Active Towns

Conversations about Creating a Culture of Activity: Profiling the people, places, programs, and policies that help to promote a culture of activity within our communities.

Recent Episodes
  • Design for Safety Over Speed w/ Beth Osborne
    May 2, 2025 – 01:14:05
  • Creating a Critical Mass for More Livable Communities w/ Cyprine Odada
    Apr 25, 2025 – 49:29
  • Chalk Riot Traffic Calming w/ Chelsea Ritter-Soronen
    Apr 18, 2025 – 51:54
  • Car-Lite Living in Indigo w/ Scott Snodgrass & Clayton Garrett
    Apr 16, 2025 – 57:21
  • Wheels for Wellbeing w/ Isabelle Clement, MBE
    Apr 11, 2025 – 52:20
  • AMPing Up Active Mobility Infrastructure Installations w/ Zoe & Kyle from City Thread
    Apr 9, 2025 – 01:01:18
  • Bike Streets: Unlocking the City by Bike w/ Avi Stopper
    Apr 4, 2025 – 01:00:49
  • Streets For People w/ Cllr James McAsh
    Apr 2, 2025 – 54:31
  • Psychology & Transportation Engineering w/ Patricia Tice
    Mar 28, 2025 – 01:01:24
  • Motonormativity w/ Prof. Ian Walker & Prof. Marco Te Brömmelstroet
    Mar 26, 2025 – 01:08:17
  • Accelerating Seattle's Mobility Options w/ Greg Spotts
    Mar 21, 2025 – 52:06
  • Building Optimism w/ Coby Lefkowitz
    Mar 19, 2025 – 01:02:01
  • NACTO and It's New Bikeway Design Guide w/ Executive Director Ryan Russo
    Mar 14, 2025 – 59:11
  • Shoup's Legacy of Parking Reform w/ Tony Jordan
    Mar 7, 2025 – 54:24
  • Human Transit w/ Jarrett Walker
    Feb 28, 2025 – 57:38
  • Creating People-Centered & Nature-Based Cities w/ Reena Mahajan
    Feb 21, 2025 – 59:59
  • Car Free Challenge in Los Angeles w/ Phil Burns
    Feb 14, 2025 – 01:03:21
  • Bike Bus & A Culture of Activity with Jessica Tillyer
    Feb 7, 2025 – 59:07
  • Shifter: A Chat w/ Tom Babin
    Feb 5, 2025 – 55:47
  • Sacred Roots and Mobility Freedom w/ Ronnie Harris
    Jan 31, 2025 – 01:00:28
  • Introducing The New AASHTO Bike Guide w/ Bill Schultheiss
    Jan 29, 2025 – 01:12:04
  • Potholes and Pavements with author Laura Laker
    Jan 20, 2025 – 01:01:33
  • A Major Shift To Bikes w/ Becca & Adam Denley
    Jan 17, 2025 – 59:19
  • Shoup Dogg Doctrine w/ Prof. Donald Shoup
    Jan 10, 2025 – 01:08:02
  • Talking Induced Demand and much more w/ RMI's Miguel Moravec
    Dec 18, 2024 – 01:09:14
  • Introducing Rachel Leonardo with Strong Towns
    Dec 13, 2024 – 59:02
  • Are Dutch Streets Really Safe for Children? w/ Geert Kloppenburg
    Dec 6, 2024 – 01:00:57
  • Key to the City w/ Sara Bronin
    Nov 27, 2024 – 45:59
  • Meet Winnipeg's Bike Mayor w/ Patty Wiens
    Nov 22, 2024 – 01:05:10
  • Can LA Go Car-Free for the Olympics? w/ Alissa Walker
    Nov 15, 2024 – 01:08:15
  • Barcelona Superblocks w/ Jordi Honey-Rosés
    Nov 8, 2024 – 01:05:48
  • Kids Are Just Walking & Biking Radicals w/ Tom Flood
    Nov 1, 2024 – 51:36
  • Heidi Across America w/ Heidi Beierle
    Oct 25, 2024 – 01:01:40
  • The Happy Urbanist w/ Jon Jon Wesolowski
    Oct 18, 2024 – 01:10:31
  • Celebrating Talking Headways w/ Jeff Wood
    Oct 11, 2024 – 58:25
  • Inspiring Engagement w/ Laura Mitchell
    Oct 4, 2024 – 59:39
  • A Look Inside the @nicthedoor Urbanism Channel w/ Nic Laporte
    Sep 27, 2024 – 01:05:50
  • Bicycling with Butterflies w/ Sara Dykman
    Sep 20, 2024 – 42:00
