Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How streets get transformed into safer, more inviting places is messy and difficult. This fascinating new documentary by Director Ben Wolf dives deep into the details of just such a transformation in New York City, and the results are beautiful and inspiring, yet frustrating on so many levels. You'll ask: "Why does it have to be so hard?" and then you'll see the very human responses to the prospect of change and how the advocates for safer streets navigate the minefield of barriers to progress.
Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
👉 Changing Lanes documentary website: changinglanesdoc.com
👉 Changing Lanes teaser: vimeo.com/1115240983
👉 David Byrne, Bicycle Diaries in the Active Towns Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/85379/9780143117964 or via Amazon: amzn.to/484vQ7F
👉 My final episode with Donald Shoup: youtu.be/wRiyKQ6HpjE and The High Cost of Free Parking: bookshop.org/a/85379/9781932364965
👉 Jessie Singer’s episode: youtu.be/SSpPzdBbJ7k
👉 Clarence Eckerson, Jr. Streetfilms: @StreetfilmsCommunity
👉 My Episodes with Peter Norton: bit.ly/42hWW8y
👉 What's a STROAD and Why Does It Matter? strongtowns.org/journal/2018-3-1-whats-a-stroad-and-why-does-it-matter
Thank you so much for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs-up, leave a comment below, and share it with a friend. If you'd like more content like this, please subscribe to the Active Towns Channel, and be sure to "Ring" that notification bell to select your notification preferences.
If you are a fan of the Active Towns Channel, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
1. Become a Member of Active Towns right here on YouTube by clicking on the Join button and selecting the level that best suits you
2. Join the Patreon community: patreon.com/activetowns
(Note: Patron benefits include early, ad-free access to all my video content)
3. If you enjoyed this video, you can also "leave a tip" by clicking on the Super Thanks button right here on YouTube or through "Buy Me a Coffee" buymeacoffee.com/activetowns
4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. at activetowns.org/donate
Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman
Music via Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/3rFLErD
Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: bit.ly/35DBDDU
For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
Website: activetowns.org
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/activetowns.bsky.social
Newsletter: bit.ly/SubscribeActiveTownsNewsletter
Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.
Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."
The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.
Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.
Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026
How streets get transformed into safer, more inviting places is messy and difficult. This fascinating new documentary by Director Ben Wolf dives deep into the details of just such a transformation in New York City, and the results are beautiful and inspiring, yet frustrating on so many levels. You'll ask: "Why does it have to be so hard?" and then you'll see the very human responses to the prospect of change and how the advocates for safer streets navigate the minefield of barriers to progress.
Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
👉 Changing Lanes documentary website: changinglanesdoc.com
👉 Changing Lanes teaser: vimeo.com/1115240983
👉 David Byrne, Bicycle Diaries in the Active Towns Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/85379/9780143117964 or via Amazon: amzn.to/484vQ7F
👉 My final episode with Donald Shoup: youtu.be/wRiyKQ6HpjE and The High Cost of Free Parking: bookshop.org/a/85379/9781932364965
👉 Jessie Singer’s episode: youtu.be/SSpPzdBbJ7k
👉 Clarence Eckerson, Jr. Streetfilms: @StreetfilmsCommunity
👉 My Episodes with Peter Norton: bit.ly/42hWW8y
👉 What's a STROAD and Why Does It Matter? strongtowns.org/journal/2018-3-1-whats-a-stroad-and-why-does-it-matter
Thank you so much for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs-up, leave a comment below, and share it with a friend. If you'd like more content like this, please subscribe to the Active Towns Channel, and be sure to "Ring" that notification bell to select your notification preferences.
If you are a fan of the Active Towns Channel, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
1. Become a Member of Active Towns right here on YouTube by clicking on the Join button and selecting the level that best suits you
2. Join the Patreon community: patreon.com/activetowns
(Note: Patron benefits include early, ad-free access to all my video content)
3. If you enjoyed this video, you can also "leave a tip" by clicking on the Super Thanks button right here on YouTube or through "Buy Me a Coffee" buymeacoffee.com/activetowns
4. Make a donation to my non-profit, Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. at activetowns.org/donate
Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman
Music via Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/3rFLErD
Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: bit.ly/35DBDDU
For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
Website: activetowns.org
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/activetowns.bsky.social
Newsletter: bit.ly/SubscribeActiveTownsNewsletter
Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.
Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."
The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.
Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.
Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2026
