The Hidden Cost of Car-Dependent Cities

In episode 146, Garrett sits down with Christine Acosta, founder of Pedal Power Promoters and co-founder of Walk Bike Tampa, to discuss the future of biking, walking, and safe mobility in Tampa. Christine shares how affordability, infrastructure, and design all intersect when it comes to transportation, why slowing down vehicle speeds matters, and how projects like Bayshore Boulevard and the Green Spine show both the promise and pitfalls of Tampa’s approach. From lessons learned abroad to the local fight for safer streets, this conversation breaks down what it will take to build a city that works for everyone, not just cars.0:00:00 - Introduction0:05:23 - Biking in Tampa0:15:30 - Cultural Shift0:20:19 - Flexible transportation0:25:05 - Pedestrians and Cyclists0:38:17 - Budgeting for new projects0:47:17 - SeeClickFix0:57:33 - Urbanism1:02:40 - Desire Paths1:12:40 - Less Car Parking1:17:18 - The Street Car1:23:31 - The "Green Artery" and "Green Spine"