I lately watched “The Road Venture” documentary and interviewed its director, co-producer, and author Jennifer Boyd. It’s accessible for native screenings and has been used as a device to spark dialog about secure streets in over 50 cities to this point. Right here is my interview with Jennifer, edited for readability and size.

Mike McGinn:

I’m Mike McGinn. I’m the Govt Director of America Walks. And I’ve with me immediately Jennifer Boyd. She’s the director, co-producer, and author of The Road Venture, which is a film I’ve watched a few occasions, however I’m not going to explain it to you. I’ll let Jennifer try this! Jennifer, what’s the Road Venture?

Jennifer Boyd:

Properly, Mike, thanks a lot for being keen to talk with me about this. The Road Venture is a documentary in regards to the world grassroots motion to take again our streets, our largest public areas, in order that they’re accessible to all, to all types of transportation, all types of wants. I feel that that may sound like a preachy, uninteresting matter, however when you concentrate on the ways in which each facet of our lives is related – our neighborhood, our neighbors, how we get from one place to a different, how we relate and have the chance to attach with folks, what’s a typical denominator in all of that? It’s our streets. It’s how we unintentionally meet folks, it’s how we transfer about, it’s our alternative to attach with others. And so it truly is an unbelievably fascinating matter. 

Mike McGinn:

Properly, you recognize, you possibly can guess that I’m satisfied as a result of I’ve been engaged on lively transportation points for some time, and there’s one thing about it that actually pulls you in. When you see how we construct issues and then you definately begin to ask why, how can it’s totally different? It’s a fairly deep matter. Inform me what motivated you to make the documentary.

Jennifer Boyd:

Properly, so a couple of years in the past, I had accomplished a documentary referred to as 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel, and it was a take a look at distracted driving. And we put cameras into automobiles and monitored folks’s habits over six months. It was completely fascinating; it was actually at a time when these sorts of cameras and form of that voyeuristic take a look at habits wasn’t so standard. So it actually captured folks’s consideration. 

Anyway, that was distributed via PBS, it’s on-line now, and after that undertaking was completed, I assumed, nicely, why not take a look at the opposite half of the transportation fatality problem? If half of all fatalities occurred exterior of the automotive, except for the driving force, to pedestrians and cyclists, why not take a look at the opposite aspect?

And I assumed, alright nice, I’ll take a look at how distraction impacts pedestrians and cyclists. Properly, we acquired some funding to do this. And some seconds into actual analysis, hardcore analysis, and I noticed, wait a minute, distracted pedestrians strolling into the center of the road watching their cell telephones and hoping for one of the best – that actually isn’t a factor. That actually is such a small a part of all of the fatalities and the skyrocketing of this problem.

So my matter has nothing to do with distraction and naturally, as lots of people know, all the pieces to do with design, the design of the streets, the design of automobiles, velocity habits, how we worth and take into consideration pedestrians and cyclists on our roadways and an entire bunch of different matters and the way the best way we take a look at who will get to make use of our roads.

I used to be working with the town of New York and so they have been giving me all their safety digital camera footage. They have been very beneficiant. And I’m attempting to determine human habits and occupied with monitoring the streets. And what do these folks, you recognize, what’s the frequent denominator and the way they’re behaving like that leads them into the streets. And, you recognize, I used to be completely flawed. So with the good thing about with the ability to take time and actually do the analysis and never attempt to discover the short reply that tells the story, I used to be capable of actually delve in and that is such an fascinating undertaking as a result of I used to be form of studying as I used to be going. I used to be actually studying with the viewer all alongside the best way. I proceed to study now with the viewer as The Road Venture turns into its personal life power. It’s all it goes out and it’s on PBS, nevertheless it goes out into the neighborhood and communities are utilizing it as a dialog level in order that they will deal with points which might be particularly necessary to them.

