mufflers and overpowered engines, you hear them too. Co-host Aaron Naparstek began noticing that a lot of the muscle cars he was seeing around town had stickers on them with the names of car clubs and their own Instagram accounts. He was intrigued. The Instagram account was, after all, an invitation to see inside the car -- to pierce that bubble of privacy and anonymity that lets drivers get away with so much. So, Aaron began following muscle cars on social media. Pretty soon, he was immersed in New York City's underground car club scene. And his once-sedate Instagram feed was transformed into a barrage of burnouts, donuts, takeovers, car meets, and crashes. Then Aaron decided he wanted to do more than just watch on his phone. He wanted to bring The War on Cars to the biggest car club event of the summer. If you thought Driving Under the Influence was a problem, wait until you meet the guys who are Driving to Become Influencers. * * * * * * * * Tickets are on sale now for War on Cars LIVE at Caveat on Tuesday, November 1 @ 7 PM. This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 20% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the special coupon code in this episode. Good for a limited time only! Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: Some car accounts: Denys da Menace, Tyler Spec, The Scream Car Car clubs: Brooklyn Hemi Boyz, Shake Da Block, Nemesis Auto Club Sponsored by: Jimmy Rims and TiresA taste of car club culture: Filming yourself weaving in and out of traffic on the expressway at extremely high speed makes you White Line Certified. If you end up crashing your car, send the footage to Team Macksauce. Spectator run over by car doing doughnuts before NYC crowd cannot talk or eat (Daily News)Passenger in critical condition after collision with car covered in 'Scream' decal (New York Post) NYPD pursues speedy justice as drag racers, daredevils remain a problem on NYC streets, highways (Daily News) What Parts of Car Culture Need to End? (Jalopnik) Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Naparstek with some help from Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

Summer is over, but honking season is just getting started. After a short delay — due to circumstances described in this episode — The War on Cars is back to celebrate our fourth anniversary and describe why the show's title seems to be in the news a lot these days, partly thanks to one U.S. Congresswoman. The hosts also catch up with each other and provide updates on what we did on our summer vacations, including treks through idyllic European landscapes, e-scooter rides in Charlottesville, and a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth. Plus, as New York debates a plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan, what will the success or failure of congestion pricing mean for transportation in other cities across the United States. This episode is sponsored by Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) really thinks there's a war on cars. (YouTube) Randall O'Toole thinks we should give up the war on cars. (Colorado Springs Gazette) In Canada, the suburbs strike back against the war on cars. (Financial Post) This British columnist thinks the war on cars is a war on ordinary people. (Spiked) Pick up official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us. This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio and edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

Our first episode of the month is running late so here's a bonus from earlier this year to tide you over. We'll be back soon! It's kind of hard to pin George Hahn down. He's a fashion icon, design aficionado, actor, social media star and a fearless defender of cities. The man the New York Times calls an "urban raconteur" joins The War on Cars to talk about efficient living by bicycle, how driving into a densely populated area is a loser's game and why giant SUVs need to be decoupled from conventional notions of masculinity. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon for access to more bonus content like this.*** LINKS: Learn more about George Hahn and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. "How George Hahn, Urban Raconteur, Spends His Sundays." (New York Times) George to motorists: "Stop driving your car in the city." (Streetfilms) Scott Galloway asks George Hahn about what it means to be a man. (CNN+) Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a bonus episode for our Patreon supporters. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for ad-free access to this and all our exclusive content. And we'll send you stickers!*** We talked with essayist Garnette Cadogan, currently the Tunney Lee Distinguished Lecturer in Urbanism at MIT, about his essay "Walking While Black." Some of that conversation was featured in Episode 83, "The Pedestrian," inspired by the classic Ray Bradbury story of the same name. In an extended edit of our full talk, Garnette talks about how walking in the United States as a Black man forced him to radically recalibrate his mindset as he moved along the street, dismantling his innocent pleasure in wandering. He talks about fearing the police, who so often assume that he is the one at fault in any situation. But the most insidious and poisonous thing he encounters is the way that white people in American cities so often fear him, just because of the color of his skin—a color too often judged, as he says, to be "the shade of trespass."

