Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
@drtaragoddard.com
Transportation engineering professor. Road safety, planning, behavior, & culture; wildfire planning and response; inclusive disaster evacuation; ethics of tech in transportation; planning in the Petropyrocene. She/her.
Pinned
Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
@drtaragoddard.com
· Jul 14
NEW EPISODE: "How Cars Change Us with Tara Goddard." Why do people behave so badly behind the wheel of a car? Why do reporters use passive language to describe traffic violence? @drtaragoddard.bsky.social joins us to talk about her fascinating research.
thewaroncars.org/2024/12/17/1...
thewaroncars.org/2024/12/17/1...
Re-sharing to pin to my profile. I was very grateful for the opportunity to join Sarah and Doug for a wide-ranging conversation on some of my favorite (if difficult) subjects. It encapsulates a lot of my research agenda and professional worldview that windshield bias affects so much of our world.
Has anyone seen a study of vehicle size and speed and their relationship to noise? It obviously isn't a purely linear relationship. I'm curious. My sense is that speed is worse than size difference, but I'm not sure.
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Has anyone seen a study of vehicle size and speed and their relationship to noise? It obviously isn't a purely linear relationship. I'm curious. My sense is that speed is worse than size difference, but I'm not sure.
Related to my previous thread, does anyone have a good white noise machine they would recommend? One that can cover traffic noise without just blaring wave sounds or something. I listen to mellow audio books to sleep, or singing bowl soundbaths, but they aren't cutting it recently.
November 11, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Related to my previous thread, does anyone have a good white noise machine they would recommend? One that can cover traffic noise without just blaring wave sounds or something. I listen to mellow audio books to sleep, or singing bowl soundbaths, but they aren't cutting it recently.
Does anyone have a good, affordable decibel meter they can recommend? The traffic noise at my rental is awful, and I'm curious to measure it. I've lived near busy roads before, but nothing this fast. I think the speed (and the number of trucks) is a big part of it. Gonna do some citizen science.
November 11, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Does anyone have a good, affordable decibel meter they can recommend? The traffic noise at my rental is awful, and I'm curious to measure it. I've lived near busy roads before, but nothing this fast. I think the speed (and the number of trucks) is a big part of it. Gonna do some citizen science.
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
Thinking about picking up my book? Do it this week! all @islandpress.bsky.social print titles are 50% off until 11/16!
islandpress.org/books/when-d...
also lots of other great books to grab as well -- thread below with some links of my favorites
islandpress.org/books/when-d...
also lots of other great books to grab as well -- thread below with some links of my favorites
When Driving Is Not an Option
islandpress.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Thinking about picking up my book? Do it this week! all @islandpress.bsky.social print titles are 50% off until 11/16!
islandpress.org/books/when-d...
also lots of other great books to grab as well -- thread below with some links of my favorites
islandpress.org/books/when-d...
also lots of other great books to grab as well -- thread below with some links of my favorites
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
idk man, when in doubt, it's a helluva lot easier and cheaper and more humane to invest in keeping people out of homelessness than to spend money pushing the unhoused around from damp sidewalk to damp sidewalk. rental/food assistance over sweeps all day any day
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Proposed cuts to Portland’s homeless camp removal program puts mayor on defense
Budget talks in Portland City Hall have exposed a political chasm between how some city councilors and Mayor Keith Wilson want to address homelessness.
www.opb.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 AM
idk man, when in doubt, it's a helluva lot easier and cheaper and more humane to invest in keeping people out of homelessness than to spend money pushing the unhoused around from damp sidewalk to damp sidewalk. rental/food assistance over sweeps all day any day
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
This is a good thread on narrative framing. How we talk about technology matters, particularly because hype is one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful weapons
Just read a talk announcement about "AI" and K-12 education that looked like it maybe, maybe embedded a critical perspective but was still dressed up in the language of AI hype, presupposing both job market & education "reshaped by AI".
🧵>>
🧵>>
November 10, 2025 at 11:57 PM
This is a good thread on narrative framing. How we talk about technology matters, particularly because hype is one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful weapons
Walking in downtown SLO really brings it home yet again how much our housing for people is determined by housing for cars.
Multiple "SLO downtown is dying" articles recently, but none mentioned how it is mostly 1-storey buildings that instead could include 3-4 storeys of apartments. But
Multiple "SLO downtown is dying" articles recently, but none mentioned how it is mostly 1-storey buildings that instead could include 3-4 storeys of apartments. But
November 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Walking in downtown SLO really brings it home yet again how much our housing for people is determined by housing for cars.
Multiple "SLO downtown is dying" articles recently, but none mentioned how it is mostly 1-storey buildings that instead could include 3-4 storeys of apartments. But
Multiple "SLO downtown is dying" articles recently, but none mentioned how it is mostly 1-storey buildings that instead could include 3-4 storeys of apartments. But
It is wild, if not surprising I guess, that whether people could fly somewhere at Thanksgiving seemed to have more political effect than whether people could *eat* at Thanksgiving.
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It is wild, if not surprising I guess, that whether people could fly somewhere at Thanksgiving seemed to have more political effect than whether people could *eat* at Thanksgiving.
Logging off for real. Reminding myself of these gorgeous views on my sunset hike tonight. I love how the fog rolls in and cascades down over the coastal mountains. Goodnight, all. Rest up, the fight continues.
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Logging off for real. Reminding myself of these gorgeous views on my sunset hike tonight. I love how the fog rolls in and cascades down over the coastal mountains. Goodnight, all. Rest up, the fight continues.
Definitely should *not* have logged back on after my meditation group tonight 🤦🏻♀️
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Definitely should *not* have logged back on after my meditation group tonight 🤦🏻♀️
So airline travel got messy and the President started ranting about the filibuster, so all that sacrifice over the last month plus was not worth fighting for, do I have that right? Kinda seems like the two main issues.
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
So airline travel got messy and the President started ranting about the filibuster, so all that sacrifice over the last month plus was not worth fighting for, do I have that right? Kinda seems like the two main issues.
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
look I know being an engaged citizen IS the work of democracy but it is also the work of elected officials not to create situations where everyone has to be mobilized all the time to prevent them from allowing some kind of Dickensian horror on a Sunday night while you're in between loads of laundry
November 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
look I know being an engaged citizen IS the work of democracy but it is also the work of elected officials not to create situations where everyone has to be mobilized all the time to prevent them from allowing some kind of Dickensian horror on a Sunday night while you're in between loads of laundry
I know others have already made this point, but there is absolutely an aspect of this related to the lack any real rail in this country. The effects on air travel should not play as big a factor as it clearly did in affecting healthcare for millions, let alone enabling a fascist government.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I know others have already made this point, but there is absolutely an aspect of this related to the lack any real rail in this country. The effects on air travel should not play as big a factor as it clearly did in affecting healthcare for millions, let alone enabling a fascist government.
I have a complicated medical profile, to put it mildly, so I thought about enrolling in the best PPO plan at my new job.
Until I saw that they were already saying the premiums would more than double in January.
And I have it *good*, since I had other employer-paid options.
Until I saw that they were already saying the premiums would more than double in January.
And I have it *good*, since I had other employer-paid options.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I have a complicated medical profile, to put it mildly, so I thought about enrolling in the best PPO plan at my new job.
Until I saw that they were already saying the premiums would more than double in January.
And I have it *good*, since I had other employer-paid options.
Until I saw that they were already saying the premiums would more than double in January.
And I have it *good*, since I had other employer-paid options.
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
Anyway a great way to radicalize people is for them to realize that you just abandoned their chance at being able to access and afford health care because you didn’t like waiting in line at the airport.
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Anyway a great way to radicalize people is for them to realize that you just abandoned their chance at being able to access and afford health care because you didn’t like waiting in line at the airport.
The gender theory of everything remains undefeated
You cannot separate the current nightmare we now inhabit from the collapse/crisis in how rich, powerful middle-aged men perceive masculinity, especially their own insecurities.
I’m sorry, but a goofy looking guy who grew up a privileged son of a pediatrician and has a phd in social theory from the university of Goethe and started in tech by investing an inheritance left to him by his grandfather talking about being a “dude” is very, very funny to me.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The gender theory of everything remains undefeated
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
So I had a silly idea recently for some local merch, and this Mamdani logo generator just happened to drop at the right time, so here is the first version ™️ 😄
November 9, 2025 at 3:49 AM
So I had a silly idea recently for some local merch, and this Mamdani logo generator just happened to drop at the right time, so here is the first version ™️ 😄
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Apropos of pearl-clutching headlines about New York, I thought about one of my favorite stickers I bought from @blueheronfarm.bsky.social
blueheronfarmcajeta.com/products/bin...
blueheronfarmcajeta.com/products/bin...
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Apropos of pearl-clutching headlines about New York, I thought about one of my favorite stickers I bought from @blueheronfarm.bsky.social
blueheronfarmcajeta.com/products/bin...
blueheronfarmcajeta.com/products/bin...
Reposted by Dr Aunt Tara Goddard
Just talked with a professor from France who informed me that they just don’t do evictions in the winter where he’s from and that that’s extremely normal. It would be a BATTLE to get a policy like that in Portland.
We’re honestly barbaric in the United States. It’s absurd.
We’re honestly barbaric in the United States. It’s absurd.
November 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Just talked with a professor from France who informed me that they just don’t do evictions in the winter where he’s from and that that’s extremely normal. It would be a BATTLE to get a policy like that in Portland.
We’re honestly barbaric in the United States. It’s absurd.
We’re honestly barbaric in the United States. It’s absurd.