No, you’ve not tuned into late-night Lite FM radio. In this special mailbag episode, Sarah and Doug hear from listeners around the world, taking your questions and comments on everything from disabled cyclists, how to make bike lanes as common as sidewalks, when to take the car keys from aging parents and grandparents, the frustrations women feel when told what to wear when riding a bicycle, whether or not cyclists should share a friendly wave with other cyclists and how to find joy while fighting a daily War on Cars.

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Autonomous cars? Who needs ’em. If you want to improve your city then design it so that children have more autonomy. In this episode we hit the playground with architecture critic Alexandra Lange, the author of “The Design of Childhood.” To grow up into healthy, functional adults, kids need opportunities to experience freedom and independence. Alexandra argues that car-dominated streets make that more difficult. A city designed for cars is a city that’s lousy for families — and pretty much everyone else. Plus: The surprising history of playgrounds.

In celebration of our twentieth episode, the first twenty people who enlist in The War on Cars Patreon campaign after this episode drops will receive a bonus #BanCars sticker. 

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Show Notes: 

Visit Alexandra Lange’s web site and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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How can we fight a War on Cars when cars might be turning into the last bastion of affordable housing in many cities and suburbs? In this episode, we talk about how the crises in transportation, housing and climate are converging in California parking lots — some of which are becoming de facto communities. Stepping in to help us understand what’s going on in the Golden State is Alissa Walker, who writes for Curbed LA and cohosts LA Podcast.

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It’s the most controversial question in all of urban biking: Why do cyclists run red lights, ride on sidewalks and go the wrong way down one-way streets? In this episode, Aaron, Sarah and Doug talk to New York City cyclists about why they behave the way they do. Plus, we seek out a higher authority for an interpretation of the legal and ethical dilemmas people on bikes confront while moving through cities. When cyclists flout the law, is it a sign that they’re all selfish scofflaws? Or are they engaging in a simple act of civil disobedience that can lead to better, safer streets and rules that reflect the difference between bikes and cars?

Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive stickers, T-shirts, exclusive access to special audio content and more.

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Once a year, the world descends on Manhattan for the New York International Auto Show, an extravagant, multimillion-dollar celebration of all things car. From the most “sinister” Dodge Challenger to a Kia that can sense a driver’s mood and adjust the vehicle’s interior accordingly, the Auto Show isn’t just a showcase for new products, it’s a vision of the future of the North American city—a future that is built around the car. What will it take for foot soldiers in the War on Cars to go up against this well-funded juggernaut? Is it possible that a band of guerrilla activists, spurred by tragedy and armed with nothing more than red cups and tomatoes, can take on an empire?

Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive stickers, t-shirts, exclusive access to special audio content and more.

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In 2002, Theresa Sareo, an up-and-coming singer, had her life changed forever when a reckless driver hit her as she stood on a Manhattan sidewalk waiting to cross the street. She lost her leg and nearly died, making her one of the millions of people injured by automobiles in the United States every year. In New York City alone, the toll was more than 59,000 people in 2018. Theresa tells her story of recovery and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive TWOC stickers and other rewards.

Buy a War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau.

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Show notes:

Visit Theresa Sareo’s personal website to find out more about her story and her music.

Read the New York magazine article about the crash and its aftermath.

Find data about auto-related injuries and fatalities on New York City’s crash data map.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars. Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1, Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke, and Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek. This episode was produced and edited by Sarah Goodyear.

Do you have an issue you want to discuss with us on the show? Send a voice memo to: [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.

The War on Cars, the podcast about car culture, mobility and the future of cities, is hiring a producer.

We’re looking for someone with experience in either narrative journalism or talk show formats. Creativity plus a burning passion to liberate your city from space-hogging, horn-honking, exhaust-spewing, human-squashing, planet-cooking metal boxes on wheels is a big plus.

The War on Cars is co-hosted by Sarah Goodyear, Doug Gordon and Aaron Naparstek. We are seeking a producer who can help us with the following:

• Crystallize episode ideas, co-write and edit scripts collaboratively.
• Direct and advise us in the studio during recording sessions.
• Edit and mix episodes after they’ve been recorded.

This part-time role would start immediately, run through early July, break for summer and then start up again in fall. At the moment we can afford to pay about $750 per episode.

We launched The War on Cars in the fall of 2018 and have published fifteen episodes so far. We release a new episode approximately every other week. We have already built a remarkably loyal and enthusiastic audience, social media following, and Patreon supporter base. We have outstanding ratings and reviews on iTunes and we are rapidly building the show and the brand. This is a fun project to be a part of. 

If you’d like to apply, please send your resume, a quick blurb on why you’d be a good fit for the The War on Cars and a relevant sample of your work to [email protected]. 

Thank you!

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson on his way to deliver his first State of the City address.

A new generation of urban leaders is rising to power and they’re kicking butt and challenging long-standing assumptions about the role of the car in the city. Among them is Corey Johnson, New York City’s new City Council Speaker. At 37 years old, Corey is the first bonafide, avocado toast–eating Millennial to hold citywide elected office. We ride the subway with Corey to learn more about his plans to “break car culture” in the Big Apple. So can Millennials win the War on Cars? What even is a Millennial anyway? Plus, a special round-up of the all-time great historic speeches in The War on Cars.

Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive TWOC stickers and other rewards.

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You can find the full transcript of this episode here.

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For nearly thirty years, brothers Ray and Tom Magliozzi were the hosts of NPR’s “Car Talk” and the voices of American car culture. Famous for their distinctive Boston accents and infectious laughs, Click and Clack didn’t just diagnose engine troubles, they recognized that people’s personal relationships often revolved around their automobiles. In a War on Cars exclusive, Doug sits down with Ray Magliozzi to talk about car culture, the brothers’ surprising war on SUVs, and whether or not “Bike Talk” could even be half the phenomenon “Car Talk” was… and still is.

Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to the extended interview with Ray Magliozzi plus TWOC stickers and other rewards.

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What if you could get around quickly and reliably in a state-of-the-art vehicle that you didn’t have to drive, park, fuel, or insure? No, it’s not an Uber or a self-driving car… it’s the bus! In this episode, we talk to Cam Hardy of the Better Bus Coalition in Cincinnati, Ohio, about why buses are chronically unloved and underfunded. Plus, we look at attempts to make buses cool through the power of advertising, and hear the latest battle news from the global War on Cars.

Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get exclusive TWOC stickers and other rewards.

Buy a War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau.

Rate and review the podcast on iTunes.

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