

Radio Free Urbanism
Alex Williams | Ethan Meyers | Nic Laporte
The voice of the urbanist! Join Alex, Nic, and Ethan as we discuss the optimistic future of urbanism, city planning, and transit in North America!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 24, 2024 • 55min
BONUS: Exploring the Netherlands (feat. Roy Symons)
In this episode of Radio Free Urbanism, host Nic is joined by Roy Symons, a professional engineer specializing in bicycle infrastructure and sustainable transportation. They discuss Roy's journey from traffic modeling to urban planning, the influence of literature on his career, and the role of social media in shaping urbanism. Roy shares insights from his travels in the Netherlands, where he documented his experiences in his book, FietsPad, highlighting the importance of cycling infrastructure and the lessons learned from different cities. In this engaging conversation, Nic and Roy Symons explore the cycling culture and infrastructure in the Netherlands, comparing it to other cities and discussing personal experiences with biking. They delve into the importance of proper cycling infrastructure, the benefits of biking, and the challenges faced in North America.Roy Symons: https://www.rollinginthecity.ca/ Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzAlex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoor

Nov 21, 2024 • 1h 6min
Ep.51 More Than a Bike Lane Ban... (feat. Ben Durham)
Today on the show Ethan and Nic are joined again by Ben Durham to talk Doug Fords Bill 212, MKBHD speeding in a school zone and congestion pricing coming to NYC!Ben Durham: https://www.youtube.com/@BenDurhamSend us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks:Ben's Bill 212 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-1vT0TmQjs&MKBHD: https://x.com/zekrotja/status/1856413518024868227NYC congestion pricing: https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/11/13/hochul-to-resurrect-congestion-pricing/

Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 5min
Ep.50 This isn't Amsterdam!?!
Today on the show the guys celebrate the 50th episode by discussing rejected podcast titles. As for topics they cover the antics of a New York council member, E-bikes in the suburbs and SEPTAs fair increases and service cuts. Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks:SEPTA: https://wwww.septa.org/news/septa-announces-major-fare-increase-proposal-for-jan-1/ NYC Council Member: https://www.reddit.com/r/MicromobilityNYC/comments/1g9rx6i/where_are_you_from_nyc_council_member_vickie/

Nov 7, 2024 • 38min
Ep.49 Progress in the Face of Adversity
Today on the show the guys talk about how we can still make our cities better in spite of the recent US federal election and Ethan makes a return to talk trains!Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks:Quebec Ontario HSR: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/toronto-montreal-high-speed-rail-1.7367300

Oct 31, 2024 • 1h 1min
Ep.48 Trunk or Treat?
This week Alex and Nic discuss trunk or treat, HSR in Canada, furthering subsidies for drivers in Ontario and Alberta's new accessibility design guide.Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks: Gas Tax Cut: https://www.thestar.com/business/ontario-government-moves-to-extend-5-7-cent-gas-tax-cut-to-june-2025/article_f9ce5d10-b528-553b-be8c-0cc8b25ed168.html HSR: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/high-speed-rail-canada-1.7365835 Accessibility Guidelines: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-publishes-new-accessibility-design-guide-but-minister-says-more-needs-to-be-done-1.7364390

Oct 24, 2024 • 1h 9min
Ep.47 $71 Million per Kilometre Bike Lane!?(ft. Best Side Cycling)
Today on the show are joined by Hanoch of Best Side Cycling to talk about changing the name "bike lane", Ontario Bike lane fiasco continues and Canada's sot of building transit.Best Side Cycling: https://www.youtube.com/@BestSideCycling Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks: Canada's soft corruption problem: https://thehub.ca/2024/10/03/eric-lombardi-canada-can-no-longer-afford-to-ignore-its-soft-corruption-problem/ Ford Fiasco: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lanes-legislation-ontario-ford-sarkaria-1.7352228

Oct 17, 2024 • 1h 2min
Ep.46 Speed Was Not a Factor...
Today on the show the guys discuss the implications of changing local speeds limits, Tesla reinventing the bus and California's youth E-bike ban.Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks: E-bike Ban: https://obrag.org/2024/10/gov-newsom-signed-bill-allowing-cities-within-san-diego-county-to-ban-ebike-use-by-riders-under-12/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Calgary 40km streets: https://calgaryherald.com/news/more-calgary-roads-40-km-h-speed-limit-residents-requests Tesla Robovan: https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-robovan-first-look-review/

Oct 10, 2024 • 59min
Ep.45 Should We Shame Drivers?
Today on the show they guys discuss shaming drivers, Calgary turning apartment buildings into homes and Transit and Resiliency to storms. Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks: Calgary Conversion Program: https://livewirecalgary.com/2024/09/19/federal-cash-allows-the-restart-of-calgarys-downtown-office-conversion-program/

Oct 3, 2024 • 1h 9min
Ep.44 Google Maps Gets TRAINS! (ft. Urban Avenues)
Today on the show Alex and Nic are joined by Jamie of Urban Avenues to discuss Google showing train prices, noise cameras in BC and regional rail in Arizona. Urban Avenues: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChrBancxS_RqkTT4WRQ4x6Q https://urbanavenues.city/ Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks: Google Suggests Train: https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/27/24255817/google-search-flights-amtrak-train-suggestions-tickets B.C. Noise Cameras: https://vancouversun.com/news/noise-cameras-bc-cities

Sep 26, 2024 • 1h 9min
Ep.43 Banning Bike Lanes (ft. True Communities)
Today on the show the guys are joined by Patrick of True Communities to discuss Ontario Premiere Doug Fords plans to ban new construction of bike lanes, Amtrak's reviving the "Floridian" and reconnecting communities near highways. https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCommunities Send us a question: radiofreeurbanism@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/RadioFreeUrbanism Instagram: https://rb.gy/ezn9rzX(Twitter): https://x.com/RFUrbanism?s=20Alex: https://www.youtube.com/@humanecitiesEthan: https://www.youtube.com/@climateandtransitNic: https://www.youtube.com/@nicthedoorLinks: Bike Lane Ban: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-government-bike-lanes-1.7328878Amtrak Floridian: https://tinyurl.com/4yd9n99b


