Active Towns

Active Towns

By John SimmermanSociety & CultureEducation
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Active Towns episodes

  • Reclaiming the Road w/ Prof. David Prytherch

    In this episode, I connect with David Prytherch, Professor of Geography at Miami University in Oxford, OH, for a conversation about transforming our streets back into people-oriented places and his recently published book, Reclaiming the Road: Mobility Justice Beyond Complete Streets.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Reclaiming the Road in the Active Towns bookshop and on Amazon
    πŸ‘‰ Amtrak Tour link
    πŸ‘‰ Tucson trip video no. 1 and no. 2
    πŸ‘‰ My 2024 European trip
    πŸ‘‰ My episodes with Peter Norton
    πŸ‘‰ My Pittsburgh videos - Part One and Part Two
    πŸ‘‰ My Oakland conversation with Warren Logan
    πŸ‘‰ My Oulu, Finland episode with Pekka Tahkola
    πŸ‘‰Β  NACTO - National Association of City Transportation Officials, here's my episode on the NACTO bikeway guide

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 20 min
  • A Framework for Combating Motonormativity w/ Dr. Catherine Elliot

    In this episode, I connect with Dr. Catherine Elliot, an American living in Winterthur, Switzerland, just outside of ZΓΌrich, for a discussion about strategies for overcoming motonormativity, some research that she's been involved with in this realm, including the concept of E-Bike City, and the Moveable initiative.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Thanks to Chris Bruntlett with the Dutch Cycling Embassy for connecting us
    πŸ‘‰Β Motonormativity "Car-Brain" episode
    πŸ‘‰ NYT Opinion Slomo video
    πŸ‘‰ Professor Wes Marshall's book Killed by a Traffic Engineer or on Amazon here
    πŸ‘‰ My Livestream here on YouTube with Wes
    πŸ‘‰ My episode with Dr. Dick Jackson
    πŸ‘‰ My recent episode with Tom Flood
    πŸ‘‰ My Families for Safe Streets episode
    πŸ‘‰ My most recent Tour de Fat profile video
    πŸ‘‰ Fort Collins Bike Co-Op story about Raphael Cletero
    πŸ‘‰ E-Bike City (EBC) best link
    πŸ‘‰ EBC Project Website for the General Public
    πŸ‘‰ University Website with publications
    πŸ‘‰ EBC Presentation of Main Findings
    πŸ‘‰ EBC Visualizations for download
    πŸ‘‰ EBC Storymaps
    πŸ‘‰ The E-Bike City: Designing sustainable streets. Summary PDF of findings
    πŸ‘‰ All EBC animations/3D videos
    πŸ‘‰ EBC Explainer animation
    πŸ‘‰ EBC 3D video
    πŸ‘‰ Bikeable, walkable, moveable, schoolable website
    πŸ‘‰ Moveable Explainer video

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 9 min
  • Why Are Dutch Employers Subsidizing Driving in 2025?

    In this episode, I connect with Peter Nouwen from 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands for a discussion about the productivity benefits of having healthy, active employees and the curious, nonsensical policy practices of many employers that incentivize driving a car rather than taking transit, walking, or cycling to work. We launch into the discussion by channeling Jason Slaughter's Not Just Bikes Gym of Life video and give a hat tip to Mark Wagenbuur with the BicycleDutch Channel

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Not Just Bikes' The Gym of Life video
    πŸ‘‰ Bicycle Dutch Channel
    πŸ‘‰ Wendy Suzuki TED Talk
    πŸ‘‰ John Ratey’s book Spark
    πŸ‘‰ My Utrecht lunch crowd video
    πŸ‘‰ My ride from Houten to Utrecht video
    πŸ‘‰ Pete's commute ride video
    πŸ‘‰ Pete's Strava
    πŸ‘‰ Gym Of Life-Strava team

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    58 min
  • Adapting Dutch Cycle Network Design Principles to the North American Context w/ Nick Falbo

    In this episode, I finally connect with Nick Falbo to nerd out on the history of protected bike lanes and protected intersections in the United States, how we got so off-track, and how he is leveraging the Dutch cycle network design standards to build world-class infrastructure here in North America while working with the Dutch firm Mobycon.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Mobycon website
    πŸ‘‰ Bill Schultheis episode
    πŸ‘‰ Ryan Russo episode
    πŸ‘‰ NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide
    πŸ‘‰ PeopleForBikes website
    πŸ‘‰ Tom Vanderbilt’s book Traffic
    πŸ‘‰ Mia Birk’s Joy Ride
    πŸ‘‰ BicycleDutch Channel
    πŸ‘‰ Talking Roundabouts with Lennart
    πŸ‘‰ My Mueller Playlist
    πŸ‘‰ Austin Dutch-Inspired Playlist

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 12 min
  • Car Free Parks & Trails with Paul Steely White

    In this episode, I finally connect with Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York, for a ride down memory lane, reminiscing about his time in Missoula, MT, his role as Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives in NYC, and serving as the final driver in Central Park and then we catch up on his more recent activities focussing on Parks and Trails from his new home base in Upstate New York. This is a fun one featuring cameos from our favorite A.U.T.O. lobbyist, Veronica Moss, also known as Kate McKinnon, Clarence with Streetfilms, JSK, and even Robert "Bob" De Niro.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Parks & Trails New York
    πŸ‘‰ Empire State Trail
    πŸ‘‰ Adventure Cycling Association
    πŸ‘‰ Karen Overton and Recycle-A-Bicycle
    πŸ‘‰ My on-bike interview with Dan Burden
    πŸ‘‰ Ep 304 Jennifer Hamelman
    πŸ‘‰ Rails to Trails Conservancy
    πŸ‘‰ Transportation Alternatives
    πŸ‘‰ Barton Springs Road project playlist
    πŸ‘‰ Meet Veronica Moss aka Kate McKinnon on Streetfilms
    πŸ‘‰ Kate’s Veronica Moss spoof Times Square Redo
    πŸ‘‰ Veronica Moss visits Times Square Streetfilms
    πŸ‘‰ Ep 275 with Prof Donald Shoup
    πŸ‘‰ Jan Gehl - Cities For People
    πŸ‘‰ Carmel, IN Monon Blvd video with American Fietser
    πŸ‘‰ Richard Louv - The Nature Principle
    πŸ‘‰ Amy Camp Trail Towns
    πŸ‘‰ Trust For Public Land
    πŸ‘‰ 10-Minute Walk to Parks Campaign

