Killed by a Traffic Engineer

Killed by a Traffic Engineer

Author: The War on Cars, LLC June 25, 2024 Duration: 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, written by a traffic engineer himself, argues that is not the case at all. In Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion That Science Underlies Our Transportation System, Wes Marshall — a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver — says that the idea that the design of our transportation system is based on science couldn't be further from the truth. By examining a century's worth of history, studies, old professional journals and current standards, Marshall argues that his colleagues need to do some deep soul searching about the rules they follow so that they no longer design a system that kills tens of thousands of people per year.

***Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. ***

This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood and Bullmoose Softgoods. Listen for the latest discount codes.

Pick up a copy of Killed by a Traffic Engineer and books by all of our podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page.

Grab some merch in our official store!

This episode was edited by Yessenia Moreno. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio

https://thewaroncars.org/

 


Imagine a world not built around traffic jams and parking lots, but shaped for people. The War on Cars is a dispatch from the front lines of that effort, a collective conversation questioning the automobile’s dominance over our cities, our environment, and our daily lives. Each episode digs into the real-world fight to reclaim public space, examining everything from the politics of a new bike lane to the history of how cars came to rule. You’ll hear from urban planners, activists, historians, and ordinary people pushing back, offering a mix of sharp analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and compelling narratives. This isn’t just about transportation; it’s about the culture and societal choices that have led us here, and the tangible, often inspiring work to create safer, quieter, and more connected communities. Tune in for a thoughtful and necessary critique of the status quo, a podcast dedicated to the idea that our streets can-and should-be for so much more.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The War on Cars
Podcast Episodes
Putting the Trans in Transit with Katelyn Burns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 followers, and she got an overwhelming response.…
TEASER: Why Fighting Tesla Matters with Ed Niedermeyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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, pre-sale tickets to live shows and more, becom…
Inside the Tesla Takedown Protests [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 it Tesla Takedown. It's remarkable in part…
Cars Bad, Tariffs Worse with David Zipper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 three U.S. automakers rely on an integrated…
Riding the UK's Cycle Network with Laura Laker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 on the United Kingdom's 13,000-mile Natio…
Trump v. Congestion Pricing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 effect since January, delivering exactly t…
What's Happening with Federal Transportation Dollars? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 department in a crusade for what they're…
TEASER: Live with City Nerd! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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, pre-sale tickets to live shows and more, becom…
Super Bowl Roundup with Rollie Williams and Nicole Conlan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 ads specifically designed to sell cars and…