Shows
SGV ConnectSGV Connect 135.1 - An Update on the Gold Line Foothill Construction Timelines (Note: this week’s SGV Connect podcast is being broken into two parts. Part 2, which is a series of interview about The People’s Cafe in El Monte, will be broadcast tomorrow.) Last week, news broke that bids for the next extension of the Foothill Gold Line - from Pomona to Montclair - would be delayed because the only bid to design and build the project was hundreds of millions of dollars higher than anticipated. Earlier today, Damien Newton sat down with Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority CEO Habib Bali...2025-04-0214 min
Talking Headways: A Streetsblog PodcastEpisode 165: Mondays at The Overhead Wire - Memos within MemosThis week at Mondays at The Overhead Wire, we're joined by Streetsblog USA's Kea Wilson to chat about the new USDOT directives from the Trump administration. We talk about rescinded memos, funding memos, and Kea thinks Jeff might be trying to hard to find logic in the reasoning for using birth and marriage rates to steer transportation funding. Below are items we chatted about on the show.... Donald Shoup was about more than just parking - CPDR Unflooding the zone - T4America Why DOT is promising more money for higher...2025-02-1140 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 133: Introducing StreetSmartOk, I’ll admit it. I’m using this week’s SGV Connect to encourage listeners to start listening to my other podcast, StreetSmart which appears at Streetsblog California. This week’s SGV Connect features clips from three different StreetSmart interviews. The first is with Jeanie Ward-Waller where we de-mystify the California Transportation Commission. A little-heard-of board that approves billions of dollars of state transportation funds every year. In this clip, we discuss why it’s important to have progressives and activists in some of the voting board positions. For the full podcast, and transcript, click her...2025-02-0619 min
The Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastWhat's Missing From the 'Safe Systems' Approach (Roger Millar)If you’ve been following Streetsblog for a while, you might have heard of famed planner/engineer/all-around transportation superstar Roger Millar, not least for his recent leadership as the head of the Washington state DOT. But you might not have heard that, while at WashDOT, Millar and his team did something quietly radical: they challenged every decision maker in their state to confront the role of land use in saving lives in our roads, by changing the very framework on which the state’s Vision Zero program rests. On this episode of The Brake, we sit down...2025-01-1425 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 131 – Foothill Transit AMA with Felicia FriesemaFoothill Transit’s Director of Marketing and Communications joins Streetsblog Editor Damien Newton for an ask-me-anything style interview probing the bus agency’s recent trials and successes. Friesema took questions on: how Foothill’s bolstered services to Mt. San Antonio College and Cal Poly Pomona will connect with soon to open Metro A Line service in the San Gabriel Valley Foothills, the agency’s hopes for a bus rapid transit service contract in the 60 Freeway corridor, what level of challenge is still faced after the initial stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the agency’s move towards hydrogen fuel cell t...2024-12-1827 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastWhen You Can't Drive in America's Hottest City (Mayor Kate Gallego)More than a decade ago, Kate Gallego had a seizure that temporarily cost her the ability to drive – and opened her eyes to the difficulty of getting around her city of Phoenix, Arizona without a car. Now, in her third term as Phoenix's mayor, she's pushed for some of the most aggressive multimodal transportaiton investments in the city's history, including a new shade plan to tackle the impact of the community's notoriously sweltering heat on people who walk, roll, orwait for a ride. On this episode of The Brake, we dive deep into how Phoenix is using next...2024-12-1722 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastHow to Build a Car-Light Neighborhood From Scratch — Even in TexasAcross America, a new class of developers are building car-free neighborhoods from scratch — or at least, they're building places where residents don't need to drive quite as much as their suburban neighbors. But can these greenfield developments really serve as a model for communities across America, or will they always be a rare and coveted commodity for those who can afford the luxury of living at human scale? Today on the Brake, we sit down with Scott Snodgrass of Meristem Communities, whose new development, Indigo, is bringing slow streets, hyper-local agriculture, and "mews" to and suburban Houston. And...2024-12-1036 min
The Mechanics of TransportationWhat Will The New DOT Be Like? With Streetsblog Editor Kea WilsonSend us a textOn this episode I speak with Kea Wilson, Senior Editor for Streetsblog USA, which is a daily newsblog that covers the movement to end car dependence in the United States. Besides their national site, they also have dedicated sites for San Francisco, New York, LA and more cities. Kea is also the host of the great podcast The Brake, who’s topics have included How Mayor’s are Fighting Back Against Harmful Highways and How Cities are Getting Creative to Reclaim Public Space. She is al...2024-12-0735 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 130 - Streetsblog Editors Recap the 2024 ElectionThe post-election special featured a pair of Streetsblog editors, Joe Linton of Streetsblog L.A. and Melanie Curry of Streetsblog California, joining Damien Newton and Chris Greenspon. Most of the talking was done by Curry, Linton and Newton, and the trio kicked off the discussion by outlining the impact of the Trump administration on federal transportation funding, particularly high-speed rail and public transportation. In a new administration, California will face challenges securing federal funding. In LA County, some important county measures including the “climate bond,” Measure A for maintaining the county’s homeless services and Measur...2024-11-1540 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastFive Hundred Episodes In, Jeff Wood Isn't Done Exploring Everything Our Cities Can Be (Jeff Wood)Our sister podcast, Talking Headways is about to hit its 500th episode. But how did host Jeff Wood accomplish that massive milestone, and how does he keep finding all these powerful stories about how our cities work? On today's episode of The Brake, our host Kea Wilson sits down for a long conversation with Wood himself to talk about how he's grown this incredible audio archive of interviews, how Streetsblog got lucky enough to host it, and how he spends his time when he's not behind the mic. And along the way, we chat about his dream