The War on Cars

A podcast about the fight against car culture.

Please support us on Patreon!

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Last Notes

2026-10-20 14:46:14 UTC

NEW EPISODE: "Doug Ford Versus Toronto's Bike Lanes." The Ontario Premier is making good on his threats to rip out Toronto's cycling infrastructure. But people aren't taking it lying down.
Michael Longfield of Cycle Toronto and Bronwyn Roe of Ecojustice Canada join us to discuss.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/doug-ford-versus-torontos-bike-lanes/id1437755068?i=1000797241930
#toronto #biketooter #canada #ontario
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2026-10-20 01:31:05 UTC

We're in the midst of another Patreon drive. If you like what we do, please consider signing up. You can subscribe for just $3 per month and annual discounts are available. As thanks we'll send you a handwritten note, free stickers, and more. Plus you'll get exclusive access to bonus content!
We depend on listener support as this is our full time job, so please help us keep the show going and growing!
https://www.patreon.com/thewaroncarspod

2026-10-16 21:11:21 UTC

"It seems the premier interpreted the podcast’s name as a rallying cry against automobiles, rather than a critique of car-dominated transportation policies. The irony is that The War on Cars has spent years challenging the kind of thinking that puts drivers ahead of everyone else on city streets."
https://momentummag.com/doug-ford-accidentally-endorses-the-war-on-cars-podcast-in-hilarious-bike-lane-exchange/

2026-10-15 22:53:19 UTC

"Drivers once hit a wild animal about once a day on a stretch of highway between Colorado’s two most populous cities, Denver and Colorado Springs.
In the roughly 10 months since North America’s largest wildlife overpass opened across Interstate 25 between Larkspur and Monument, drivers have hit two animals, according to state wildlife managers and transportation officials — a 91% drop."
https://coloradosun.com/2026/10/14/i25-wildlife-overpass-collisions-drop/

2026-10-11 21:30:21 UTC

Thanks Tombolo Books in St. Pete for carrying Life After Cars. They said it's been a big seller and now there's a signed copy on the shelves! What a great bookstore.
https://tombolobooks.com/
#florida #biketooter #books
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2026-09-28 01:16:38 UTC

These are words to describe a vehicle designed to be operated in public space:
"Everything else about the TRX is so aggressively in-your-face, from its additional 20 centimetres of width and blood-red badging to the T-Rex on its tailgate and the banshee wail of the engine’s supercharger."
https://www.thestar.com/life/autos/ram-s-777-horsepower-super-truck-is-the-modern-american-sports-car/article_981d7a60-0e46-41d0-9eab-3b0e617495fe.html

2026-09-08 17:32:47 UTC

NEWS! We are excited to announce that our guest at our live show at Hunter College on Fri, Nov 6 will be none other than Janette Sadik-Khan! No one has done more to help people imagine a life after cars than JSK.
Get tickets. They're bound to go fast.
https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=dd8a9cfd-b4c0-4a82-92e9-711a163b143f&envId=p-rzKFBb2xVk253Ulcjd_x1w&zone=usa
#biketooter #nyc #newyork #urbanism #podcast
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2026-08-31 14:26:49 UTC

"As it is, many American communities, regardless of politics, have embraced bike-friendly policies, on the grounds that bikes are good for the planet, for the body, and address congestion by taking cars off the road. Often inspired by bike-friendly European cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, the moves are a major shift in the way American communities approach transportation planning."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/us/politics/trump-bike-lanes-funding-dei.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9lA.Tw61.ZqEqlvxQuINZ&smid=url-share

2026-08-30 14:09:26 UTC

On the one hand, some people want to make it so that kids and other people aren't crushed to death by cars. On the other hand, some people are upset that they might have to pay attention, slow down or be inconvenienced by about 15 seconds. So you can see how it's a "war on cars."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceq8n23p1yzo

2026-08-27 23:00:19 UTC

"Once the car became the American way of life, we essentially morphed into a series of car companies with a minor country problem."
A fantastic video on how cars took over and what we can do to get American biking again.
Via @nprofile…z77c feat. @nprofile…5ds9
https://youtu.be/dWHCef7F8gY

