@politicsofcars.bsky.social
Car culture dominating society is social murder.
Posts are mostly about the US, sometimes focused on parenting.
Trying to write more, would appreciate you reading and giving feedback. https://politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/
Posts are mostly about the US, sometimes focused on parenting.
Trying to write more, would appreciate you reading and giving feedback. https://politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/
Quoting for NJ visibility.
The vibecession posters ignoring eg rising homelessness among students are wrong. More importantly, even if nothing has gotten worse overall we still need better housing policy now. Brian has done great work documenting why, and I wish his friend well in the campaign.
The vibecession posters ignoring eg rising homelessness among students are wrong. More importantly, even if nothing has gotten worse overall we still need better housing policy now. Brian has done great work documenting why, and I wish his friend well in the campaign.
If you're in New Jersey: my friend @jlcauvin.bsky.social, an attorney doing vital eviction-defense work, is running for Congress in the 11th District and needs 500 signatures by 12/1 to get on the ballot.
You can find places to sign his petition and other ways to support here: jlfornj.com/meet-jl/
You can find places to sign his petition and other ways to support here: jlfornj.com/meet-jl/
Let's get to work people
youtu.be/9OYeK4QQFGY
youtu.be/9OYeK4QQFGY
November 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Quoting for NJ visibility.
The vibecession posters ignoring eg rising homelessness among students are wrong. More importantly, even if nothing has gotten worse overall we still need better housing policy now. Brian has done great work documenting why, and I wish his friend well in the campaign.
The vibecession posters ignoring eg rising homelessness among students are wrong. More importantly, even if nothing has gotten worse overall we still need better housing policy now. Brian has done great work documenting why, and I wish his friend well in the campaign.
In America an escalating series of policies were used over the last century to push families with young children from cities into unsustainable car dependent suburbs.
Now SFHs in those suburbs are too expensive, and no localities want new affordable family housing that would increase school costs.
Now SFHs in those suburbs are too expensive, and no localities want new affordable family housing that would increase school costs.
November 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
In America an escalating series of policies were used over the last century to push families with young children from cities into unsustainable car dependent suburbs.
Now SFHs in those suburbs are too expensive, and no localities want new affordable family housing that would increase school costs.
Now SFHs in those suburbs are too expensive, and no localities want new affordable family housing that would increase school costs.
Federally funded free transit would have been better electoral politics, and better climate policy, than Biden's IRA.
Not to say it would be easy to pass, because carbrain is the bipartisan American consensus.
Not to say it would be easy to pass, because carbrain is the bipartisan American consensus.
Odd to be so flippant about (2), I thought you cared about Democrats winning elections.
It's not remotely true as written, and also plenty of eligible voters in Democratic cities don't vote because party leaders largely don't care about people who can't afford to drive.
It's not remotely true as written, and also plenty of eligible voters in Democratic cities don't vote because party leaders largely don't care about people who can't afford to drive.
November 26, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Federally funded free transit would have been better electoral politics, and better climate policy, than Biden's IRA.
Not to say it would be easy to pass, because carbrain is the bipartisan American consensus.
Not to say it would be easy to pass, because carbrain is the bipartisan American consensus.
Saying that the federal govt is encouraging people to eat fresh produce, given our actual ag policy, but people just don't prefer it
is as absurd as saying people prefer to be stuck in car dependent sprawl just because that's the housing growth that has been allowed for the past century
is as absurd as saying people prefer to be stuck in car dependent sprawl just because that's the housing growth that has been allowed for the past century
The market does provide it. The reason private stores aren't selling fresh produce nearby is that not enough ppl want it (or rather, want it badly enough to pay what it actually costs to produce and deliver)--even when the federal govt is helping cover the bill via EBT.
Poor ppl have agency, too!
Poor ppl have agency, too!
People need food. Market won’t provide it. Government should. It’s literally the whole point.
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Saying that the federal govt is encouraging people to eat fresh produce, given our actual ag policy, but people just don't prefer it
is as absurd as saying people prefer to be stuck in car dependent sprawl just because that's the housing growth that has been allowed for the past century
is as absurd as saying people prefer to be stuck in car dependent sprawl just because that's the housing growth that has been allowed for the past century
stop zoning for low-density of bedrooms or people
start zoning for low density of cars
start zoning for low density of cars
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
stop zoning for low-density of bedrooms or people
start zoning for low density of cars
start zoning for low density of cars
Reminder that this senator with government healthcare preaching personal responsibility as a way to cut costs, is on the record boasting about not wearing a seat belt.
