Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

What’s Wrong With a Car-Centric System? New Video Explains It All

We're a little bit enamored with this video, produced by the Mexican office of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy and brought to our attention by Copenhagenize.

It's less than four minutes long, yet it effectively and simply explains many of the most important concepts in transportation policy, including three of my personal favorites: driving subsidies, induced demand and externalities.

Really, this problem -- promoting car traffic, despite the high costs to society -- is simple enough to explain. Hopefully public education campaigns like this can help Mexico and other developing countries avoid making the same mistakes the United States has made. If not, how long until we see rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma spike in Mexico, India and China?

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Get Around Blog considers the public backlash to Chicago's proposed speeding camera legislation and wonders why we've developed such a casual attitude toward speeding. PubliCola shares the news that Seattle is considering yet another smart zoning change -- this one would make it easier for walkable corner stores to set up shop in city neighborhoods. And Bike Delaware, inspired by Tom Vanderbilt's recent article on America's walking crisis in Slate, turns a critical eye to the local conditions for pedestrians.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Huge Grant: Feds Send City $12M to Improve Post-Crash Analyses

Advocates have been seeking this for years: a single repository where the disparate findings from multiple agencies about road crashes will be stored and analyzed.

September 6, 2024

Friday Video: A ‘Concrete’ Plan for Better Bike Lanes from DOT

Sometimes progress goes forward as promised.

September 6, 2024

Friday’s Headlines: ‘Buses and E-Bikes and Raids, Oh My’ Edition

Wow, what a busy day of revanchism it was! Plus other news..

September 6, 2024

Self-Proclaimed Bus Lane Champion Gale Brewer Tries To Tank Bus Lane

The former Manhattan borough president cynically cited her past support for bus priority streets at a rally to cut two blocks out of a badly needed bus lane project.

September 5, 2024

DOT’s ‘Blissville Greenway’ Will Make Vital Connections in Queens

The proposed Blissville Greenway would finally help Queens cyclists safely connect to Brooklyn.

September 5, 2024
See all posts