Reportage for Cargobikefest
Erik Binggeser (@truemarmalade) explores the American landscape from an idiosyncratic vantage point: the saddle of his cargo bike.
As he’s criss-crossed the US, he has documented a troubling phenomenon he calls "Big Dumb Trucks" — oversized, often modified SUVs and pickups that dominate the road and make even a heavy-duty cargo bike look like a toy.
Erik’s photos capture the extremes of American auto culture; but they're also a visual record of "autobesity"—the wider trend of vehicles becoming heavier, wider, and more dangerous. But while Big Dumb Trucks are a fixture of modern Americana, they also form a looming threat to European streets.
A proposed trade deal between the US and EU is currently on the table, and the EU has stated it intends to accept lower US vehicle standards as part of the agreement.
➔ In Europe, strict safety regulations have helped achieve a 36% reduction in road deaths since 2010.
➔ In the US, road deaths have increased by 30% over the same period.
If this goes ahead, the autobesity Erik has documented will be exported directly to Europe. Europe cannot sacrifice road safety for a trade deal.
More than 75 European cities and civil society organisations have already signed an open letter to EU lawmakers. They are clear: The consequences for European road safety would be profound.
