Episode Description:

In this week’s episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful stories that spotlight how cities are becoming safer, smarter, and more inclusive for both people and animals. Arielle shares how Amsterdam is installing tiny wooden staircases along its iconic canals to help cats and wildlife escape safely; a small fix with a big heart. Karissa highlights a growing movement in German cities where subsidized night taxi vouchers are helping women get home safely after dark. Tune in for feel-good solutions that prove cities can evolve with compassion.

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Transcript:

Theme music

Arielle

Hello and welcome to The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up. I’m Arielle.

Karissa

And I’m Karissa, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement.

Arielle

Hello, hello. We are back with another episode of our pod to share the solutions from The Optimist Daily this week. As usual, we’re just letting everyone know that you can sign up for our free daily newsletter that comes with all of the solutions that we don’t get to talk about.

Karissa

Yeah, exactly. And you can also follow us on social channels. We are on basically everything @optimistdaily, except on X, where we are @OdeToOptimism. So you can also get your solutions over there.

Arielle

We would like to send out a really big thank you to all of our Emissaries, who are people who sign up on the website optimistdaily.com to financially support us—either a one-time donation or it can be monthly or annual, whatever you like. So yeah, a great big thank you to you guys. We really appreciate your support. To our non-financial supporters, you’re also extremely important because you guys share the podcast, you send stories to friends and family members, you get our message out there, and you share our social media posts. So that’s also a huge help. Gives us a lot of visibility.

Karissa

Yeah, absolutely. Loving all the optimism that we’re sharing—and you guys are a part of that as well.

Arielle

Karissa, how are you doing?

Karissa

This week I am doing well. I’ve just been trying to enjoy the slower days of summer and just trying to keep optimistic and a little bit grounded in the midst of everything going on. What about you, Arielle?

Arielle

I’m also doing really well. I don’t have an “I’m an optimist, but…” really this week. We celebrated Pride this past weekend and I’ve just been trying to keep that positivity and optimism. The only thing that I can think of that’s kind of getting me down a bit was what I learned in my Dutch class this week—which is that vet prices are getting higher and higher. Veterinarians in the Netherlands aren’t really controlled the same way as human doctors. So there are actually a lot of de-registered or unregistered vets out there that are just practicing, and that kind of saturates the market and also makes the prices go higher. As soon as our class finished, I checked whether my vet for Tinker Bell the dog is actually in the registry—and she is, which is good. But yeah, that’s the only little thing that’s been getting under my skin this week.

Karissa

Yeah, that is kind of concerning. I mean, I hope maybe there’s a solution for that sometime in the future because our pet friends—as we were even talking about last week, I believe—are so important.

Arielle

Yeah, I guess animals have been top of mind because I have yet another animal story that I’m sharing this week.

Karissa

Yeah, I mean, let’s hear about it.

Arielle

So this one actually ties in two things that I love, which are pets and the city that I live in—Amsterdam. So you know, Karissa, how Amsterdam is famous for its canals? These gorgeous waterways that wind through the city like liquid streets.

Karissa

Of course. I mean, they’re so beautiful from the pictures I’ve seen—and definitely on my bucket list to come visit your wonderful city, Arielle, and see all the amazing canals.

Arielle

Mm-hmm. Yeah, they don’t disappoint in person either. But as pretty as they are, they’re also kind of intimidating—if you’re, say, a cat.

Karissa

I mean, I bet. As a cat person, I know they do not love their water.

Arielle

Yeah, exactly. So this week I’m talking about a solution that’s happening in the city I call home, and it’s titled Amsterdam adds tiny canal staircases to save wildlife and pets. So Amsterdam’s actually had a bit of a problem lately with animals—especially cats—falling into the canals and not being able to get out. In fact, 19 cats have already drowned just this year.

Karissa

No! Not the cats! That’s so heartbreaking. And that’s something I didn’t even consider could be a problem. I mean, I guess with cats… don’t they swim?

Arielle

Yeah, they do, but according to feline experts, even good swimmers can run into trouble. Their fur gets waterlogged fast and they tire out trying to claw their way up those steep canal walls. So it’s basically a losing battle.

Karissa

I guess that makes sense. OK, so what is Amsterdam doing about it then?

Arielle

It’s a very Dutch solution—and as the title states—they’re just tiny wooden staircases. Amsterdam just approved a plan to install hundreds of small escape steps along its canals so that animals, and potentially even some very unlucky humans, can climb out more easily.

Karissa

Well, I’m loving the image of tiny little staircases, because that’s really adorable—and sounds like a brilliant plan.

Arielle

Right. It’s based on a project from another Dutch city—Amersfoort. Back in June, they installed 300 small ladders along their canals specifically designed for animals. Totally unobtrusive, but super effective.

