“For 60 years, car advertising has programmed us that driving is freedom, that driving—even reckless driving—is a symbol of status & power. But what if a car marketing vet (our own @tomflood.bsky.social)
used his skills to highlight the insanity of car culture?”
HT @usa.streetsblog.org #UrbanTruth
“The fact that we’re not going to meet 1.5C doesn’t mean: ‘Well, let’s not bother because four degrees will be fine.’ That would be catastrophic.”Rather, it’s an argument against creeping fatalism. “People say: ‘Oh, we’ll all be dead anyway’ – well, we won’t.” #UrbanTruth #ClimateCrisis
“Of the framing techniques, first and perhaps foremost are blatant lies. Lies enable corporations to undermine support for policy change. They back up their lies by funding studies that manipulate the data in their favor.” – Dr. James Mueke in the book “Dark PR.” Graphic by the Urban Truth Collective. 
One of the main things we have to do a better job telling the truth about is all the lying. #UrbanTruth
Tas, ka tev ir viegli uzkāpt uz apmales, vai iet pa bedrainu ietvi, nenozīmē, ka tā ir visiem.
#urbantruth
“Speed wasn’t a factor” Speed is always a factor. Via the Urban Truth Collective
Never forget, when it comes to the likelihood of car crashes, or the deadly consequences of car crashes, speed is ALWAYS a factor. #UrbanTruth
If we racked our brains for years, we’d probably never come up with a better ad to show the ridiculous space that cars take up in cities. And this classic Saturn commercial did it by accident.
The only flaw is that most of the invisible vehicles would more likely have just one person.
#UrbanTruth
Image of one of many pedestrianized Montreal streets turned into a people place, with the phrase “we could never do THAT in OUR city” over top. The tagline at the bottom says “leadership doesn’t make excuses.” Via the Urban Truth Collective.
If your city leaders see something AMAZING that another city is doing but claim “we could never do THAT in OUR city,” don’t believe them.
Leadership doesn’t make excuses. It takes action. #UrbanTruth
Please consider following @urbantruth.bsky.social. #UrbanTruth
Iconic Andy Singer cartoon with a driver saying “Public Transit wastes money. It always has to be SUBSIDIZED!” He is surrounded by evidence that driving is heavily subsidized. In fact, investing in walking, biking, public transit, and housing for the otherwise homeless saves public money.
One of the biggest disinformation campaigns ever applied to cities involves the constant claims that “driving pays its way.” It’s actually MASSIVELY subsidized, while things like walking, biking, public transit & supportive housing for the unhoused actually SAVE PUBLIC MONEY. #UrbanTruth
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #UrbanTruth in @fastcompany.com
“It’s not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. It’s the same as if you bought a cow or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you’re going to put them.” – Miguel Anxo Fernandez Lores, long time Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain
Remember, don’t buy a cow, or a car, and expect your city to give you someplace to park it. #UrbanTruth
Cartoon showing how “bikes can carry more shopping than you think; there’s a bike for just about everyone; commuting on two wheels is great for mental health; avoiding congestion means the school run is quicker; you can leave the fuel for those that need it; and cycling is fun, healthy, inexpensive, and good for the planet.”
How we can save fuel on shorter journeys in cities — a simple, classic message that’s useful every day, but especially when fuel costs are spiking. Spread this #UrbanTruth around. Thanks to @davewalker.bsky.social & @cyclinguk.bsky.social.
Please consider following @urbantruth.bsky.social. #UrbanTruth
Text says: “We CAN’Tdo that in our city.” And then… “we MUST do that in our city.” Tag line at the bottom says “Sometimes leadership can be found in just one word.” Via the Urban Truth Collective.
Sometimes leadership (and excuses) can be found in just one word.
#NoUrbanExcuses #UrbanTruth
Let’s try an experiment. Finish this sentence:
“If there’s one truth and one lie about better cities that I really wish everyone understood better, especially decision-makers, it’s THIS truth and THIS lie.”
#UrbanTruth
“Walkable neighbourhoods aren’t scary, they’re convenient.” Image of a walkable coffee shop in Brooklyn, via the Urban Truth Collective
Some people and corporations out there really want you to be scared of having more things you need close by.
Why do you think that is?
#UrbanTruth
“Half the world’s 100 largest cities are experiencing high levels of water stress, with 38 in regions of “extremely high water stress”… water withdrawals are close to exceeding available supplies, often caused by poor management of water resources exacerbated by climate breakdown.” #UrbanTruth
Graphic with same text as in post. By the Urban Truth Collective.
Remember, car dependency is never freedom.
Mobility freedom comes from mobility choices. #UrbanTruth
This was a beautiful read & captures my own #CarFree life brilliantly. Health, wealth & happiness for me is on 2 wheels or 2 feet #UrbanTruth
You should read this. It’s excellent communication & story-telling.
“I’m driving less. I don’t want to see the world through a driver’s eyes any more. Before I began driving less, I had long had a melancholic sense that the city lifestyle I lived was cut off...” #UrbanTruth
From @irishtimes.com
Graphic with photo of Oslo pedestrian streets filled with people. Text says “fewer cars equal more business“ with the line at the bottom saying “every so often less is more.” Ad poster created by the Urban Truth Collective.
It’s the people that spend money. Not the cars. #UrbanTruth
Even without insane and illegal wars, the thing about any dependency, including car dependency, is that once you’re dependent, they can do whatever they want with the prices.
Real freedom is choices. #UrbanTruth
Do you think your city needs wider bike-lanes? You might need to document the numbers. Luckily, @streetfilms.bsky.social is here to show you how. On the other hand, design for the numbers you want, not just the numbers you have. #UrbanTruth www.streetfilms.org/featured/nyc...
Image of people riding in a busy protected bike-lane on a street that also has space for buses and cars. Mobility freedom comes from mobility choice. Text in graphic is the same as in the post. Graphic by the URBAN TRUTH COLLECTIVE.
“What gas prices?”
Better cities create choices. #UrbanTruth
People who don't ride bicycles use bike and roll lanes. Don't let anyone tell you that cars are the only important way people with disabilities get around. Photo: #VictoriaBC two days ago. #yyj #wheelchair #urbantruth
With any positive change proposal in cities, there’s a very good chance you’ll face a version of what @brenttoderian.bsky.social calls “The Populist Playbook.” Learn to recognize it, call it out, and if you’re in the media or an elected leader, don’t fall for it. It’s disinformation. #UrbanTruth
This is one that I’ve most been looking forward to putting out there. A false choice that I still see and hear in far too many cities. Please share. #UrbanTruth
“Not density OR trees, density AND trees.” “Better cities are climate action.” Via the Urban Truth Collective. Background image of very high density street in Yaletown, in downtown Vancouver. Double row of street trees, plus yard trees, plus trees in the bike lane separator, for a total of five rows of trees along the street edge.
Not density OR trees. Density AND trees.
Better cities are climate action. #UrbanTruth
A reminder of the very important difference between equality and equity. #UrbanTruth
