How Madison Turned Small Experiments Into Safer Streets

How Madison Turned Small Experiments Into Safer Streets

Author: Strong Towns March 23, 2026 Duration: 17:54
After repeated crashes into a beloved coffee shop, residents in Madison, Wisconsin pushed for a fast, inexpensive lane change instead of another long, consultant‑driven process. Josh Olson explains how neighbors gathered speed data, won a two‑month trial, and helped make the change permanent. Along the way, he shares how that work fed into broader safety goals, housing reforms, and a shift from “why don’t we” to “how can we.” ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Vote for Madison in the Strongest Town Contest! Strong Towns Madison (Site) Strong Towns Madison(Instagram) Madison Property Tax Value Per Acre (Site) Counting Cranes (Substack) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

There’s a quiet shift happening in neighborhoods and city halls across the continent, a push to rethink what makes a place thrive. The Bottom-Up Revolution, from the team at Strong Towns and hosted by Tiffany Owens Reed, dives into that shift by sharing real stories from within the movement. Instead of grand top-down plans, this podcast focuses on the tangible, often overlooked work of everyday people who are rolling up their sleeves to foster economic resilience right where they live. Each conversation explores the practicalities-how someone identified a small, solvable problem in their community, the steps they took to rally their neighbors, and the challenges they faced turning an idea into reality. You’ll hear about the messiness of local advocacy, the importance of building connections to create lasting influence, and the personal lessons learned along the path to a stronger town. It’s a resource for anyone who believes change starts on their own street, offering not just inspiration but a sense of shared struggle and possibility. Tune in for a candid look at the grassroots work that’s quietly reshaping our cities and towns, one concrete action at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Bottom-Up Revolution
Podcast Episodes
How Love of Place Grows Into Community Leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:43
What does it look like to actively love the place you live? Tiffany Owens Reed talks with New Haven Alder Caroline Tanbee Smith about community-building, public space, and how small, people-powered projects grow into las…
How a One-Stop Website Could Help Beat the Housing Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:55
Norm sits down with Connor Legros, an undergrad student studying city planning and administration. Connor explains how he's creating a one-stop-shop for building backyard cottages in Flagstaff, Arizona. He shares how bet…
Small Wins, Big Transformations: Introducing Mary Kate Norton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:37
In this special episode, Norm introduces Mary Kate Norton, Strong Towns' new Mobilization Coordinator and Trainer. Mary Kate shares about her background in grassroots organizing, leadership development, and coalition bui…
How To Get Local Businesses On Board With Street Safety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:23
When a tragic car crash forced street safety changes in Chattanooga, Tennessee, local businesses panicked about losing customers. But they soon discovered that foot traffic beats car traffic every time. Emily Thompson, e…
How a Georgia City Made Missing Middle Housing Legal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
What happens when a planner stops following broken rules and starts rewriting them instead? Brad Callender, director of planning and zoning for Monroe, Georgia, legalized the housing people actually need. Duplexes and ba…
How Bike Buses and Walkable Streets Help Kids Thrive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Megan Ramey has advocated for kid-friendly transportation for over a decade, culminating in her role as the Safe Routes to School Manager for Hood River County, Oregon. Megan and Tiffany discuss the importance of walkabi…
The Money Angle: How To Win Over Skeptics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:51
Your downtown isn't a money pit — it's a money pot. When Medicine Hat, Alberta, discovered the real financial value of traditional urban form, it sparked something bigger: a grassroots movement that's now changing who ru…
How To Activate Volunteers and Build Trust at the Neighborhood Level [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:56
In her day job, Victoria Via is an architect who designs affordable housing. In her off hours, she's one of the leaders of a powerhouse Local Conversation in Portland, Oregon. Victoria joins Tiffany to explain what affor…
How To Turn Public Data Into Stories That Drive Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:30
What happens when a data analyst starts studying their hometown's finances? For Karl Urich, it meant seeing Albany, New York, in a whole new light. Karl shares how he makes intimidating financial statements accessible to…
How To Design Urban Places That People Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:39
Why do some places make us want to stay forever while others repel us? In honor of Member Week, we're bringing back a great episode with architect Will McCollum. He explores the timeless principles of urbanism, why we ne…