2026-08-27 20:01:18 UTC

According to a new AAA study, three out of ten American drivers said speeding is perfectly normal and no one actually drives the speed limit anymore. Yet additional studies have shown that mentality behind the wheel comes with deadly consequences.
https://www.jalopnik.com/2241704/american-drivers-speeding/

2026-08-27 04:08:48 UTC

"A selling point for the car is that it supposedly allows the driver to go anywhere they want at any time; in practice it creates an uneasy mass of cars squeezing along the same highways at the same time, headed for the same destinations. The only personal liberty really left to drivers is the personal liberty to be assholes to one another, and we cling to it desperately."
https://defector.com/every-right-on-red-frays-the-social-contract-a-little-further

2026-08-21 22:45:08 UTC

"Compared to 2024 baseline data, 2026 tube counts show that drivers are slowing down at every speed camera location. The number of vehicles traveling 11 MPH or more over the speed limit dropped by an average of 70% across all 18 camera locations."
https://sf.streetsblog.org/2026/08/20/new-report-underscores-success-of-speed-cameras-in-oakland

2026-08-21 14:32:24 UTC

"The group criticises the space required by large vehicles in the city and demands, among other things, that parking areas be decommissioned and planted with vegetation. This could provide more shade and cooler streets during the summer months, the statement says."
https://www.the-berliner.com/news/activists-deflate-suv-tyres-in-charlottenburg/

2026-08-19 13:44:21 UTC

"Examinations of London schoolchildren before and after the introduction of the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) found a restoration of lung capacity that had been stunted by exposure to pollution."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/18/ulez-better-lung-size-function-london-children

2026-08-14 02:53:13 UTC

"The researchers concluded that the key to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s was not driving itself but continuous real-time navigation: the constant work of locating yourself in space, tracking a destination and updating a mental map as conditions change. Drivers whose jobs relied on fixed or predetermined routes, like bus drivers and aircraft pilots, didn’t seem to experience a similar advantage."
https://theconversation.com/taxi-drivers-rarely-die-of-alzheimers-how-complex-mental-maps-and-spatial-reasoning-protect-your-brain-286650?utm_medium=article_native_share

2026-08-13 18:38:26 UTC

"If you have followed the conversation about street safety lately, you would think the greatest threat to our community is a teenager on an e-bike. It isn’t. In 2023, drivers killed more than 1,100 pedestrians on California streets."
https://www.independent.com/2026/08/06/car-drivers-crashed-through-the-storefronts-not-e-bikers/

2026-08-12 14:24:21 UTC

"Throughout the Mercury’s conversations with people who received e-bike rebates, a common theme emerged. Many riders noticed their bike helped them feel more connected to the community, something they lacked when getting around in a car."
https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/e-bike-town/

2026-08-10 18:09:31 UTC

"The death rate for pedestrians over 65 is higher than the average for all ages. Nearly 8,200 pedestrians 65 or older were injured that year — likely an undercount because not all serious crashes and injuries show up in police reports. More than 1,500 died. And the picture is not improving."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/well/pedestrian-deaths-car-collision-older.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4FA.U5Qm.0mdE-CzsT-vz&smid=url-share

2026-08-10 14:43:03 UTC

"Drivers struck and killed 7,080 people walking in the United States in 2024, 72% more than in 2009, when pedestrian deaths were at their lowest."
https://maxmautner.com/2026/08/08/war-on-cars.html

2026-08-09 20:28:59 UTC

In their seminal book Life After Cars, journalists Aaron Naparstek, Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear write that the noise, pollution, and epidemic of violent death brought to our streets by cars have become so ubiquitous that we no longer even notice them.
We don’t “see” cars. They are just the background terror we have become accustomed to living amongst.
https://www.nsnews.com/opinion/opinion-cars-are-the-biggest-threat-on-the-road-not-kids-on-e-scooters-12623752

2026-08-04 13:54:23 UTC

We're excited to welcome FEND foldable bike helmets as a new sponsor of The War on Cars!
20% off their full line of foldable helmets. A really good deal.
Check it out!
https://fend.io/pages/thewaroncars

