YarraBUG

Once again recording from lounge rooms, kitchen tables and homes across Melbourne, Val and Faith are joined in their virtual studio by Jenica Brooke and Moses Chitima for this edition of the Yarra BUG Radio Show.We all share our bicycle moments before moving on to the subject ofd the day; the upcoming Bicycle Network Board elections. Jenica and Moses both introduce themselves, share a little about themselves and their cycling lives and talk about why they want to be elected to the Bicycle Network Board and why you should vote for them. 

On this weeks 3CR program produced at home due to COVID19 restrictions with one of our talented cats as producer, Chris talks to Juliet Hall and Helen McDonald from The Merri Creek Bridge Group about their story getting a new bridge built between Northcote and Brunswick, what they learnt along the way, getting Darebin and Moreland councils to listen to community concerns and importantly, getting a positive (and built!) outcome that supports local active transport.Local news includes another positive outcome with Yarra Council voting (15 September 2020 Meeting minutes, this is the link to download the pdf) to proceed with 12 month trials with Elizabeth Street protected bicycle lanes in Richmond and the Park Street contra-flow to relieve pressure off the nearby Capital City Trail in Carlton / Fitzroy North during and after Stage 4 restrictions, local bike shops being able to reopen and the Walmer Street Bridge Coalition starting another petition (Change.org: It's time to

Coming to you from lounge rooms and kitchen tables across the country this week's edition of the Yarra BUG Radio Show features significantly less barking dogs than some past episodes. Val and Faith are joined by Jorja Creighton, to talk about prioritizing joy, creating space for everyone without patronizing them to death and the very awesome sounding Super Jambo Grom Pre coming up in November. 

On this weeks 3CR program produced at home due to Stage 4 lockdown, Chris talks to Philip Mallis about his article written for people new to cycling (My advice for people who are new to riding bikes during COVID-19) Philip was interviewed earlier this year about journey planning for new & intending riders during COVID-19.News includes a 8-bit homage to Tour de France it's final week, watching SBS Cycling Central and the online entertainment of #couchpeloton, #sbstdf, #toursnacks, #fieldart, #tourcats and #tourdogs.Other news includes the gradual lifting of Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne with two hours exercise allowed per day, a transcription excerpt of Premier highlights pandemic need to remake our streets and urban areas and how you can support City of Yarras Making Space projects (Elizabeth Street bicycle lane, Park Street bicycle projects, Centre median on Nicholson Street, Abbotsford) by making your submission or question to the Council Meeting by

Val and Faith are back on Zoom recording from garden sheds and kitchens across the suburbs in Melbourne's stage four restrictions. We kick off the show with our bicycle moments which this week focus on finding the small joys within our tiny 5km worlds, before we take a look at some news.We wonder out loud what the changes to Melbourne Metropolitan's Stage four restrictions will be, you can check out the most recent iteration here; we mention the shocking 'spear tackle' of Korey Penny riding his bike  on St KIida Rd and remind listeners about the importance of their feedback about the Elizabeth Street separated bike lane. Faith talks about the application by Bunnings to build a store in Glenlyon Rd Brunswick and the problems a proposed del]velopment like this can cause when it doesn't take into account established bicycle networks and the impact of the traffic they plan to generate on those networks. If you use Glenlyon RD to get to Brunswick Secondary College, RMIT, Brunswick Baths, S

On this weeks iso-recorded-at-home program Chris chats to Zoë McMaster who shares her observations of being involved with Healthy Streets Approach, managed by UK transport charity Sustrans and funded by Transport for London.Healthy Streets approach assists local boroughs (equivalent of Australian councils and shires) to deliver, advocate and assist in local active travel projects and provide extra resources working with communities during and after COVID19 lockdown.Local news includes City of Melbourne announcing Little Streets, (Flinders Lane, Little Collins, Little Bourke, Little Lonsdale) and a new Vic Health survey (Footpaths & bike lanes key to active travel post coronavirus) revealing three in four (76%) Victorians want local and state governments to adapt infrastructure so more people can walk or ride.Quote: VicHealth Executive Manager of Programs Kirstan Corben said it was encouraging to see councils create environments that promote walking and riding for both transport and recreation. “Since the

In this episode of the Yarra BUG Radio Show recorded remotely from lounge rooms, kitchens and studies across Melbourne during Lockdown 2.0 Val and Faith are joined by our guest Norsham Husaini. We all share our bike moments, and discover a mutal dislike of #burbing, before we move on to talk about the videos Norsham has been producing during lockdown. Norsham's videos are Q&A sessions with friends around the globe, recorded separatley while both he and his interviewee are riding their bikes, and then edited together by Norsham. We talk about the effect riding has onloosening ourminds, as people ponder their responses and the thoughtfulness it evokes in both interviewees and listeners and the surprises that come out of this. You can check out Norsham's videos via his intagram account @norshamhusaini or on You Tube. We finish with a small digression about wattle and cycling and a reminder that the Tour de France is coming up. 

