Active Towns

In this episode, I finally connect with Better Block Executive Director Krista Nightengale for an in-depth conversation about the organization and how it helps communities create safer, more livable and lovable spaces and places. This is also the Season 11 Finale. Season 12 will launch in mid-November. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): 👉 Better Block website 🤙 This video features my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Folding Bikes (yes, they can ship the bike directly to you - that's what they've done for me): https://www.freedomfoldingbikes.com/ 🙌 Mention Active Towns for a special deal on accessories and add-ons. More information on Freedom Folding Bikes can be found here: https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/23/ukraine-family-boulder-freedom-folding-bikes/ 👊🏼 Brompton Vincita Front Bag and Travel Luggage Link: https://vincita.cc/?ref=6zadxp5o 10% Off Coupon Code: ActiveTowns If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways: 1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams 2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month 3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee" 4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities Credits: - Video and audio production by John Simmerman - Music via Epidemic Sound Resources used during the production of this video: - My recording platform is Ecamm Live - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below: - Active Towns Website - Active Towns on Bluesky - Weekly Update e-Newsletter Background: Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility. Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities." The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them. Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful. Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, I reconnect with Sara Stace in Sydney, Australia, for a conversation on how we can more successfully advocate for better streets for everyone, all ages and abilities, and all mobility modes. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): 👉 Sara's Decision Tools website 👉 Sara Stace on LinkedIn 👉 Better Streets website 👉 Squeaky Wheel Podcast that I co-host with Phil Latz 👉 Book - Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe: https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781982143848 or on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0dzoBAV5 👉 Book - Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change by Greg Satell https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781266052927 or on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0fJEtuVq 👉 Fiona Campbell, Manager of Cycling Strategy, Sydney 👉 My Episode with Prof. Marco te Brömmelstroet and Prof. Ian Walker on Motonormativity 🤙 This video features my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Folding Bikes (yes, they can ship the bike directly to you - that's what they've done for me): https://www.freedomfoldingbikes.com/ 🙌 Mention Active Towns for a special deal on accessories and add-ons. More information on Freedom Folding Bikes can be found here: https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/23/ukraine-family-boulder-freedom-folding-bikes/ 👊🏼 Brompton Vincita Front Bag and Travel Luggage Link: https://vincita.cc/?ref=6zadxp5o 10% Off Coupon Code: ActiveTowns If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways: 1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams 2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month 3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee" 4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities Credits: - Video and audio production by John Simmerman - Music via Epidemic Sound Resources used during the production of this video: - My recording platform is Ecamm Live - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below: - Active Towns Website - Active Towns on Bluesky - Weekly Update e-Newsletter Background: Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility. Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities." The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them. Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful. Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, I connect with Gemma Simón i Mas, a Postdoctoral Researcher at Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull, for a conversation about the global reach and impact of the Bike Bus Movement and the profound cultural shift happening at the community and neighborhood levels. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): 👉 City Lab Barcelona article by Gemma 👉 ICTA Video Featuring Gemma 👉 Bike Bus World website 👉 Park Hill Elementary Bike Bus in Denver 👉 My Bike Bus Playlist 👉 My Coach Balto Playlist 👉 My episode with Gil Penalosa 🤙 This video features my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Folding Bikes (yes, they can ship the bike directly to you - that's what they've done for me): https://www.freedomfoldingbikes.com/ 🙌 Mention Active Towns for a special deal on accessories and add-ons. More information on Freedom Folding Bikes can be found here: https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/23/ukraine-family-boulder-freedom-folding-bikes/ 👊🏼 Brompton Vincita Front Bag and Travel Luggage Link: https://vincita.cc/?ref=6zadxp5o 10% Off Coupon Code: ActiveTowns If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways: 1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams 2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month 3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee" 4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities Credits: - Video and audio production by John Simmerman - Music via Epidemic Sound Resources used during the production of this video: - My recording platform is Ecamm Live - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below: - Active Towns Website - Active Towns on Bluesky - Weekly Update e-Newsletter Background: Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility. Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities." The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them. Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful. Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, we touch base with Coach Sam Balto for a Bike Bus World Update. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): 👉 Bike Bus World website 👉 Bike Bus Playlist 👉 Coach Sam Balto Playlist 👉 Park Hill Bike Bus in Denver 👉 Tim Gill Playlist 🤙 This video features my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Folding Bikes (yes, they can ship the bike directly to you - that's what they've done for me): https://www.freedomfoldingbikes.com/ 🙌 Mention Active Towns for a special deal on accessories and add-ons. More information on Freedom Folding Bikes can be found here: https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/23/ukraine-family-boulder-freedom-folding-bikes/ 👊🏼 Brompton Vincita Front Bag and Travel Luggage Link: https://vincita.cc/?ref=6zadxp5o 10% Off Coupon Code: ActiveTowns If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways: 1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams 2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month 3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee" 4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities Credits: - Video and audio production by John Simmerman - Music via Epidemic Sound Resources used during the production of this video: - My recording platform is Ecamm Live - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below: - Active Towns Website - Active Towns on Bluesky - Weekly Update e-Newsletter Background: Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility. Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities." The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them. Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful. Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, I am joined once again by Vancouver, BC-based planner Brent Toderian. This time we dive deep into the discussion about what should happen with Granville Street in the aftermath of the city's hosting of the World Cup. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): 👉 Watch this episode on video 👉 Brent's website 👉 City of Vancouver's Granville Street website 👉 Urban Truth Collective episode along with Tom Flood and Grant Ennis If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways: 1. Become an Active Towns Member on YouTube for exclusive member-only content and Livestreams 2. Join the Active Towns Patreon community. Contributions start at just $3 per month 3. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also "leave a tip" through "Buy Me a Coffee" 4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc., to help support my pro bono work with cities Credits: - Video and audio production by John Simmerman - Music via Epidemic Sound Resources used during the production of this video: - My recording platform is Ecamm Live - Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite - Equipment: Contact me for a complete list For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below: - Active Towns Website - Active Towns on Bluesky - Weekly Update e-Newsletter Background: Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility. Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities." The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them. Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful. Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★