E08: The Clash And Reconciliation Of Cars And Pedestrians With Carlton Reid

Motor vehicles are ever-present in the modern world. And whether we like it or not, they’re here to stay. But to what extent? Carlton Reid joins us in this episode of The Future of Ground Transportation Podcast. As a long-time transportation journalist, he shares his insights on the history of cars, the future of transportation, and the relationship between pedestrians and vehicles. Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation: Bicycling essentially gave birth to motoring Major cities in the world are starting to adopt car restrictions Electric cars are amazing, but they might not be the future Policymakers must cater to the driving and nondriving population Episode Highlights: [12:00] Bicycling As The Root Of Motoring Many would think that motor cars came from the idea of powering horseless carriages. On the contrary, it was bicycling that gave birth to motoring. We tend to forget how important bikes were before motored vehicles came along. [14:03] Pedestrianization And Car Restrictions Many cities in the world are not putting a prime on the pedestrian experience. More and more places are establishing restrictions on cars and prioritizing people and bikes instead. Carlton emphasizes that motor cars won’t disappear completely. But there will obviously be efforts to lower car density in major cities in the world. [18:34] Pedestrians Versus Driverless Cars Carlton points out the bane of driverless cars: pedestrians. These vehicles work well in cities designed for cars. That means places with wide roads, traffic signals, and not much people who wander around. These vehicles may work in highways and freeways, but they absolutely won’t work in cities designed for people. [24:08] Cars As The Default Solution For The Future Many people envision electric cars as the future. But Carlton highlights how this mindset still focuses on cars alone. He also believes policymakers and politicians should focus on catering to the non-driving population instead of just accommodating cars. Notable Quotes: [12:00] “If it wasn't for the bicyclists, you absolutely would not have motoring in the shape you’ve got it today.” [15:09] “There are unbelievably fantastic uses for motorcars, but the density of allowing motorcars to go everywhere in a city is absolutely coming to an end.” [27:25] “We have a future where cars will still be incredibly useful, but they will not be used as much as they are used now.” [27:58] “When you drive everywhere you want, that's impinging on the freedom of people who aren't driving.” Resources Mentioned: Roads Were Not Built for Cars and Bike Boom by Carlton Reid About the Guest Carlton Reid has been a transportation journalist since 1989 and is a freelance writer and contributor for Forbes.com, The Guardian, and Mail Online. He was also Press Gazette's Transport Journalist of the Year in 2018. Connect with Carlton on LinkedIn and Twitter.