TEASER: Cars Drive Us Apart, Subway Takes Unite Us
About this episode
Exploring how car-dependent transportation systems contribute to social isolation and community division, this discussion highlights recent research linking excessive driving to decreased life satisfaction. The conversation emphasizes the need for diversified transportation options like better bike lanes and transit to restore choice and liberty. It also delves into a study revealing how the erosion of public spaces disproportionately affects less-educated and minority communities, deepening social and civic divides. The episode connects urban design, social capital, and inequality, underscoring the broader societal impacts of car-centric development and the loss of communal gathering places.
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, presale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The War on Cars.
In this bonus episode, Doug and I discuss a couple of recent studies that look at just how destructive cars are to the social fabric of our communities, how they decrease life satisfaction, and how walkable neighborhoods with public gathering places are an important resources for combating the loneliness epidemic.
As we often say, we have custom-built our communities for cars, in the name of convenience. That obviously sucks for those of us who don't want to drive. But the crazy thing is, as we have often pointed out, that it also sucks for people who do think that driving it's a terrific way to get around.
In the full bonus, we also give you our take on David Byrne's Subway Takes appearance—and his take about urban bike etiquette!
Become a Patreon supporter of the podcast for access to the entire episode.
Pre-order our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, coming in October from Thesis, an imprint of Penguin Random House. And catch us on tour this fall and beyond. Tickets for live shows are on sale now!
Buick Century
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