The #CitiesFirst Podcast

Scott Shepard

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New Podcast Series hosted by Scott Shepard, and focused on the intersection of AI, Urbanism, Mobility & Decarbonization. An award-winning urban planner, entrepreneur, author, educator, speaker & thought leader, Scott Shepard has his finger on the pulse of everything related to #CitiesFirst, an interdisciplinary term he coined.

3D AGO

Episode 35: Cities at the Crossroads - From European Legacy to Living Mobility Labs (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

Cities are no longer just testing mobility innovation — they are shaping Europe’s deployment agenda. Across Europe, public authorities are moving from pilots to permanent solutions, balancing legacy systems with the pressure to deliver scalable, people-centred mobility. As cities take on a stronger leadership role, one question matters most: how do we turn innovation into long-term impact at city scale? On 11 February 2026, The #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast, in collaboration with ERTICO - ITS Europe, hosted a live webinar contributing to the wider conversation shaping the 17th ITS Congresses European Congress in Istanbul and its growing focus on public-sector leadership. This city-driven discussion brought together three leading voices in European urban mobility:🎤 Tamara Djukic, PhD, Head of Green & Urban Mobility, ERTICO - ITS Europe 🎤 Tina Wagner, Director-General for Transport, Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg 🎤 Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General, POLIS network Together, they explored how European cities are positioning themselves as living mobility labs — and why sustained engagement, beyond individual pilots or events, is essential to achieve real deployment and lasting impact. What we explored included: ✅ Why cities are at a turning point for mobility delivery ✅ How long-term European collaboration builds trust and continuity ✅ Moving from research and pilots to deployment at city scale ✅ Why the ITS European Congress matters for public authorities ✅ What Istanbul represents as a living mobility lab for Europe and beyond

1 hr
11/20/2025

Episode 34: Vision Zero in Action (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

Safer Streets. Smarter Cities. Better Lives. 🌍 Traffic fatalities and serious injuries are not inevitable — they’re preventable. The global #VisionZero movement is transforming how we plan, design, and manage transportation systems to put people first and prioritize life and well-being. I recently contributed a guest post for PTV Group, exploring how Vision Zero is driving the journey toward zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries — and how cities around the world are reimagining safety through design, policy, and innovation. 👉 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ehvDAAZU As part of Umovity — uniting PTV Group and Econolite — we’re helping cities make data-driven decisions that lead to safer, more sustainable, and people-centered mobility networks. We dive deeper into how Vision Zero is being put into practice globally, featuring insights from leading experts: 🎙️ Speakers: Snehasis "Sunny" Chakravarty “Sunny” Chakravarty – Vice President, Engineering, Econolite Michael Kent – Policy Director, Chicago Department of Transportation Hagen Schueller – Traffic Safety Expert, PTV Transport Consult ✅ Real-world examples of Vision Zero in action ✅ Strategies to embed safety into every level of transport planning ✅ How data and innovation are accelerating progress toward zero fatalities And if you haven’t yet, tune in to The #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast for more expert insights on the future of urban mobility: https://lnkd.in/d6HAa3kx

1h 3m
10/02/2025

Episode 33: Shaping Transport with Digital Twins (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

We’re thrilled to share the latest episode of the #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast, featuring Michael Oliver, Technical Director at PTV Group. 🌍 🎙 Episode Topic: Shaping Transport with Digital Twins Digital twins are transforming the way cities plan, operate, and optimize their transport systems. In this episode, Michael dives into how this cutting-edge technology is driving smarter, more resilient, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. Michael shares actionable insights including: ✅ How digital twins are revolutionizing transport planning and operations ✅ Strategies for building smarter and more resilient urban mobility systems ✅ Lessons learned from real-world applications of digital twin technology Whether you’re a transport professional, urban planner, or just curious about the future of cities, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss! #DigitalTwins #SmartCities #UrbanMobility #TransportInnovation #ResilientCities #FutureOfMobility #SustainableCities #CityPlanning #UrbanInnovation #CitiesFirst #Podcast

57 min
09/10/2025

Episode 32: Designing Resilient Cities (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

Urban resilience isn’t optional—it’s essential. As climate change, rapid growth, and aging infrastructure reshape our cities, the question isn’t if we should build resilience—it’s how. Join us for The #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast LinkedIn Live webinar, in partnership with PTV Group and Econolite🎙 Designing Resilient Cities: Strategies for a Future-Ready Urban World📅 Wednesday, September 10 | 🕒 3 PM GMT+1 | 📍 LinkedIn Live Hear from global leaders: 👤 Ida Sami, PhD – CEO & Founder, ClimateNXT 👤 Matthias Pfriem – Senior Product Manager, PTV Group 👤 Mike Dang, M.S. – Product Manager, NEMA, Econolite We’ll cover: ✅ Defining resilient cities ✅ How smarter mobility protects communities ✅ Lessons from global innovators ✅ Why collaboration is the cornerstone of resilience

55 min
08/28/2025

Episode 31: Data &AI in Mobility (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

