"The results underscore that 77% of the cost of automobility is currently externalized."
wild
wild
October 2, 2026 at 11:27 AM
"The results underscore that 77% of the cost of automobility is currently externalized."
wild
wild
and yet Indian policymakers will continue pushing policy that will lead to more automobility
New study finds the social cost of driving a car 1 km—including pollution, crashes, infrastructure, and noise—is more than *triple* the private cost paid by the car owner.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
September 10, 2026 at 3:57 PM
and yet Indian policymakers will continue pushing policy that will lead to more automobility
•1 in 34 deaths are caused by cars and automobility with 1,670,000 deaths per year.
•Cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people since their invention.
•Car harm will continue unless policies change; example interventions are discussed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
•Cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people since their invention.
•Car harm will continue unless policies change; example interventions are discussed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 13, 2025 at 9:42 PM
•1 in 34 deaths are caused by cars and automobility with 1,670,000 deaths per year.
•Cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people since their invention.
•Car harm will continue unless policies change; example interventions are discussed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
•Cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people since their invention.
•Car harm will continue unless policies change; example interventions are discussed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We are in the early innings of people coming to grips with the real cost of building our cities almost exclusively for automobility
LA quietly stopped repaving all streets last July to avoid fulfilling its ADA obligations. The federal govt says when you repave a street, you have to update all the curb ramps. LA has tons of out of date curb ramps, so the rule makes repaving much more expensive. The city's solution: stop repaving!
LA has stopped repaving our streets
The reason why is probably illegal
futureis.la
December 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
We are in the early innings of people coming to grips with the real cost of building our cities almost exclusively for automobility
"The results underscore that 77% of the cost of automobility is currently externalized."
September 10, 2026 at 12:57 PM
"The results underscore that 77% of the cost of automobility is currently externalized."
The global cost of cars: “We find that, since their invention, cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion. Currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility.” [sciencedirect.com]
February 20, 2024 at 2:04 PM
The global cost of cars: “We find that, since their invention, cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion. Currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility.” [sciencedirect.com]
If accurate, this would place the terminology's conceptual origins in the late 19th century. Critics of the so-called "automobility thesis" note that no functional example of such a "car" survived the Archival Collapse of 2304, and that the implied scale of "car" ownership strains credulity [2].
March 15, 2026 at 6:43 AM
If accurate, this would place the terminology's conceptual origins in the late 19th century. Critics of the so-called "automobility thesis" note that no functional example of such a "car" survived the Archival Collapse of 2304, and that the implied scale of "car" ownership strains credulity [2].
"Cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people since their invention"
"While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
"While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The original article on which bloomberg's article draws is open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
March 9, 2024 at 1:44 PM
"Cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people since their invention"
"While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
"While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
“Extrapolated to the total # of passenger KMs driven, cycled or walked in the European Union, the cost of automobility is about €500 billion per year. Due to positive health effects, cycling is an external BENEFIT worth €24 billion/year & walking €66 billion/year.” Via @sciencedirect.bsky.social
The Social Cost of Automobility, Cycling and Walking in the European Union
Cost-benefit-analyses (CBA) are widely used to assess transport projects. Comparing various CBA frameworks, this paper concludes that the range of par…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 9, 2026 at 4:26 AM
“Extrapolated to the total # of passenger KMs driven, cycled or walked in the European Union, the cost of automobility is about €500 billion per year. Due to positive health effects, cycling is an external BENEFIT worth €24 billion/year & walking €66 billion/year.” Via @sciencedirect.bsky.social
Dr Disner used a variety of unabridged dictionaries to look up the term Autopilot, and all of them describe them in similar ways: systems that automate the steering of ships, aircraft, and spacecraft. She emphasizes that the dictionary definition contains no reference to cars or automobility.
July 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Dr Disner used a variety of unabridged dictionaries to look up the term Autopilot, and all of them describe them in similar ways: systems that automate the steering of ships, aircraft, and spacecraft. She emphasizes that the dictionary definition contains no reference to cars or automobility.
"We find that, since their invention, cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion. Currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility."
