The United States has built a transportation system centered around automobiles. But one-third of the nation’s population can’t drive, whether because of disability, age, financial hardship, immigration status, or any of a host of other factors. Those tens of millions of people are often invisible to planners and elected officials, and that’s why Anna Letitia Zivarts, herself a low-vision nondriver and a longtime activist for better transportation choices, has written a new book titled When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press). We talked with Anna about how, by designing our transportation future for those who can’t or don’t feel comfortable driving, we could build a system that works better for everyone and that would be more equitable, safer, and more environmentally sustainable.
*** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, exclusive bonus content and stickers. ***
This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood. Listen to the episode for the latest discount code.
LINKS:
Buy Anna Zivarts’s book, When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency, at The War On Cars Bookshop store or from your local bookseller.
You can follow Anna on X.
Buy t-shirts, stickers, hats and more in The War on Cars merch store. It's Bike Month so save 10% with code BIKEMONTH.
Find us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps people find us!
This episode was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear.
TheWarOnCars.org
TEASER: Origin Stories
John Bauters, America's Bike Mayor
Dark PR with Grant Ennis
Unintended Consequences with Steven Johnson
TEASER: Celebrating Your Wins!
Why Congestion Pricing Matters with Diana Lind
TEASER: Coach Balto's Bike Bus Lessons
Back to School with the Bike Bus
Inclusive Transportation with Veronica O. Davis
TEASER: Chaos in the Bike Lane with Aaron Gordon
EXTRA: Inside Automotive Journalism with Bob Sorokanich
TEASER: Live from New York!
Traffication with Paul Donald
SPECIAL: Freeway Exit
Is It Worth It To Confront Drivers?
TEASER: Inside Automotive Journalism with Bob Sorokanich
Nick Offerman
TEASER: Hollywood and Bikes, Take 2
Paved Paradise with Henry Grabar
TEASER: Discovering Oil with Amy Westervelt
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL