Look Both Ways with David & Wes
@lookbothwayspod.bsky.social
Pragmatic conversations with @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social about all things transportation
Video pod available on YouTube & audio pod on all major podcast platforms
www.youtube.com/@LookBothWaysPod
https://lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/
Video pod available on YouTube & audio pod on all major podcast platforms
www.youtube.com/@LookBothWaysPod
https://lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/
@davidzipper.bsky.social on Europe's turn against urbanism (i.e. the rise of Motorists for Themselves, a Czech party, and Meloni's allies rallying against "useless bike lanes"):
"it's not just North America that's facing a real backlash right now; it feels like it's happening in Europe too."
"it's not just North America that's facing a real backlash right now; it feels like it's happening in Europe too."
November 26, 2025 at 1:39 PM
@davidzipper.bsky.social on Europe's turn against urbanism (i.e. the rise of Motorists for Themselves, a Czech party, and Meloni's allies rallying against "useless bike lanes"):
"it's not just North America that's facing a real backlash right now; it feels like it's happening in Europe too."
"it's not just North America that's facing a real backlash right now; it feels like it's happening in Europe too."
A listener asks:
Which is a better way to reduce crashes: Speed cameras or better street design?
@davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social answer—and disagree.
From the latest episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
Which is a better way to reduce crashes: Speed cameras or better street design?
@davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social answer—and disagree.
From the latest episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
November 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A listener asks:
Which is a better way to reduce crashes: Speed cameras or better street design?
@davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social answer—and disagree.
From the latest episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
Which is a better way to reduce crashes: Speed cameras or better street design?
@davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social answer—and disagree.
From the latest episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
New pod is out!
On the agenda for @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social:
🔹 What Mamdani means for NYC transportation
🔹 Why flying cars are always just around the corner
🔹 Automatic enforcement vs street redesign: Which should be the priority?
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
On the agenda for @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social:
🔹 What Mamdani means for NYC transportation
🔹 Why flying cars are always just around the corner
🔹 Automatic enforcement vs street redesign: Which should be the priority?
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
November 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
New pod is out!
On the agenda for @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social:
🔹 What Mamdani means for NYC transportation
🔹 Why flying cars are always just around the corner
🔹 Automatic enforcement vs street redesign: Which should be the priority?
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
On the agenda for @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social:
🔹 What Mamdani means for NYC transportation
🔹 Why flying cars are always just around the corner
🔹 Automatic enforcement vs street redesign: Which should be the priority?
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-9-...
Our new episode is delayed b/c of travel chaos, but it's coming!
In the meantime, feel free to catch up on old episodes (and decide whether David's and Wes's Rail Drinks selections are getting better or worse). Available here:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
In the meantime, feel free to catch up on old episodes (and decide whether David's and Wes's Rail Drinks selections are getting better or worse). Available here:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Our new episode is delayed b/c of travel chaos, but it's coming!
In the meantime, feel free to catch up on old episodes (and decide whether David's and Wes's Rail Drinks selections are getting better or worse). Available here:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
In the meantime, feel free to catch up on old episodes (and decide whether David's and Wes's Rail Drinks selections are getting better or worse). Available here:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
A listener asks: "How can a young [transportation] engineer speak out about unsafe or outdated practices without risking their career?"
Cohost @wesmars.bsky.social -- a licensed engineer -- responds.
Cohost @wesmars.bsky.social -- a licensed engineer -- responds.
October 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A listener asks: "How can a young [transportation] engineer speak out about unsafe or outdated practices without risking their career?"
Cohost @wesmars.bsky.social -- a licensed engineer -- responds.
Cohost @wesmars.bsky.social -- a licensed engineer -- responds.
@davidzipper.bsky.social on the societal backlash against cars:
"There's definitely more of an anti-car narrative than there was 10, 20, 50 years ago ... Even when you think about what happened after Ralph Nader wrote Unsafe At Any Speed in the 60s, the push was for safer cars, not fewer cars."
"There's definitely more of an anti-car narrative than there was 10, 20, 50 years ago ... Even when you think about what happened after Ralph Nader wrote Unsafe At Any Speed in the 60s, the push was for safer cars, not fewer cars."
October 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM
@davidzipper.bsky.social on the societal backlash against cars:
"There's definitely more of an anti-car narrative than there was 10, 20, 50 years ago ... Even when you think about what happened after Ralph Nader wrote Unsafe At Any Speed in the 60s, the push was for safer cars, not fewer cars."