2026-08-03 16:52:39 UTC

Exactly. The Dutch model works really well for enabling cycling to and from stations without clogging trains with private bikes that crowd out other people or that otherwise make for an unpleasant experience.
It's:
1. Ride your personal bike and leave it at a secure bicycle parking at your local station.
2. Take the train.
3. Pick up an OV-fiets at your destination station.
4. Reverse the process for the return journey.
#nevent1q…vesn

2026-08-03 01:41:18 UTC

"Cars can be weapons, and the ubiquity of guns and cars in our society means a single crazy person is always going to be able to do huge amounts of damage if they want to. The only way to stop that is to limit them, which nobody in power seems to want to do."
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/08/02/summer-bummer-annual-car-free-street-event-squeezed-in-nypd-overkill

2026-07-31 01:47:03 UTC

It's not just advocates who say this. Researchers, studies, and data say it. That's why advocates say it. Reporters can just say it, too!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/bike-lanes-defund-trump-administration-dei

2026-07-30 14:54:32 UTC

"...the White House has just ordered 250 brand new Cadillac Escalades, giant SUVs which have a suggested retail price of more than $90,000 each and cost significantly more to customize for secure uses."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/29/trump-general-motors-escalades

2026-07-28 02:54:00 UTC

Gallup: "One in three U.S. adults (34%) name road-related accidents as their most top-of-mind daily safety risk, more than twice the global average of 14%. Roughly one in five (19%) point to crime and violence, compared with a global average of 10%."
https://news.gallup.com/poll/712673/americans-lead-world-viewing-politics-risk-safety.aspx

2026-07-26 21:12:39 UTC

“Biking is genuinely probably one of the best parts of my day. I get to listen to music. I get to be by myself. I get to think,” Frank said. “Biking feels like it’s reclaiming some of the autonomy of my day, like the joy and whimsy of moving around, especially in the city.”
https://apnews.com/article/bike-commuting-tips-safety-hygeine-work-159abea5ad767a4b9c443f506d63e5e0

2026-07-24 14:37:13 UTC

"Camera trap footage revealed that, over 15 months, the aerial wildlife crossings enabled 15,000 safe crossings by arboreal animals — and not a single roadkill."
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/zero-roadkill-as-amazon-canopy-bridges-secure-15000-crossings/

2026-07-23 20:16:45 UTC

A theme here is that if a person inside city government intervenes on behalf of a restaurant losing parking spots or a random driver getting a parking ticket, that's seen as constituent services. If another government insider works on behalf of keeping people alive, that's seen as advocacy.
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2026/07/22/failures-of-communication-and-accountability-plagued-mayor-wus-election-year-review-of-transportation-department

2026-07-23 02:04:02 UTC

Just 5 XLs left. We will also throw in some free stickers.
https://thewaroncars.store/products/book-tour-t-shirt
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2026-07-21 18:20:44 UTC

New episode! Final dispatches from our North American book tour...we get into what we saw in cities from Chicago to Columbus to Montréal to Portland, Maine!
Plus, what is Reverse Copenhagen Syndrome?
Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Patreon supporters get an ad-free listening experience!
https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/final-dispatches-from-book-tour/id1437755068?i=1000777700950
#book #podcast #biketooter #transit
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2026-07-18 22:01:19 UTC

"It doesn’t matter that anything that gets people out of their cars helps those who still drive. Keeping people divided is useful for some political interests, but it doesn’t help any of us get around any quicker or reduce traffic. We should resist being forced into a specific identity: we’re all just commuters, in it together, but using different kinds of transportation."
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/im-a-cyclist-im-a-driver-im-a-ttc-rider-stop-making-me-pick-sides-just-make-it-easer-to-get-around/article_24f1f746-feae-4d76-9c1c-0c420aad7788.html

2026-07-12 22:11:35 UTC

"...a 10cm increase in bonnet height from 80cm to 90cm results in a 27% greater chance of death for pedestrians run over. For children, the risk of death is increased threefold if they are hit by an SUV rather than a conventional vehicle."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/12/britain-car-suv-big-large-vehicle-road-pedestrians?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=bsky_gu&utm_medium=&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1783871139

