Philip and Irene McAleese are the co-founders of See.Sense. Established in 2013 by Philip and Irene McAleese, See.Sense leverages advanced sensor and AI technology to make cycling and micromobility safer and smarter.
Philip and Irene have won a string of prestigious international awards for their ground-breaking technology that they’ve been rolling out in countries around the world.
Having founded See.Sense in Northern Ireland, at the start of 2024 Philip and Irene moved to the opposite side of the globe to re-settle in Brisbane, Australia.
Despite the big move, they still have a team working back in Northern Ireland and projects running in Europe, as well as new projects in Australia and elsewhere.
In this episode, you’ll learn more about their remarkable journey so far, plus hear an announcement about some exciting new technology they’re launching to expand the services that they can offer.

Links

Visit our Micromobility Report Podcast page to read the transcript of this episode and view more content.
Our Micromobility Report website contains hundreds of micromobility articles that we’ve published since launching in 2020. Subscribe to our free bi-monthly newsletter!
The Micromobility Report Podcast will entertain and inform you through conversations with change makers working in all aspects of micromobility across business, government, academia and advocacy.

Philip and Irene McAleese are the co-founders of <a href='https://seesense.cc/'>See.Sense</a>. Established in 2013 by Philip and Irene McAleese, See.Sense leverages advanced sensor and AI technology to make cycling and micromobility safer and smarter. Philip and Irene have won a string of prestigious international awards for their ground-breaking technology that they’ve been rolling out in countries around the world. Having founded See.Sense in Northern Ireland, at the start of 2024 Philip and Irene moved to the opposite side of the globe to re-settle in Brisbane, Australia. Despite the big move, they still have a team working back in Northern Ireland and projects running in Europe, as well as new projects in Australia and elsewhere. In this episode, you’ll learn more about their remarkable journey so far, plus hear an announcement about some exciting new technology they’re launching to expand the services that they can offer. LinksVisit our <a href='https://micromobilityreport.com.au/podcast/'>Micromobility Report Podcast</a> page to read the transcript of this episode and view more content. Our <a href='https://micromobilityreport.com.au/'>Micromobility Report website</a> contains hundreds of micromobility articles that we’ve published since launching in 2020. <a href='https://micromobilityreport.com.au/subscribe/'>Subscribe</a> to our free bi-monthly newsletter! The Micromobility Report Podcast will entertain and inform you through conversations with change makers working in all aspects of micromobility across business, government, academia and advocacy.

The Squeaky Wheel Podcast is here to inform and inspire through engaging conversations with changemakers shaping the future of active travel and urban mobility. Your hosts, Phil Latz and Irene McAleese, speak with leaders across business, government, academia, and advocacy, sharing insights and ideas that drive real-world impact.

Got something to squeak about? Get in touch with The Squeaky Wheel team via our website: squeakywheelpodcast.com

Follow The Squeaky Wheel on Facebook: facebook.com/squeakywheelpodcast

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The Squeaky Wheel Podcast&nbsp;is here to inform and inspire through engaging conversations with changemakers shaping the future of&nbsp;active travel and urban mobility. Your hosts, Phil Latz and Irene McAleese, speak with leaders across business, government, academia, and advocacy, sharing insights and ideas that drive real-world impact.
Got something to squeak about? Get in touch with The Squeaky Wheel team via our website: <a href="https://squeakywheelpodcast.com/">squeakywheelpodcast.com</a>
Follow The Squeaky Wheel on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/squeakywheelpodcast/">facebook.com/squeakywheelpodcast</a>
Follow The Squeaky Wheel on BlueSky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/squeaky-wheel.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/squeaky-wheel.bsky.social</a>

The Squeaky Wheel Podcast hosts, Phil Latz and Irene McAleese, are here to inform and inspire through engaging conversations with changemakers shaping the future of active travel and urban mobility

The Squeaky Wheel Podcast

See.Sense

Our guest this month is Wes Marshall, Author of the thought provoking book, “Killed by a Traffic Engineer.” This book has certainly ruffled feathers amongst some elements of the traffic engineer “establishment.” So much so that some state DOT’s (Departments of Transport) in the USA have banned the book from their libraries.

But that hasn’t stopped staff from those DOT’s creating unsanctioned discussion groups to study the book’s many revelations.

Irene talked with Wes in Perth just after he’d given his keynote address to the 2025 Australian Road Safety Conference in late October.