However the different factor I needed to say is once I began this undertaking, I didn’t wish to make one other piece of content material within the media that was adverse – that folks simply wish to go, “Oh no, I’ve heard sufficient. I don’t wish to hear anymore. I simply wish to bury my head within the sand at this level, there’s simply a lot negativity on the market”. So then, you recognize, how do you make a documentary about pedestrian and biking fatalities and never make it adverse? And that’s the place I feel I’ve created one thing that’s good storytelling and actually hopeful as a result of we comply with people who find themselves attempting to make a distinction and their tales are actually fascinating.

Mike McGinn:

I used to be going to say that you simply talked about preachy earlier, and I wish to say I’ve watched it twice now – a month in the past after which simply earlier than this to ensure I used to be prepared. And, you recognize, the truth that you’re telling the tales of people and their experiences on their streets and the way that moved them to motion, I feel that private storytelling does change it fairly a bit.

And naturally, the protagonist in the beginning was a person who was biking and hit by a automotive, her mom was hit whereas she was strolling and the way that opened up her eyes and the way she in the end grew to become an advocate. I feel the storytelling was fairly highly effective. Now, in fact, there was a certain quantity of explaining. You had some actually nice specialists as nicely.

We’ve designed a system that has actually quick automobiles shifting via locations the place persons are current. And it’s an especially harmful combination. And it’s designed that manner on function, as you identified. And the way do you get the folks in control of the design to alter issues reasonably than them merely throwing it again on the people utilizing a harmful system?

Jennifer Boyd:

Yeah, I used to be by no means someone that I wasn’t within the area, I do numerous different documentaries on different matters, so I didn’t know – I didn’t have any preconceived thought of what the struggles have been and how much story to inform. So one of many specialists – and it actually caught with me – was this idea of democratic streets. Now, most individuals and many individuals have instructed me this afterward, I didn’t know this was a narrative I even wanted to care about. 

They’d take a look at me and say, The Road Venture. Oh, nice. Okay, it’s about our streets. Okay, so automobiles velocity, no matter. And so they’d take a look at it and go, “Wow, I didn’t know this was a narrative I wanted to care about.” And for me, what actually struck me was this idea of democratic streets. They are surely our largest public areas, and we pay for them. All of us pay for them. And but we don’t actually have equal entry to their use, proper? We now have this preconceived notion that it ought to be utilized in one sure manner. And as one of many historians within the movie talks about, nicely, that’s not likely what our historical past was, that’s not likely how we used streets previously. And so if we return not that way back, we are going to see that it definitely was okay for folks to stroll within the streets or for different kinds of automobiles to be on the street.

Mike McGinn:

Sure, the story of automobiles taking up the suitable of manner that beforehand had been utilized by everyone in all totally different modes. By the best way, my dad grew up in New York Metropolis, son of immigrants. He was what was referred to as a 3 sewer man, which was the flexibility to hit a punch ball the size of three sewers on a New York Metropolis avenue. I don’t know if that also exists anymore, however avenue video games have been a factor. You grew up taking part in on the street. And so, you recognize, the very thought of the playground was as a result of the road was not accessible.

And positively, then that turns into an impediment as a result of only a few folks can do not forget that period anymore. What we see is what we predict is regular now. In creating the movie, what do you assume are the largest limitations to creating these adjustments?

Jennifer Boyd:

So one of many nice issues about this movie being utilized in communities to create, to collect folks, and to have conversations about points which might be particular to their neighborhood is the truth that the limitations are totally different in several communities. Now, all of us might know that narrower streets decelerate visitors or we might know that protected bike lanes will deliver out extra ladies and youngsters who will then really feel safer to bike. And, you recognize, particularly when you’re within the area otherwise you’re now learning it, all of us have these types of preconceived concepts and analysis about what works and what we imagine works. However I feel the limitations are that persons are afraid of change and possibly afraid is simply too robust of a phrase.

