The NEW Urban Phoenix Podcast

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Photo by Kendra Fee

The New Urban Phoenix Podcast is a new way for us to communicate the important messages behind smart urbanistic thinking to you, the listener! Most episodes are short enough to digest during your morning commute!


Challenge Yourself To Bike Through The Winter

Are you a “warm weather” cyclist? Grab some gear and challenge yourself to bike year round!


New Tech Is Enabling Distracter Drivers

The newest safety features in cars accommodate careless driving… but we still put the onus on pedestrians to look out for themselves


The Big Reason Drivers Disrespect Crosswalks

Drivers have been given ultimate priority in our country. But that doesn’t stop them from disrespecting the little space pedestrians have left


Some Thoughts On Rome, NY

Why a downtown that draws is a must for this sprawling city

Rochester’s Decreased Vehicle Emissions Are Likely The Result Of A Later Decline

A recent NYT article implied that automobile emissions have decreased in Rochester since 1990, where our neighbors in Buffalo and Syracuse saw an increase. Here’s the likely reason why…


Uber, Postmates, Grubhub and Instacart Are All Bleeding Money… Until The Robots Come

A recent article in The Atlantic was the latest to reference the eye-popping financial losses from nearly every venture-capital-funded, app based ventures. But these companies aren’t losing money… they are changing the culture and banking on the fact that 10 years from now, automated tech will alleviate their financial responsibility to human workers


Buffalo’s Skyway, Transit Infrastructure and a Reprioritization of Urban Mobility

A recent opinion piece in the Buffalo News got me thinking about adding transit infrastructure versus reprioritization of transportation priorities


Interview With Carly Reynolds, Owner Of Vine & Fig in Rome, NY

Carly Reynolds brings an “elevated” but approachable vibe to Rome with a new bistro. We talk about her business, her vision and how it ties in with Rome’s future


Interview With Danny Frieden and Jake JiBari, Rome NY

Recorded at Copper City Brewing, this interview features two “game changing” influencers in the small Central New York city of Rome


Interview With Michael John Heagerty, Syracuse NY

A fantastic interview with Syracuse’s Michael John Heagerty about the arts in our cities, architecture, urban revitalization and his vision for Syracuse


Following Up On Scotland Versus U.S. In Rail Battle Post

Yesterday I launched a UP post that compared Scotland’s rail network with that of the U.S. Here’s a short 6-minute follow up!


Interview With Rochester City Planner Kevin Kelley

A fantastic conversation about city planning, family living in our cities, Rochester 2034 Comprehensive Plan and Roc The Riverway


Why I’m Obsessed With Micro-Mobility

Someone asked me recently why bike riding, skateboarding and scootering was so important to me. I thought I might answer “on air.”


Where Our Cities Are Safer

People move out of cities for safety from crime. But cities provide a safety net when we make bad choices or just get dealt a bad day…


What Uber & Lyft Are Really Trying To Do

Uber has lost an incredible amount of money… or have they? Investors are changing people’s minds about how we move about, and that could pay huge dividends down the line.


The Range of Micro Mobility

In a follow up to a recent blog post, I talk about the importance of micro mobility range


Wide Roads and Tons of Trails: Iceland’s Unique Transportation Build

Recently I spent a day in Iceland… while a new rush of tourism has led to the construction of wide roads, trails, pedestrian and bikes access still cover the landscape


Electric Cars Aren’t The Answer

Most of our electric power is still generated from fossil fuels. The answer to our energy and environmental crisis isn’t electric cars, it’s smaller vehicles and living closer to everything


E-Scooters In Nashville: A Tragic Death and Misplaced Blame

E-Scooters In Nashville: A Tragic Death and Misplaced Blame



An Interview With Brooke Fossey from Bagel Bike in Pittsford, NY

Brooke blends her love of biking with a small business venture while adding character to her community


UP Commute: Chicago’s Amazing Public Spaces

UP Commutes are simpler podcast pieces I record on the rare occasion I drive my car. Today I talk about Chicago’s commitment to public space and how we can apply the ideas to any city.



What Is Walkability?

Haven’t we beaten this to death? Maybe not. It’s important to define exactly what creating a”walkable environment” means!



Sprawling Within: Bigger Homes, Smaller Families

Americans aren’t just moving their homes farther away from cities, they are moving farther away from each other within their own homes!


Backseats and College Campuses: Why Millennials Are The Way They Are

A look at why younger people want better transit more than any other previous generation



It’s Time To “Stop” Right On Red

Right-on-red has been allowed since the 1970s. Here’s why it’s time for it to “stop.”


Bikes and Scooters Just Want to Be Safe Too

Too often, we chastise these modes of transit on the sidewalk… why we should be more understanding



Looking Up

Our cities need a lot of work. But there’s nothing wrong with seeing the good things we’ve done


Bike Advocacy: Safety or Legitimacy

Bike organizations and active cyclists try to educate drivers on how to share the road with cyclists. But are they educating drivers on WHY people bike in the first place?


Scooter Share in Rochester

It’s coming.  Here are my thoughts


A Different Direction

The UP’s journey into 2019 will include a strong “multi-media” presence


Who’s Responsibility Is It When A Local Business Fails?

When that neighborhood bar, or your favorite local place to shop goes under, who’s to blame?


City Streets Or Highways: Which Would You Remove?

Curious thoughts one what would be better for our cities


Cars: A Tax On The American Dream?

Are cars just a tax on the American Dream?


The Difference Between A Suburban Village And A City Neighborhood

The difference between a suburban village and an urban neighborhood


Stop Blaming And Get Involved

Stop blaming politicians for our struggles and get involved in your community!


Rochester Bike Share & A Year In Limbo

Rochester’s Bike Share: After two-thirds of our city’s bike share fleet was stolen in 2019, what is our perception of bike share in 2019? How does what happened last year affect our vision of Rochester’s urban revitalization?


A New Direction

A re-introduction to the new direction of The Urban Phoenix