In this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict joins us for a vital conversation on Indigenous leadership, municipal collaboration, and community development. Chief Benedict represents 133 First Nations across Ontario and brings deep insight into the challenges and opportunities in infrastructure, economic development, and reconciliation. We explore successful partnerships like the joint Akwesasne-Cornwall waterfront project, the infrastructure gap affecting First Nations, the impacts of Bill 5, and why Indigenous inclusion from day one is essential to responsible development. This episode is a must-listen for municipal leaders, planners, and anyone working toward a more equitable and collaborative Ontario.

In this powerful episode of the Good Roads Podcast, co-hosts Thomas Barakat and Andrew Blackburn sit down with Eleanor McMahon — founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition and a former Ontario Cabinet Minister — to talk about the tragic loss that inspired a movement, and the decades of advocacy that followed. Eleanor shares her personal story of loss, the creation of Share the Road, and the fight for safer, more inclusive streets across Ontario. From legislative victories like Greg’s Law and the 1m Safe Passing Rule, to the rise of cycling tourism and infrastructure in rural communities, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in road safety, active transportation, and community well-being.

Dr. Wes Marshall, professor of civil engineering and urban planning at the University of Colorado, Denver, joins the Good Roads Podcast to discuss road safety and outdated traffic engineering practices. His book, Killed by a Traffic Engineer, challenges long-held assumptions about road design and its impact on safety. In this episode, he debunks common myths, explains how municipalities can push for better design, and highlights the role of data in making roads safer. As a keynote speaker at the upcoming Good Roads Conference, Dr. Marshall shares insights on changing the culture of traffic engineering to prioritize safety over convenience. Tune in to rethink what makes roads truly safe.

David Zipper, senior fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative and transportation policy expert, recently joined Good Roads Podcast hosts Thomas Barakat and Andrew Blackburn. Zipper shared his insights on the future of urban mobility, from changes in U.S. transportation policy to Ontario’s bike lane battles. In this interview, we explore the big-picture shifts Zipper anticipates and the lessons Canadian cities might take from global trends.

In this episode, we dive into the complexities of municipal winter maintenance with expert instructors from Good Roads Snow School. As winter approaches, learn essential strategies and solutions to keep your roads safe and communities secure. Scott Holmes and Darnell Bernardo share insights on planning, equipment, and best practices for navigating the challenges that come with snow and ice. Whether you're in a rural or urban setting, this discussion will equip you with the knowledge needed to tackle winter head-on. Don't miss this valuable conversation on mastering municipal winter maintenance.

In Episode 34 of the Good Roads Podcast, Jared and guest host Dr. James Smith interview Brian Keierleber, the County Engineer for Buchanan County, Iowa. Brian is a a keynote speaker for the upcoming Low Volume Roads workshop in October. Many municipalities responsible for low volume roads share the same pain points and Mr. Keierleber discusses bridge construction, maintenance of low volume roads, and cost-saving strategies to help you and your municipality effectively maintain this type of roadway. Discover the innovative techniques and sustainable solutions Brian has implemented to enhance infrastructure in rural areas. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the challenges and future of rural transportation networks, with a focus on cost efficiency.

In this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, host Jared LeMay dives into the ambitious Downtown Revitalization Project in Brantford. With guest Gagan Batra, Manager of Business Support and Sustainability, they explore the city's plans to transform its car-centric downtown into a vibrant, pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space. They discuss the current state of downtown Brantford, the challenges faced in implementing such a project, and the inspiration behind these forward-thinking urban planning strategies. Gagan shares insights on overcoming financial, council, and public buy-in hurdles while addressing issues like homelessness and the impact on local students. The episode offers valuable lessons for other municipalities considering similar projects. Don't miss this deep dive into innovative urban planning and the future of Brantford's downtown.

In this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, Thomas and Jared talk with renowned climate scientist, and keynote speaker at the 2024 Good Roads Conference, Katharine Hayhoe. Hayhoe dives deep into the complexities of climate change, offering insightful perspectives on its impact and the urgency of action. Through her engaging storytelling and expertise, she navigates the intersection of climate science and society. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of climate change and discover pathways towards a sustainable future.

In this compelling episode of the Good Roads podcast, hosts Thomas and Jared engage in a thought-provoking conversation with urban planner and renowned walkability advocate, Jeff Speck. The trio delves into the transformative concept of walkable cities and its profound impact on the urban landscape. Jeff Speck, with his extensive expertise in urban design and planning, shares valuable insights on how creating walkable environments not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also contributes to sustainable and resilient urban development.