However, you recognize, the unknown is – I really feel for politicians truly, that you need to please so many individuals. I typically take into consideration the story of advocates like Transportation Alternate options attempting to place bike lanes on the Higher West Facet and other people simply being so offended as a result of they couldn’t park their automobiles simply. After some time of seeing that it actually did work, that the parking was okay, that there have been extra folks biking, and that it grew to become a win-win over time, it form of dawned on me that this actually will be the wrestle of one thing in the future. Lastly, you possibly can’t park within the spot that you simply at all times needed to park in as a result of now there’s this bike lane and also you say, nicely, why are the bikes right here? Or how many individuals actually bike or that sort of factor that, you recognize, it’s a unique problem for each neighborhood. And whether or not you’re in a rural neighborhood or a metropolis or someplace in between, there are various factors for everyone.

Mike McGinn:

I feel there are a whole lot of issues which might be counterintuitive to folks as nicely, you recognize? Properly, initially, I agree with you. I feel the largest barrier is that numerous occasions folks really feel one thing’s being taken from them. , the parking or the bus lane or the redesign that places a flip lane in bike lanes and takes away journey lanes. They assume one thing’s being taken from them. They react very strongly. Our expertise in Seattle was – we’ve accomplished dozens of these streets that manner – these security redesigns and there’s little or no name for returning them to the previous multi-fast, multi-lane, harmful roads, folks truly find yourself liking them. However yeah, it’s a really vociferous response. And though I do assume – we’ve accomplished polling too – there may be very robust public help for greater high quality of life and strolling, biking and transit, nevertheless it’s oftentimes not as loud because the voices for holding issues the best way they’re.

I used to be actually impressed within the film by the people in Phoenix strolling from retailer to retailer, enterprise to enterprise to assist construct help for change and the footage you bought there of how harmful the streets have been …you caught some issues on digital camera. Inform us about that…

Jennifer Boyd:

That was actually eye-opening for me as somebody from the East Coast popping out to a Solar Belt metropolis. And I bear in mind the primary my first day on the Airbnb that I used to be staying in, and there have been numerous little beautiful eating places close by and I needed to go to a tacoria that was, I don’t know, possibly 100 yards from the home. And so I walked down the road able to go. However the restaurant was throughout the road and I’d been driving all day and I used to be like, I simply needed to go for a stroll. So I simply walked down. It’s not that far. And I look and I notice that I’m going to should cross – I feel it was seven lanes of visitors to get there and I completely wasn’t anticipating this. And I appeared each methods and I noticed that I truly can’t get there, that I actually can’t get there until I am going again to my home, get within the automotive, and go across the block in order that I can safely get into the driveway.

That was actually form of mind-blowing to me. And that will get again to the truth that having the movie be a manner for folks to attach and determine what the problems are particularly for his or her neighborhood. Having fast-moving roads in the midst of your metropolis, your neighborhood could also be one metropolis’s problem, nevertheless it’s not one other metropolis’s problem, proper? It might be simply bigger automobiles or no matter it is likely to be.

So anyway, I wish to stress that that is being distributed via PBS and all of that. However an important factor actually has been for communities to make use of it as this dialog piece. And you may get data at thestreetproject.com that tells you the way to host an occasion and sometimes folks get pleasure from coming to it as a result of it’s form of a secure manner for folks to attach who’ve by no means been to, let’s say, a bike-walk occasion. They’ve by no means been advocates in any manner. They might be hesitant as a result of they’re not planners, they don’t know the stats, and they also don’t really feel like they’ve sufficient background data to come back to a gathering or to make a distinction in any manner. And to allow them to safely come watch the screening, watch a present. After which typically there’s a panel dialogue afterwards, and that’s once they can study a bit bit extra and decide for themselves about what’s possibly how they will extra successfully assist or what to develop into extra conscious of what actually is the difficulty or are the problems of their neighborhood.

Mike McGinn:

What sort of response do you are likely to get at these screenings? 

Jennifer Boyd:

, it’s actually joyful. Now, I’m not at each screening. We only in the near past hit over 50 screenings round the USA. And we’re attempting to push into states that we haven’t been in but. And so, you recognize, clearly, folks which might be making the hassle to come back out are actually constructive and really feel prefer it’s making a distinction. And I do imagine that. However I additionally discover, you recognize, some folks have stated, particularly since we’ve entered into a whole lot of festivals and so these of us aren’t just like the choir.