g...2024-09-1732 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 127: Looking Back at This Year’s LegislatureJust last week, the legislative session for the year ended in Sacramento meaning a batch of legislation was passed that, if signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, would change the way the state conducts its transportation business. In this episode of SGV Connect, co-host Damien Newton goes it alone, interviewing Streetsblog California editor Melanie Curry. As an aside, both Newton and Curry will be at the Streetsblog San Francisco/Streetsblog California anniversary party next week at Manny’s in the Mission on Thursday, September 12, at 6:00 p.m. along with a bevy of transportation reform superstars including ma...2024-09-0534 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastHow Cities Can Put Equality First Through Sustainable Transportation (Enrique Peñalosa Londoño).mp3Enrique Peñalosa Londoño has an international reputation for using the humble bus, bikeway, sidewalk and park to make cities more equitable, starting with his game-changing two terms as the mayor of Bogotá, Colombia. And in his new book, Equality and the City: Urban Innovations for All Citizens, he unpacks how those tools can transform communities into advanced cities where the transportation is an equalizer rather than a divider. Tune into this guest episode from Scott Shepard of the #CitiesFirst podcast, and check out a transcribed excerpt from their converasation on Streetsblog USA 2024-07-0239 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 125: A Sweatshop Documentary Comic StripThis week Chris brings us a special feature interview with artist Isabel Pan. Pan is the artist in residence at C.A.S.A Zamora in El Monte. Her project has been a documentary-style, slice of life comic strip depicting the impact of sweatshop labor and refugee crises on the children of immigrants in the San Gabriel Valley. Pan’s subject is the son of a sweat shop worker, Denny. His parents came to El Monte in the late 70’s, fleeing the Vietnam War. They endured the loss of family en route to America, and the struggle of wo...2024-06-1416 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 124: Reclaimers and Rick ColeThis week’s SGV Connect continues our theme of focusing in on various areas of the SGV for our podcast episodes by looking at the Greater Pasadena area. First, Damien and Chris traveled to El Sereno to meet with some of the Reclaimers, unhoused residents of El Sereno who moved into Caltrans owned properties during the pandemic. Benito, Sandra and Fanny return to SGV Connect (their first appearance can be found here) to advocate for affordable housing and community spaces, discuss the ongoing eviction battle between Caltrans and the Reclaimers. Personal stories and experiences are shared, emphasizing th...2024-05-221h 22SGV ConnectSGV Connect 123: The Upcoming Election in Alhambra CD4This week's SGV Connect is focusing on the election to replace Councilmember and Vice-Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez of Alhambra. Pérez has given up her seat to run for the State Senate. Chris interviews Nicolas Kiet Quach, the president of the Alhambra Library Board of Trustees. While only 18, Kiet Quach is no newcomer to politics having worked for and with Pérez. If you choose, you can read a transcript of the interview, here. Next, Damien talks to Je-Show Yang, a community activist who has appeared a couple of times in Streetsblog articles about the Fremont Avenue exit...2024-05-1044 min
Cycling Over SixtyCalifornia StreetsBlogSend Me a Text MessageJoin host Tom Butler as he shares his experiences from a recent group ride, the Emerald City Ride. He also fills you in on his wife Kelly's journey mastering her new Cruzbike S40. They're out there enjoying the scenery and loving riding together!This episode features the inspiring Melanie Curry, writer and cyclist extraordinaire. Melanie, the editor of the California edition of Streetsblog, discusses what ignited her passion for cycling as a mode of transportation. She'll also delve into her recent article celebrating National Bike Month in California. Get ready...2024-05-101h 02SGV ConnectSGV Connect Special Edition : Happy Anniversary, Foothill TransitLast Friday, Foothill Transit celebrated its 35th anniversary with a party in the parking lot of its West Covina headquarters. Joe Linton and Chris Greenspon were among those on-hand and they had a chance to catch up with a handful of people that helped shape Foothill Transit's past and will guide the agency into the future. Those short interviews are included in this podcast and include: Congressmember Judy Chu Foothill Transit Executive Director Doran Barnes Former Duarte Mayor John Fasana Former Glendora Councilmember Bob Kuhn Deputy Chief Executive Officer...2023-12-1215 minSGV ConnectSpecial Edition : Jeanie Ward-WallerJeanie Ward-Waller is not a household name in California, but until recently she may have had the most important job in the state as far as Streetsblog readers are concerned. Ward-Waller served as the Deputy Director of Planning and Multimodal Programs at Caltrans, where she not only oversaw many of the great programs that we regularly highlighted at Streetsblog; but also served as the internal whistleblower to make certain the agency was working to meet its own climate and equity goals. While we were all surprised when Politico announced earlier this fall that she was f...2023-11-2223 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastWhy 'Bike-partisanship' Is Our Secret Weapon (Rep. Earl Blumenauer)As co-founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus Rep. Earl Blumaneuer (D - Ore.) has long been one of Washington's most staunch advocates for sustainable transportation — not least during the writing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he fought to make better for vulnerable road users through the inclusion of programs like Safe Streets for All and Reconnecting Communities. Now, on the two-year anniversary of that law's passage, we sit down with Earl himself to reflect on the BIL's bright spots — as well as his own 27-year career in Congress, which he recently announced is about to come to a...2023-11-1428 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 120: Basking in the Glow of ArroyoFestThis week's SGV Connect podcast is a special episode where the Streetsblog San Gabriel Valley team, Chris Greenspon, Joe Linton and Damien Newton, sit down and discuss the great success that was ArroyoFest 2023. All three were at the event but experienced it differently with Linton and his family biking the route, Newton completing the "Run the 110" 10k race and Greenspon walking along the 110 later in the morning. Of course, this is Streetsblog so we also discuss what the success of the event could mean for future open streets and open freeway events in the region and Newton...2023-11-0326 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 