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.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 10:54
***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,…
Sep 22, 2026 · 46:56
How will the United States spend $580 billion in federal funds for transportation over the next five years? That's the question facing Congress right now, as it's time once again…
Sep 8, 2026 · 1:26:01
After New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a social media video showing him listening to concerned citizens and deciding to wear a bicycle helmet, social media exploded.…
Aug 25, 2026 · 11:43
***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,…
Aug 18, 2026 · 1:06:20
***We're taking a quick summer break this week so we're releasing this recent Patreon bonus episode into the general feed. We hope you enjoy it as a taste of what you can get if…
Aug 4, 2026 · 56:53
Jarrett Walker's career has been dedicated to improving the quality of public transit in the United States and beyond. A specialist in bus network design, he has led transit…
Jul 28, 2026 · 10:17
***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,…
Jul 21, 2026 · 1:10:55
Our final Life After Cars book tour roundup episode is here, with our reports from Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, Montréal, Orlando, Portland, Maine, and many, many more great North…
Jul 7, 2026 · 1:06:00
In most parts of the United States and elsewhere, sidewalks exist in a legal grey area. They are public spaces that, at least when it comes to things such as maintenance and snow…
Jun 30, 2026 · 3:05
***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,…
Jun 23, 2026 · 1:01:47
What should happen to drivers who kill or injure someone with their car? Does a focus on punishment for "reckless" or "dangerous" drivers let everyone else off the hook and never…
Jun 9, 2026 · 58:45
What does it take to make a street safer for everyone? In the US, it typically requires a combination of tragedy, grassroots organizing, and political leadership. Even when these…
May 26, 2026 · 8:21
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,…
May 19, 2026 · 2:05:22
Antonio Reynoso, Claire Valdez, and Julie Won are all running in the June 23 Democratic primary for New York's 7th congressional district. That's the seat that opened up when…
May 12, 2026 · 56:51
Just as it is with road safety, so much of how Americans talk about health pushes the responsibility for eating right and exercising onto the individual, ignoring the many…
Apr 28, 2026 · 42:33
Streets can be more than places to move and store cars—they can be places for children to grow and thrive. Alice Ferguson and Tim Gill are the UK-based authors of a new paper…
Apr 7, 2026 · 56:56
We talk with a guest who knows firsthand just how destructive cars can be. Dr. Rex Tai is a physician who works in long-term care. Many of his patients are the victims of traffic…
Mar 31, 2026 · 8:46
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,…
Mar 17, 2026 · 57:45
The Pushcart War —written by Jean Merrill and illustrated by Ronni Solbert and first published in 1964—is a charming and provocative children's novel that tells the story of a…
Mar 10, 2026 · 45:54
Do people really like our all-enveloping autocentric system quite as much as everyone keeps saying they do? What kind of communities would they live in if given the choice? The…
Mar 3, 2026 · 8:40
***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,…
Feb 24, 2026 · 47:40
Brent Toderian has decades of experience in city planning, urban design, and transportation. He was chief planner for the city of Vancouver from 2006 to 2012, a time when the…
Feb 10, 2026 · 1:10:56
Super Bowl LX had everything, from ads for weight loss drugs and male grooming products to spots touting tax prep services and calming fears about our AI overlords. It also had…
Jan 27, 2026 · 9:33
***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,…
Jan 20, 2026 · 52:37
We talked with Dr. Bruce Appleyard, who has spent a lifetime thinking about what we mean when we talk about liveable streets—and why it is so important that we build our cities…
Jan 6, 2026 · 31:16
Signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, otherwise known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act, ushered in an…
Dec 30, 2025 · 6:29
***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,…
Dec 23, 2025 · 1:18:00
We are back home in Brooklyn but we can't stop talking about everything we saw out on the road on our Life After Cars book tour. Listen for our takes on the second leg of our…
Nov 25, 2025 · 1:06:55
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind as we hit the road (not in a car) to promote our new book, Life After Cars , in some of the greatest cities of North America including…
Nov 11, 2025 · 29:46
This episode is part of a special series called "Changing American Car Culture" funded with the generous support of The Helen and William Mazer Foundation. As historian Peter…
Oct 28, 2025 · 2:14
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,…
Oct 21, 2025 · 43:58
Today we celebrate the publication of our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves From the Tyranny of the Automobile . In this episode, we serve up a sample of the audiobook…
Oct 7, 2025 · 38:16
