Active Towns

Active Towns

By John SimmermanSociety & CultureEducation
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Active Towns episodes

  • Walkable City Updates w/ Jeff Speck (video available)

    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 AND breaking news, it is being re-released as a special 10th-anniversary edition with a new forward by Janette Sadik-Khan and as you will learn in this video over 100 pages of new content provided as an update to the original text.  It is expected out by November 2022. Jeff and I talk about this and much more in this episode.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Jeff's website
    - Harvard Class
    - Suburban Nation
    - Walkable City (original version) if you can wait until the updated version is available in November
    - Walkable City Rules
    - The Congress for the New Urbanism website
    - James Howard Kunstler - The Geography of Nowhere
    - James Howard Kunstler - Home from Nowhere
    - Urban Sprawl and Public Health by Frumkin, Jackson and Frank
    - Green Metropolis by David Owens
    - The Option of Urbanism by Christopher B. Leinberger
    - The High Cost of Free Parking by Don Shoup
    - Landing page for my episode w/ Don Shoup
    - Playlist of my five CNU30 OKC videos
    - My video highlighting Cambridge, MA continuous elevated sidewalk and cycle path
    - My interview with Cara Seiderman
    - My Carmel, IN - Monon Blvd video
    - Strong Towns book by Chuck Marohn
    - Confessions of a Recovering Engineer book by Chuck Marohn
    - Jeff on the Strong Towns Podcast
    - Culdesac video
    - Culdesac website

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    1 hr 4 min
  • Promoting Cycling Worldwide w/ Jill Warren, ECF, CEO (video available)

    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 some information about the ECF organization as a whole, her journey to this role, and these special events in particular.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - European Cyclists' Federation (ECF)
    - ECF Benefits of Cycling Report
    - ECF Geometric design parameters for cycling infrastructure
    - World Bicycle Day online event June 3, 2022
    - Velo City Conference June 14-17
    - Information on COP26
    - Euro Velo long-distance routes
    - Jill Warren on Twitter
    - ECF videos on YouTube

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    55 min
  • A Parent's Journey to Safer Streets Advocacy w/ Tom Flood (video available)

    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 around to help promote safer streets for all ages and abilities.

    He points out that this is really not that complicated, it just requires the political will to stop accepting that crashes are inevitable, they're not, and start making the changes to the built environment which result in an enhanced quality of life, improved sustainability, and increased economic vibrancy for the community.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Follow Tom on Twitter
    - Here's Tom's Creative by Rovelo website
    - A recent workshop Tom helped coordinate - Flipping the Script on Traffic Violence
    - Crossing Guard Video (original)

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    46 min
  • Streets For People w/ Kathryn King, NZ Urban Mobility Mgr (video available)

    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 Urban Mobility Manager for the New Zealand Transport Agency.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Streets For People Program
    - Streets For People Video - profiled in the episode
    - Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails Network - we didn't get to talk about this but wanted to
    - Eindhoven Hovenring
    - Eindhoven Silly Walk Bicycle Tunnel

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    56 min
  • Propel Forward w/ Chris Nolte (video available)

    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 he launched his e-bike shop, which has now grown to three locations, Brooklyn, NY, Long Beach, CA, and Wilmington, DE.

    And as many of you know, a few years ago, he launched the Propel YouTube channel to help support the coming e-bike revolution, share empowering e-bike and cargo bike stories, and promote the development of better cycling infrastructure. He is supported in this endeavor by his intrepid, talented videographer, storyteller, and editor Tara Salvesen.

    Jason Slaughter with Not Just Bikes has a short cameo at the very end of the video. Dr. Meredith Glaser with the Urban Cycling Institute and Melissa & Chris Bruntlett with Modacity are mentioned.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Propel Bike Shops
    - Propel YouTube Channel
    - History of Propel Video
    - Riding w/ Mayor John Bauters
    - Night riding w/ Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes
    - Study Tour w/ Dr. Meredith Glaser
    - Riding w/ Melissa & Chris Bruntlett
    - Tara's website

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    57 min
  • Master's of Cycling w/ Dr. Meredith Glaser (video available)

