Streets and People

Patrick Siegman joins Wendy to reveal how parking policy secretly shapes housing, community, and urban life. Learn why small reforms can make cities more liveableand equitable.

Wendy talks with Patrick Siegman about the hidden impact of parking policy on housing, community, and urban life. From costly university garages to minimum parking rules that inflate rents, Patrick explains why rethinking parking matters for both cities and suburbs. He shares practical ways communities and planners can drive change, showing that even small shifts in policy can make neighbourhoods more liveable, equitable, and sustainable. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that goes far beyond cars, into the heart of how we design and live in our communities.

Check out our chat with Tony Jordan from PRN: https://getaroundcaboolture.au/tony-jordan-parking-reform-journey/

Find Patrick on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-siegman-412b33209/

Patrick’s website: www.siegman.biz

PRN’s website: www.parkingreform.org

A good article: https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/articles/2022-10-shifting-gears-eliminating-off-street-parking-requirements/

Podcast theme music: Doctor Yes | Yari | Bensound

GetAroundCaboolture.au

What happens when an advertising creative turns his skills toward safer streets? In this episode, Wendy sits down with Tom Flood to explore how bold visuals, humour, and human-centred storytelling can transform the way we talk about road safety and urban space.

From a family bike ride that sparked unexpected advocacy to poster campaigns that challenge “what’s normal” on our streets, Tom shares how creativity can cut through politics, data, and jargon to connect with everyday people. Together, they unpack the power of reframing, fighting car-centric narratives with wit, and using art to humanise policy debates.

A conversation about empathy, imagination, and how redefining the norm can help build streets that work for everyone.

Follow Tom on Instagram @rovelocreative

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tomflood.bsky.social

To connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-flood-7a91b411/

To share Tom's posters, follow his Facebook page  - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583795684294

Here's Tom's website: creativebyrovelo.com

GetAroundCaboolture.au

What if the simple act of riding a bike could change an entirecommunity?

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Megan Ramey — a bold voice reimagining how children, parents, and neighbourhoods move through their streets. From joyful bike trains" to quick-build street transformations, Megan shows how two wheels can unlock independence, calm traffic, and reconnect people to the places they live.

This isn’t a conversation about cycling — it’s a conversation about freedom, confidence, and the kind of communities we want our kids to grow up in.

You’ll hear:

• How mobility shapes childhood and mental wellbeing

• Why safer streets can strengthen entire neighbourhoods

• The unexpected power of joy in driving social change

• Practical ideas any community can start tomorrow

Uplifting, thought-provoking, and full of real-world wins —this episode reminds us that big change can begin with something small, simple,and wonderfully human.

One bike. One street. One spark.

Press play — and imagine what could happen next. 🚲✨

During the conversation, we discuss the following:

Marco te Brommelstroet. Here's his episode.https://getaroundcaboolture.au/s1e44-pp-marco-te-brommelstroet-on-how-to-talk-about-transport-without-talking-about-transport

What is the Hill of Hysteria?https://thelabofthought.co/library/the-hill-of-hysteria

Life After Cars by Sarah Goodyear, Doug Gordon and AaronNaparstek https://www.lifeaftercars.com

Get AroundCaboolture.au

Transport expert Todd Litman, founder of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, joins us to talk about rethinking mobility, reducing car dependence, and his research on the Mobility Productivity Paradox—why more driving can actually lower productivity.

We discuss how walkability, public transport, and cycling make communities healthier and fairer, and how better planning can help suburbs like Caboolture become more multimodal. After the recording, Todd shared that Caboolture’s Walk Score is 33, highlighting its car dependence—and its potential to changewith investment in footpaths, pedestrian crossings, bikeways, and public transport. We also touch on Jennifer Kent’s research about how many everyday trips, like walking the dog, show the hidden value of walkable communities.

GetAroundCaboolture.au

What if parking wasn’t really free? Tony Jordan from the Parking Reform Network joins us to explain how parking rulesquietly shape housing costs, transport choices, and the look and feel of our neighbourhoods.

In this People and Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, Tony shares how one blog post changed his life — and how rethinking something as ordinary as a car park canmake towns and suburbs fairer, safer, and easier to get around.        🎧 Tune in tohear how parking reform could transform the places we live, work, and play.

Links and Resources

• Read the article that first inspired Tony: The High Cost of Free Parking – Metafilter: https://www.metafilter.com/93712/The-High-Cost-of-Free-Parking
• Visit the Parking Reform Network: https://parkingreform.org
• Explore Portlanders for Parking Reform https://pdxshoupistas.com
• Chapter: Parking and the City – Chapter 1 available on our website: https://getaroundcaboolture.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Shoup-2018-Parking-and-the-City.pdf
• Children’s Book to buy: Spot’s Parking Lot: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/096724661X/ref=cbw_us_au_dp_ags?smid=A4XRJ8S0WXSO0
• Book to borrow: Anna Zivarts – When Driving’s Not an Option at Moreton Bay Libraries: https://library.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?ENTRY=When+driving+is+not+an+option+%3A+steering+away+from+car+dependency+Zivarts%2C+Anna+Letitia&ENTRY_NAME=BS&ENTRY_TYPE=K&SORTS=SQL_REL_BIB&GQ=When+driving+is+not+an+option+%3A+steering+away+from+car+dependency+Zivarts%2C+Anna+Letitia&NRECS=20&QRY=&QRYTEXT=Full+catalogue&_SPQ=2
• More episodes at GetAroundCaboolture.au

In this People & Projects episode of Streets and People, we chat with Paris Lord, a passionate advocate who is reshaping communities in Canberra through cycling. From reconnecting neighbourhoods after the pandemic to inspiring people of all abilities to get involved, Paris’s journey shows the power of bikes to transform lives.

