good traffic is an ongoing, optimistic conversation on urban planning and urban design in the United States. Join a budding, prolific collective of city and community leaders as we look to brand American urbanism. New audio, every Tuesday.
Writer of the weekly Bike Bulletin newsletter (subscribe right now.) — Sam Westby — is back on the show. We knock out a current events survey, with topics curated through both of our weekly research habits in the urbanism, bikes, and adjacent worlds. It's mostly positive, and hopefully always constructive.Sam's off to Spain to bike for a while. Make sure to follow his incredible rides and work (links below).We discuss:00:00 Sam's recent activities.02:42 The Bike Bulletin newsletter.03:38 Automated cameras on buses in Massachusetts.07:14 Seattle's quick fix for bike lane safety.11:47 Paris' ambitious plan for a walkable city.15:13 New York City's progress in bike infrastructure.24:43 The benefits of protected bike lanes.25:18 Parking vs. bike lanes: the business impact.27:19 Context matters: urban vs. suburban solutions.28:27 The importance of bike share systems.36:30 Public investment in infrastructure and innovation.40:36 The role of public and private sectors in development.45:47 Concluding thoughts.The following links are the conversational guideposts you'll hear about in this episode:One: automated ticketing of cars parking in bus lanes.Two: cities can improve cycling infrastructure overtime based on feedback, like Seattle does here.Three: Paris is making another 500 streets car-free.Four: New York City traffic fatality data, safety measures, and bike infrastructure improvements.Five: Maximizing bikeshare ridership.Six: On underpublicized public R+D and investment that underpins American innovation — from railroads, to highways, to the internet (and a caution to those chastising and cutting it).SUBSCRIBE TO THE BIKE BULLETIN (Sam's newsletter).+ Follow Sam on Instagram and TikTok.
Diana Lind — founder & author of The New Urban Order newsletter — joins us to discuss her extensive career writing on urban planning, zoning, and American housing policy. She talks about the evolution of urbanism and architecture media, and how it has shaped public discourse surrounding growth, housing crises, and city development. The conversation reaches into her book Brave New Home, where she tackles alternatives to single-family zoning and the social implications of various housing models. We get into the specifics of a few recently published newsletters.We discuss:00:00 The journey into writing about urban planning.03:50 On the housing crisis.05:48 The New Urban Order and writing on Substack.07:37 The American context in urban planning.10:41 Montana's housing reforms.19:39 The role of language in urban policy.21:26 Writing for different audiences.25:45 Challenges in writing about housing.28:49 Federal lands and housing solutions.30:33 Challenges of single family zoning.34:56 Alternative housing development models.39:41 Government property conversions.46:54 The appeal of Philadelphia.52:46 The New Urban Order newsletter.54:32 Favorite commute and final thoughts.For context:On converting public lands to housing (the referenced newsletter).On Montana's sweeping housing reform (via Sightline Institute).Connect with Diana:www.dianalind.com.The newsletter - The New Urban Order.On LinkedIn.
This week, we survey intricacies and discrepancies in driver and pedestrian safety data. Intermixed are a few recent anecdotes and observations from a week in New York City spent exploring with landscape architects, developers, and friends alike. It's always a reinvigorating trip for a pedestrian and transit-adorer; a few of my recs are found in this audio.We discuss:00:00 On recent travels to NYC.02:06 On road safety and traffic fatality data.05:50 Analyzing traffic data and trends.11:38 Car bloat, unsafe streets, sprawl, and other contributing factors.27:33 The pedestrian experience in New York City.47:37 Upcoming.For context:Pedestrian and traffic deaths, compared to other high-income nations (2013-2022) (via the CDC).NHTSA data projections (via the NHTSA).On cyclist fatalities, and interpreting the data (via Ken McLeod of the League of American Bicyclists).
Rachel Bardis — COO at California developer Somers West — is in good traffic this week to check on an ambitious project taking shape outside of Sacramento, California. Rachel shares where Braden's development currently stands, including recent infrastructure work and plans for lot deliveries. We touch historical context of the project, and the importance of creating a community that integrates diverse housing types, walkability, and practical sustainability. Health, connectivity, and engagement is the aim for what hopes to be a model for future suburban developments.We discuss:00:00 Rachel Bardis is in good traffic.00:50 Braden's current development status.01:44 California development.03:01 Historical context and a new suburban vision.06:32 Project timeline and evolution.08:54 Vision, etc.10:34 Location and strategic importance.20:58 Transportation and connectivity.28:30 Intentional community design elements.29:17 Multifunctional green spaces.29:53 Suburban density counterframing.30:52 Diverse housing types.32:27 Integrated community planning.38:35 Construction and management challenges.45:46 Personal motivation.50:47 Wrapping up.Further context:On Braden.On Somers West.Connect with Rachel:On LinkedIn.
A potential countermove to the fresh auto tariffs, and another dive on bikeshare + micromobility in evolving large American cities like Columbus, Ohio.We discuss:00:00 New car and car part tariffs.01:34 In praise of walking.04:04 Impact of tariffs on transportation choices.09:31 Bikeshare programs.14:11 Columbus' new bikeshare partnership.17:53 Opportunities in bikeshare adoption.25:21 Wrapping up.
