I caught the beginning of a very interesting new Radio4 series this morning. It is called Auto Motive and the first episode followed the beginning of the impact of the car on our culture. The emphasis is largely on the UK and the USA and makes interesting listening, valid for this week at least.
Peter Day presents and discussed the first cars in the UK and the London to Brighton run. He then moves to the USA and looks at the Model-T Ford, that was pitched as a means for farm workers to get the means to bring produce to market.
The programme make an interesting conclusion that the car inadvertantly started the urban sprawl and gradual social decline that Robert Putnam discussed in Bowling Alone.