Thomas and Jared enter their second day of training on the path to becoming Certified Road Safety Auditors through Good Roads' new course. After a long day of class, they sit down with course directors Kenn Beer and Max McCardel to discuss how students of the course will revolutionize road safety. Road Safety Auditors will help municipalities identify problem areas on roads which will not only money save money, but lives as well. Tune in to hear how the practice of road safety auditing is poised to become a gamechanger in Ontario. Meet Graham, 'the only person' designed to survive a car crash: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/meet-graham-the-only-person-designed-to-survive-a-car-crash-1.2996916?cache= Safe System Solutions: https://safesystemsolutions.com.au/ The Road Safety Audit Course: https://youtu.be/c2vefQ35ZN0 Good Roads Podcast Episode 24 - The Pathway to Safer Roads with Kenn Beer: https://youtu.be/QO6U4m56zjg https://twitter.com/Goodroads https://www.instagram.com/on.goodroads/ https://www.facebook.com/goodroads.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodroads https://www.GoodRoads.ca

In episode 29 of the Good Roads Podcast, Thomas and Jared explore the inspiring collaboration between municipalities and Indigenous communities as they navigate sustainable resource extraction, from minerals to LNG. Join us in this insightful conversation on fostering partnerships that prioritize environmental stewardship, mutual benefit, and taking meaningful steps towards reconciliation through trust and collaboration.

On this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, Thomas and Jared speak with Dr. Nicholas Duck, an organizational psychologist and head of Opposite, a company that looks at human factors when approaching road safety. So often the discussion of road safety and Vision Zero is centred on design. In this conversation, Nicholas explains that if we take into account how people behave in a given space, we can better utilize and design spaces that are not only more functional for people, but safer as well. Tune in to hear how the “Opposite” approach can better serve your municipality.

On this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, Thomas and Jared speak with Pierre Ranger, Chair of the Let's Remember Adam: Stop for the School Bus campaign. Pierre addressed delegates at the 2023 Good Roads Conference, speaking about his brother’s untimely death after getting off a school bus. This conversation expands on Pierre’s remarks and examines what can, and is, being done to prevent future tragedies.

Sunil Johal, the Vice President of Public Policy at the CSA Group joins Thomas & Jared on the Good Roads Podcast ahead of this address at the Good Roads Conference. The CSA Group released a report entitled Navigating Complexity: Policy Making for an Evolving World which investigates some of the big shifts happening in society. Sunil discusses some of these trends and prescribes solutions on how decision makers can best address these changes. Hear what Sunil has to say about declining trust, climate change, remote work, and digitization of government.

On this episode of the Good Roads Podcast Thomas and Jared talk to Brent Toderian, a renowned urbanist and city planner, and keynote speaker at this years Good Roads Conference. In this episode, we discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the transportation industry and how cities can plan and design their roads and transportation systems to better serve their communities. Join us and learn how municipalities and cities both big and small can take a creative approach, as well as ideas from other cities, and apply them at home to create a tighter community.

With the Good Roads Conference fast approaching, Thomas and Jared reach halfway across the world to chat with conference speaker Kenn Beer of Safe System Solutions. Together they discuss road safety audits and how they have helped create safer roads, not only in Australia, but around the world. With Good Roads bringing this system to Ontario, hear about how it can help your municipality create safer roads for your community.

On the latest episode of the Good Roads Podcast, Jared and Thomas speak with Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Ontario Green Party. The three delved into Bill 23 and its effects on municipalities and two new Green bills which aim to tackle the housing crisis. The conversation also included a discussion on road safety, electric vehicles, and Ontario’s future energy mix. For all this and more, tune into the latest episode of the Good Roads Podcast.

An important issue councillors and mayors across Ontario are always hearing about from their constituents is speeding – especially in school and community safety zones. But what is the best way to slow drivers down to help protect the most vulnerable in our community? Geoff Wilkinson of the Ontario Traffic Council joins the Good Roads Podcast to discuss Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) and how it can help reduce speeding in critical areas in your municipality. Tune in to this episode as we go in-depth on all aspects of ASE, from its poor public perception to implementation options, to helping you decide if this is the right solution to address speeding in your municipality.

With municipalities looking for any way to curb the increases in municipal insurance costs, we take a look at joint and several liability for another perspective. Our guests this week, from Advantage Forensics, talk to us about their upcoming Good Roads course, Municipal Liability - Traffic Collisions, where they provide an in-depth understanding of municipalities’ exposure to liability due to their legal obligation to provide safe road facilities to the public, and how to avoid that costly exposure. Tune in to this episode of the podcast to find out how to avoid the perils of joint and several liability by reducing your exposure to liability in the first place.

With the broad reach and general anonymity of the internet it was only a matter of time before people began using it with malicious intent. With the ability to reach a great many people with minimal cost and effort scams have been ramping up not only in complexity, but also in quantity, and with our lives becoming ever more entwined in the digital world these scams are getting more frequent and wider ranging, not only to us at home, but to the places we work and municipalities we serve. With October being Cyber Security Awareness Month, we sat down with Lisa Plaggemier, the Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, to discuss the how’s, why’s, and protection from cyber-attacks.