And so they’re very shocked as a result of I typically get, oh, wow, this truly was entertaining to observe and meaning loads for a documentary individual since you don’t need it to really feel painful, like, you recognize, that is medication that they’re required to observe this, so I’ve to observe it. So simply in and of itself, if someone feels prefer it’s not painful for them, I’m grateful. After which hopefully they get some background data that helps them take into consideration points sooner or later or possibly make a distinction of their communities.

Mike McGinn:

I’m an enormous documentary fan. There are many painful documentaries however this wasn’t one, completely not. You’re speaking in regards to the experience problem -it’s an fascinating factor. There’s an enormous downside on the market, so someway or one other, possibly the specialists don’t have all of it found out if we’ve that many individuals injured and dying yearly. However there may be that deference to authority oftentimes and it deserves to be questioned right here.

 Is there one thing that you simply filmed or did or there’s one thing you didn’t movie? There are belongings you want you would have gotten in however simply couldn’t make it into the movie.

Jennifer Boyd:

In fact. So two issues that we will contact on are going to Copenhagen as a result of it felt actually stereotypical. And on the finish of the day, my thoughts was blown as a result of the explanation I didn’t wish to go to Copenhagen initially was as a result of everyone thinks unicorns are bicycles. In fact, they’re all the pieces.

Mike McGinn:

Proper, [people think] Europe is particular.

Jennifer Boyd:

Yeah, however because it seems, they’d the identical issues that we did and so they constructed roads after which transformed them and so they did it as a result of it value much less. And so it’s an ideal, like economics story, proper? And so there’s that after which there’s the COVID factor. So COVID was an enormous issue on this undertaking as a result of we shut down manufacturing for 2 years. We needed to cancel 30 days of capturing in 4 nations as a result of COVID hit a few weeks earlier than I used to be alleged to go to Europe.

After which all the pieces modified. The best way we thought of streets modified, the best way we thought we may change a avenue modified. Instantly we have been capable of shut down streets and make them secure areas for neighborhood gatherings with out large conferences and zoning adjustments and all of that. And that gave me vitality to inform a unique story about how change is feasible. However the issues that I, you recognize, I wasn’t capable of cowl the agricultural story the best way I actually ought to have or may have if I had extra time. , you possibly can solely cowl so many points. And clearly, there are such a lot of tentacles to this matter. However, you recognize, we cowl giant cities, we cowl some smaller areas. However the problems with rural communities – it’s an entire totally different sport, however equally necessary and, you recognize, there are different nations I might wish to go to. Different contrasts in how folks take into consideration transportation. You possibly can see the way it’s simply tentacles, proper? That’s why you do what you do! Your world of knowledge can simply broaden and go in so many alternative instructions, so there may be a lot to speak about.

So there are many regrets there, however you possibly can solely jam a lot into an hour present, in any other case it simply looks like a listing. It’s not a narrative.

Mike McGinn:

Properly, transportation and land use is so central, like, that’s the sense of place and locations are so necessary to us. They’re so defining to us about how we really feel and, you recognize, how we join with different folks, how we’ve a way of belonging on the planet.

And I feel that crosses suburban, rural, and concrete divides. Proper? All of us wish to have locations the place we really feel secure and cozy and related to our neighbors. And we’ve made it exhausting. We’ve made it exhausting to do this by designing locations that hold us insulated from one another or not ready to stroll throughout the road or stroll round and join with one another as human beings. I feel that was one of many largest issues about COVID. I feel that it wasn’t merely the strolling proper that, wow, I have to get out of the home and stroll round. It was like, I have to get out of the home and see different folks. I would like to attach in a secure manner and streets have been restored to a spot that it occurred simply as a result of there was no work. Not each individual would go into work, however lots of people felt remoted and the road was the place there was neighborhood.

