YarraBUG

On this weeks program Chris catches up with one of our regular guests, Dr John Symons from BikeWest, about ongoing safety issues for bicycle riders with Dynon Road, Footscray Road, the Westgate Tunnel Project and if the Victorian Government will act upon 56 recommendations contained in Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee: Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users. The final report was tabled on 1 May 2024 and to directly quote, 'The Government has six months to respond to the report from the tabling date"We discuss Brett Wallace's incident on Dynon Road, as reported by Rhiana Whitson ABC 7.30 (Cycling safety warnings ignored – until tragedy happened), Angus Collins death in February 2023, BikeWest advocates forcing the authorities to act via FOIs, ongoing WTG safety issues, a lack of safe systems in road design and the right to public life regardless if people drive a car or not.News includes 87th Melbourne Cup on Wheels, Cezary and Leo returning to naarm

 Val chats to Nic Dow on the recent councils, the birth of Streetspeoplelove and unreasonable people.

On this week program Chris talks to Charlotte George, Greens candidate for MacKillop Ward in Yarra Council. We discuss the last week of local council elections in Victoria and the importance posting your ballot by 6pm Friday October 2024. Topics include Streets People Love candidate scorecards, public accessibility, footpaths, public transport, connectivity, living in a car-obsessed society and the importance of providing alternatives from local councils.Charlotte talks about being a filmmaker, activist and local parent, her new black comedy Buried, about a terrible day of parenting with a unfortunate cyclist as a plot point, of which in a better world, wouldn't exist with more modal filters, slower speeds and protected infrastructure. She discusses safer streets, creative thinking needed in all levels of government, being involved in local community, Harrison Watts and Katie Patrick collab for a vision of Johnston Street, Hobart City Council Collins Street bike lane trial, public debates going to the outlier

On todays program Chris catches up with Anthony Aisenberg about the BikeSpot project that contributes valuable data that can inform future cycling infrastructure improvements across Australia. We discuss BikeSpot history, expanding nationally, the last 12 months, the collapse of Amy Gillett Foundation, BikeSpot National, NSW and Greater Bendigo reports, interactive archive, key findings, Upfield shared path, St Kilda protected lanes, changing road use, accessibility, BikeSpot as tool for evidence based research, funding arrangements and future plans. We discuss Critical Mass Sydney Road, this months 2024 Victorian Council Elections, along with the Streets People Love candidate scorecards, and local news includes Critical Mass North, 5.30pm, State Library, Friday 25 October 2024.Program musicThe Bike Song, Anecdata

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Geoff Smart from Back2Bikes including St Kilda protected lanes, council elections and his recent observations of riding in Copenhagen. Geoff talks about recent activities at Back2Bikes, volunteers, working with over fifty community partners, community pop up bike services, donating, refurbishing bikes and a recent article, Sustainability Victoria: Guide to running a bicycle repair and recyclers program. We talk about Nature-Fest on the Birrarung, free bike tune-ups at South Melbourne Market, courses, workshops, Women’s Introductory Bicycle Maintenance Classes and general tips to stop bike theft.A major challenge for Back2Bikes is finding a new home due to planned redevelopment of 525 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne. Please get in contact with Back2Bikes if you know of a suitable location and long term leasehold.Local news includes spring has sprung, it's time for a Critical Mass! Critical Mass Sydney Road, meeting 5pm, State Library, Thursday 26th September 2024 g

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Dr Elliot Fishman of the Institute for Sensible Transport. We share our bike moments before taking at brief look at some local news. The Amy Gillett Foundation has been resurrected with an unfortunate focus on distracting flashing lights for riders, and nominations are open for local council elections, check the Streets People Love campaign to see who is running in your area and how they stand up for active transport. Elliot was one of five researchers who worked on the AustRoads research report Prioritising Active Transport, which focuses on interventions to grow active transport and reduce incentives to use cars, and evaluates the effectiveness of various measures aimed at increasing the walking and cycling mode share. Elliot takes us through some of the key points from the comprehensive report, includinng those ingterventions which are most effective, and those that aren't. We also look at how interventions work together to be effective. To read the full report or

