HOW TO MOVE STUFF WITHOUT A CAR: Designing municipal services that provide the means for moving and storing our things without trunks, hatchbacks, glove compartments, or passenger seats

Abstract

Cars are not just devices that move people from A to B. They are also tools that we use to move heavy objects like groceries or bags of potting soil. They provide us with storage anywhere we go. They facilitate spontaneity, flexibility, and emergency preparedness by making it easy to bring extra warm clothes, equipment, or almost anything else that we might want or need. Cars serve many functions, but we don’t have good substitutes in American cities for most of these roles. This thesis argues that if we want to build more equitable cities and reduce our reliance on cars, we need to pay attention to the ways that people move and stash their possessions while they navigate through their day. This thesis uses Cambridge and Somerville as a site to explore a suite of design interventions that would make it easier to transport, store, and access objects without needing cars.