117: ArroyofestThis week's SGV Connect breaks our regular mold as Streetsblog L.A. editor Joe Linton conducts both interviews on the past and future of ArroyoFest which returns at the end of this month, on Sunday October 29th when a portion of the I-110 will be closed to cars and open to other uses in the morning. First, Linton interviews Robert Gottlieb and Marcus Renner some of the leaders that brought Southern California the first ArroyoFest in 2003. Seven years before the first CicLAvia, ArroyoFest changed the conversation around transportation in the region. While we haven't seen the seismic...2023-10-0534 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 117: Councilwoman Adele Andrade Stadler and Steve FarleyThis week's SGV Connect features a pair of interviews that will change and improve the lives of residents of the San Gabriel Valley. First, we talk with Alhambra Councilmember Adele Andrade-Stadler. Andrade-Stadler is the winner of this year's Elected Official of the Year award given by ActiveSGV at their Noche de las Luminarias. You can read more about her award and her relationship with ActiveSGV at their ActiveBlog. At the end of the interview, we discuss the upcoming Sustainability Plan for Alhambra that should be released for public review later this month. Read a transcript o...2023-09-2633 min
Dialed In to SustainabilityMajor utility shifts wildfire strategy. Robert Downey Jr. and Co-Author Thomas Kostigen Reveal Cover of ‘Game-Changing' Book on Sustainable Food Habits (Exclusive). In Brazil, UN deputy chief urges greater ambition for Global Goals. KYOTO plants 1M trees ahead of its launch in pledge to become world’s most sustainable blockchain. EU confirms watering down of corporate sustainability disclosures. Israeli underwater robots win sustainable fishing contest - ISRAEL21c. See ya, Gia! Sustainable transportation advocates weigh in on departing CDOT chief Gia Biagi's legacy - Streetsblog Chicago.LinksMajor utility shifts wildfire strategyRobert Downey Jr. and Co-Author Thomas Kostigen Reveal Cover of ‘Game-Changing' Book on Sustainable Food Habits (Exclusive)In Brazil, UN deputy chief urges greater ambition for Global GoalsKYOTO plants 1M trees ahead of its launch in pledge to become world’s most sustainable blockchainEU confirms watering down of corporate sustainability disclosuresIsraeli underwater robots win sustainable fishing contest - ISRAEL21cSee ya, Gia! Sustainable transportation advocates weigh in on departing CDOT chief Gia Biagi's legacy - Streetsblog ChicagoMajor utility shifts wildfire strategyMajor utility shifts wildfire strategy... From The Hill... Welc...2023-08-0300 minDialed In to SustainabilityMajor utility shifts wildfire strategy. Robert Downey Jr. and Co-Author Thomas Kostigen Reveal Cover of ‘Game-Changing' Book on Sustainable Food Habits (Exclusive). KYOTO plants 1M trees ahead of its launch in pledge to become world’s most sustainable blockchain. EU confirms watering down of corporate sustainability disclosures. Israeli underwater robots win sustainable fishing contest - ISRAEL21c. Is Shopify’s Growth Sustainable?. See ya, Gia! Sustainable transportation advocates weigh in on departing CDOT chief Gia Biagi's legacy - Streetsblog Chicago.LinksMajor utility shifts wildfire strategyRobert Downey Jr. and Co-Author Thomas Kostigen Reveal Cover of ‘Game-Changing' Book on Sustainable Food Habits (Exclusive)KYOTO plants 1M trees ahead of its launch in pledge to become world’s most sustainable blockchainEU confirms watering down of corporate sustainability disclosuresIsraeli underwater robots win sustainable fishing contest - ISRAEL21cIs Shopify’s Growth Sustainable?See ya, Gia! Sustainable transportation advocates weigh in on departing CDOT chief Gia Biagi's legacy - Streetsblog ChicagoMajor utility shifts wildfire strategyMajor utility shifts wildfire strategy... From The Hill... Welcome to The Hill’s Sustaina...2023-08-0300 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastIs This the Best Statewide Transportation Bill Yet? (Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Frank Hornstein)State transportation bills may not get as much attention as their federal counterparts, but they have a colossal impact on how we get around. And the state of Minnesota may have just created one of the most exciting blueprints yet for progressive governments across the country to follow — even if it took them the better part of three decades to do it. On this episode of The Brake, we sit down with two Minnesota lawmakers and transportation committee chairmen — Senator Scott Dibble and Representative Frank Hornstein — to unpack what's in their massive new transportation finance and policy bill, as...2023-07-1824 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 112 : Nathan Allen and Carlos MoralesIn our first interview this week, Chris Greenspon interviews Nathan Allen, the owner of Underdog Bookstore in downtown Monrovia. In Nathan's own words, "Underdog Bookstore, targets specifically books by and about authors of color, as well as LGBT authors, who we consider underdogs, as well as local vendors." Allen explains the need to create safe spaces for youth, especially people of color and LGBTQ+, and provides an overview of life underdogs throughout the SGV. To read a transcript of the interview, click here. In our second interview, frequent SGV Connect guest (and Streetsblog LA Editor) J...2023-06-1550 min
The Planning CommissionStreetsblog USA with Kea WilsonThe Planning Commissioners love people who are direct and honest about what is happening in our industry and to our many communities. Kea Wilson and her Streetsblog USA colleagues have been leaders in this philosophy for many years. We talked with Kea about her writings and those of Streetsblog and covered topics such as the federal transportation bill, electric vehicles, the continuing impacts of highway expansion projects, and what is going on with pedestrian safety in this country.Support the showOur Website: https://theplanningcommissionpodcast.com/YouTube: The Planning Commission Podcast channel2023-05-0158 min
