The Urban Phoenix Podcast

2020 was a devastating year for our cities. That doesn’t mean we can’t learn from the experience

Covid-19 has thrust our nation into a paralyzing reality... but the re-dedication of car space to people might be just the thing out cities need

Even if it’s seldom used, bike infrastructure sends a clear message to everyone that two-wheeled transportation is welcome

For the most part, cyclists want the same thing... safer streets, better infrastructure, more advocacy. But within bike culture is a vast array of different reasons for riding on two wheels. The infighting between these groups is crippling the effort to improve cycling for everyone

The shared model has brought the E-Scooter into the light. Now it’s time to legitimize them with ownership

Americans have become blind to the privilege of driving, so much so that driving is almost seen as an American right.

At some point... and maybe quite often... we have wished for a simpler time. We have wished for fewer distractions or more time with our families, or the ability to work from home. Now that many of us have these things, how much of this time will we take with us going forward!

A company that makes membrane switches, graphic overlays, and custom labels in Perry, New York is now making over 100,000 face shields per day to help front line workers combat Covid-19. Customer Service Manager Teagan White talks about the mission of JN White to help protect us in this time!

People are inherently drawn to attractive urban environments. It’s our job as urbanists to inform them WHY these places make them feel good

We are at the point where the ability to automate anything from park maintenance to public transit is a reality. But will the lack of an authority figure welcome vandalism and illegal activity?

If there is a positive result of shutting down our economies, it’s the short term environmental relief our planet is experiencing

Even after the Coronavirus pandemic is mitigated, remote work will continue to rise. Cities should be thinking about what that means now, rather than later.

I had lost 17 pounds, until the Coronavirus caused me to work from home. Now that I’m not biking to work every day, I’ve quickly gained 6 pounds back.

In 2018, the country’s richest man donated 0.1% of his net worth. Now more than ever, we need our economic leaders to do just that... lead.

Yes, the Interstate Highway System destroyed regional transit, but it also spelled the end of local transit too... and our cities would never be the same

Zagster/Pace has pulled out of Rochester. Another company will take its place in the future. The important thing to remember is this is not our fault.

With far less traffic on the roads during this time of social distancing, now is our time to truly see what it’s like to live walk and bike along a busy road and feel comfortable

We’ve seen the videos of entire communities singing from balconies in Spain and Italy while in quarantine. Why don’t we see this in US cities?

Maria is the Executive Director of the Community Design Center of Rochester. We talk about quality urban design, public space, transit, balconies, and the future for our cities in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Public transit is taking it at the shins during this time of social distancing. And understandably so. How will these uncertain times change public transit forever?

Just weeks ago, our cities were trending back to walkable places with restaurants, bars and shops. Will that vision ever be a reality again?

Stephen and I talk about Utica, Urbanism, small city life, the importance of livability and Stephen’s service in the National Guard... and more!

I’m 39 years old. This year, I taught myself how to skateboard. While learning requires an incredible amount of patience, I can now say that this is the best last mile transportation option ever created.

Rochester’s Rachel Walsh is deeply rooted in the arts, crafting, music, theater and general creativity. Today, she’s using her talents to make masks in an effort to mitigate these difficult times.

Tom talks about his journey to an Urbanist life in the small city of Sandusky

Jeremy Cooney was born in an Indian orphanage, and raised by a single mother in the City of Rochester. Today, he is a lawyer and the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for the NYS Senate, District 56

Our lives are about to change dramatically. My hope is that it’s only temporary. Here’s another hope that I have...

A study shows us that the more expensive/newer the car, the more the driver is likely to drive through the intersection out of turn. It’s a metaphor for wealth in our cities today

The Coronavirus is a serious health epidemic, and it’s one we are taking very seriously as a society. But other solvable public health issues that kill tens of thousands of Americans go unaddressed

Rarely to we realize the health benefits of walking. The obesity epidemic in our country is, in part, due to the fact that our communities are rarely built for walking. Dense urban areas are the exception

Pedestrian malls sound awesome and they are, but historically they have not always performed well in the USA. Here are some thoughts on how to take a “middle ground” or incremental approach to this subject

The popular electric skateboard company Boosted Boards abruptly went belly-up last week, raising fears that other similar companies may eventually follow suit. While venture capital companies have added flare to urban life, there are serious questions about the sustainability of this funding method

I spend 4 hours in Buffalo a few weeks ago... with nothing other than a skateboard.

Government policy and suburban subsidies ruined our cities’ financial status... their only recourse was to function like corporations.

We love our local teams... but in most cases, we highly inflate the economic impact they have on local economies

While it’s important to preserve the history of our landmarks and districts, we cannot preserve every building and every neighborhood. Doing so leads to higher living costs and exclusivity

Our country has been built around the car and the airplane, that fastest and most exclusive forms of mobility

A recent opinion piece by the Utica Observer Dispatch calls for more parking in order to create a more accessible downtown. But great cities aren’t suburbs, and thus are not made better by more automobile access

Anyone who walks or bikes for transportation knows the feeling of anxiety when approaching those spaces that are designed for cars

There’s a lot of money coming out of New York City. Our Upstate cities have the potential to tap into this tremendous exodus of wealth

Order sounds good in our cities, until we realize that order usually means stratification and strict prioritization that favors one population over another

I love group rides, recreational cyclists and any reason people get on two wheels. But building true legitimacy and infrastructure means talking about bike commuting first and foremost

Few things activate desolate urban landscapes like breweries. We need to start appreciating just how important they’ve been with regard to change in our cities

Recently I read a nice book titled “If Your Were Here You’d Be Home By Now” by Christopher Ingraham. While I enjoyed the read, there are some interesting things the author misses with regard to the breadth of urbanism and the conversations surrounding the urban/rural construct

Sometimes I interview urbanists. Sometimes I interview business owners. This interview? This is about a man who truly loves his city, and does everything he can to help others realize that love too.