Car harm: A global review of automobility's harm to people and the environment
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Car harm: A global review of automobility's harm to people and the environment
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Car harm: A global review of automobility's harm to people and the environment
Despite the widespread harm caused by cars and automobility, governments, corporations, and individuals continue to facilitate it by expanding roads, …
www.sciencedirect.com
February 21, 2024 at 12:07 PM
"We find that, since their invention, cars and automobility have killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion. Currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility."
Car harm: A global review of automobility's harm to people and the environment
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Car harm: A global review of automobility's harm to people and the environment
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Unironically, given how they only became popular after cities were destroyed and rebuilt for automobility, I think the answer is cars
Trying to think of any previous technology that needed this many people out there telling everyone that they're wrong about how it stinks and it is very good and helpfully actually
October 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Unironically, given how they only became popular after cities were destroyed and rebuilt for automobility, I think the answer is cars
I want to talk about how this corrosive view of automobility and cities relates to decades of failure on transit policy.
One thing that’s so frustrating living in a city center is the pervasive belief among suburbanites that your neighborhood is nothing more than a consumer experience for them and that the city should bend over backwards to ensure they can speed as fast as possible on their way to buy treats in it.
November 17, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I want to talk about how this corrosive view of automobility and cities relates to decades of failure on transit policy.
The global cost of automobility
Automobility is one of the most powerful forces shaping modern societies, economies, and environments
While motorists often underestimate the true private costs of car ownership, the social costs are diffuse and largely hidden, distributed across entire populations.
Automobility is one of the most powerful forces shaping modern societies, economies, and environments
While motorists often underestimate the true private costs of car ownership, the social costs are diffuse and largely hidden, distributed across entire populations.
September 18, 2026 at 5:28 AM
The global cost of automobility
Automobility is one of the most powerful forces shaping modern societies, economies, and environments
While motorists often underestimate the true private costs of car ownership, the social costs are diffuse and largely hidden, distributed across entire populations.
Automobility is one of the most powerful forces shaping modern societies, economies, and environments
While motorists often underestimate the true private costs of car ownership, the social costs are diffuse and largely hidden, distributed across entire populations.
A survivor of the early days of automobility, when road signs, especially directional signs, were installed by the Automobile Clubs or the Touring Clubs and sponsored by local shops.
June 13, 2026 at 8:55 PM
A survivor of the early days of automobility, when road signs, especially directional signs, were installed by the Automobile Clubs or the Touring Clubs and sponsored by local shops.
CNBC put together a solid 15-minute explainer on car dependency that's perfect for sending to anyone who's never thought about the role of automobility in their life.
Friday Video: How America Got Hooked on Cars — Streetsblog USA
CNBC put together a solid 15-minute explainer on car dependency that's perfect for sending to anyone who's never thought about the role of automobility in their life.
buff.ly
February 16, 2025 at 7:25 PM
CNBC put together a solid 15-minute explainer on car dependency that's perfect for sending to anyone who's never thought about the role of automobility in their life.
Interesting-looking review paper on the harm that cars cause to people and the environment, finding that "currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility" doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
February 19, 2024 at 11:07 AM
Interesting-looking review paper on the harm that cars cause to people and the environment, finding that "currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility" doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
The most perfect part of this thread: 👇
"In the 20th century, planners erased waterways and neighbourhoods in the name of automobility. But streets aren't set in stone. Asphalt can be removed. Rivers can be restored. Roadways for cars can be reimagined as places for people."
"In the 20th century, planners erased waterways and neighbourhoods in the name of automobility. But streets aren't set in stone. Asphalt can be removed. Rivers can be restored. Roadways for cars can be reimagined as places for people."
Like many European cities swept up in the promise of the automobile, in the 1930s Aarhus paved over its namesake river to accommodate rising motor traffic. In the 1990s, this mistake was reversed, and today the restored waterway boasts one of the most vibrant pedestrian environments in Scandinavia.🧵
March 15, 2026 at 9:08 PM
The most perfect part of this thread: 👇
"In the 20th century, planners erased waterways and neighbourhoods in the name of automobility. But streets aren't set in stone. Asphalt can be removed. Rivers can be restored. Roadways for cars can be reimagined as places for people."
"In the 20th century, planners erased waterways and neighbourhoods in the name of automobility. But streets aren't set in stone. Asphalt can be removed. Rivers can be restored. Roadways for cars can be reimagined as places for people."
