Streets and People

In this engaging People & Projects episode of the Streets and People podcast, join us as Marco te Brömmelstroet, a prominent voice in urban mobility and co-author of the book Movement, shares his journey and insights with Wendy Nash. Marco invites you to explore the vibrant world of urban development and mobility. Marco chats about the impact of car dependency on our cities, vividly illustrating how it shapes our urban landscapes and influences our daily lives. He brings to life the importance of holistic thinking in city planning, advocating for a shift away from car-centric approaches towards more inclusive, child-friendly, and sustainable urban systems. Hear Marco's captivating story as he reflects on his journey from an early fascination with the spatial dynamics of cities to his groundbreaking work at the University of Amsterdam. With a keen eye on the broader social costs of our current transportation systems, Marco emphasises the need to rethink our public spaces, enhance children's autonomy, and prioritise societal well-being over vehicle-centric designs. In this conversation, you’ll discover practical steps communities can take to foster more sustainable and playful urban environments. Marco's insights and the transformative ideas from his book Movement offer a fresh perspective on how we can reshape our cities for a better future. Movement: How to take back our streets and transform our lives. Thalia Verkade, Marco te Brömmelstroet (trans. Fiona Graham) https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/movement-9781922310798 Urban Cycling Institute free courses https://urbancyclinginstitute.org/courses-training/ The Culture of Stopping by Harald Welzer https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Culture+of+Stopping-p-9781509555871 Donnella Meadows on Externalities https://theecologist.org/2022/sep/26/leverage-points-60-year-legacy Sam Belto on how to start a bike bus https://bikeportland.org/2022/10/05/sam-balto-on-how-to-start-a-bike-bus-of-your-own-364734 Bike is Best: The best tool for the job: https://youtu.be/V6ChTqII-Yk?si=XqEXLT2hZPYBK0BX Go to GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au to hear Tom Taylor speak at La Trobe University about riding a bike in Melbourne from 4yo and his observations at 16yo.

Stephen Hodge, an experienced cycling advocate from We Ride Australia, shares his journey from competitive cycling to promoting safe transport policies. He highlights the economic, health, and social benefits of cycling, emphasizing that many short trips are suitable for bike riding. Stephen discusses innovative initiatives like the 'RideScore Active Schools' program, which improved student cycling rates significantly. He encourages community involvement in advocating for better cycling infrastructure, emphasizing that small changes can lead to significant improvements in local transport and health.

In this episode of the Streets and People podcast, tune in as you listen to Ruth Rosas from America Walks share her inspiring journey. Imagine growing up in a car-centric small town in Illinois, only to later embrace the vibrant, car-free life in Chicago. You'll feel the energy as Ruth discusses the sights, sounds, and sensations of moving through the city using alternative transportation modes. Hear about the powerful impact of robust public transit and dive into the mission of America Walks, from campaigns to decriminalize jaywalking to the dynamic National Walking College. This conversation is a vivid exploration of the challenges and rewards of living without a car and the push to create walkable, accessible cities for everyone, especially those who can't drive by choice or circumstance. weekwithoutdriving.org GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au

In this Road Rules 360 episode of the Streets and People podcast, Wendy Nash and John Burrill discuss often overlooked road rules pertaining to pedestrians. John, a retired road rules expert, highlights the complexities and inconsistencies within these regulations. They explore rules for crossing roads, interacting with vehicles at roundabouts and using pedestrian crossings among other topics. Their conversation emphasises the challenges of navigating streets safely as a pedestrian and questions the car-centricity of current road design, infrastructure and legislation. The episode aims to entertain and inform, without providing legal advice.

Irene McAleese, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of See.Sense, shares her journey from cycling enthusiast to innovator in bike safety technology. With a focus on urban cycling experiences in Singapore and London, she discusses how See.Sense’s AI-driven bike lights improve visibility and data collection to enhance urban planning. Irene also explores gendered riding patterns, community projects to encourage cycling, and her vision for safer, people-friendly cities. Join her as she reveals insights from her journey and the importance of inclusivity in cycling.

