Politics of Cars
@thismachinekillsfascists.bike
Car culture dominating society is social murder.
Posts are mostly about the US, sometimes focused on parenting.
sometimes writing more at https://politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/
Posts are mostly about the US, sometimes focused on parenting.
sometimes writing more at https://politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/
Pinned
RIP Alex Pretti. Angry about everything, wrote a slice of it. Here's why I think that All Parents Should Study Urbanism
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/all-parent...
politicsofcars.beehiiv.com/p/all-parent...
There are new multiunit residential buildings with gas cooking. It would lower all-in costs and fire risks (plus improve indoor air quality, reduce risk of injury, and reduce support for the fossil fuel industry) to require new construction to replace gas with induction.
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
The hidden double standards driving our housing crisis
Apartments are safer and more affordable than single-family homes. Why do we treat them like a hazard?
www.vox.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:29 PM
There are new multiunit residential buildings with gas cooking. It would lower all-in costs and fire risks (plus improve indoor air quality, reduce risk of injury, and reduce support for the fossil fuel industry) to require new construction to replace gas with induction.
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
I disagree with transit advocates ignoring Mamdani's mandate for fast and free buses to criticize him, in favor of their plan to build subways. But they do have a good plan.
Unlike the "urban planners, academics, business owners and activists" who killed the Beltline Rail that Atlanta voters wanted
Unlike the "urban planners, academics, business owners and activists" who killed the Beltline Rail that Atlanta voters wanted
February 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM
I disagree with transit advocates ignoring Mamdani's mandate for fast and free buses to criticize him, in favor of their plan to build subways. But they do have a good plan.
Unlike the "urban planners, academics, business owners and activists" who killed the Beltline Rail that Atlanta voters wanted
Unlike the "urban planners, academics, business owners and activists" who killed the Beltline Rail that Atlanta voters wanted
this phone call that's becoming a meeting could have been an email
USPS lost the social security card for kid born last year. Agent on the phone says I have to spend a couple hours on buses to prove my identity at their office before they'll mail another.
USPS lost the social security card for kid born last year. Agent on the phone says I have to spend a couple hours on buses to prove my identity at their office before they'll mail another.
February 4, 2026 at 6:29 PM
this phone call that's becoming a meeting could have been an email
USPS lost the social security card for kid born last year. Agent on the phone says I have to spend a couple hours on buses to prove my identity at their office before they'll mail another.
USPS lost the social security card for kid born last year. Agent on the phone says I have to spend a couple hours on buses to prove my identity at their office before they'll mail another.
send ICE agents to jail, but not like this
Hard to believe holding people in jail so ICE can interrogate them will actually have anything to do with pulling ICE agents off the streets. Seems like Republican sheriffs are trying to give ICE a PR win?
www.startribune.com/mn-sheriffs-...
Hard to believe holding people in jail so ICE can interrogate them will actually have anything to do with pulling ICE agents off the streets. Seems like Republican sheriffs are trying to give ICE a PR win?
www.startribune.com/mn-sheriffs-...
Minnesota sheriffs group, border czar Tom Homan negotiating blueprint for federal drawdown
Documents obtained by the Star Tribune show how county jails would give access to ICE agents, a key demand Homan has made to decrease the number of federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
www.startribune.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:22 AM
send ICE agents to jail, but not like this
Hard to believe holding people in jail so ICE can interrogate them will actually have anything to do with pulling ICE agents off the streets. Seems like Republican sheriffs are trying to give ICE a PR win?
www.startribune.com/mn-sheriffs-...
Hard to believe holding people in jail so ICE can interrogate them will actually have anything to do with pulling ICE agents off the streets. Seems like Republican sheriffs are trying to give ICE a PR win?
www.startribune.com/mn-sheriffs-...
Reposted by Politics of Cars
Hoboken has:
1) No freeway interchanges
2) Few multi-lane streets
3) Small blocks
4) 60k population in 1.25 sq mi (a little smaller than Emeryville
So it seems like the recipe for Vision Zero is to smash the freeways, road diet everything, & build dense housing.
1) No freeway interchanges
2) Few multi-lane streets
3) Small blocks
4) 60k population in 1.25 sq mi (a little smaller than Emeryville
So it seems like the recipe for Vision Zero is to smash the freeways, road diet everything, & build dense housing.