Karissa

Cool. So I’m guessing Amsterdam saw it working and decided to jump on board.

Arielle

Yeah, more or less. The Party for the Animals—which is a real political party in the Netherlands, by the way—proposed bringing the idea to Amsterdam. And here’s the thing: the city already had €100,000 in its budget earmarked for wildlife exit points. The money just hadn’t been used yet.

Karissa

That’s the best kind of budget line item. It’s just waiting for the perfect tiny staircase moment, it seems!

Arielle

Yeah. And now that the funds are freed up, Amsterdam’s moving forward. They’re teaming up with an animal rescue group called Dierenambulance to figure out the riskiest canal spots—places where animals most often fall in and struggle to escape.

Karissa

Yeah. And I mean, I’m guessing it’s not just about cats, right? Because there’s definitely more animals—and kind of like what you said earlier—humans too.

Arielle

Yeah. It’s not just about the cats, even though they are the most commonly affected. But the staircases will benefit other small animals too, and even though they’re primarily for wildlife, there’s also a human safety angle here. On average, 14 people drown in Amsterdam’s canals every year. Between 2014 and 2024, 142 lives were lost. Many of them were tourists who fell in while intoxicated.

Karissa

Oh yeah, that’s a shocking number. But I mean, I guess while these staircases aren’t necessarily built for people, making the canals more accessible and escape-friendly certainly doesn’t hurt.

Arielle

Yeah, exactly. Some of the recently renovated canal zones already include ledges or other safety features, but these tiny staircases are such a low-tech, high-compassion way to help vulnerable creatures who, frankly, can’t even call for help.

Karissa

Yeah, exactly. A charming little life-saving intervention over here.

Arielle

It’s a small gesture that reflects a bigger mindset—living with nature, not just around it. And in a city as iconic as Amsterdam, if I may say so, even a few wooden steps can mean the difference between tragedy and a soggy but safe return home.

Karissa

We really love these solutions that create smarter, kinder cities—not just for the humans, but for everyone, including our small little wildlife or kitten friends. You know how much I love cats, so I’m glad to hear that the cats in Amsterdam will be a little bit safer with this little addition.

Arielle

Well, as you said, we do love safer, kinder cities—and I think your solution fits right into that category.

Karissa

Yeah, it does.

Arielle

Yeah. Go for it.

Karissa

The title of my solution is Need a lift? How German cities are rethinking women’s safety with night taxi vouchers. And I guess before we start, Arielle, have you ever been out on the town at night and it’s dark out and you’re trying to get home, but you feel a little uneasy about your surroundings? Or maybe there’s not a safe way to get home?

Arielle

Yeah, definitely. I’ve lived in many countries, and there have definitely been some times where I felt unsafe trying to get home on my own.

Karissa

Yeah, I’ve had similar experiences too. And even back when I was younger and a broke college student, it was expensive sometimes to get home. If I was short on cash, I’d be more inclined to walk—and that wasn’t always the safest option. There are just so many unfortunate potential issues that can come up when you’re a woman out at night.

Arielle

Mm-hmm.

Karissa

So I was really pleased to see this solution from Germany. In response to growing concerns about women’s safety after dark, several German cities are offering a pragmatic and much-needed solution: subsidized night taxi vouchers. Think of it as a modern answer to the age-old dilemma of how to get home safely without breaking the bank—or risking a walk through a poorly lit underpass.

These vouchers, usually worth ten euros (about eleven dollars and eighty-four cents), are proving wildly popular. Cologne’s fifteen hundred vouchers disappeared within days, and the city of Munich more than tripled its supply this year to over 105,000, raising the value from five to ten euros per ride. So for many women, the message is clear: we see the problem and we’re trying to help.

Arielle

This sounds like great news—and something that could really protect women.

Karissa

Yeah, absolutely. And the urgency is real. In 2023, Germany recorded a six percent rise in sexual offenses, reaching more than fifty-two thousand reported cases.

Arielle

That is such an unfortunate number to hear. It’s so disappointing.

Karissa

Yeah, I know. And surveys show women are changing how they move through cities. Only twenty-eight percent of residents now say they feel safe at night, which is down from forty-two percent in 2018. Women are twice as likely as men to avoid certain public spaces.

Arielle

As disappointing as this is, it’s not really surprising. Catcalling, staring, verbal harassment—these are very real threats when you’re out and about as a woman.

Karissa

Exactly. In Mannheim, women cited those very reasons for avoiding public art. But it’s not just discomfort—it’s a shift in lifestyle. Many women opt out of public transit altogether or pay out of pocket for what feels safer.

Arielle

Yet another societal tax of being a woman! Sounds like these vouchers are very much needed.

Karissa

Yeah.

