Active Towns

This is a conversation with Bike Streets founder Avi Stopper about how our cities can start building Bike Networks Now, not 30 years from now, using a Network First strategy.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Bike Streets website👉 My recent Bike Streets ride with Avi👉 Avi Stopper on the Pod Ep 292 and Ep 184🤙 This episode mentions my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Fold...

In this episode, I finally connect with Fionnuala "Finn" Quinn, founder of TrafficGardens.com, for an in-depth discussion about the history and future of traffic gardens as a strategy to help create safer, more inviting communities for all ages and abilities. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Traffic Gardens Main Site👉 Traffic Gardens Info site👉 The Kentucky Traffic Garden video with the Bike Lane👉 My Playlist of videos featuring Prof. Peter NortonIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consi...

In this episode, I reconnect with Eileen McGinnis, Founder & Executive Director of the Parents' Climate Community, for an in-depth discussion about what prompted her to start this organization, as well as Austin's Kidical Mass, Bike Bus, and all things sustainable active mobility as caregiving.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Parents’ Climate Community website👉 Austin’s First Kidical Mass video (full length)👉 Austin’s First Kidical Mass video (just the ride)👉 Book: The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution by Mary Democker👉 Book: From What Is to What If by R...

In this episode, I reconnect with my good friend, the former Executive Director of the Adventure Cycling Association, Missoula, Montana-based, Jim Sayer. We catch up on land use and parking reform progress being made in the State, in general, and in the city in particular. We also address some street design changes in the works, before shifting our attention to all things bike touring and adventures by bike. We also nerd out a bit on Edinburgh, Scotland. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Adventure Cycling Association website...

In this episode, we reconnect with Victor Dover, co-author of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, Second Edition, for a deep dive into precisely why streets matter so much in shaping our daily lives, for better and for worse, and how, by learning from the world’s best streets, we can transform our dysfunctional and dangerous cityscapes into more livable environmentsHelpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 The Street Design website... Use the discount code ARC20 on the Wiley site or...👉 Buy the book on...

LIVESTREAM RECORDING:  Beth Osborne, President & CEO of Smart Growth America, joined me for an in-depth discussion about the newly released Dangerous by Design 2026 Report. 👉 Preview the Report hereIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coff...

In this episode, Clarence Eckerson, Jr., shares some behind-the-scenes insights into the making of his new documentary profiling the amazing 34th Avenue Open Streets installation, now viewed as a permanent linear park, formally named Paseo Park by the city. This version was recorded live and then edited.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Streetfilms website👉 Sara Lind Open Plans episode👉 Bruce Appleyard episode👉 My most recent episode with Cathy Tuttle👉 My episode with Lenore Skenazy👉 My Paris School Streets videoIf you are a fan o...

In this episode, I connect with Professor Sara FL Kirk, with Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for an in-depth discussion about her research centered on environments that promote healthy, active living, what prompted her to become a safer streets activist, hint: it's the story as we heard from Tom Flood with the Urban Truth Collective, and some of her favorite initiatives she's been involved with there in Halifax.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Urban Truth Collective episode👉 Grant Ennis Dark PR episode👉 Tim Gill and...

New York City is on the cutting edge of many amazing "Streets Are For People" initiatives, and Open Plans is increasingly front and center in this movement with campaigns such as School Streets, Low Traffic Neighborhoods (LTNs), Public Space Management, Intersection Daylighting, and many more. In this episode, I connect with Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans, to discuss the projects they are working on and their universal applicability to car-centric cities worldwide.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Open Plans website👉 Streetsblog NYC<br...

In this episode, I connect with Ashton Rohmer, a doctoral candidate in Peace and Conflict Resolution studies, who is examining Car Supremacy and our societal acceptance of vehicular violence through her research on the ideology of car supremacy and on reimagining streets as sites of care and community. She challenges us to imagine more peaceful streets for everyone.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 "Car supremacy: Deconstructing the ideology driving our modal hierarchy" paper👉 Ashton's website to follow along with her journey👉 Brompton Bicycles👉 Buy Your Bra...

