Can Safer Streets Start With a Video Game?

Can Safer Streets Start With a Video Game?

From The Bottom-Up Revolution by Strong Towns

April 30, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 247

About this episode

Bryan Kelly discusses how a video game inspired his journey towards advocating for safer streets in his city.

A traffic jam in a video game changed how Bryan Kelly saw his city. He traces the path from playing City Skylines and watching Not Just Bikes to noticing stroads, long waits at traffic lights, and people biking on sidewalks along Sheboygan’s Eighth Street. That shift pulled him into a Strong Towns book club in a local coffee shop, Critical Mass rides with neighbors, and quiet committee rooms where he was sometimes the only person at the microphone. When a council seat opened, he carried those lived observations into a campaign centered on safer streets and fiscally careful projects. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Bryan Kelly (LinkedIn) Sheboygan Active Transportation (Site) Local Recommendations:‍ Paradigm Coffee & Music Three Sheeps Brewing Evergreen Park Harry’s Diner Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) 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! Join fellow members discussing this episode in The Commons.

People in this episode

Host: Strong Towns

Guest: Bryan Kelly

Topics covered

  • urban planning
  • traffic safety
  • community engagement
  • video games
  • local politics

Keywords

  • traffic jam
  • City Skylines
  • safer streets
  • Strong Towns
  • community activism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Strong Towns, Sheboygan Active Transportation

Books & works: City Skylines, Not Just Bikes

Places: Sheboygan, Eighth Street, Evergreen Park, Harry’s Diner

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