There Auto Be A LawName this Podcast... and dummiesCrash test dummies, airless tires, how to date your tires, Tesla crashes, Tesla "theft" and more. Plus the Tao of Fred and Recall Roundup.Mentioned links:https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105595 https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/we-need-better-crash-test-dummies-says-government-accountability-office/https://usa.streetsblog.org/2023/03/14/study-cognitive-screenings-for-aging-drivers-cut-some-crashes-but-they-have-a-disturbing-downside/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-are-airless-tires-going-to-hit-the-market-any-time-soon/ https://carbuzz.com/news/goodyear-shows-off-new-airless-tireshttps://abc7chicago.com/how-to-tell-old-tires-are-near-me-discontinued-goodyear/12909005/https://insideevs.com/news/656915/man-unknowingly-unlocks-and-drives-off-in-someone-else-tesla/ https://apnews.com/article/tesla-firetruck-autopilot-investigation-c6d64b941f546f7ae70fb8355d765cb3 https...2023-03-161h 06The Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastHow Mayors Can Lead The Way To A Sustainable Transportation Future (Mayor John Bauters)Not enough U.S. mayors make sustainable transportation a priority, and even the ones that do don't always get much done. On today's episode of The Brake, though, we spoke with one elected official who's making massive progress to make streets safer, greener and more equitable in his small town — and sharing lessons in leadership that can scale to even the biggest cities. In this extended conversation with Mayor John Bauters of Emeryville, Calif., we learn more about his successful effort to put a seat at every bus stop in his town, which Streetsblog covered last month, and w...2023-01-3131 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 106 : Au Revoir 2022 and Zine Editor John Axtell.It's mid-December, and that means it's time for our annual end-of-the-year SGV Connect Podcast featuring not just Damien Newton and Chris Greenspon, but also Streetsblog LA Editor Joe Linton and Streetsblog California Editor Melanie Curry. After that, we have one last interview by Chris with John Axtell published a literary zine this year about the landscape and culture of the SGV. John and Chris talk quite a bit about open spaces, and rebuilding the industrial wastelands around the 605. But first, Curry kicks off the podcast with a review of the legislation and other decisions made in Sacramento...2022-12-1543 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastWho Gets Hurt When Cities Ban E-Scooters (Charles T. Brown)In communities across the U.S., city leaders have reacted to safety concerns about the shared e-scooter industry with fleet curfews, neighborhood restrictions, and even outright bans. Those blunt policies, though, might hurt more people than they help — especially when it comes to socially and racially marginalized communities without other ways to get around. On today's special edition of The Brake, we're re-broadcasting an episode of Charles T. Brown's Arrested Mobility podcast about what happened when the city of St. Louis forced e-scooters out of its downtown, featuring an interview with our own host Kea Wilson, who covered...2022-11-2930 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 104 : Election Special!With the next election day less than two months away, SGV Connect sits down with Topher Mathers who reviewed dozens of ballot measures throughout the San Gabriel Valley before Active SGV made endorsements for local measures throughout SGV cities. This is our second podcast focusing on the 2022 election. SGV Connect #100 featured an interview with Ricardo Martinez, a progressive challenger to the incumbent La Puente Mayor and Katrina Kaiser with Streets for All who moderated a City Council debate in Monterey Park. For a full list of their endorsements, and details for why they endorsed each...2022-10-2713 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 103 - San Dimas Station and Artist Julian LucasThis week's SGV Connect is a bit of a departure from our usual format. Instead of two interviews, we start with a discussion between Damien and Chris about a lawsuit filed by the City of San Dimas against the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority. The lawsuit calls for a halt to constuction while the issue of where the parking lot for the station is built. The discussion builds on years of reporting, some by Streetsblog and some by other local news. For more background please read, "San Dimas Lawsuit Over Light Rail Parking Project May Mean the...2022-10-1121 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - Bikes in California, East Lansing, Chicago, and TorontoSTART:
There's an avalanche of new bike legislation on California Governor Newsom's desk. California Streetsblog Editor Melanie Curry gives a reportback based on her article:
https://cal.streetsblog.org/2022/09/02/legislative-wrap-up-bills-on-bike-and-ped-safety-climate/
26:08
In Business -Mark Sanderson owned and staffed the East Lansing bicycle shop, Velocipede Peddler, for 45 years. Now he's employed as a mechanic in the same space by the new owners, D&D Bicycles & Hockey. Taylor Nichols reports.
35:57
Getting Clear - Over three years, through daily confrontations with parents, bus drivers, and school officials during her Chicago commute, Ash Wednesday got them all to stop parking in the bike lane.
@rapashwednesday
52:23
...2022-09-201h 08The Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastSix Arguments Against Speed Governors — And How to Quash Them (David Zipper)Europe is on the brink of putting "Intelligent Speed Assist" technology on all new cars to slow drivers down to local limits — and even some U.S. states are hoping to follow suit. But the minute "speed governors" get mentioned, tempers flare, and it could make the movement to throttle U.S. drivers a challenging fight to win. Today on The Brake, we asked mobility researcher David Zipper to give us a breakdown of the most common speed-limiting technologies available today, and to share how he responds to six of the most common concerns about them — from the vali...2022-09-0627 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastWhy Arguments Against Free Transit Are Missing the Point (Destiny Thomas)Free transit pilots are popping up around the world — and so are heated debates about whether they will stymie agencies' efforts to delivery the high-quality service that U.S. riders need. But what if that argument is missing something fundamental about why we commodify basic mobility in the first place, and the many ways marginalized people are impacted when they can't afford a fare? Today on The Brake, we sit down with Dr. Destiny Thomas to unpack some of the most common arguments against fare-free transit and talk about what our transportation system might look like if we tr...2022-08-2334 min
21 Hats PodcastTrash, Rats, and Garbage Juice: A Case Study in PRThis week, in episode 119, Liz Picarazzi tells Jay Goltz and Sarah Segal about her first brush with bad publicity. Liz’s debacle started with a negative post that appeared in a prominent local blog. It was about a Times Square pilot program for which her business, Citibin, is supplying trash bins. The problem? The bins were not being maintained properly, and there were photos to prove it. At the time we recorded this conversation, Liz was bracing for additional stories in both the New York Post and The New York Times. Both of those stories have since been published—we’ll tal...2022-08-0948 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - Slow JAMsIn A Massachusetts Minute, Nick Richert discusses Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition’s plans for biking with Galen Mook, MassBike’s Executive Director.