"There's definitely more of an anti-car narrative than there was 10, 20, 50 years ago ... Even when you think about what happened after Ralph Nader wrote Unsafe At Any Speed in the 60s, the push was for safer cars, not fewer cars."
Halloween advice from @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social:
"Don't be afraid of someone poisoning your kids; be afraid of a car driver hitting them."
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
"Don't be afraid of someone poisoning your kids; be afraid of a car driver hitting them."
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
October 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Halloween advice from @davidzipper.bsky.social & @wesmars.bsky.social:
"Don't be afraid of someone poisoning your kids; be afraid of a car driver hitting them."
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
"Don't be afraid of someone poisoning your kids; be afraid of a car driver hitting them."
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
It really is true: Cities aren't loud; cars aren't loud. And EVs won't fix the problem.
@wesmars.bsky.social: "Once you get about 20-30 mph, most of the noise comes from the tire-roadway interaction."
From the new episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
@wesmars.bsky.social: "Once you get about 20-30 mph, most of the noise comes from the tire-roadway interaction."
From the new episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
October 25, 2025 at 11:33 AM
It really is true: Cities aren't loud; cars aren't loud. And EVs won't fix the problem.
@wesmars.bsky.social: "Once you get about 20-30 mph, most of the noise comes from the tire-roadway interaction."
From the new episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
@wesmars.bsky.social: "Once you get about 20-30 mph, most of the noise comes from the tire-roadway interaction."
From the new episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
Episode 8 is up!
On the agenda:
🔹 The scariness of walking on Halloween
🔹 Advice to a young traffic engineer
🔹 Traffic noise & human health
🔹 A trio of new anti-car books
Watch on YouTube, or listen on any podcast platform.
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
On the agenda:
🔹 The scariness of walking on Halloween
🔹 Advice to a young traffic engineer
🔹 Traffic noise & human health
🔹 A trio of new anti-car books
Watch on YouTube, or listen on any podcast platform.
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
October 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Episode 8 is up!
On the agenda:
🔹 The scariness of walking on Halloween
🔹 Advice to a young traffic engineer
🔹 Traffic noise & human health
🔹 A trio of new anti-car books
Watch on YouTube, or listen on any podcast platform.
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
On the agenda:
🔹 The scariness of walking on Halloween
🔹 Advice to a young traffic engineer
🔹 Traffic noise & human health
🔹 A trio of new anti-car books
Watch on YouTube, or listen on any podcast platform.
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-8-...
Why do new transit buses cost 2-3x more in the US than in other rich countries?
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "US transit agencies customize *everything*."
Full episode here (or on your fave podcast app):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yd...
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "US transit agencies customize *everything*."
Full episode here (or on your fave podcast app):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yd...
October 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Why do new transit buses cost 2-3x more in the US than in other rich countries?
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "US transit agencies customize *everything*."
Full episode here (or on your fave podcast app):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yd...
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "US transit agencies customize *everything*."
Full episode here (or on your fave podcast app):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yd...
Are fire trucks blocking street safety efforts?
@davidzipper.bsky.social and @wesmars.bsky.social discuss.
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
@davidzipper.bsky.social and @wesmars.bsky.social discuss.
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Are fire trucks blocking street safety efforts?
@davidzipper.bsky.social and @wesmars.bsky.social discuss.
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
@davidzipper.bsky.social and @wesmars.bsky.social discuss.
Full episode: lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
After crunching the numbers, @wesmars.bsky.social found that that the avg NYC transit commuter will be the victim of a felony once every 3,300 years.
From Episode 7 of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
From Episode 7 of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
After crunching the numbers, @wesmars.bsky.social found that that the avg NYC transit commuter will be the victim of a felony once every 3,300 years.
From Episode 7 of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
From Episode 7 of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
A listener in Finland asks: Is Vision Zero a process or a goal?
@wesmars.bsky.social: It's both.
@davidzipper.bsky.social: No, it's entirely a process.
@wesmars.bsky.social: It's both.
@davidzipper.bsky.social: No, it's entirely a process.
October 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A listener in Finland asks: Is Vision Zero a process or a goal?
@wesmars.bsky.social: It's both.
@davidzipper.bsky.social: No, it's entirely a process.
@wesmars.bsky.social: It's both.
@davidzipper.bsky.social: No, it's entirely a process.
Why has Mobility-as-a-Service flopped?
"There's no evidence I could find anywhere that these MaaS apps were changing how people travel or reducing driving. And I asked everyone, for years." --@davidzipper.bsky.social
"There's no evidence I could find anywhere that these MaaS apps were changing how people travel or reducing driving. And I asked everyone, for years." --@davidzipper.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Why has Mobility-as-a-Service flopped?
