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Joy Of Walking And Biking – Active Towns Podcast Interview

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Our Recent Interview with John Simmerman of Active Towns.

Active Towns

Check out this May 2020 Active Towns Podcast interview of us where we describe our love of our walkable and bikeable lifestyle living in town center Boulder CO and organizing the Mapleton Hill PorchFest — a neighborhood-based front-porch music festival held annually here in Boulder, Colorado. We also discuss in this interview the travel guidance we are now offering on our FollowOurFootprints travel blog based on our years of travel in Europe.

In the interview, we touch on such subjects as the joy and cost-savings associated with traveling by bicycling and walking, and how convenient and pleasant these forms of travel become when living in a town center. The appreciation of this lifestyle has motivated us to frequently partake in walking and bicycling in historic old towns in Europe, as well as the European countryside. That joy and appreciation became the genesis for creating this FollowOurFootprints blog site.

We also discuss how to get started as a bicyclist, the types of bicycles and accessories to use, and the important reasons why bicycling and walking are preferable to travel by car – not only in the US, but in Europe in particular. We describe ways in which our society can more effectively encourage others to walk and bicycle more often.

Listen to the Podcast

Show Notes

For our 21st episode, John is delighted to share his recent conversation with Dom Nozzi and Maggie Waddoups of Boulder, Colorado. Dom and Maggie as a couple are enthusiastic supporters of the Active Towns Initiative, which we sincerely appreciate and cheerleaders for all things associated with creating more livable, walkable, bikeable, and lovable places.

Dom is a veteran urbanist and author of the book Road to Ruin: An Introduction to Sprawl and How to Cure It, whereas Maggie as a relative newcomer to the topic and provides a truly refreshing perspective to the discussion.

We cover a wide range of subjects including their move to a downtown adjacent condo just a block away from Pearl Street, Maggie’s introduction to Dutch upright bikes and utilitarian cycling, the Mapleton Hill PorchFest, as well as their new blog Follow Our Footprints which strive to show how to engage in self-guided, affordable, unforgettable travel to the historic old town centers of Western Europe.

Bicycling in Europe is a lot of fun. You can bicycle almost anywhere in Europe – and not the kind of cycling where you put on your lycra and a helmet and push through 75 miles in a day. I am talking about riding a bicycle around town to see sights and visit neighborhoods, pedal through parks, and even ride to neighboring villages – all at a leisurely and enjoyable pace, and without getting run down by cars or feeling unsafe.

Additional Helpful Links

Credits

  • Audio Production by Active Towns, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. 
  • Creative Commons License: Attributions Non-Commercial No Derivatives 2020.
  • Please consider supporting the Active Towns Podcast by making a donation or becoming Patron. You can reach John Simmerman at john@activetowns.org.
  • Music: Driving Passion by Simon Jomphe Lepine via AudioBlocks.com.
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Apart from our complete travel guide on this website, here are other reading materials we recommend checking out before your trip.