At 3:42, Taylor Nichols interviews Los Angeles handbuilt bike afficionado Aaron Lipstadt, who details the history of bike making and the world of handmade custom bikes of today— steel, titanium, carbon, bamboo.
27:42 - Stacey Randecker on reclaiming San Francisco public space with Slow Rides and JAM (Just A Minute!) Stacey also talks about the SF bicycle coalition’s ineffectiveness.
41:29 - Rony Islam and Emily Wilson on getting a network of protected bike lanes in Chicago with Bike Grid Now rides.
Read - h...2022-07-2858 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 99 - Imperfect Paradise and Update from SacramentoThis week on SGV Connect, we’re bringing you a special interview with Adolfo Guzman-Lopez and then our quarterly update with Melanie Curry of Streetsblog California. Adolfo is a household name in the public radio world, covering higher education at KPCC. He spent the last year on a special assignment, investigating the death of a 90’s Chicano civil rights activist from Baldwin Park, Oscar Gomez for a podcast from KPCC’s LAist Studios. Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionary follows Gomez’s young adult life from star athlete and scholar at Baldwin Park High School to student...2022-07-2143 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect: Bike Shop Owner and Former Newspaper Publisher Carlos Morales This week's SGV Connect features an interview with Carlos Morales of the Eastside Bike Club and Stan's Bike Shop. The interview, conducted by Chris Greenspon, discusses Carlos' history as a carfree journalist and how bicycling saved his life. Longtime readers may remember that when Morales wasn't publishing his by-line with Voice Community News, you could occasionally find his work at Streetsblog L.A. THIS is a long-form interview you won't hear anywhere else. So please, as you listen to this interview with a local LEGEND, think about giving a few bucks to Streetsblog’s...2022-07-0757 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - ActionsThe founder of Pedal People, Ruthy Woodring, talks trash and bike repair.
Chicago Family Biking founder Rebecca Resman and Streetsblog editor John Greenfield on the killing of a 3 year old on her mother's bike in a street with a bike lane.
https://chi.streetsblog.org/2022/06/09/female-toddler-reportedly-killed-in-truck-bike-crash-on-leland-greenway-in-uptown/
http://www.chicagofamilybiking.org/
https://www.facebook.com/theoneandonlyrebecca2022-06-1455 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - Bikeways: Policy, Open Streets, Rail TrailsBikeways, active transportation, climate change, and safe streets with Laura Friedman, California state Assemblymember and Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, in conversation with Dave Snyder, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition, and Melanie Curry, Editor of Streetsblog California.
https://a43.asmdc.org/
New York City's Jackson Heights created “Paseo Park,” a 1.3-mile stretch where “vehicles are guests” on five-mile-per-hour shared streets.
Jim burke, co-Founder of the 34 Ave Open Streets Coalition, with Carl Mahaney of Streetopia Upper West Side.
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2022/04/28/34th-ave-update-dot-presents-bold-plan-for-the-permanent-open-street-called-paseo-park/
Berkshire Bike Path advocates, elected officials, and the Massachusetts DOT showed up to inaugurate a 1.5 mile sec...2022-05-0853 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - CarfreedomKicking off Bike Month and new car-free days on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Mass. With Galen Mook, Bike Talk Cohost and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition
baystatebikemonth.org
Massbike.org
2:15
They know in the Netherlands that making streets safe means controlling cars. Chris Bruntlett, Dutch Cycling Embassy Communications Manager and author of Building the Cycling City and Curbing Traffic, tells Bike Talk cohost Lindsay Sturman what they know in the Netherlands. Part Two.
Edited by Kevin Burton.
https://dutchcycling.nl/en/
29:55
The Northeast Los Angeles Eagle Rock community’s Beautiful Boulevard plan for the Noho to Pasadena Bus Ra...2022-05-0354 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 92 : Meet Chris GreensponThis week, the Streetsblog team is happy to introduce you to Chris Greenspon, our new writer and podcast co-host in the San Gabriel Valley. Many of you already know Chris from his other podcasting work as host of SGV Weekly, now in its second season. You can download or listen to past episodes at the SGV Weekly website. As has become our tradition, we like to introduce readers and listeners to our new team members by featuring them in a podcast episode. Listen in as Damien and Chris talk about their backgrounds and their ties...2022-04-2927 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastEpisode 5: Where Do Great Bus Stops Come From? (Mary Buchanan)Streetsblog's America's Best Bus Stops Contest is down to its final two contenders. Nationwide, though, the United States have a lot more sorry stops than good ones — and to understand how our top two wonderful waiting areas bucked the trend, we brought in an expert for some game-time commentary. Today, we're talking with bus stop expert and Transit Center Senior Research Associate Mary Buchanan, author of the indispensable report From Sorry to Superb: Everything You Need to Know About Great Bus Stops. Host Kea Wilson chats with Buchanan about how cities can create — or fight for — the structur...2022-04-1222 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 91 - Damien and Kris, One Last TimeToday’s SGV Connect podcast is the last one for the duo of Damien and Kris. As we previously announced, Kris is moving on to a full-time position with Santa Ana Active Streets. We certainly weren’t going to let him go without one goodbye podcast. Kris has written for Streetsblog on and off for over a decade first covering Boyle Heights then after a break moving to Orange County and finally covering the San Gabriel Valley where he lived and grew up. No last podcast would be complete without a look back at some of our favo...2022-03-2926 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastEpisode 4: When Communities DIY Their Own Transit (Benjie de la Peña) Streetsblog USAOn this episode of The Brake, Kea talks to Benjie de la Peña, chair of the Global Partnership for Informal Transportation and author of the must-read Substack newsletter Makeshift Mobility, about all the ways that people navigate their cities on shared modes without the support of taxpayer-funded public institutions. And though they're easier to spot in the global south, these modes exist in U.S. cities, too — though not everyone thinks that's necessarily a good thing. Still, de la Peña points out that makeshift mobility may move more people than every traditional train, buses, and...2022-03-2933 min