On this weeks program, Chris talks to Alice Humble about her families journey riding a Urban Arrow cargobike in Ballarat, Wadawurrung Country, you can follow Alice's adventures on Life on a Cargo Bike. Alice talks about being a mum and teacher, cues for deciding to buy a cargobike, keeping a daily exercise routine, having kids, starting off with a bike trailer, trying out e-cargobike options, retaining the ride to work, dealing with the school drop-off, what needs to happen to make the school zone safer, having a less stressful journey, better interactions with her children, being inspired by school streets in Paris, better parking enforcement, slower speed limits around school zones, reducing fatalities due to speed, safe cycling infrastructure for everyone, learning about cargobikes, carrying stuff, positive impact on the household budget, why can't Australian governments pivot to supporting ebikes similar to electric vehicles and new opportunities to making commutes enjoyable. Program musicMonkey, Bicycle

Faith and Val are joined in the studio on yet another epically windy morning by Mathieu Cadet of Port Phillip Bicycle User Group. We all share our bike moments, before taking a quick look at some news including an update on the La Trobe Street bike lane which appears to have re-opened and the start of Women's Health Week. After the break discussion turns to Port Phillip BUG and why they have joined the Streets People Love campaign. Streets People Love is a statewide campaign supporting and promoting the efforts of local government to create safe and pleasant streets for people to live, work, play and move in.  Mathieu fills us in why it is so important that residents in Port Phillip think about the candidates they will vote for at upcoming Council elections and how he believed Streets People Love will help them to do this with respect to their support for the safe streets residnets often say they want. The recent state government report for the Port Phillip covid pop-up bike lanes showed overwhelming support

On todays show Chris catches up with Cezary and Leo aka Two Birders Two Bikes One School, who previously had a chat on 3CR back January 2024. They talk about starting their 15,000km journey along the east coast, combining birding and bike packing, a side quest to Tasmania, then central Australia, birding in Timor-Leste, the fight for independence, raising funds for a school, what barriers school kids face, meeting with Dulce de Jesus Soares and José Ramos-Horta, returning to Melbourne to continue their fundraising ride.Local news includes Better Streets: Streets for People: How Yarra’s 30 km/h zone can grow across Melbourne event being sold out, so hopefully it will be recorded by Streets Alive Yarra, the escooter debate across Victoria: Victorian Premier hopes council will have 'change of heart' over hire e-scooter ban, The Age: Northern mayors flag e-scooter republic in swerve to avoid Melbourne City’s ban, Critical Mass Sydney Road on 26 September and a screening of Motherload at Bargoonga Nganjin, North F

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Yana Lim of Bite Sized Rides. We all share our bike moments before touching on some local news including; City of Melbourne candidates already eyeing off protected bike lanes just in case it garners a few votes, and Bicycle Network calling for volunteers and donations for Streets People Love, a new campaign leading in to the 2024 Council elections. Yana Lim tells us all about how and why she started Bite Sized Rides, a community for people of colour in Melbourne who share bike rides and lunches. She touches on the importance of feeling comfortable and safe and the power of community to deliver lots of firsts; first ride, first overnighter, first aurora borealis! While only a new group she has built a strong community and has plans for the coming spring and summer. Get in touch at Bite Sized Rides if you'd like to know more. 

