Tara Goddard
@drtaragoddard.com
Transportation engineering professor. Road safety, planning, behavior, & culture; wildfire planning and response; inclusive disaster evacuation; ethics of tech in transportation; planning in the Petropyrocene. She/her.
Pinned
Tara Goddard
@drtaragoddard.com
· Jul 14
NEW EPISODE: "How Cars Change Us with Tara Goddard." Why do people behave so badly behind the wheel of a car? Why do reporters use passive language to describe traffic violence? @drtaragoddard.bsky.social joins us to talk about her fascinating research.
thewaroncars.org/2024/12/17/1...
thewaroncars.org/2024/12/17/1...
Re-sharing to pin to my profile. I was very grateful for the opportunity to join Sarah and Doug for a wide-ranging conversation on some of my favorite (if difficult) subjects. It encapsulates a lot of my research agenda and professional worldview that windshield bias affects so much of our world.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was raining
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
November 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was raining
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
Perfect summary 👇
All of this feels like blind #solutionism. These things get rolled out because corporations expect profit, not because there’s any coherent public vision guiding them. There’s no proper framework shaping the direction, nor are cascading consequences of these shortsighted decisions properly assessed.
Really can't overstate how problematic robotaxis become at scale:
"Urban traffic is constrained by the fact that getting around by car either requires (expensively) paying someone else to drive or (inconveniently) driving oneself. Without such constraints the result could be brutal gridlock."
"Urban traffic is constrained by the fact that getting around by car either requires (expensively) paying someone else to drive or (inconveniently) driving oneself. Without such constraints the result could be brutal gridlock."
November 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Perfect summary 👇
Reposted by Tara Goddard
As you’re preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the skilled work it took to get that food to your grocery store.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
November 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
As you’re preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the skilled work it took to get that food to your grocery store.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Recently, I somewhat unexpectedly/organically called doing prescribed burns "microdosing fire" and I'm now trademarking that phrase. 😄🤷🏻♀️
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#GoodFire
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#GoodFire
November 27, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Recently, I somewhat unexpectedly/organically called doing prescribed burns "microdosing fire" and I'm now trademarking that phrase. 😄🤷🏻♀️
.
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#GoodFire
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#GoodFire
I admit I'm rusty on design best practices and standards, but it seems to defeat the purpose of a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) if you don't prohibit right turn on red. 🤔
November 27, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I admit I'm rusty on design best practices and standards, but it seems to defeat the purpose of a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) if you don't prohibit right turn on red. 🤔
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Donate - Native Organizers Alliance
Supporting organizing and advocacy initiatives for Indigenous justice.
nativeorganizing.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
Y'all. I had a very cool moment at the beach with my nieces this weekend. We found a mermaid's purse!! After holding it up to the light, we gently put it out in the surf to hopefully get back where it will be safe. I read we should report it, but not sure to whom. Anyone know?
November 25, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Y'all. I had a very cool moment at the beach with my nieces this weekend. We found a mermaid's purse!! After holding it up to the light, we gently put it out in the surf to hopefully get back where it will be safe. I read we should report it, but not sure to whom. Anyone know?
It was an honor to speak in Reno for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at an event hosted by Truckee Meadows Bike Alliance. And fun to give a geography seminar at UNR and meet so many students, faculty, and staff. Thanks to @talbright.bsky.social for hosting - and the ride! 😄
November 25, 2025 at 4:03 AM
It was an honor to speak in Reno for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at an event hosted by Truckee Meadows Bike Alliance. And fun to give a geography seminar at UNR and meet so many students, faculty, and staff. Thanks to @talbright.bsky.social for hosting - and the ride! 😄
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
Reposted by Tara Goddard
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
This week if you make a donation of $10 or more @bikebusworld.bsky.social I will mail you stickers. Forward me your receipt with your mailing address to [email protected] Happy Bike Busing!!
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
This week if you make a donation of $10 or more @bikebusworld.bsky.social I will mail you stickers. Forward me your receipt with your mailing address to [email protected] Happy Bike Busing!!
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Wild. We always say on the podcast that owning a car is required for effective full enfranchisement in most places of the USA because we are such a car-dependent society, but this is...next level. They say it like it's disqualifying for office.
WaPo editorial board launches a disgusting car-brained attack on Seattle's new mayor Katie Wilson.
"Who is Wilson? She does not own a car"
It's so bad you need to read it, so a gift link: wapo.st/4r2peP3
"Who is Wilson? She does not own a car"
It's so bad you need to read it, so a gift link: wapo.st/4r2peP3
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Wild. We always say on the podcast that owning a car is required for effective full enfranchisement in most places of the USA because we are such a car-dependent society, but this is...next level. They say it like it's disqualifying for office.
Please join us, folks! UNR Geography colloquium this Wednesday at 4 pm. 😊
Can't wait!