The Modern Mobility PodcastEp 10: 7 Steps to Demonstrating the Economic Benefits of Transportation ProjectsEpisode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, along with guest speaker Jennifer Zhan, all with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to demonstrate the economic benefits of investing in a specific transportation project. Listeners will learn the following in this episode:
Selecting a project or program
Researching similar projects and programs for proven benefits
Looking at USDOT Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) guidelines
Researching additional benefits
Evaluating all potential qualitative benefits
Capturing all project costs
Overview of how to complete a BCA
Links:
Drivers cover just 51 percent of...2022-03-111h 05
City Cast DenverSo What Really Did Happen to That Denver-Boulder ‘Ghost Train?’It’s the transportation quagmire of a generation: the RTD train to Boulder that never arrived. CPR transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor would even go so far as calling it a “Ghost Train.” For this week’s Friday chat, he joins City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to discuss his podcast series Ghost Train and what he learned about Denver’s relationship to transit. Oh, and what really happened with that Denver to Boulder train. Listen to all four parts of Ghost Train right here: https://www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train/2022-03-0432 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastEpisode 2: Who Should Get to Decide Whether a Road Goes on a Diet? (Beth Osborne)This week on Streetsblog, we looked at two communities who each planned to calm an ultra-wide, ultra-dangerous road with the support of the vast majority of the residents they asked, only to have those plans scuttled in the face of vocal opposition. In San Antonio, Texas, that opposition is coming from the top down, as state DOT leaders and the governor himself step in and insist that 7-lane Broadway Avenue must continue to prioritize motorist speed over local safety; in Philadelphia, Pa., it's coming from the bottom up, as a coalition of business owners and residents of color c...2022-03-0124 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 90 - Changes to Garvey Ave in Monterey ParkThis week's SGV Connect podcast focuses on the Garvey Avenue road project in Monterey Park covered for Streetsblog L.A. last week by Jennifer Tang. Tang and fellow advocate Edwin Sun give an update on the project and discuss some of the challenges advocating for a better project on Garvey. At Tang noted in a different piece for Streetsblog last year, Monterey Park is planning to increase car capacity on Garvey Avenue using funds that were allocated from Metro. These funds were originally intended for expansion of the I-710 and were to be used to 'increase mobility' and 'reduce...2022-02-2427 minThe Brake: A Streetsblog PodcastEpisode 1: Why There's No Such Thing As a Car Accident (Jessie Singer)The phrase "car accident" has become so ubiquitous in American life that most people don't blink when they hear it, at least if they're not a street safety advocate who understands just how much damage that term has done. But not even the most diehard Streetsblog readers may realize just how recent the concept of a traffic "accident" is — or how deeply it impacts our ability to prevent future crashes. In her new book, There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster — Who Profits and Who Pays the Price, veteran journalist and sustainable transportation advoc...2022-02-1449 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - Camera BiasA University of Illinois at Chicago report found racial and ethnic disparities in who speed/red light cameras catch breaking traffic laws. What can be done about it?
Chicago Streetsblog co-editor John Greenfield interviews UIC professors Dr. Stacey Sutton and Dr. Nebiyou Tilahoun, authors of the report, for Bike Talk.
John's article on their report and the ProPublica study:
https://chi.streetsblog.org/2022/01/14/what-should-we-do-about-the-racial-disparities-in-chicagos-life-saving-traffic-camera-program/
Their study:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/Red%20Light%20Cameras/2022/Sutton+Tilahun_Chicago-Camera-Ticket_Exec%20Summary-Final-Jan10.pdf
The ProPublica report:
https://www.propublica.org/article/chicagos-race-neutral-traffic-cameras-ticket-black-and-latino-drivers-the-most2022-02-1257 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - What Can a Mayor Do (Or a Mom)?John Bauters, The Mayor of the City of Emeryville, California, campaigned on a platform that supported affordable housing, expanding active transit infrastructure, and making Emeryville more sustainable and environmentally resilient.
John bikes the talk on his 41 mile commute to Bay Area Air Quality Management District meetings, where he's the Vice Chair.
Melanie Curry, Editor of Streetsblog California, did this interview specially for Bike Talk.
https://sf.streetsblog.org/2022/01/19/what-can-a-mayor-do-to-make-a-city-more-livable/
Then: Sarah Risser survived the crash that killed her son, Henry, in 2019. After the DA brushed off factors which implicated the other driver, Sarah began her journey of advocating for victims...2022-01-2358 min
Hacks & WonksWeek in Review: December 31, 2021For the last show of the year, we have the first part of a discussion with Executive Director of America Walks and former mayor of Seattle Mike McGinn about how the City’s response to the recent snowstorm and Harrell’s recent appointees highlight opportunities for the incoming administration to both learn from and leave behind the past as they stand up a government to lead us into 2022 and beyond. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com. Find the host, Crystal Fincher on Twitter at @finchfrii and f...2022-01-0142 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 88 - Looking Forward and Backwards with the Streetsblog EditorsThis week, Damien and Kris welcome Joe Linton and Melanie Curry back to the podcast. Joe and Melanie are the editors of Streetsblog LA and Streetsblog California respectively and offer their insights on the big stories that shaped our coverage in 2021 and predictions on what to expect in 2022. The wide-ranging discussion covers the legislature, highway spending, new transit construction, the return of open streets and the 626 and many other issues. If you find yourself with some free time over the next couple of weeks, plug in and check it out. As a bonus, my daughter joins me...2021-12-2741 min
Fast ForwardReady for Takeoff, with UP Partners’ Ben MarcusWith Julia on holiday, Greg is once again joined by CoMotion’s John Rossant for a whirlwind analysis of U.S. elections (free transit in Boston?), COP26 (beyond EVs?), energy prices’ wild ride as the renewables revolution continues apace, and New York City taxi drivers’ successful hunger strike. John is joined by UP Partners managing director Ben Marcus for a wide-ranging conversation about urban- (and regional) air mobility — a major theme of next week’s CoMotion LA! As always, send questions to Greg & Julia at fastforward@comotionglobal.com.
