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Clay McShane
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Down the Asphalt Path Paperback – November 1, 1995

by Clay McShane (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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Imagine a world without automobiles, traffic lights, and interstate highways. Or the words commuter and parking. For a nation that prides itself on the freedom of movement and the long weekend, this seems nearly impossible.

In Down the Asphalt Path, Clay McShane examines the uniquely American relation between automobility and urbanization. Writing at the cutting edge of urban and technological history, McShane focuses on how new transportation systems―most important, the private automobile―and new concepts of the city redefined each other in modern America. We swiftly motor across the country from Boston to New York to Milwaukee to Los Angeles and the suburbs in between as McShane chronicles the urban embrace of the automobile.

McShane begins with mid-nineteenth century municipal bans on horseless carriages, a response to public fears of accidents and pollution. After cities redesigned roads to encourage new forms of trasnport, especially trolley cars, light carriages, and bicycles, the bans disappeared in the 1890s. With the advent of the automobile, metropolitan elites quickly and permanently established cars as status symbols. Down the Asphalt Path also explains the escapist appeal of the motor car to many Americans constrained by traditional social values.

This book includes more than thirty photographs detailing the transformation of urban transportation. They bring to life chapters on modes of travel before the trolley; the push for parks, parkways, and suburbanization; the car in popular culture; and the battle for traffic safety and regulation. McShane's analysis of gender relations in the rise of automobility―in particular, definitions of gender in terms of mechanical skill and of driving as male power―is both timely and innovative.

Wonderfully readable, this book will be a treasure for readers of urban history, popular culture, and technology―as well as car buffs.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Columbia University Press
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0231083912
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0231083911
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"McShane argues that U.S. automobile technology emerged at the turn of the century because American urban culture had changed (not because of the refinement of internal combustion engines in the late 1890s).... He traces pre-automobile modes of transportation from the beginnings of the automobile's development through its rapid growth." -- "Library Journal"

From the Back Cover

Imagine a world without automobiles, traffic lights, and interstate highways. Or the words commuter and parking. For a nation that prides itself on the freedom of movement and the long weekend, this seems nearly impossible. In Down the Asphalt Path, Clay McShane examines the uniquely American relation between automobility and urbanization. Writing at the cutting edge of urban and technological history, McShane focuses on how new transportation systems - most important, the private automobile - and new concepts of the city redefined each other in modern America. We swiftly motor across the country from Boston to New York to Milwaukee to Los Angeles and the suburbs in between as McShane chronicles the urban embrace of the automobile. McShane begins with mid-nineteenth-century municipal bans on horseless carriages, a response to public fears of accidents and pollution. After cities redesigned roads to encourage new forms of transport, especially trolley cars, light carriages, and bicycles, the bans disappeared in the 1890s. With the advent of the automobile, metropolitan elites quickly and permanently established cars as status symbols. Down the Asphalt Path also explains the escapist appeal of the motor car to many Americans constrained by traditional social values. This book includes more than thirty photographs detailing the transformation of urban transportation. They bring to life chapters on modes of travel before the trolley; the push for parks, parkways, and suburbanization; the car in popular culture; and the battle for traffic safety and regulation. McShane's analysis of gender relations in the rise of automobility - in particular, definitions of gender in terms of mechanicalskill and of driving as male power - is both timely and innovative. Wonderfully readable, this book will be a treasure for readers of urban history, popular culture, and technology - as well as car buffs.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Columbia University Press (November 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0231083912
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0231083911
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4 ratings

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Clay McShane

Clay McShane

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
4 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Don L
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Perspective on the Impact of the Auto
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
I was researching some early history on auto history and ran across this book. This is a book that provides an excellent perspective on the history on the automobile and its impact on our culture. Beginning with the early history of our roads and streets it builds a background of our culture and what life was like prior to the auto era.

It the progresses into the auto era and gives a human perspective of the changes, including the plus and minuses.

It is well written and an easy read, I couldn't put it down.
One person found this helpful
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J. McPherson
5.0 out of 5 stars Good resource on American travel
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2013
Verified Purchase
The book started out by trying to figure out why we have gas powered cars on the road instead of steamers. In doing so it had to go back to the Walking City, describing early paving, rail, bicycle, and engine technologies. Each one changed American culture and law, and set the stage for the next advance.

Very readable and lots of good detail. I got a lot out of it, and i've cited it more than most things that end up on my shelf.
5 people found this helpful
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