Of all the risks of driving, his concern about carjacking in DC distills the politics of cars.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Of all the risks of driving, his concern about carjacking in DC distills the politics of cars.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
November 26, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reminder that this senator with government healthcare preaching personal responsibility as a way to cut costs, is on the record boasting about not wearing a seat belt.
Of all the risks of driving, his concern about carjacking in DC distills the politics of cars.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Of all the risks of driving, his concern about carjacking in DC distills the politics of cars.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
"RealPage admitted to no wrongdoing and faced no financial penalties"
Even if this settlement fixes RealPage, it still allows competitors to do the same thing. One more policy choice to burden renters and push more Americans into car dependent sprawl.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Even if this settlement fixes RealPage, it still allows competitors to do the same thing. One more policy choice to burden renters and push more Americans into car dependent sprawl.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Landlords’ go-to tool to set rent prices to be gutted under RealPage settlement
RealPage agrees to settle suit over DOJ claims software raised rents across the US.
arstechnica.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"RealPage admitted to no wrongdoing and faced no financial penalties"
Even if this settlement fixes RealPage, it still allows competitors to do the same thing. One more policy choice to burden renters and push more Americans into car dependent sprawl.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Even if this settlement fixes RealPage, it still allows competitors to do the same thing. One more policy choice to burden renters and push more Americans into car dependent sprawl.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Good piece about how the public input process should be improved.
America has a political problem of carbrain elected officials who think more driving is the answer to transportation and SFHs are the only good housing. Public hearings will be contentious as long as they ignore other views.
America has a political problem of carbrain elected officials who think more driving is the answer to transportation and SFHs are the only good housing. Public hearings will be contentious as long as they ignore other views.
Opinion: The problem at public meetings isn't who shows up, but the roles that the people at public meetings are expected to play
What are planning hearings actually for?
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Good piece about how the public input process should be improved.
America has a political problem of carbrain elected officials who think more driving is the answer to transportation and SFHs are the only good housing. Public hearings will be contentious as long as they ignore other views.
America has a political problem of carbrain elected officials who think more driving is the answer to transportation and SFHs are the only good housing. Public hearings will be contentious as long as they ignore other views.
Maybe "the goal is not to punish drivers" but that'd be an okay result of taking transportation seriously. Safety advocates should not be expected to lead with language to make drivers feel better about their choices and behavior.
Otherwise a good piece.
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/car-cultur...
Otherwise a good piece.
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/car-cultur...
"The goal is not to punish drivers, but to make roads less forgiving of distraction by aligning human psychology with physical design... policymakers must embrace the same logic — insist on streets & communities that demand cognitive engagement behind the wheel." www.startribune.com/mn-car-accid...
www.startribune.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Maybe "the goal is not to punish drivers" but that'd be an okay result of taking transportation seriously. Safety advocates should not be expected to lead with language to make drivers feel better about their choices and behavior.
Otherwise a good piece.
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/car-cultur...
Otherwise a good piece.
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/car-cultur...
how many people support transit fares because transit systems need passenger revenue, but oppose tolling every driver causing congestion and using those funds for transit?
(drivers cause traffic, thereby slowing down buses and increasing the cost of providing transit service)
(drivers cause traffic, thereby slowing down buses and increasing the cost of providing transit service)
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
how many people support transit fares because transit systems need passenger revenue, but oppose tolling every driver causing congestion and using those funds for transit?
(drivers cause traffic, thereby slowing down buses and increasing the cost of providing transit service)
(drivers cause traffic, thereby slowing down buses and increasing the cost of providing transit service)
Reality: car loan delinquencies are rising as Americans find our brutal and expensive car dependency increasingly unaffordable
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Bluesky economists: Look how happy Americans must be with their high levels of income and consumption!
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Bluesky economists: Look how happy Americans must be with their high levels of income and consumption!
