Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A conversation with Bike Streets founder Avi Stopper about how our cities can start building Bike Networks Now, not 30 years from now, using a Network First strategy. Originally recorded live, this is the edited version of Ep 349. We cover the tension between the standard bike network development approach of one facility at a time with an estimated time horizon of decades to "build out," with a "network-first approach" of activating the cycle network on quiet, low-volume, low-speed streets hiding in plain sight in many cities around the globe. Avi argues that this result can be achieved at a fraction of the cost and time while getting a critical mass of people riding more often for everyday trips. The use of quick-build motor vehicle traffic diverters enhances the comfort and calmness of these people-priority streets while still maintaining convenient motor vehicle access for the local residents. In essence, the challenge of the aggressive, speeding, rat-running cut-through traffic is eliminated.
Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
👉 Bike Streets: bikestreets.com
👉 My recent Bike Streets ride with Avi: youtu.be/Zo-JaBUbyhw
👉 Avi Stopper on the Pod Ep 292: youtu.be/cdNGGQIWdYA and Ep 184: youtu.be/azHyJdGDdVs
🤙 This video mentions my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Folding Bikes (yes, they can ship the bike directly to you - that's what they've done for me): freedomfoldingbikes.com
🙌 Mention Active Towns for a special deal on accessories and add-ons. More information on Freedom Folding Bikes can be found here: cpr.org/2024/10/23/ukraine-family-boulder-freedom-folding-bikes
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
A conversation with Bike Streets founder Avi Stopper about how our cities can start building Bike Networks Now, not 30 years from now, using a Network First strategy. Originally recorded live, this is the edited version of Ep 349. We cover the tension between the standard bike network development approach of one facility at a time with an estimated time horizon of decades to "build out," with a "network-first approach" of activating the cycle network on quiet, low-volume, low-speed streets hiding in plain sight in many cities around the globe. Avi argues that this result can be achieved at a fraction of the cost and time while getting a critical mass of people riding more often for everyday trips. The use of quick-build motor vehicle traffic diverters enhances the comfort and calmness of these people-priority streets while still maintaining convenient motor vehicle access for the local residents. In essence, the challenge of the aggressive, speeding, rat-running cut-through traffic is eliminated.
Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
👉 Bike Streets: bikestreets.com
👉 My recent Bike Streets ride with Avi: youtu.be/Zo-JaBUbyhw
👉 Avi Stopper on the Pod Ep 292: youtu.be/cdNGGQIWdYA and Ep 184: youtu.be/azHyJdGDdVs
🤙 This video mentions my beloved Brompton folding bicycle. I highly recommend buying your own Brompton from your local dealer if you have one or from my favorite Boulder, Colorado-based store, Freedom Folding Bikes (yes, they can ship the bike directly to you - that's what they've done for me): freedomfoldingbikes.com
🙌 Mention Active Towns for a special deal on accessories and add-ons. More information on Freedom Folding Bikes can be found here: cpr.org/2024/10/23/ukraine-family-boulder-freedom-folding-bikes
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