In this episode, we talk about the Trump Administration's full-on financial assault on all the modes of transportation we hold dear here at The War on Cars. Biking, walking,…
Sep 30, 2025 · 37:45
Tim Gill is a London-based independent scholar, writer and consultant on childhood, and a global advocate for children's play and mobility. He is the author of Urban Playground :…
Sep 23, 2025 · 7:42
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,…
Sep 9, 2025 · 1:07:51
Brad Lander has been a fixture in New York's progressive political scene for nearly two decades now, and has earned a reputation as a strong advocate for bike lanes, bike share,…
Aug 26, 2025 · 8:10
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,…
Aug 12, 2025 · 1:00:39
Should the bus be free? That's the question everyone following the New York City mayoral race is asking, with Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani promising to focus on fast,…
Jul 29, 2025 · 6:14
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,…
Jul 15, 2025 · 54:10
At this year's Velo-city conference in Gdansk, the theme was "Energizing Solidarity," in honor of the city's history as the cradle of the Solidarity labor movement that helped…
Jul 1, 2025 · 6:21
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,…
Jun 24, 2025 · 1:00:20
Why have some cities become places where it's easy to hop on a bike for daily transportation needs while others have languished or even been left behind? Is there some sort of…
Jun 3, 2025 · 51:33
Recently, on an episode of the Netflix show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney , the subject turned to bike lanes. Or rather, the subject was turned to bike lanes by Natasha…
May 27, 2025 · 5:19
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,…
May 20, 2025 · 51:24
Charles T. Brown is a longtime friend of the podcast who was last with us in 2023 . We welcomed him back to talk about his important new book, Arrested Mobility: Overcoming the…
May 6, 2025 · 1:00:49
NOTE: This episode was originally released as a Patreon-exclusive bonus . For more episodes like this, please join The War on Cars on Patreon . We're an independent podcast and…
Apr 22, 2025 · 52:37
"Why are so many trans people into urban planning?" That's the question independent journalist and co-host of the Cancel Me, Daddy podcast Katelyn Burns asked her Bluesky…
Apr 15, 2025 · 3:13
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,…
Apr 8, 2025 · 54:06
Since early February, a protest phenomenon has been building steadily across the United States, springing up at scores of Tesla dealerships from coast to coast. Organizers call…
Mar 25, 2025 · 10:43
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,…
Mar 18, 2025 · 39:08
Trump's on-again-off-again tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are causing chaos across the entire economy, but they're hitting the auto industry especially hard. The big…
Mar 11, 2025 · 49:09
Laura Laker is a London-based freelance journalist who specializes in writing about cycling and urban transport. We talked with her about the year she spent riding around Britain…
Feb 27, 2025 · 1:04:12
Can you believe this is our second emergency episode about congestion pricing? This time, we're responding to the Trump administration's attack on the program, which has been in…
Feb 25, 2025 · 57:41
The Trump administration has upended the entire United States government over the last several weeks, sending Elon Musk and his minions into the guts of pretty much every federal…
Feb 18, 2025 · 10:12
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,…
Feb 11, 2025 · 1:21:42
It's the CXLIVth episode of The War on Cars, and just like in years past we're taking a look at the ads that aired during the Super Bowl. This year, there weren't a whole lot of…
Feb 8, 2025 · 46:24
Donald Shoup, a towering figure in the world of urban planning and a distinguished professor emeritus at the UCLA Luskin School of Public affairs, died this week. He was 86 years…
Jan 28, 2025 · 4:12
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,…
Jan 21, 2025 · 1:05:52
As the new Trump regime begins, we talked with Dani Simons—who until recently led the Office of Public Affairs for the federal Department of Transportation—about the Biden…
Jan 14, 2025 · 36:23
At last, New York City started its congestion pricing program on January 5. We knew that the local mainstream press would be out in force interviewing drivers and elevating the…
Jan 7, 2025 · 56:47
How do dense, walkable cities influence what people wear? Derek Guy has some thoughts. Otherwise known as The Menswear Guy, Derek rose to fame on social media for his takes on…
Dec 31, 2024 · 5:56
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,…
Dec 17, 2024 · 1:10:49
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…
Dec 3, 2024 · 1:00:44
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…
Nov 19, 2024 · 8:38
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,…
Nov 15, 2024 · 27:32
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…
Nov 12, 2024 · 1:00:52
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.…
Oct 29, 2024 · 31:07
***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 !…
Oct 15, 2024 · 3:37
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…
Oct 1, 2024 · 39:51
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…
Sep 24, 2024 · 4:04
This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars . During the…
