Content
In her first book “Autokorrektur”, German mobility expert Katja Diehl addresses a car-centered reality. This reality excludes many people. She analyzes how this situation has come about. She asks why cities are so strongly focused on the car. This focus is often at the expense of pedestrians, cyclists, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Diehl impressively shows how much space cars take up. She questions why these conditions are accepted as normal. The book outlines a climate-friendly and inclusive transport transition. Numerous positive examples from cities such as Paris and Barcelona underpin these ideas. These examples show that a future without cars is possible and desirable. Another focus of her first book is the interviews. She spoke to various car users. In this part of the book, it becomes clear how dependent many people are on their own car – although they would often much rather manage without a car.
Car first?
Katja Diehl’s new book is entitled “Out of autocracy – into the mobility of tomorrow” (“Out of autocracy – into the mobility of tomorrow”). Just as the title again makes use of a play on words, the content of the Spiegel bestseller is also very similar in nature. It is similar to that of its predecessor. Diehl never tires of enumerating the many injustices and absurdities. Our car-centered society has created them. For the most part, they are neither questioned nor criticized as normal standards. The automotive freedom praised by industry, advertising and politics is in reality the exact opposite.
This time, the focus is more on the question: Why do we remain at a standstill or take steps backwards? We know all the problems and the appropriate solutions. What is needed at a societal and systemic level to finally give the transport revolution a real boost? Once again, there is a second part with interviews. This time, however, the focus is not on car users, but on people who are actively working on implementing the transport transition and transforming cities and, not least, our society. In short: “Out of the autocracy”.
I often ask myself what I can do to drive forward the transport and energy transition at my town. This book provides me with an incredible amount of input in my search for an answer. I read a lot of things that I’ve picked up somewhere before and thought to myself: this is madness. Katja Diel sums up the madness of our times in a well-documented way. This is a great basis for discussions. Everyone from the bubble of sustainability, transportation transition and diversity issues will often find themselves in this book and think: yes, that’s exactly how it is.
People outside this bubble, on the other hand, will probably not develop an exaggerated sympathy for Katja Diehl. She rarely puts a cloth over her mouth and says things directly. It is therefore up to each reader to develop their own strategy. Using what you have read and packaging it in such a way that it resonates with your own activities.
Courage to change
The interviews in the second part of the book are particularly helpful. They show case studies. These examples show how topics can be successfully initiated and implemented. People who have successfully changed things have their say here. And that is encouraging. It shows that progress is being made, albeit far too slowly, at least here and there. And it suggests to me that if I at least try, I too can be a part of progress.
Diehl describes how this is not always easy when she talks about the feedback on her work. It’s not just about moaning and swearing. Tangible threats were not infrequent reactions to her first book. There were also often strong reactions to her public appearances. Her message: Don’t let this get you down!
“Raus aus der Autokratie” is an inspiring and informative read. It is the sequel to Katja Diehl’s first book. She reminds us urgently that the issue of the transport transition is by no means finished with supposedly more important current problems. Driving goes far beyond a bit of mobility from A to B. It influences our entire social coexistence in its current form, and not in a particularly positive way. To be able to look to the future with optimism, something has to change. Above all, the focus must shift away from cars and back to people. I hope that many people in positions of responsibility will read this book. This affects both the economy and politics.
You can find out where you can buy the book on Katja Diehl’s website.