Streets and People

What if we told you the best way to shape your neighbourhood isn’t with blueprints or boring public meetings - but with toys, laughter, and found objects? In this People and Projects episode of Streets and People , Wendy chats with James Rojas and John Kamp, the creative minds behind Dream Play Build . These two are flipping the script on community engagement. Forget jargon-filled consultations an...

This People and Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast explores a confronting but crucial topic — suicides in the transport system and their exclusion from Australia’s official road safety data. Host Wendy speaks with Professor Milad Milani, whose research shines a light on intentional road crashes, a hidden part of our road trauma story. Together, they unpack the challenges in identif...

Walking, biking, riding—and meeting changemakers along the way. In this  People and Projects  episode of the Streets and People podcast, host Wendy sits down with Emmanuelle Bugara, an active transport enthusiast from Lille, France, who, with her partner, is setting off on an extraordinary global journey. Their mission? To walk, cycle, and use public transport across continents, connecting with pe...

On today's People and Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, Blair Turner, a leading road safety expert, discusses the Austroads guide "Facilitating Speed Management Change: Example Case Studies from Australia and New Zealand." Drawing on his international experience and consultancy work, he unpacks key lessons from real-world examples, focusing on how to effectively imp...

What if the real danger on our streets isn’t reckless drivers—but the people who designed them? In this powerful People and Projects episode of The Streets and People Podcast, traffic engineer and author Wes Marshall joins the show to unpack the hard truths behind his provocative new book, Killed by a Traffic Engineer . With two decades of experience and a sabbatical spent studying global best pra...

Why should we care about where we park? According toepidemiologist Michael Garber, the answer goes far beyond convenience. In his conversation with Wendy on this People and Projects episode on the Streets and People podcast, he reveals a surprising connection between parking policy and community health. Parking lots aren't just empty space, they contribute to the urban heat island effect, redu...

In this People and Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, we chat with Susan Leadbetter, a leader in gender-inclusive design and transport. Susan shares insights from her work with over 600 women across the UK, exploring how safety and accessibility shape public transport experiences, especially for women and marginalised communities. Susan provides practical solutions like better lig...

Why are pedestrians packed onto narrow footpaths while cars glide through wide, empty lanes? In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, Wendy speaks with Chris de Gruyter, researcher at RMIT's Centre for Urban Research, about why street space so often feels unfair—and what we can do about it. Chris shares the simple but powerful story that sparked his work: watchi...

In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, Wendy hosts Professor Lynette Cheah, a sustainable transport expert from the University of the Sunshine Coast. They discuss Lynette’s research, which includes efficient and sustainable mobility, urban freight transport, and the environmental impact of electric vehicles, as well as current opportunities for PhD students. The c...

What does it take to get more children riding bikes to school? In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, host Wendy speaks with James Reynolds, a traffic engineering and road safety expert, about practical ways to build community support and avoid roadblocks – the kind that stop good projects before they even begin. James brings experience from the ground up. As a re...

In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, host Wendy chats with architect Robert Martin,originally from outer Sydney and now based in central Copenhagen. Robert shares his journey from the Blue Mountains to Denmark, with stops in Saudi Arabia and the U.S., and introduces his innovative ‘Mobility Diet’ - a flexible, inclusive way to discuss about how we would like to...

🎙️ What happens when transport fails people with disabilities? Dr. Lisa Stafford   ARC Future Fellowwith Inclusive futures  Griffith University joins Wendy on this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast to break down the often-overlooked crisis of transport in outer suburbs, peri-urban and regional areas like Caboolture and Lutrawita/Tasmania. She reveals the devastating i...

Freeways keep growing, but where does that leave you if you don’t drive? In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, Emeritus Professor Peter from the University of Queensland explores how Southeast Queensland’s urban sprawl and road-heavy planning have shaped the way you move. He shares childhood memories of walkable neighbourhoods, unpacks the decades-long grip of th...

Why do so many Australians feel trapped by car dependency? Our transport system was meant to give us freedom, yet oversized vehicles, unsafe streets, and poor public transport leave many with few real choices. In this People and Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, former transport academic Prof Matt Burke shares how childhood frustration and personal loss led him to rethink how cit...

Getting to school should be simple, safe, and something Your family can enjoy. But too often, traffic chaos, unsafe streets, and outdated habits get in the way. In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, Wendy talks to Alice Woodruff about practical ways to make walking, riding, and public transport the best choice for families, schools, and workplaces. Alice shares h...

Safer streets don’t happen by accident. Sara Stace has spent years working inside government and alongside communities to make walking, cycling, and public transport easier for you. From writing Australia’s National Active Transport Strategy to leading Better Streets, she knows what it takes to cut through red tape, bring people together, and make real changes to the places you move through every...

In this Not Everyone Drives episode of The Streets and People Podcast , host Wendy sits down with Tam, a passionate advocate for active and public transport in Brisbane. Their conversation weaves through chance encounters at community events and Tam’s shift from recreational cycling to relying on a cargo bike for daily life with her children. Tam shares the rewards and challenges of navigating a c...

What if the simplest path to connection, mental clarity and cultural understanding was right beneath your feet? For Vanny Mwamba, founder of Urban Hikers , it started with a pair of shoes, a group of friends and the streets of Cincinnati. Originally from the Congo, Vanny has spent 21 years walking his way into a sense of belonging. In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People po...

Dr. William Bird, a GP and founder of Intelligent Health, shows us how our environment shapes our health. He highlights the stark health differences between wealthy and deprived areas and the role of community engagement in overcoming these challenges. With initiatives like Beat the Street , Dr. Bird reveals how simple community-driven activities can get people moving, build trust, and connect peo...

What if your childhood bike rides could shape an entire city? In this People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, cycle planner James Laing from Stantec reveals how those early rides inspired his mission to design streets where everyone feels welcome. James shares stories from London’s Healthy Streets initiative, where cycling superhighways proved that small, bold changes can...

When you hit the streets on your e-bike, how often do you think about the laws that keep you rolling safely? Peter Bourke, General Manager of Bicycle Industries Australia, brings years of expertise to unravel the tangled web of e-bike and helmet regulations across Australia. This People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast is your map through the maze, filled with surprising tw...

In the final Streets and People podcast episode for 2024, in Road Rules 360, John Burrill and Wendy Nash reflect on their journey through road rules. They talk about the highs and lows of explaining the complexities of road regulations. A listener shared they enjoyed when John and Wendy disagreed, offering fresh perspectives. They also discuss a collision between a Hilux, a pedestrian and a cyclis...

How do you transform a senior’s world with the turn of a bike pedal? Ryan Foster shares his journey of launching Cycling Without Age in Brisbane. This international movement started in Denmark and now spans 46 countries, offering free trishaw rides to seniors and those with limited mobility. Ryan reveals the challenges of navigating floods and the pandemic to keep the wheels turning and the laught...

Imagine this. You're gliding along a shared pathway on an e-scooter when a sudden jolt reminds you of the challenges on our streets. In this episode of Road Rules 360 , Wendy Nash sits down withJohn Burrill, a former Transport and Main Roads official with 20 years of experience. Together, we unpack the history, complexities, and quirks of Queensland’s personal mobility device (PMD) legislation. Di...

In this Road Rules 360 episode of the Streets and People podcast, Wendy Nash and John Burrill tackle a road rule question from Ryan, a listener. The issue? What happens when a cyclist and a car both move through an intersection. John brings his extensive expertise from years in transport and road rules to break down the key responsibilities for both drivers and cyclists in this situation. He makes...