Peace and Planning

Category: Car Blanche

  • If you’ve ever wondered what Captain Planet’s (hot)take might be on EVs (and their tech cousins)

    In the early 2010s, there was a lot of hype about companies like Lyft and Uber. Because they had a leg-up on their taxi predecessors with their ease of use and ability to pick up multiple passengers along efficient routes, they finally promised the solution to what’s called the “last…

  • Car brain is a thing, in more ways than one

    A lot of people think that cities are loud. However, a more accurate framing is that cars are loud, and most cities are filled to the gills with sounds of mufflers, horns, and screeching tires (among other unpleasant noises). One of my favorite things to do when I’m visiting a…

  • The only healthy car is a Flintstones car

    We’ve already encountered some of the physical health impacts of cars (reminder: more than 40,000 deaths and millions of injuries a year in the US alone; the global death toll is estimated at 1.3 million). First, we must recall that those deaths and injuries – particularly for pedestrians and cyclers…

  • On whether to decline an “I’ll call you while I’m driving” chat

    Lately I’ve been struggling with a conundrum. These days, it’s common for people to be so busy that the only time they see available on their calendars to catch up with loved ones is while they are driving. Maybe they’re squeezing in a quick check-in with a sibling while they’re…

  • A dangerous pair – men and cars

    I’ll never forget one of the saddest experiences I’ve had while out on a bike ride. I was stopped at a red light next to a car with its windows open and witnessed a man berating a woman in the passenger seat next to him. He was yelling at her,…

  • Hug a cyclist

    One interesting outcome of researching car culture, driver behavior, and vehicular violence is uncovering counterintuitive findings. Dr. Ian Walker – based out of Swansea University in the UK – made waves when he published his 2007 article, “Drivers overtaking bicyclists: Objective data on the effects of riding position, helmet use,…