On this weeks show Chris chats to Anna from The Growing Cycle - Bicycle Gardeners in northside Naarm / Melbourne about getting started, reusing products, reducing environmental impacts, developing garden food production, using cargo bikes, people's responses, carrying tools, logistics, gaining experience about bikes from being a exchange student in Copenhagen, creating community through peoples gardens, gardening services, #carryshitolympics and having fun through gardening and riding.Local news includes a retrogressive attitude towards e-scooters in the lead up October 2024 council elections, especially statements made by Nicholas Reece and Arron Wood, onto more positive events like Streets for People: How Yarra’s 30 km/h zone can grow across Melbourne on Wednesday 28 August 2024 and a film screening of Motherload at Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library on Sunday 1 September 2024Program musicCycling is fun, Shonen KnifeAmulet, FakearBicycle Song, Live Fashion

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Harrison Watt about the local campaign for protected bicycle lanes on Johnston Street, Collingwood. Bicycle-themed news includes Grace Brown taking out Australia's first gold medal and a new GCN video (or is it documentary) Carspiracy - You’ll Never See The World The Same Way Again.Harrison recounts his experiences riding on Johnston Street, getting feedback, creating the change.org petition which has achieved 3,500 signatures, Johnston Street being a great east-west connector through the inner north for active transport, despite it currently being a 'stroad' with five lanes for traffic, people wanting to ride more, key findings from the recent Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users and his decision to stand as a candidate in the upcoming October council electionsHarrison discusses recents developments including meeting with the office of Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Public and Active transport and Victorian Department of Tran

We're having a little winter hiatus so here's three episodes of the excellent Step Away From The Car thanks to Nicky Page and Radio AdelaideFirst up: Global Lessons Local Opportunities: the 2021 Australian Walking and Cycling Conference wrapped up with a panel of keynote speakers, sharing some key lessons around funding, partnerships and public health. Dr Meredith Glaser is Director of the Urban Cycling Institute at the University of Amsterdam, Dr Dr Helen Donovan is from the City of Adelaide and Director of Walking SA, and Fiona Campbell is Manager of Cycling Strategy at the City of Sydney. The Case for Micromobility: Jerryn Zwart from Zwart Transport Planning and Shifani Sood from WSP are two urban planners calling for smarter planning for the growing number of better micromobility vehicles. Including, but not only, e-scooters and e-bikes.Pathways to Change: Electric cars are a helpful but completely inadequate step towards reducing Australia’s carbon emissions. We need to take a step AWAY from private cars

Faith and Val are joined in the studio today by Andrew Gannon, father of Ruby Roseman-Gannon, one of the Australian cyclists selected for the road racing at the Paris Olympics. First we all share our bike moments, wherein Melburn Roobaix featured, before moving on to some news. We are thrilled to announce that thanks to so many wonderful listeners we blew the fundraising goal set for us this year out of the water! 3CR asked us to raise $1400 but thanks to you we raised $2157 towards keeping 3CR on the air for another year. Thank you to everyone who donated, we really appreciate it, especially when times are tough for so many.In less thrilling news a section of the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail is out of action over three weeks. Thereare detours in place but depending on where you are coming from or trying to get to an alternative route altogether may work best for you. Find all the details about the closure in place until July 24th here. The City of Melbourne is consulting on improvements to Queensberry Street whi

On this weeks program Chris introduces another segment from Step Away From The Car 2.0 and discusses local news including Made Australia show at DISC (see bikes of naarm), Melburn Roobaix - Hell of the Northcote, Tour de France 2024, and some good news for a change, including Darebin Council voting for a modal filter trial on South Crescent, Northcote, and from Streets Alive Glen Eira, news about a proposed protected, on-road, bi-directional bike lane on Queens Avenue, potentially connecting the Frankston and Djerring Trails.Local news includes Have your say on City of Melbourne’s draft design plan for greener and better connected riding lanes on Queensberry Street by 5pm Thursday 8 August, bicycle repair stations finally being installed in Yarra, Micromobility Report article on Yarra Council expanded 30km/h trial, two Melbourne Moves studies, Beyond the traffic jam and Shifting Gears, Paris to Transition to Cargo Bike Delivery During and After Olympic Games, Trove cycling highlight and briefly touching upon

