The War on Cars

Episode 14: The War on Cars Meets Car Talk

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...

Episode 13: Making the Bus Sexy Again

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 po...

New episode coming soon!

Greetings, fellow soldiers in the War on Cars.

After a short break, Aaron, Sarah and Doug were in the studio with Curtis a few days ago to record our newest episode. Look for it in your podcast feeds early next week.

Thanks so much for your support, patience and continued feedback. We love hearing from everyone via email (thewaroncars@gmail.com) and via the normal social media channels. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments and episode ideas at any time.

Keep up th...

Episode 12: Propaganda Blitz

On Super Bowl Sunday, a hundred million Americans gathered in front of their TVs and absorbed a fearsome barrage of automobile advertising. While most viewers munched on snacks, guzzled beer and focused on the game, our crack team of intelligence analysts were busy studying the car commercials. What do these multi-million-dollar productions say about car culture, the fantasy of driving versus the reality, and about America itself? To win The War on Cars we must understand the enemy. 

Episode 11: WCAR Talk Radio

You’re listening to WCAR talk radio with Spoke and the Mad Dog. In this episode we take listener questions and comments, tackling everything from fixing the suburbs, tips for lonely bike advocates, why car-free days are one of the best tools for improving cities and how to make even the most sprawled-out metropolis in America better for people on two feet, two wheels or transit. Plus, can a War on Cars t-shirt get a person out of jury duty? Don’t touch that dial!

2019-02-10 17:57:05 +0000 UTC View Post

Listener mailbag: We want to hear from YOU!

Do you have a question or comment for The War on Cars? Need some advice? Want to challenge us? We want to hear from you for an upcoming episode of the podcast. If you have something to say or ask, record a voice memo on your phone and email it to thewaroncars@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name and hometown when you record yourself. We'll feature the best questions/comments/criticisms/rants on the air. 

Thanks!

Episode 10: Whoops! The Liberal Blind Spot for Cars

When New York City mayor Bill de Blasio went on ABC’s “The View” to discuss universal health care, little did he know he’d be on the receiving end of an epic anti-bike-lane rant courtesy of Oscar-winner and daily car commuter Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi’s fact-free diatribe exposed one of the biggest obstacles cities face as they try to modernize their transportation systems: The liberal blind spot for cars. In this special episode of The War on Cars, we discuss why it is that even the ...

T-shirt update

Hello, supporters! If you pledged an amount that gets you a t-shirt, we just wanted to let you know that we are ordering those shirts this week. Hopefully we'll get delivery within two weeks and then send directly to you. If you haven't already let us know what size you want, please do. Otherwise we'll send you a message to ask. Will come in men's and women's sizes, S - XL.

Thanks!

Episode 8: Why So Serious? The Lighter Side of the War on Cars

Our latest episode is now available. Please listen, subscribe if you haven't and give us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for helping us make the first 8 episode of The War on Cars a success. More to come in 2019!

Episode 7: "Nice Legs, Dude."

Why is driving a car seen as masculine and riding a bicycle seen as feminine? Is it even possible to look like an adult while riding an e-scooter? Our experience of moving through public space is deeply affected by our mode of transportation and our gender identity; the mode we choose affects not only how we are seen by others, but how we see ourselves. In this episode, we cover biking while female, taking the Metro in Mexico City and what The 40-Year-Old Virgin has to...

Episode 6 - Quit Your Car: "It's Zero Percent About Transportation."

When is a car not a car? When it’s a source of solace and comfort, a curbside living room and a personal aesthetic statement. This episode is brought to you “live” from the interior of a 1987 Cadillac DeVille as we hear from Alex Brook Lynn, the producer of FAQ NYC, about why she escapes to her car for a little private time amidst the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. What would it take for Alex to quit her car?

Thanks to all our Patreon supporters for making this and future episodes p...

Episode 5: If E-Bikes Are The Future, Why Are They Illegal?

From coast to coast, electric-bikes are having their moment. But a New York City Police Department crackdown on delivery cyclists who rely on e-bikes to do their jobs has some wondering if a double standard isn’t at play. At a time when big companies are jumping on the e-bike bandwagon, are the immigrant men who deliver food being unfairly punished? We discuss the murky laws surrounding e-bikes and what the future has in store with Helen Ho of the Biking Public Project.

A note on Patreon rew...

Episode 4: Cars and The Culture Wars

Our newest episode is now available wherever you get your podcasts. Aaron, Sarah, and Doug talk about the origins of the phrase, "The War on Cars" and ask why and how cars became a flashpoint in the culture wars. Are cars a red-state incursion on blue cities? Are all Americans socialists when it comes to cars? Plus, we discuss the hidden history of the first shots in the "War on Autoists."

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.

And thanks as always for your continued support!

Thanks!

Thanks to all of our supporters so far. Your contributions will help us crank out more episode of The War on Cars.

We'll send out the first round of rewards (stickers, t-shirts, etc.) by the beginning of November. 

In the meantime, please spread the word and thanks again for your support of The War on Cars.

Now on Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts

The War on Cars is now on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Spotify, and lots of other podcast providers. Please subscribe, listen, and leave a rating and review.

Thanks!

The War On Cars: Pilot Episode

In this pilot episode, we discuss why the world needs a War on Cars and ask if tech—and more specifically tech companies—can save our cities from the car. Are e-scooters, Lyft buses, and self-driving Ubers running through Elon Musk's tunnels the wave of the future, or are they a harbinger of dystopia?