The Car YouTuber Advocating For More Transportation Reform
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A YouTuber and podcast host, Matt Farah is a powerful voice among automobile enthusiasts — and an unusual ally for advocates of other forms of mobility.
Photographer: Alex Welsh/Bloomberg
Car enthusiasm and urbanism are often framed as opposing forces. But Matt Farah, one of the biggest automotive influencers today, is challenging this dichotomy. The Los Angeles-based host of “The Smoking Tire,” with over 1 million subscribers on YouTube, is an outspoken advocate for transportation reform — a passion that stems from his encounter with mandatory parking minimums back in 2016.
Between reviews of Lamborghinis and McLarens, Farah regularly discusses urban policy on his podcast, hosting academics alongside car experts. He’s not alone; other influential gearheads like former “Top Gear” host James May have similarly embraced transit and density, reaching audiences that traditional urbanists might miss. Today on CityLab: Why Car YouTuber Matt Farah Is Fighting for Walkable Cities