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 1 min
  • Exploring the Joy of Bicycle Travel with Jennifer Hamelman

    In this episode, I connect with Jennifer Hamelman, the Former Director of Routes at the Adventure Cycling Association, for a conversation about the USBRS (United States Bicycle Route System), the joys of bicycle travel and bicycle touring, and what she'd like to do next related to food systems.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Adventure Cycling Association
    πŸ‘‰ Rails to Trails Conservancy
    πŸ‘‰ My Bike League episode with Bill Nesper
    πŸ‘‰ My on-bike interview with Dan Burden
    πŸ‘‰ Ride with GPS
    πŸ‘‰ USBRS Map
    πŸ‘‰ My episode with Jill Warren (EuroVelo)
    πŸ‘‰ My Brompton Playlist
    πŸ‘‰ My episode with Heidi Beierle
    πŸ‘‰ My East Coast Greenway episode
    πŸ‘‰ Adventure Cycling Short Routes Prg
    πŸ‘‰ Ryan’s Channel Β 
    πŸ‘‰ My bicycling with Butterflies episode with Sara Dykman
    πŸ‘‰ Warm Showers
    πŸ‘‰ Indigo Produce Growing Community episode

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 8 min
  • A Bold Mobility Vision Plan for a Dutch Village w/ Christian Ratering

    In this episode, we'll head back to the Netherlands for a somewhat surprising conversation with Christian Ratering, a Senior Policy Maker with the village of Renkum, about some bold actions being taken as part of an official policy, the Renkum Mobility Vision Plan (MVP), to make the community truly safe and inviting for all ages and abilities. We'll also discuss his doctoral studies about how people with a variety of anxiety disorders navigate their world and interact with mobility infrastructure.

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

    πŸ‘‰ Renkum MVP document
    πŸ‘‰ Urban Cycling Institute article about the MVP
    πŸ‘‰ Melissa Bruntlett’s new consulting venture, Modacity Creative

    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 video content.

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    45 min
  • Reflecting on the Dutch Cycling Embassy in China with Chris Bruntlett

    In this episode, I welcome back Chris Bruntlett to the podcast for a chat about his reflections on his recent visit to China representing the Dutch Cycling Embassy. I think you'll be surprised at the scale and pace of the cycling infrastructure (re)emerging across the country.

    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 video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Dutch Cycling Embassy
    πŸ‘‰ Chris and Melissa's Books
    πŸ‘‰ Chris's Presentation on Austin at Velo-city

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 8 min
  • Families for Safe Streets feat. Amy Cohen and Patty Avery

    To kick off Season 10 of the Podcast, I have a conversation with Amy Cohen and Patty Avery, two dedicated volunteers with the Families for Safe Streets organization, about how this national initiative is taking bold steps to confront the epidemic of traffic violence and change the narrative surrounding the preventable casualties of motor vehicle crashes on our streets, including policies to address the built environment and deal with the egregious of speeders and reckless drivers causing a significant amount of carnage in our communities.

    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 video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Families for Safe Streets
    πŸ‘‰ Transportation Alternatives
    πŸ‘‰ There Are No Accidents episode
    πŸ‘‰ Reclaiming the Right of Way by Angie Schmidt
    πŸ‘‰ Speed Limiters page
    πŸ‘‰ Stop Super Speeders America Walks
    πŸ‘‰ World Day of Remembrance
    πŸ‘‰ It Could Be Me
    πŸ‘‰ The White Line: Changing Driver Behavior
    πŸ‘‰ The Vision Zero Network
    πŸ‘‰ What is Daylighting video from Streetfilms
    πŸ‘‰ FFSS Story Map

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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 35 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    57 min
  • Restoring Mobility Freedom for Children w/ Tim Gill

    In this episode, I welcome back Tim Gill, the author of the book Urban Playground, for an encore conversation about the need for more family friendly places that reduce car dependency and return independence to roam to our children, elderly, and those unable to drive a motor vehicle.

    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 video content.

    Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
    πŸ‘‰ Previous Episode with Tim Gill and the Episode Landing Page
    πŸ‘‰ Urban Playgrounds book in the Active Towns Bookshop and on Amazon
    πŸ‘‰ Most recent episode with Peter Norton
    πŸ‘‰ Episode with Isabelle Clement Wheels for Wellbeing
    πŸ‘‰ Episode with Anna Zivarts
    πŸ‘‰ Wes Marshall’s livestreaming episode
    πŸ‘‰ Killed by a Traffic Engineer book in the Active Towns Bookshop or on Amazon
    πŸ‘‰ Episode on Indigo
    πŸ‘‰ Profile of Culdesac
    πŸ‘‰ My episode with Cyprine Odada Mitchell in Nairobi, Kenya

    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. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams
    2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month
    3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee"
    4. 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,Β  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

    β˜… Support this podcast on Patreon β˜…
    1 hr 3 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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