We're back from a spring break. This week: on how driving cultures vary from city to city, within the U.S. Most importantly, how being a part of those cultures influences how we experience other folks within them. In short, walking / biking more makes us a better driver. Cities where those driving are not drivers, but rather pedestrians that are just driving in this moment, tend to feel safer to move about. In these places, we are the same people, merely using different tools, for different tasks, at different times.We discuss: 00:00 We're back.00:06 Road rage, from today.01:50 American car culture varies by city.02:55 Design observations.05:14 Pedestrian and driver dynamics.19:29 Congestion pricing successes mount.24:46 Wrapping up.For context:Congestion pricing revenue.Congestion pricing early results.Congestion pricing public opinion.
Tesho Akindele — Charlotte real estate developer and former pro soccer player — is back on the show for a catchup re: progress at the Camp North End development in Charlotte, how we maintain the optimism amidst uncertainty in growing cities like Charlotte and Columbus, and an MLS season preview. The catch: we preview the season through the lens of off-field factors. Included are a few recommendations for urbanists looking to parlay a match with a multimodal vacation in 2025.We discuss:00:00 Tesho's back.01:44 Camp North End, and Charlotte development updates.06:18 Socials and a career in real estate development.11:15 Opportunities in development.14:41 Planning and design trends in Charlotte and Columbus.19:36 Sustaining optimism in 2025.24:17 MLS season preview: an urbanist's guide to an American matchday.35:29 Fusing urbanism and soccer.Further context:Camp North End.Connect with Tesho:On Twitter.On Instagram.
A tribute for — and a republish of our August '24 episode with — Donald Shoup. May he rest in peace. What a life he led.
Scott Snodgrass — Founding Partner and developer at Meristem Communities — is in good traffic this week to discuss progress onIndigo: a walkable neighborhood at the X of agriculture and urbanism. Amidst the Houston sprawl, Scott and his partners are doing things differently by leaning into principles of food cultivation, community, car-free streets, and car-lite routines. This approach is different for the area, and for many future residents.We discuss:00:00 Scott's trek into neighborhood development.02:08 From agriculture to agmenity.04:48 The birth of Indigo.07:57 Community engagement and design philosophy.15:45 Indigo's urban design.23:58 Multifunctional design of public spaces.24:43 Navigating parking requirements in suburban and rural Texas.26:02 Car-lite community initiatives.28:13 Affordability.28:43 Parking and planning.30:09 Walkability.33:57 Transit and connectivity challenges.38:19 Agriculture and holistic living.40:25 Diversity and Houston community breakdown.42:46 Favorite commutes and final thoughts.Further context:Indigo.Meristem Communities.The neighborhood's location.Connect with me, Brad:On Instagram.On TikTok.On LinkedIn.
Aly's back. We watch some clips of overheard urbanism from throughout pop culture, over the past couple of weeks. Clips played: Colin Cowherd and Nick Wright talk walkability. Chalamet bikes the red carpet. Gunna runs in the road. The cat knocked the camera over, and made lots of noise. Apologies! We discuss: 00:00 Urban design adjacent clips and discussions. 04:57 Colin Cowherd is moving to Chicago for the walkability. 08:56 Stumbling (walking) into new loves in your city. 16:51 Timothée Chalamet's Lime bike ride down the red carpet. 20:08 Gunna's road run. 22:27 How Aly and I plan trips. 28:30 Upcoming guests.
While bleak and gray at times, winter can be the prime time for observational and behavioral learnings in our local environments. Sneckdowns (snow + neckdowns), multi-day snow-covered cars, and unmaintained/disregarded sidewalks each tell us something. We also touch briefly on takeaways from convictions of the Jeffersonian grid: foresight and planning to widen our ideological tent, republican ideals (the governmental structure, not the political party), and balancing differing vantages on housing. We spend a moment on the recent TikTok events, too. Apologies for last week's delay. Appreciate your patience! We discuss: 00:00 We are so back. 07:40 Winter urban design insights. 21:10 Exploring republicanism, the Jeffersonian grid, and the NYC Commissioners' plan. 30:07 Reflections on TikTok, and content creation's fruits and shortfalls. 34:43 Wrapping up. For context: Sneckdowns (via a TikTok I made for Better Block). Design cues taken from snow (via Bloomberg CityLab). A map of proposed NYC growth, from 1807 (via the Library of Congress). More on the Jeffersonian grid (via NYT).
Dominic Leonardo — Rhode Island city planner, and the reputable @cityglowup on socials — is in good traffic to discuss the simple-yet-vital process of documenting progress. Transformations — or, glow-ups — have long been an effective way of visually storytelling change, and garnering momentum. Dominic does the vintage before/after in a contemporary fashion better than anyone. We discuss: 00:00 On @cityglowup. 02:37 Origin behind the videos. 04:42 Unexpected positivity and community feedback. 06:14 Finding new places through comments. 09:21 The appeal of midsize cities. 13:27 Local governance and urban planning in Rhode Island. 22:28 Walkability and bikeability in Providence. 25:18 Popular urban design topics. 28:12 Small town transformations. 29:22 Suburban changes and detached density. 31:39 Journeying into urban planning. 35:46 Economic perspectives in urbanism. 42:12 The Tempe case study. 49:42 Pitching Rhode Island. 51:09 Upcoming projects. 53:29 Wrapping up. Connect with Dominic: @cityglowup on Instagram. @cityglowup on TikTok. @cityglowup on YouTube.
We're back for the first episode in 2025 (!!), where we'll work harder to thread the needle between championing urbanism wholeheartedly, and understanding public concerns about safety + comfort. This year, nuanced thought will be as critical as ever. It should not be controversial to say that — in pursuit of building better places and ways to move between them — women and children must feel safe. This is a self-reflective rant, as much as it is a general prescription for the audience. We discuss: 00:00 The show, in 2025. 02:56 New Year's resolutions. 06:41 Addressing public transportation safety while championing transit and collectivism. 13:00 The need for nuance in urban planning, design, and American political ideologies as a whole. 25:44 Greatest American inventions debate. 32:19 Hosting family, and rediscovering your love for your city or town. 39:01 Wrapping up.
