Active Towns
@activetowns.bsky.social
Hi! I'm John Simmerman, founder of Active Towns, a channel dedicated to profiling the people, places, and programs promoting a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities." Learn more 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@activetowns
Ultimately, children’s cycling independence is not just a matter of skills or parental trust, but a collective design choice about what – and who – our cities are for.
open.substack.com/pub/urbancyc...
open.substack.com/pub/urbancyc...
Why Our Streets Are Failing Kids – And How to Fix It
Three Steps for Designing With Children’s Autonomy in Mind
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Ultimately, children’s cycling independence is not just a matter of skills or parental trust, but a collective design choice about what – and who – our cities are for.
open.substack.com/pub/urbancyc...
open.substack.com/pub/urbancyc...
REMINDER: Pls tune in this Thurs, Feb 12th, at 2 pm EST for a LIVE Follow-Up convo with @wesmars.bsky.social about his book Killed By A Traffic Engineer, his new Pod @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social, and his recent research. We'll also be taking questions from the live chat.
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
LIVE WITH WES MARSHALL
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:42 PM
REMINDER: Pls tune in this Thurs, Feb 12th, at 2 pm EST for a LIVE Follow-Up convo with @wesmars.bsky.social about his book Killed By A Traffic Engineer, his new Pod @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social, and his recent research. We'll also be taking questions from the live chat.
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
Aloha Everyone, Here’s my update for the past two weeks… I had to travel last week, so I missed getting my update out to y’all. Enjoy the combined bonus episodes!
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
February 9, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Aloha Everyone, Here’s my update for the past two weeks… I had to travel last week, so I missed getting my update out to y’all. Enjoy the combined bonus episodes!
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
ICYMI, this past Fri, Feb 6, I released a fascinating conversation with Diane Alisa about her journey into urbanism advocacy and her beautifully written new book, A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village. Here’s a short excerpt of that episode: youtube.com/shorts/gsNmc...
How This Mom Got Inspired by @NotJustBikes to Become an Urbanism Influencer #shorts
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:05 PM
ICYMI, this past Fri, Feb 6, I released a fascinating conversation with Diane Alisa about her journey into urbanism advocacy and her beautifully written new book, A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village. Here’s a short excerpt of that episode: youtube.com/shorts/gsNmc...
This is an excerpt of my on-bike interview with Jessica Pearson, Coalition Manager with Bentonville Moves (now known as Arkansas Moves), and Sara Studdard, Partner with City Thread. Link to the full interview is in the comments below
youtube.com/shorts/ocds7...
youtube.com/shorts/ocds7...
BENTONVILLE: Building Community Support for Bike Lanes #shorts
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:54 PM
This is an excerpt of my on-bike interview with Jessica Pearson, Coalition Manager with Bentonville Moves (now known as Arkansas Moves), and Sara Studdard, Partner with City Thread. Link to the full interview is in the comments below
youtube.com/shorts/ocds7...
youtube.com/shorts/ocds7...
SAVE THE DATE: Please plan to tune in next week on Thursday, February 12th, at 2 pm Eastern for a Livestreaming Follow Up Conversation with @wesmars.bsky.social about his book Killed By A Traffic Engineer, his new Podcast, and recent research. The Live Chat will be open
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
LIVE WITH WES MARSHALL
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:24 PM
SAVE THE DATE: Please plan to tune in next week on Thursday, February 12th, at 2 pm Eastern for a Livestreaming Follow Up Conversation with @wesmars.bsky.social about his book Killed By A Traffic Engineer, his new Podcast, and recent research. The Live Chat will be open
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
youtube.com/live/ctTkHRe...
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Pls tune in today, Fri, Feb 6th, at 2 pm Eastern, for my chat w/ Diane Alisa, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village, about how her advocacy for the return of walkable villages was inspired by a Not Just Bikes video.
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
EPISODE 327 DIANE ALISA: Inspired by Not Just Bikes to Write A Love Letter to Suburbia
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 3:09 PM
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Pls tune in today, Fri, Feb 6th, at 2 pm Eastern, for my chat w/ Diane Alisa, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village, about how her advocacy for the return of walkable villages was inspired by a Not Just Bikes video.
