And the Oscar goes to … OUR EPIC TV AND MOVIE TRANSIT DATABASE!!
Well not really, but we think it’s pretty awesome. We’re excited to present the first-ever database of public transportation’s appearances in TV shows and movies.
Entertainment plays a big role in influencing our decision-making, as we discussed in this article about Hollywood’s misrepresentation of transit. One reader even told me that her husband was scared to ride the New York subway after watching The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3 in the 1970s.
At Mobility Lab, we believe that we can create the transportation system we want by using the existing infrastructure in more sustainable and equitable ways. When we drive less, we make more room for biking, better bus service, and walking.
You’ll notice one column titled, “Is transit normalized?” For transit to be considered “normalized,” riding transit or other non-drive modes has to be normal for the character or not treated as something outrageous.
So enjoy the database! This would not have been possible without our phenomenal readers and their great suggestions of films and TV shows to add. To those who have already contributed, thank you so much!
If we’re missing something, please fill out the Google Form to add your suggestions. (Also, check out our commercial database.)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HctCgvr4bDALOZnzewBNxyDn1k7XhaAkKc0cLqhsNUw
Photo of How I Met Your Mother by Daniel Bowen/Flickr and cover photo by Ernest Duffoo/Flickr.