Cities in Motion

San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in America but is it growing in the right direction? Joey Pawlik, founder of ActivateSA, joins the show to talk about what it takes to build an urban advocacy movement from the ground up, why San Antonio's car-dependent development pattern is costing residents more than they realize, and what a more walkable, connected Alamo City could actually look like.Follow Activate SA on instagram and find their website https://activatesa.org/Follow Cities in Motion on instagram, youtube and join our discord!

In this episode, we sit down with Hexel Colorado, the founder of Dallas Urbanist and a leading voice in the Texas transit scene. Hexel isn't just a content creator; he’s an advocate who transitioned from viral "Dallas 1939" history videos to chairing the DART Citizens Advisory Committee.We dive into:The Car-Free Life in Texas: What four years of navigating DFW without a car has taught him about "game time decisions" and the reality of our streets.From "Likes" to Laws: How Hexel leverages digital advocacy to influence actual policy change—from parking reform to transit funding.The Power of Hyperlocal: Why starting a "Local Conversation" (STLC) is the most effective way to fix your neighborhood.The 1939 Blueprint: Uncovering the walkable history of Dallas and why it proves that car dependency was a choice, not an inevitability.Whether you’re a daily commuter, a city planning nerd, or someone tired of being stuck in traffic, Hexel’s story is a masterclass in how to become a hero in your own zip code.Follow Hexel on Instagram: @DallasUrbanistLearn more about Dallas Urbanists STLCJoin the movement at StrongTowns.org

What does it take for two citizens to propose moving a city's entire railroad underground — and actually get people to listen? Christian Lenhart is a civil engineer who saw Salt Lake City's west side cut off from downtown by freight rail lines that have divided the city since 1870. His answer: the Rio Grande Plan, a citizen-driven proposal to relocate the tracks into a below-grade "train box" along 500 West, eliminate dangerous at-grade railroad crossings, and restore the historic Rio Grande Depot as Salt Lake City's primary transit hub.In this episode of Cities in Motion, Christian breaks down how the Rio Grande Plan works, why he believes it can generate $12 billion in economic benefits, and how a project of this scale — estimated at $300–500 million — could ultimately pay for itself through transit-oriented development on the 75 acres of land the relocated railroad would free up. We also get into the politics of moving freight rail, what it's like advocating for transformational infrastructure as a private citizen, and why Salt Lake City's east-west divide is about more than just trains.If you're interested in walkable cities, transit-oriented development, urban revitalization, or what citizen urbanism can actually look like in practice, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Topics covered:What the Rio Grande Plan actually proposesHow a "train box" works and why it's more affordable than tunnelingThe history of Salt Lake City's east-west transportation divideTransit-oriented development and the Denver Union Station modelCitizen advocacy and how to build momentum for big infrastructure ideasThe role of Union Pacific, UTA, and federal funding in making it happen

In this episode of Cities in Motion, we sit down with Tom Wald, Executive Director of the Red Line Parkway Initiative, to discuss the future of active transportation in Central Texas.The Red Line Parkway is a planned 32-mile linear park and public trail network that will eventually connect Downtown Austin to Leander. Tom shares the "masterclass" on what it takes to coordinate a project of this scale, the importance of transit-oriented development, and how urban trails transform communities.In this episode, we cover:The Vision: What exactly is a "linear park" and why does Austin need one?Connectivity: How the parkway mirrors the CapMetro Red Line to provide a car-free transit alternative.The Hurdles: Navigating the logistics of a 32-mile project across multiple jurisdictions.Impact: The economic, environmental, and health benefits of high-quality urban trails.About Our Guest:Tom Wald is a long-time advocate for walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly communities. As the leader of the Red Line Parkway Initiative, he is at the forefront of Austin’s most ambitious trail project.Resources Mentioned:Explore the route: Red Line Parkway Visit PageSupport the initiative: Red Line Parkway About UsFollow Cities in Motion:Subscribe for more deep dives into the people and projects moving our cities forward.