On this weeks program recorded in the front room, Chris chats to Luke Poland from Sustrans about the recent Bicycle Network webinar,  Learnings from London: How active travel can drive lockdown recovery.Local news includes City of Melbourne gaining Department of Transport support for fast-tracking 40km of seperated bike lanes to help active transport during and post COVID-19 pandemic and how you can support the ongoing Yarra Making Space initiative, including the Park Street contra flow bicycle lanes to ease the crowded Linear Park Trail in Fitzroy and Carlton North and the temporary Elizabeth Street seperated bike lanes in Richmond.Luke discusses actions taken in London to improve physical distancing with active transport, how UK transport authorities differ in regards to positive working collaborations when compared to here in Victora, how UK walking and cycling advocates have a greater impact, work done by Tactical Urbanistas to brighten up urban spaces and even what you can do during the Me

This week's remotely recorded show produced in lockdown from lounge rooms and kitchen tables around Melbourne features Kat Carter as our guest. Kat Carter is a Melbourne physiotherapist and cyclist and we've had her on the show a couple of times to talk about the things that happen to your body on the bicycle, good AND bad. This time, we thought we'd focus on indoor cycling, with so many of you spending so much time riding indoors during lockdown. Kat talks about bike set up, what are the differences for your body and its movement compared to outdoor riding and what to keep an eye out for as well as what to enjoy! Kat has recently moved and can be found at Kat Carter Physio when she isn't talking to us! 

On this weeks program, Chris speaks to Alice Prior from Parent's Voice about their recent poll that found 94 per cent of Australian parents support greater government investment in infrastructure so parents and children can safely walk, cycle and scoot to school. We chat about the things anyone can do to improve moving about their suburb and future changes needed for happier, healthy communities.Cycling-themed news: Victoria deals with the heartbreak and complexities of Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions until mid September, while in better news, Boris Johnsons UK government recently launched a £2 billion package for cycling and walking, which includes 150 miles of protected cycle track, bicycles to be prescribed on the NHS and more.

Faith and Val are recording from home again duirng Melbourne's Lockdown 2.0. In this episode of the Yarra BUG Radio Show we share our bike moments before heading back in time to inner city Sydney of the 1970s. Our guest this week is Warren Salomon, publisher of Freewheeling Magazine. Freewheeling Magazine was published between 1977 and 1989 and Warren describes how not only did the magazine doument the bike politics and bike tours of the day but how most of those involved with the magazine were actively engaged in  trying to change the world! We talk about the Geelong Bike Plans, Alan Parker, touring routes across Australia, the representation of women in the magazine and the transition from a 'lefty' passion project to a commercial publication. Check out digitised Freewheeling Magazine issues here and the Freewheeling archive on instagram. 

Due to Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions we are returning to recording remote (under cat supervision) but still broadcasting on 3CR! This week Chris bails up Steve to discuss his latest tubeless wheelset acquisition and an introduction to if tubeless tyres are a feasible option for commuters & off road riding. Local news includes the global increase in cycling due to COVID-19 with The Humble Bicycle on Rear Vision (Radio National), make your feedback to Your Say Yarra (Making Space in Yarra) for a new bike lane for Park Street, Fitzroy North and Possible temporary closure of Trenerry Crescent, Clifton Hill.This weeks interview is with David Blom from Metro East Bicycle User Group with a catch up about the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail project, including AECOM consultants report and Metro East BUGs feedback to the process to improve existing and new connections including Ringwood to Croydon and the Main Yarra Trail. David mentions that shared paths in south

Val and Faith are back producing the program remotely from two different suburbs. This week's program is a patchwork of cycling and we kick off as usual with a reading from Val and our bike moments. Val is enjoying bike moments in his local park while Faith's rides through the Wombat forest have been marred by news of mining exploration there. If you enjoy the serenity then consider this petition to stop the mining. We take a quick look at local news including the Covid19 response from Moreland Council last week approving $2.4 million of pedestrian and cycling projects. This week Faith managed to catch up with Anthony Aisenberg of CrowdSpot about the BikeSpot 2020 project. Now that the 2020 data collection project has finished Anthony takes us through some of the key findings and why data on perceptions of safety amongst cyclists is so useful. You can take a look at the final project report here or check out the interactive map here. We finish up with a literary interlude from Val.  

