Wheels and Beyond

Ben Durham
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Wheels and Beyond is a podcast where conversations about safer streets, traffic reduction, and how people get around cities motivates us to keep building this awesome community of like-minded people! Add in some urbanism, fairly deep conversations, and whatever else happens to pop up naturally along the way… and you’ve got the gist of our podcast! And when I say “our”, I mean that I’ll be talking with a variety of guests, who, just like you and I, are just regular people living their everyday lives, doing everyday things! This podcast also goes by Wheels & Beyond :)

  1. 10/10/2025

    What's it like living Car-Lite in London?

    What is the future of transportation in our cities? The turns have tabled in this special episode. Journalism student Will Bruce (from Fanshawe's Almost 107 radio show) interviewed me (Ben Durham). This is that recording. A note, this was recorded in 2024. Took me a while to get to the edit. Whoopsies. We dive into the daily life of biking across the city, even in freezing winter weather. We discuss London's big plans for bus lanes and bike paths, and why these changes are so important for our growing city. I also share the history of London's streetcar system and what we can learn from cities around the world. You're probably used to that one, though. This is a conversation about making our city a better, safer, and more affordable place for everyone to live. ================ Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Website: https://bendurham.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca ================ ⏬ Products and Gear Used in this video (affiliate links*) ================ Some links below are affiliate links (no extra cost for you, kickbacks for me for these free videos for you). Everything I use, in one place (mostly): https://bendurham.ca/gear-guide/ Main equipment used in this video: 🎥 Canon EOS R7 Super 35 Sensor: https://amzn.to/42rCwIu 🕶 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC Lens (EF mount): https://amzn.to/4b3OPyy 🎥 Canon EOS R6 Full-Frame used a lot outside the studio (just not for the ride-alongs any more - too heavy): https://amzn.to/43HmkFS 👓 Canon RF50mm F 1.2L: https://amzn.to/35Lp9KK 🖇 Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapter: https://amzn.to/3UHoFfo Audio: 🎤 Shure SM58: https://amzn.to/4f5ckKi 👆⏺ with a Zoom F3 (32-bit Float Field Recorder): https://amzn.to/4f5ckKi 🌬🚫 Shure A81WS Windscreen: https://amzn.to/3XWk5Mm

    36 min

  2. 08/29/2025

    From Taxi Kicker to City Councillor - Justine's Urbanism Fight

    Justine Underhill and I chat about her journey to becoming a city councillor in Falls Church, Virginia! We meander our way through the discussion, talking about tons of different topics. Justine Underhill is a city councillor in Falls Church, Virginia, and a content creator who uses her YouTube channel to break down complex urban design and economic issues. With a background in economics and performing arts, she combines data-driven storytelling with advocacy for safer, more walkable, and housing-abundant communities. Her journey into urbanism began in New York City and led her from community organizing to running for elected office. ~~ Find Justine ~~ Website: https://justineunderhill.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@justine-underhill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justineundy Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/justineunderhill.bsky.social ================ Some topics we explore are: • How Ben discovered Justine via Reddit’s “f**k cars” community • Traffic calming designs (e.g., concrete balls) and public objections • Vision Zero philosophy: Reducing crash severity over eliminating crashes • Justine’s background: Economics/theatre education to urban advocacy • The NYC scooter executive’s life-changing perspective on car-dominated spaces • Personal urbanism awakening: From yelling at taxis to policy change • Running for city council in Falls Church, VA • YouTube as a tool for debunking misinformation • Door-knocking campaigns for community engagement and election wins • Housing shortages and ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) • Economic benefits of walkable cities vs. suburban sprawl • Street redesigns: Safety vs. parking trade-offs • Why bikes are better than cars in post-apocalyptic scenarios (and filmmaking challenges) • Prepper tips: Urban resilience and food shortages • Falls Church’s development boom and local backlash • The “shadow debate”: Talking to residents vs. assuming their concerns • Financial barriers to small-scale development • Why asking “Who owns the streets?” changes everything ================ Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Website: https://bendurham.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca 🎥 Everything I use, in one place: https://bendurham.ca/gear-guide/ ================ WATCH and RATE the Wheels and Beyond podcast on: » Spotify: https://bendurham.ca/WAB-spotify » https://bendurham.ca/WAB-apple » https://bendurham.ca/WAB-yt ================ NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on the morning of July 19th, 2025 using RiversideFM. A/V syncing issues are really getting annoying with Riverside's 24fps vs external camera's typical 23.976. Sigh. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.

