Cities in Motion

Jacob
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Cities in Motion is a podcast about what it’s really like to get around — walking, biking, riding transit, or living with fewer cars. We talk sidewalks that vanish, stadiums you can’t walk to, “paint-only” bike lanes, and cities where transit works like magic (plus the ones where it doesn’t). Each episode asks how the design of a city affects real life — our time, stress, safety, money, and independence. We celebrate places that get it right, call out places that don’t, and imagine what it would look like if moving through a city felt easy again. Join us as we explore cities built for people

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep 17 | Car-Free Community Trusts: Building Intentional Urban Living

    What if your neighborhood was designed around people and not cars? Brett "Hans" McMurdy joins the show to unpack the Car-Free Community Trust model: a bold approach to urban living that combines cohousing, coworking, and car-free design into intentional communities built on renovated urban properties. We explore how CFCTs tackle affordability, sustainability, and community wealth-building—and why ditching the car might be the key to reimagining how we live together. Substack https://carfreecommunities.substack.com/p/what-is-a-cfct-how-a-car-free-community?utm_medium=web Instagram https://www.instagram.com/car_free_community_trust/

    41 min

  2. MAY 1

    Ep 16 | Fixing the Alamo City: Joey Pawlik from Activate SA

    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!

    29 min

  3. APR 24

    Ep 15 | Hyperlocal Hero: Hexel Colorado from Dallas Urbanist

    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: @DallasUrbanist Learn more about Dallas Urbanists STLC Join the movement at StrongTowns.org

    46 min

  4. APR 17

    Ep 14 | The Rio Grande Plan, How Citizens Are Fixing Salt Lake City's Biggest Transportation Problem

    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

    35 min

  5. APR 10

    Ep 13 | The 32-Mile Vision with Tom Wald from Red Line Parkway

    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 Page Support the initiative: Red Line Parkway About Us Follow Cities in Motion:Subscribe for more deep dives into the people and projects moving our cities forward.

    42 min

  6. FEB 13

    Ep 12 | Building a Bike-Friendly Austin with the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative

    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 opens Whether 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/

    35 min

  7. FEB 6

    Ep 11 | Boyd of Edmond Urbanist on Walkability, Housing, and Edmond’s Future

    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/

    41 min

  8. JAN 30

    Ep 10 | Strong Towns Houston on Safer Streets, Local Advocacy, and the Future of Urban Growth

    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/

    42 min
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About

Cities in Motion is a podcast about what it’s really like to get around — walking, biking, riding transit, or living with fewer cars. We talk sidewalks that vanish, stadiums you can’t walk to, “paint-only” bike lanes, and cities where transit works like magic (plus the ones where it doesn’t). Each episode asks how the design of a city affects real life — our time, stress, safety, money, and independence. We celebrate places that get it right, call out places that don’t, and imagine what it would look like if moving through a city felt easy again. Join us as we explore cities built for people

Information

  • Creator
    Jacob
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jacob
  • Show Website
    Cities in Motion

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