Car Free Midwest

03/14/2024

The time has come to wrap it up! What started as a podcasting experiment in 2020, lasted for over 3 years and led us to some incredible conversations - even friendships. We're so grateful for all of the support in all of the ways and couldn't have done it without you, interviewees and listeners alike!

Now that I'm in St. Paul and feeling better, I'm out enjoying and exploring my new home town by bike (many times on my old Soma, sans electric assist!) plus working for a disability rights org and doing a bit of consulting work. Joshua is busy too, with all sorts of exciting film and audio projects happening in Omaha. We both loved this pet project but feel the time has come to close this chapter of our collaboration. Omaha folks, if you missed our other joint project, The Women Who Ran, it's screening again on March 20th at the Benson Theatre.

We have stopped billing on our Patreon page and maaaaaay record one final farewell episode for everyone, but other than that, we're done! Before you get too sad, maybe see if you've listened to each of the episodes we've created, or revisit your favorites. Thanks again and keep talking with your community about the possibility of a Car Free Midwest. It has to be dreamt of before it can become reality.
-SJ

01/23/2024

This episode is truly unique: we interviewed kids about why they love their BIKE BUS!! Prepare to be inspired by both the kids and their fearless leader, Christina, who is not only a parent but also a City Councilor in Joplin, MO. She's affecting change on all fronts and we're grateful for her time (and kid wrangling skills)! Today on Patreon and everywhere Wednesday.

01/10/2024

Live now! Thanks again, Erik. See you all at the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota party next Friday the 19th?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZdqaIT6B2UkFXbfki52Wg

Tune in for our first chat of 2024 with Erik Noonan about what's happening with We Bike Rochester, a chapter of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota! He wears a lot of hats (helmets?) so we touched on issues in Rochester, MN and beyond. From the big $5.6B investment happening with the Mayo Clinic, to "parking issues", and what's next. Live on Patreon later today, everywhere Wednesday!

We Bike Rochester:
https://www.facebook.com/webikerochester
https://www.instagram.com/webikerochester/
https://twitter.com/WeBikeRochester
Erik Noonan
https://twitter.com/NoonanErik
https://bsky.app/profile/eriknoonan.bsky.social

01/08/2024

Tune in for our first chat of 2024 with Erik Noonan about what's happening with We Bike Rochester, a chapter of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota! He wears a lot of hats (helmets?) so we touched on issues in Rochester, MN and beyond. From the big $5.6B investment happening with the Mayo Clinic, to "parking issues", and what's next. Live on Patreon later today, everywhere Wednesday!

We Bike Rochester:
https://www.facebook.com/webikerochester
https://www.instagram.com/webikerochester/
https://twitter.com/WeBikeRochester
Erik Noonan
https://twitter.com/NoonanErik
https://bsky.app/profile/eriknoonan.bsky.social

12/27/2023

More out of Missouri this week with Jackson and Taylor of Missourians for Responsible Transportation. We talked about some amazing partnerships that have formed across the state, really accelerating their mobility equity progress! You can learn more at MovingMissouri.org. Tune in Friday everywhere you listen, or later today if you support us on Patreon!

12/19/2023

Big things are happening in the small city of Joplin, MO and we dove right into it with two organizers of the new Critical Mass Joplin community, Amanda & Cynthia. From the streets to city hall, they're finding their place in the movement for safer, more inclusive mobility. They also shared a fun announcement about a new 501c3 in Joplin!

Live everywhere tomorrow and available on Patreon now if you are a supporter of our show. For $5 a month you get early access! >> https://www.patreon.com/carfreemidwest

11/21/2023

Tune in for a joyful chat with one of the Joyful Riders Club organizers, Patrick Stephenson! From to regular rides, this crew is spreading fun and including everyone. Want to join them? Check out the Leftovers Ride happening 11/24 at 3pm at Gold Medal Park in MPLS. Live on Patreon today, everywhere else Wednesday!

Event info for the Leftovers Ride: https://fb.me/e/4UNkmKEiM

11/13/2023

If you're in the Twin Cities you've probably heard about the uncertain future of Open Streets Minneapolis but this episode goes further. Tune in for details on the past, present and hopeful future of this beloved neighborhood focused, car-free event series, from the Community Development & Events Manager of Our Streets Minneapolis, Ember (who, fun fact, also used to live in Omaha!)! On Patreon today, everywhere Wednesday!