In this episode, I connect with Professor Michael Pollack for a deep dive into his fabulous new book Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America’s Most Overlooked Resource. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Buy the book through the Active Towns Bookshop or via Amazon hereIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Lives...

In this episode, I welcome back my good friend and colleague, Chris Bruntlett, International Relations Manager with the Dutch Cycling Embassy, for a follow-up discussion about the resurgence of everyday cycling culture and cycling infrastructure as an official policy in a variety of cities across China.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Dutch Cycling Embassy website👉 Chris & Melissa Bruntlett - Modacity website👉 Dutch Cycling and China Part One👉 Chris in a Cameo Leipzig Velo City Bike Parade👉 Women Changing Cities episode with Melissa & ChrisIf...

In this episode, we dive into the details of the Navahine Settlement with the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, with Luca Cuniberti, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council member, and Doorae Shin, Navahine Settlement Coordinator with Our Children's Trust.The settlement agreement, which the court has approved, recognizes children’s constitutional rights to a life-sustaining climate and mobilizes HDOT to plan and implement transformative changes of Hawaiʻi’s transportation system to achieve zero emissions in all ground transportation, and interisland sea and air transportation, by 2045. The court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the agreement for the next 21 years...

In this episode, I connect with Sam Johnson from the World Bank for a discussion about the connection between active mobility for all ages and abilities and livable communities, as well as, overall quality of life measures. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Invest In Livable Communities👉 Invest In Livable Communities FAQ👉 My episode with Prof. Ruth Oldenziel from TU Eindhoven👉 You can connect with Sam on LinkedIn👉 Ireland's progress in active mobilityIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast...

How streets are transformed into safer, more inviting places is messy and difficult. This fascinating new documentary dives deep into the details of just such a transformation in New York City, and the results are beautiful and inspiring, yet frustrating on so many levels. You'll ask: "Why does it have to be so hard?" and then you'll see the very human responses to the prospect of change and how the advocates for safer streets navigate the minefield of barriers to progress.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Cha...

In this episode, I reconnect with Tim Gill and meet Alice Ferguson for a discussion about a recent report they collaborated on titled “Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom,” which calls for a radical, child-centered approach to decision-making around streets and transport planning.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom Report👉 The Urban Playground Episode with Tim Gill👉 Fighting for Family Friendly Streets Episode with Tim Gill👉 Marco’s book Movement: How to Take Back Our Streets and Transform Our Lives👉 Pet...

In this episode, I reconnect with Tom Flood and Grant Ennis and meet Brent Toderian to discuss their new collaborative effort, the Urban Truth Collective: The truth about cities in an age of disinformation.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 The Urban Truth Collective website👉 The Urban Truth Collective on Bluesky👉 The Urban Truth Collective on Instagram👉 The Urban Truth Collective on LinkedIn👉 Rovelo Creative, Tom Flood's website👉 My most recent episode with Tom👉 Dark PR episode with Grant Ennis👉 Brent's websiteIf...

In this episode, I reconnect with Ross Chapin, author of Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World, for an in-depth discussion about this powerful approach to creating more livable communities.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 Ross Chapin's website for resources👉 My Pocket Neighborhoods video from 2017👉 Buy the book: Pocket Neighborhoods - Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World:  or on Amazon👉 Incremental Development website👉 My Montreal Alleyways tour guide video👉 Episode 76, May 2021, featuring RossIf you are a fan of the Active...

In this episode, I connect with Jacob Davis, host of The Cities in Motion Podcast, for a discussion about what led him to want to host an urbanism and sustainable communities podcast that channels the tenets of the Strong Towns and Active Towns movements. We also profile the opening of the new Wishbone Bridge, which closes a critical gap on the Butler Hike & Bike Trail around Ladybird Lake in Austin, TX.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 My episode on The Cities in Motion Pod👉 Amtrak/Brompt...

This is the recording of my Live discussion with Charles “Chuck” Marohn, Founder and President of Strong Towns, about their Mission Accomplished: End Highway Expansions Now initiative, and what we as a nation and at the local level should be focusing our transportation dollars on.For more information:👉 Strong Towns Mission Accomplished websiteIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams2. Join the Active...