The Urbanist Agenda

Greg from Life Where I'm From discusses how Japan remains affordable compared to other developed countries. They delve into housing and transportation policies, zoning laws, and urban planning differences between Japan and Canada. They also explore the challenges of bicycling in Tokyo and parking practices in Japan and North America.

The podcast discusses living in San Francisco with autonomous vehicles, including accidents and challenges. Topics include protests against self-driving cars, controversies in autonomous vehicle testing, and advocating for human-centered cities over car dependency.

Unpacking the financial burdens of car ownership, including hidden costs and rising expenses. Discussing the challenges of car repairs and skepticism towards overcharging. Exploring alternative transportation methods and critiquing the necessity of large vehicles in urban environments.

Discussion on the disparity between road and rail spending in Europe, including the decline of railway infrastructure in Berlin and the privatization of former train stations in East Germany. Exploration of the challenges and potential impacts of a rail infrastructure program. Highlight of the chronic shortage of train drivers in the Netherlands and the idea of automating train lines. Importance of maintenance in rail infrastructure and the benefits of clock face scheduling. Exploration of the decline and subsequent revival of night trains in Europe.

Mrs. NJB has lived car-free for 10 years with her family. They discuss the experience of living without a car, relying on alternative transportation methods, frustration with traffic, positive experiences with car share services, and dangerous incidents involving cars in their area. They also talk about choosing an electric bike over a car, living car-free in Toronto and the Netherlands, and how being car-free has been a convenient and enjoyable lifestyle.

Former die-hard truck driver turned cargo-bike riding urbanist, American Fietser, discusses his transition, the transformative experience of Dutch bike culture, embracing electric cargo bikes, practicality vs status symbols of trucks, marketing strategies of car manufacturers, frustrations with Amtrak, and future travel plans, all with humorous disclaimers about promoting anything.

Diana, a City Simulators expert, discusses the limitations of city-building games and their impact on understanding real cities. The topics covered include the divisive opinions on tree placement in Cities: Skylines 2, the historical development of US cities around walkable neighborhoods, challenges in creating realistic cities in the game, cultural assumptions in the game's design, and the lack of diversity in player-created cities.

Doug Gordon from the War on Cars podcast discusses the origins of the 'War on Cars' phrase, the history of the war on motorists, opposition to public transportation, the impact of municipal elections, and the importance of voting.

Podcast discusses the flaws and limitations of the Amsterdam Metro system, including the need for high frequency and convenient transfers, the shortcomings of train frequency and lack of information. They propose potential changes and the construction of a circle line. Challenges of public transportation in Amsterdam for tourists are also explored. The disadvantages of the Amsterdam Metro compared to cycling and the advantages of the extensive tram system are highlighted. The significance of trams in cities and their influence on urbanism are discussed, along with the fare box recovery and operational efficiency of the Amsterdam Metro. The chapter concludes with a conversation about Nebula and content creation.

Join Jason and Steph as they discuss the myopic approach of Traffic Engineers in America, and how it ruins cities. They explore the flaws in the profession, critique street-road hybrids, and highlight the loss of historic downtowns due to traffic planning. They emphasize the lack of prioritization for pedestrian safety and the overshadowing of national monuments by car infrastructure.