"Save Open Streets" call to action details here: https://www.ourstreetsmpls.org/ask_your_councilmember_to_save_open_streets

10/23/2023

Coming right up: a discussion with Ellen of the KC Family Bike Ride about finding your space within the advocacy realm, regardless of age! Listen tonight on Patreon, and everywhere Wednesday.

10/09/2023

Get ready for a fun chat with St. Paul's Public Works Director, Sean Kershaw! It's immediately clear that he isn't your typical Public Works guy. He's engaging on Twitter and isn't afraid of accountability! His background in community engagement really makes him an unusual and visionary department head. Plus, he's an Omaha Central High School grad! Listen today if you're a Patreon subscriber. Live everywhere Wednesday!

And if you're in St. Paul this weekend, check out the first ever Snow Summit! October 14th starting at 9am. More info here: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/street-maintenance/snow-emergency/snow-summit

09/30/2023

Now live! Tune in for a fun chat with a few of the people making Car-Free MSP a success. Joel from Metro Transit and John from Move Minneapolis were kind enough to join us for an overview of this great program. Over 1,300 participants made a pledge to swap a trip from a car to a bike/scooter/bus/etc. in September, incentivized with a ton of fun giveaways.

09/22/2023

It's and we're here for it! Where are you NOT driving today? We're happy to see so many events and celebrations all throughout the midwest for you to choose from, or go solo and simply ride to work. Take transit to the grocery store. Walk to see a friend. Ditch that car and scroll through our list of episodes to find one new to you. Oh, and happy Friday!
CarFreeMidwest.com

09/08/2023

Once you're done watching Caitlin Dumas speak at today's Bike Walk Nebraska summit, listen to our chat with her on CFM today! Tune in for her take on true inclusion in the cycling community. In addition to her work with BWN, she's co-founder of https://groundedne.com. Friday fun!

Listen wherever you find podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/episode/59Eksh44kkDlzkq636FYml?si=w43YkIDkRPio9kt3qKSpUA

08/23/2023

New chat live Thursday with world renowned mobilities author & professor Mimi Sheller. She encourages listeners to recognize the scale of mobility injustice, from issues getting around your own hometown to the global impacts of tourism on the climate crisis. On Patreon now!

More about her book, "Mobility Justice: The Politics of Movement in an Age of Extremes" here: https://www.versobooks.com/products/753-mobility-justice

Plus, here's a recent blog post from her on the Union of Concerned Scientists website: https://blog.ucsusa.org/science-blogger/decarbonizing-transportation-must-come-with-people-powered-mobility-justice/

08/04/2023

Ready to learn more about tearing down highways? This week we chatted with José and Alex of Our Streets Minneapolis about a community vision to replace a 7.5 mile stretch of I-94 with a multi-modal boulevard, The Twin Cities Boulevard, returning the surrounding land to neighborhoods and fulfilling calls for reparative justice along the corridor. This episode is live on Patreon today and everywhere you listen to podcasts on Monday. If you'd like to read more about this project, visit https://www.twincitiesboulevard.org

07/19/2023

Self proclaimed "transportation nerd" Ngani Ndimbie tells us all about a recent car-free Omaha vacay. After her trip she followed up with SJ and described her time as "magical" at which point we knew we should hear more about it. From enjoying the electric bikes of Heartland Bike Share to a dignified experience with Metro Transit Omaha, she was impressed! Ngani lives in Pittsburgh and has a crush on MPLS. Listen today on Patreon, everywhere on Friday!

07/05/2023

We're excited to relaunch after Sarah's move with a great conversation from St. Paul City Councilor, (Mitra Jalali)! We discussed the Summit Ave. Regional Trail drama, why she voted for it, and how she's running unopposed for re-election to continue her important work! Listen today on Patreon (where you can support our work and get early access to episodes) and live for all on Friday.

05/02/2023

Happy bike month! We took April off for SJ’s move to StP and…somehow now April’s over but the move is not. Our off air break continues for now so thanks for your patience!

Photo from a recent Wabash Trace ride. Where are you riding this month?