"There's no evidence I could find anywhere that these MaaS apps were changing how people travel or reducing driving. And I asked everyone, for years." --@davidzipper.bsky.social
"There's no evidence I could find anywhere that these MaaS apps were changing how people travel or reducing driving. And I asked everyone, for years." --@davidzipper.bsky.social
One benefit of automatic traffic enforcement is that cameras aren't racist.
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "The cameras are not going to be weighing whether or not to give a ticket based on what the driver might look like."
From the latest episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kft-...
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "The cameras are not going to be weighing whether or not to give a ticket based on what the driver might look like."
From the latest episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kft-...
September 13, 2025 at 8:10 PM
One benefit of automatic traffic enforcement is that cameras aren't racist.
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "The cameras are not going to be weighing whether or not to give a ticket based on what the driver might look like."
From the latest episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kft-...
@davidzipper.bsky.social: "The cameras are not going to be weighing whether or not to give a ticket based on what the driver might look like."
From the latest episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kft-...
On the latest episode of the podcast, @wesmars.bsky.social &
@davidzipper.bsky.social discussed why US transportation agencies are often led by people who don't actually care or know much about transportation (ahem, Sean Duffy).
@davidzipper.bsky.social discussed why US transportation agencies are often led by people who don't actually care or know much about transportation (ahem, Sean Duffy).
August 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
On the latest episode of the podcast, @wesmars.bsky.social &
@davidzipper.bsky.social discussed why US transportation agencies are often led by people who don't actually care or know much about transportation (ahem, Sean Duffy).
@davidzipper.bsky.social discussed why US transportation agencies are often led by people who don't actually care or know much about transportation (ahem, Sean Duffy).
Many people love speed humps -- and for good reason: They work.
But many cities won't install speed humps on streets with more than an eight percent grade.
A listener asks: Are those rules a mistake? @wesmars.bsky.social answers:
But many cities won't install speed humps on streets with more than an eight percent grade.
A listener asks: Are those rules a mistake? @wesmars.bsky.social answers:
August 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Many people love speed humps -- and for good reason: They work.
But many cities won't install speed humps on streets with more than an eight percent grade.
A listener asks: Are those rules a mistake? @wesmars.bsky.social answers:
But many cities won't install speed humps on streets with more than an eight percent grade.
A listener asks: Are those rules a mistake? @wesmars.bsky.social answers:
@davidzipper.bsky.social unloaded on Tesla in the latest episode:
“It’s one thing to argue – which is debatable – that if you buy a Tesla and use Autopilot you’re agreeing to the limitations and risks of doing so."
"But it’s another to basically treat everybody on the public road as a guinea pig."
“It’s one thing to argue – which is debatable – that if you buy a Tesla and use Autopilot you’re agreeing to the limitations and risks of doing so."
"But it’s another to basically treat everybody on the public road as a guinea pig."
August 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
@davidzipper.bsky.social unloaded on Tesla in the latest episode:
“It’s one thing to argue – which is debatable – that if you buy a Tesla and use Autopilot you’re agreeing to the limitations and risks of doing so."
"But it’s another to basically treat everybody on the public road as a guinea pig."
“It’s one thing to argue – which is debatable – that if you buy a Tesla and use Autopilot you’re agreeing to the limitations and risks of doing so."
"But it’s another to basically treat everybody on the public road as a guinea pig."
On the latest episode, a listener asks: "What safety advice is terrible?"
@davidzipper.bsky.social's answer:
- "Cyclists: Keep to the right!"
- "Pedestrians: Make eye contact with the driver!"
@wesmars.bsky.social's answer:
- "Look both ways" (if coming from a state DOT, not a parent)
@davidzipper.bsky.social's answer:
- "Cyclists: Keep to the right!"
- "Pedestrians: Make eye contact with the driver!"
@wesmars.bsky.social's answer:
- "Look both ways" (if coming from a state DOT, not a parent)
August 3, 2025 at 1:16 PM
On the latest episode, a listener asks: "What safety advice is terrible?"
@davidzipper.bsky.social's answer:
- "Cyclists: Keep to the right!"
- "Pedestrians: Make eye contact with the driver!"
@wesmars.bsky.social's answer:
- "Look both ways" (if coming from a state DOT, not a parent)
@davidzipper.bsky.social's answer:
- "Cyclists: Keep to the right!"
- "Pedestrians: Make eye contact with the driver!"
@wesmars.bsky.social's answer:
- "Look both ways" (if coming from a state DOT, not a parent)