2026-07-12 16:51:58 UTC

"The chemical, called 6PPD-Q, is formed when fine tire particles meet ozone. That happens anytime new chunks of tire are exposed to the air, meaning the particle may be nearly ubiquitous in car-heavy environments."
https://futurism.com/health-medicine/chemical-causing-alzheimers-disease-brain-damage-tires

2026-07-12 14:33:37 UTC

We're in the midst of a transportation revolution:
"Demand for electric cargo bikes in the U.S. is projected to grow from $370 million in 2025 to about $1.54 billion by 2035, an increase of 318.5%, according to Fact.MR, a market research firm."
https://www.twincities.com/2026/07/11/cargo-bikes-st-paul-families/?share=hpsspaewbcotsscrn0ki

2026-07-06 19:23:05 UTC

“One of the concerns about congestion pricing was that it would encourage ‘park-and-ride’ behavior, making it more difficult to park in certain New York City neighborhoods. After the largest parking data collection DOT has ever undertaken, we didn’t see that happen.”
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/07/06/parking-is-never-easy

2026-07-06 14:44:02 UTC

"...we find that the January 2025 implementation of congestion pricing reduced passenger vehicle traffic by roughly 21 percent near the boundary and improved total EMS travel times by 63–70 seconds, approximately 5–6 percent. Effects emerged quickly and show little evidence of displacement to adjacent areas... These findings suggest that cost-benefit analyses of congestion pricing systematically understate net social benefits by omitting emergency response improvements."
https://www.nber.org/papers/w35414

2026-07-03 14:07:21 UTC

"Juvenile male elephant seals need to practice for dominance battles in which adults rear up and crash their chests together... with no other juveniles to practice with, Neil can only rehearse on Toyotas."
Neil the seal, welcome to The War on Cars.
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/03/g-s1-131911/australia-trouble-making-seal

2026-06-30 22:15:58 UTC

We'll be taking a summer social media break. Don't worry, we'll still be releasing episodes!
For now, enjoy a 20% discount on all apparel in our official store through the end of August. Stock up on The War on Cars t-shirts, tour shirts, hoodies, and more.
Use code TWOCSUMMER at checkout.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/
#podcast
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2026-06-29 12:54:37 UTC

"Europe’s EV fleet would require an additional 22.5 terawatt-hours of electricity annually by 2040 under the current trend, equivalent to the output of roughly 1,500 onshore wind turbines. It also predicts more than 100 million additional barrels of imported oil consumptionas combustion vehicles remain in service."
https://www.carscoops.com/2026/06/carspreading-car-size-study/

2026-06-26 22:35:25 UTC

Cute kid's book alert! "The Car that Wanted to Be a Bike" by Lior Steinberg. We just read a copy and it's adorable. Available in our Bookshop store with free shipping through the end of Friday!
https://bookshop.org/a/9252/9789090355832
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2026-06-23 13:08:15 UTC

NEW EPISODE:
Is the way we think about criminal consequences for drivers who harm pedestrians and cyclists another form of motonormativity? A study from Professor Ian Loader of the University of Oxford challenges how the law sees driving and offers solutions.
https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/rethinking-criminal-consequences-for-drivers-who-kill/id1437755068?i=1000773869738
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2026-06-22 10:41:09 UTC

"What used to be utilitarian vehicles for construction workers are now marketed to the American masses, with messages tailored to specific audiences. One common pitch centers on machismo. Automakers trumpet how some of their trucks have an 'aggressive appearance' or a 'piercing glare.'"
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/21/us/trucks-suv-pedestrian-crashes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sFA.I27_.RXJpxEQcJXSI&smid=nytcore-ios-share

2026-06-05 02:41:44 UTC

"To understand the potential health risks from tire pollution, researchers exposed human immune cells to a mixture of tire-derived pollutants as well as 6PPD-quinone on its own. The mixture caused rapid cell death, among other harms..."
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/tire-particle-study

2026-05-30 20:13:53 UTC

Last couple of days to save 20% on everything in our official store. Use code BIKEMONTH to save on t-shirts, stickers, and more.
Thanks for supporting the show!
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/
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2026-05-15 19:36:33 UTC

