The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

Enrique Peñalosa Londoño has an international reputation for using the humble bus, bikeway, sidewalk and park to make cities more equitable, starting with his game-changing two terms as the mayor of Bogotá, Colombia. And in his new book, Equality and the City: Urban Innovations for All Citizens, he unpacks how those tools can transform communities into advanced cities where the transportation is an equalizer rather than a divider.  Tune into this guest episode from Scott Shepard of the #CitiesFirst podcast, and check out a transcribed excerpt from their converasation on Streetsblog USA  

Who, exactly is designing America's notriously deadly road network — and how on earth do they keep getting away with it?  On today's episode of The Brake, we’re talking to traffic engineer, academic and now author, Wes Marshall, whose new book — “Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies Our Transportation System” — unpacks the mountain of wildly outdated, severely limited, and often downright non-existent research that underlies so much of our national road design manuals.  More importantly, though, Marshall's book also unpacks the more fundamental reasons why engineers keep widening lanes and saying no to crosswalks, even when the manuals give them permission to do something better — which, more often than not, they do. Listen in, and read an excerpt from "Killed by a Traffic Engineer" here.

The Dutch are known around the world as global leaders in sustainable transportation. But as excellent as they are at designing cities to optimize the mobility experience, what about all the other reasons residents might move through their communities — and what other questions should the Netherlands and America be asking about what public space is really for? Those questions are at the heart of the new Dutch book “Movement: How to Take Back Our Streets and Transform our Lives,” which is now out in English for the first time. And on this episode of the Brake, we sit down with authors Thalia Verkade and Marco te Brömmelstroet to talk about how much of their country treats bikes as “cars on two wheels,” the good and bad ways that e-bikes are reshaping their landscapes, and how American communities can continue to learn from the Dutch example, while also joining them in the fight for even better streets.  

Author Anna Zivarts discusses the movement of non-drivers in the US, focusing on inclusive transportation solutions and the challenges faced by those who can't drive. She explores the importance of addressing the needs of this significant population through alternative mobility options and collective action.

Author Megan Kimble discusses grassroots efforts in Texas to fight highway expansions, highlighting the campaign to remove I-345 in Dallas. They delve into the impact of highway projects on communities and the need to challenge auto-centric city planning, with a focus on envisioning cities without highways like Rochester, New York.

Lindiwe Rennert, Urban Institute Senior Research Associate, discusses the root causes of violence against transit workers, highlighting the correlation with police brutality and income inequality. The podcast explores community-driven solutions to address violence on transit and challenges the role of armed transit police and elected officials in tackling this issue.

Research paper co-authors Shelley Bontje and Chris Bruntlett discuss balancing traffic calming with emergency response times. They delve into the Dutch approach to street design for both cyclists and EMS vehicles. The podcast explores innovative governance models, cultural traits of Dutch engineers, and the importance of collaboration between bike advocates and EMS workers for safer cities.

Former Bicycling Magazine editor Peter Flax and guest host Gersh Kuntzman discuss the unity and joy of biking, advocating for collaborative efforts to improve biking infrastructure. They delve into promoting cyclist rights, transforming cities positively, addressing challenges in bike advocacy, and reframing the definition of a 'real cyclist' to foster inclusivity and safety in biking culture.

In this podcast, they discuss the hidden health impacts of car culture, the societal injustices of auto mobility, and the need for sustainable transportation interventions. They delve into the negative impacts of automobility, including traffic crashes, pollution, and violence, and highlight the pervasive harm it inflicts on society. The podcast encourages shifting towards walking, cycling, and public transportation for safer and healthier cities.

Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey discuss the importance of walkability studies for American communities, emphasizing the transformative impact of prioritizing pedestrian safety in urban planning. They explore low-cost strategies for improving walkability, such as replacing traffic lights with stop signs, and address the challenges and benefits of enhancing urban mobility through pedestrian-friendly designs.