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
PREMIERE ALERT: Please tune in tomorrow, Friday, February 6th, at 2 pm Eastern, for my conversation with Diane Alisa, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village, discussing her journey into urbanism and her advocacy for walkable communities.
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
EPISODE 327 DIANE ALISA: Inspired by Not Just Bikes to Write A Love Letter to Suburbia
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 2:30 AM
PREMIERE ALERT: Please tune in tomorrow, Friday, February 6th, at 2 pm Eastern, for my conversation with Diane Alisa, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village, discussing her journey into urbanism and her advocacy for walkable communities.
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
youtu.be/HgZLbIIrR-A
PREMIERE ALERT: Please tune in today, Thursday, February 5th, at 2 pm Eastern for this special premiere of my on-bike interview with Jessica Pearson with Bentonville Moves (now known as Arkansas Moves) and Sara Studdard with City Thread.
youtu.be/d5dhKN8T-UU
youtu.be/d5dhKN8T-UU
BENTONVILLE: Solved! Coalition Building is the Secret to Move Fast on Cycle Network Installations
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
PREMIERE ALERT: Please tune in today, Thursday, February 5th, at 2 pm Eastern for this special premiere of my on-bike interview with Jessica Pearson with Bentonville Moves (now known as Arkansas Moves) and Sara Studdard with City Thread.
youtu.be/d5dhKN8T-UU
youtu.be/d5dhKN8T-UU
Closed to Cars, Open for People - For The Morning
ICYMI, PATH - People for Active Transportation Hawai`i organized an Open Streets event on Ali`i Drive to create a safe environment for families to ride in the Historic Village Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai`i.
youtube.com/shorts/reDCX...
ICYMI, PATH - People for Active Transportation Hawai`i organized an Open Streets event on Ali`i Drive to create a safe environment for families to ride in the Historic Village Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai`i.
youtube.com/shorts/reDCX...
Closed to Cars, Open for People #streetsareforpeople
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Closed to Cars, Open for People - For The Morning
ICYMI, PATH - People for Active Transportation Hawai`i organized an Open Streets event on Ali`i Drive to create a safe environment for families to ride in the Historic Village Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai`i.
youtube.com/shorts/reDCX...
ICYMI, PATH - People for Active Transportation Hawai`i organized an Open Streets event on Ali`i Drive to create a safe environment for families to ride in the Historic Village Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai`i.
youtube.com/shorts/reDCX...
ICYMI: Yesterday, I released this profile of “Kona Bicycle Day,” perhaps Kailua-Kona's first ever Open Streets Event, organized by PATH, a 40-year-old non-profit working to promote active mobility and a culture of activity on Hawaii Island for all ages and abilities.
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
KAILUA KONA: Is This Really the 1st Open Streets Event on Hawaii Island?
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 1:45 AM
ICYMI: Yesterday, I released this profile of “Kona Bicycle Day,” perhaps Kailua-Kona's first ever Open Streets Event, organized by PATH, a 40-year-old non-profit working to promote active mobility and a culture of activity on Hawaii Island for all ages and abilities.
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Please tune in today, Friday, January 30th, at 2 pm Eastern for my in-depth conversation with @carterlavin.bsky.social about his new book, If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy.
youtu.be/Uff8Hb0fcWA
youtu.be/Uff8Hb0fcWA
EPISODE 326: If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 3:13 PM
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Please tune in today, Friday, January 30th, at 2 pm Eastern for my in-depth conversation with @carterlavin.bsky.social about his new book, If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy.
youtu.be/Uff8Hb0fcWA
youtu.be/Uff8Hb0fcWA
“The DOT’s charge is to continue and accelerate the planning and design of a street network that provides safe access to all ages and abilities,” Andy @urbanismspeakeasy.com Boenau
Hey, I know that guy!
commonwealthtimes.org/2026/01/28/s...
Hey, I know that guy!
commonwealthtimes.org/2026/01/28/s...
