# The Strong Towns Podcast - A Better Block Versus Years of Planning

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/think-and-act-locally-7250018/the-strong-towns-podcast-a-better-block-versus-years-of-planning
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/think-and-act-locally-7250018/the-strong-towns-podcast-a-better-block-versus-years-of-planning.md
Podcast: [Think and Act Locally](https://stenobird.com/podcast/think-and-act-locally-7250018)
Published: 2026-07-20T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.strongtowns.org/e/a-better-block-versus-years-of-planning/
Audio file: https://go.godcaster.fm/act/e/447/496821/57828921029/https%253A%252F%252Fmcdn.podbean.com%252Fmf%252Fweb%252Fkb2ydsx5rvfp9dp8%252FSTP_7-20-26.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/think-and-act-locally-7250018/episodes/the-strong-towns-podcast-a-better-block-versus-years-of-planning
Duration seconds: 3391

## Resource

Cities often spend years studying a street before making a change, only to discover that the public is reacting to plans no one has actually experienced. Krista Nightengale, executive director of Better Block, explains another approach: build a temporary version, invite people into it, gather data, and adjust what does not work. She and Chuck talk about winning over skeptical engineers, learning from residents, and making safer streets without waiting for a perfect plan. The goal is not to prove the first idea was correct, but to learn enough, quickly enough, to make the next decision better. Additional Show Notes Krista Nightengale (LinkedIn) Better Block (Site) Wikiblock (Site) Chuck Marohn (Substack) This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members . Thank you! Join fellow members discussing this episode in The Commons .

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