Now in its third printing and with a new "National Bestseller" burst on the cover.
Pick up "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile" wherever you get your books.
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/
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2026-05-02 21:55:38 UTC

A fantastic and righteous take from Matthew Lewis about forced car dependency and the myth that our built environment reflects consumer and market preferences. As good a manifesto in The War on Cars as one is likely to find.
https://mateosfo.substack.com/p/americas-driving-mandate-dont-call

2026-05-01 14:40:07 UTC

Happy Bike Month to all who observe.
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/

2026-04-28 12:56:30 UTC

New episode!
Streets can be more than places to move and store cars—they can be places for children to thrive. Alice Ferguson and Tim Gill call for a “radical, child-centric approach to transport policy and planning.” That would change everything for all of us.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/streets-for-play-streets-for-freedom/id1437755068?i=1000764010553
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2026-04-26 20:34:56 UTC

Just for fun, we're running a discount in our official store.
Save 15% off everything (t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc.) with code APRILSHOWERS now through the end of the month.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/

2026-04-21 14:42:08 UTC

It's been exactly 6 months since LIFE AFTER CARS was published.
Our book tour has taken us to 27 cities around North America and seen us do more than 100 press interviews with many more to come.
Thanks to everyone who's bought the book and spread the word!
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/
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2026-04-09 00:44:49 UTC

“We don’t expect anybody to read this book, close it at the end and say, ‘Okay, that’s it, I’m throwing my car keys away forever,’” Gordon said. “Most Americans live in places where that’s not possible. But, we want them to at least start to understand how we got here, and there are people, places and ideas that can get us out of it.”
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2026/04/07/city/life-after-cars-authors-discuss-public-transit-urban-space-at-evanston-meet-and-greet/

2026-03-24 21:52:49 UTC

Life After Cars is also available on Kobo for just $1.99:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/life-after-cars?srsltid=AfmBOopnI09BeUhK2UGtbTTMWNgBX0NPhDceQA7Z3d4XjwdeID8imzRS

2026-03-10 14:17:14 UTC

NEW EPISODE! "America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free"
Do people really like being trapped in an autocentric system? We talked with the authors of a new study showing that on the contrary, nearly 1 in 5 American car owners is “strongly interested” in living car-free, and another 40 percent are open to the idea.
Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/americas-hidden-desire-to-live-car-free/id1437755068?i=1000754438250
#podcast
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2026-03-04 17:31:11 UTC

Our live show in Chicago on April 4th is also on sale for our Patreon members and supporters of Better Streets Chicago and Active Transportation Alliance.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/live-in-chicago-152168376
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2026-03-03 14:26:32 UTC

New BONUS episode: "What Snow Reveals About Cities (Plus More From Our Book Tour.)"
All the snow we've gotten has revealed some truths about what cars do to cities, and what we can learn from it. We also give our thoughts on Miami, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Phoenix!
https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-what-snow-151961674
#snow #podcast
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2026-02-26 19:54:31 UTC

Final few days! Our "Cars Melt Glaciers" t-shirt will be retired on Saturday night.
Get yours before it's gone.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/products/cars-melt-glaciers-t-shirt-standard-cut
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2026-02-24 13:18:36 UTC

NEW EPISODE: We talked with planner Brent Toderian about how to build livable downtowns, what Vancouver does right, why developers should welcome regulation, and his brand-new venture to combat misinformation about cities, the Urban Truth Collective.
@nprofile…nn5l
Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/planning-livable-downtowns-with-brent-toderian/id1437755068?i=1000751177717
#podcast
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2026-02-22 03:57:13 UTC

Final week! Our "Cars Melt Glaciers" t-shirt will be retired at the end of February.
Get yours before it's gone.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/products/cars-melt-glaciers-t-shirt-standard-cut
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2026-01-25 20:44:31 UTC

We are in the process of cleaning up our store in preparation for spring and will be retiring some designs soon.
We're starting with the CARS MELT GLACIERS t-shirt.
Get yours before it's gone. We'll pull it from the store at the end of February.
As always, Patreon supporters save 15% on all merch orders.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/products/cars-melt-glaciers-t-shirt-standard-cut
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2026-01-22 20:20:24 UTC

