Active Towns

In this episode, I reconnect with Gracen Johnson of Ottawa, Canada, for a conversation about architecture, land use zoning, active mobility, and how having a dog enables her to meet so many people.We also talk about her writing and video work in the early days of the Strong Towns organization, as well as her contributions to the Incremental Development movement. I also learned that she is originally from and initially started her running routine in London, ON, or as Jason Slaughter with Not Just Bikes likes to call it, Fake-London. Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect.Landing page for the episode Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Strong Towns- CNU- Urban3 - Order your own set of STEP Cards- My recent episode w/ Chuck Marohn- My episode w/ Pekka Tahkola in Oulu, FinlandFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, I connect with the nine-time award-winning writer, director, and producer, Jennifer Boyd about her most recent film, The Street Project: The Fight to Make Our Streets Safer.We also discuss what led her on the journey to make this film on safer street design, a topic she knew nothing about before the cameras started rolling. She shares how making this film has profoundly changed how she sees our cities, streets, and land use patterns.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect.Landing page for the episode From the film's website: "THE STREET PROJECT is the story about humanity’s relationship to the streets and the global citizen-led fight to make communities safer.Digging deep into the root causes of traffic violence, the filmmakers engage a diverse array of experts, including street historian Peter Norton, city planner Jeff Speck, and urban design expert Mikael Colville-Andersen. These expert interviews are interwoven with the stories of real people working to make their communities safer.Jennifer Boyd has produced and directed more than 25 documentaries, nine of those films have won EMMY awards.  Recent projects include 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel, which Good Morning America called “Groundbreaking.” Boyd has also co-created and produced two music television series Infinity Hall Live and The Kate, with 40 episodes in distribution.Currently, she is executive producing and directing a 5-part series on the history of Las Vegas, and a documentary on Mesa Verde National Park.The Street Project was filmed over 4 years and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic." Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- The Street Project film website- 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel film- Filmmaker Jennifer Boyd's websiteFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, I am honored to have a truly delightful conversation with Avital Barnea, the CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) Deputy Secretary for Transportation Planning, about her journey to the transportation field, the state capital of California, by way of Washington DC, and why she has chosen to go car-free.We also discuss the massive challenges California and our nation are facing with regard to climate change and pervasive car dependency and the steps we need to take to turn things around, including modeling what is possible.Originally from Montana, Avital made her way two the Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota, before making the big move to Washington, DC which is when she decided to ditch her car, and she has never looked back.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect.Landing page for the episode to see some of the featured visuals Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Toward a Multimodal California: How the State is Investing in Walking, Biking, and Transit- CalSTA websiteFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, I reconnect with Matt Pinder, a traffic engineer who designs people-oriented roads and intersections; he's also a safer streets advocate with both a blog and a YouTube channel. We get into the details and discuss the role of community members and city leadership.We also discuss the nuts and bolts of shifting the focus of transportation engineering towards redesigning our streets for people, and we even walk through the creation of a "Dutch-style" protected intersection within the existing intersection footprint.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effect Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Our Bicycle Streets episode from Season 1- Matt's blog Beyond the Automobile- Matt's YouTube Channel- How to Design a Dutch-Style Protected Intersection video- Matt on Twitter- Ontario Traffic Man YouTube Channel- Oh The Urbanity! YouTube Channel- My ep. w/ Jasmine & Patrick w/ Oh The Urbanity!- Not Just Bikes YouTube Channel- My first episode w/ Jason w/ NJB- My second episode w/ Jason w/ NJB- NJB Crossing the Street Shouldn't be Deadly video- NJB STROADS video- NJB Wonderland Rd, London, ON video- Strong Towns website- The War on Cars Podcast- Car-Free Megacities episode- City Beautiful YouTube Channel- RMTransit YouTube ChannelFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteStudio Equipment:- Main MIcrophone Sennheiser Pro Audio MKH416-P48U3- Rode RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio- Additional Microphone - Shure MV7- Camera - Sony ZV-E10 (currently sold out)- Lens - Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens- Elgato Cam Link 4k- Elgato Streamdeck XL*- Elgato Streamdeck (*you may not need the XL)Editing Computer System:- Apple MacBook Pro 16" 2021 M1 Pro- LG 34WP88C-B 34-inch Curved 21:9 UltraWide QHD (3440x1440) IPS Display with Ergo StandFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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 find this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. Any donations collected are used specifically to support the organization's mission.To make a donation to Advocates for Healthy Communities go here ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, I connect with Emily Stutts, a special ed teacher from Brooklyn, NY, who has just returned from a summer school class in Germany and The Netherlands focusing on transforming our streets into people-oriented places through quick interventions. Emily's journey to becoming a passionate urbanist and advocate for creating safer, more activity-promoting streets and communities is such an inspiring tale for any concerned community member who would like to make a difference in their neighborhood.