Episodios

  • NACTO and It's New Bikeway Design Guide w/ Executive Director Ryan Russo
    Mar 14 2025
    In this episode, you'll learn all about National Association for Transportation Officials (NACTO) and their new Urban Bikeway Design Guide from Executive Director, Ryan Russo. Ryan starts by sharing his origin story working for NYC DOT doing bicycle and pedestrian planning and executing the PlaNYC vision for the better part of 14 years before leaving for Oakland, California to launch a new Department of Transportation Department, where he was for five years prior to returning to NYC to take the helm at NACTO.NACTO is an association of North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues.The NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide, Third Edition will help city leaders and street designers meet the needs of our time and sets a new standard for street design in North America. Developed for cities, by cities, the new guide is more than a permission slip for better street design–it’s a prescription for safe, connected, equitable bike networks. It captures lessons learned and emerging practices to set a new bar for the design of city streets. New topics address critical gaps, including planning and project development.The guide includes information on advisory lanes or edge lane roads, protected bikeways and roundabouts, and various shared street designs.We also discuss the Designing Cities Conference taking place in May of this year.#streetsareforpeople #allagesandabilities #bicycleinfrastructure #bikewaydesigns 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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):👉 NACTO website👉 Purchase the Urban Bikeway Design Guide👉 Transportation Alternatives👉 Ep 158 with Warren Logan👉 My episode with Wes Marshall - Killed By A Traffic Engineer👉 Advisory Lanes (Edge Lanes Roads) episode with Michael WilliamsIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with citiesCredits:- Video and audio production by John Simmerman- Music via Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this video:- My recording platform is Ecamm Live- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite- Equipment: Contact me for a complete listFor more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:- Active Towns Website- Active Towns on Bluesky- Weekly Update e-NewsletterBackground:Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    59 m
  • Shoup's Legacy of Parking Reform w/ Tony Jordan
    Mar 7 2025

    🅿️ Parking Reform Network founder, Tony Jordan shares how PRN is continuing Prof Donald Shoup's work and more.

    Cities around the globe, inspired by the ground-breaking work of Prof. Donald Shoup, who recently passed, are beginning to reform their parking codes, drop parking minimums, and address land use codes that perpetuate car dependency, and PRN helps support and track their efforts. Tony also shares how he discovered Shoup's seminal book The High Cost of Free Parking, got inspired to advocate change within Portland, OR, and eventually found the global initiative that is the Parking Reform Network.

    Honorable Mentions in this episode include:
    👉 Chuck Marohn, Strong Towns
    👉 Doug Klotz a veteran Portland advocate
    👉 Michael Anderson, Sightline Institute
    👉 Lindsay Banks Bayley, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
    👉 Jane Wilberding, HNTB
    👉 Michael Kwan, WSP
    👉 Catie Gould, Sightline Institute
    👉 Daniel Herriges, Parking Reform Network

    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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    🔗 Parking Reform Network website
    🔗 My most recent episode with Prof Donald Shoup
    🔗 Sightline Institute website
    🔗 Strong Towns website
    🔗 Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) website
    🔗 PDX Shoupistas - Portlanders for Parking Reform

    If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
    1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities

    Credits:
    - Video and audio production by John Simmerman
    - Music via Epidemic Sound

    Resources used during the production of this video:
    - My recording platform is Ecamm Live
    - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
    - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list

    For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
    - Active Towns Website
    - Active Towns on Bluesky
    - Weekly Update e-Newsletter

    Background:
    Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

    Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."

    The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.

    Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    54 m
  • Human Transit w/ Jarrett Walker
    Feb 28 2025
    In this episode, I connect with Jarrett Walker, author of Human Transit, revised edition. This book, aimed at a nontechnical reader, explores the challenging questions that you must think about when planning or advocating for public transit in your community. We discuss what aspects of the public transit landscape have changed since the first edition in 2011, such as the rise of small shared personal mobility options like scooters and bikes, work from home trends, and increasingly imaginary techno-whiz-bang solutions like tunnels, aerial gondolas, and flying cars sucking up funds and attention, while also addressing the core fundamentals of effective public transportation that remains same. We also talk about the power of having walkable and bikeable environments to maximize the utilitarian potential of transit and access to opportunity.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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Jarrett Walker & Associates website- Human Transit blog- Jarrett on Bluesky- My episode with Dan Hendry - My episode with Lenore Skenazy- My episode with Peter Norton on Autonorama- My episode with Peter Norton on the history of protesting for safer streets- My Brompton and airports video- Bike and Train Magic episode with Roland KagerIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with citiesCredits:- Video and audio production by John Simmerman- Music via Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this video:- My recording platform is Ecamm Live- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite- Equipment: Contact me for a complete listFor more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:- Active Towns Website- Active Towns on Bluesky- Weekly Update e-NewsletterBackground:Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    58 m
  • Creating People-Centered & Nature-Based Cities w/ Reena Mahajan
    Feb 21 2025

    In this episode, I connect with Reena Mahajan, founder of Paris-based Studio Divercity, to discuss creating people-centered and nature-based cities and reducing car dependency in cities around the globe. Studio Divercity envisions a world where people-centered & nature-positive cities replace car-centric urban sprawl. Reena is an architect, urban planner, and mobility advocate with a strong background in low-impact, water-sensitive, and sustainable urban development. Her story is yet another example of a parent radicalized into being a safe streets activist while trying to keep her young child safe from the violence posed by car drivers. We also gush a bit about the fabulous Paris School Streets program and street greening efforts.