Last week while biking with my coworker to work, a man tried to intimidate and drive into us with his car, completely unprovoked

CityLab and Streetsblog are amazing online publications that address Urbanist issues... but do they really address the issues of small-to-midsized metros?

Bikes have been associated with a liberal construct, when in fact they personify some of the most basic Republican ideals...

Fairport, New York is a small suburb of Rochester, my home city. There, a mix of suburban life and an amazingly walkable downtown has created a beautiful blend of small town with a hint of urbanity

A follow up to my latest blog piece, earbuds and smart phones are allowing people who might not otherwise be comfortable with city life a chance to adapt

Cities don’t do well when they stand still. Investment, movement and development must be constant. Unlike their suburban counterparts, cities thrive on fluidity and change

I had an amazing transit experience couple weekends ago on a short trip to Buffalo. It made me think about what it would be like if transit worked conveniently and efficiently in this country!

In the last few years, major publications have been telling us that those buttons you push to activate the “walk” sign at an intersection don’t work. This might be true in major metros, but for the rest of America, the are very much alive and well, unfortunately.

I’ve owned my Sondors E-Bike for 3 weeks. Here’s my take...

Recently, I revisited Schenectady, New York. Here’s my take on this emerging center of Micro Urbanity

Haley Viccaro is the communications director for New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, former writer for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, NY, and current Schenectady resident

Former Geneva City Manager Matt Horn talks about the intricacies of small city revitalization.

Recent reports show that Amtrak is poised to do something it’s never done... Make a profit. So why, when every form of transportation is government subsidized, is this key for rail in the U.S.?

Joseph Wicks is a special project manager at the Community Foundation of Herkimer/Oneida Counties. Today I asked him about the $10 million state grant in Utica, huge economic projects on the horizon and how our cities can collaborate to create a strong roadmap for the future. NOTE: This is a remote podcast (with me in Rochester and Mr. Wicks in Central NY)... the sound is not outstanding, but I hope the content trumps the quality!

A look back at what started this journey 5 years ago!

A recent New York Post article calling Rochester “Grim and Depressing” has me fired up

We don’t need everyone to sell their car and move from their suburban homes into city apartments... we just need to help everyone take small steps

Jesse and I talk about bike infrastructure, advocacy, attitude and more

What used to be symbols of American freedom, like attaining a license, are quickly becoming a burden

People often ask me why I ride to work in the rain when I had a perfectly good car. Here’s my answer.

Laura and I talk about cycling in our communities, bike infrastructure, the challenges women face with cycling today and the fun of group riding opportunities

Nicholas Russo is a civil engineer from Pittsfield Massachusetts, and the creator of ThePittsfielder.org, an online publication that talks about smart urban design in his home city

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

Michael is not only one of Syracuse’s greatest cheerleaders... he’s an instrumental part of that city’s re-emerging fabric. In this remote interview, we talk about the arts, architecture, urban revitalization and his vision for Syracuse’s future!

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!

In this episode, I talk to Kevin about the Rochester 2034 Comprehensive Plan, Roc The Riverway, family life in the city and a host of other fantastic city-centered topics.

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

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...

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.

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

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

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

A 26 year old man was killed when his e-scooter was struck by an SUV in Nashville. Now scooters are banned from the streets. Why not cars?

Brooke Fossey found a beautiful way to blend her love of biking with a small business venture that adds character to her community

I was in Chicago last weekend. Chicago’s dedication to public space is simply incredible! Here are some thoughts on this, and on how other cities can apply these ideas.

There are many different definitions of a walkable environment. Here’s mine.

Sprawl isn’t just happening with regard to our metro areas, it’s happening within our own homes. Clearly, we are a nation moving farther apart in every way.

We spent more time in the backseats of cars at a time when traffic congestion was the highest... it’s not wonder we want our cities to look more like the college campuses

Legal right-on-reds on our American roads become a federal allowance in the 1970s as a result of the oil shortage. It’s time to make this unsafe practice illegal once again

I’m learning how to ride a skateboard. It’s given me a new perspective on why we should be patient with bikes and scooters on the sidewalk!

Our cities have work to do... but there’s nothing wrong with looking at the powerfully positive things we have accomplished

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 is coming to Rochester as soon as this summer. What should we expect?

Summer 2019 will lead the UP down the path of multi-media as I attempt to show you why I love city living

When a business closes due to lack of patronage, who deserves the blame? When people want transit but no one uses it, who should be on the hook!?

City Streets Or Highways: Which Would You Remove?

Urbanists aren’t against cars. We are against an America in which the most expensive form of transportation is actively subsidized about all else

Small town Main Streets are great, but here’s where they differ from Urban Neighborhoods

Blaming political movements does nothing for our cities. Get involved and activate something positive

In 2018, two-thirds of Rochester’s bike share fleet was stolen. What does that say about our city and our city’s ability to move forward?

The Urban Phoenix has morphed and adapted in its 4 years of existence. In 2019, we will talk a great deal about the relationships we have with our cities. We will talk more about social capital, and the ups and downs of our own connections with our urban environments