Since April 2020 YarraBUG Radio has done a series of interviews on supporting safe movement for active travel and public health initiatives due to the COVID19 epidemic including Cr Rohan Leppert (City of Melbourne), Cr Jackie Fristacky (Yarra City Council), Dan Kneipp, CEO (Amy Gillett Foundation), Sam Hibbins MP (Victorian Greens Transport spokeperson), Megan Sharkey and Dr Ben Beck about #SpaceForHealth and Philip Mallis offer to assist riders plan their journeys. On todays program, Chris and Steve conduct a critique on Yarra City Councils meeting on 23 June 2020 about their COVID-19 Response Trials for a proposed fast rollout of trial vehicle diversions, bike lane extensions and walking circuits. Please feel free to provide additional feedback and make a useful nuisance of yourself at Making Space in Yarra.At their July meeting, Moreland Council are considering additional infrastructure due to COVID19 concerns. Read minutes here regarding ite

On this weeks program Chris returns to the 3CR studio after a looooong time away recording in the front room under the supervision of several cats. News includes Yarra City Councils COVID19 Response Trials location and concept plans, Leisure and Walking Circuits, Carlton North LAPM Scheme Draft Recommendations and the speedy delivery of temporary seperated bicycle lanes on Elizabeth Street, Richmond.Moreland Bicycle Users Group are asking for public support on a failed promise to construct seperated infrastructure on Cumberland Street (scroll down for newsletter), Pascoe Vale and more Yarra City Council news with upgrade works for Gipps St /Collins Bridge that could be a mess if not correctly sign posted as earthworks are occuring at Walmer Street Bridge just around the corner.This weeks guest is Cr Rohan Leppert, we discuss City of Melbourne plans to fast-track the delivery of 40 kilometres of bike lanes to help people travel safely and support city businesses to recov

Read here History Ride      The Man with Rubber Pedals makes a return as do the tactics of the NYPD in regards to the bicycle. One as a target of confiscation, the other an armour-plated battering ram.   I have uploaded a copy of a CM ride from 2003. Melbourne's Hidden History. Many thanks to Justin Mansfield for a copy, not much has changed.    Photo  Tawntime in Lightfootlaund  Don Ash   #dogsofburnleypark. 

On this weeks program Chris talks to Cr Jackie Fristacky (Yarra City Council) and Dan Kneipp, CEO (Amy Gillett Foundation).Jackie Fristacky discusses what actions Yarra Council are doing to support active transport and local businesses during COVID19 including pop-ups for businesses and potential changed use of Park Street in Carlton North to ease pressure on the Capital City Trail/Linear Park. Watch the upcoming Yarra Council meeting on 23 June 2020 for a officers report update.As the new AGF CEO, Dan Kneipp speaks about #TempBikeLanes campaign, supporting cycling initiatives during and beyond COVID19 ("No Lycra in sight: Why more women aren't cycling or walking"), AGFs recent youGov survey results ("Almost nine-in-10 Australians support pop up bike lane plan"), his observations on Australian cycling advocacy and responding to criticism of the foundation.  It's 3CR June Station Appeal time: we know many of you are doing it tough. So this call-out for donations is for those

On this weeks show Chris talks to Sam Hibbins, member for Prahran and Victorian Greens Transport spokeperson, about immediate need for new cycling infrastructure, funding and building a safe bike network that creates jobs and supports physical distancing during the COVID19 pandemic as part of the Green New Deal.  As cities across the world quickly  implement cycling infrastructure, the Victorian state government continues to do nothing, despite a massive boom with cycling across Australia.News includes VicRoads Sydney Road report that illustrates that users support parking removal for protected bicycle lanes, the report was made public after a Freedom of Information request by The Age, The Conversation: Coronavirus is a ‘sliding doors’ moment. What we do now could change Earth’s trajectory and Sensible Transport Institute "Keeping public transport safe under COVID-19 restrictions" as the threat of COVID-19 has caused the largest shift in travel behaviour in living memory.

This weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group program is from our front room again in response to the COVID-19 crisis, on this weeks edition, Chris and Steve discuss two recent passings, first up with the legacy of vehicular cycling advocate John Forester and Kraftwerk founding member Florian Schneider, known for his massive influence upon music and dedication to cycling.Chris does a follow up on last fortnights interview with Dr Ben Beck about #SpaceForHealth, this week with Megan Sharkey, we discuss about responses from City of Melbourne (Car parks out, footpaths and cycling lanes in as city prepares for post-COVID commuters) and Yarra City Council (video link: 24 minute mark 9.1: Physical Distancing and Public Space Opportunities), the recent announcement by NSW government (More cycleways, streets to shut, footpaths widened under NSW's COVID-19 plan), restrictions and limitations upon what councils can implement, overseas examples and what people can do to support Space for Health campaign

We take a look at indoor cycling and the software that enhances it. Why it's so popular during Covid19 restrictions and how it works to keep your social life alive and what you need to get set up.