    1h 11m

  3. 08/15/2025

    Why We Sold Our Second Car for a Cargo Bike (saves us $10,000 a year)

    Colin Evans (emergency physician) and I chat about why (and how) he ditched his massive GMC Sierra pickup truck for an Urban Arrow cargo bike. This simple change saves his large family (wife and four daughters) over $10,000 per year, while not sacrificing anything - actually gaining more time with his family! We explore a LOT of topics, but some include: Near-misses with aggressive drivers Winter biking essentials Cargo bike durability test Why hospitals fail cyclists The “honking paradox” Truck culture psychology Bike vs. car community connections Teaching kids street smarts Emergency vehicle myths Suburban vs. urban biking Emotional shift from truck to bike identity Cargo bike as conversation starter Why cable locks fail Bike infrastructure in new developments Handling left turns with kids True cost of car ownership School commutes by bike Garbage truck safety policies Urban Arrow maintenance hacks Political barriers to bike lanes ================ Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Website: https://bendurham.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca 🎥 Everything I use, in one place: https://bendurham.ca/gear-guide/ ================ WATCH and RATE the Wheels and Beyond podcast on: » Spotify: https://bendurham.ca/WAB-spotify » https://bendurham.ca/WAB-apple » https://bendurham.ca/WAB-yt ================ NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on the morning of July 8th, 2025 on a park bench in Gibbon's Park, here in London, Ontario, Canada. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.

    1h 11m

  4. 07/25/2025

    Why Suburbs Fail at Community (And How to Fix Them) - with Rob Attrell

    The transformative power of bicycling and cargo bikes in urban mobility need to be talked about. Not only are they a superpower in urban settings, but also in suburban settings.Rob Attrell shares his personal journey of commuting by bike for his whole life and then fairly recently moving out into the “suburbs” of Ottawa. He now bikes 20 km to work but still sees massive benefits of active transportation, cargo bikes, and how reducing car dependency can lead to healthier communities, better urban planning, and a more sustainable future for everyone. Although, he's also realizing some of the downsides of living in a suburb, after having lived in a more “core” area before this. ================ Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Website: https://bendurham.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca 🎥 Everything I use, in one place: https://bendurham.ca/gear-guide/ ================ WATCH and RATE the Wheels and Beyond podcast on: » Spotify: https://bendurham.ca/WAB-spotify » https://bendurham.ca/WAB-apple » https://bendurham.ca/WAB-yt ================ ⌚ CHAPTERS ⌚ 00:00 - Welcome to the podcast 01:28 - How Rob discovered the podcast 02:08 - Rob's commuting story and biking experience 06:04 - The benefits of cargo bikes 09:05 - Packing essentials for biking to work 12:19 - The impact of biking on family life 18:17 - Understanding urban mobility challenges 22:11 - The importance of community engagement 35:02 - Discussing zoning and urban planning 40:01 - The future of public transit in Ottawa 56:01 - Closing thoughts and call to action ================ NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on the morning of May 26th, 2025 via RiversideFM. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards. Tags urban mobility, cargo bikes, biking, less car living, sustainable transportation, community engagement, urban planning, cycling benefits, bike commuting, public transit, environmental awareness, healthy living, urbanism, local advocacy, city planning, bike culture, transportation alternatives

    1h 10m

  5. 05/13/2025

    The Trillion-Dollar Problem Killing Our Cities - with Michel Durand-Wood

    We're chatting with Michel Durand-Wood today—Winnipeg’s “Elmwood Guy,” municipal finance guru, and author of the upcoming book You’ll Pay for This. Michel’s passion for cities and their financial sustainability is contagious, and we dive deep into why every citizen is a co-owner of their city, not just a customer. Here’s a taste of what we cover: 🏙️ Why municipal finance is the “connective tissue” of everything you care about—from parks to potholes. 🚗 The hidden costs of car-centric infrastructure and how it’s bankrupting cities (hint: roads are expensive). 📉 The trillion-dollar infrastructure deficit in Canada and the USA and what it means for your daily life. 🚶 How incremental, low-cost solutions—like bike lanes and tactical urbanism—outperform mega-projects. 🏡 Michel’s journey from frustrated citizen to author and advocate—and how YOU can start making change in your neighbourhood. Michel’s book You’ll Pay for This (out May 20 in Canada, June 24 elsewhere) is a hilarious, eye-opening guide to demystifying city budgets. Pre-order it now or request it at your local library! Love your city? Check out Michel’s blog DearWinnipeg.com for no-nonsense takes on urbanism that applies to not just Winnipeg, but all cities. Share this episode with a neighbour, too! Let’s build cities that work for everyone—forever. ================ If you've found this worth your time, you can get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content access to our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDurham.ca Website: https://bendurham.ca ================ SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Wheels and Beyond on: » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2XgnlWWDihE1WFvEEC1868 » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wheels-and-beyond/id1761207261 ================ ⏰ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 02:31 Michelle's background & expertise 06:27 Citizens as city co-owners 09:07 The Portage and Maine story 16:42 Municipal financial realities 24:23 Transportation & infrastructure costs 34:30 Personal mobility choices 43:36 Solutions & citizen action 53:46 Book announcement & closing ================ NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on the morning of April 18th, 2025 via RiversideFM. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.