Due to popular demand, our yellow beanie (or toque, for our Canadian friends) is now available online! Previously, these were only available for purchase at our live shows but we heard from a lot of folks who can't see us on the road who want one.
One size fits most! Ships worldwide.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/products/cuffed-beanie
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/940/602/220/715/351/original/93aa622b453ce4cd.png

2026-01-20 14:48:06 UTC

We have a new episode of The War on Cars out today: "The Importance of Livable Streets with Bruce Appleyard."
We talked with Dr. Bruce Appleyard about the importance of livable streets in fostering a healthy society and the legacy of his father, Donald, who literally wrote the book on the subject.
Both Bruce and Donald make appearances in our new book, Life After Cars, and this interview expands on all of that. Take a listen!
https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/the-importance-of-livable-streets-with-bruce-appleyard/id1437755068?i=1000745881604
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/927/971/758/889/184/original/3475510790612831.jpg

2025-12-25 20:46:58 UTC

We'll be taking a bit of a break.
To celebrate the end of the year we are offering 15% off everything in The War on Cars store, from stickers to t-shirts. Use code BYEBYE2025 at checkout.
Happy new year!
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/

2025-12-16 17:44:41 UTC

Big news!
On Thursday, January 15th we'll be sharing the stage with Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com for a double book event at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables, FL hosted by @transitmia.bsky.social.
Don't miss this epic team-up!
https://purchase.actorsplayhouse.org/EventAvailability?EventId=14801
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/730/442/574/776/232/original/25e42e2fd17a34bb.png

2025-12-16 16:39:45 UTC

Spotted in Houston: two hacked variable message signs. That the signs were placed on the sidewalk, blocking pedestrian access, makes the messages all the more urgent.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/730/229/498/068/004/original/c99294266c412848.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/730/229/515/689/977/original/9f52392f215b5ee4.jpeg

2025-12-15 20:48:32 UTC

"Denver transportation officials said an anti-car message that was displayed on traffic signs in Denver on Friday was the result of a hack. One sign, photographed by The Denver Gazette on Friday evening at E. Colfax Ave & Lincoln St near the Colorado Capitol, shared the message 'Cars ruin cities.'"
https://www.denvergazette.com/2025/12/14/cars-ruin-cities-signs-in-denver-were-hacked-officials-say/

2025-11-11 15:26:56 UTC

NEW EPISODE: "The Creation of America's Car Culture." Producer Ilana Strauss talks to historian Peter Norton about the two men who, in the 1920s, teamed up to sell more cars and shape the way cities handle traffic. Their legacy can be felt across the country today.
https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/the-creation-of-americas-car-culture/id1437755068?i=1000736233759
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/531/762/067/163/290/original/19868c0ed2fef157.png

2025-11-05 03:56:40 UTC

Thanks @nprofile…4cu7 for your endorsement of our new book, LIFE AFTER CARS.
Available wherever books are sold!
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/
#books
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/495/070/335/348/489/original/42a2ba7fc323ed41.png

2025-10-31 19:56:23 UTC

Wow! What a great review of LIFE AFTER CARS:
"Those new to thinking about the automobile’s reign of terror on society might bristle at the book’s explicitly anti-car message, but the authors aren’t throwing around assertions they can’t back up. By covering a range of topics in one volume, Life After Cars provides openings for new people to enlist in the (proverbial) war on cars."
https://www.portlandmercury.com/transportation/2025/10/31/48098753/do-you-believe-in-life-after-cars

2025-10-21 12:04:21 UTC

It's finally here! "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves From the Tyranny of the Automobile" is now available wherever you buy books. Thank you to everyone who has made this day possible, including our amazing podcast listeners. We hope everyone finds the book valuable!
Please buy the book and spread the word!
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/412/053/838/257/198/original/063febcea9db1f8d.mp4

2025-10-21 02:16:56 UTC

"Tactical urbanism has the power to pierce the automotive bubble that so frequently surrounds politicians — sometimes in an almost literal sense, because so many elected officials are driven everywhere."
Read an excerpt from "Life After Cars," out tomorrow!
https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/how-tactical-urbanists-make-the-water-visible-to-the-fish

