War on Cars

Fast paced scene with people bike and cars at the busy intersection of 14th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City.

When it Comes to Transportation, It’s All About Options

Debunking the notion of the personal automobile as liberator.

September 21, 2023 - Strong Towns

Racing Cars

Partisan Splits for Transportation Politics

Researchers found that while left-leaning respondents were more likely to favor transportation reform and sustainable modes, conservatives are not as far behind as we think.

October 11, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Traffic Jam

Back-to-School Traffic Management Plan: Me Time

A humorous post offers advice on how to adjust to life trapped in a sea of cars swelled by school pick-up and drop-off schedules: think of it as "me time."

September 6, 2019 - The Dallas Morning News

California

The 'War on Cars' Is a Bad Joke

There is no war on cars. Everybody, including motorists, benefit from a more diverse and efficient transportation system. Let there be peace!

August 23, 2019 - Todd Litman

Attacking Auto-Dependency by Attacking Auto Subsidies

It's not the car but the driving subsidy that is responsible for many of the ills associated with auto dominance. Asking, "How do we get people out of cars?" is the wrong question, argues Joe Cortright, urban economist for City Observatory.

July 22, 2018 - City Observatory

Minneapolis Bike Lane Protest

Bikelash Reaches a Whole New Level

A Minneapolis bike lane protest sets a new bar for opposition to bike lanes—Godwin's law was definitely in play.

October 16, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Woman in Bike Lane, Toronto, Canada

In the War on Cars, Only Drivers Kill

A Toronto Star columnist frames a recent spate of pedestrian fatalities in stark terms.

October 10, 2017 - Toronto Star

Pedestrians Only

Friday Funny: Satirizing the War on Cars

A new voice in the wilderness of YouTube: the War on Cars.

August 11, 2017 - CityLab

Seattle Apartments

Seattle May Follow San Francisco in Tossing Conventional Level of Service Standards

Mayor Ed Murray released a 20-year growth plan, Seattle 2035, that retains LOS, but rather than measuring vehicle congestion, measures mode share, consistent with his vision for a green and sustainable city, but rattling The Seattle Times.

May 30, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Drive Through

Controversy Over Drive-Throughs in Minneapolis Gains National Attention

A proposal in Minneapolis would restrict the development of drive-throughs, in pedestrian-friendly parts of the city, as a safety measure for all non-car users of the street.

February 12, 2016 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Satirical Ad Campaign Pitches Belgian Traffic Jams as World Heritage Sites

The "war on cars" and its pushback has a achieved a singular pitch in Belgium, where the national rail service has canvassed the country with a satirical ad campaign excoriating the country's horrible congestion.

January 23, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Parisian Traffic, Air Pollution Reduction Plan Caught on Political Snag

Parisian clean air politics turn out to be something of a class issue, even for a socialist mayor. The plans are seen as penalizing low income Parisians while benefiting elitist city dwellers who dislike traffic, overshadowing public health benefits.

December 16, 2014 - The New York Times

Scientific Proof That Cars and Cities Just Don't Mix

A fascinating new study found that drivers perceive exactly the same things more negatively than those who walk, bike, or take transit. These findings have a few interesting implications.

December 30, 2013 - Shane Phillips

Proposed Bike Lane in Alexandria Provokes (one) Cry of "Bike Wars"

A weekend op-ed in the Wall Street Journal rallying against a proposed Alexandria, Va. bike lane has likened the fight to save 37 parking spaces on par with the Revolution and the War of 1812. Could this be the revenge of Dorothy Rabinowitz?

November 12, 2013 - Bacon's Rebellion

Proposed 'Bike Freeway' in S.F. Faces Backlash

At a raucous community meeting held last week, the opposition to a proposal to replace curbside parking along Polk Street with bike lanes and parklets made their opinions known to city planners, reports Maria L. La Ganga.

March 26, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Supposed 'War on Cars' Goes Cold

A recent survey gives statistical heft to what many already believe - that despite the rhetorical exuberance of anti-bicycle and anti-transit types, the supposed "war on cars" is just a tired trope that is "wearing a bit thin."

January 24, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Demobilizing the "War on Cars"

Herb Caudill explains why the need to plan for a range of transportation modes and uses of space in urban environs is common sense - not part of a concerted assault on cars.

September 4, 2012 - Greater Greater Washington

NPR Asks: "Is There A War On Cars?"

NPR interviews technology historian Peter Norton, D.C. Planning Director Harriet Tregoning, and motorists on D.C. streets who resent exclusive bus lanes, parking tickets, red light cameras, and parklets usurping parking spaces.

July 24, 2012 - NPR

The Fake "War on Cars"

Sarah Goodyear points out the absurdity of the idea that urban planners who are seeking to raise tolls and parking fees while increasing transit accessibility are mounting a "war on cars".

March 25, 2011 - Grist

A War On Cars? Let There Be Peace!

Our job as planners is ultimately to manage change, which is often fun but occasionally ugly. A good example is a current debate over a supposed “war against the car.”

March 24, 2011 - Todd Litman

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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.