When automobiles first started tearing through American streets a century ago, they weren’t exactly welcome. One of the main problems was that they were killing children: in 1921 alone, 286 children in Pittsburgh, 130 in Baltimore, and 97 in Washington, D.C. Cities memorialized the dead with monuments and solemn marches. A safety council in Detroit commemorated traffic deaths by ringing bells at city hall and churches; another in Brooklyn put up a “Death-O-Meter” near a major traffic circle that kept a running tally of those injured or killed.
It wasn’t just in cities. At the beginning of the 20th century, rural residents revolted as drivers of “horseless carriages” rammed into their livestock and their neighbors. Across the country, they threw stones and dung at cars, shot at them, and trapped them in ditches dug across roads, or with ropes and wires strung between trees.
The arrival of automobiles was at first greeted with skepticism that they could ever replace horses, and then shock at the dangers they posed. Newspapers in the early 20th century called drivers “killers” and “remorseless murderers.” Cars weren’t seen as necessities, but rather the dangerous playthings of those wealthy enough to afford them. Today, media coverage defaults to the passive voice and calling crashes “accidents,” even as they continue taking lives — more than 39,000 people just last year in the United States.
This history of hostility to cars has been largely forgotten. “There’s the myth that the Model T rolled off the assembly line, and it was love at first sight,” said Doug Gordon, co-author of the new book Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile. Gordon wrote the book, an accessible account of the collective damage the automobile has brought to the world, with his fellow hosts of “The War on Cars” podcast, Sarah Goodyear and Aaron Naparstek.
It’s part of a growing opposition to car culture in the literary world — a trend that suggests more people are willing to entertain these criticisms than in previous years, at least by publishers’ estimations. September brought the release of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars, a philosophical book arguing that cars don’t represent freedom, as we’ve been told, but constraint. Depending on cars drains our bank accounts, limits our transportation options, and locks in damage to our health and the environment. Roadkill was published the same day as Saving Ourselves from Big Car, a condemning investigation of the way automakers, oil companies, and related industries gained control of the road to rake in profits, no matter the consequences.
The facts about cars are alarming: Far more Americans have died from car crashes than from all the wars the United States has fought. The average driver in the U.S. spends more than three-quarters of a million dollars on cars in their lifetime. If the fleet of SUVs around the globe were a country, they would be the world’s fifth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, behind Russia and ahead of Japan.
None of these problems are new — in fact, people have been warning us about many of them for decades. So why is it so easy to ignore these glaring flaws?
One theory is that growing up in a world dominated by vehicles puts them in a collective blind spot. In other words, car culture changes your brain. “It’s so endemic, it’s so pervasive, it’s so ubiquitous, that people don’t recognize just how much it is all around them,” said Ian Walker, an environmental psychologist at Swansea University in the United Kingdom. “And if it’s all around you, it’s shaping your perceptions.”
Walker coined the word “motonormativity” to describe this bias, which causes people to apply laxer moral standards to driving than other activities. Take the matter of air pollution.
In 2023, a groundbreaking study conducted by Walker revealed a stark contrast in public opinion regarding smoking and driving in highly populated areas. While 75 percent of individuals in the United Kingdom agreed that smoking should be prohibited in areas where others would inhale cigarette fumes, only 17 percent supported the idea of restricting driving in the same areas to prevent exposure to car exhaust. This discrepancy sheds light on the deep-rooted bias and societal acceptance of car culture.
The preference for cars over other modes of transportation can stem from a genuine love for automobiles or be ingrained subconsciously through daily experiences in environments designed primarily for driving. Walker’s research also highlighted that individuals in countries like the Netherlands, where biking is actively encouraged and prevalent, exhibit lower levels of pro-car bias compared to those in the US or UK.
Despite the inherent dangers of driving, many people overlook the risks due to the lack of accessible and efficient transportation alternatives. The act of driving or being a passenger in a car is statistically one of the most hazardous activities in daily life. However, the convenience and familiarity of car travel often lead individuals to ignore the potential harm it poses.
Throughout history, critiques of cars have existed, with notable examples like Superman taking action against reckless driving in a 1939 comic book issue. The publication of Ralph Nader’s “Unsafe at Any Speed” in 1965 exposed the auto industry’s resistance to safety features, ultimately leading to the implementation of federal safety standards. Despite these challenges, car companies have continuously invested in marketing strategies to promote the allure of car ownership, portraying vehicles as symbols of freedom and prosperity.
The pervasive influence of the automobile industry is evident in the billions spent on advertising each year, perpetuating the fantasy of power and control associated with car ownership. Nevertheless, recent shifts in urban design and transportation trends have offered glimpses of a different future. Initiatives like outdoor dining expansions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing popularity of e-bikes are challenging the dominance of cars on city streets.
While breaking free from car dependency may seem daunting, Walker’s concept of “motonormativity” has resonated with advocates seeking to create sustainable and inclusive transportation systems. Encouraging policymakers and the public to recognize the need for change remains a significant challenge. However, there is growing optimism among experts that more individuals are open to reconsidering their relationship with cars and exploring alternative modes of transportation. The evolving landscape of urban mobility offers hope for a future where streets prioritize people over vehicles and promote healthier, more sustainable ways of getting around. As more drivers struggle to pay for their vehicles and fall behind on car payments, they are starting to explore alternative options. With the implementation of policies like congestion pricing in cities such as New York, driving has become more expensive and less convenient for many. This has led to a shift in transportation habits, with more people opting for public transit, biking, or walking.
The impact of these changes is evident in the success of books like “Life After Cars,” which cater to a wider audience beyond just biking and transit enthusiasts. Author Sarah Gordon, who wrote the book, acknowledges that the timing of its release aligns with the current shift away from car-centric lifestyles. She notes that just a decade ago, it would have been hard to imagine a major publisher releasing a book on this topic.
The congestion pricing plan in New York City has already shown positive results, with less traffic, increased transit ridership, fewer car accidents, and improved air quality. These outcomes highlight the potential benefits of reducing reliance on cars and promoting alternative modes of transportation.
As drivers continue to face challenges in affording and maintaining their vehicles, it is likely that more people will consider embracing a car-free or car-lite lifestyle. This shift towards sustainable transportation options not only benefits individuals in terms of cost savings and convenience but also contributes to a healthier and more environmentally friendly community. The changing landscape of transportation is opening up new possibilities for urban living and encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and efficient modes of getting around.