Vancouver continues to be the favorite city I've ever been to, largely due to what is arguably the best city park in North America: Stanley Park. Plus, a non-sponsored holiday gift guide for urbanists, listed below. We discuss: 00:00 Vancouver is the best. 00:49 The marvel of Stanley Park. 02:17 Density and nature. 03:19 Vancouver's natural setting. 07:20 Winter challenges and urban mobility. 08:09 Embracing weather with proper clothing. 10:08 Holiday gift guide and final thoughts. For context: On Stanley Park (via City of Vancouver). Vancouver density map (via Census Mapper). A NON-SPONSORED HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR URBANISTS (short, to make it easier on you). Walking boots — Blundstones. Versatile down jacket — Patagonia (higher price), or LL Bean (lower cost). Pocket-sized journal — Field Notes. Layers + basics — Muji. Cheap headphones that allow you to still hear your surroundings — basic-ass apple earpods. Tote bag that zips — you choose. Transit pass — from your local transit authority. Bikeshare membership — from your local bikeshare.
Sam Balto — cofounder of Bike Bus World, and leader of the Portland Bike Bus — is back in good traffic for an updated chat on children's mobility, the failure that is school carlines, and the paradox of prompting local-level progress via a national community. We discuss: 00:00 Bike bus year in review. 01:19 The global bike bus community. 04:08 Bike commuting infrastructure for families. 07:02 Empowering children's independence and risky play. 11:19 Balancing local, national, and global advocacy. 33:08 White House invitation and future plans. 37:59 Wrapping up. For context: bikebus.world. Connect with Sam: On Instagram. On TikTok.
Coby Lefkowitz is back in good traffic. Amidst leading Backyard in developing housing in Southern California (and tweeting up a pleasant storm), Coby has written a new book. Building optimism is available now. We get into it, in this conversation. We discuss: 00:00 Building Optimism: the new book. 02:12 The genesis of the book. 05:42 Challenges and realities of American urban development. 10:27 Historical inspirations and modern applications. 17:13 A younger generation of developers. 26:40 Civics and urban planning in U.S. education. 28:41 Balancing optimism with realism. 33:42 Bridging city and rural perspectives. 34:14 Common goals. 35:09 Understanding density and development. 44:47 The human element in development. 50:05 Balancing growth and community concerns. 55:13 The role of specialists and community members. 59:46 Broader participation in urban planning. For context: The book. Backyard (Coby's development firm). Connect with Coby: On Twitter. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok.
Thankful for you all. Pardon a slight deviation from our usual Tuesday release. We discuss: 00:00 Thanksgiving and urbanism. 04:35 A journaling exercise. 10:01 Upcoming guests and episodes. 11:21 A note on black friday and parking minimums. A sample journal exercise. First, the point of gratitude, followed by a summarized root-cause analysis. Apologies for brevity, these were transcribed from my field notes. Aly – got to know each other on walks, solve problems on walks, stay fit on walks, save money on walks, all of which are made possible by living in walkable pockets of American cities. also, even met on a dating app in Dallas, which exists/thrives because of a decline in serendipitous interactions and third-place prevalence. Simple routines that define home – the walk to school in 45 minutes, through beautiful tree-covered brick streets lined with gorgeous architecture – to the grocery store, through goodale park – to coffee, any number of possible routes. Urban nature, and small moments of natural respite – made possible via breaks in car-dominated infrastructure. Bikes – only able to ride in effectively-designed places. Travel to places like portland, boston, new york, and tempe – all made endlessly enjoyable due to their various brands of strong or emerging urbanism. Sunrises + sunsets – only able to be experienced fully because I don't have to sit in traffic anywhere close to the american average of 30-min one-way commutes. Rich memories from formative times like high school and college – physical proximity and socialization. re: colleges, campuses are the largest collection of continuous car-free spaces we have in the U.S. Gentle-density – the best photos, views, and future home aspirations. Parents – started walking with me from a young age, which instilled autonomy; sense of direction, and forever fuels rich nostalgia. My health (physical + mental) – walking powers this. Even when the gym gets notched out of a day, I always have long walks, because they are built into my commute + lifestyle. This is also where I breath, think, reflect, and ideate.
Quick hits re: the federal-level implications of the recent election on transportation, housing, and urbanism in the U.S. No political post-mortems or predictions, but rather look at existing policies and their potential impacts. Surface level breakdown of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), detailing the combined $566 billion in federal transportation spending through 2026. Heading into Thanksgiving, we also stress the importance of communicating urbanism ideas effectively across political divides at the family gathering. The episode concludes with a clip from Pete Buttigieg discussing road safety goals, in comparison to the aviation industry. It's a helpful framing. We'll take a look at state and local-level implications, soon. That edition will be far more optimistic, as many local transit funding measures passed, across the country. Ran out of time, today. We discuss: 00:00 On transportation and urbanism post-election. 03:14 Infrastructure act and federal funding. 08:19 CAFE standards and pollution metrics. 11:39 Transit-oriented development and housing. 21:07 Private sector progress in transportation, featuring Brightline and Waymo. 23:08 Optimism. 27:37 Coby Lefkowitz returns, next week. For context: Yonah Freemark's perfect election thread. On the IIJA (via The White House). On the IRA (via EESI). On CAFE standards (via Reuters). Waymo passes 150k weekly rides (via The Verge).
