{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/america-s-hidden-desire-to-live-car-free","audioUrl":"https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/waroncars/TWC_031026_mixV1.mp3?dest-id=807818","description":"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 answers, as a new study shows, are not exactly what so many of us have been told. Nearly one in five American car owners is \"strongly interested\" in living car-free, and another 40 percent are open to the idea. We talked about the implications of that study with its authors, Nicole Corcoran, Deborah Salon, and Hue-Tam Jamme, researchers at the Arizona State University School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning in Tempe.  Check out  their research. Join The War on Cars on Patreon and listen to exclusive ad-free versions of regular episodes, Patreon-only bonus content, Discord access, invitations to live events, merch discounts and free stickers! Order our new book,  Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, out now from Thesis, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Find us on tour and get tickets at lifeaftercars.com. Thanks to Upway for sponsoring this episode.  Use this link and save $100 off any order of $800 or more with the code TWOC100. Thanks also to Cleverhood. Listen to this episode for the latest discount code and get 15% off the best rain gear for walking and cycling. The War on Cars is produced with support from the Helen and William Mazer Foundation. TheWarOnCars.org    "},"annotations":[{"startTime":382.0,"endTime":394.0,"type":"concept","title":"car free living","url":"/glossary/car-free-living","quote":"So we found that 18% of urban and suburban US residents had an interest in car free living. And then another 40 ish percent said that maybe one day they would also be interested in living car free.","canonicalId":"concept:car-free-living","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Car free living refers to a lifestyle choice or community design where residents do not own or use cars for their daily transportation needs, relying instead on walking, biking, public transit, or other alternatives.","simplifiedExplanation":"Car free living means people live without owning or using cars, getting around by walking, biking, or buses instead."}},{"startTime":418.5,"endTime":424.1,"type":"concept","title":"planned community","url":"/glossary/planned-community","quote":"I understand it might have had something to do with the planned community of cul-de-sac in Tempe, which I happened to visit while we were out in Phoenix for book tour.","canonicalId":"concept:planned-community","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A planned community is a residential area designed and built according to a specific plan, often including amenities and infrastructure to support a particular lifestyle or demographic.","simplifiedExplanation":"A planned community is a neighborhood that is carefully designed before it is built, with homes and things people need close by."}},{"startTime":988.7,"endTime":999.9,"type":"concept","title":"car culture","url":"/glossary/car-culture","quote":"Deborah, maybe you could talk about that because it's something we talk about a lot that people in the United States of America especially are so enveloped by car culture that might make it seem more daunting or unpleasant.","canonicalId":"concept:car-culture","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Car culture describes the social and cultural environment where cars are deeply integrated into daily life, shaping behaviors, values, and urban design, especially prevalent in countries like the United States.","simplifiedExplanation":"Car culture means how cars are a big part of how people live and think in some places, like the US. It affects how cities are built and how people get around."}},{"startTime":1035.6,"endTime":1061.1,"type":"concept","title":"non-car modes","url":"/glossary/non-car-modes","quote":"Those who have had car free experiences tend to build up know-how of using non-car modes. And so somebody who lives in even a walkable neighborhood or has a bus line near their home but has never taken a bus may not even see a bus as an option.","canonicalId":"concept:non-car-modes","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Non-car modes refer to transportation methods that do not involve personal car use, such as walking, cycling, public transit, or ridesharing.","simplifiedExplanation":"Non-car modes are ways to get around without using a car. This includes walking, biking, or taking the bus or train."}},{"startTime":1593.6,"endTime":1598.88,"type":"car","title":"Ford Ranger","url":"/cars/ford/ranger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ford_Ranger_%28T6%2C_P703%29_Wildtrak_IMG_7320.jpg","quote":"... because I know I can just throw on my Cleverhood Ranger rain cape,  and I'll be all set to go wherever I ...","canonicalId":"car:ford:ranger","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Ranger is a midsize pickup truck known for its versatility, off-road capability, and practical size for both work and daily driving. It is often discussed for its balance between ruggedness and comfort, making it a popular choice among those needing a reliable truck without the bulk of a full-size pickup. The mention alongside a rain cape suggests its use in outdoor or adventurous settings.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Ranger is a smaller truck that people use for carrying things and going on adventures. It's strong and can handle rough roads but is easier to drive than big trucks. Talking about a rain cape means the person is ready to go out even if it rains.","imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":2471.5,"endTime":2479.7,"type":"concept","title":"urban renaissance","url":"/glossary/urban-renaissance","quote":"\"...because we are now in solidly well into 20 or 30 years of an urban renaissance. There was a period in the 60s, 70s, 80s...\"","canonicalId":"concept:urban-renaissance","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Urban renaissance refers to the revitalization and renewed interest in living in city centers, often involving improvements in safety, amenities, and cultural attractions after periods of decline.","simplifiedExplanation":"Urban renaissance means cities becoming popular and lively again after times when people thought they were unsafe or not nice to live in."}},{"startTime":2536.7,"endTime":2543.3,"type":"term","title":"sustainable mode","url":"/glossary/sustainable-mode","quote":"\"...people who have used a sustainable mode to school, so they walked, they biked, or they took the school bus...\"","canonicalId":"term:sustainable-mode","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A sustainable mode of transportation includes methods that have a lower environmental impact, such as walking, biking, or using public transit like school buses.","simplifiedExplanation":"Sustainable modes mean ways of getting around that are better for the planet, like walking, riding a bike, or taking the bus."}},{"startTime":2543.3,"endTime":2549.2,"type":"term","title":"car dependent","url":"/glossary/car-dependent","quote":"\"...have a reduced probability of being car dependent today by 12 percentage points. Wow. And that experience increases the probability...\"","canonicalId":"term:car-dependent","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Car dependency refers to a lifestyle or situation where individuals rely heavily on personal vehicles for transportation, often due to lack of alternative options like public transit, walking, or biking.","simplifiedExplanation":"Being car dependent means you need to use a car for most trips because other ways like walking or buses aren't easy or available."}},{"startTime":2556.1,"endTime":2563.3,"type":"term","title":"cargo bike","url":"/glossary/cargo-bike","quote":"\"...So to all of the cargo bike riding parents out there, you are doing it. You are the change that we want to see in the world.\"","canonicalId":"term:cargo-bike","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A cargo bike is a bicycle designed to carry heavy loads or multiple passengers, often used by families or businesses as an eco-friendly alternative to cars for short trips.","simplifiedExplanation":"A cargo bike is a special bike that can carry big things or kids, so people can use it instead of a car for some trips."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"The War on Cars","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"LLC","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/america-s-hidden-desire-to-live-car-free/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}