The thing about Hoboken is, the same sort of small scale fixes (see below) that helped them eliminate traffic deaths, also make the city a nicer and more enjoyable place to be.
Great to see that Vision Zero success story getting more recognition here: reasonstobecheerful.world/the-city-whe...
Great to see that Vision Zero success story getting more recognition here: reasonstobecheerful.world/the-city-whe...
February 3, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Hoboken has:
1) No freeway interchanges
2) Few multi-lane streets
3) Small blocks
4) 60k population in 1.25 sq mi (a little smaller than Emeryville
So it seems like the recipe for Vision Zero is to smash the freeways, road diet everything, & build dense housing.
1) No freeway interchanges
2) Few multi-lane streets
3) Small blocks
4) 60k population in 1.25 sq mi (a little smaller than Emeryville
So it seems like the recipe for Vision Zero is to smash the freeways, road diet everything, & build dense housing.
Is this chud attacking children driving a dually? Looks like a curve around the back there.
February 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Is this chud attacking children driving a dually? Looks like a curve around the back there.
That's a local leader.
"'I'm recording,' Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros said."
"'I'm recording,' Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros said."
Same BS, this time it's in my city. An ice agent arrested someone in a public train station and he said he didn't need a warrant. The person filming and following was told that if they came on the elevator with them, they would be interfering with the arrest.
abc7ny.com/post/ice-off...
abc7ny.com/post/ice-off...
Multiple people taken into custody by ICE in Jersey City, Hoboken
Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros recorded one of the ICE arrests.
abc7ny.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:35 PM
That's a local leader.
"'I'm recording,' Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros said."
"'I'm recording,' Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros said."
It would bring clarity to transit debates if we had a national party with multiple politicians articulating urbanist visions of racially and economically diverse non-car-dependent cities, contrasted with the GOP hating cities and gladly subsidizing rich white rural truck drivers.
Different infrastructure question than NYC but it seems like the same in/out group dynamic as other cities with worse transit systems, when people both oppose congestion pricing because it would supposedly be unfair to rich drivers and oppose free fares because it's not best for poor transit riders.
February 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM
It would bring clarity to transit debates if we had a national party with multiple politicians articulating urbanist visions of racially and economically diverse non-car-dependent cities, contrasted with the GOP hating cities and gladly subsidizing rich white rural truck drivers.
Cliche that our greatest minds are wasted on HFT instead of socially useful pursuits. Watching @wtyppod.bsky.social ep about Deepwater Horizon and thinking about @techconnectify.bsky.social 's respect for that labor in his renewables video. Those workers could do such great things instead, safely
February 3, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Cliche that our greatest minds are wasted on HFT instead of socially useful pursuits. Watching @wtyppod.bsky.social ep about Deepwater Horizon and thinking about @techconnectify.bsky.social 's respect for that labor in his renewables video. Those workers could do such great things instead, safely
guy blew past a stop sign while I, with a stroller, had the right of way in a marked crosswalk, to park at a fast food joint 100 feet away.
Maybe he was hangry? Is there something like breathalyzers we can mandate to make sure drivers are well fed before operating deadly machinery?
Maybe he was hangry? Is there something like breathalyzers we can mandate to make sure drivers are well fed before operating deadly machinery?
February 2, 2026 at 5:23 PM
guy blew past a stop sign while I, with a stroller, had the right of way in a marked crosswalk, to park at a fast food joint 100 feet away.
Maybe he was hangry? Is there something like breathalyzers we can mandate to make sure drivers are well fed before operating deadly machinery?
Maybe he was hangry? Is there something like breathalyzers we can mandate to make sure drivers are well fed before operating deadly machinery?
Reposted by Politics of Cars
🎉Hey Urbanism friends I've got something cool to share today! Starting now, we're offering three custom handles for free!
bancars .city
on .bike
carfree .life
Big thank you to @politicsofcars.thismachinekillsfascists.bike for the generous donation!
Want more handles? Reach out and...🧵
bancars .city
on .bike
carfree .life
Big thank you to @politicsofcars.thismachinekillsfascists.bike for the generous donation!