Wes Marshall, PhD, is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, where he holds a joint appointment in urban planning.

He plays a pivotal role as director of the university of Colorado's Human-Centered Transportation program and their Transportation Research Center. Wes is a licensed Professional Engineer and focuses on transportation teaching and research dedicated to creating safer and more sustainable transportation systems.

Wes, also has a podcast called Look Both Ways that he cohosts with David Zipper. During covid lockdown he wrote “Killed by a Traffic Engineer - Shattering the Delusion that Science Underpins the Transportation System”

You can find out more about Wes and subscribe to his newsletter via his website.

You can buy his book here.

We’d like to give special thanks to the organisers of the Australasian Road Safety Conference, including Elissa Lulan, who arranged a quiet room for the interview and kindly allowed us to display our Squeaky Wheel Podcast banner at the conference.

 

What’s Up?

One interesting story that we edited out of our “What’s Up?” segment for the sake of brevity, but you might like to look at, is this very demeaning to cyclists and tone deaf poster that Irene saw on the Transperth train that was taking her back to the airport at the end of the conference.

Irene’s post about this literally went viral:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7387447368486420480/

Phil spoke about the new Sea Otter Australia cycling festival that he attended. This is the first annual edition of huge, long-running Sea Otter cycling festivals held each year in the USA and Europe.

He also spoke about receiving and reading “Life After Cars”. If you haven’t yet heard about this excellent book, then please take a look.

Irene attended a webinar sharing the results of the new 2025 National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey.

She was then heading to Barcelona to speak at the Tomorrow Mobility World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Then to Hobart for the 2025 National Parks and Leisure Conference in Hobart, Tasmania before finishing her “conference blitz” at the ITS Australia Summit on the Gold Coast, Queensland. ITS stands for Intelligent Transport Systems.

Our guest this month is Wes Marshall, Author of the thought provoking book, &ldquo;Killed by a Traffic Engineer.&rdquo; This book has certainly ruffled feathers amongst some elements of the traffic engineer &ldquo;establishment.&rdquo; So much so that some state DOT&rsquo;s (Departments of Transport) in the USA have banned the book from their libraries.
But that hasn&rsquo;t stopped staff from those DOT&rsquo;s creating unsanctioned discussion groups to study the book&rsquo;s many revelations.
Irene talked with Wes in Perth just after he&rsquo;d given his keynote address to the 2025 Australian Road Safety Conference in late October.
Wes Marshall, PhD, is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, where he holds a joint appointment in urban planning.
He plays a pivotal role as director of the university of Colorado's Human-Centered Transportation program and their Transportation Research Center. Wes is a licensed Professional Engineer and focuses on transportation teaching and research dedicated to creating safer and more sustainable transportation systems.
Wes, also has a podcast called <a href="https://lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/">Look Both Ways</a> that he cohosts with David Zipper. During covid lockdown he wrote &ldquo;Killed by a Traffic Engineer - Shattering the Delusion that Science Underpins the Transportation System&rdquo;
You can find out more about Wes and subscribe to his newsletter via his <a href="https://www.wesmarshall.org/">website</a>.
You can buy his book <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Killed-Traffic-Engineer-Shattering-Transportation/dp/1642833304">here</a>.
We&rsquo;d like to give special thanks to the organisers of the <a href="https://australasianroadsafetyconference.com.au/">Australasian Road Safety Conference</a>, including Elissa Lulan, who arranged a quiet room for the interview and kindly allowed us to display our Squeaky Wheel Podcast banner at the conference.
&nbsp;
What&rsquo;s Up?
One interesting story that we edited out of our &ldquo;What&rsquo;s Up?&rdquo; segment for the sake of brevity, but you might like to look at, is this very demeaning to cyclists and tone deaf poster that Irene saw on the Transperth train that was taking her back to the airport at the end of the conference.
Irene&rsquo;s post about this literally went viral:
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7387447368486420480/">https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7387447368486420480/</a>
Phil spoke about the new&nbsp;<a href="https://rockytrailentertainment.com/events/sea-otter-australia/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22566475585&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD3qPrVBswDD-NcYHZKj31s8vvA3K&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAz_DIBhBJEiwAVH2XwD1s6Vamt8Pps1mu-qZIkzc_f7PkaWOBF0Ij2iqCqJ1z0AoDKImXMRoC3kAQAvD_BwE">Sea Otter Australia</a> cycling festival that he attended. This is the first annual edition of huge, long-running Sea Otter cycling festivals held each year in the USA and Europe.
He also spoke about receiving and reading &ldquo;<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Life-After-Cars-Ourselves-Automobile-ebook/dp/B0DTN9WM7R/ref=sr_1_1?crid=C2Y0WL6C82VI&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kfGDtsEqCFd1XMWoPUK3N6p4uzZEffGOTIxigKoRmDBi54T-7cfR908kpe-60GzkkccVN0W3wN8dF7IGdH5pnHWA0lvh5PsP17bKLekZKc2ZmkoPBtQMCrip-a6MBZy4FDgE71tOrpcK9TsMN_JKWeUxytWhs8kevsDWhnT6YXJDnWC4jt6xr1zNNkZZahvDZIdBR2U93PGYQdCbOQJut82ka80fEQrEm6MGYLD8uFfxdmwX69D6gW9ogMKx1INOeAwGMXcZgpsQ63dp5PFXj3EeUH_0Qut-faAyghMoHhg.llkIy_oD4v9n1O1q0fBScOLBaxUynGvx-vxV_NXPO1M&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=Life+After+Cars&amp;qid=1763502631&amp;sprefix=life+after+car%2Caps%2C218&amp;sr=8-1">Life After Cars</a>&rdquo;. If you haven&rsquo;t yet heard about this excellent book, then please take a look.
Irene attended a webinar sharing the results of the new <a href="https://www.cwanz.com.au/national-walking-and-cycling-participation-survey-2025/">2025 National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey</a>.
She was then heading to Barcelona to speak at the <a href="https://www.tomorrowmobility.com/events/smart-city-expo/">Tomorrow Mobility World Congress</a> in Barcelona, Spain. Then to Hobart for the <a href="https://parksleisure.com.au/event/2025-pla-national-conference/">2025 National Parks and Leisure Conference</a> in Hobart, Tasmania before finishing her &ldquo;conference blitz&rdquo; at the <a href="https://itsaustralia.eventsair.com/its-summit-2025/">ITS Australia Summit</a> on the Gold Coast, Queensland. ITS stands for Intelligent Transport Systems.