Show Notes:
• They Won: The Hunger-Striking Taxi Drivers Who Claimed Victory (Curbed)
https://www...2021-11-0840 minSGV ConnectMeet the Board: Inland Empire's Marven Norman.Today we wrap up our Streetsblog California "Meet the Board" podcast series with an interview with the Inland Empire Bicycle Alliance Executive Director and Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice Policy Coordinator Marven Norman. Norman recounts his roots in advocacy from a bike commuter that struggled with streets designed to be unsafe for bicycle commuters, people walking or waiting for transit. Today he is one of the most recognizable faces for advocacy in the Inland Empire, if not the entire state, holding down multiple leadership positions. This podcast holds a special place in my...2021-08-1722 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - America Walks And Bikes: the Federal Transportation BillWhat's in the new federal transportation bill?
Cohosts Don Ward and Nick Richert asked:
Caron Whitaker, Deputy Executive Director of the League of American Cyclists, Mike McGinn, Executive Director of America Walks, and Kea Wilson, Senior Editor of Streetsblog USA.
Edited by Kevin Burton.
https://www.streetsblog.org/author/kea-wilson/
https://bikeleague.org/league-vocabulary/federal-news2021-08-1029 minSGV ConnectMeet the Board Special Series Number 6 : Abby ArnoldAbby Arnold has been an advocate for a clean environment, people experiencing homelessness and for other progressive causes in her beloved City of Santa Monica for a lifetime. Half a dozen years ago, when Streetsblog L.A. was launching a pilot program in Santa Monica to see if the "Streetsblog model" could work in smaller cities, Arnold was one of the first to volunteer for our steering committee and has been a fixture with our team ever since. In today's Meet the Board interview series, we talk about politics in Santa Monica, what she would like to...2021-08-1015 minSGV ConnectMeet the Board Podcast Series: Stopping and Moving with James SinclairRegular readers of Streetsblog California will recognize James Sinclair's name as the author of the Stop and Move blog on transportation policy in and around Fresno. James was one of the first bloggers to allow us to syndicate their articles, and we've featured his work a handful of times. James is also on the Board of Directors for the California Streets Initiative, the non-profit that publishes Streetsblog. Born and mostly-raised in Mexico, he often traveled to Fresno on holiday to visit family and developed a love for the city. In the "about me" section of Stop and M...2021-08-0524 minSGV ConnectMeet the Board : Terra CurtisThis July and August, Streetsblog California is podcasting a series introducing our Board of Directors to our readership. To check out our past podcasts with Jon Weiss, Carter Rubin and Kris Fortin, just click on their names. Today's podcast features Terra Curtis who researches emerging mobility policy for the California Public Utilities Commission. Curtis previously worked at Nelson\Nygaard and volunteered with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition working on the Better Market Street campaign years ago. Our interview covers both her professional career and personal advocacy. Curtis appreciates the mission of N\N and the...2021-07-2922 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 83 : Damien Interviews Kris FortinThis summer, Streetsblog California is running a podcast series interviewing and introducing its Board of Directors to our audience. These volunteers help keep the organization running even if they don't regularly get a by-line on our website. Today's SGV Connect features an interview where one of our co-hosts (Damien) interviews the other (Kris). In addition to his work with our San Gabriel Valley coverage, Kris is a member of our board of directors. The San Gabriel Valley beat is actually Kris' third tour of duty with Streetsblog, having previously covered Boyle Heights and the Orange...2021-07-2629 minSGV ConnectMeet the Board Podcast Series: Damien Interviews Carter RubinDuring Melanie’s sabbatical, we will be running a podcast series to introduce readers to the Board of Directors of the California Streets Initiative, the non-profit that publishes Streetsblog California, Streetsblog Los Angeles and Streetsblog San Francisco. Our first interview, with Jon Weiss, can be found here. Earlier today, Damien interviewed Carter Rubin, the current Chair of our Board of Directors and the Transportation Technical Strategist for the American Cities Climate Challenge at NRDC. Carter has had some affiliation with Streetsblog for over ll years, as intern, writer, board member, steering committee member and now board chair....2021-07-1923 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - The beautiful struggle for a complete streetThe Eagle Rock community has pleaded for years to get a complete street option along Metro's Bus Rapid Transit line in Eagle Rock. Just as they look victorious, their brand new Los Angeles CD 14 Councilmember, Kevin De Leon (former "climate champion" with aspiration to be Mayor), has written an open letter asking for more meetings. It seems the pro-short commute crowd of Eagle Rock have his ear now that Metro's leaning to the "Beautiful Boulevard" option, which features a bike lane and slower traffic. Felicia Garcia, community organizer; Joe Linton, Streetsblog LA journalist/editor; and Seamus Garrity, not in his...2021-07-1850 minSGV ConnectSpecial Podcast, Meet the Board : Jon WeissDuring Melanie's sabbatical, we thought it would be fun and interesting for our readers to have a chance to meet the Board of Directors of the California Streets Initiative, the non-profit that publishes Streetsblog California, Streetsblog Los Angeles and Streetsblog San Francisco. Our first interview is with Jon Weiss (Streetsblog author's page, here.) Weiss, a longtime supporter of bringing rail transit to West Los Angeles and member of the city's Bicycle Advisory Committee joined our board in early 2015 and has served as chair and president of the board. This interview covers Jon's early advocacy in...2021-07-1225 min
Bike TalkBike talk - Protected LanesOakland, California's DOT may rip out the city's first protected bike lane, Bike East Bay Advocacy Director Dave Campbell calmly explains.
