EP 185 BLAINE MERKER: Redefining our streets for quick climate action
Channel: Active Towns
Date: 2023-04-12

In episode 185, I connect with Blaine Merker, a Partner, Director, and Head of Climate Action at Gehl, for a discussion about his early work and activism in redefining public space by taking over street parking spots, his current work at Gehl, and strategies for having a meaningful impact on our climate challenges.

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Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
- Gehl: https://www.gehlpeople.com/
- Parking Day Manual: https://www.myparkingday.org/how-to
Contested Streets doc: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0867147/
- Christiana Bikes: https://www.christianiabikes.com/en/
- Bo01 in Malmö, Sweden: http://bit.ly/3KQ7CTe
- Pocket Neighborhoods video: https://youtu.be/i7TnrbMCLGY
- NYT article Climate impact of the neighborhood: https://nyti.ms/43rUzig

Books mentioned:
- Cities for People, Jan Gehl: https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781597265737 or https://amzn.to/3ZTHHOR
- How to Study Public Life, Gehl & Svarre, https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781610914239 or https://amzn.to/3Uv67xk
- Soft City, Sim: https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781642830187 or https://amzn.to/41b0I0A

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Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman

Music via Epidemic Sound: https://bit.ly/3rFLErD

Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: https://bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: https://bit.ly/35DBDDU

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Background: 
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

Since 2010,  I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."

The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them. 

Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2023