Our guest this month is Wes Marshall, Author of the thought provoking book, “Killed by a Traffic Engineer.” This book has certainly ruffled feathers amongst some elements of the traffic engineer “establishment.” 

Are we being killed by traffic engineers? Shocking revelations from Wes Marshall

After graduating with degrees in Geography and Environmental Engineering, Prue Oswin spent eight years as a water engineer before switching to active transport in 2009. 

Ever since then, Prue has been deeply involved in making her home region of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland a better place to walk and ride, especially for children. 

Prue began her career working within local government, then for a traffic engineering company. Later Prue set up her own consultancy that she ran for almost a decade. 

Recently she’s joined the Planning Institute of Australia as State Manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory.  

Prue wrote this very widely read article about her work, particularly highlighting evidence-based active transport planning and save independent travel for children, that we refer to extensively in our conversation. 

Two great quotes from Prue: 

“We don’t build our bridges where people are swimming across the river. Where people are too frightened to go, we’re not going to get traffic volumes data that tells us that.” 

“Having a road network without safe crossings is like having a Meccano set without the nuts!” 

Here is a link to the website of Carloine Criado Perez, author of the book Invisible Women, that Prue refers to in this episode. 

Prue refers to the Ride Score Program that has helped substantially increase the number of children riding to school. 

Prue uses CompassIOT data. “Cheaper, faster, evidence-based.” 

Prue talks about the ScootSchool program that she created for training young people about safe walking, riding and scooting. 

 

What’s Up? 

In our What’s Up Section, Irene spoke about the iMove grant that they’d just been awarded to conduct this important project. 

She also mentioned that Ride Score, a project that our guest Prue Oswin has interacted with in Queensland, that is run by We Ride Australia, has just won an iMove grant to expand into Perth, Western Australia. 

Irene gave a call to action for anyone wanting to report problems with their local infrastructure to use the See.Sense app and finally, she mentioned the See.Sense newsletter that is called Signals. 