Aly's back, and with some recent perspective on third places. Particularly, their significance in expanding our sense of home beyond four walls. We talk devised theatre, childhood restaurants, the power of nostalgia, and how to bring up urbanism at thanksgiving dinner. We discuss: 00:00 Aly's back. 02:54 Urbanism and nostalgia. 05:20 On third places. 13:35 Defining routine via walking routes. 21:45 The shared value of third places. 29:09 Final thoughts.
Mallory Baches returns for a conversation on the highlights of the 2024 CNU congress in Cincinnati, where restorative urbanism and connected communities policy were focal points. We talk the CNU transect and its application in urban planning, emphasizing the importance of landscape architecture. We also examine the challenges of branding and public perception of new urbanism. The chat finishes with reflections on Providence and Pittsburgh, and positive changes along their urban riverfronts. We discuss: 00:00 Recapping the CNU congress in Cincinnati. 03:29 Highlights from the congress. 09:28 Upcoming congress in Providence, Rhode Island. 16:36 Landscape architecture X urbanism. 36:59 New urbanism X faux urbanism. 50:00 On Pittsburgh. 54:18 Wrapping up. For context: The rural-to-urban transect. Connecting with Mallory: On LinkedIn. Connecting with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Sophia Mohr — Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) — is in good traffic this week ahead of a big vote on November 5. Issue 47 is on the local ballot in Columbus, Ohio — which will help bring BRT to life in the region. We elaborate on the technological advancements ahead, such as traffic signal prioritization, digital payment solutions, and customer experience enhancements. Sophia reiterates the critical role of expanded public and active transit in supporting the region's rapid growth. Public perception and engagement strategies are included. We discuss: 00:00 Sophia's background and role at COTA. 02:09 Current transportation initiatives in Columbus. 03:55 Future transit plans and challenges. 07:19 Issue 47 and its implications. 12:26 Learning from the likes of Portland, Indianapolis, and Richmond. 18:22 Tech in public transit. 22:03 Public perception and community involvement. 26:08 Wrapping up. For context: More on LinkUS and Issue 47 in Columbus, Ohio. cota.com Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Jerome Horne — transit advocate and communications executive — is in good traffic to talk buses, better transit advocacy, and Baltimore (among other places). We discuss: 00:00 Choosing cities for transit advocacy. 02:36 Career transition to public transportation. 09:37 On community building. 17:36 Youth engagement in urban planning. 21:35 Strategies for promoting bus usage. 23:36 Improving bus systems and user experience. 24:52 Transit bar crawls. 27:13 Comparing transit systems across American cities. 31:45 Infrastructure failures. 34:09 Favorite commute experiences. Connect with Jerome: On Instagram. On LinkedIn. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Urbanization is a forgone conclusion. Yet, we still hear remnants of the old, more rural American dream being presented as American cultural taste. But, even in our most rural states (like Texas), the vast majority of folks reside in cities. Economic productivity and impact follow suit. People vote with their feet, and taste/preference account for more than aesthetics. The 'shithole' city narrative is extraordinarily uncomprehensive, and an over-squeezed political talking point. This is why investing in transportation infrastructure and systems in our great cities should be seen as a state and national priority, as well as local. We discuss: 00:00 Urbanization trends. 01:57 Election season and sociological implications. 03:33 The American dream. 06:52 Cognitive dissonance in preferences. 09:13 Texas as a case study. 12:26 Urban growth in Ohio. 13:33 On American urbanism. 15:04 The historic value of cities and what they provide. 16:13 Public opinion on in-person work. 17:05 Innovation through collaboration. 18:59 Economic contributions of cities. 19:15 Wrapping up.
Sharing a few conversations that have veered into urban planning / design, transportation, American mindset, and the like. Clips shared during the episode: Ari Matti on Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast, on the American pedestrian experience. George Kamel (of the Dave Ramsey Show) on The Iced Coffee Hour, talking the biggest wealth crushers. Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Joe Rogan, discussing the rollout of cars and highways in the states. Morning Brew staff, acting out the key takeaways from a stellar recent Economist piece concerning vehicle weight and fatalities.
We've passed the year mark. Huge thanks to you all. Here, we hit on five (and a half) summative takeaways from twelve+ months of weekly conversations. These are points that keep showing up( in dialogue, notes, and research. They will help to steer much of what we do here, in the coming years.
John Simmerman — Founder of Active Towns — is in good traffic to talk the push for more active towns across the U.S. John travels the world's cities via active mobility, and creates stellar content to summarize the trips. By trade, he's an exercise scientist that believes in the power of the built environment as an avenue for solving some of our most pertinent health challenges (obesity, isolation, etc...). We discuss: 00:00 The active towns concept. 02:03 John's background and career. 05:37 Transportation challenges in Honolulu. 17:41 Empathy and behavior change. 21:59 Mobility choice and infrastructure. 36:54 Evaluating active communities. 39:27 Categorizing active towns. 41:35 Emerging active towns. 42:47 Latent active towns and their transformation. 44:19 Success stories: Oklahoma City and Austin. 56:10 Wide and inclusive infrastructure. 01:00:26 Impact of active commutes. 01:02:39 Reframing mobility and the commuting. 01:05:30 Wrapping up. For context: activetowns.org The YouTube. Connect with John: On YouTube. On Instagram. On LinkedIn. On Patreon.