2025-10-20 02:43:28 UTC

Let us know if you see these around New York tomorrow on your commute. “Life After Cars” comes out on Tuesday!
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/404/189/455/655/483/original/457628534ea753fe.png

2025-10-10 21:46:29 UTC

A reminder that you can get a signed copy of "Life After Cars" from Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn — and they'll ship anywhere in the U.S.
To secure a signed copy, you MUST indicate in the Order Comments section at checkout that you'd like your book signed; otherwise, you may receive an unsigned book.
Autographed preorders will not be available anywhere else — order yours today!
https://greenlightbookstore.com/book/9780593850725

2025-10-07 15:09:36 UTC

Ooh... free shipping at Bookshop today as part of their "anti-Prime sale."
Includes preorders, so get your copy of Life After Cars!
https://bookshop.org/a/9252/9780593850725

2025-06-19 15:15:15 UTC

Tickets for our live show at The Bell House in Gowanus to celebrate the publication of "Life After Cars" are now available to the general public! You can buy single tickets or a ticket + book bundle. We're excited to partner with Books Are Magic for this event. See you there!
https://www.lifeaftercars.com/
#book #books #podcast #thewaroncars
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2025-06-12 12:59:01 UTC

Big news!
The pre-sale for our live show/book release party at The Bell House in Brooklyn on October 28th begins this Tuesday! There are two ways to get access:
1. Become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars
2. Become a member of @nprofile…m47n
More info:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/life-after-cars-131257471
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/670/503/444/638/325/original/1153793019b7aeb9.png

2025-05-29 22:45:44 UTC

Last couple of days to save 10% off everything in the official The War on Cars store with code BIKEMONTH.
Good now through the end of, um, Bike Month.
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/

2025-05-20 13:06:20 UTC

NEW EPISODE.
We talk with Charles T. Brown about his essential new book, "Arrested Mobility: Overcoming the Threat to Black Movement."
We get into how to repair our cities, the importance of Black leadership, and what it truly means to “love thy neighbor.”
https://thewaroncars.org/2025/05/20/episode-152-overcoming-the-threat-to-black-movement-with-charles-t-brown/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/540/305/492/211/835/original/c02997ed57b0af0e.png

2025-05-19 16:57:32 UTC

"Yet, rather than invest in ways to help people leave their cars at home, America’s typical response to congestion has been to build more lanes and highways. In a nation where cars are king, it’s no surprise that more freeways are often portrayed as the only way."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/opinion/europe-train-travel.html?unlocked_article_code=1.IU8.kaiV.mLRkx2ERWRQ1&smid=url-share

2025-05-14 01:18:51 UTC

We were lucky to use bikes from the
Minneapolis Cargo Bike Library during our recent visit there. So sorry to hear this news, but also thrilled at the community response. To help, please make a donation!
https://www.startribune.com/brooks-donors-ride-to-rescue-after-bandits-strike-minneapolis-bike-library/601350658?utm_source=gift

2025-05-13 00:52:50 UTC

"When we first published our strategy in 2019, 15 locations across the City exceeded our air quality objective for toxic nitrogen dioxide. Last year this figure was down to two."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgxek18z5eo.amp

2025-05-12 01:54:45 UTC

NASCAR? More like "Nah, cars."
New sticker for Bike Month! Fits perfectly on most bike frames or anywhere you want to stick it.
Just added to our store:
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/492/364/476/485/088/original/fc8f4fd806dc2ad8.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/492/364/485/648/399/original/eb678f75872803d0.jpeg

2025-05-05 12:22:18 UTC

"...the biggest negative impact on drivers’ reactions to hazards came when using Apple CarPlay by touch. Reaction times were nearly five times worse than when a driver was at the drink-drive limit, and nearly three times worse than when high on cannabis."
[Subscription required]
https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally-switching-back-to-buttons/

2025-05-05 01:43:58 UTC

We came, we rode, we conquered. Thanks Bike New York for another great Five Boro Bike Tour!
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/452/684/902/732/368/original/be09b6b24f244f03.png

