NEW REPORT: A Radical New Approach to Street Design Needed @ActiveTowns
NEW REPORT: A Radical New Approach to Street Design Needed  @ActiveTowns
Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, I reconnect with Tim Gill and meet Alice Ferguson for a discussion about a recent report they collaborated on titled β€œStreets for Play, Streets for Freedom,” which calls for a radical, child-centered approach to decision-making around streets and transport planning.

Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
πŸ‘‰ Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom Report: playingout.net/what-can-i-do/big-picture/a-child-lens-on-streets-and-transport-policy
πŸ‘‰ The Urban Playground Episode with Tim Gill: youtu.be/zDE1uHWh4W8
πŸ‘‰ Fighting for Family Friendly Streets Episode with Tim Gill: youtu.be/ExA58Pf2edU
πŸ‘‰ Marco’s book Movement: How to Take Back Our Streets and Transform Our Lives: amzn.to/3DELs5L
πŸ‘‰ Peter Norton Playlist: bit.ly/42hWW8y
πŸ‘‰ Dark PR episode with Grant Ennis: youtu.be/dP41Hsr4fMA
πŸ‘‰ Motormativity episode with Prof. Ian Walker and Prof. Marco te BrΓΆmmelstroet: youtu.be/S4arpOnWuIE
πŸ‘‰ Lenore Skenazy - Let Grow episode: youtu.be/Tu58o_AFefA
πŸ‘‰ Mara Mintzer’s Growing Up Boulder episode: youtu.be/gIo-xsrzOiE
πŸ‘‰ The Urban Truth Collective episode: youtu.be/ptHuub8NViw
πŸ‘‰ Tom Flood’s work: creativebyrovelo.com
πŸ‘‰ My Episode with Tom Flood - Part One: youtu.be/g8-n2DZHvio and Part Two: youtu.be/N7ZNmwscuwE
πŸ‘‰ My Orford Road video: youtu.be/eay8c_vuQiQ

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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

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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
NEW REPORT: A Radical New Approach to Street Design NeededSchool Run by Bike: The Bartels Family Shows Us How They Do ItRemoving the Threat of Cars on 34th Avenue #shortsWalk n Talk with Chuck Marohn Fayetteville 2026PROVIDENCE: Running Errands by Brompton Bicycle Before Departing on Amtrak (Heading West to Denver)PITTSBURGH: The 2025 Active Towns Amtrak Tour - Stop No. 3 (Part Two)EP 301 FAMILIES FOR SAFE STREETS: Reframing the Car-Brain Carnage NarrativeAuckland Cycle Network Tour Part Two Excerpt #shortsYour Guidebook to Safer Streets, Protected Bike Lanes, and Better TransitAuckland Cycle Network Tour with Christopher Dempsey (Part Two)Creative University Cycle Network: Students Helped Build It  #shortsQuickly Building High Quality Livable Streets
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NEW REPORT: A Radical New Approach to Street Design Needed

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