Want more handles? Reach out and...🧵
February 2, 2026 at 4:27 PM
🎉Hey Urbanism friends I've got something cool to share today! Starting now, we're offering three custom handles for free!
bancars .city
on .bike
carfree .life
Big thank you to @politicsofcars.thismachinekillsfascists.bike for the generous donation!
Want more handles? Reach out and...🧵
bancars .city
on .bike
carfree .life
Big thank you to @politicsofcars.thismachinekillsfascists.bike for the generous donation!
Want more handles? Reach out and...🧵
Yes, and if we want to avoid another administration like the current one, then we need an opposition party with better leadership than Dems have demonstrated ever since Obama took control of DHS.
with alt text,
with alt text,
February 2, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Yes, and if we want to avoid another administration like the current one, then we need an opposition party with better leadership than Dems have demonstrated ever since Obama took control of DHS.
with alt text,
with alt text,
Reposted by Politics of Cars
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident
The police chief of St. Peter intervened to prevent federal agents from taking a local resident who was observing ICE enforcement actions into custody. It is believed to the first time local police in...
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:48 PM
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Like Obama's Trump jokes at the WHCA dinner, Biden excluding Musk from his EV event is sometimes used to explain Musk's politics.
That's silly, Biden was right to exclude Musk. But Biden was wrong to include Trump aligned car companies instead of ebike manufacturers.
This machine kills fascists.
That's silly, Biden was right to exclude Musk. But Biden was wrong to include Trump aligned car companies instead of ebike manufacturers.
This machine kills fascists.
January 31, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Like Obama's Trump jokes at the WHCA dinner, Biden excluding Musk from his EV event is sometimes used to explain Musk's politics.
That's silly, Biden was right to exclude Musk. But Biden was wrong to include Trump aligned car companies instead of ebike manufacturers.
This machine kills fascists.
That's silly, Biden was right to exclude Musk. But Biden was wrong to include Trump aligned car companies instead of ebike manufacturers.
This machine kills fascists.
New custom domain thismachinekillsfascists.bike
My respect for #bikesky and all of you who are making joyful biking content to share with the world in these difficult times.
My respect for #bikesky and all of you who are making joyful biking content to share with the world in these difficult times.
January 31, 2026 at 3:19 PM
New custom domain thismachinekillsfascists.bike
My respect for #bikesky and all of you who are making joyful biking content to share with the world in these difficult times.
My respect for #bikesky and all of you who are making joyful biking content to share with the world in these difficult times.
among other things, makes an overwhelming argument against growing corn to feed to cars
Politically, right wing millionaire farm owners are profiting by selling wasteful corn ethanol to drivers, akin to right wing millionaire dealership owners pushing ICE vehicles that need expensive maintenance
Politically, right wing millionaire farm owners are profiting by selling wasteful corn ethanol to drivers, akin to right wing millionaire dealership owners pushing ICE vehicles that need expensive maintenance
January 31, 2026 at 10:15 AM
among other things, makes an overwhelming argument against growing corn to feed to cars
Politically, right wing millionaire farm owners are profiting by selling wasteful corn ethanol to drivers, akin to right wing millionaire dealership owners pushing ICE vehicles that need expensive maintenance
Politically, right wing millionaire farm owners are profiting by selling wasteful corn ethanol to drivers, akin to right wing millionaire dealership owners pushing ICE vehicles that need expensive maintenance
Thought of a better example, unfortunately after they deleted.
Children 44" or more nominally pay full fare. So a two parent family with two kids in middle school going to lunch together somewhere too far to walk would pay $24 round trip!
Cities should be for kids not cars.
Children 44" or more nominally pay full fare. So a two parent family with two kids in middle school going to lunch together somewhere too far to walk would pay $24 round trip!
Cities should be for kids not cars.
Since this person is cursing and not learning anything about how much transit costs, maybe somebody else will see this
1-As relevant as their example of a solo trip across NYC, is a car with four occupants driving a few miles in Brooklyn for pennies worth of gas instead of $12 in fares
🧵
1-As relevant as their example of a solo trip across NYC, is a car with four occupants driving a few miles in Brooklyn for pennies worth of gas instead of $12 in fares
🧵
January 30, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Thought of a better example, unfortunately after they deleted.
Children 44" or more nominally pay full fare. So a two parent family with two kids in middle school going to lunch together somewhere too far to walk would pay $24 round trip!