2025-04-09 18:11:39 UTC

New sticker alert...
https://the-war-on-cars.myshopify.com/products/cities-arent-loud-cars-are-loud-sticker-5-pack
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/309/344/461/979/693/original/f874f5745f162842.jpg

2025-04-08 16:14:34 UTC

New episode! Tesla dealerships, many of them located in the worst kind of automotive sprawl, have emerged as crucial nodes in a decentralized network of resistance to the current administration. We talked to organizers and protesters in the #TeslaTakedown movement.
https://thewaroncars.org/2025/04/08/episode-149-inside-the-tesla-takedown-protests/
#podcast #tesla
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2025-03-26 20:19:08 UTC

"After more than 20 years of this schtick, May is changing his tune and is joining the war on cars."
https://www.jalopnik.com/1819922/top-gear-host-james-may-swaps-driving-for-cycling/

2025-03-26 14:54:27 UTC

James May, former host of [checks notes] Top Gear, welcome to The War on Cars.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/driving-london-cars-james-may-london-cycling-campaign-top-gear-b1218513.html

2025-03-25 11:51:55 UTC

New Patreon bonus!
"More Motornormativity with Marco te Brömmelstroet, aka 'The Fietsprofessor.'" We talk with Marco about a new study on motonormativity and the ways language influences how we understand mobility and what streets are for.
Subscribe for access!
https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-more-with-125101855
#podcast #cycling #transportation
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2025-03-17 22:13:21 UTC

"Voters in Stockholm and London both initially opposed congestion pricing before and as the toll was introduced. But as the benefits of less traffic became immediately apparent, support for the toll shot up in both cities."
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/03/10/siena-poll-support-for-congestion-pricing-keeps-rising

2025-03-10 21:14:23 UTC

2025-02-23 13:19:03 UTC

"Our streets are now more safe. There has been a 51% decrease in injuries and a 55% decrease in crashes in the congestion relief zone compared to the same period in January 2024."
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/02/22/congestion-pricing-makes-nyc-safer/

2025-02-08 18:18:59 UTC

In memory of Donald Shoup, we re-released our 2023 interview with the brilliant, witty and influential scholar. "The High Cost of Free Parking" is a hugely important book and his research has influenced countless planners and advocates around the world. RIP.
https://thewaroncars.org/2025/02/08/remembering-donald-shoup/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/969/641/859/323/138/original/cf795f9127bb6078.jpg

2025-02-07 16:43:50 UTC

"After one year of the zone, nitrogen dioxide from traffic was lower, GP visits for respiratory illnesses were down by 25% and those for heart problems decreased by 24%."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/07/bradford-clean-air-zone-saves-nhs-over-30000-a-month-in-first-year

2025-01-14 14:12:18 UTC

When NYC started congestion pricing last week, we knew the local mainstream press would be out talking to drivers who were against the toll. So we went out and heard from some people who weren’t driving, including advocates who fought for this historic program.
https://thewaroncars.org/2025/01/14/142-congestion-pricing-is-finally-here/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/827/110/675/932/173/original/e35c2829c584cfc5.png

2024-12-25 23:08:54 UTC

Happy Hanukkah!
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/715/977/199/869/339/original/2b7764c0163df7a5.png

2024-12-24 18:38:31 UTC

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good bike!
https://www.patreon.com/c/thewaroncarspod
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2024-12-17 13:03:27 UTC

NEW EPISODE: "How Cars Change Us with Tara Goddard." Why do people behave so badly behind the wheel of a car? Why do reporters use passive language to describe traffic violence? @drtaragoddard.bsky.social joins us to talk about her fascinating research.
https://thewaroncars.org/2024/12/17/140-how-cars-change-us-with-tara-goddard/
#thewaroncars #podcast
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2024-12-11 16:52:55 UTC

"According to the International Energy Agency, in 2023 the growth in big cars increased oil consumption worldwide by 500,000 barrels per day and generated 20 percent of the entire global increase in manmade CO2."
Via @nprofile…vyea
https://slate.com/business/2024/12/giant-cars-suvs-pick-up-trucks-global-europe.html?tpcc=giftedarticle