The article explores the phenomenon of 'motonormativity'âthe assumption that transportation primarily revolves around carsâparticularly in the US compared to countries like the UK and the Netherlands. Researchers Ian Walker and Marco te Brömmelstroet discuss their findings on how this bias shapes perceptions of urban transport and influences public policy decisions. They argue that this deeply ingrained belief system hinders Americans' ability to envision alternative transit solutions and critically assess the negative impacts associated with car-centric lifestyles. The conversation reveals potential strategies to challenge this norm and foster a broader perspective on mobility.
Ian Walker describes motonormativity as a shared unconscious assumption that transport is primarily about cars, leading to challenges in envisioning alternatives and acknowledging the harms of the status quo.
Both researchers indicate that in their studies, they observed how deeply entrenched this car-centric mentality is, affecting not only daily choices but also public policies and urban planning.
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