Val and Faith are joined in the stuio on a stunning winter's morning by April Drage of Curve Cycling. We share our bike moments before taking a brief look at some news including; Swanston St closure affecting bike riders,  consultation on the Route 86 accessible tram stops as well as new handy bike tool stands spotted around the City of Yarra. In Radiothon news we have met our target a week early! Thanks to everyone who donated, we know its a hard time for many people to find the extra money and really appreciate that you have! Talk turns to a new Curve bikepacking party April has devised, the Dirty Valda Bikepacking Quest. April created the Dirty Valda route as a spirited ride from Melbourne to Adelaide that can provide a challenge to experienced bikepackers while also being accessible to those with less experience.Leaving Melbourne on September 7th the ride is named after the formidable Valda Unthank and covers over 1200kms and April will be running information sessions covering topics such as navigation, b

On this weeks show Chris catches up with Pierre Vairo from Bike West about the seemingly intractable issue of either communicating or providing safe, fit for purpose active transport infrastructure for western suburbs residents, especially with images from last week where Moonee Ponds Creek trail users were forced to navigate between the flooded path and creek.Local news includes The Cargo Revolution Premiere on Wednesday 10th July 2024, a documentary about cargo bikes in Melbourne, the new Grattan Street protected bike lanes in Carlton, recent European city initiatives to decrease speeds in urban areas and what you can do to support 30km/h in Yarra. (google docs link)We discuss the Westgate Tunnel closing down alternate routes, WTG Veloway, the yet unopened 'Rainbow Bridge' over the North Melbourne railyards, Angus Collins' preventable death in February 2023, the never ending saga of the Federation Trail, two recent incidents on Dynon Road, a hit run incident last week, Joseph Road Precinct Action Group advo

On this weeks radiothon program Steve, Val and Chris are in the studio, first up Val starts with a Tony Staley quote then moving on to our bike moments.News and events include New York reneging on congestion pricing, Bite Sized Rides: Road Safety 101, Route 86 Tram stop consultation now live, Wondercross Social Gravel Ride on Friday 14 June, Curve Cycling rides, also check our site for more ride/route ideas, Rob Arnolds Ride Media article: Man struck by car while riding and Val's annual Mulga Bill's Bicycle orationSince 2008 Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio has broadcast on 3CR in naarm Melbourne, shared hundreds of bike moments, spoken to countless guests, interviews, rides, cycling events, alongside raising awareness about campaigns and advocacy you simply won't hear anywhere else in mainstream mediaYou can donate right here!

On this weeks program we have a very short intro due to Chris losing her voice, but never fear, let's kick off Radiothon time at 3CR and Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio needs your support!Celebrate everything you love about riding your bike and supporting active transport by making a donation by 30 June 2024. No donation is too small, like most of the best things in life, small efforts add up to radical changes! All donations over $2 are tax deductible Since 2008 Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio has broadcast on 3CR in naarm Melbourne, shared hundreds of bike moments, spoken to countless guests, interviews, rides, cycling events, alongside raising awareness about campaigns and advocacy you simply won't hear anywhere else in mainstream mediaDonate right here!Thank you to Nicky Page from Radio Adelaide for the Step Away from the Car seriesKidical Mass: Children want to ride bikes to get around independently. All the research confirms this, and it is the driving goal of a growing movement called Kidical Mass.  It

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Andy White of Fyxo fame. After reminiscing a bit about the old days, talk turns to the final weekend in June, traditionally Melburn Roobaix weekend. Andy talks about the first ever Melburn Roobaix, the way the event has evolved and the amazing community of people it brings together every year while Val and Faith reminiscence about Roobaixs, a nd costumes, they have enjoyed in the past. (And if you're inspired by Andy's suggestion of a Mad Max theme then check out this recipe for a DIY rust look bike frame)This year Roobaix weekend has grown to a Weekend of Wheels and kicks off on the Friday with Made.Australia. The Australian debut of the Made handmade bike show featuring over fifty exhibitors at DISC in Darebin is paired with the Bicycles Roadshow, an opportunity to drag your special bike out of the closet and bring it into the light. Tune in to hear all about Andy's Weekend of Wheels and don't forget, the 3CR Radiothon kicks off in June and we need your donations to