In this episode, I connect with Dave Edwards in Toronto, Canada for a discussion about his journey from an occasional recreational cyclist to a passionate advocate for everyday utilitarian riding and an executive with an electric cargo bike delivery company. Video version of this episode Cargo bikes are not new, but with advancements in electric-assist technologies, they are fast becoming a common feature for smartly dressed folks out on the town, for DIY types at the hardware store, for parents...
May 11, 2022•47 min•Season 3Ep. 122
In this episode, I connect with Jeff Speck author of Walkable City and Walkable City Rules for a conversation talk about some important reflections, learnings, and updates featured in a new 10th anniversary version of Walkable City which will be out soon Video version of this episode Walkable City which came out ten years ago was a breakout success as a book about the why and how of creating walkable vibrant downtowns and helped bring the concept of walkability into the mainstream consciousness ...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 121
In this episode, I chat with Jill Warren the CEO of the European Cyclists' Federation about two international events coming up in June, her personal journey to her role, and how the organization is promoting cycling of all kinds throughout Europe and beyond. Video version of this episode The European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) has these two very important cycling gatherings and events taking place in June. Jill Warren, the CEO of ECF was gracious enough to join me at a moment's notice to share s...
May 05, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 120
In this episode, I connect with Tom Flood, as known as "tomflood1" on Twitter, who shares his story of transformation from advertising and marketing for the automobile industry to becoming a parent who is now keenly aware of just how hostile our streets are, especially for our youngest and oldest community members. Video version of this episode Tom first turned to Twitter to vent his frustrations but now he has an international following of nearly 16,000 and he is turning his advertising skills ...
Apr 29, 2022•46 min•Season 3Ep. 119
In this episode, I connect with Kathryn King, Urban Mobility Manager of New Zealand's Transport Agency for a discussion about the progress the country is making and the plans ahead for creating more streets for people to address the significant challenges we are facing globally. Video version of this episode After living in The Netherlands, Japan, and London, England, Kathryn King returned home to Auckland, New Zealand to help transform the environment by creating more Streets For People as the ...
Apr 22, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 118
In this episode, I connect with Chris Nolte, an entrepreneur with a passion to help get more people riding more often by providing practical solutions and entertaining, educational videos. Video version of this episode Electric-assist bikes and e-cargo bikes have in many ways supercharged the bike industry and provided much-needed practical utilitarian solutions to many households worldwide. Ten years ago Chris Nolte had a vision that people would want a better, cleaner way to get around and so ...
Apr 15, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 117
In this episode, I am delighted to reconnect with Meredith Glaser, Director of the University of Amsterdam's Urban Cycling Institute, for a brief discussion about life as a parent and ex-pat in The Netherlands, freedom of mobility for children there, her recent dissertation defense/research, and we end with some exciting new education opportunities being developed at the University and Institute, including a Master's of Cycling joint program with two other universities Video version of this epis...
Apr 08, 2022•39 min•Season 3Ep. 116
In this episode, I reconnect with Professor Piatkowski, who recently moved his family from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Oslo, Norway, to help launch a new graduate program in Smart Mobility and Urban Analysis at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), so I wanted to get his first impressions of his new home, how the family is adjusting, and better understand why they decided on Norway. Video of this episode Landing page for this episode Daniel Piatkowski, is an Associate Professor, in Integrated Land-U...
Mar 31, 2022•48 min•Season 3Ep. 115
In this episode, I reconnect with Jean-François Rheault, Président-directeur général at Vélo Québec, for a deep dive into all the amazing programs, events, initiatives, and services provided by this versatile organization. Video version of the episode Landing Page - for access to photos and videos We talk about the community favorite rides Tour de l’Île de Montréal and Tour la Nuit as well as the critical bicycle education efforts for the area's children. I absolutely loved my trip up to Montréa...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 114
In this episode, I reconnect with Brandon for a chat about his new home, Carmel, Indiana, a location famously known as the roundabout city in North America. We discuss the amazing transformation of the Monon Trail into Monon Boulevard and the establishment of a new city center. Video version of the episode Additionally, we cover Dutch bikes, Dutch-inspired cycling infrastructure, cargo bikes, roundabout, #BikeTwitter influences, and so much more in the return of The American Fietser to the Podca...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 113
In this episode, I am honored to have Shabazz Stuart on to tell us all about Oonee: A innovative secure, and equitable bike solution for cities. Brown in Brooklyn and about to go global. Video version of this episode Show Notes: Finding a safe and secure place to park your ride is increasingly a huge challenge and with the relative value of bikes rising with many more people riding electric-assist cycles and cargo-bikes theft rates are rising and becoming a major concern. The Oonee Pod service p...