Sep 17, 2024 · 45:20
There's been a lot of talk this election season about Project 2025, the initiative from the Heritage Foundation to prepare for a potential second Trump administration.…
Sep 3, 2024 · 48:52
Why do Americans spend lots of money to visit walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly European cities, only to come back to the U.S. and oppose all those things where they live?…
Aug 20, 2024 · 4:43
This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars . In June, Doug…
Aug 6, 2024 · 1:19:35
Episode 133: Listener Origin Stories (Patreon bonus re-release) We're taking a short break to work on our forthcoming book and some of our upcoming fall shows. We'll be back with…
Jul 30, 2024 · 3:33
This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars . This month's…
Jul 23, 2024 · 1:07:04
NOTE: This is part two of a two-part episode. To hear both parts right now and without ads, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars . In part two of our deep dive on John…
Jul 9, 2024 · 1:07:51
NOTE: This is part one of a two-part episode. To hear both parts right now and without ads, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars . " Cyclists fare best when they act and…
Jul 2, 2024 · 24:17
Cyprine Odada is the Executive Director of Critical Mass Nairobi and an urban planner specializing in active mobility. Ever since founding the Kenyan capital's chapter of…
Jun 25, 2024 · 47:51
Because it has the word "engineering" right in there, the field of traffic engineering is something most people assume is governed by science and rational rules. But a new book,…
Jun 11, 2024 · 26:28
Why don't more women ride bicycles in London? The advocacy group London Cycling Campaign wanted to know, and so they asked. What they discovered was disturbing: Among more than a…
Jun 7, 2024 · 55:33
In this emergency episode, we discuss New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's 11th-hour decision to "indefinitely suspend" congestion pricing, the program that would have charged…
May 28, 2024 · 3:42
This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars . For this month's…
May 21, 2024 · 1:43:19
An unlikely cycling revolution is happening in one of the coldest big cities on the planet: Edmonton, Alberta. Despite freezing temps, lots of sprawl, big trucks and an economy…
May 7, 2024 · 40:55
The United States has built a transportation system centered around automobiles. But one-third of the nation's population can't drive, whether because of disability, age,…
Apr 25, 2024 · 7:05
***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars .*** We were…
Apr 16, 2024 · 56:03
Elon Musk's gigantic, stainless steel, 1980s sci fi movie–inspired Cybertruck is starting to show up on city streets. Perhaps you've had the misfortune of seeing one rolling…
Apr 2, 2024 · 40:14
In the 20th century, planners and policymakers smashed Interstate highways through the middle of every major city in the United States. In the 21st century, we understand the…
Mar 19, 2024 · 45:01
It has never been more expensive to insure a car in the United States. Today, the average annual premium for full coverage is more than $2,500, up from more than $1,700 just a…
Mar 5, 2024 · 45:35
In January, we held our third annual live show at Caveat on Manhattan's Lower East Side. We were so thrilled to be in the same room as so many listeners and friends of the…
Feb 15, 2024 · 4:00
***This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars .*** In this…
Feb 14, 2024 · 41:02
In what's become an annual tradition, we take a critical look at the car ads that aired during the Super Bowl and consider what they say about driving, culture, consumerism, and…
Feb 6, 2024 · 26:03
Did you ever see a car advertisement that you thought was so ridiculously irresponsible it should be banned? Well, the people at Adfree Cities, an advocacy group based in the…
Jan 30, 2024 · 11:42
This is a preview of a special bonus episode for Patreon supporters of The War on Cars ! In the last episode of the podcast we spent some time with Baruch, Shawon, and their…
Jan 16, 2024 · 37:38
Baruch Herzfeld is the CEO and co-founder of PopWheels, where he is working to develop New York City's first e-bike battery-swapping network. PopWheels aims to solve the growing…
Jan 2, 2024 · 48:50
Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2024 by bringing you our conversation with David Zipper , one of the hardest-working analysts on the transportation scene today. You may be…
Dec 26, 2023 · 5:27
Last month the three hosts told their origin stories , or how they first became aware of the problems associated with cars and automobile dependency. Our stories included…
Dec 21, 2023 · 2:07
Since 1964, the Hess Corporation has released a toy truck for the holiday season, an annual tradition that's highly anticipated by children and collectors alike. Models have…
Dec 19, 2023 · 43:17
In his new book, Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping The Future of Our Planet, independent conservation journalist Ben Goldfarb writes about how roads and cars are wreaking…
Dec 5, 2023 · 48:44
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has declared it's time to end what he calls "the war on motorists." First, the Conservative Party leader announced he was delaying the UK's…
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