Illinois people - please join one or all of these virtual meetings to tell IDOT to prioritize transit, biking, and walking over automobility.
PUBLIC MEETING ALERT: Illinois is updating its Statewide Transit Plan, setting a long term vision for how we fund, expand & improve public transportation across the state. Virtual meeting info:
Nov 15 at 10am
Nov 18 at 12pm
Nov 18 at 7pm
Register & PLEASE SHARE: idot.illinois.gov/transportati...
Nov 15 at 10am
Nov 18 at 12pm
Nov 18 at 7pm
Register & PLEASE SHARE: idot.illinois.gov/transportati...
Next Move Illinois
Public transportation is an essential way for people to travel throughout the state of Illinois. Next Move Illinois is a successor to the 2018 Illinois Statewide Public Transportation Plan. The goal o...
idot.illinois.gov
November 11, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Illinois people - please join one or all of these virtual meetings to tell IDOT to prioritize transit, biking, and walking over automobility.
I cobbled together four photos of the same corner of via Rizzoli in Bologna, taken between the 1930s and the early 1970s. They show the evolution of road use and design in the early days of mass automobility. A pattern similar throughout the so-called developed world.
🧵
🧵
October 29, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I cobbled together four photos of the same corner of via Rizzoli in Bologna, taken between the 1930s and the early 1970s. They show the evolution of road use and design in the early days of mass automobility. A pattern similar throughout the so-called developed world.
🧵
🧵
The fun thing about the “good enough” scenario is that it’s basically, like, the story of automobility in the US (and a lot of stuff that came later, like uber/lyft).
all of this is basically a trojan horse for my sinking feeling right now that generative AI will be 'good enough' and that's...potentially a very bad outcome!
August 18, 2025 at 11:56 PM
The fun thing about the “good enough” scenario is that it’s basically, like, the story of automobility in the US (and a lot of stuff that came later, like uber/lyft).
Cars killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion.
They cause 1 in 34 deaths.
Cars have exacerbated social inequities and damaged ecosystems.
While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
They cause 1 in 34 deaths.
Cars have exacerbated social inequities and damaged ecosystems.
While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Car harm: A global review of automobility's harm to people and the environment
Despite the widespread harm caused by cars and automobility, governments, corporations, and individuals continue to facilitate it by expanding roads, …
www.sciencedirect.com
March 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Cars killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion.
They cause 1 in 34 deaths.
Cars have exacerbated social inequities and damaged ecosystems.
While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
They cause 1 in 34 deaths.
Cars have exacerbated social inequities and damaged ecosystems.
While some people benefit from automobility, nearly everyone—whether or not they drive—is harmed by it.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
This is awesome. I’m intrigued by how parking reform passes in both red and blue places, yet there’s a very clear red-blue schism on automobility generally.
BOOM! The North Carolina State House just unanimously (107 to 0) passed a ban on parking minimums in new developments statewide.
This is powerful and bipartisan pro-housing reform that will make it easier to expand multifamily housing. Great work.
www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2...
This is powerful and bipartisan pro-housing reform that will make it easier to expand multifamily housing. Great work.
www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2...
June 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This is awesome. I’m intrigued by how parking reform passes in both red and blue places, yet there’s a very clear red-blue schism on automobility generally.
you know what would get people to consider driving less? making us play the full cost of driving. because right now we're not paying it.
'automobility' is the most subsidized form of transport.
'automobility' is the most subsidized form of transport.
March 19, 2026 at 11:04 PM
you know what would get people to consider driving less? making us play the full cost of driving. because right now we're not paying it.
'automobility' is the most subsidized form of transport.
'automobility' is the most subsidized form of transport.
If you're wondering whether electric cars will replicate the inequalities automobility represents, check this out.
WATCH THIS: The most amazing thing about this remarkable 2002 car commercial is that it didn’t seem to realize at the time, or perhaps didn’t care, how effectively it made the point that cars and car infrastructure are a HUGE waste of space in cities. Award-winning 2002 ad for Saturn car company.
Saturn Ion commercial
YouTube video by Eliyahu Biton
youtube.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM
If you're wondering whether electric cars will replicate the inequalities automobility represents, check this out.