Cities should be for kids not cars.
Children 44" or more nominally pay full fare. So a two parent family with two kids in middle school going to lunch together somewhere too far to walk would pay $24 round trip!
Cities should be for kids not cars.
Since this person is cursing and not learning anything about how much transit costs, maybe somebody else will see this
1-As relevant as their example of a solo trip across NYC, is a car with four occupants driving a few miles in Brooklyn for pennies worth of gas instead of $12 in fares
🧵
1-As relevant as their example of a solo trip across NYC, is a car with four occupants driving a few miles in Brooklyn for pennies worth of gas instead of $12 in fares
🧵
January 30, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Since this person is cursing and not learning anything about how much transit costs, maybe somebody else will see this
1-As relevant as their example of a solo trip across NYC, is a car with four occupants driving a few miles in Brooklyn for pennies worth of gas instead of $12 in fares
🧵
1-As relevant as their example of a solo trip across NYC, is a car with four occupants driving a few miles in Brooklyn for pennies worth of gas instead of $12 in fares
🧵
framing support for new subways as opposition to Mamdani's fast and free bus plan is the transit version of left-NIMBYism.
Massive public housing construction could be great but it's not on the table and it's a bad reason to endlessly criticize the few politicians who want more urban housing.
Massive public housing construction could be great but it's not on the table and it's a bad reason to endlessly criticize the few politicians who want more urban housing.
January 30, 2026 at 4:49 PM
framing support for new subways as opposition to Mamdani's fast and free bus plan is the transit version of left-NIMBYism.
Massive public housing construction could be great but it's not on the table and it's a bad reason to endlessly criticize the few politicians who want more urban housing.
Massive public housing construction could be great but it's not on the table and it's a bad reason to endlessly criticize the few politicians who want more urban housing.
Good to see more enforcement against criminals avoiding sales tax on luxury cars, even better when it's a car dealership
www.startribune.com/walser-autom...
www.startribune.com/walser-autom...
Walser Automotive charged with tax evasion in alleged scheme to sell new cars as used
Walser allegedly avoided paying around $350,000 in state sales taxes for vehicles brokered through Montana shell companies.
www.startribune.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Good to see more enforcement against criminals avoiding sales tax on luxury cars, even better when it's a car dealership
www.startribune.com/walser-autom...
www.startribune.com/walser-autom...
Eight days since posting about a motorist crashing into the In-A-Tub building another motorist crashes into another building.
fox4kc.com/news/driver-...
watch the video, that driver is driving very fast, in wintery condition. Nearly drives all the way though the other side. Insane
fox4kc.com/news/driver-...
watch the video, that driver is driving very fast, in wintery condition. Nearly drives all the way though the other side. Insane
January 30, 2026 at 2:59 PM
becoming the Joker is the compromise position
January 30, 2026 at 2:54 PM
becoming the Joker is the compromise position
What To Do If You Get Pepper Sprayed
YouTube video by Dr. Glaucomflecken
youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Related to the chat about political views of housing developers, some broader points about wealthy people. They are
1) likely to vote conservative for tax reasons,
2) more likely to run or invest in businesses,
3) government regulation should push investment towards eg housing over betting
so,
🧵
1) likely to vote conservative for tax reasons,
2) more likely to run or invest in businesses,
3) government regulation should push investment towards eg housing over betting
so,
🧵
January 30, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Related to the chat about political views of housing developers, some broader points about wealthy people. They are
1) likely to vote conservative for tax reasons,
2) more likely to run or invest in businesses,
3) government regulation should push investment towards eg housing over betting
so,
🧵
1) likely to vote conservative for tax reasons,
2) more likely to run or invest in businesses,
3) government regulation should push investment towards eg housing over betting
so,
🧵
finishing the original Star Wars trilogy, noticing for the first time that there are no wheels
is that how the Empire took over the galaxy?
Are Cars the Great Filter?
is that how the Empire took over the galaxy?
Are Cars the Great Filter?
January 30, 2026 at 6:32 AM
finishing the original Star Wars trilogy, noticing for the first time that there are no wheels
is that how the Empire took over the galaxy?
Are Cars the Great Filter?
is that how the Empire took over the galaxy?
Are Cars the Great Filter?