  • Cascade Bicycle Club w/ Tina Castillo & Paul Tolme
    Sep 13, 2024 – 48:09
  • Live Near Friends w/ Phil Levin
    Sep 6, 2024 – 49:50
  • All Bodies on Bikes w/ Marley Blonsky
    Aug 30, 2024 – 43:05
  • Protect Our Winters w/ Graham Zimmerman
    Aug 21, 2024 – 52:03
  • Let Grow ~ Free-Range Kids w/ Lenore Skenazy (Season Eight Premiere)
    Aug 16, 2024 – 57:25
  • Streets For All w/ Michael Schneider (Season Finale)
    Jun 7, 2024 – 01:03:12
  • Escaping the Housing Trap w/ Chuck Marohn (A walk 'n talk on the OTR streets of Cincinnati)
    Jun 3, 2024 – 01:17:45
  • Killed By A Traffic Engineer w/ Wes Marshall
    May 31, 2024 – 01:02:33
  • NYC's Cargo Bike Momma w/ Maddy Novich
    May 29, 2024 – 49:33
  • How to Throw Car Culture Under the Bus w/Dan Hendry
    May 24, 2024 – 44:51
  • Bicycle City, A new book by Dan Piatkowski
    May 22, 2024 – 01:10:05
  • Oceano Bike Posse w/ Jim DeCecco
    May 17, 2024 – 01:13:05
Recent Reviews
  • SuperGlideFX-E
    Speakerphone audio bites
    I really want to listen to the show, but I can’t stand the low quality audio. Please have your guests pick up the phone and talk on it, not on the speakerphone. Better still, have them use an actual microphone instead of a cell phone. Isn’t your content worth a little effort?
  • M@ttM
    Good motives, but some dangerous misconceptions.
    I like the show for advocating for better bike transportation infrastructure, but dislike some undercurrents that keep popping up. One is that you shouldn’t wear a helmet, because that makes people think cycling is dangerous and that you need protection from cars. Well, the helmet is to protect your head from hitting the road which can result from any number of incidents other than being struck by a car. Helmets are not terribly expensive or uncomfortable either. Maybe some day the fantasy of an extensive bike lane network safe for people with NO skills or abilities will come to pass. Meanwhile, wear a helmet.
  • BikingInSeattle
    Get inspired about ACTIVE transportation
    John Simmerman hosts some of the most engaging and inspiring people in the active transportation advocacy and leadership spaces. This sort of deep and substantive conversation is a bit unusual for the broader podcast world, but is such a resource for people new to biking, walking and livable communities(they are possible ! they exist !) I have no doubt that John is inspiring more transportation and mobility nerds, and I am here for it.
  • cometpants
    It got me on my bike!
    Awesome interviews with active transportation movers and shakers. You’ll learn something new, be inspired to dig deeper, and have a good time! It’s inspired me and my family to get out and ride around our city!
  • dh8148531
    Great Show!
    John’s interviews span a wide range of interests and perspectives and I’m always glad to hear the back and forth. Learn something every time!
  • Katie Walks 😊
    Positivity in a podcast!
    Always enjoy listening to John’s interviews! He makes a concerted effort to focus on the best of what is happening in the Active Towns around the world. His guests are well-respected and expert in their respective domains. I always learn something new with the release of every episode. 👍
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