Streamlined Richmond Transportation Department, safety efforts take shape
Sal Orlando, Assistant News Editor The City of Richmond created a new Department of Transportation (DOT) within the Department of Public Works (DPW) in January as a response to an uptick in traffic-re...
commonwealthtimes.org
January 29, 2026 at 5:10 PM
“The DOT’s charge is to continue and accelerate the planning and design of a street network that provides safe access to all ages and abilities,” Andy @urbanismspeakeasy.com Boenau
Hey, I know that guy!
commonwealthtimes.org/2026/01/28/s...
Hey, I know that guy!
commonwealthtimes.org/2026/01/28/s...
Nice to see Victoria, BC, and @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social getting some press - It's been fun to see the expansion of their network... my last Active Towns Tour visit was in 2017, so yeah, I am long overdue for a return trip 👇
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
How a Small Canadian City Tripled Cycling Rates in Just 11 Years
Video: Victoria, Britiish Columbia has rapidly become "the strongest cycling city in North America that isn't widely known for it."
nextcity.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Nice to see Victoria, BC, and @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social getting some press - It's been fun to see the expansion of their network... my last Active Towns Tour visit was in 2017, so yeah, I am long overdue for a return trip 👇
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Pls tune in today, Thur, Jan 29th, at 2 pm Eastern / 9 am Hawaii Time, for my profile on Kailua-Kona's first Open Streets Event, organized by PATH, a 40-year-old non-profit promoting active mobility and a culture of activity on Hawaii Island for all ages
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
KAILUA KONA: The First Open Streets Event on Hawaii Island?
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 3:54 PM
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Pls tune in today, Thur, Jan 29th, at 2 pm Eastern / 9 am Hawaii Time, for my profile on Kailua-Kona's first Open Streets Event, organized by PATH, a 40-year-old non-profit promoting active mobility and a culture of activity on Hawaii Island for all ages
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
PREMIERE ALERT Pls tune in tmw, Thurs, Jan 29th, at 2pm Eastern for my profile on Kailua-Kona's first Open Streets Event, organized by People for Active Transportation Hawaii, a 40-year-old non-profit working to promote active mobility and a culture of activity on Hawaii Island
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
KAILUA KONA: The First Open Streets Event on Hawaii Island?
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 6:43 AM
PREMIERE ALERT Pls tune in tmw, Thurs, Jan 29th, at 2pm Eastern for my profile on Kailua-Kona's first Open Streets Event, organized by People for Active Transportation Hawaii, a 40-year-old non-profit working to promote active mobility and a culture of activity on Hawaii Island
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
youtu.be/OBqJOgk9j7U
"The majority of Americans are open to living car-free even after decades of car-centric planning, policy, and cultural programming aimed at getting as many people as possible behind the wheel." usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/21/s...
Survey: Most Americans Are Open To Ditching Their Cars — Streetsblog USA
Automakers have spent a century and countless trillions of dollars making car-dependent living the American norm. But U.S. resident still aren't sold, a new survey suggests.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 28, 2026 at 5:03 PM
"The majority of Americans are open to living car-free even after decades of car-centric planning, policy, and cultural programming aimed at getting as many people as possible behind the wheel." usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/21/s...
"This study found that reducing traffic stress has the biggest impact for shorter trips and in places where alternatives to driving already exist." ssti.us/2026/01/20/n...
New research shows where low stress streets make the biggest difference
Making streets less stressful for walkers and bikers is strongly associated with more walking and biking, and new research from Maryland helps clarify where those effects are most pronounced. Building...
ssti.us
January 28, 2026 at 5:01 PM
"This study found that reducing traffic stress has the biggest impact for shorter trips and in places where alternatives to driving already exist." ssti.us/2026/01/20/n...
"Addressing the 'time bomb,' is about optimizing transportation as a tool to improve the quality of life for people of all ages, while creating the systems that are safer for them, cleaner for the environment, and also very much fit for a sustainable future." bit.ly/4a34JKv
A 'Demographic Time Bomb' Is About To Go Off — And the Transportation Sector Isn't Ready — Streetsblog USA
A top firm is warning that the "silver tsunami" will have big implications for the climate, unless U.S. communities act fast.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"Addressing the 'time bomb,' is about optimizing transportation as a tool to improve the quality of life for people of all ages, while creating the systems that are safer for them, cleaner for the environment, and also very much fit for a sustainable future." bit.ly/4a34JKv
DAYBREAK: Car-Free Spaces, Art, and Access to Nature
This is a short excerpt from my epic on-bike interview with Daybreak Resident, Mike West
youtube.com/shorts/yUaWd...
