TEASER: Cars Drive Us Apart, Subway Takes Unite Us

TEASER: Cars Drive Us Apart, Subway Takes Unite Us

Author: The War on Cars, LLC August 26, 2025 Duration: 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, 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!

 

 


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
TEASER: The Romance of the Automobile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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, pre-sale tickets to live shows, and more, beco…
Biden's Transportation Legacy with Dani Simons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 administration's legacy on transportation. What…
Congestion Pricing Is Finally Here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 voices of those who were against the toll.…
Cities and Fashion with Derek Guy, The Menswear Guy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 men's fashion, but he also dips his toes int…
TEASER: Your Best Things of 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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, pre-sale tickets to live shows, and more, beco…
How Cars Change Us with Tara Goddard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 words we use make a difference in street safet…
Changing Hollywood's Car Culture with Ed Begley Jr. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 Hollywood, including Jack Nicholson, Meryl Str…
TEASER: Doug Ford and Ontario's War on Bikes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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, pre-sale tickets to live shows, and more, beco…
Election Extra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 victories around the country for transit and saf…
"Cars are Done" with Adam McKay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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. He is also the founder of Yellow Dot Studios,…