Imagine a world where cars dominate every aspect of our lives, shaping our cities, our health, and even our safety. It’s a reality we’ve grown so accustomed to that we barely question it—until now. In 2005, the late writer David Foster Wallace delivered a powerful commencement speech at Kenyon College, starting with a thought-provoking joke: Two young fish swim past an older fish, who greets them with, ‘Morning, boys, how’s the water?’ One of the younger fish turns to the other and asks, ‘What the hell is water?’ Wallace’s point? We often fail to recognize the obvious because it’s so deeply embedded in our daily lives. This idea hits home when we talk about the dominance of cars in modern society, particularly in wealthy nations like the U.S. Cars aren’t just vehicles; they’re a way of life—one that clogs our streets, pollutes our air, and puts lives at risk. But here’s where it gets controversial: Electric vehicles (EVs) are often hailed as the solution, but will they truly fix the deeper issues caused by our car-centric culture?
The problem isn’t just about emissions; it’s about how cars have reshaped our cities, prioritized traffic over people, and created environments that discourage walking, biking, and community interaction. In many urban areas, sidewalks are narrow, public transportation is underfunded, and pedestrian safety is an afterthought. Even if every car on the road were electric, we’d still face traffic congestion, sprawling suburbs, and a lack of accessible public spaces. And this is the part most people miss: The shift to EVs is important for reducing carbon emissions, but it doesn’t address the root cause of our car dependency.
Take, for example, the way cities are designed. Wide roads, massive parking lots, and drive-thru culture all cater to cars at the expense of human-centered spaces. This design doesn’t just inconvenience pedestrians—it endangers them. According to the National Safety Council, pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have been on the rise, even as vehicle safety features improve. Why? Because our infrastructure prioritizes speed and convenience over safety and sustainability.
So, what’s the solution? It’s not just about swapping gas-guzzlers for EVs. We need a fundamental rethink of how we design our cities, prioritize transportation, and value public spaces. But here’s the bold question: Are we willing to challenge the status quo and reimagine a future where cars aren’t the center of our universe? This isn’t just a technical or environmental issue—it’s a cultural one. It requires us to question decades of car-centric policies and embrace alternatives like public transit, bike lanes, and walkable neighborhoods. Will you join the conversation? Let’s debate—because the future of our health, safety, and communities depends on it.