Mar 04, 2022•56 min•Season 3Ep. 112
In this episode, I reconnect with Mark Wagenbuur the creative genius behind the BicycleDutch YouTube Channel and blog. Mark has a unique perspective on the transformation of The Netherlands into the most bicycle-friendly country in the world because he has lived through and documented these changes over time. Video version of this episode Show Notes: Driven by a passion to share the positive stories and learnings of the Dutch with regards to bicycle path network development is largely what keeps...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 111
In this episode, I connect with Tatiana Sales Lust for a discussion about what it was like to learn how to ride a bike as an adult, how e-assist has given her confidence to ride more, and how game-changing it is to have access to a network of safe facilities as well as an e-cargo bike to haul real stuff on a daily basis. Video version of this episode Tatiana Sales Lust has an exciting and inspiring story of empowerment and self-confidence facilitated by a little Dutch cycling magic, a bike that ...
Feb 18, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 110
In this episode, I welcome back Jason Slaughter, the creative genius behind the fantastic Not Just Bikes YouTube Channel, for deep dive into understanding the "hidden secret" behind the success of the Dutch mobility networks. Video for this Episode - first released as a special Holiday bonus video in December Jason Slaughter with Not Just Bikes in Amsterdam chats with me about how the Dutch have created what he calls "bicycle roads" and have teased out and separated their cycle priority networks...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 109
In this episode, I connect with Scott Epstein a candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 5 for a discussion about his vision for a more livable Los Angeles. Video for this episode The other day my good friend Josh Paget of the Better Cities Film Festival (formerly known as the New Urbanism Film Fest) reached out and said 'you have got to interview my buddy Scott, he's passionate about cities for people, and he's running for city council in LA.' I didn't hesitate for a moment, and I'm so h...
Feb 11, 2022•52 min
In this episode, I'm honored to welcome Dr. Richard J (Dick) Jackson to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about designing healthy communities, the urgency of addressing the climate emergency, especially in the medical industry, and what has him optimistic for the future. Video version of the episode We are faced with major challenges on multiple fronts, a climate emergency, an obesity epidemic, and preventable deaths from fossil fuel air pollution, yet this public health expert and pro...
Feb 04, 2022•53 min•Season 3Ep. 108
In this episode, I connect with Megan Ramey, a mom and safer street advocate in Hood River, OR for a conversation about what it takes to make a difference on the street at a community level. Access the video here I am asked all the time by listeners and viewers of this podcast, 'how can I make a difference and effect change in my community?' My answer is to engage with your neighbors, find a kindred spirit or two, speak up, and use these lessons from Megan Ramey to help guide you. She and I talk...
Jan 28, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 107
In this episode, I connect with Tim Gill, author of the book, Urban Playground: How Child-Friendly Planning and Design Can Save Cities for a discussion about this radical yet simple planning and design concept, and we discuss why this needs to happen and how to go about doing it. Link to the video of this episode and to the landing page for photos What if most of our public realm was a collection of child-friendly spaces such that the urban fabric was essentially a "playground", a platform for c...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 106
In this episode, I welcome Peter Norton back to the Pod for a conversation about his new book Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving and what we, as a society, really want our future to look like. In Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving, technology historian Peter Norton argues that driverless cars cannot be the safe, sustainable, and inclusive “mobility solutions” that tech companies and automakers are promising us. The salesmanship behind the driverless future i...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 105
In this episode, I reconnect with Dutch Mobility Network Design: Lennart Nout with Mobycon and he likes to say the "Devil is in the Details" when it comes to creating "All Ages & Abilities" active mobility networks that not only encourage users to walk, cycle, and take transit more often but also to prompt motor vehicle drivers to drive slower with patience and attentiveness. - Video Link: Getting the Details Right w/ Lennart Nout Hi everyone! Thanks for tuning into this first episode of 202...