A record number of Americans are behind on their auto loans
Last month, 6.65% of subprime borrowers were at least 60 days late on their car payments. That’s the highest delinquency rate since the 1990s, according to Fitch Ratings.
www.marketplace.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reality: car loan delinquencies are rising as Americans find our brutal and expensive car dependency increasingly unaffordable
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Bluesky economists: Look how happy Americans must be with their high levels of income and consumption!
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Bluesky economists: Look how happy Americans must be with their high levels of income and consumption!
I wish everyone sharing and posting got as mad at human drivers causing traffic
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I wish everyone sharing and posting got as mad at human drivers causing traffic
We have a climate *crisis*. Biden supporters are claiming the IRA was good, 2 years wasn't long enough to tell people how it would help, eventually.
Hypothetically, a good climate bill on policy and politics will be anathema to Republicans and many existing corporations. Voters will know about it.
Hypothetically, a good climate bill on policy and politics will be anathema to Republicans and many existing corporations. Voters will know about it.
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
We have a climate *crisis*. Biden supporters are claiming the IRA was good, 2 years wasn't long enough to tell people how it would help, eventually.
Hypothetically, a good climate bill on policy and politics will be anathema to Republicans and many existing corporations. Voters will know about it.
Hypothetically, a good climate bill on policy and politics will be anathema to Republicans and many existing corporations. Voters will know about it.
Gross that a person who profits from counseling seniors responds to an 89 year old hitting a child with a car by emphasizing independence rather than responsibility for drivers.
Putting the burden on loved ones to intervene is just a polite way to say she does not consider car crashes a problem.
Putting the burden on loved ones to intervene is just a polite way to say she does not consider car crashes a problem.
November 24, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Gross that a person who profits from counseling seniors responds to an 89 year old hitting a child with a car by emphasizing independence rather than responsibility for drivers.
Putting the burden on loved ones to intervene is just a polite way to say she does not consider car crashes a problem.
Putting the burden on loved ones to intervene is just a polite way to say she does not consider car crashes a problem.
Reposted
Paying per trip vs in a batch is part of the problem for getting drivers to choose transit, but the bigger problem is average versus marginal cost.
The marginal cost per mile driven is very low after the upfront cost of ownership. Free fares plus increasing marginal cost per car trip is good.
The marginal cost per mile driven is very low after the upfront cost of ownership. Free fares plus increasing marginal cost per car trip is good.
November 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Paying per trip vs in a batch is part of the problem for getting drivers to choose transit, but the bigger problem is average versus marginal cost.
The marginal cost per mile driven is very low after the upfront cost of ownership. Free fares plus increasing marginal cost per car trip is good.
The marginal cost per mile driven is very low after the upfront cost of ownership. Free fares plus increasing marginal cost per car trip is good.
Reposted
All driveway crossings in downtowns should be continuous sidewalks - where drivers ramp up to cross the sidewalk, instead of pedestrians ramping down to cross the driveway.
On Sun 11/9/2025 11:45 am
the driver (30/M) of a 2022 Audi Q5
[looking left while turning right from] the Wheaton Shopping Center to Georgia Ave/97
hit & injured a pedestrian (24/M)
walking properly on the sidewalk across an unmarked crosswalk.
Police (MCP3439000W) found the driver at fault.
the driver (30/M) of a 2022 Audi Q5
[looking left while turning right from] the Wheaton Shopping Center to Georgia Ave/97
hit & injured a pedestrian (24/M)
walking properly on the sidewalk across an unmarked crosswalk.
Police (MCP3439000W) found the driver at fault.
November 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
All driveway crossings in downtowns should be continuous sidewalks - where drivers ramp up to cross the sidewalk, instead of pedestrians ramping down to cross the driveway.
No more automated fines, only automated retractable bollards
What a stunning car!
#WorldBollardAssociation
#WorldBollardAssociation
November 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
No more automated fines, only automated retractable bollards
the real reason neighborhood streets need to be designed to only accommodate small trucks, not huge industrial sized deliveries
Ok palate cleanse time. In case you missed it, here's my most popular post ever
4 yrs ago today, a family member managed a truly spectacular own goal, splintered his domestic bliss, & in the process, united the world for a day.
On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day
So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day
So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
November 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
the real reason neighborhood streets need to be designed to only accommodate small trucks, not huge industrial sized deliveries
Reposted
🔁 Hey y'all, is your family tired of listening to you talk about bad street design, trams, and sexy bollards?
