Rephonic
Artwork for Active Towns

Active Towns

John Simmerman
Urban Planning
Community Engagement
Active Transportation
Public Health
Cycling
Public Transit
Biking
Active Mobility
Walkability
Climate Change
Urbanism
Cycling Infrastructure
E-Bikes
Active Towns
Urban Mobility
Urban Design
Infrastructure
Los Angeles
Youth Transit Usage
Renewable Mobility Vision Plan

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes363Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureEducation

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Artwork for Active Towns

Latest Episodes

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 Sea... more

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... more

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 comm... more

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

👉... more

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Recent Guests

Krista Nightengale
Executive Director of Better Block Foundation
Better Block Foundation
Episode: Better Blocks w/ Krista Nightengale
Sara Stace
Architect turned active transport advocate focused on walking and cycling infrastructure in Sydney
Self—Active Streets/Better Streets advocate
Episode: Better Streets w/ Sara Stace
Gemma Simón i Mas
Researcher; bike bus researcher at Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona
Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull
Episode: Research: Bike Bus Reach & Impacts with Gemma Simón i Mas
Sam Balto
Coach Balto from Bike Bus World
Bike Bus World
Episode: Bike Bus World Update with Coach Balto
Becky Furuta
Parent advocates, former professional cyclist, public health professional
Team Novo Nordisk ambassador; Boulder County resident
Episode: What An All Ages & Abilities Cycle Network Means to a Parent of a Child with Special Needs
Allison Burson
National Greenway Director for East Coast Greenway Alliance
East Coast Greenway Alliance
Episode: Near-Universal Support for the East Coast Greenway?
Bruce Appleyard
Professor of City Planning and Urban Design at San Diego State University, Director of the National Center for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
San Diego State University
Episode: Livable Streets 2.0.2 with Prof Bruce Appleyard
Daniel Abrahams
Musician and cycling campaigner living in Edinburgh, Scotland
Independent artist; Edinburgh cycling campaigns
Episode: WHY CAN’T WE JUST DO IT LIKE AMSTERDAM?
Dabney Sanders
Project Manager for Greensboro Downtown Greenway
Downtown Greensboro/Action Greensboro
Episode: Downtown Greenway Transformation w/ Dabney Sanders

Host

John Simmerman
Host of Active Towns Channel; leading voice on livable streets, active transportation, and community impact.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 107 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 States2 years 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
    Canada3 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 States3 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 States4 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 States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Great mix of deep, evidence-based discussions on urbanism and transportation.
Consistently delivers thoughtful, engaging conversations with leaders in active mobility.
Diverse guests and practical takeaways that apply to real-world city projects.
Audience-friendly insights that readable to newcomers and veterans alike.
Quality guest expertise translates into inspiring stories about bike infrastructure and open streets.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Reaching Out
Reaching OutFuturo Media
Notes from the Edge
Notes from the EdgeGamut Podcast Network
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Modern Wisdom
Modern WisdomChris Williamson

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Better Blocks w/ Krista Nightengale
Q: Can you share a story where a temporary project became a lasting change?
In Detroit, a temporary street transformation with center seating and vendor spaces led to continued activation and even permanent changes, including a street redesign and ongoing neighborhood engagement, showing how temporary can seed permanent benefits.
Better Blocks w/ Krista Nightengale
Q: What makes your 120-day process effective for communities with limited resources?
Breaking the project into stages—diagnosis, design, permitting, and an active demonstration—keeps it manageable, allows rapid prototyping, and gives the community tangible ownership at each step, which helps sustain momentum.
Better Blocks w/ Krista Nightengale
Q: How do you approach a street transformation when the community is wary or resistant to change?
Start with a short, visible action that people can touch and participate in. Use temporary interventions to demonstrate benefits, gather data, and involve residents early so they see their input reflected in the outcome, which builds trust and reduces fear.
Research: Bike Bus Reach & Impacts with Gemma Simón i Mas
Q: What are the different types of bike buses and how do they get started?
There isn't a single model; bike buses vary from a few families to large organized groups. They can be organized by families, schools, or municipalities, and may start in one place and expand as more families join, with diverse formats and equipment.
Research: Bike Bus Reach & Impacts with Gemma Simón i Mas
Q: Describe what a bike bus is. If nobody has heard that term, or if they kind of know, but they don't really know, what is a bike bus?
A bike bus is a group of children and families that decide to go together to school along a fixed route with stops, similar to a school bus, meeting at certain points and finishing at the school.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Active Towns

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

A deep dive into livable streets, active transportation, and urban design permeates multiple episodes. Conversations span practical network planning, policy reform, and community-driven projects that reshape streets for people—prioritizing safety, accessibility, and social life over car-dominated norms. Notable throughlines include network-first bike planning, open streets and curb management, safety metrics, and cross-cultural lessons from cities around the world. A distinctive strength is the synthesis of academic research, on-the-ground advocacy, and real-world case studies—from downtown greenways to school streets—making it useful for listeners who want actionable ideas for designing healthier, more equitable communities.

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?

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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. The War on Cars
3. The Urbanist
4. Talking Headways: A Streetsblog Podcast
5. The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

How many episodes of Active Towns are there?

Active Towns launched 7 years ago and published 363 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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What guests have appeared on Active Towns?

Recent guests on Active Towns include:

1. Krista Nightengale
2. Sara Stace
3. Gemma Simón i Mas
4. Sam Balto
5. Becky Furuta
6. Allison Burson
7. Bruce Appleyard
8. Daniel Abrahams

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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