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Artwork for The War on Cars

The War on Cars

The War on Cars, LLC
Public Transit
New York City
Urban Planning
Car Culture
Congestion Pricing
Public Transportation
Climate Change
Transportation Policy
Car Dependency
Urban Mobility
Transportation
Cleverhood
Cycling
Electric Vehicles
Road Safety
Life After Cars
Austin
Motonormativity
Safe Streets Advocacy
Effective Cycling

The War on Cars brings you news, commentary and stories about the worldwide battle to undo a century's worth of damage wrought by the automobile.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes245Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The War on Cars

Latest Episodes

***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 Th... more

What should happen to drivers who kill or injure someone with their car? Does a focus on punishment for "reckless" or "dangerous" drivers let everyone else off the hook and never force them to look at the larger harms of a transportation system based... more

What does it take to make a street safer for everyone? In the US, it typically requires a combination of tragedy, grassroots organizing, and political leadership. Even when these ingredients come together, success is never guaranteed, as so many proj... more

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 W... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ian Loader
Professor at University of Oxford, criminology expert
University of Oxford, Cyclokz
Episode: Rethinking Criminal Consequences for Drivers Who Kill
Ben Wolf
Director of the film Changing Lanes
Director, Changing Lanes
Episode: Changing Lanes
Bronwyn Breitner
Neighborhood activist and co-founder of Make McGuinness Safe
Make McGuinness Safe
Episode: Changing Lanes
Kevin LaCherra
Neighborhood activist and co-founder of Make McGuinness Safe
Make McGuinness Safe
Episode: Changing Lanes
Emily Gallagher
New York State Assembly Member
New York State Assembly
Episode: Changing Lanes
Henry Burke
Senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project; writer on financial regulation, corporate influence, government capacity, and economic media
Revolving Door Project
Episode: PREVIEW: Sean Duffy's Great American Road Grift
Antonio Reynoso
Brooklyn Borough President, congressional candidate
New York political figure
Episode: Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Claire Valdez
New York State Assembly member
DSA member, union organizer
Episode: Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Julie Won
New York City Council member
City policymaker
Episode: Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7

Hosts

Doug Gordon
Co-host and primary host with a focus on urban policy, car culture critique, and mobility justice.
Sarah Goodyear
Co-host with a background in urbanism journalism and advocacy, guiding conversations on streets, safety, and policy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • I listen to it.

    I listened to War On Cars in my car when I first got into podcasts. I thought it was interesting. Then I moved to a city with great transit options and now consider it prophetic. I knew driving was a chore, but I didn’t know how much I hated it until I lived somewhere where bikes, subways, buses, and even just plain walking places was so much better. Everything they say sounds nutty when you’ve only known car culture, until you live in a city that makes you realize how senseless turning our soci... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eric Swedberg
    United Statesa month ago
  • Kind of a mixed bag as a podcast. Some of the interviews they've done have been really insightful and educational, often the ones that are more sociological or historical in nature. Hearing about political activism around the world is interesting. But too often they focus on New York City politics without really motivating why the things at NYC might have relevance/interest elsewhere, and just kind of take it for granted that people would care about NYC and I'm afraid I just don't. (Sorry. I've ... more

    Podchaser
    4
    E
    4 months ago
  • Easy listening

    I listen to this all day at work, instead of my music!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GearKing
    United States5 months ago
  • GOATED

    I’m joining the war on cars. Too many innocents have been lost for the profit margins of the automotive industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CadeBurd7896
    United States5 months ago
  • Surprise, surprise

    Why am I surprised to learn we were manipulated by corporate America to depend on cars.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bettie Davis Eyes
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows strong advocacy but some listeners feel ads dilute episodes.
Strong interviews with diverse experts and advocates.
Insightful coverage of urban mobility and policy nuance.
Accessible analysis that translates complex planning topics for a broad audience.
Audience sees tangible public-interest value in policy discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#65
Finland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#231
Argentina/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rethinking Criminal Consequences for Drivers Who Kill
Q: What does it mean to disassemble dangerous actants in practice?
It means treating the driver–car combination as a single risky agent (an actant) and implementing safety measures like licensing, vehicle tech improvements, and environmental design to prevent harm before punitive measures are used.
Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Q: How would you handle opposition in Congress to changing funding formulas or expanding transit investment?
By building coalitions with urban representatives, finding common ground on infrastructure, and leveraging successful local programs (like congestion pricing) as proof of concept to persuade other states and districts.
Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Q: What specific steps would you take to secure more federal funds for transit and biking infrastructure in New York City?
The guest argues for changing federal formula-based funding to reflect city ridership, prioritizing operations, and pursuing national coalitions with other urban lawmakers to push for a larger transit budget.
Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom
Q: Why do you describe the proposed approach as radical, and what does it aim to change about our cities?
It reframes streets as spaces for children to explore, move, and learn, prioritizing their health, safety, and independence over cars, with the aim of healthier, more connected communities for everyone.
Tony Kushner on The Pushcart War
Q: How do the themes of power, oppression, and community in the book relate to today's urban and political climate?
Kushner connects the book's street-level activism to contemporary struggles around power structures, social justice, and community organizing, with parallels to current political rhetoric and real-world movements.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The War on Cars

What is The War on Cars about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, this program consistently explores how car dependence shapes cities, mobility, and public life, often foregrounding urban planning, transportation policy, and social equity. Guests range from researchers and city planners to politicians, journalists, and activist organizers, yielding conversations that critique car-centric design while envisioning walkable, bikeable, and livable streets. Notable themes include equity in transit funding, the health and safety costs of traffic, child-friendly streets, and the cultural shifts needed to reimagine mobility. A few episodes mix sharp policy analysis with human-centered storytelling, making it especially relevant for listeners who want data-driven insights paired with real-world im... more

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How many listeners does The War on Cars get?

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How many subscribers and views does The War on Cars have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The War on Cars has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The War on Cars?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The War on Cars:

1. The Urbanist Agenda
2. The Strong Towns Podcast
3. Tech Won't Save Us
4. Better Offline
5. Volts

How many episodes of The War on Cars are there?

The War on Cars launched 8 years ago and published 245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The War on Cars?

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What guests have appeared on The War on Cars?

Recent guests on The War on Cars include:

1. Ian Loader
2. Ben Wolf
3. Bronwyn Breitner
4. Kevin LaCherra
5. Emily Gallagher
6. Henry Burke
7. Antonio Reynoso
8. Claire Valdez

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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