This is a short excerpt from my epic on-bike interview with Daybreak Resident, Mike West
youtube.com/shorts/yUaWd...
DAYBREAK: Car-Free Spaces, Art, and Access to Nature #activetownsshorts
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:55 PM
DAYBREAK: Car-Free Spaces, Art, and Access to Nature
This is a short excerpt from my epic on-bike interview with Daybreak Resident, Mike West
youtube.com/shorts/yUaWd...
This is a short excerpt from my epic on-bike interview with Daybreak Resident, Mike West
youtube.com/shorts/yUaWd...
WEEKLY UPDATE: Aloha Everyone, Here’s my weekly update for the Active Towns Channel for the week of January 26, 2026, featuring bike tours of the Daybreak and Mueller "new urbanist" communities and a convo with Esther Walker, PhD, Executive Director of Outride.
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
January 26, 2026 at 4:09 PM
WEEKLY UPDATE: Aloha Everyone, Here’s my weekly update for the Active Towns Channel for the week of January 26, 2026, featuring bike tours of the Daybreak and Mueller "new urbanist" communities and a convo with Esther Walker, PhD, Executive Director of Outride.
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
mailchi.mp/activetowns/...
OUTRIDE: Studying the Powerful Benefits of Cycling
Esther Walker, PhD, Outride Executive Director, introduces us to the research and programming of the Outride Riding for Focus initiative. To watch the full interview, click on the link in the Comments section below
youtube.com/shorts/261bI...
Esther Walker, PhD, Outride Executive Director, introduces us to the research and programming of the Outride Riding for Focus initiative. To watch the full interview, click on the link in the Comments section below
youtube.com/shorts/261bI...
OUTRIDE: Studying the Power Benefits of Cycling
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtube.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:05 PM
OUTRIDE: Studying the Powerful Benefits of Cycling
Esther Walker, PhD, Outride Executive Director, introduces us to the research and programming of the Outride Riding for Focus initiative. To watch the full interview, click on the link in the Comments section below
youtube.com/shorts/261bI...
Esther Walker, PhD, Outride Executive Director, introduces us to the research and programming of the Outride Riding for Focus initiative. To watch the full interview, click on the link in the Comments section below
youtube.com/shorts/261bI...
I was honored to join Jacob for a discussion about Active Towns on the Cities In Motion Podcast. You can give it a listen below: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/e...
Ep: 9 How Walkable Streets and Active Mobility Improve Community Health | John Simmerman
Podcast Episode · Cities in Motion · 23/01/2026 · 37m
podcasts.apple.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:46 PM
I was honored to join Jacob for a discussion about Active Towns on the Cities In Motion Podcast. You can give it a listen below: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/e...
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Please tune in today, Friday, January 23rd, at 2 pm Eastern for my conversation with Esther Walker, Executive Director of Outride, about their work in empowering all people to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling.
youtu.be/3PwMkv4swAA
youtu.be/3PwMkv4swAA
EPISODE 325 ESTHER WALKER: Cycling's Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Benefits
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 5:17 PM
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Please tune in today, Friday, January 23rd, at 2 pm Eastern for my conversation with Esther Walker, Executive Director of Outride, about their work in empowering all people to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling.
youtu.be/3PwMkv4swAA
youtu.be/3PwMkv4swAA
Quote of the Day: “America was not designed for the car. It was destroyed for it.”
open.substack.com/pub/thehappy...
open.substack.com/pub/thehappy...
Ptolemaic complexity
Sometimes people are incredibly right at being wrong.
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Quote of the Day: “America was not designed for the car. It was destroyed for it.”
open.substack.com/pub/thehappy...
open.substack.com/pub/thehappy...