Making Active Places by Active Travel England

This episode features Eve Holt, Head of Policy and Implementation at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in conversation with Sophie Edmondson, Director of Planning, Development and Strategy at Active Travel England.

Recorded at the Making Active Places Conference in Manchester, the discussion explores how listening to lived experiences, participation and community action can help policy makers to tackle some of society's most complex challenges, including women's and girls' safety.

What makes a place truly work for people? And how can better streets, parks and public spaces transform health, wellbeing and opportunity?

In this episode of the Making Active Places podcast, National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman sits down with Dr Saira Ali, President of the Landscape Institute, to explore why great places are about far more than infrastructure.

Drawing on her experience leading transformational projects in Bradford, Saira discusses the importance of listening to communities, designing with, rather than for, people, and creating spaces that encourage walking, cycling, social connection and healthier lives.

Saira also reflects on lessons from cities such as Paris and Barcelona, the opportunities created by devolution, and why every project should start with the question: how will this make people feel?

How do you build places that give people real transport choices, improve health and connect communities?

In the first episode of the Making Active Places podcast, National Active Commissioner Chris Boardman chats with David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, to explore why transport is about far more than getting from A to B.

David reflects on growing up walking to school, the challenges of serving one of England's largest and most diverse regions, and why creating safe, connected routes for walking, wheeling and cycling can unlock benefits far beyond transport. 

Find out about David's experience of seeing world-class cycling infrastructure in Ghent, the role of devolution in driving local change, and why he believes transport must be woven into decisions on housing, health, skills and economic growth. You will also discover just how many types of Belgian beer there really are...