Marley Blonsky, a bike adventurer and advocate for inclusive cycling communities, is the co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes, a group that aims to help people of all sizes and abilities to get out and enjoy riding. Marley talks about getting some major bike brands to address the needs of riders in larger bodies; the power of putting the words "fat" and "cyclist" together; and why her new home of Bentonville, Arkansas (headquarters of Walmart), is "a Disneyland for bicycles." This episode is sponsored by Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. You can find out more about Marley on her website, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter. Watch the All Bodies on Bikes film on YouTube. Check out the All Bodies on Bikes community on Facebook. Pick up official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was edited by Yessenia Moreno. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a short bonus episode for our Patreon supporters. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for ad-free access to this and all our exclusive content. And we'll send you stickers!*** In a new book, Paris Marx argues that Silicon Valley's vision of our transportation future – from autonomous vehicles to flying cars – is a threat to basic notions of community and conviviality. Weaving connections between the early history of the automobile and the development of the personal computer in the 1970s and 1980s, Marx examines how the individualized view of transportation merged with the mythos of Silicon Valley to create a world that's easily distracted by promises that this one cool innovation will finally solve traffic congestion. Paris Marx, the host of the podcast Tech Won't Save Us, joins The War on Cars to discuss their new book.

Traffic fatalities in the U.S. are at a 16-year high. One reason? Driver distraction. Today's automobiles are loaded with an almost cinematic level of screens, featuring apps and infotainment systems that blur the distinction between car and smartphone... and that overload the brain's cognitive abilities to a level not even trained military pilots can handle. Russ Mitchell, a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, joins us to discuss his recent story on the deadly consquences of carmakers' and tech companies' race to turn the inside of automobiles into what one researcher called "a candy store of distraction." Plus, why you should never talk on the phone — even hands free — when you're behind the wheel of a car. This episode is sponsored by Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: "'We are killing people': How technology has made your car 'a candy store of distraction.'" Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times. Take the "Selective Attention Test" before you listen to this episode. Read more about Dr. David Strayer's research on distracted driving, via the Applied Cognition Lab at the University of Utah. Apple's CarPlay is "the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car," according to Apple. Pick up official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

Journalist Edward Niedermeyer has been reporting on the automobile industry -- and its blind spots -- since 2008. He co-hosts the Autonocast podcast, focusing on the future of transportation. And he is the author of "Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors." In his book, Niedermeyer chronicles the electric car maker's rise and lays bare the disconnect between the popular perception of Tesla and the day-to-day realities of the company, its products, and its peripatetic, billionaire CEO Elon Musk. Musk, Niedermeyer argues, is a huckster with a particular genius for selling implausible products and making old ideas feel futuristic and new. But his overwhelming wealth, influence, and cult-like following is making him a danger to the rest of us. * * * * *This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 20% off anything in the Cleverhood store using the new coupon code in this episode. Good through the end of July. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: Pick up a copy of Ed Niedermeyer's "Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors" at your local bookshop or directly from the publisher. Listen to Ed's podcast, "The Autonocast," about the future of transportation. Follow Ed Niedermeyer on Twitter @Tweetermeyer. When I First Saw Elon Musk for Who He Really Is (Slate) Tesla Battery Swap Unused Over Busy Holiday Weekend (Daily Kaban, May 27, 2015) Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Naparstek. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

Kendra Pierre-Louis, a climate reporter and co-host of the Gimlet Media podcast How to Save a Planet, joins us to discuss storytelling in an age of crisis. How can we effectively communicate that better streets, better cities and a better world are possible? How can we point regular citizens toward solutions that can not only fight climate change but improve their day-to-day lives? Plus, what was up with that Kia ad featuring the dude who drives on a beach to save seat turtles? This episode was made possible in part by our friends at Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: Learn more about Kendra Pierra-Louis. Follow Kenra on Twitter. Listen to How to Save a Planet from Gimlet Media. Watch Kendra talk with Jon Stewart. Yeah, that Kia "we save turtles" ad was bad. Pick up War on Cars Merch at our store. 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 Doug Gordon. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