🚨 Join Us LIVE — Data & AI in Urban Mobility 📅 Thursday, August 28 🕔 4:30 PM GMT+1 📍 LinkedIn Live How can cities harness data and AI to build smarter, more accessible, and more efficient transport networks? EIT Urban Mobility - Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) invites you to a special LinkedIn Live webinar in collaboration with The #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast. We’ll hear from city leaders and innovators shaping the future of urban mobility. 🎙️ Rob Lloyd — Chief Technology Officer & Director of Information Technology, City of Seattle 🎙️ Kameale C. Terry — CEO, ChargerHelp! 🎙️ Jason Cambridge — Technology Manager, City of Seattle 🔍 Discussion Topics: ✅ How mobility data—from people, vehicles, and infrastructure—is transforming urban transport planning ✅ Emerging AI tools to improve accessibility, equity, safety, and efficiency ✅ Real-world examples from Seattle and beyond 🎧 Warm up for the session by tuning into The CitiesFirst Podcast: Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dyRjqbvM Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dnWCxvkh RSS.com : https://lnkd.in/d6HAa3kx 🎓 Want to go deeper? Enroll in the free UMX course “Data & AI in Mobility” to explore how cities can leverage emerging technologies: https://lnkd.in/dsKw5iYa

54 min
08/04/2025

Episode 30: Shared & Micromobility in Cities (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

EIT Urban Mobility - Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) invites you to a special LinkedIn Live webinar in collaboration with The #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast. We’ll hear from city leaders and innovators shaping the next wave of urban transport. 🎙️ Julie White — Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, NCDOT 🎙️ Venkatesh Gopal — CEO, movmi 🎙️ Darius Mason — Shared Mobility Specialist, City of Detroit 🔍 Discussion Topics: ✅ The evolving role of shared micromobility in urban systems ✅ Policy, equity, and public-private collaboration ✅ Real-world insights from Detroit, North Carolina & beyond ✅ What’s next in micromobility innovation and integration 🎧 Warm up for the session by tuning into The CitiesFirst Podcast: Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dYv5GyGn Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dnWCxvkh RSS.com : https://lnkd.in/d6HAa3kx 🎓 Want to go deeper? Enroll in the free UMX course “Micromobility & Cities” to explore how cities can effectively integrate small vehicles into their transportation mix: https://lnkd.in/dnf5hxi2 #Micromobility #SharedMobility #UrbanMobility #SmartCities #SustainableTransport #MobilityInnovation #PublicTransport #CitiesFirst #EITUrbanMobility #UMX

1h 5m
07/03/2025

Episode 29: AVs and the Future of Mobility (The #CitiesFirst Webinar)

How will autonomous vehicles shape the cities of tomorrow? EIT Urban Mobility - Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) is proud to sponsor an exclusive LinkedIn Live webinar in partnership with The #CitiesFirst Advisors + Podcast. We’ll explore the evolving landscape of hashtag#AVs, shared mobility, electrification, and public policy with three visionary leaders driving change: 🎙️ Henriette Cornet, CEO at Urban Innovate 🎙️ Sascha Meyer, CEO at MOIA 🎙️ Javier Guimerá Tena, Head of AV at Padam Mobility 🔍 Agenda: ✅ What role will AVs play in the future of sustainable urban transport? ✅ Lessons learned from pilot programs and operational deployments ✅ Intermodality and integrating AVs into existing mobility ecosystems ✅ The role of public-private partnerships in shaping AV adoption ✅ Equity, accessibility, and citizen engagement ✅ What’s next: Policy, innovation, and the road to scale

1h 2m
05/29/2025

Episode 28: Peter Schenkman

Peter Schenkman, COO of Fernhay Solutions is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the transportation industry. As a former senior transportation commissioner in City of New York, he has been at the forefront of sustainable mobility conversations worldwide. His achievements include championing electric vehicles (EVs), zero-emission buses (ZEBs), and micro-mobility solutions. Peter has played pivotal roles in EV startups, launching light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and micro-mobility fleets. He excels in fleet optimization, last-mile delivery, and connected vehicles, and advocates for ADA compliance and inclusive transportation solutions. 🚶♀️🛴🚘 Here's a sneak peek into the episode, which will is all about micro-deliveries, light electric vehicles (LEVs) and last mile logistics: 👇👇👇 ✅How has your experience as a New York City transportation commissioner informed your view of logistics and micro-deliveries ✅Describe how LEVs and cargo bike deliveries are a necessary part of last mile policy ✅What are some of the winning form factors in LEV and cargo bike design ✅How can cities work with LEV OEMs and operators to better coordinate last mile delivery ✅Tell us about your favorite micro-delivery hub in New York City, and what makes it special Be sure to also register in the UMX Sustainable Urban Logistics Course: 💻 👇https://lnkd.in/dXRRa3Ny

35 min

New Podcast Series hosted by Scott Shepard, and focused on the intersection of AI, Urbanism, Mobility & Decarbonization. An award-winning urban planner, entrepreneur, author, educator, speaker & thought leader, Scott Shepard has his finger on the pulse of everything related to #CitiesFirst, an interdisciplinary term he coined.

Creator

Scott Shepard
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

35
Rating

Clean
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© The #CitiesFirst Podcast 2022
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The #CitiesFirst Podcast