Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Friday Video

Friday Video: How America Got Hooked on Cars

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.

Photo: Still from CNBC

It's Valentine's Day — but U.S. residents aren't all driving for the love of it. And on a recent episode of the CNBC series "Shifting Gears," experts unpacked exactly how more than a century worth of polices have put so many of us in long-term relationships with automobiles, whether we like it or not.

Featuring Peter Norton, Greg Shill, and a few other faces that will be familiar to longtime Streetsblog readers, it's the perfect video to send to folks who have never thought about why Americans rely so heavily on their cars, and what our country might look like if we supported a wider range of options — even if we don't break up with driving outright.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: American Oasis

Kyle Paoletta on the growth and history of southwestern U.S. cities.

March 27, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Flip the Script

Want to make the argument for congestion pricing to conservatives? Here are your talking points.

March 27, 2025

The User-Pay Myth: Everyone — Not Just Drivers — Pays for Our Roads

It's sort of the central myth of American transportation. Let's debunk it once and for all.

March 27, 2025

As Brick-and-Mortar Bike Shops Struggle, A New Model Emerges on Social Media

When the pandemic-induced bicycle boom went bust a couple of years ago, a number of long-established Chicago bike shops became casualties of the slowing market. But new models are emerging.

March 26, 2025
See all posts