Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Guests: John Surcio; Paul Tolme
My first guest is no stranger to TOC. A couple of times a year, at least, I ask journalist and NYU professor, John Surico to join me and catch us up on what is happening in NYC.
The reason I look to him and to NY is that he’s got his ear to the ground on everything from climate and sustainability to walking, biking, and advocacy plus a lot more. I like the way he thinks and especially what he talks about on his substack pages, Streetbeat.
In our conversation, I ask him what his students might be thinking about the field of journalism as the editorial and reporting landscapes continue to shift and morph – with fewer print papers and magazines, more controversial news outlets, so much misinformation, and the need for focus on relevant problems – like climate, cities, sustainability, and more. We talk about “super sidewalks” in our conversation; here is a link to the video that explains it.
John just completed a year working with the Central Park Conservancy to help explore how to keep the iconic park healthy and relevant while studying the park to see what climate change is doing to the trees, grass, and general environment. He talks about two of the programs he worked on and how they might impact the park going forward. His insights and observations always give me food for thought as I look at the issues facing NYC and how we mirror them across the country.
In the second half of the show, I welcome Paul Tolme, the communications 
manager and spokesperson for the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle,
Washington. Several years ago, I spoke with a young PhD candidate out in Seattle about the work he was doing along with the Cascade Bicycle Club to have an inequitable helmet law repealed in the city. The initiative worked, the law was repealed, and helmet use didn’t decline – win X 3.
Today, I speak with Paul about the organization itself – its amazing number of club members – 10,000 – and the statewide programs and events it offers. 
In addition to the famous rides the club offers – the 44 year old iconic STP Ride (Seattle to Portland) and the RSVP – Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party,) as well as all the programs and tours offered,
I don’t think any single fact was more impressive than a 10,000 member club roster. Even though the club is a statewide organization, 10,000 members is mighty impressive. 
With that kind of support, it is no wonder that Cascade is able to influence local and state legislators and planners to improve cycling and walking in Washington, develop great educational programs, like the one that is being implemented in schools, and organize one of the most iconic and enduring events in the country – The famous STP – Seattle to Portland ride – that will be held July 15th and 16th this year.
When we spoke, Joe Lindsey, who has been on the show in the past and who does some amazing reporting as you will hear in a moment, alluded to what was coming next for him and, sho’ ‘nuf – he’s the new Senior Editor at Escape Collective and I think it’s a match made in cycling heaven.
director of the 
With a new initiative,
Along with Caley Fretz, who was the editor in chief of Velo News, a slew of these top-notch journalists have come together to offer up a product just for you – not for advertisers, not for clicks or page views – just for you.
Since this is women’s history month, I had the honor of being interviewed by 
But, there are some bright spots in cycling publications and, 
Whelan
After a break, we’ll meet two young people whose passion for safe roads for young people shows up in some very meaningful ways. Daniela Gomez, who lives and works in Bogota, Columbia, and Dilshod Kholmatov, who is in Tajikistan, both represent the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, a program that was launched by 
Tajikistan, or the U.S. Too many young people are being injured or killed on the roads and there is an international initiative that is fervently working on the problems.
It is fitting that February is 
slavery in his new book, On Freedom Road, with an exploration of the Underground Railroad. 
I have to admit I don’t know much about New Jersey but was really pleased to learn about cycling there from Bike JC’s board member, Patrick Conlon. 
advisory board, has grown organically. But the clout they’ve managed to muster has produced some great results and is a model many other mid-size cities might want to emulate.
My first guest is David Stanley and he is a friend Charles Pelkey, arguably one of the nicest guys to ever grace the pages of cycling journalism – along with a lot of other fine attributes.
History at UVA. The book is titled 
My first guest today is Jenn Hamelman. She’s the program director for the USBRS – United State Bicycle Route System. We’ve spoken with Jenn in the past and I wanted to wrap up 2022’s USBRS progress.
in 1975 and incorporated it into a historical fictional story he wrote from what he knew growing up in the 70’s and what he experienced as he rode his bicycle through Viet Nam and on to Cambodia in 2012.
You can find Sunrise in Saigon from any of your book purveyors. And, we’ll be watching for the sequel next summer. You can also find out more about Patrick’s espresso company at 
Over the past twelve plus years, we’ve spoken with many frame builders and today, we have t he privilege of speaking with an American builder who has been living and working in Italy for several decades.
are separate and the same.
Patrick Greenwood about his new novel, “Sunrise in Saigon.” It’s a self-discovery story about Jack Kendall as he bicycles through Viet Nam. In addition to the story, all the proceeds of the sales of the book go to a helmet program for the children of Viet Nam. Win-win!
Before we chat with Dan though, I want to introduce you to Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher. Or more rightly, DR Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher as the day before our conversation, she had her convocation to complete her PhD in physics. It’s apparently similar to what we do here in the States to defend a thesis.