Aside from better infrastructure, varying and incongruent laws make biking very challenging. Should I ride on the sidewalk, or on the road? Where do I belong? Will I actually get a ticket if I make a judgement call? Through the wacky ways that we regulate bikes in the states, we see starkly how they are not viewed as a viable transportation method (yet). We scratch the surface on the head-scratching confusion; it's no wonder that folks are too overwhelmed and afraid to start biking, even if they want to. Rest in Peace, Johnny Gaudreau. We discuss: 00:00 Briefly on Johnny Gaudreau's death. 04:08 Cars and alcohol. 08:52 Legal inconsistencies in cycling and bike laws. 21:03 The Idaho Stop and its benefits. 24:42 Wrapping up. Further context: On the Idaho Stop (via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Dr. Nadina Galle — ecological engineer and author of new book, The Nature of Our Cities — is in good traffic this week to hash out the crossroads of cities, nature, and technology. We talk proper park planning and tree management, and the cities leading the way. The nature side of the urbanism conversation is something we'll be exploring more deeply here, soon. Nadina is the perfect person to help frame the needed emphasis. We discuss: 00:00 Dr. Nadina Galle is in good traffic. 01:09 Publishing a book in two languages. 03:04 Embracing technology in urban design. 04:55 Smart cities and urban ecosystems. 11:11 Global leaders in urban nature solutions. 19:02 Opportunities in urban nature. 33:46 On ecological engineering. 33:52 The Miyawaki method and technological integration. 34:57 Building biodiversity in cities. 36:56 More on ecological engineering. 38:47 Communicating complex concepts. 42:30 The Internet of Nature concept. 44:42 North American urban greening outlook. 51:44 Wrapping up. Connect with Nadina: The book. nadinagalle.com. On Instagram. On Twitter. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Schools are back in session — and in less than a week, we're already fielding car line and traffic complaints. There has to be a better way to empower children's movement. We discuss: 00:00 Back to school. 01:22 The daily commute struggles. 03:08 Alternatives: The bike bus movement. 05:47 Practical tips for parents and students. 10:54 Commuting while in college. 16:44 Empowering student and teacher movement. 21:33 Next week.
Kyla Scanlon — author of In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work — is in good traffic to talk oil and gas economics and sociology, consumer sentiment and election voting driven by vibes, the implications of widespread car ownership, and more at the X of econ and urbanism. Kyla's book is the best entry-level econ read out there. Read it, ASAP. You can get your copy, here. We discuss: 00:00 Kyla Scanlon is in good traffic. 01:13 On the new book. 03:40 Housing market complexities. 06:52 The vibes economy, election years, and gas prices. 11:17 Subsidies and green energy. 18:39 Transportation alternatives. 23:29 Cycling infrastructure and safety. 28:20 Human behavior and economics. 28:43 Challenges of car-centric infrastructure. 32:14 Market demand for walkable neighborhoods. 34:47 Congestion pricing and public transit. 38:51 The financial burdens of car ownership. 44:32 Effective communication in urban planning and design. 46:33 Wrapping up. Further context: The book (again). Connect with Kyla: kylascanlon.com Kyla's newsletter. Kyla's podcast — Let's Appreciate. On TikTok. On Instagram. On YouTube. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Donald Shoup — economist, author, and distinguished research professor at UCLA — is in good traffic this week re-emphasizing the economic implications of free parking and its hidden costs, advocating for reforms such as market-based pricing for curb parking and parking benefit districts. He delves into the nuances between doctrine and dogma, sharing his perspective from a summary of lifelong research and practice in cities nationwide. The conversation explores various cities (including good traffic's home base in Columbus, Ohio) that are implementing these changes, promoting the idea that paid parking and strategically managed space can improve urban environments dramatically. We discuss: 00:00 Donald Shoup is in good traffic. 00:37 Doctrine vs. Dogma in urban planning. 01:53 Challenging minimum parking requirements. 03:48 The evolution of parking policies. 04:44 On parking economics within research and universities. 07:23 On American parking reform. 10:20 Parking benefit districts and performance parking. 10:49 Unexpected success stories. 18:29 The political landscape surrounding parking. 19:26 Value of an economist approach to the parking conversation. 24:16 Parking cash outs and employer transit stipends. 28:57 The hidden costs of free parking. 32:58 The direction of parking reform. 36:40 Wrapping up. 37:35 A Shoup pitch: paid parking and free podcasts. Further context: Donald's book: The High Cost of Free Parking. The Shoup Doggma, referenced in this episode. A summary of the three reform tools discussed, from Vox. Connect with Donald: shoupdogg.com On LinkedIn. On Twitter. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Sam Westby — touring cyclist, bike commuter, and content creator — is in good traffic this week to talk all things biking. We delve into Sam's recent Tour Divide ride, traversing from the Canadian border to the Mexican border on varying surfaces. The conversation also touches on the evolving bike culture in cities like Boston, and the impact of ebikes. We touch on an upbringing in a cycling-focused family. We also discuss Sam's PhD work in network science, with potential applications in urban cycling infrastructure. We discuss: 00:00 Sam's epic Tour Divide ride. 01:29 Bike touring preparation and decision making. 04:25 Diet and nutrition on biking excursions. 07:15 Bike community while on the road. 10:25 Urban vs. touring cycling. 16:27 Early beginnings and family influence. 22:03 Cycling amidst rapidly improving Boston infrastructure. 24:55 Boston's hardy biking culture. 26:29 Electric bike shares. 28:34 Social interactions. 30:04 The ebike debate and sufficient infrastructure. 34:09 PhD work in network science. 39:04 Navigating urban cycling via technology. 47:13 Best commutes and memorable rides. Further context: The Tour Divide ride. Sam's video on biking across the U.S. Connect with Sam: On Instagram. On YouTube. On TikTok. On Strava. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Steve Dunn — New Jersey firefighter and safe infrastructure advocate — is in good traffic this week to talk bikes as financial freedom, bike commuting as a public servant and emergency responder, and work done with his organization Union County Connects. The discussion also covers suburban and urban dynamics, the economic implications of car dependence, and the need for greater collaboration and understanding between fire departments in urban planning efforts. Steve offers a hopeful perspective on the future of biking and mobility in the states. We discuss: 00:00 Introduced to urbanism via our former guest. 01:33 Bike commuting. 06:04 Advocacy and community impact as a fireman. 08:20 Navigating suburban and urban dynamics. 19:58 Car dependency and alternative transportation. 27:35 An $11 billion turnpike expansion debate. 28:21 The psychology of infrastructure spending. 30:01 Hope for American transit and biking. 32:45 Balancing car use and sustainable living. 33:25 Advocating for bike parking and safer infrastructure. 34:18 Perceptions of car use. 46:30 The role of firefighters in the urban planning dialogue. 52:22 The future of emergency services and urbanism. 56:28 Wrapping up, and Steve's ride to work. Further context: Union County Connects (Steve's org). The Biking Fireman. Connect with Steve: On Instagram. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Nico Larco — professor and director of the Urbanism Next Center at the University of Oregon — is in good traffic this week to dive deeply into his new book, The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook, and utilizing Portland as a laboratory for developing leading urbanism practices. We discuss: 00:00 Portland, Oregon's urban design. 02:15 Bike commuting culture in Portland. 03:07 Portland's national perception. 06:14 Authoring a new sustainable urban design framework. 27:57 Intricacies of urban design. 29:37 Trees in urban environments. 33:02 Portland's neighborhoods. 38:16 University of Oregon's Sustainable Cities Institute and Urbanism Next Center. 43:41 An academic viewpoint on tactical urbanism. 46:09 Grassroots involvement in local urban design. 47:53 Favorite commutes and final thoughts. Further context: Nico's new book - The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook. From the book: Sustainable Urban Design Framework. The Urbanism Next Center. Portland's South Waterfront neighborhood. Connect with Nico: On LinkedIn. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Hayden Clarkin — a NYC-based transportation engineer known widely as The Transit Guy — is in good traffic this week to talk the engineering profession, getting transit projects across the finish line, and storytelling the technical aspects of the process. We cover the background, and current stasis, of halted congestion pricing implementation in New York City. We discuss: 00:00 The Transit Guy namesake. 02:15 Falling in love with transit. 08:54 Economic arguments for transit. 18:08 Challenges and misconceptions. 23:32 Congestion pricing, and looming NYC subway system questions. 31:17 Governance and policy upgrades needed, with examples in Austin and Philadelphia. 37:48 Transportation engineering education and challenges. 47:06 Wrapping up. Further context: On the shortage of true transportation engineers (via Strong Towns). Some background on the congestion pricing standstill (via New York Times). Connect with Hayden: On Instagram. On Twitter. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Portland, Oregon has a polarizing reputation — it seems drugs and homelessness dominate headlines nationally. Though it has uphill battles like any place, it's also an undisputed leader in urban design and multi-modal infrastructure. We're spending the next two weeks here, biking and walking all over the city and its surrounding neighborhoods. Today, we start with three (of many) physical choices that Portland practices well, and that more American cities should develop patterns after. I. Neighborhood greenways / practical paths. II. Separated spaces for different modes. III. Network-level planning and design. Subscribe early to the new newsletter — first publishing in August. Appreciate your time, as always. More Portland context (mentioned in the audio): The South Waterfront neighborhood. On Portland bike safety (via People Powered Movement). Portland protected bicycle lane planning and design guide (via PBOT).
Joan Lyons — transportation planner and urbanism writer — is in good traffic sharing on the Women Moving People project, which focuses on emboldening women's perspectives in the planning and transportation industries. We agree strongly on the importance of early exposure to urbanism for children and students. Joan also talks her career as a transportation planner in Louisiana, Denver, and North Carolina. Plus, a look at passenger rail corridors being identified, and funding challenges, across the states. We discuss: 00:00 Women Moving People: a project overview. 10:43 Introducing urbanism to coming generations. 15:48 Personal tales on public transit. 32:55 North Carolina's unique transportation landscape. 43:20 Regional connectivity and passenger rail initiatives. 48:40 Challenges in transportation funding. 54:54 Sign up for your city's newsletter, and fill stuff out. 01:01:22 Wrapping up. Further context: Women Moving People. A look at identified passenger rail corridors, particularly in North Carolina and Ohio (via Trains.com). Transportation management organizations (e.g. Boulder Transportation Connections). Connect with Joan: On Instagram. On LinkedIn. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
On inefficiency of single-use spaces. Questioning the norm of planning for exceptions rather than the rule. Cities and individuals make choices based on rarer needs, leading to underutilized spaces. In homing differing usages in one space — like a morning coffee shop turning into a bar at night, or a parking lot hosting a farmer's market — we can deduplicate resources, overhead, and infrastructure. We discuss: 00:00 Shared space. 01:46 Decision-making for the exception, vs. the rule. 06:29 Examples of shared spaces, and deduplicating resources and infrastructure. 10:54 On Stoa. 13:54 Combining retail-specific spaces. 17:52 Upcoming topics and conversation. Further context: On Stoas (via Sidewalk Labs).
