Active Towns

In episode 186, I connect with Angela van der Kloof, a resident of Tilburg in The Netherlands and International Strategic Advisor with Mobycon, for a discussion about how to frame and talk about our cycle paths and why focusing on speed and using car-centric language such as "highways" to describe them or as part of their names may end up undermining the ultimate goal of encouraging more people to...

In this episode, I connect with Blaine Merker, a Partner, Director, and Head of Climate Action at Gehl, for a discussion about his early work and activism in redefining public space by taking over street parking spots, his current work at Gehl, and strategies for having a meaningful impact on our climate challenges. Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with...

In episode 184, I reconnect with Avi Stopper of BikeStreets.com and VAMOS! the Denver, CO-based initiative to quickly bridge the gaps in the city's existing and planned high-comfort active mobility network. As Avi astutely points out, the build-out of Denver's current planned high comfort will take years, if not decades, will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and will ultimately result in a fr...

In episode 183, I connect with Travis Norvell, aka The Pedaling Pastor, on Twitter for a deep dive into the many ways his life and ministry have been enhanced by walking, biking, and taking transit as a way of life. We also discuss the challenges around parking for social institutions, the need for policy reform, and an outright paradigm shift. Additionally, we discuss ways that social institution...

In this episode, I connect with Kylie van Dam to learn about life in Houten, a Dutch city near Utrecht that was intentionally designed to provide a thriving environment for people rather than cater to the circulation and storage of cars. 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 pl...

In this episode, I connect with Ashton & Jonathan Schottler, the dynamic duo behind the fabulous fast-growing Black Forest Family YouTube Channel. We discuss their desires to lead an active lifestyle, including modeling active mobility within their growing family, and how the built environment and German culture in their region help to support these goals. Thank you so much for tuning in! If y...

In this episode, I chat with Robert Martin, Head of Mobility at Jaja Architects in Copenhagen, DK, about the Mobility Pyramid - Its creation and application as a paradigm shift for thinking about city design and personal choice. We also explore how he, as an architect, got into mobility work, the relationship between architects, planners, and transportation engineers in building places that promot...

In this episode, I reconnect with Mallory Baches, the newly appointed President of the Congress for the New Urbanism or CNU, for a conversation about the core principles of the CNU as well as this year's Congress being held in Charlotte, North Carolina. We also reminisce about the last Congress in the area, CNU26 in Savannah, Georgia, when I filmed our Epic Bike Ride from Mount Pleasant, SC, to th...

In this episode, I connect with Brent Buice, Manager of South Carolina and Georgia with the East Coast Greenway, who provides us with a snapshot of this extraordinary effort that connects 15 states and 450 cities and towns for 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. The initiative is fostering a safe walking and biking route through the country’s most populated corridor. Helpful Links (note that some m...

In this episode, I connect with Ryan Birkicht, Director of Enterprise Partnerships for the PeopleForBikes, to talk about this innovative transportation demand management program for employers to encourage and reward their employees who ride bikes more often. It leverages the Ride Spot app technology that PeopleForBikes has developed and launched. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate...

In this episode, I connect with Lindsay Sturman for a detailed discussion about the Livable Communities Initiative (LCI) of Los Angeles, California.  They are a self-described group of urbanists, architects, progressive activists, and advocates who want to reimagine Los Angeles and address the housing, mobility, and climate crisis at the same time. Helpful Links (note that some may include affilia...

In this episode, I connect with Séverine Le Page and Zvi Leve from Montréal to talk about the growth in cycling through all the seasons, but in particular in winter. We also talk about the various advocacy and militant activism efforts underway to support the buildout of more cycle infrastructure and the activation of what's already on the ground. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliat...

In this episode, I connect with Taylor Griggs, a BikePortland.org staff writer, for a firsthand account and reflections after her month-long trip to Europe. We're talking protected and separated cycle lanes, advisory bike lanes, also known as edge lane roads, and fietsstraats, also known as priority bike streets. We also discuss adding pop-up parks and bringing a bit of fun into our public spaces...

