Ask Strong Towns: Have Your Question Featured on the Strong Towns Podcast

Strong Towns advocates at the 2018 North Texas gathering.

You’ve heard us use the phrase often: “the Strong Towns approach.” The reason we talk about the Strong Towns approach—as opposed to, say, the Strong Towns Plan—is because one-size-fits-all techniques generally do more harm than good. Local context matters.

Instead, we advocate for a particular way of thinking about how to grow great towns and cities. A “plan” simply isn’t comprehensive enough to help communities effectively navigate the never-ending stream of tough decisions they must make every day. But a way of thinking—a philosophy, a framework, an approach—can do just that.

As a result, we sometimes get questions about how the Strong Towns approach can be applied to bespoke local circumstances: doing the math to compare the ROI on small businesses vs. big box stores, incorporating Strong Towns principles as an employee inside a large development firm, putting in protected/designated bike lanes in a historic district. We also receive regular emails asking for examples of other communities who have taken steps to become stronger and more resilient.

Inside the Action Lab, we’ve set up a place where advocates like you can ask Strong Towns staff and, importantly, thousands of other members of the Strong Towns movement, questions just like these.

Do you have a question you’d like to ask other passionate advocates? If so, we encourage you to ask them here. We’re also going to be taking a few of these questions and weighing in on them in an upcoming episode of the Strong Towns Podcast.

While you’re there, see if there are any open questions you might be able to speak to from your own knowledge and experience. The power of the Strong Towns movement isn’t due to a relatively small organization with a staff of 10 people. It comes from thousands of smart, passionate advocates just like you, working together to build lasting strength and prosperity.