carbrain Archives - The Handbuilt City

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The Handbuilt City

Dispatches from the Rust Belt

cycling safety michigan state university

October 24, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

Repeat After Me, Class: Better Data Will Not Solve It.

I attended a meeting of this volunteer committee on MSU’s campus that convenes monthly to talk about alternative transportation. Safety

Cars

March 8, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

Motornormativity: How Cars Undermine Empathy And Promote Violence

The term “carbrain” is well-established in left-urbanist circles. According to one academic study, it’s actually a real thing– and, the authors of that study say, it threatens to undermine safety and sustainability as we think about the future of the built environment and the technology we use to move through it.

gretchen whitmer announcing her growth strategy for Michigan in front of a bunch of busted cars

Climate Editorial Michigan Politics Urban Planning

June 6, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

Michigan Growth Strategy: Gretchen Whitmer Needs To Step Up Her Politics, Not Her Leadership.

The governor wants to figure out a strategy to grow the state. It’s going to have to start with investing in things that matter to real people, rather than things that matter to quarterly earnings reports for automakers. But it’s not that gloomy. There’s plenty of opportunity to think about how to do this.