Kev Polk — founder of Edenicity — is in good traffic this week discussing a permacultural approach to urbanism. This is: ecologically sound cities that provide housing, food, energy, and transportation in a cohesive system. Kev shares his path from space exploration to realizing the importance of localized systems and cities in addressing environmental crises. Kev emphasizes the potential for greater freedom and convenience (the American wishlist) through thoughtful urban design and holistic planning. We discuss: 00:00 Welcome to the new studio. 00:21 On Edenicity as a concept. 01:24 Permaculture and urban planning. 02:12 From space exploration to permaculture. 03:38 Cities as the solution to environmental issues. 05:01 Opportunities in urban permaculture. 11:57 Examples of successful urban permaculture. 20:45 Holistic system design, governance, and execution. 28:54 Lessons from the roundabout project in Bloomington, Indiana. 29:48 Experiences in Ohio. 31:22 Tiny house community roadblocks. 36:13 Promoting abundance and freedom, instead of austerity. 42:22 Fake green vs. real green. 46:38 EV specticism. 48:42 Wrapping up. Further context: Edenicity on YouTube. Biophilic building design in Singapore (via Summer Rayne Oakes). Electric vehicles by state (via Exploding Topics). Connect with Kev: On Youtube. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
On the hobby of spot-checking availability in nearby parking garages, and American driving and parking data. We discuss: 00:00 Counting unused parking spots in downtown Columbus, Ohio. 00:27 Parking garage supply and demand. 01:47 Reevaluating urban land use. 02:44 U.S. parking data. 03:57 Parking case study: Des Moines, Iowa. 06:09 Larger implications of car-centric infrastructure. 11:11 Personal finance and transportation costs. 14:46 Coming Thursday: Kev Polk (Edenicity). Further context: Number of parking spots, compared to cars on the road in the U.S. (via Fast Company). The parking density of American cities (via Bloomberg CityLab). Cities' 'parking scores' (via Parking Reform Network). Average car ownership count by household (via Forbes). Average American household size (via Statistica).
Ryan Short — cofounder of CivicBrand — joins good traffic to emphasize why cities and towns of all sizes should care more about branding. We talk the need for civic pride and intentional urban design, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and using community perspective to refine strong, holistic, evergreen messaging. From Dallas, to suburban North Carolina, to mountain town Colorado, Ryan's perspective is forged from work in communities of all stripes. He's truly of wealth of successful precedents for proper placemaking. We discuss: 00:00 On CivicBrand, and branding cities. 04:29 On community engagement. 05:30 Car-centric design has ruined civic identity. 08:12 How to approach community engagement and placemaking. 16:37 Collecting data at community meetings. 25:23 Qualitative data in branding. 26:03 Personal taste versus city identity. 27:18 Toyota's branding as a model for cities. 30:44 Civic pride and economic growth. 34:13 Case study: High Point, North Carolina. 40:18 Learning from small towns. 45:16 Wrapping up. Further context: CivicBrand. Connect with Ryan: On LinkedIn. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Recently, my partner Aly reflected on our walks in Columbus (OH) feeling safer than elsewhere in the states. We discussed the why behind this perceived feeling, and articulated the claim into five attributable rationales. We decided to rehash those, here. As planners, designers, and urbanists get deeper into the technical, it's important to keep the way that a place or piece of infrastructure simply feels top of mind.
Rob Parker — president of the Town at Trilith — is in good traffic this week to share on constructing a walkable town around creatives and the film industry. 40 minutes outside of Atlanta, a 235-acre neighborhood is taking shape. It's budding around one of the largest film studios in the U.S., and is looking to become a cradle for creatives, on the way to establishing a revamped, stronger model of an industry town. Even amongst all of the glitz and glamour of movie studios — simple, practical walkability is top of mind. We discuss: 00:00 Centering a town around a leading Atlanta movie studio (the home of multiple Marvel productions). 01:44 Building and curating a walkable community, specifically designed for creatives. 07:20 Intentionality in crafting diverse, ‘missing middle' housing options. 11:53 New, greenfield development that doesn't feel fake, cheap, or cookie-cutter. 15:14 Challenges and solutions of a ‘new urbanist' development project. 29:28 Connectivity and transportation between suburban and rural towns. 37:37 Balancing cars and walkability. 42:28 Wrapping up. Further context: The Town at Trilith. The studio. Connect with Rob: On LinkedIn. Connect with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Musing from recent neighborhood walks. Notably: counting single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) entering and exiting the city during rush hour. Surely, some of these are coming from — and going to — similar areas of the metro. There has to be a better way. And, they're all driving increasingly-large SUVs, too. Bigger, heavier cars. More inefficient, wasted space. There is much we can glean from a basic neighborhood wander. This is one such observation; what is one of yours? We discuss: 00:00 Observations from neighborhood walks, amongst rush hour commuters. 04:27 The inefficiency of single occupancy vehicles. 11:28 The exploding popularity of larger vehicles in the U.S. (SUVs, trucks, etc.). 16:44 More on inefficiencies in American cities. 21:30 What have you noticed in your neighborhood? For context: U.S. commuter data (via CSIS). Market share by vehicle type, 1975-2021 (via Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan). Cost of empty airline seats (via Forbes). Most popular vehicle type in each state (via iSeeCars).
