The Nib takes on the latest trend in car culture: massive vehicles.
A new cartoon by Jen Sorensen for The Nib skewers the psychology and corporate interests behind the ever growing size of trucks and SUVs in the United States.
Whether this satire is actually funny is part of the point, of course. The stakes are incredibly high in terms of air pollution, climate change, and traffic and pedestrian safety. It's clear which side of the issue Sorensen is on—imagining a new "Chey Stretch" to "dominate the highway" in a world full of "Chevy Exurbans" and "Ford Insecures."
Here is a sample of background reading from Planetizen on the U.S. trend to larger vehicles, starting with recent news about how the federal government is finally starting to push back on car companies:
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Will Finally Make Carmakers Consider Pedestrian Safety (December 2021)
- Study: More SUVs Lead to More Pedestrian Deaths (August 2021)
- As Trucks Grow in Size, So Do the Safety Risks (June 2021)
- Men and SUVs: A Bad Mix for Traffic Safety (December 2019)
The cartoon is found at the link below.
FULL STORY: King of the Road
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Minneapolis as a Model for Housing Affordability
Through a combination of policies, the city has managed to limit the severity of the nationwide housing crisis.
Indy Bikeshare System Turns 10, Expands to E-Bikes
Pacers Bikeshare riders logged over 700,000 rides since the system launched in 2014.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.