Sunset4All must crowdfund a protected bike lane design for Los Angeles' vital Sunset Blvd-- the heart of at least two neighborhoods on the High Injury Network, Terence Heuston exhorts.
'Bicycle drivers' oppose protected bike lanes due to various factors, Marven Norman reasons.
Don Ward, Nick Richert, and Lindasy Sturman host.
Edited by Kevin Burton.
https://sf.streetsblog.org/2021/06/03/oakdot-wants-to-rip-out-protected-bike-lanes-on-telegraph/#:~:text=A%202017%20before%2Dafter%20study,installation%20of%20protected%20bike%20lanes.&text=Streetsblog%20could%20add%20many%20more,lanes%20and%20driving%20...2021-07-061h 18SGV ConnectSGV Connect 82 - With the 710 Widening Not Happening, Alhambra Prepares for the FutureIn this week's podcast, Kris Fortin speaks with City of Alhambra Vice Mayor Jeff Maloney about "Advancing Alhambra" the city's plans for its roads after the 2017 decision to not move forward with extending the 710 Freeway. While Alhambra had been one of the cities most vocal in support of extending the 710 up to the 210 for decades, the cancellation of the project has led to new opportunities for the city to invest in transit and safe street programs. Advancing Alhambra pinpoints three interchanges and the current 710 "stub" for improvements that could have a dramatic impact across the whole city.2021-06-1529 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 81 - More on Caltrans Tenants and Changes Coming to ExpressLanesIn this week's SGV Connect, Damien follows up on his story from last month about the ongoing efforts to transfer ownership of properties owned by Caltrans in what was the project area for the now defunct 710 project near Pasadena. Following that, Kris gets an update on some changes coming to ExpressLanes in the I-110 area. First, Damien interviews Timothy Ivison and Angels Flores, both members of the United Caltrans Tenants Union about the history of the ongoing dispute between Caltrans and their renters. If you're interested in learning more about this story, check out "United Caltrans Tenants...2021-06-0159 minSGV ConnectSGV Connect 79This week SGV Connect checks in on the community of Alta Dena in unincorporated Los Angeles County and on how changes at the California Transportation Commission are leading to big changes in how the state funds transportation projects. First, Kris talks with Dorothy Wong, Altadena town council member about building partnerships and using tools like UC Berkeley’s SafeTREC Street Story to advance active transportation efforts in this unincorporated part of Los Angeles County. Street Story is free web-based community engagement tool that the public can use to “collect information about transportation collisions, near-misses, general hazards and safe...2021-03-3037 min
Bike TalkBike Talk - Strong Towns to Monterey Park: Back UpThe Monterey Park city council wanted to vote on spending $100 million of Measure R money on new parking structures and expanding lanes for driving. Jennifer Love Tang, an english teacher and organizer, wrote about the vote in Streetsblog LA. Jennifer consults with Charles Mahron, the Founder and President of Strong Towns and the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity, and Don Kostelec, a transportation consultant and advocate in Boise, Idaho.
With Nick Richert.
https://la.streetsblog.org/2021/03/15/editorial-metro-gives-monterey-park-100-million-to-improve-transportation-and-the-city-wants-to-build-parking-lots-with-it/
https://www.strongtowns.org/
https://twitter.com/KostelecPlan
https://twitter.com/clmarohn2021-03-291h 05
What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike BoninLet's Go, Metro!What do transit riders think of LA Metro? And what do they think the regional transit agency thinks of THEM? Councilmember Mike Bonin, a member of the Metro board, talks about the bus system, service cuts, transit policing, fare free transit and more with Metro passengers and transit advocates: Scarlett De Leon of ACT-LA, Oscar Zarate of SAJE, and Scott Frasier of LA Podcast and Investing in Place.Recorded Friday, March 12, 2021Recommended ReadingPriorities All Wrong at Metro: - Streetsblog LAMost Metro Rides Could Ride Free Starting Next Year...2021-03-141h 04
Bike TalkBike Talk - A Car-Free 6th St Is PossibleWilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council President Adriane Hoff on trying to turn a half mile of 6th St. into a community plaza, closed to car traffic.
The Powerpoint: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aJt_QcaUniO6kh_1iaKDf0tXpsz9SVd5dWLQL720UsA/edit#slide=id.gd91e1f37e_1_106
The Streetsblog Article: https://la.streetsblog.org/2021/02/02/koreatown-neighborhood-council-proposes-pedestrianizing-sixth-street/2021-03-0714 min
Bike TalkBike Talk- Safe Streets ChairIn this episode, Melanie Curry, editor of Cal.streetsblog.org, talks to California 43rd District Assembly Representative Laura Friedman about her appointment as new Chair of the State Assembly Transportation Committee.
"New Assembly Transportation Chair Friedman has shown that she understands the perspectives and concerns of people who bike, walk, and take transit, and since she took office in 2016, she has been unafraid to bring up those concerns, even if she’s the only one addressing them," writes Melanie Curry:
https://cal.streetsblog.org/2020/12/14/two-new-transportation-leaders-in-california-legislature/
Friedman's Zero Fatalities Task Force findings:
https://calsta.ca.gov/-/media/calsta-media/documents/calsta-report-of-findings-ab-2363-z...2021-01-251h 02
Bike TalkBike Talk-Streetsblog Year In Review: 20202020 wasn't all bad for bikes, as reported by Streetsblog editors Joe Linton, https://la.streetsblog.org/
and
Melanie Curry, https://cal.streetsblog.org/
with
Nick Richert and Don Ward.2021-01-191h 28
Bike TalkBike Talk - USDOT PeteStreetsblog reporter Kea Wilson gives us her middle American perspective on Pete Buttigieg, Biden's new Department of Transportation secretary and former South Bend Mayor.
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/12/15/what-will-mayor-pete-mean-for-the-u-s-dot/
With Midnight Rida/Wolfpack Hustler Don Ward and guest host "Bad Ass" Joni Yung.2021-01-1327 min