What does it actually take to make biking feel safe, accessible, and normal for people of all ages and abilities?In this season-finale episode of Cities in Motion, I’m joined by Darek Hanson, Austin Team Lead for the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, to talk about how biking education, community programs, and people-first design are reshaping everyday mobility in Austin.We explore why Ghisallo was founded, how its mission has evolved as Austin has grown, and why initiatives like Bike Buses, school-based bike education, and adaptive cycling are about more than recreation — they’re about independence, safety, and belonging.The conversation also dives into the Wishbone Bridge, why it’s a critical connection for everyday travel, and what it takes to help people feel confident actually using new bike infrastructure once it opensWhether you’re new to biking, a daily commuter, or just curious about how cities can work better for people, this episode offers a grounded look at what it means to build a truly bike-friendly city.https://ghisallo.org/

In this episode of Cities in Motion, Jacob talks with Cody Boyd, founder of Edmond Urbanist, about walkability, housing, and people-centered development in Edmond, Oklahoma and the greater Oklahoma City metro.As central Oklahoma grows rapidly, Edmond is at a turning point. We discuss zoning reform, mixed-use development, transportation choices, and how local advocacy is shaping the city’s future.This conversation explores what sparked Edmond Urbanist, how residents are engaging with planning decisions, and what it takes to build more connected, livable communities in car-dependent regions.Next week is the Season One finale, followed by a short break.If you enjoyed the episode, please follow and subscribe to Cities in Motion so you don’t miss what’s next.https://www.edmondurbanist.com/https://www.instagram.com/edmondurbanist/

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the U.S., and the choices it makes today affect millions of people every single day. In this episode of Cities in Motion, I’m joined by Ruben and Matthew from Strong Towns Houston to talk about what people-centered change looks like in a city known for doing things big.We dig into safer streets, local advocacy, housing, and why small, community-driven steps can still make a real difference even in a car-dependent city. It’s a grounded conversation about how Strong Towns principles show up on the streets of Houston and what it takes to build stronger, more resilient neighborhoods from the bottom up.https://www.strongtownshouston.org/https://www.instagram.com/strongtownshtx/

In this episode of Cities in Motion, I sit down with John Simmerman, creator of Active Towns, to talk about how walking, biking, and everyday movement shape community health and quality of life.John shares his journey from corporate health promotion into documenting and advocating for active towns across North America. We explore what truly makes a town active, from street design and land use to culture, storytelling, and the small details that signal whether a place is built for people.We discuss the physical and mental health benefits of active mobility, how communities can foster a culture of movement beyond infrastructure alone, and the role media and storytelling play in changing how people think about streets and public space. John also reflects on lessons from cities that surprised him, differences he noticed while living in Austin, and how towns can begin becoming more people centered even when facing resistance.This episode is for anyone interested in walkable cities, bike friendly streets, public health, and building communities where activity is a natural part of daily life.Books brought up in this episodeWomen Changing Cities by Chris and Melissa BruntlettKilled by a Traffic Engineer by Wes Marshall Life After Cars by Aaron Naparstek, Doug Gordon, and Sarah Goodyear

In this episode of Cities in Motion, I’m joined by Joe Panzarella, a candidate for Houston City Council representing District C. We talk about what it means to govern and advocate in the fourth-largest city in the U.S., and how local decisions around transportation, infrastructure, land use, and basic city services shape daily life in Houston neighborhoods. Joe shares his vision for District C, his priorities if elected, and how City Hall can better serve residents while planning for Houston’s long-term growth. This conversation digs into the real, on-the-ground challenges of building a better Houstonhttps://www.joeforhouston.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Shane from Strong Towns Pflugerville to explore how a small group of residents is working to reshape the future of their city — one code update, one traffic cone, and one public comment at a time.We discuss Pflugerville’s ongoing Unified Development Code update and why it’s such a rare and powerful opportunity to influence housing affordability, parking requirements, flooding, and long-term financial sustainability. Shane explains how reforming zoning and legalizing more diverse housing types like duplexes and triplexes could reduce sprawl, lower housing costs, and make the city more financially resilient — all while preserving Pflugerville’s suburban character.The conversation also dives into transportation and safety, including a tactical urbanism experiment that temporarily slowed speeding in a neighborhood, why it worked, and why it was removed. Shane shares the tension between community-led street safety projects and existing legal frameworks, and how cities like Jackson, Tennessee are creating pathways to legalize small, citizen-driven improvements.Find out more about their local conversation here: https://www.strongtownspf.org/

Texas has been trying to build a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston for more than 15 years and it still doesn’t exist.In this episode of Cities in Motion, we look at what happened to the Texas Bullet Train: why it was proposed, who supported it, who fought it, and what ultimately stalled it. We’ll explore how land rights, politics, funding, and local opposition collided with the idea of building fast, modern rail in a car-first state and what this story says about how Texas builds big infrastructure.If you’re interested in cities, transportation, public policy, and how decisions shape everyday life, follow Cities in Motion for more stories like this.