Arielle

So how exactly can someone get ahold of these vouchers?

Karissa

Each city handles it a bit differently. In Munich, users pick up physical vouchers from local offices. In Mannheim, it’s digital and offers registered users up to twenty online vouchers a year.

Arielle

Okay, I see. Who’s eligible?

Karissa

Eligibility varies by city. Some restrict access to local residents, while others open it up to all women over fourteen or sixteen—including trans women.

Arielle

Glad to hear that trans women are included. You mentioned most vouchers are worth ten euros, but what if the ride costs more? Can you still use it?

Karissa

Yes, if your ride exceeds ten euros, you just pay the difference. If it’s less, there’s no change or refund. So it’s not perfect, especially for folks who live farther from the town center, but at least you’re getting home safe.

Arielle

Mm-hmm.

Karissa

Another limitation is that the vouchers only work with participating taxi companies, which has sparked some complaints. In Freiburg, long wait times prompted officials to expand the number of eligible cab firms.

Arielle

Got it. So how’s the program doing overall? It sounds great, but I imagine long wait times are just one of many hurdles.

Karissa

It’s been a hit with many users. But awareness remains patchy. One Mannheim resident, who goes by Anne H., said she avoids public transit at night but hadn’t even heard of the program until a reporter told her. That lack of visibility is part of the problem—as is the lack of data. Few cities have formally assessed the program’s effectiveness, which makes it hard to justify sustained funding. Munich, for example, ran out of money by spring 2025.

Arielle

Okay. So these cities—and hopefully others around the world—will need to keep experimenting to make this a sustainable solution.

Karissa

Yeah. Even supporters admit the vouchers are more of a Band-Aid than a cure.

Arielle

I agree. As great as this is, it doesn’t change how some men are showing up in the world.

Karissa

Exactly. As Zahra Deilami, Mannheim’s equal opportunity officer, said: “The women’s night taxi is a very important measure, but ultimately it is only fighting the side effects of patriarchal conditions.”

Because while taxis offer temporary relief, the larger picture remains bleak. Forty percent of German women over fifteen have experienced physical or sexual violence.

Arielle

And I can sadly imagine that percentage is similar or higher in other countries too. And probably underreported, since not everyone feels safe reporting that kind of violence.

Karissa

That’s a really good point. And more broadly, microaggressions—like unsolicited comments, invasive stares, or just feeling outnumbered in public spaces—add up. In the meantime, while we work to untangle the stickiness of the patriarchy, we need solutions like these to help women feel safer.

Arielle

Mm-hmm.

Karissa

Luckily, other cities are getting more creative too. In Stuttgart, women can request night buses to make unscheduled stops closer to home. And in Mexico City, they’ve introduced women-only subway cars. Vienna has also long applied gender-sensitive urban planning—redesigning parks and lighting to make them more inclusive.

Arielle

Yeah, that’s all great. That reminds me. I saw in the headlines that Uber is introducing a feature that will allow women to be paired with female drivers. So even businesses are taking notice and trying to do something about safer transportation for women.

Karissa

Yeah, I saw that too. And I think that’s also a great addition. But on the public level, sociologist Kirsten Sailer of University College London believes cities need to go further. And she says that cities must normalize the presence of women in public spaces. And that means better design, more people out at night, and a rethinking of who public spaces really are for because they’re for everyone.

Arielle

Yeah, it seems like these taxi vouchers then are just a start, but you have to start somewhere.

Karissa

There’s definitely more to do, but I do believe this is a step in the right direction and something to help. This is just one of the many solutions that made me optimistic this week and yours of course, did too, Arielle.

Arielle

Mm-hmm.

Karissa

But we had some more on the website that you can go check out.

Arielle

Yes, they include: 3 minutes a day: how everyday movement could cut your heart disease risk in half, Why the beach makes you so tired and what to do about it, UN court clears path for climate lawsuits: what it means for vulnerable nations, and Could dolphins be speaking a language? New research hints at word-like communication.

Karissa

Yeah. And we also have LA homelessness declines for a second consecutive year, A microscopic upgrade with massive potential: scientists block malaria with a single gene edit, 5 simple morning habits minimalists swear by to keep their homes clutter-free, and How to beat the Sunday scaries and reclaim your weekend peace.

Arielle

All right. Well, thanks, Karissa, for joining me and talking about the solutions that made us both optimistic this week.

Karissa

Yeah, it was good to be here with you, Arielle. And of course, always a pleasure to share this great news from the Optimist Daily. Looking forward to some more solutions for next week, for all of our listeners and readers out there. And we’ll be back with more.

Arielle

Until next week, bye!

The post Podcast Transcript August 8, 2025— Safer streets, smarter cities: protecting women, wildlife, and well-being first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.