In this Not Everyone Drives episode of the Streets and People podcast, hosted by Wendy Nash, Travis Bassett shares his experiences and insights as an avid bike rider from Brisbane's Sherwood area. Travis, a podcast listener, discusses his reasons for financially supporting the podcast, focusing on promoting local stories and combating challenges in the area with fewer bike-friendly resources compared to places like Canada. Travis reminisces about extensive cycle tours in Europe and highlights the contrasts in bike riding culture, specifically the freedom experienced by children in Holland. He talks about the utility and benefits of using an electric cargo bike for daily commutes and school drop-offs, emphasizing its impact on fitness and convenience. Discussions also cover practical strategies for improving local bike infrastructure, the significance of community advocacy, and the potential benefits of electric bikes. The conversation underscores the importance of local bike riding networks, community engagement, and policy advocacy to enhance biking experiences and safety. Travis's recommended videos: Safe Streets for All - Bringing Dutch Transportation Planning to Bend - YouTube. It's a presentation from a Dutch engineer to a city in the US Bend. Travis found it interesting, just the way they see speed and safety as an engineering problem not so much a policing issue.  Also mentioned a lot of their funding for walking and cycling infrastructure, comes from reducing congestion to improve car trips. These Suburbs Have Incredible Untapped Potential for Cycling (youtube.com). Travis would like to do something similar to this.  They are just mapping distances between places in the suburbs for most people (like gym, grocery store, schools etc.).  Be interesting to apply this in an Australian context, particularly with ebike. www.GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au https://bq.org.au/advocacy/bicycle-user-groups

In this People and Projects episode, Wendy Nash interviews Dr. Anthony Kimpton, a lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland and an expert in urban planning and geographical information systems (GIS). Wendy and Anthony discuss his background in sociology and how it led to his work in planning and transport data. Anthony explains the importance of designing cities that prioritise walking and bike riding over cars to promote financial sustainability and public health. He also describes the use of GIS in urban planning, its evolution from static maps to interactive digital tools, and his current project focusing on participatory GIS (PGIS). This project aims to empower communities to engage in urban planning by identifying barriers and enablers in their local environments. The discussion also touches on Anthony’s experience teaching urban planning, his work with honours and PhD students, and the future of public transport and active communities in Australia. Connect with Dr Anthony Kimpton at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-kimpton and check out his research on https://staffprofile.unisq.edu.au/Profile/Anthony-Kimpton. On GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au, you'll see lots of tools and events to bring more life and vibrancy to your streets and community.

This People & Projects episode features a discussion between Wendy and Ishara Sahama, who met at the Asia Pacific Bike Riding Conference in Brisbane. Ishara talks about her role as a co-founder of the startup Echo Impact Group, working on the social impact of cycling infrastructure. The conversation delves into community engagement, the importance of grassroots movements, and how community views impact urban planning and infrastructure development. Ishara explains her expertise in human geography and community organizing, emphasising the need to integrate lived experiences into decision-making processes. The conversation also touches on the challenges of car dependency in urban areas and the importance of collaborative efforts in building sustainable community engagement. Ishara Sahama suggested these readings and supporting materials to further your understanding of what it means to centre and listen to community: Decolonising and critical approaches to community arts: centering relationality, communality, and power: https://futurereset.vichealth.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/VH_Future-reset_Lit-review_FINAL%5B1%5D.pdf Decolonizing Methodologies in Qualitative Research: Creating Spaces for Transformative Praxis: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/16094069211014766 Decolonizing Community Development Practice: https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/communitydevelopmentpractice/chapter/decolonizing-community-development-practice/ You can discover more about Ishara Sahama's work here: www.EchoImpactGroup.org. On GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au, you'll see lots of tools and resources to bring more life and vibrancy to your streets and community.

In this People and Projects episode, Wendy Nash interviews Iden Petraj, the Bike Mayor of Tirana, Albania. They discuss the substantial changes in Tirana's bike infrastructure, the role of a Bike Mayor, and the initiatives to promote bike riding within the city. Iden highlights the increase in bicycle parking spots, efforts to improve safety for bike riders, especially women, and provides insight into community projects targeting low-income areas. The conversation also covers the general bike riding culture in Tirana, comparisons with cities like Copenhagen, and the impact of winning Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure project by Bloomberg Philanthropies on funding on local bike riding projects. Find out more about Bloomberg Philanthopies and which other cities won this very coveted prize: https://bloombergcities.jhu.edu/bici and https://globaldesigningcities.org/ GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au

In this Road Rules 360 episode, Wendy Nash and John Burrill, former TMR Road Rules expert, discuss the complexities of road rules surrounding wheeled recreational devices (such as skateboards, foot scooters and rollerblades) and personal mobility devices. They explore definitions, legal requirements, safety guidelines, and the blurred distinctions between different types of devices. Despite John’s extensive experience in transport, both hosts acknowledge the confusing nature of current regulations and discuss how they could be simplified for better clarity and public understanding. https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/skateboards Find our list of tools, resources and podcasts on www.GetAroundCaboCarFree.com.au.