EP 235 ROY SYMONS: A fascinating conversation about the fietspad book
Channel: Active Towns
Date: 22/03/2024

In this episode, I connect with Burnaby, BC-based transportation engineer Roy Symons, for a chat about his beautiful book fietspad: A Journey Through The Netherlands Documenting its Bicycle Infrastructure that he recently published. We also talk about his journey as a classically trained civil engineer from Scotland to a passionate advocate for the creation of active mobility infrastructure in his new home of British Columbia, Canada.

Not surprisingly, Dutch cycle paths (fietspaden) and other forms of Dutch cycling infrastructure, such as the fietsstraat (bicycle priority street) are featured prominently in this episode.

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Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
- Roy's blog: https://www.rollinginthecity.ca/
- Roy on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/roytheplanner
- Roy's firm: https://islengineering.com/
- Roy's Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/roysymons
- Order the Fietspad book: https://www.blurb.com/b/11530689-fietspad-hardcover 
- Continuous Sidewalks and Bike Paths - Canada: https://bit.ly/3IIbxzH 
- Melissa & Chris Bruntlett https://www.modacitylife.com/
- My episode with Jeff Speck: https://youtu.be/-EVy0RPYAOc 
- My episode with Todd Litman: https://youtu.be/cZ6OjaLeX04
- Todd's tour of Victoria: https://youtu.be/WGwtnEJ9u2Q
- My episode with Dale Bracewell: https://youtu.be/GBg1C0YmqKw
- My most recent episode with Matt Pinder: https://youtu.be/7NMOsrofSNc
- My most recent Tactical Urbanism episode w/ Mike Lydon: https://youtu.be/GK13WXjTgD0

Books referenced:
- Smart Growth Manual: https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9780071376754 or https://amzn.to/43phZ8o
- Tactical Urbanism: Short-term Action for Long-term Change: https://amzn.to/3yBGr8J or https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781610915267 
- Walkable City: https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781250857989 or  https://amzn.to/3RCNZSv
- Happy City: https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9780374534882 or 
- Curbing Traffic: https://amzn.to/3GPd2cN or https://bookshop.org/a/85379/9781642831658

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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, 2024