A group of Australian cyclists training for the Olympics recently crashed when the driver of a Ford Falcon purposefully swerved in front them and abruptly slammed on the brakes. In the aftermath of the accident, as the cyclists attempted to discern whether any of the group had been killed, motorists in other vehicles yelled abuse as they passed, including „Get a car, tightarses.”

That the driver of the Ford was frustrated at driving his Ford is not surprising. I see drivers all the time flooring the accelerator, screaming round corners, and mounting curbs, and they are almost invariably in Holdens or Fords. This mode of driving is symptomatic of a recessive malaise with the vehicle in suburbia.

I am reminded of a quote by Max Bruinsma I saw in the design journal Open Manifesto. He says, „in today’s visual communication there are, bluntly speaking, two operative strategies for a designer; to sedate consumers or to activate citizens.” It is due time for such dichotomies as these. We have lived in consumer society long enough to know where we stand. It is about time for we sympathisers to rail: Act upon your suspicions.

„You’re either in the club, baby, or you’re not.” The lines are drawn.