After graduating with degrees in Geography and Environmental Engineering, Prue Oswin spent eight years as a water engineer before switching to active transport in 2009.&nbsp;
Ever since then, Prue has been deeply involved in making her home region of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland a better place to walk and ride, especially for children.&nbsp;
Prue began her career working within local government, then for a traffic engineering company. Later Prue set up her own consultancy that she ran for almost a decade.&nbsp;
Recently she&rsquo;s joined the Planning Institute of Australia as State Manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory. &nbsp;
Prue wrote <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-we-plan-way-5-years-evidence-based-active-transport-prue-oswin-xvezc/?trackingId=NFxoWzNSRbuVEbU66%2FH4mg%3D%3D">this very widely read article</a> about her work, particularly highlighting evidence-based active transport planning and save independent travel for children, that we refer to extensively in our conversation.&nbsp;
Two great quotes from Prue:&nbsp;
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t build our bridges where people are swimming across the river. Where people are too frightened to go, we&rsquo;re not going to get traffic volumes data that tells us that.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Having a road network without safe crossings is like having a Meccano set without the nuts!&rdquo;&nbsp;
Here is a link to the website of <a href="https://carolinecriadoperez.com/">Carloine Criado Perez</a>, author of the book Invisible Women, that Prue refers to in this episode.&nbsp;
Prue refers to the <a href="https://ridescore.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/">Ride Score Program</a> that has helped substantially increase the number of children riding to school.&nbsp;
Prue uses <a href="https://www.compassiot.com.au/">CompassIOT</a> data. &ldquo;Cheaper, faster, evidence-based.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Prue talks about the <a href="https://scootscool.com.au/">ScootSchool</a> program that she created for training young people about safe walking, riding and scooting.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
What&rsquo;s Up?&nbsp;
In our What&rsquo;s Up Section, Irene spoke about the iMove grant that they&rsquo;d just been awarded to conduct <a href="https://imoveaustralia.com/project/ai-powered-data-dashboard-for-cycling-safety-and-planning/">this important project</a>.&nbsp;
She also mentioned that Ride Score, a project that our guest Prue Oswin has interacted with in Queensland, that is run by We Ride Australia, has just won an <a href="https://imoveaustralia.com/project/ridescore-safe-cycling-routes-to-school/">iMove grant to expand into Perth</a>, Western Australia.&nbsp;
Irene gave a call to action for anyone wanting to report problems with their local infrastructure to use the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cc.seesense&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1">See.Sense app</a> and finally, she mentioned the See.Sense newsletter that is called <a href="https://seesense.cc/pages/signals-newsletter">Signals</a>.&nbsp;

Prue Oswin shares how she achieved better real world outcomes for safe children’s travel by first engaging with local communities. 

How Prue Oswin achieved better outcomes for safe children’s travel

We recorded this month’s episode at the National Transport Conference, that is run each year by the Transport Professionals Association. Both the conference and association have just been rebranded and relaunched by the organisation formerly known as the AITPM.

Both Irene and Phil headed to Adelaide for this year’s conference that ran from 3rd - 5th September. Phil attended as a guest of the TPA to record this podcast episode. We’d like to thank Kirsty Kelly and Erika Childs from the TPA, not just for their invitation but their wonderful hospitality at the conference.

In this episode, you’ll hear from the first two of the three keynote speakers that opened the conference each day. We’re also very happy to report that the third keynote presenter, Skye Duncan who is Executive Director of the Global Designing Cities Initiative, is also happy to join us on the Squeaky Wheel, but because this is already an extra-long episode, we thought it would be best to speak with Skye at a later date.

Our first guest, Lucy Saunders is a unique combination of public health specialist, urbanist and transport planner.

She has created the Healthy Streets Approach, an evidence based- framework for decision making at every level. Lucy works with organisations across the world adapting her approach to each context.

Lucy, who is based in the UK, has advised a wide range of major clients including the World Health Organisation and UK Government Departments for Transport and Health. She is a skilled and engaging presenter and teacher who has inspired and trained hundreds of practitioners, advocates and politicians around the world.

To find out more about Healthy Streets where you can also download their free tools and other excellent resources, please visit their website.

Giles Perkins, leads WSP’s Future Mobility team in the UK and has over 34 years’ experience in the futures, transportation planning, digital and intelligent transport sectors. He has worked in the public and private sectors as a senior client and director level consultant and has led major projects across all modes.

