Streets and People

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.

On this People & Projects episode, Wendy Nash and Peter Parker discuss the successful community-led 'Fix 800 Bus' campaign in southeast Melbourne. Peter Parker, a transport planner, shares the initiative's triumph in securing seven-day bus services for the City of Greater Dandenong. The conversation looks into the campaign's strategies, the importance of community engagement, the social benefits of improved bus services, and the challenges faced along the way. Key takeaways include fostering community conversations, leveraging local media, and the role of local government in advocating for better transport solutions. To find out more about Peter Parker and the Fix800Bus project, check out these resources: Fix800Bus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fix800BusMelbourne on Transit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelbOnTransitMelbourne on Transit blog: https://melbourneontransit.blogspot.com www.GetAroundCaboCarfree.com.au

In this episode of 'Road Rules 360,' Wendy Nash and John Burrill discuss the specifics of electric bike regulations in Queensland. They share the importance of compliance, the different categories of electric bikes, and the legal definitions governing their use. The conversation covers how non-compliant electric bikes, such as those modified with petrol engines, become unregistered motorcycles and where they can be legally ridden. They also explore the logistics of purchasing compliant electric bikes, the benefits of buying from official stores, and the potential pitfalls of aftermarket modifications. Additionally, the conversation touches on the challenges of current road rules for non-motorized vehicles and potential areas for legislative overhaul to better accommodate modern transportation methods. https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/electric-bicycle-rules www.GetAroundCaboCarfree.com.au