Jan 06, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 104
In this episode, I reconnect with Vancouver, BC's Transportation Planning Manager, Dale Bracewell, for a discussion about how an "All Ages & Abilities" active mobility network, school streets, and other TDM programs, as well as pricing access to the city core all, plays a critical role in the city. This episode is available in a visually rich video format , which is highly recommended. Episode landing page Road space reallocation, All Ages & Abilities active mobility network, e-cargo-bik...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 103
In this episode, I connect with Sarah Abel, an architect, and planner who has become a subject matter expert in complete streets design and promotion and has focussed in recent years on bringing the Safe Systems Approach into sharp focus for cities here in North America. Traveling to meaningful destinations should not be a dangerous activity where you risk serious injury or worse, however, increasingly, our streets are becoming less safe, especially for anyone not in a large motor vehicle, and i...
Dec 10, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 102
In this episode, I return (virtually) to Delft in The Netherlands to connect with Natalia Barbour, Assistant Professor in transport and energy at TU Delft, and we have a wide-ranging discussion about her background and work, what it was like to make the move from Florida to The Netherlands, and how she and the family are adjusting to basically a car-free lifestyle after previously being car-dependent. Available in video format! Click here for the video version of this episode on our YouTube Chan...
Dec 03, 2021•57 min•Season 3Ep. 101
In this, our 100th episode, I am delighted to welcome a very special guest, Clarence Eckerson, Director of Streetfilms, for a discussion about reaching the milestone of 1,000 plus videos promoting more walkable, bicycle-oriented, and transit-friendly communities from around the world. For obvious reasons, you may prefer to watch the video version of this episode, here's that link . Our landing page for this episode The Streetfilms video profiling Dutch cycling and Dutch cycle network design in U...
Nov 12, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 100
In this episode, I reconnect with Arleigh Greenwald, Product Market Manager for Tern Bicycles and also known as Bike Shop Girl, for a conversation about how e-bikes and cargo bikes can provide pragmatic solutions to real problems and how to provide empathic support to those who are curious but are unsure what their next steps should be. Empowering Daily Life by Bike is Arleigh's mission for her content creation persona of Bike Shop Girl and is consistent with her role as Product Marketing Manage...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 99
In this episode, I reconnect with Sarah Frey, Development and Marketing Director with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick, for an in-depth conversation about the Trail and the impact it has had on the health and vitality of the city and its residents. Landing page on the Active Towns website for access to videos and photos of the trail In June 2021, I had the honor of attending the Walk Bike Places conference in Indianapolis, Indiana and one of the things I was ...
Oct 29, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 98
In this episode, I reconnect with Mike Lydon for an 18-month update from our last episode in the early days of the pandemic. We discuss some of the amazing street transformations underway around the globe, including in NYC with projects such as the Little Prince Plaza. And here's our landing page for this episode - for access to the videos and photos Pop-up protected bike lanes, separated cycle tracks, open streets, and even plazas are some of the pilot projects that we have seen over the past t...
Oct 20, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 97
In this episode, I welcome back Victor Dover of South Miami's Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning for an in-depth discussion about why starting with the green parts, the parks, greenways, open spaces, wilderness, and even street trees when planning our communities is critical. We also talk about the importance of getting our streets designed right and how that can help more people feel more comfortable while walking and riding a bike. This episode has been produced as a video with some rich...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 96
In this episode, I speak with Michael Williams about Edge Lane Roads, also commonly referred to by some people as Bicycle Advisory Lanes - a name you'll soon learn Michael doesn't particularly prefer. The type of bicycle infrastructure is quite common in The Netherlands and in Denmark and, when done well in the proper context, can serve as a critical part of an "All Ages & Abilities" network. Our YouTube video version of this episode for the full visual experience Landing Page for this episo...
Oct 08, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 95
In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Ken Rose, Chief of the Physical Activity and Health Branch, within the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative which was launched in early 2020. We also discuss some of the underlying challenges and barriers making physical activity difficult for far too many people, such as lack of access to activity assets like parks and trails an...
Oct 01, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 94