    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 episode

    She also provides an update on what life's been like living in The Netherlands through a pandemic as both an ex-pat and a parent. We reflect a bit on the impact of study tours and some of the other initiatives of the Institute. She also describes some of the new course study opportunities she's involved with that will be coming online soon on Coursera and also a new joint Master's degree program.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Landing page for this episode
    - Urban Cycling Institute
    - Urban Cycling Institute YouTube Channel
    - University of Amsterdam profile
    - My first interview w/ Dr. Glaser
    - Coursera Unraveling the Cycling City
    - Coursera - Cycling Futures
    - University of Amsterdam Planning the Cycling City Summer Course
    - My short Dutch joy ride video
    - My Dutch Cycle Network Study Tour video
    - Austin's Mayor Steve Adler and Jim Wick w/ MoveATX discussing Final Mile Prg

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    39 min
  • Oslo: First Impressions w/ Professor Daniel Piatkowski (video available)

    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-Use and Transportation Planning and he has been involved with some of the more notable and helpful research studies and articles in the field of active mobility over the past dozen or so years. As you'll learn in this interview, I know Daniel, and we'll frequently run into each other at conferences such as the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) or Active Living Research (ALR), but I was frankly shocked (and a little jealous) to learn that he was headed to Oslo, so I wanted to learn more about the livability of the area, its safer streets, and the utilitarian bike scene.

    I was blown away by what he had to say and I think you will be too.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Prof. Piatkowski's personal website
    - New Master's Program at OsloMet
    - JTLU Article - Rule Following
    - Carrots and Sticks article
    - Interview w/ Wes Marshall
    - CNU - Congress for the New Urbanism
    - Streetfilms video on Oslo

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    49 min
  • A View of Vélo Québec w/ Jean-François Rheault (video available)

    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 Montréal in 2018 and I look forward to my return trip to explore more of Québec, perhaps as part of the Grand Tour.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - State of Cycling 2020 Report
    - Vélo Québec
    - Eco Counter
    - Streetfilms Montréal video
    - Ryan Van Duzer's Montréal Video

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    1 hr 4 min
  • Return of American Fietser aka Brandon Lust (video available)

    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 Podcast.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    - Brandon on Twitter
    - Brandon on YouTube
    - American Fietser #BikeTwitterMemes hashtag on Twitter
    - My first episode w/ Brandon
    - Video of my visit w/ Brandon in June 2021
    - My video episode w/ Tatiana (Mrs. American Fietser)
    - My video episode w/ Mark "BicycleDutch" Wagenbuur
    - My recent episode with Jason Slaughter NotJustBikes and my first episode with Jason

    Other Online Creators & Influencers We Talk About:
    - Thomas Schlijper, YouTube and Twitter
    - Henrik Lundorff, Twitter
    - Commute de Paris, Twitter
    - Jere M , Twitter
    - The Filming Fietser, Twitter
    - Pekka Tahkola, Twitter
    - Plain Bicycle Project, Twitter
    - Erin Riediger, Twitter - Plain Bicycle Podcast
    - Dustin, DOT Engineer, Twitter
    - Chris Nolte, Propel, YouTube
    - London Bicycle Café, Twitter
    - Bike Curious, Twitch
    - Relaxing train footage, Twitter
    - NotJustBikes on YouTube
    - BicycleDutch on YouTube

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    1 hr 20 min
  • Oonee: The Future of Bike Parking w/ Shabazz Stuart (video available)

    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 provides a high-quality, attractive solution to this problem while being free to use, thus helping to eliminate a major barrier to getting more people on bikes more often.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):

    - Oonee Pod website
    - Streetfilms Oonee Pod video
    - Streetfilms #BikeNYC Twitter Star vid
    - Thumbnail photo from this great article

    Disclosure: I personally believe so much in the Oonee vision that I made a small investment through the Republic platform 

    Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:

    1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon

    2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.

    3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel

    4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store


    Credits:

    All video and audio production by John Simmerman


    Music:

    Various mixes also by John Simmerman


    Resources used during the production of this episode:

    - My awesome recording platform is Ecamm

    - Adobe Creative Cloud Suite


    For more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:

    - Website

    - Twitter

    - Newsletter

    - Podcast landing pages

    - Facebook

    - Instagram


    Background:

    Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.


    I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.


    In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.


    Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order 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."


    My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio 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 for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.


    Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022


    Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.

    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
    57 min

About Active Towns

From the publisher's feed

Conversations about Creating a Culture of Activity: Profiling the people, places, programs, and policies that help to promote a culture of activity within our communities.

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