According to Jody Rosen, a contributing writer for The New York Times, we live on a bicycle planet. Across the world, more people use bicycles — for transportation, recreation, and their livelihood — than any other vehicle. In his new book, Two Wheel Goods: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle, Rosen attempts to "de-quaintify" the bike, from its invention in 1817 to its current status as a virtuous machine that can save cities and the environment. Spanning centuries and hopping continents, Two Wheels Good weaves connections between various bike booms and asks readers to consider an expansive and inclusive definition of "bicycle culture." Plus, was there really a War on Horses? This episode is sponsored by Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. Receive 20% off in the Cleverhood store using the coupon code mentioned in the episode. ***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content.*** LINKS: Buy Two Wheels Good and books by other podcast guests at Bookshop.org. Follow Jody Rosen on Twitter. Read Sidewalks by Valeria Luiselli, which contiains the essay Manifesto a Velo Jody mentions in the episode. Pick up official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Walter Nordquist at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Doug Gordon. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

The New York International Auto Show was back and bigger than ever... and so were the cars. Our intrepid correspondents Sarah and Doug braved the crowds and sensory overload to hear straight from auto industry reps about the giant SUVs and muscle cars that will be prowling cities and suburban parking lots in the coming years. From the "menacing" and "in your face" Ford Bronco Raptor to the 800-horsepower Dodge Charger, what do the people who sell these vehicles to the public have to say when confronted with questions about safety? Plus, with e-bikes and scooters ascendant, will they one day take the auto out of the Auto Show? This episode was sponsored by our friends at Cleverhood rain gear and Radpower Bikes. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for fun rewards and exclusive ad-free bonus content. Aaron infiltrated the 2019 New York International Auto Show in Episode 17. How big is the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor? "The Raptor is a lane-filling 9.8 inches wider than the base Bronco," according to Kelly Bluebook. Plus, it's so tall that even the fenders "will be shadiing cars in the lanes beside you." A Dodge Charger driver in Las Vegas killed nine people ranging in age from 5 to 59. Seven were from the same family. The driver was said to have been going more than 100 mph when he ran a red light... ...and that's just one of many horribly violent crashes involving Dodge Chargers and Challengers whose drivers, perhaps taking the brand's marketing to heart, apparently think they "rule the road." Meanwhile, e-bikes were kind of a big deal at this year's Auto Show. (Canary Media) Pick up official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio and edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. TheWarOnCars.org

From the joy of the "Just a Minute" campaign in San Francisco to the members of a colorfully named subreddit creating a digital parking lot, there's a lot of news in The War on Cars. We hear from listeners around the country and across the Atlantic. Is it possible to be more chill about people riding the wrong way in a bike lane? Should public transit be free? Why is it so hard to find a good bicycle with all the accessories you need for regular transportation? Plus, quick dispatches from the hosts' trips to car-dependent parts of the United States. Lear about what makes a good, walkable city from author and urban planner Jeff Speck at the Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education, June 13 & 14. This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood. Receive 20% off anything in the Cleverhood store with coupon code HAPPYCOMMUTE now through the end of April. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: An anti-car subreddit took over a digital canvas and put up a digital parking lot. (Washington Post) San Francisco's "Just a Minute" campaign places cyclist safety over driver convenience. (Stephen Braitsch on Twitter) If you live near Somerville, MA and need a great bike for regular transportation, check out Bicycle Belle. The fundamental problems with free transit. (Alex Schieferdecker) Results from Boston's experiment with free bus fares are mixed. (Boston Globe and WGBH) Pick up some official War on Cars merch. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio and edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D. Easter egg via Treyton Zary. TheWarOnCars.org

Back in 1952, the great American science fiction writer Ray Bradbury published a short story called "The Pedestrian" in a small antifascist publication. The story, which was based on Bradbury's own experience of being hassled by the cops while walking the streets of Los Angeles, imagined a world in which automobile dominance was so complete that walking for any purpose would be seen as a sign of mental illness. We take a look back at Bradbury's dystopian vision, and talk with four people — paleoanthropologist Jeremy DeSilva and writers Garnette Cadogan, David Ulin and Antonia Malchik — about how walking contributes to our essential humanity, and what we lose when we build environments that make it impossible for people to walk

Spurred by post-pandemic demand and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, gas prices surged past $4 per gallon last week and Americans are suddenly freaking out about "pain at the pump." What a big surprise, right? Not really! In this episode, Slate's Henry Grabar joins us to argue that when it comes to the inherent instability in the global oil market, Americans have the memory of goldfish, locked in a ruinous cycle of dependence on fossil fuels and the authoritarian oligarchs who sell them to us. Have we become a nation whose domestic politics and foreign policy are held hostage to its SUVs? This episode is sponsored by Radpower Bikes and Cleverhood. Receive 20% off in the Cleverhood store using the new coupon code announced in this episode. Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: "Are Gas Prices Too High? Or Is Your Car Too Big?" By Henry Grabar for Slate. President Richard Nixon to Americans: Drive 55 to save gas. Henry Grabar for Slate. Gas prices are way up, but the real cost of driving a mile was higher for most of the past century. (MarketWatch) Russian Fossil Fuel Tracker: Payments to Russia for fossil fuels by European Union nations since the start of Russia's Ukraine war. * * * * * Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. 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 produced and edited by Doug. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo was designed by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Designs. https://thewaroncars.org