    1h 14m

  6. 03/28/2025

    Your Business Doesn’t NEED a Van (Bikes Work Better) - with Andrew Hunniford

    The car-first obsession is bankrupting businesses and strangling cities—and no one’s telling you the truth. Why are entrepreneurs blowing millions on gas-guzzling vans they barely use, while cities bulldoze communities to pave endless parking lots? Andrew Hunniford, co-founder of London Bicycle Café, storms into the Wheels and Beyond podcast to rip apart the delusion that cars equal progress. “We’re burning cash just to avoid rain,” he argues, exposing how businesses blindly buy into a broken system that hemorrhages money, clogs streets, and kills innovation. From landscapers to dog groomers, small businesses are trapped in a cycle of debt and traffic—but Andrew's got receipts. His café thrives without a single parking spot, proving bikes aren’t just eco-friendly—they’re survival tools in a car-crashed economy. It's time to join the rebellion, tear down myths about “necessary” vans and trucks, and reveal how cities like London could slash costs, boost profits, and actually work if we stopped worshipping asphalt. The revolution isn’t electric—it’s eclectic. ================ If you've found this worth your time, you can get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content access to our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDurham.ca Website: https://bendurham.ca ================ SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Wheels and Beyond on: » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2XgnlWWDihE1WFvEEC1868 » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wheels-and-beyond/id1761207261 ================ NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on March 6th, 2025 in-person at the London Bicycle Café in London, Ontario, Canada. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.

    42 min

  7. 03/05/2025

    How This Canadian E-Bike Brand Will Survive 2025 - with Gordon Lai (ep21)

    This is a tell-all interview on the Wheels and Beyond Podcast (with Ben Durham) and a peak behind the scenes of Biktrix with today's guest: Gordon Lai, the Head of Strategy and Customer Experience at the company. Biktrix is a Canadian-Owned Electric Bike company that's different from many of the other “ebike companies” that you might have stumbled upon online. It staffs more than 50 employees (majority here in Canada) including mechanics, logistics specialists, customer support agents, research and development personnel, engineers, e-commerce experts, and bike enthusiasts. Their ebikes are Assembled In Canada (specifically in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, so QC (quality control) is one of the best in the entire industry. My wife Natalia has been riding her first-generation Biktrix Swift Step-Thru ebike since 2021 and LOVES it! So we've kept in contact with Biktrix and this opportunity to chat with Gordon came up. So now you get to have a nice listen to our conversation! With the USA/Canada Trade War kicking off via Tariffs being put on everything on both sides of the border, this conversation is important to hear when deciding how to support Canadian and which ecosystem to buy into going forward. Speaking of, Gordon's notes which are featured about midway through this video podcast are also in text format below (scroll a bit) for your reference. Don't forget, if you've found this information valuable, you can get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content access to our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham ================ GORDON'S NOTES (SHARED WITHIN THE PODCAST VIDEO) Canadian Owned with models Assembled In Canada • Biktrix Electric Bikes (Assembly in Saskatoon) • Devinci (Assembly in Quebec) Canadian Owned and Product Imported from overseas • Envo Bikes • Rize Bikes • Zen eBikes • Surface 604 Bikes • Voltbike • Velec American Owned eBike Brands: • Rad Power Bikes • Specialized • Trek • Rambo eBikes • Electric Bike Company • Lectric Chinese/European/Other Owned Brands: • Himiway • Aventon • Magicycle • Giant • Moustache • Riese and Muller • Cube • Engwe ================ Check out Biktrix: https://www.biktrix.ca/ Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDurham.ca Website: https://bendurham.ca ================ SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Wheels and Beyond on: » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2XgnlWWDihE1WFvEEC1868 » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wheels-and-beyond/id1761207261 ================ NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on February 13th, 2025 via RiversideFM. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards (not using the YouTube standard which is a bit hotter of a signal than I like for podcasts).

    58 min

  8. 02/21/2025

    How my sister lives car-lite in Ottawa - with Jamie Cousineau (ep20)

    My sister and I sit down and chat about how even though we live in entirely separate places (London and Waterloo & Ottawa), we're both incredibly similar, ESPECIALLY when it comes to how we get around our cities! But she's definitely one-upped me when it comes to her commuting habits… because she's NEVER DRIVEN TO WORK! See, even I can't claim that I've absolutely never driven to work because I totally have. And here she is in Canada's capital, routinely transporting herself by anything BUT driving for her commutes. Running to work? Check. Biking to work? Check. E-biking to work? Check. Busing to work? Check. As you'll hear, it all kinda started when she was younger but then got reinforced through her teenage years, university years (in Kitchener/Waterloo), and then when she moved back to Ottawa! Anyway, have a listen to this brother-sister chat. Love you, Jamie! :) ================ Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content access to our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurham Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com • where to find me • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDurham.ca Website: https://bendurham.ca ================ SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Wheels and Beyond on: » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2XgnlWWDihE1WFvEEC1868 » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wheels-and-beyond/id1761207261

    50 min
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About

Wheels and Beyond is a podcast where conversations about safer streets, traffic reduction, and how people get around cities motivates us to keep building this awesome community of like-minded people! Add in some urbanism, fairly deep conversations, and whatever else happens to pop up naturally along the way… and you’ve got the gist of our podcast! And when I say “our”, I mean that I’ll be talking with a variety of guests, who, just like you and I, are just regular people living their everyday lives, doing everyday things! This podcast also goes by Wheels & Beyond :)

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Durham
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ben Durham
  • Show Website
    Wheels and Beyond