Giles is a recognised expert in the field of Future Mobility / Transport and Zero Emission Mobility. He is a strategic thinker with an in-depth appreciation of the challenges facing all modes of transport resulting from disruptors, both within the transportation realm and wider socio-economic changes which influence it.

Amongst many senior roles, Giles is a Board member of the National Centre for Accessible Transport in the UK.

What’s Up

Squeaky Wheel Podcast co-host Irene gave a presentation and took part in a panel discussion in her capacity as co-founder of See.sense.

She’s seen here answering a question with fellow panel members from left to right: Marko Bogicevic from BDO (obscured), James Edwards from Arup, John Bennett from Arup, former Squeaky Wheel Podcast guest Kylie Nixon from Arup and Tim Veitch from Veitch Lister Consulting.

It was lovely to catch up with Squeaky Wheel Podcast listener and longstanding advocate Peter Lumb in Adelaide. Amongst many activities, Peter was a co-founder and long time co-organiser of the Australian Walking and Cycling Conference.

Next month Irene will be heading to Perth, WA for the 2025 Australasian Road Safety Conference.

During the same week Phil will be heading to Batemans Bay, NSW for the first annual Sea Otter Australia that will be including a conference and trade expo.

We recorded this month&rsquo;s episode at the National Transport Conference, that is run each year by the Transport Professionals Association. Both the conference and association have just been rebranded and relaunched by the organisation formerly known as the AITPM.
Both Irene and Phil headed to Adelaide for this year&rsquo;s conference that ran from 3rd - 5th September. Phil attended as a guest of the TPA to record this podcast episode. We&rsquo;d like to thank Kirsty Kelly and Erika Childs from the TPA, not just for their invitation but their wonderful hospitality at the conference.
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll hear from the first two of the three keynote speakers that opened the conference each day. We&rsquo;re also very happy to report that the third keynote presenter, Skye Duncan who is Executive Director of the Global Designing Cities Initiative, is also happy to join us on the Squeaky Wheel, but because this is already an extra-long episode, we thought it would be best to speak with Skye at a later date.
Our first guest, Lucy Saunders is a unique combination of public health specialist, urbanist and transport planner.
She has created the Healthy Streets Approach, an evidence based- framework for decision making at every level. Lucy works with organisations across the world adapting her approach to each context.
Lucy, who is based in the UK, has advised a wide range of major clients including the World Health Organisation and UK Government Departments for Transport and Health. She is a skilled and engaging presenter and teacher who has inspired and trained hundreds of practitioners, advocates and politicians around the world.
To find out more about <a href="https://www.healthystreets.com/">Healthy Streets</a> where you can also download their free tools and other excellent resources, please visit their website.
Giles Perkins, leads WSP&rsquo;s Future Mobility team in the UK and has over 34 years&rsquo; experience in the futures, transportation planning, digital and intelligent transport sectors. He has worked in the public and private sectors as a senior client and director level consultant and has led major projects across all modes.
Giles is a recognised expert in the field of Future Mobility / Transport and Zero Emission Mobility. He is a strategic thinker with an in-depth appreciation of the challenges facing all modes of transport resulting from disruptors, both within the transportation realm and wider socio-economic changes which influence it.
Amongst many senior roles, Giles is a Board member of the National Centre for Accessible Transport in the UK.
What&rsquo;s Up
Squeaky Wheel Podcast co-host Irene gave a presentation and took part in a panel discussion in her capacity as co-founder of See.sense.
She&rsquo;s seen here answering a question with fellow panel members from left to right: Marko Bogicevic from BDO (obscured), James Edwards from Arup, John Bennett from Arup, former Squeaky Wheel Podcast guest Kylie Nixon from Arup and Tim Veitch from Veitch Lister Consulting.
It was lovely to catch up with Squeaky Wheel Podcast listener and longstanding advocate Peter Lumb in Adelaide. Amongst many activities, Peter was a co-founder and long time co-organiser of the Australian Walking and Cycling Conference.
Next month Irene will be heading to Perth, WA for the 2025 Australasian Road Safety Conference.
During the same week Phil will be heading to Batemans Bay, NSW for the first annual Sea Otter Australia that will be including a conference and trade expo.

We recorded this month’s episode at the National Transport Conference, that is run each year by the Transport Professionals Association.  In this episode, you’ll hear from the first two of the three keynote speakers that opened the conference each day.

See.Sense

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