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Artwork for Active Towns

Active Towns

John Simmerman
E-Bikes
Youth Transit Usage
Public Transit
Get On the Bus
Sustainability
Urban Planning
Climate Change
Walkability
Micro-Mobility
Bicycling Culture
Detroit
Bicycle City
Kingston, Ontario
Transportation Policy
Bikeability
Public Health
Carbon-Free Transportation
Joy and Meaning In Biking
Los Angeles
Biking Infrastructure

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes316Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Active Towns

Latest Episodes

In this episode, I am joined by Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear to discuss their new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, which was inspired in part by their podcast, The War on Cars. Topics discussed include th... more

YouTube

In this episode, I reconnect with Prof. Ruth Oldenziel from the Technical University in Eindhoven for a discussion about the global Cycling Cities Initiative, which kicked off in 2016 with the publication  of the Cycling Cities: The European Experien... more

In this episode, I connect with Michael Lovato, a former professional triathlete and champion at the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 distances, for a conversation about Boulder real estate, quality of life measures, and how the Boulder Valley promotes and s... more

YouTube

In this episode, I connect with David Prytherch, Professor of Geography at Miami University in Oxford, OH, for a conversation about transforming our streets back into people-oriented places and his recently published book, Reclaiming the Road: Mobili... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Doug Gordon
Safe Streets Advocate and co-author of Life After Cars
Episode: Life After Cars w/ Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon
Sarah Goodyear
Journalist covering urbanism and transportation policy, and co-author of Life After Cars
Episode: Life After Cars w/ Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon
Ruth Oldenziel
Professor at the Technical University in Eindhoven and historian specializing in cycling culture
Technical University in Eindhoven
Episode: The Cycling Cities w/ Prof. Ruth Oldenziel
Catherine Elliot
Urban planner and researcher focused on sustainable mobility and active transportation.
E-Bike City Project
Episode: A Framework for Combating Motonormativity w/ Dr. Catherine Elliot
Pete Nouwen
Health and safety professional with over 20 years of experience
Hubstead brand of the Grid Company
Episode: Why Are Dutch Employers Subsidizing Driving in 2025?
Nick Falbo
Transportation planner and designer at Mobycon.
Mobycon
Episode: Adapting Dutch Cycle Network Design Principles to the North American Context w/ Nick Falbo
Paul Steely White
Executive Director of Parks and Trails New York, with experience in bike advocacy and urban planning.
Parks and Trails New York
Episode: Car Free Parks & Trails with Paul Steely White
Jennifer Hamelman
Formerly with the Adventure Cycling Association, passionate about bicycle travel and community building
Adventure Cycling Association
Episode: Exploring the Joy of Bicycle Travel with Jennifer Hamelman
Amy Cohen
Founder and president of Families for Safe Streets
Families for Safe Streets
Episode: Families for Safe Streets feat. Amy Cohen and Patty Avery

Host

John Simmerman
Host of the Active Towns podcast, he engages in conversations with experts on urban planning, transportation, and community engagement.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 102 ratings
  • 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?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    SuperGlideFX-E
    United States7 months ago
  • Original, in depth, diverse discussions on Urbanism

    This podcast adds a lot to the urban issues space. These are conversations with a lot of figures which don’t necessary always receive the internet spotlight and it’s great to hear from them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    joshlemer
    Canada2 years ago
  • 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 ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    M@ttM
    United States2 years ago
  • 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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BikingInSeattle
    United States3 years ago
  • 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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cometpants
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the engaging and inspirational discussions on active transportation and urban mobility, often highlighting the unique insights shared by various professionals in the field.
The podcast is praised for its focus on positivity and community engagement, making complex topics accessible to a broader audience.
Some feedback points out concerns about audio quality affecting the listening experience.
Reviews indicate that the conversations are original and diverse, bringing attention to important urban issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#226
Chile/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Adapting Dutch Cycle Network Design Principles to the North American Context w/ Nick Falbo
Q: What was the origin story in terms of what got you interested in doing this type of work?
Living in Portland got me interested in doing planning, noticing the city's unique street design.
A Bold Mobility Vision Plan for a Dutch Village w/ Christian Ratering
Q: What will success look like in the future for you?
Success means every child from the age of eight will have the right to cycle or walk independently to school, enhancing their cognitive potential and independence.
Chalk Riot Traffic Calming w/ Chelsea Ritter-Soronen
Q: What types of projects do you typically take on?
Chelsea explained that they work on various projects, particularly traffic calming murals for cities, intersections, and community areas, while also collaborating with NGOs and other local organizations.
Chalk Riot Traffic Calming w/ Chelsea Ritter-Soronen
Q: What inspired you to start focusing on traffic calming art?
Chelsea highlighted the rising need for safer public spaces after witnessing a concerning increase in traffic incidents and being involved in local artists' efforts to beautify and make communities safer through art.
Wheels for Wellbeing w/ Isabelle Clement, MBE
Q: What are some of the barriers that are encouraging more people to be active and get on a bike or mobility device?
The main barriers include the lack of recognition that disabled people can cycle, inadequate infrastructure that does not accommodate non-standard cycles, and physical barriers like chicanes that prevent safe access.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Active Towns

What is Active Towns about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This audio series explores the creation of active and vibrant communities by discussing the policies, programs, and individuals that contribute to a culture of activity. A wide range of topics are covered, including active transportation, urban mobility, and community engagement. Episodes feature insights from experts in urban planning, transportation design, and public health, focusing on promoting biking, walking, and inclusive environments. The conversations aim to inspire listeners to rethink their urban spaces and advocate for changes that enhance accessibility and community well-being, thereby making it distinctively engaging for those passionate about urban development and healthy living.

Where can I find podcast stats for Active Towns?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Active Towns. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Active Towns and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Active Towns get?

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What are the audience demographics for Active Towns?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Active Towns, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Active Towns have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Active Towns has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Active Towns?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Active Towns:

1. The Strong Towns Podcast
2. Upzoned
3. The War on Cars
4. The Climate Denier's Playbook
5. Climate One

How many episodes of Active Towns are there?

Active Towns launched 6 years ago and published 316 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Active Towns?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Active Towns?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Active Towns from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Active Towns?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Active Towns. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Active Towns?

Recent guests on Active Towns include:

1. Doug Gordon
2. Sarah Goodyear
3. Ruth Oldenziel
4. Catherine Elliot
5. Pete Nouwen
6. Nick Falbo
7. Paul Steely White
8. Jennifer Hamelman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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