Consider sliding in to our discord server! There's some really great people here :)
Tired of seeing this post? Click ... and "Hide post for me" to disappear this message from the feeds!
Consider sliding in to our discord server! There's some really great people here :)
Tired of seeing this post? Click ... and "Hide post for me" to disappear this message from the feeds!
Join the BSKY URBANISM+ Discord Server!
Bluesky Urbanists! Talk about urbanism, improve the feed, add a complaint or suggestion! | 196 members
discord.gg
September 29, 2025 at 11:47 PM
🔁 Hey y'all, is your family tired of listening to you talk about bad street design, trams, and sexy bollards?
Consider sliding in to our discord server! There's some really great people here :)
Tired of seeing this post? Click ... and "Hide post for me" to disappear this message from the feeds!
Consider sliding in to our discord server! There's some really great people here :)
Tired of seeing this post? Click ... and "Hide post for me" to disappear this message from the feeds!
Middle of the night indoor air quality observation about CPAPs:
Many people wear CPAPs for ~1/3 of their time, many more probably should if they had sleep studies. If CPAPs had space for a HEPA filter they would become powered respirators. Way easier than filtering an entire home's air.
Many people wear CPAPs for ~1/3 of their time, many more probably should if they had sleep studies. If CPAPs had space for a HEPA filter they would become powered respirators. Way easier than filtering an entire home's air.
A tangent from a post about air quality inside car cabins, but now I can't stop thinking about HVAC techs getting gumpy about having to update settings as rising atmospheric CO2 makes old ventilation standards to maintain indoor CO2 levels antiquated.
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/indoor-air...
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/indoor-air...
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Middle of the night indoor air quality observation about CPAPs:
Many people wear CPAPs for ~1/3 of their time, many more probably should if they had sleep studies. If CPAPs had space for a HEPA filter they would become powered respirators. Way easier than filtering an entire home's air.
Many people wear CPAPs for ~1/3 of their time, many more probably should if they had sleep studies. If CPAPs had space for a HEPA filter they would become powered respirators. Way easier than filtering an entire home's air.
Reposted
the kind of men who drop five figures on a truck to impress other men, will also look down on women as wasteful for spending three figures on clothes that other women can appreciate
November 23, 2025 at 2:06 AM
the kind of men who drop five figures on a truck to impress other men, will also look down on women as wasteful for spending three figures on clothes that other women can appreciate
eagles and cats are the big tent that the war on cars needs
It’s not clear if the feline slipped from the eagle’s talons Wednesday morning or was discarded simply because the big bird didn’t have a taste for it.
Driver makes unbelievable 911 call: ‘I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield’
It’s not clear if the feline slipped from the eagle’s talons Wednesday morning or was discarded simply because the big bird didn’t have a taste for it.
www.oregonlive.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
eagles and cats are the big tent that the war on cars needs
This thread is narrow, but there is a broader problem of US liberals taking it as a given that they'd figured out how to align the incentives of capital, electoral politics, and climate under the last administration given that renewables and EVs are good deals now.
But they have not figured it out.
But they have not figured it out.
three, fascism is actively trying to stop capital from making money solving climate change. fascism doesn't actually give a shit about the bottom line.
bsky.app/profile/anom...
bsky.app/profile/anom...
What's interesting is that capital is often at odds with the fascists on climate solutions
apnews.com/article/offs... Trump halts work on New England offshore wind project that's nearly complete
apnews.com/article/offs... Trump halts work on New England offshore wind project that's nearly complete
November 22, 2025 at 2:15 PM
This thread is narrow, but there is a broader problem of US liberals taking it as a given that they'd figured out how to align the incentives of capital, electoral politics, and climate under the last administration given that renewables and EVs are good deals now.
But they have not figured it out.
But they have not figured it out.
Has any city ever targeted and achieved a mode shift of decreasing % of trips done by driving, and not seen a decrease in injuries and fatalities?
So many hollow vision zero pledges, that metric seems like it would cut through them.
So many hollow vision zero pledges, that metric seems like it would cut through them.
November 22, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Has any city ever targeted and achieved a mode shift of decreasing % of trips done by driving, and not seen a decrease in injuries and fatalities?
So many hollow vision zero pledges, that metric seems like it would cut through them.
So many hollow vision zero pledges, that metric seems like it would cut through them.