This is a brief excerpt from my appearance on the Real Finds podcast, last week. Within, we examine why walkability, livable neighborhoods, and human-scale environments should be top of mind for commercial real estate professionals and business owners. Find the full hour here. Thanks to Gordon Lamphere for the audio.
Road signs seem to get read less than a seventh-grade history textbook. Even the most ubiquitous, exact signs like — STOP — are seemingly up for interpretation (everyone is an artist now, or something). Unfortunately, we're not obeying those crafty yard signs that encourage slowing down, either. Signs that give dynamic feedback — thanks to a radar function that feeds a display board — do make an impact, but not enough. Thorough, safer urban design is the way to lower speeds, and thus lower pedestrian and bike fatalities and accidents. The bottom line: we humans aren't good at judging the proper speed at which to drive. Whatever number is listed, we add nine-ish mph. We need an environment (streets) that demand driver caution, care, and presence. Also, data to follow up on last week's Tara Hill Drive conversation. Hint: traffic calming measures work (see links below). We discuss: 00:00 Slow down: duck crossing. 01:38 Becoming desensitized to pedestrian safety? 02:28 Effectiveness of road signage. 07:31 Dynamic, electronic feedback signs. 10:07 Why we need urban design and traffic calming infrastructure. 10:59 Data on speed and fatalities on U.S. roads. 16:59 Case study follow up (from last week): traffic calming in Dublin, Ohio. 23:47 The new studio, soon. 25:57 Wrapping up. For context: On street sign design (via Behavioral Scientist). On the chance of being killed by a car, correlated with vehicle speed (via ProPublica). On the efficacy of radar speed signs (via Radarsign). NHTSA speed data (via The League of American Bicyclists). Tara Hill Drive (Dublin, Ohio), BEFORE the traffic calming implementations. Tara Hill Drive AFTER the traffic calming implementations.
Reflecting on traffic calming infrastructure seen this week in suburban Dublin, Ohio, on Tara Hill Drive. When car-dominated suburbs build infrastructure like neighborhood traffic circles, it's an acknowledgment that we surely know how to design safer streets, and thus every street designed on the contrary is an active choice against resident livability. The road to stronger, safer, and more livable neighborhoods is not a mysterious one. In addition, we briefly touch on an impactful Twitter thread from the week. It's on road accident death rates, how we compare to Russia (not good), and how to operate amongst the attributable dangers here in the states. The credit belongs to Mark Abraham, and you can find the thread here. It's worth your time. Thanks for bearing with me during our studio move. Apologies for any sub-optimal sound, this week.
Live from the move from Tempe, Arizona to Columbus, Ohio: noting constant roadway maintenance, contextualizing intercity v. intracity transportation, and looking forward to getting out of this car. Also, just a tad bit of CNU Cincy FOMO.
Steve Nash — NBA hall-of-famer and founder of BLOCK training — is in good traffic to chat on the concept of healthspan, and how quality of life and neighborhood design interconnect. We talk baking mobility and movement into everyday life, training intentionally, and stacking habits in a scalable way. Steve shares the framework and ethos behind his current endeavors with BLOCK, and origins in mobility training during his playing days and childhood. Culdesac founder Ryan Johnson is also back on the show this week — he shares perspective on building walkable places in the U.S. that prioritize the health and habits that Steve champions. We discuss: 00:00 Steve Nash and Ryan Johnson are in good traffic. 00:58 Healthspan definitions and pillars. 03:18 Healthspan in daily life. 04:28 The role of walkable communities in enhancing healthspan. 05:04 Moving from hall-of-fame pro athlete to founder of BLOCK training. 07:11 On the daily eight' health habit builder. 18:08 The community element of BLOCK training. 25:42 Reflections on movement, mental health, and longevity. 29:16 Stress and coping mechanisms in professional sports. 32:39 How Steve Nash led through physical touch in the NBA. 41:03 Political polarization and walkable neighborhoods in the U.S. 57:05 Reflecting on walkable commutes. Further context: BLOCK training, Steve's current project. Healthspan, explained. Some Steve Nash highlights, for good measure. The study on Steve leading the NBA in physical touches with teammates. Connect with Steve: On Instagram. On LinkedIn. On Twitter. Connect with Ryan: On LinkedIn. On Twitter. Connecting with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Aly Marchant — my transit-taking girlfriend and a good traffic regular — is back for a walkthrough of being a women on public transportation. She shares recent challenges, protocols to help avoid and navigate uncomfortable situations, our collaboration towards mitigation as a couple, the role of young men, and optimism for female riders. For context: Gender distribution of public transit travelers in the United States (via Statista). Connecting with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
Expanding highways and adding lanes doesn't solve traffic. If it did, the cities that have been doing so for decades would have fixed their traffic woes. But, they're worse than ever. Through the continuously misguided approach to transportation, we've learned a lot about the principle of induced demand, and Jevons paradox. In short, when we increase capacity in the name of efficiency, what we actually increase is demand and use. Thus, efficiency actually goes down. What if we were to induce the demand for other methods of transportation? With more and better bike infrastructure, would we not see a rise in those biking? Paris has done just this, and it is working. Biking has now passed driving in the city, as a means of transportation. Your move, *insert name of American city*. For context: A great walkthrough on why expanding highways doesn't solve traffic (via Business Insider). Increased roadway capacity induces additional vehicle miles traveled in the short-run, and even more in the long-run (via National Center for Sustainable Transportation). Shots of the Salt River Shore and Rio Salado Pathway in Phoenix, Arizona (via AllTrails). Connecting with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
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