The War on Cars11 Apr 2023

Why Does Hollywood Hate Bikes?

Chances are, if a character rides a bicycle in a movie or TV show that character is a huge loser. From The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Arrested Development, bicycles are frequently used to represent immaturity, otherness and misfortune. Thankfully, things are changing — at least a little. Witness the Citibike-riding women of Broad City or Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, the sports psychologist who counsels the cast of Ted Lasso after commuting to work on her Brompton folding bike. Journalist Nitish Pahwa of Slate joins us to discuss the ways in which Hollywood and other parts of our entertainment-industrial complex use bicycles and cars to signify power and status.

This episode is produced with support from Rad Power Bikes and Cleverhood.

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LINKS:

"Americans Are Ready to Embrace Bicycles, but There's One Thing Standing in Their Way" (Nitish Pahwa in Slate)

Follow Nitish on Twitter and Mastodon.

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This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Josh Wilcox. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear.

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