Jennifer Boyd:

Completely! It was so dramatically totally different. And it does make me assume, I lately was touring and we used metropolis bikes on a regular basis and that’s one thing I might have been terrified to do ten years in the past. And now I do bike in New York Metropolis once I’m round and I used to be biking on this neighborhood that I used to be vacationing in. And it simply form of dawned on me about how liberating it was, how we have been capable of take a metropolis bike move. It wasn’t referred to as metropolis bike, it was a unique sort of bike. And I feel it was the equal of $15 for the month and your first hour of biking was free day-after-day. So you possibly can think about how cheap it’s then to get to the grocery retailer, to get to the library, to take youngsters to high school, to go to associates. And if you are able to do that safely, then all of a sudden you might have a lot extra financial energy due to freedom and mobility.

Mike McGinn:

Yeah, I feel the issues that usually come up, as a walkability group, is folks take a look at these suburban areas which were designed the place all the pieces is so unfold out, there are big parking heaps, there are huge streets, there are cul de sacs – so there’s not a avenue grid, like somebody’s acquired to exit to the arterial and all the best way round and again in once more. 

You might have all of these items that separate folks and one of many issues that’s going to alter that’s with the e-bikes and the e-bike revolution and massive huge streets that exist already which might be manner too large for the quantity of automobiles that truly have to exist. And I feel that is additionally true in rural areas we’re seeing the person who lived two miles out of the city heart, hastily the e-bike turns into an especially environment friendly strategy to go three or 4 miles and is extra enjoyable. However you want the secure infrastructure. So I do assume that though we’re America Walks, the concept that that that biking is likely to be the best way to get from place to position, you can then stroll round, I feel they’ll join. I feel will probably be actually nice at these locations which have longer distances to journey and it’s not the city space the place there’s a very nice focus of housing and eating places and jobs and providers. However there’s definitely the room to do it if we will gradual the automobiles and create secure infrastructure.

Jennifer Boyd:

Yeah, and I feel there’s one thing to be stated for that actually. And it’s a difficult message that actually must be the one largest problem is the economics of all of it. This concept that it’s both or that if in case you have bike infrastructure or good secure, walkable streets, nicely then you possibly can’t afford to do one thing else the place the truth is, you recognize, we as a result of we’re the choir right here, proper? We all know that it prices much less to construct that bike infrastructure than it does to improve or add on lanes of street, nevertheless it’s the best way you…

Mike McGinn:

Hey, my workbench within the storage has all of the instruments that I can get. I don’t have only one device. It looks as if some instruments are higher for some jobs than others, and treating it like a battle between modes is ridiculous. It’s truly creating it in order that I can use the suitable device for the suitable job. What’s the one large factor that you simply or possibly not the one large factor, however what would you want folks to remove from this after they watch it?

Jennifer Boyd:

Yeah, I feel that we’re all on the identical workforce, that secure infrastructure advantages automobiles and it advantages bikes and it advantages pedestrians. I like automobiles. It may be life-changing. You get to go locations you’d by no means get to go. However there’s nothing like the liberty to have the ability to bike the place and if you wish to simply and cost-effectively or to stroll. How wholesome is that? And to have these decisions, it simply makes for a extra vibrant, livable neighborhood.

So I do know we’re operating out of time and I simply needed to, you recognize, yet another plug. If persons are actually involved in making a dialog of their neighborhood that thestreetproject.com has all the data, they will display the entire documentary or sections of it and have neighborhood conversations round it, invite new folks into their teams, they will use it as a fundraiser in the event that they wish to cost tickets, do it at a movie show, a library, do screenings at house. And I do actually respect you being keen to speak with me about it.

Mike McGinn:

Properly, you anticipated my final query. One final plug, so however I’ll give it a plug thestreetproject.com, and it’s a good documentary, it’s an ideal dialog starter. And when you’re in search of inspiration about how one can get engaged or some nice tales being instructed in it as nicely. So thanks, Jennifer, and I’m glad to do this.

Jennifer Boyd:

I actually respect your time. Thanks a lot.