The War on Cars

The War on Cars, LLC
  • 4.8 (876)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
The War on Cars

The War on Cars brings you news, commentary and stories about the worldwide battle to undo a century's worth of damage wrought by the automobile.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    How Cars Change Us with Tara Goddard

    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

    1h 11m

  2. DEC 3

    Changing Hollywood's Car Culture with Ed Begley Jr.

    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

    1h 1m

  3. NOV 19

    TEASER: Doug Ford and Ontario's War on Bikes

    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

    9 min

  4. NOV 15

    Election Extra

    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

    28 min

  5. NOV 12

    "Cars are Done" with Adam McKay

    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

    1h 1m

  6. OCT 29

    EXTRA: Cars as a Virus with Hermann Knoflacher

    ***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

    31 min

  7. OCT 15

    TEASER: Winnipeg Bike Mayor Patty Wiens

    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

    4 min

  8. OCT 1

    Key to the City with Sara Bronin

    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

    40 min
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4.8
out of 5
876 Ratings

About

The War on Cars brings you news, commentary and stories about the worldwide battle to undo a century's worth of damage wrought by the automobile.

Information

  • Creator
    The War on Cars, LLC
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The War on Cars, LLC
  • Show Website
    The War on Cars

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