Back in 2004, Denver-area voters supported one of the most ambitious transit projects anywhere in the United States. The plan called for a network of new rail lines that would let commuters glide past traffic and transform Denver into a world-class city in the process. But almost two decades later, an uncomfortable truth has emerged: Denver's sprawling metropolitan region is as gridlocked as its ever been. This is Episode 1 of Ghost Train, a four-part mini-series from Colorado Public Radio. Hosted by transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor, Ghost Train dives deep into the question that we ask here at The War on Cars: What does it to take to move American cities away from automobile dependence? SHOW NOTES:This episode was brought to you by Colorado Public Radio. You can find more of reporter Nathaniel Minor's work here. The remaining three parts of the Ghost Train series...Part 2: The MissionPart 3: An Unexpected SolutionPart 4: Waiting On A Train I made a documentary about RTD. Here are some curious things I found along the way (Nathaniel Minor for CPR) RTD is in Crisis: A three-part series for Streetsblog Denver by Andy Bosselman. Why don't RTD's trains go into Denver's neighborhoods? (Nathaniel Minor for Denverite) The Train That Saved Denver (Politico Magazine, 2016) RTD's FasTracks Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for ad-free access to this and all our exclusive content. And we'll send you stickers!Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us! Find us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars and Instagram: @thewaroncars. TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a short bonus episode for our Patreon supporters. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for ad-free access to this and all our exclusive content. And we'll send you stickers!*** Journalist and producer Amy Westervelt joined us in Episode LXXXI for our annual shredding of the Super Bowl car ads. While we had her in the studio we absolutely had to chat with Amy about her outstanding podcast series, Rigged. In it, Westervelt takes us on a deep dive into the history of the public relations industry and the incredible cast of mid-20th century characters who invented it. We live in a world awash in spin, disinformation, and mistrust of institutions. Rigged helpus us understand how we got here.

What do robot dogs, Meadow Soprano, WeatherTech bumper protectors and Dr. Evil have in common? They were al featured in ads during Super Bowl LVI, that annual celebration of American consumerism. In what's become a War on Cars tradition, we analyze car commercials that aired during the big game and try to figure out what they say about the future of streets near you. This time, we're joined by journalist Amy Westervelt, whose podcasts cover everything from climate change to the history of propaganda and public relations. Amy helps us connect the dots between early PR efforts by oil companies, tobacco companies and the marketing techniques used by car companies today. ***This episode is sponsored by Radpower Bikes.*** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to ad-free bonus content. LINKS: Learn all about Amy Westervelt and check out her podcasts Rigged, Drilled and more from the Critical Frequency podcast network. Listen to Hot Take, Amy's podcast with Mary Annaïse Heglar. Follow Amy on Twitter. Watch all the 2022 Super Bowl commercials. (AdAge) Dr. Evil needs to save the world from climate change with EVs before he can take over the world. (Automotive News) Pick up some official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and reveiw 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 Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Ad music: My Great Undoing by Of Men and Wolves and Micro Evolution by Howard Harper-Barnes courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D. @TheWarOnCars TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a bonus episode. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for ad-free access to this and all our exclusive content.*** Jessie Singer joined us on Episode 80 to discuss her new book, There Are No Accidents. We had promised Jessie she'd get a chance to explain the problem with public service announcements and why educational campaigns don't do much to prevent accidents. TheWarOnCars.org