And don't forget the talk at @unevadareno.bsky.social Geography Wednesday at 4PM 😎
And don't forget the talk at @unevadareno.bsky.social Geography Wednesday at 4PM 😎
November 17, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Please join us, folks! UNR Geography colloquium this Wednesday at 4 pm. 😊
"The cars are not [your] constituents!" - @sgoodyear.bsky.social speaking truth to power (elected officials)
November 16, 2025 at 9:43 PM
"The cars are not [your] constituents!" - @sgoodyear.bsky.social speaking truth to power (elected officials)
If you are in the Reno area and free on Tuesday night, come join us at Brewer's Cabinet at 6 pm to talk road safety as part of the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic violence. Thanks to @talbright.bsky.social for inviting me.
November 16, 2025 at 9:13 PM
If you are in the Reno area and free on Tuesday night, come join us at Brewer's Cabinet at 6 pm to talk road safety as part of the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic violence. Thanks to @talbright.bsky.social for inviting me.
I've only listened to half the episode so far but had to stop to tell y'all how great it is and you should listen. I so wish I could have been there. I have lots of thoughts about specific topics they touched on, which hopefully I'll come back to, but I prepping a couple talks of my own today. 😄
Grab a spot on the couch and join Life After Cars co-authors Sarah Goodyear, Doug Gordon, and I for a chat in the Shed. It's a great intro to their book and the important work they're doing!
youtu.be/dfJmSIY1sDc
youtu.be/dfJmSIY1sDc
Life After Cars Authors in the BikePortland Shed
YouTube video by BikePortland
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I've only listened to half the episode so far but had to stop to tell y'all how great it is and you should listen. I so wish I could have been there. I have lots of thoughts about specific topics they touched on, which hopefully I'll come back to, but I prepping a couple talks of my own today. 😄
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Alice Wong taught us that disabled people don’t just leave memories behind—they leave infrastructure. Lineages of care. Methods of collectivity, survival. She named the connective tissue that holds our communities together, even across death, even across the losses that come too fast and too often.
November 16, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Alice Wong taught us that disabled people don’t just leave memories behind—they leave infrastructure. Lineages of care. Methods of collectivity, survival. She named the connective tissue that holds our communities together, even across death, even across the losses that come too fast and too often.
Reminder that it is possible to talk about how all the reasons that Maxwell getting special treatment and permissions is wrong without downplaying the reality of incarceration. I have never been in that facility but having lived in that area for 8 years, I can tell you that it is no "country club".
November 15, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Reminder that it is possible to talk about how all the reasons that Maxwell getting special treatment and permissions is wrong without downplaying the reality of incarceration. I have never been in that facility but having lived in that area for 8 years, I can tell you that it is no "country club".
So do engineers (not just PEs) and planners (not just AICPs). Especially automotive engineers.
As an academic, I have to go through challenging and rigorous processes to show how I am taking the highest possible care with people's data, even an anonymous online survey.
As an academic, I have to go through challenging and rigorous processes to show how I am taking the highest possible care with people's data, even an anonymous online survey.
15 years ago @jevinwest.bsky.social and I talked about how we needed a data scientists’ code of ethics like the Hippocratic oath.
We still do.
We still do.
November 15, 2025 at 7:53 PM
So do engineers (not just PEs) and planners (not just AICPs). Especially automotive engineers.
As an academic, I have to go through challenging and rigorous processes to show how I am taking the highest possible care with people's data, even an anonymous online survey.
As an academic, I have to go through challenging and rigorous processes to show how I am taking the highest possible care with people's data, even an anonymous online survey.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
In memory of Alice Wong, the 10 Principles of Disability Justice. May she rest in power
sinsinvalid.org/10-principle...
sinsinvalid.org/10-principle...
10 Principles of Disability Justice | Sins Invalid
sinsinvalid.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
In memory of Alice Wong, the 10 Principles of Disability Justice. May she rest in power
sinsinvalid.org/10-principle...
sinsinvalid.org/10-principle...
Car culture post-apocalyptic cosplay but make it extremely fuel efficient and able to fit in nearly any parking spot.
November 15, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Car culture post-apocalyptic cosplay but make it extremely fuel efficient and able to fit in nearly any parking spot.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
the world is a bit smaller tonight with the death of Alice Wong. if you aren't familiar with who she was please pick up any of her books.
Disability Visibility anthology
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century (Vintage Books, 2020) Click here for more about the anthology adapted for young people. Order paperback, e-bo…
disabilityvisibilityproject.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:04 AM
the world is a bit smaller tonight with the death of Alice Wong. if you aren't familiar with who she was please pick up any of her books.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
—Alice Wong
November 15, 2025 at 6:12 AM
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
—Alice Wong
I really don't know how I'm going to structure my Public Transportation class next term. I need to prep class but my mind is just that *flips table* meme.
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
POLITICO Pro: Trump administration proposals seek to eliminate transit funding
DOT recently sent two proposals to the White House budget office seeking to pare back transit money.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I really don't know how I'm going to structure my Public Transportation class next term. I need to prep class but my mind is just that *flips table* meme.