The Brake
Basics
The (Too-Brief) History of Traffic Violence Memorials in America
Mass memorials to the victims of traffic violence are a rarity on American roads. But it wasn't always that way — and there's a fascinating history behind why so many lost lives have become virtually invisible in the public realm today.
December 13, 2022
Podcast: Who Gets Hurt When Cities Ban E-Scooters?
On today's special edition of The Brake, we're re-broadcasting an episode of Charles T. Brown's "Arrested Mobility" podcast that centered around what happened when St. Louis forced e-scooters out of its downtown — featuring our own Kea Wilson!
November 29, 2022
What the Last Decade Has Done for the Walkability Movement
In 2012, Jeff Speck’s Walkable City sparked a conversation about why pedestrianized places matter and became one of the best-selling books about the built environment in recent memory. Ten years later, though, so much about the world has changed — even as human-centered communities have become more important than ever.
November 15, 2022
What It’s Really Like to Lose Someone to Traffic Violence
More than 100,000 Americans lose a loved one in a car crash every single year. So why don't more of us talk about it — and why don't more of us take action to prevent other families from enduring those tragedies, too?
November 1, 2022
Interview: How to Start A Grassroots Safe Streets Movement In Your City
In communities across America, people are getting angry about traffic violence. But what does it take to turn that anger to a full-blown movement, with neighbors fighting alongside one another to change the status quo?
October 4, 2022
THE BRAKE: Are Would-Be Planners and Engineers on Board With Transportation Reform?
Planning and engineering students are poised to play a major role in shaping America's transportation system for decades. But do they agree with sustainable transportation advocates about what that future should look like?
June 28, 2022
THE BRAKE: Why Every City Needs a Car Master Plan
So why do transportation leaders spend so much time drafting "pedestrian master plans" and "bike master plans" without accompanying "car master plans" aimed at building a world where fewer people get behind the wheel?
June 7, 2022
THE BRAKE: Why Sustainable Transportation Advocates Need to Talk About Zoning
What if any American could tell at a glance how her unique local land use policies influence the way she and her neighbors get around, without having to dig through a mountain of arcane jargon to get there?
May 10, 2022
The Brake: Where Do Great Bus Stops Come From — And How Do We Get More Of Them?
The United States have a lot more sorry stops than good ones — and to understand how these wonderful waiting areas bucked the trend, we brought in an expert for some game-time commentary.
April 12, 2022
The Brake Podcast: What Happens When Communities DIY Their Own Transit
Talking about all the ways that people navigate their cities on shared modes without the support of taxpayer-funded public institutions.
March 29, 2022