What do we mean when we say something is an "accident"? When a motorist kills a pedestrian or cyclist it is often described in the press and the criminal justice system as a "car accident" — even when there is a clear cause such as a driver who was drunk, distracted or speeding. According to a new book by journalist Jessie Singer, events that most people describe as accidents are anything but. Singer argues that who lives and dies by accident in America is not random but utterly predictable. Using the word, she says, protects the powerful and leads to "the prevention of prevention." ***This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood rain gear.*** SHOW NOTES: Purchase There Are No Accidents at Bookshop.org Follow Jessie on Twitter "Stop Calling Them 'Accidents'" (New York Times) Don't call the deadly Bronx apartment fire an accident. It's a failure of government. (Washington Post) NYPD switches from using "collision" intead of "accident" to desecribe crashes (New York Times, 2013) CrashNotAccident.com: Take the pledge Get official War on Cars merch at our store 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 Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D. @TheWarOnCars TheWarOnCars.org

[This episode was originally released on October 16, 2019. We are re-releasing it in anticipation of the premiere on Showtime of the original dramatic series based on Mike Isaac's book. More new episodes are on the way!] For a few years after Uber launched in 2009, it seemed like the on-demand ride-hailing service might be an advance in the war on cars — a way for more people to share fewer vehicles and to reduce overall automobile dependence. Fast forward a decade, and the rise of Uber (along with Lyft) has instead resulted in increased congestion, reductions in transit ridership, and the exploitation of a precarious workforce that the company would love to make obsolete altogether. In this episode, we talk with New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac about his new book, "Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber," in which he chronicles the rise and fall of Uber's co-founder, Travis Kalanick. We hear what Mike has to say about the cult of the founder and the way Kalanick's winner-take-all mentality has negatively affected the streets of the world's cities.

Remember when Uber, the mobile phone taxi-hailing app, was going to revolutionize transportation, transform cities, and lead us to our glorious robot-car future? That wasn't so long ago. So, what happened? Where did it all go? Cory Doctorow has some ideas. A prolific non-fiction author, sci-fi novelist, and technology activist Doctorow has been a keen observer and critic of Uber for years now. "Uber," Doctorow writes, "is a bezzle. Every bezzle ends. And Uber's time is up." Plus: Reality has a well known anti-car bias. ***This episode is sponsored by Cleverhood.*** Support The War on Cars on Patreon for access to ad-free bonus content. SHOW NOTES: End of the Line for Uber by Cory Doctorow Pluralistic.net: Daily Links and more from Cory Doctorow You can find two of Cory's most recent books, "How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism" and "Attack Surface" at our page on Bookshop.org. If you want to go deep, transportation analyst Hubert Horan's many articles dissecting Uber can be found here. Follow Cory Doctorow on Twitter. Get official War on Cars merch at our store. Follow and review us on iTunes. It helps people find us! Twitter: @TheWarOnCarsInstagram: @thewaroncars TheWarOnCars.org

***This is a preview of a short bonus episode just for Patreon supporters. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars for ad-free access to this and all our exclusive content. Plus, we'll send you stickers!*** The New Republic's Alex Pareene joined us for Episode 78, "311 is a Joke," and we had a lot of fun. We chatted about the battle for scarce street space in the big city and the role that municipal government plays (and doesn't play) in sorting it all out (or not). As often happens when we get going in the studio, our conversation with Alex ran long and some good stuff didn't make it into the final cut. In this bonus episode, we learn about Alex's step-dad Chuck from North Dakota and hear from New York City's now-former Mayor Bill de Blasio as he attempts to destroy a bunch of dirt bikes on Staten Island. TheWarOnCars.org

Alex Pareene, a contributing editor to The New Republic and the author of The AP (Alex Pareene) Newsletter, joins the podcast to talk about his recent run of stories on cars, parking and the competition for scarce space on city streets. We discuss 311 — the non-emergency phone number for accessing municipal services — and what it tells us about how government works (or doesn't work). What message are police sending when they fail to enforce illegal parking? As far as driving is concerned, does anything go? And how does Elon Musk's insistence on beta-testing Full Self-Driving on public streets relate to it all? ***This episode is sponsored by our friends at Cleverhood.*** Support The War on Cars on Patreon for access to ad-free bonus content. SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to The AP (Alex Pareene) Newsletter. Read Alex in The New Republic. Listen to The Politics of Everything. "The Lawlessness that Cops Ignore." (The Atlantic) "Losing a Streetfight to Elon Musk." (The AP) Read "Fighting Traffic" by Peter Norton. Get official War on Cars merch at our store. Purchase books by podcast guests at Bookshop.org. Follow and review us on iTunes. It helps people find us! Twitter: @TheWarOnCars TheWarOnCars.org