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David Zipper

@davidzipper.bsky.social

23K followers 350 following 10K posts

Senior Fellow @ MIT Mobility Initiative & Contributing Writer @ Vox, focused on transport, cities and tech. Words in Atlantic, CityLab, WaPo, etc. https://linktr.ee/davidzipper Newsletter, speaking and advisory work: http://davidzipper.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Jul 15

A bit of news:

@wesmars.bsky.social & I are launching Look Both Ways, a new podcast where we’ll debate everything transportation – from street design to robotaxis to fare-free transit.

First episode will be recorded live on Thurs, July 17th at 6p ET.

Join us then (and subscribe) ⤵️

🧵

Look Both Ways Podcast: Episode 1

YouTube video by Look Both Ways with David & Wes

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by David Zipper

Look Both Ways with David & Wes @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social · 17h

Why do new transit buses cost 2-3x more in the US than in other rich countries?

@davidzipper.bsky.social: "US transit agencies customize *everything*."

Full episode here (or on your fave podcast app):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yd...

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 19h

We love to see it:

NYC adds four more bus routes to its wildly successful bus camera enforcement program (47 routes now have them).

Four new MTA buses now have cameras to catch cars illegally parked, improperly using bus lanes

Four more MTA bus routes in NYC have automated camera enforcement to catch vehicles improperly using bus lanes and busways.

www.amny.com

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Reposted by David Zipper

Look Both Ways with David & Wes @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social · 22h

Are fire trucks blocking street safety efforts?

@davidzipper.bsky.social and @wesmars.bsky.social discuss.

Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 23h

For the first time, the avg new car costs >$50,000. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/13/n...

It's making more and more sense for families to use a relatively cheap e-bike or golf cart in lieu of a 2nd or 3rd car. Detroit should be nervous.

Why car companies should fear the golf cart

Automakers are churning out vehicles that are bigger and more expensive—but that might soon reach a breaking point.

www.fastcompany.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 1d

Continued

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 1d

Customer service is my passion

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 1d

On The Driverless Digest, Harry Campbell (aka The Rideshare Guy) and I discussed what ridehail can teach us about the future of urban robotaxis.

(Hint: Expect more congestion)

David Zipper on AVs, Congestion, and the Future of Cities

David Zipper, Senior Fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative, joins Harry to explore how AVs could reshape urban congestion, road safety, and the future of public transit

www.thedriverlessdigest.com

Reposted by David Zipper

Look Both Ways with David & Wes @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social · 1d

After crunching the numbers, @wesmars.bsky.social found that that the avg NYC transit commuter will be the victim of a felony once every 3,300 years.

From Episode 7 of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 2d

Intelligent Speed Assist is awesome—an affordable and reliable mobility technology that really does save lives. As a safety solution, I’d take ISA 10/10 times over robotaxis.

For more info, see this explainer I wrote for @vox.com

Driving at ridiculous speeds should be physically impossible

Reckless speeding is epidemic in the US. This simple technology could save tens of thousands of lives.

www.vox.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 2d

This is good news.

A few vehicles with Intelligent Speed Assist can have an outsized impact on safety bc they’ll also prevent vehicles behind them from speeding.

www.nyc.gov/site/dcas/ne...

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 2d

For your Sunday reading consideration

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.

Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?

My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)

‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.

A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.

www.bloomberg.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 3d

Encourage reading the whole post, which is admirably measured.

TL;DR: We don’t fully understand what’s behind the jump in US pedestrian deaths, but car bloat seems to be an important factor.

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 3d

Deep dive into the surge in US pedestrian deaths:

"It’s not that more pedestrians are getting hit by vehicles; it’s that the ones that are getting hit are more likely to die."

"[That] seems like fairly strong evidence for the theory that the rise in large SUVs is behind the uptick in ped deaths."

Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US?

It’s unfortunately not uncommon for pedestrians to be killed by cars in the US.

www.construction-physics.com

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Reposted by David Zipper

Active Towns @activetowns.bsky.social · 4d

"Untethering society from the automobile will be a Herculean task.
"Cars ruin everything,” warns a section of Life After Cars. If so, the first step toward reversing the damage is getting more people to recognize the problem." 👇

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.

Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?

My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)

‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.

A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.

www.bloomberg.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, I do think e-bikes (and perhaps golf carts) are a big part of the answer

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

An anti-car movement limited to cities can only do so much.

“Even the cleverest tactical urbanism projects cannot shift national policy.”

A critical question: How do car skeptics win over the suburbs?

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Wes and I will discuss these new books -- and where the anti-car movement could go from here -- in the next episode of
@lookbothwayspod.bsky.social. Coming soon.

Subscribe/listen/watch: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com

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Reposted by David Zipper

Edward Taylor @equilibrium.bike · 4d

*walks into Waterstones* Where's your Motonormativity section?

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.

Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?

My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)

‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.

A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.

www.bloomberg.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

If you only read one of this trio, make it Life After Cars by @brooklynspoke.bsky.social & @sgoodyear.bsky.social.

It’s the most accessible and informative, as well as the most practical.

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Are more people recognizing the harms that cars create?
Yes, absolutely.

Does the average American sees cars as a societal problem?
I don't think so -- at least not yet.

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.

Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?

My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)

‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.

A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.

www.bloomberg.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 4d

"Though robotaxis have notched up impressive growth, they look ploddingly pedestrian compared with far zippier pedal-powered rivals. [Waymo] proudly proclaims that its cars do around 250k trips a week. Yet in NYC alone that number of trips is made every three days using the city’s bikeshare scheme."

Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport

Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war

www.economist.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 5d

A heartwarming story about the lengths New Yorkers will go to store their private property for free on jam-packed public streets

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/n...

In New York, Free Street Parking Comes at a Cost

www.nytimes.com

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 5d

I’m in Portland right now. Coffee is amazing, people are friendly, and I just bought a great book (in a store).

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6d

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 5d

Feels fitting that my first-ever bike ride in Portland, OR is to grab coffee with former Rep. Earl Blumenauer, founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus

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