Inspiring a Youth Transit Revolution: My Journey with the Active Towns Podcast
Discovering the Active Towns Podcast
As someone deeply passionate about sustainable transit and youth empowerment, I'm always on the lookout for platforms to share our success stories and inspire other communities. Recently, during my research for the "Get on the Bus" movement, I stumbled upon the Active Towns podcast.
The podcast, run by John Simmerman out of Austin, Texas, caught my attention immediately. It focuses on creating active towns through infrastructure improvements, bike parking initiatives, and more. While public transit isn't always directly associated with physical activity, I knew there was a strong connection to be made. Statistically, public transit users are much more likely to meet their daily physical activity requirements. It's simple when you think about it - walking to and from stops, transferring between routes - it all adds up compared to car travel.
Excited by the potential to reach a new audience, I contacted John through his website. To my surprise, he responded within hours, despite being in a different country. John was intrigued by our work in Kingston and invited me to be a guest on the podcast.
Active Towns: Episode 251
Sharing the Youth Transit Revolution
My goal for participating in the Active Towns Podcast was to highlight the incredible impact of free transit for youth that we've witnessed in Kingston since 2012. Our approach is straightforward but powerful: provide free transit access to high school students (typically ages 13-18), coupled with training on how to use the system effectively.
Appearing on John's podcast presented an excellent opportunity to amplify our message. The Active Towns podcast, with its international audience, allowed me to reach listeners worldwide who are passionate about creating more livable, active communities.
The Power of Other People's Podcasts (OPP)
One piece of advice that has stuck with me over the years is the concept of "OPP" - Other People's Podcasts. Participating in other people's podcasts is an incredibly effective way to reach new audiences with similar passions, interests and even real-world connections for implementation of shared ideas. If someone has a compelling story and can deliver it confidently and factually, seeking out podcast opportunities becomes a fantastic method for cross-promotion and mission support.
Insights Gained and Connections Made
My conversation with John was enlightening. His passion for cycling and active transportation infrastructure led to some great questions about how public transit fits into the broader picture of sustainable mobility.
We discussed the importance of "last mile" solutions and the integration of cycling with public transit. Many communities, including Kingston, have equipped their buses with bike racks, creating a seamless connection between cycling and public transportation. This kind of synergy is exactly what we need to create truly active, sustainable cities.
One of the most rewarding outcomes of the podcast appearance came unexpectedly. A listener from Newcastle, Australia, reached out after hearing the episode. We scheduled a meeting to discuss how they might implement similar youth transit initiatives in their community. It's precisely this kind of global knowledge-sharing that I hoped to facilitate by appearing on an internationally focused podcast like Active Towns.
Looking to the Future
Sustainable change often starts small, but with persistence, collaboration, and effective communication, these small changes can snowball into a movement that reshapes our cities and improves lives across generations.
Let's keep the conversation going, keep sharing our successes, and keep working towards a future where sustainable, active transportation is the norm, not the exception.