In this episode of Cities in Motion, I sit down with Kelly from Austin Bicycle Meals on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Austin to talk about how a small, volunteer run group is using bicycles to fight food insecurity across the city.Austin Bicycle Meals delivers free, homemade meals by bike to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, showing how simple, people scaled systems can meet real needs where larger institutions often fall short.We talk about how the organization got started, how the bike delivery model works, what volunteers are seeing on the ground across Austin, and what this kind of grassroots care reveals about the gaps and possibilities in our urban systems.This conversation is about more than bikes or food. It is about dignity, community, and what it really means to build cities for people.If this episode resonated with you and you want to help:Meeting in the alley behind 205 E Monroe St📍 Saturday 2:00PM📍 Every other Wed 5:30PMDonate or sponsor mealsFollow their work on InstagramYou can learn more at their websiteIf you enjoyed this episode, follow Cities in Motion, share it with a friend, and leave a rating or review. It really helps more people discover these conversations.Get involved with Austin Bicycle MealsSupport the show

What happens when we stop talking about cities and economies as abstract systems—and start talking about people?In this episode of Cities in Motion, I’m joined by Isaac, the voice behind People Over Numbers, a podcast that breaks down current economic issues through a deeply human lens. Isaac focuses on the real-world impacts of economic decisions, asking essential questions like: Who benefits? Who bears the costs? And how do policy choices show up in everyday life?Our conversation explores where economics and urbanism intersect, with topics ranging from minimum parking requirements and density to the true costs of sports stadiums and the role of the Dallas Area Transit Authority. We dig into why people-centered thinking matters in city building, and how reframing economic narratives can lead to more equitable, livable communities. From transportation and land use to public investment and policy priorities, this episode unpacks how numbers on a spreadsheet translate into real experiences on the ground.Be sure to check out People Over Numbers wherever you get your podcasts.If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a review, or pass it along to someone who cares about building people-first cities.Thanks for listening to Cities in Motion.

In this episode of Cities in Motion, I sit down with Dr. Miriam Schoenfield — Associate Professor at UT Austin and President of Rethink35. Miriam breaks down the latest developments in the push to rethink the I-35 expansion through Austin, including the ongoing lawsuit, environmental concerns, and what a people-centered alternative could look like.We explore how highway expansion impacts health, equity, climate, and the daily lives of Austinites — and what it would take to build a future where mobility is safer, cleaner, and more efficient. Whether you’re a longtime supporter of Rethink35 or simply curious about how highways shape our cities, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Link to the Rethink35 websitehttps://rethink35.org/

A single policy decision from the 1970s reshaped today’s car market. This episode explains how CAFE fuel-economy rules pushed automakers toward bigger SUVs and trucks — and why those incentives still shape vehicle size, safety, and design today.ReferencesWhitefoot, K., & Skerlos, S. (2014). University of Michigan College of Engineering: CAFE and Vehicle Size Effects on Fleet Efficiency. Energy Policy, January 2015.Popular Mechanics. (2014). “The Automotive Industry’s Counterintuitive Response to Fuel Economy Regulations.”Historical context on oil crises: OPEC embargo, 1973U.S. automotive history: Model T (1908), post-WWII economic boom, 1960s–70s muscle cars, 1980s–90s SUV rise

Ever taken a short walk only to find the sidewalk suddenly ends, leaving you on grass, near traffic, or completely stranded? In this episode, we explore the curious case of disappearing sidewalks and the reasons behind them—from suburban design and jurisdiction gaps to ADA compliance and safety concerns. We’ll hear real stories from communities that faced these challenges and discover how some cities successfully fixed the problem. Whether you walk, bike, or just want safer streets, join us as we dig into why sidewalks vanish and what can be done to bring them back.Evan Edingers original videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lShDhGn5e5sFollow on Instagram, Youtube and where ever you find podcast!