In this episode, I reconnect with my good friend Manuel "Manu" Calvo Salazar for a discussion about the continued evolution of the cycle network that dropped nearly intact during the 2007 economic downturn in a very fast 18-month period. I am impressed by the number of women, children, and elderly who now feel comfortable using active, sustainable mobility choices for their short trips in this bea...

In this episode, I connect with Ole Kassow of Copenhagen and Gary Harty of Lakewood, CO, for a discussion about the Cycling Without Age organization which has a vision of creating a world together in which the access to active citizenship creates happiness among our fellow elderly citizens by providing them with an opportunity to remain an active part of society and the local community. Watch the...

In episode 171, I reconnect with Justin Jones from Ontario, Canada, for a discussion about designing streets with Intention - Specifically, identifying who is the intended preferred or prioritized user, the party that is welcomed or invited into the environment. Versus the ancillary users that are merely accommodated or tolerated. Justin's premise is that in North America, the car is welcomed on n...

In this episode, I connect with Nathan Allebach, a marketing expert in the Philadelphia area that has turned his attention toward walkable communities and all things good urbanism. If you've spent any time at all poking around urbanism threads on Twitter, you've likely seen Nathan and his catchy, engaging TikToks on Third Places, Walkable Communities, Missing Middle Housing, and so much more. Afte...

In this episode, I connect with Emily Hanna, Executive Director of Bike Walk Central Florida, for a conversation about the positive steps that are finally being made in one of the most dangerous areas historically in North America to be a person walking or biking. Emily shares her background in making her way to Bike Walk Central Florida and the initiatives the organization is working on to transf...

In this episode, I interview my first legit TikTok star, "Mr. Barricade," also known as the California-based transportation and civil engineer Vignesh Swaminathan. We talk about why he decided to join TikTok and how this type of communication can help us transform our built environments into more people-oriented places. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect. Landing page f...

In this episode, I reconnect with a fellow culture of activity documentarian and one of the world's preeminent adventure journalists, Jayme Moye. We chat about her move to Nelson, BC, becoming a Canadian citizen, and we reflect upon some of her recent assignments around the globe. We also discuss trees, specifically the very unique inland rainforest trees found in the Kootenay region, as well as t...

In this first episode of Season Five, I'm delighted to welcome a legend in the "people-oriented places movement", Mr. Gil Penalosa, who many of you know as the person that expanded the Ciclovia program in Bogata, Columbia to the point where it became the inspiration for Open Streets programs around the globe. We discuss his recent run for mayor in Toronto, the need for city leaders to show the pol...

In this episode, the finale of Season Four, I am joined by Mayor John Bauters of Emeryville, CA, for a discussion about active mobility, creating more people-oriented places, what it's like to be an actual bike mayor, as well as his recent study tour trip to The Netherlands. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to...

In this episode, Ted Siff, a founder of Austin Outside, shares the secret to Austin's success in securing the funds necessary to build out the All Ages & Abilities cycle path network, inspired in part by the Dutch experience in creating active mobility networks that work for everyone. Austin Outside Mission: Austin Outside champions vibrant and thriving outdoor places for all in Greater Austin...

In this episode, I connect with Garry Merritt, CEO of the Great Springs Project, which is an amazing effort to preserve critical watershed lands through conservation while also creating a 100+ mile trail stretching from Austin to San Antonio and featuring many spurs and community connectivity. From the GSP website: "We still have an opportunity to conserve open space over the Edwards Aquifer and t...

In this episode, I reconnect with Aaron Hautala of Cuyuna, MN, for a fascinating conversation about their transformation of a 5,000-acre stripped-out area of iron ore mines into a goldmine of opportunity and a community-wide activity asset that is supporting both a culture of activity and economic vibrancy. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect. Landing page for the episod...