Active Towns

In this episode, the second in a two-part series, I reconnect with Dr. Tristan Cleveland, Ph. D. to discuss additional strategies for transforming the suburbs into more desirable walkable, bike-able, and transit-served places. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast on your preferred listening platform, and don't forg...

In this episode, the first in a two-part series, I connect with Dr. Tristan Cleveland, Ph. D. to discuss how the suburbs can be transformed into more desirable walkable, bike-able, and transit-served places. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast on your preferred listening platform, and don't forget to check out the...

In this episode, I reconnect with Ray Delahanty, the self-proclaimed Plangineer behind the smash hit City Nerd YouTube Channel. We discuss his journey to becoming a full-time content creator, some of his biggest surprises, and where he gets his inspiration for new videos. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast on you...

In this episode, Melissa and Chris Bruntlett bring us along for a review of their summer family vacation explorations in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Trondheim, and Bergen. Naturally, they provide snapshots of the people-oriented places they experienced, an evaluation of the cycle and cargo bike scenes, and a healthy dose of reveling in the access to nature these destinations served up. Thank you...

In this episode, I reconnect with former pro soccer player, Tesho Akindele, for a conversation about his unlikely and unexpected journey from pro sports to urbanism and developing, walkable and bike-friendly communities in Charlotte, NC. I first met Tesho at the annual Congress for the New Urbanism gathering in Charlotte and immediately knew I needed to have him on the Channel to chat about his ad...

In this episode, I reconnect with Martina Haggerty, the new Senior Director for the PeopleForBikes Local Innovations initiative. Martina shares some information about the history of the Local Innovations efforts at PFB and the newly announced Great Bike Infrastructure Project. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast o...

In this episode, I connect with Professor Kelly Clifton, Ph. D. from the University of British Columbia, for a conversation about using comics as a way to present complicated urbanism, transportation, and land use issues in a more approachable way for the general public. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast on your...

In this episode, I connect with Babet Hendriks with Mobycon in The Netherlands for a discussion about the theoretical construct of the Mobility Doughnut, a concept inspired by the Economic Doughnut theory. To illustrate the points, we'll do some side-by-side photographic comparisons between Dutch and North American mobility systems. Also discussed is the need to move how we measure and evaluate ou...

In this episode, I connect with Murilo Casagrande and Heloisa Bento Ribeiro with the Aromeiazero Institute, an organization in São Paulo, Brazil that develops social, educational, and cultural projects to reduce social inequalities and make cities more resilient. Their mission is to promote change in the way of life of people and cities through bicycles. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enj...

In this episode, Dr. Natalia Barbour and I discuss her family's big move from The Netherlands back to Florida and a few of her recent publications as a researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida. We talk about the network of separated pathways that allow her and her family to meet many of their daily needs, including getting to school, the grocery store, and the coffee...

In this episode, the first of Season Six of the Active Towns Podcast: Conversations About Creating a Culture of Activity, I speak with Grant Ennis, the author of the fascinating and thought-provoking new book Dark PR: How corporate disinformation harms our health and the environment. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Po...

In this episode, I'm honored to connect with Will Butler-Adams, the CEO of Brompton Bicycles, about the role that the humble bicycle is playing in addressing the most pressing issues we face globally, from health, well-being, loneliness, unproductive and financially unsustainable urban environments and yes, climate change. And a HUGE thank you to Ryan Van Duzer for letting me create a makeshift st...

In episode 199, I connect with Sir Graham Watson, President of the World Cycling Alliance, for a conversation about coordinating best practices around the globe as we strive to create safer, more inviting cycle networks for all ages and abilities. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast on your preferred listening pla...

In this episode, I connect with Amy Kenreich, a Denver crossing guard mom turned safe streets advocate who is part of a growing number of engaged community members making a difference on the streets of the mile-high city. We talk about recruiting new crossing guards, conducting bike rodeos, fighting for a needed protected bikeway where a tragic fatality occurred, as well as engagement activities l...

In this episode, I connect with Sara Stace, Director of Cities for WSP in Sydney, NSW, Australia, to discuss our need for a whole new paradigm surrounding what our streets are for and how they should make us feel. We pose the question, why can't our streets promote a feeling of being relaxed and carefree, as is depicted by these girls riding to field hockey in The Netherlands? Thank you so much fo...

In this episode, I connect with Ryan Howell, The Events Coordinator at the Tulsa River Parks Authority network of trails and pathways connecting Tulsa's neighborhoods and downtown while providing amazing recreation opportunities, which are now high on my list of places I must visit! Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Pod...

In episode 195, Nicole McSpirit of Denver, Colorado, gives us a look into her radical plan to create a Dutch-inspired cycling paradise in the Mile High City. She also provides a sneak peek into her secret behavior modification tactics to slow down aggressive drivers near schools in her role as an elementary school crossing guard. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please...

In this episode, I connect with Andrew Bowen, a journalist w/ KPBS in San Diego and host of the Freeway Exit Podcast, for a discussion about the damages that freeways cause in our cities and what happens when we take them down. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Podcast on your preferred listening platform, and don't for...

In episode 193, I connect with Andrea Learned for a chat about her new Living Change Podcast, “A Quest for Climate Leadership,” through sharing the experiences and practices of those who might be called surprising validators. Set aside the tendency to name and shame, which rarely delivers desired results, for the much more effective naming and "faming", calling attention to those leaders and indiv...

In this episode, I connect with Carter Lavin in Oakland, CA for a discussion about his work training advocates and activists in the art and science of building political power, honing successful strategies, and creating winning campaigns at the local, regional, and state level. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): - Carter's website Thank you s...

In this episode, I connect with Breckenridge, CO-based bicycle explorer and recent author, Jerry Kopack for a conversation about getting the most life out of our limited time on earth. Naturally, we talk about bikepacking, bike touring, bike commuting, and, yeah, the joy of riding a bike, any bike, for any reason, at any time. #bikelife Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode,...

In this episode, I connect with Josh Hon, Founder & Team Captain of Tern Bicycles, for a detailed discussion about how he came to start Tern, the current state of the e-bike market, and the potential for using bikes and cargo bikes for more short-haul trips in the future. We also discuss how important it is to advocate for safer and more inviting cycle networks appropriate for all ages and abi...

In episode 189, I reconnect with Brandon Lust, aka @AmericanFietser, for the third time on the podcast. We discuss the status of his advocacy work, field some questions from the audience, and provide some strategies for keeping things interesting while trying to promote for Dutch-inspired safer active mobility environments for all ages and abilities. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed...

In this episode, I connect with Päivi Raivio, co-founder of Helsinki-based Parkly, an innovative firm transforming public places with a modular, scalable solution by creating platforms for enjoying the urban greenscape. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and be sure to subscribe to the Podcast on your preferred listening platform, and don't...

In this episode, we head back Down Under to chat with the head Urban Pirate himself, Cam Perkins, in Auckland, NZ. Learn how he and his team are working to transform streets and public spaces into viable and vibrant places for people. Included in this episode is a conversation about engaging children in the design of our cities, employing tactical urbanism techniques to move transformation forward...