Rediscovering Cycling's Joy
Paris shares how his love for cycling began as a child in northern NSW, and how it has become a way to bring people together. His personal experience shows how cycling can create joy and freedom, helping to build stronger bonds within communities.

Bike Tours and Cultural Exploration
Through "Canberra by Bike", Paris takes locals and visitors alike on tours exploring the city's rich history, architecture, and culture. These tours aren't just about seeing the sights—they’re about bringing people closer to the heart of Canberra in a fresh, engaging way.

The Bike Bus Revolution
The Bike Bus is Paris’s innovative project that’s getting kids to school in a fun and active way, reducing congestion and promoting independence. The initiative has rallied support from families, local politicians, and activists, showing the power of community-led change.

Cycling for All Abilities
Paris emphasizes inclusivity in his projects, partnering with groups like Fit Ability to offer cycling events for people with vision impairments. His work highlights how cycling can be adapted to all abilities and how communities can grow by ensuring no one is left out.

Challenges on the Journey
Paris opens up about the obstacles he’s faced, from technical issues to low turnout at events. Through each setback, he's found resilience, proving that persistence and adaptability are key in any community-driven project.

Paris’s story is a powerful reminder that by engaging with our communities, we can all contribute to making our neighbourhoods more connected and vibrant. His work shows how cycling, and grassroots initiatives, can shape more people-centred cities.

Keep Pedaling Forward
Paris leaves us with a hopeful message: every small action matters. Whether you're joining a Bike Bus or cycling around your block, you’re contributing to a larger movement that encourages connection, creativity, and positive change.

You'll find the info on Paris' website and Lyneham BikeBus

GetAroundCaboolture.au

Russell King joins Streets and People to discuss how conservatives can embrace active and public transport. It's about independence, choice, reducing government spending, and improving health outcomes.

Active and public transport align with conservative values by giving people more freedom and autonomy while saving money in the long run. Tune in to learn why transport policy needs to be rethought from all political perspectives.

Sign up to Russell’s excellent newsletters and blogs here: transportlc.org/subscribe.

Get Around Caboolture.au

What if the biggest waste of space in Caboolture isn’t empty shops - but empty carparks? (Caboolture is a high growth outer suburb north of Brisbane).

In this episode of Streets and People, Wendy sits down with Steven Burgess, one of Australia’s leading voices on urban planning and parking reform. Steven’s journey started with Brisbane’s iconic New Farm–Teneriffe renewal and led him to ask a powerful question: what happens when we design streets for people instead of cars?

You’ll hear why car dependency costs communities more than just money - undermining safety, productivity, and even our sense of belonging. Steven shares stories of cities that thrive with less parking and more life, and he explains why the outer suburbs face both the toughest challenges and the biggest opportunities.

From urban villages within walking or biking distance, to smarter transport choices, to the economic upside of reform - this conversation reveals practical, hopeful ways your Council can grow into a safer, more connected, and more enjoyable place to live.

Listen in, and imagine what your suburb could become if we stopped paving paradise for parking lots.

To read the report about the post-parking reform transformation on Elizabeth Street, Hobart, see our website page for this episode

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn

GetAroundCaboolture.au

In this People and Projects episode of Streets and People,Wendy speaks with Anna Gurnhill about the Healthy Active by Design initiative, exploring its origins and the significant impact it has on urban planning and community health.

Anna explains how built environments can encourage physical activity and improve heart health, focusing on key principles like walkability, mixed-use land development, and community advocacy.

Anna reflects on her career from cultural geography to active transportation, sharing the Heart Foundation's motivation behind the initiative and its guidelines for creating healthier, more liveable communities. She alsooutlines successful case studies, recent research, and upcoming resources for professionals and community members working to build more walkable and heart-healthy neighbourhoods.

The conversation also highlights the complexities of transport in peri-urban areas and the critical role of community involvement in advocating for better urban designs. Anna’s insights provide a clear frameworkfor anyone working to create cities that prioritise health and accessibility and community members wanting more walkable places.

Links for Show Notes:

• Healthy Active by Design
• Submit Your Case Studies
• Follow Us on LinkedIn
• Community Walkability Resources
• Follow Us on the Facebook Walking Group

Get Around Caboolture.au

In this People and Projects episode of the streets and people podcast, Wendy sits down with Prue Oswin, a professional engineer and active transport specialist based on the Sunshine Coast. The conversation takes you through Prue's journey, from childhood days spent on bicycles and rollerblades to her experiences as a triathlete and her transition into transport planning.

Prue shares her deep passion for making communities safer and more accessible for active transport. She discusses the gap she noticed in her knowledge after becoming a mother and how it reshaped her approach to transport engineering. Her projects focus on making walking and biking safer, particularly for children. One of her standout achievements? Improving school safety by engaging with the community to identify infrastructure needs, leading to practical, cost-effective solutions like safer crossings that have resulted in more children biking to school.

In this insightful episode, Prue explores the power of low-cost interventions, highlighting how simple changes can have a significant impact on road safety and community well-being. From surveys at local schools to practical solutions for active transport infrastructure, Prue provides a comprehensive look at how we can create safer, more inclusive communities.

For more resources on the topic, check out the following links:

Various Articles: Sidelines Traffic Articles

Yandina Active Transport Infrastructure Improvements Survey Outcomes: Survey Results

Other articles:

• Footpaths: Stranded Assets in the Suburbs
• The All User Triangle

If you're interested in learning more about creating safer streets, this episode is a must-listen! Tune in now and join the conversation on how to improve active transport for all.

⁠Get Around Caboolture.au⁠