    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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Studio DiverCity website
    - Tom Flood's Rovelo Creative website
    - My first episode w/ Tom Flood
    - My second episode w/ Tom Flood
    - My Paris 2015 car-free day video

    If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
    1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities

    Credits:
    - Video and audio production by John Simmerman
    - Music via Epidemic Sound

    Resources used during the production of this video:
    - My recording platform is Ecamm Live
    - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
    - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list

    For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
    - Active Towns Website
    - Active Towns on Bluesky
    - Weekly Update e-Newsletter

    Background:
    Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

    Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."

    The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.

    Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    1 h
  • Car Free Challenge in Los Angeles w/ Phil Burns
    Feb 14 2025
    In this episode, I connect with Phil Burns, Managing Principal of the Pasadena-based Arroyo Group, for a discussion about his six-week trial of going car-free this past summer and the people-oriented street transformations in the Los Angeles area that the Arroyo Group is involved with. Phil provides a comprehensive breakdown of his modal mix during his car-free experience, including transit, walking, and cycling with a rented electric assist bike from a local non-profit, Active SGV. Phil also mentions the exciting development of a Dutch-style protected/separated bike lane and protected intersection in Glendora, CA.We mention Prof. Donald Shoup, who passed away after this episode was recorded but before its release.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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- The Arroyo Group website- Active SGV website- Phil's Car Free for Six Weeks Post on LinkedIn- Ep 270 Patty Wiens - Winnipeg Bicycle Mayor- Ep 183 Travis Norvell - The Pedaling Pastor- Week Without Driving website- Ep 245 Anna Zivarts - When Driving Is Not An Option- Ep 275 Prof Donald Shoup - A Final Conversation- Strong Towns 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. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with citiesCredits:- Video and audio production by John Simmerman- Music via Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this video:- My recording platform is Ecamm Live- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite- Equipment: Contact me for a complete listFor more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:- Active Towns Website- Active Towns on Bluesky- Weekly Update e-NewsletterBackground:Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Bike Bus & A Culture of Activity with Jessica Tillyer
    Feb 7 2025

    In this episode, I'm honored to connect with Jessica Tillyer, one of the volunteers who jumped in to start the Montclair bike bus efforts that provide multiple bike buses across this New Jersey township every Friday. We also discuss the potential of school street initiatives and how the Montclair bike bus is helping to change the narrative of what streets are for and helping to kickstart an emerging culture of activity that previously was latent.

    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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Montclair Bike Bus website
    - Sam Balto and Bike Bus World
    - Megan Ramey and a bike bus in Hood River, OR
    - Jordi on the Bike Bus movement in Barcelona
    - Emily Stutts on a Bike Bus in NYC
    - My school streets short
    - My school streets video w/ Prof Billy Fields

    If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
    1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities

    Credits:
    - Video and audio production by John Simmerman
    - Music via Epidemic Sound

    Resources used during the production of this video:
    - My recording platform is Ecamm Live
    - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
    - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list

    For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
    - Active Towns Website
    - Active Towns on Bluesky
    - Weekly Update e-Newsletter

    Background:
    Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

    Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."

    The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.

    Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    59 m
  • Shifter: A Chat w/ Tom Babin
    Feb 5 2025
    In this episode, I finally connect with Tom Babin, the creative genius behind the Shifter YouTube Channel about everyday cycling. Tom shares what inspired him to start the Channel, we look back to some of the earliest videos as well as his most popular creations, we naturally discuss winter cycling (how could we not?), and then we shift gears to discuss recent trends and the challenges facing communities as they attempt to push back on the status quo car dependency and motonormativity.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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling- My Episode with Pekka Tahkola on Oulu- My Episode with Erin Riediger- Plain Bicycle Project in Winnipeg- My City Nerd Episode with Ray Delahanty- My Not Just Bikes ride with Jason in Amsterdam- My recent BicycleDutch ride-along video with Mark- Paige Saunders Channel- My Grant Ennis Dark PR episode- My episode with Maddy Novich- Sam Balto and Bike Bus World- My Paris School Street video with Billy Fields- My episode with Anna ZivartsIf you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with citiesCredits:- Video and audio production by John Simmerman- Music via Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this video:- My recording platform is Ecamm Live- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite- Equipment: Contact me for a complete listFor more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:- Active Towns Website- Active Towns on Bluesky- Weekly e-NewsletterBackground:Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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    56 m
  • Sacred Roots and Mobility Freedom w/ Ronnie Harris
    Jan 31 2025

    In this episode, I reconnect with Ronnie Matthew Harris, founder of Sacred Roots, to discuss his active mobility backstory, including a pivotal cycle network study tour to The Netherlands and his work with the City Thread organization. We then cover how these experiences have culminated in his effort to restore and renew a rundown section of Gulfport, Mississippi, into a flourishing community.

    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. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for more video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Sacred Roots website
    - Ronnie Matthew Harris on LinkedIn
    - City Thread website
    - Active Transportation Alliance website
    - My episode with Roshun Austin from South Memphis
    - Randy Neufeld on LinkedIn
    - Randy's new organization, Good For Us

    If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
    1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    3. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities

    Credits:
    - Video and audio production by John Simmerman
    - Music via Epidemic Sound

    Resources used during the production of this video:
    - My recording platform is Ecamm Live
    - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
    - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list

    For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
    - Active Towns Website
    - Active Towns on Twitter
    - Periodic e-Newsletter

    Background:
    Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

    Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."

    The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.

    Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2025

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    Más Menos
    1 h