Active Towns

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome back Billy Fields, Associate Professor, Texas State University, for a detailed discussion about his recent month-long trip to Europe to study and document the amazing street transformations taking place in many cities, including Barcelona, Paris, Utrecht, and Amsterdam, to name just a few. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect In...

In this episode, I reconnect with Ivey Kaiser, Executive Director of Austin's Shoal Creek Conservancy, for a chat about some exciting updates addressing some crucial gaps in the trail. We also talk about how important it is to provide safe and inviting access to meaningful destinations served by the trail for All Ages & Abilities. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect...

In this episode, I reconnect with Robert "Rob" Spillar, Former DOT Director for Austin, TX, and current Senior Vice President, National Director of Smart Cities for STV. We discuss his nearly 14-year career launching and leading the transportation department and how two significant study trips abroad help to shape the trajectory of mobility in the Texas capital, the establishment of a comprehensiv...

In this episode, I connect with Jace Davis with Bicycle Colorado and the Denver Streets Partnership for a conversation about his recent month-long vacation to Europe and how he plans to translate the people-oriented public space designs he experienced into his work in Denver. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect Jace is excited about translating what is possible into actu...

In this episode, I connect with Dawn Rahman, a riding mom and doctoral researcher at the University of Westminster in the U.K., studying the barriers that mothers face when attempting to ride a bike with their children. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect Dawn Rahman is a mom who wants more moms to ride with their kids, so she's doing a doctoral research study examining...

In this episode, I connect with the Bicycle Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Lanrick Bennett, Jr., who says he's doing this for kids, because they deserve to have a safe and inviting cycle network so that they may experience mobility freedom. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect Lanrick wants his children, and everyone for that matter, to be able to ride a bike safely t...

In this episode, I reconnect with my good friend, Charles "Chuck" Marohn, founder of the Strong Towns organization and worldwide movement, for a discussion about the inherent connections between Strong Towns and Active Towns, the need for reform in the traffic engineering and city planning fields, and he provides the latest update on his battle with the state licensing board. Watch the video versi...

In this episode, I reconnect with Mike Sewell, with Gresham Smith in Louisville, KY, for a conversation about a new innovative empathic analytics system he is working on to evaluate just how comfortable public spaces and All Age & Abilities facilities actually are. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect He also reflects upon some of the delightful people-places he and h...

In this episode, I reconnect with Kyle Wagenschutz, Sara Studdard, and Zoe Kircos, who have recently launched the non-profit organization City Thread: Stitching together the fabric of our communities. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect City Thread is a firm dedicated to helping communities achieve big things by collaborating with diverse teams of elected officials, city...

In this episode, I get into some "good trouble" with Cathy Tuttle a Portland, OR-based advocate and thought leader in the movement to create more people-oriented, sustainable places. We discuss her diverse background, her previous work in Seattle, the recent Car Master Plan she created for Portland, and the need for cities, states and nations to address the climate emergency with a sense of urgenc...

In this episode, I connect with Movetia Salter, a resident of the Mueller community in Austin, TX for a conversation about her transformative cycling story rooted in a cancer diagnosis, a new city across the country, and her rediscovery of the joy of riding a bike, especially with others. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect Austin's Movetia Salter caught my attention whe...

Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect A few months ago I started noticing these amazing Tweets with videos and photos of swarms of kids riding their bikes in Portland, OR. Sam Balto aka @coachbalto on Twitter was the man behind these Tweets and the massive success that is the Bike Bus he coordinated for his school in an attempt to provide a safer, healthier way for his stu...

In this episode, I am delighted to reconnect with Scott Bricker, co-founder and Executive Director of Bike Pittsburgh (aka BikePGH) for a discussion about the progress the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been making in its quest to build out a network of high-comfort facilities appropriate for all ages and abilities. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect Biking in Pit...

In this episode, I'm delighted to share my conversation with Jessie Singer the author of the new book There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster - Who Profits and Who Pays the Price. We examine how the word "accident" has morphed into meaning that nothing could have been done to prevent it, but when the events are examined, they are the inherently predictable and preventable re...

In this episode, I go behind the scenes of the Oh The Urbanity! YouTube Channel with Jasmine Steffler and Patrick Murphy, Ottawa-based content creators, who have a passion for understanding all things urbanism, including access to affordable housing, active mobility, and transit. Video version of the episode The "dynamic duo" behind the amazing Oh The Urbanity! Channel is none other than Jasmine a...

In this episode, I connect with Aishwarya Krishnamoorthy, Communications and Marketing Manager and Piep van Heuven, Director of Government Relations at Bicycle Colorado to discuss the challenges ahead and some of the encouraging progress being made at the state and local levels. Video version of this episode A series of pro-bicycle and safer streets legislation coupled with commitments to divert f...

In this episode, I reconnect with Erin Riediger, a Winnipeg-based architect, active mobility advocate, and the producer of the Plain Bicycle podcast series. We discuss the status of the city's underground Dutch bike takeover effort also affectionately referred to as a Culture Bomb. Video version of this episode There has been a proliferation of old used Dutch bikes showing up on the streets of Win...

In this episode, I connect with George Liu with the Urban Cycling Institute and the Designing the Cycling City - Master Class Video version of this episode Wrapping up a Ph. D., starting a new bike company, helping lead a Dutch cycling summer school program, as well as the Designing the Cycling City - The Master Class, all while also churning out YouTube videos for the Urban Cycling Institute, yea...

In this episode, I go for a virtual ride on the fabulous off-street All Ages & Abilities cycle path network in Oulu, Finland with local active transportation professional Pekka Tahkola Video version of this episode A comprehensive, cohesive, and connected off-street network of bike and pedestrian facilities appropriate for All Ages & Abilities makes this city of 200,000+ residents built in...

In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Maud de Vries, CEO, and co-founder of BYCS, the Amsterdam-based global NGO behind the Bicycle Mayor Program that is spreading around the globe. Video version of this episode In addition to chatting about the Bicycle Mayor Program, we also discuss their Bicycle Citizens Network, the Bicycle Heroes initiative to bring the voices of the youth, the COP26...

In this episode, I welcome back Darcy Kitching for a conversation about her research on creating more kid-friendly communities, safer, more inviting, and even joyous streets for people, and the upcoming Boulder Walk360 event she'll be leading once again this year. Video version of this episode So excited to welcome back Darcy Kitching for an update on her doctoral dissertation research on the topi...

In this episode, I speak with Steve Wright about the applying the concepts of Universal Design to streets, sidewalks, and public spaces to promote dignity in mobility for All Ages & Abilities Video version of this episode Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): - This stuff works, I'm living proof - Strong Towns article - Growing Stronger Toge...

In this episode, I catch up with Jocelyn Vande Velde, North America Marketing Director of Bosch eBike Systems for a discussion about how she got into the business, the empowering nature of electric-assist bikes, and the importance of high-quality components and battery-based systems. Video version of this episode The e-bike revolution is here! Having a little assistance to smooth out a steep hill,...

In this episode, I connect with Jos Sluijsmans, who ten years ago, started what would evolve into the International Cargo Bike Festival in The Netherlands, and he provides the details on this year's event and why this coming decade will be the most important for cargo bikes. Video version of this episode Cargo bikes are not new, but with innovation, in lightweight, powerful electric assist motors...

In this episode, I connect and talk with two data,  GIS, and planning experts, David Wasserman and Samuel Zneimer, with Alta Planning + Design, about the innovative steps they are taking leverage data for more effective project delivery. Video version of this episode Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): - Alta Planning + Design website - Digita...