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectHelpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Megan Ramey episode- Billy Fields episode- Lior Steinberg episode- The Car That Wanted To Be A Bike book in the Active Towns bookshop and on Amazon  - George Liu episode- Darcy Kitching episode- Tim Gill episode- Curbing Traffic book by the Bruntlett's in the Active Towns Bookshopand on AmazonFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteStudio Equipment:- Main MIcrophone Sennheiser Pro Audio MKH416-P48U3- Rode RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio- Additional Microphone - Shure MV7- Camera - Sony ZV-E10 (currently sold out)- Lens - Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens- Elgato Cam Link 4k- Elgato Streamdeck XL*- Elgato Streamdeck (*you may not need the XL)Editing Computer System:- Apple MacBook Pro 16" 2021 M1 Pro- LG 34WP88C-B 34-inch Curved 21:9 UltraWide QHD (3440x1440) IPS Display with Ergo StandFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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 find this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. Any donations collected are used specifically to support the organization's mission.To make a donation to Advocates for Healthy Communities go here ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this first episode of Season 4, I'm honored to present this chat I had with Emilia Hanna, Manager of the Car-Free Megacities Campaign - a fun yet serious competition between New York, Paris, and London to reduce their levels of car-dependence and relieve themselves of the negative impacts that motor vehicles inflict on the city.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectCan you imagine London, Paris, and New York free from car dependency?The Car Free Megacities campaign is a two-year project in London, New York, and Paris to reimagine our cities as places where private cars become obsolete and to dramatically raise policy and public support for urban car reduction. This campaign is a collaboration between climate charity Possible, think-tank the New Weather Institute, Paris sans Voiture, Brooklyn Spoke, TransAlt, Westminster University’s Active Travel Academy, and Glimpse, supported by the KR Foundation, and Brompton.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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, the Season 3 Finale, I welcome back Doug Gordon, co-host of The War on Cars Podcast and founder of Brooklyn Spoke Media, for some reflections on the past eight months of safer streets for everyone developments and some of our favorite episodes.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectIn addition to our conversation, we fielded questions and comments from our live audience via YouTube chat.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- My first episode with Doug, Ep 61, Season 2- My episode w/ Dr. Natalia Barbour- My episode w/ Sam Balto- My episode w/ Jessie Singer- The WOC episode w/ Jessie- The WOC episode on the Auto Show- The WOC episode w/ Marley Blonsky - The WOC episode w/ Edward Niedermeyer- The WOC episode w/ Amy Westervelt- The WOR episode They Paved r/place and Put Up a Parking Lot- BicycleDutch video on the Utrecht canal- Curbing Traffic book by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett- Clarence Eckerson Streetfilms 3rd St Vid- Ryan Van Duzer- Jason Slaughter w/ Not Just Bikes- Bicycle Colorado - Michelle Wu - Mayor of Boston- Anne Hidalgo - Mayor of Paris- Valérie Plante - Mayor of Montreal- My episode w/ Billy Fields- Jos Sluijsmans w/ The International Cargo Bike FestivalFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome back Billy Fields, Associate Professor, Texas State University, for a detailed discussion about his recent month-long trip to Europe to study and document the amazing street transformations taking place in many cities, including Barcelona, Paris, Utrecht, and Amsterdam, to name just a few.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectIn this episode, we take a good look at the street of the future, and it may just surprise you.Dr. Billy Fields, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, and each summer, he likes to take a group of students over to The Netherlands to experience what he describes as resilient street designs that add to health, wellbeing, and vibrancy of the city.This summer, he also was able to visit several cities in Spain in addition to Paris, so we discuss some of the street transformations he witness in those locations as well.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): - My first interview w/ Prof. Billy Fields, Ep 74– Adaptation Urbanism and Resilient Communities Transforming Streets to Address Climate Change- Cornelia Dinca, Sustainable Amsterdam- BicycleDutch video on the Utrecht canal- BicycleDutch video on the Utrecht Fietsstraat conversion- Curbing Traffic book by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett- MobyconFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, I reconnect with Ivey Kaiser, Executive Director of Austin's Shoal Creek Conservancy, for a chat about some exciting updates addressing some crucial gaps in the trail. We also talk about how important it is to provide safe and inviting access to meaningful destinations served by the trail for All Ages & Abilities.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectHelpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Shoal Creek Conservancy website- My Shoal Creek Blvd Protected Cycle Track RideFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★

In this episode, I reconnect with Robert "Rob" Spillar, Former DOT Director for Austin, TX, and current Senior Vice President, National Director of Smart Cities for STV. We discuss his nearly 14-year career launching and leading the transportation department and how two significant study trips abroad help to shape the trajectory of mobility in the Texas capital, the establishment of a comprehensive bicycle network master plan nearly a decade ago, and the quickly emerging Dutch-inspired cycle network that is currently being constructed.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectIn Rob's new role as the Senior Vice President and National Director of Smart Cities, he will establish and lead STV's new multidisciplinary practice.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- STV's website- My Austin Dutch-inspired playlist- Austin bike network milestone - Austin's Active Transportation & Street Design Division websiteFour 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 Patreon2. 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 Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground: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, 2022Advocates 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 ★