YarraBUG

Faith and Val kick off the show with their usual bike  moments before taking a look at some news. Riders following the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride route leave Fremantle, you can catch up with the IPWR Dot Watchers here, while in Victoria the inaugral Gariwerd Wonderland was also underway. It seems timely to remind ourselves of some research from a few years ago into the phenomenon of bikelash. It describes bike lanes as ‘sponges for a sea of latent cultural and economic anxieties’, a very apt description of what seems to be going on in the current campaign against the City of Melbourne bike lanes. And a reminder to give your feedback via the survey on the Draft Yarra Transport Strategy. Tune into Chris's program from last week for an interview about the strategy with Streets Alive Yarra. We talk about French Island, in Westernport Bay, and how it makes for a great weekend of sand and gravel riding, accessible via train or bike  and combinations of the two. And just a heads up at he end that the Handmade Bicycle

Chris talks to regular Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio guest, Jeremy Lawrence from Streets Alive Yarra about Moving Forward: Yarra Councils draft Transport Strategy 2022. Local news includes rising petrol prices having impacts on just about everything and criticism about City of Melbournes bicycle infrastructure not getting the expected audienceWe discuss the draft Transport Strategy, how it aligns with best practice, community engagement survey (at same link) that closes on 11th April 2022, changing transport demands in the Yarra area, how this strategy supersedes prior council strategies, improved emphasis about riding to school, benchmarks and how to support the draft strategy so the 15 policies can be adopted, then a action plan developed then budget allocation can commence"Melbourne's population will grow to 8 million by 2050, and Yarra's transport network needs to adapt. We have limited space, and we need to consider the needs of our diverse community, including pedestrians, cyclists, and public transpo

On this weeks program, Chris catches up with Tina from the St Kilda Bike Kitchen collective who aim to grow and support a vibrant and welcoming community where anyone can learn to build, maintain and repair bicycles. We chat about how STBK got started in the St Kilda and Elwood area, currently based at Alma Road Community House, community building, sustainability, reusing resources, supporting active transport options and infrastructure, assisting people with basic bicycle repairs and their upcoming pop-up bike checks sessions. Follow St Kilda Bike Kitchen via instagram and twitterNews includes a musical interlude with Scottish-based sound artist SOKi, Boroondara Council Bike Strategy, how you can keep supporting City of Melbourne seperated bicycle lane initiatives, Friday Night By Bike Geelong next event on 11 March and blasttheory's #MelbourneCalling: Rider Spoke at ACMI, Wednesday 2 March - Sunday 6 March 2022.

Faith and Val wrestle some studio gremlins this morning before sharing bike moments including discovering an 1890s photo of your great grandmother with her bicycle. In local news we mention the World Naked Bike Ride that returned to Melbourne streets last weekend, and the first ever women's Melbourne to Warnambool race also held on the weekend together with the men's race.We remind those who ride in Moreland to have their say on the pop-up bike lanes being trialled there.  And share details of a Cycling and the Federal Election webinar, watch the recording of it here! 

On this weeks program Chris chats to Zuleka Chan, Brook Clinton, Simone Annis about the innovative Canberra Electric Bike Library, operated by SEE-Change, Switched on Cycles and supported by the ACT Government. Zuleka, Brooke and Simone talk about how the lending library was started, providing people an option to try before they buy, developing the process, insurance, researching peoples needs including feedback and data, ongoing operations including Open Library Thursdays, interest from other local governments and providing a low impact alternative transport option for Canberra residents.Local news includes Rider Spoke at ACMI where participates can go on a bike ride around Melbourne in search of the perfect place to hide a secret, in this reflective and immersive experience. Rider Spoke runs from Wednesday 2 March to Sunday 6 March 2022

Faith and Val are back in the studio for the first time since ..... a long time! We managed to work out what all these dials and sliders were for and welcome Michael Oxer as our guest, to chat about the City of Yarra Active Transport Advisory Committee and the opportunities to improve opportunities to move around Yarra for everyone. We also mention the fundraising to support a rail trail from Castlemaine to Maryborough, sign the petition of donate here! 

On this weeks program Chris and Steve attempt to tackle the huge topic of 'bike shaped objects' and barely scratch (align?) the topic. We discuss low-end bikes from an Australian perspective, referring to Aaron Gordons recent Motherboard article: Mechanics Ask Walmart, Major Bike Manufacturers to Stop Making and Selling ‘Built-to-Fail’ Bikes, Mac Liman's Petition to end the manufacture and sale of built-to-fail budget bicycles (google docs), recent ABC series War on Waste and rapidly changing public attitudes to disposable consumer items. We used Reserve Bank of Australia Inflation Calculator to compare $200 in 1978 for an estimate in 2021 'money'

Hey it's too hot to think clearly at the moment here in narrm / Melbourne so here's some of Chris and Steves fave cool cycling tunes to stay chill.Enjoy!Shonen Knife: Cycling is funChicken-Like Birds: Riding our BikesSan Felix: Riding My Bike to Extinction's HouseSleepy Dreamers: Bike SongFanclubwallet: Bike SongPurity Ring: PeacefallHalf Man Half Biscuit: See That My Bike's Kept CleanThe Aquabats: I love poppin a wheelieSia: Riding on my bike

Continuing with Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio summer specials, Chris talks to Lisa Byrne about Brunswick Street North and Fitzroy North traffic issuesLisa talks about local advocacy she's been involved with, traffic avoiding arterial roads then putting pressure on inner city residential roads, increasing traffic volumes, traffic studies, tackling similar issues across Yarra, Piedimontes redevelopment, broader issues of traffic management beyond Yarra Councils remit, lack of mode choice due to increasing reliance upon car use and creating Fitzroy North Traffic Action Group (facebook) fitzntag (twitter)Lisa Byrne is a Fitzroy North resident and Streets Alive Yarra supporter for Brunswick Street North

Continuing with Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio *summer specials*, Chris talks to Ali Wirtz about the changes she's observed in Clifton Hill.Ali discusses local advocacy she's been involved with, improving pedestrian crossings in Gold Street, observing changes to North Terrace, Wellington Street, Pop up bike lanes, Heidelberg Road Link trial lanes, improvements to participation with more shared spaces, lower speed limits and additional cycling infrastructure.Ali Wirtz is a long term Clifton Hill resident and a Streets Alive Yarra supporter for West Clifton HillNews includes France says car ads must come with a caveat: Walk, bike or take public transit instead (Washington Post), « Pensez à covoiturer », « prenez les transports en commun » : de nouveaux messages obligatoires sur les publicités automobiles (Le Monde)Local work notifications include Yarra Council: Yarra Boulevard, Richmond - Flashing light wombat crossings civil works from 5 January for five weeks, Yarra Trams: Swan Street and Wallen Road Bridge,

On this weeks summer special, Chris interviews Rick Di Paola, a civil engineer with 20 years expertise in traffic & transport infrastructure. Rick discusses Cremorne issues with curtailing truck movements, traffic planning, making the area safer for residents, walkers and cyclists. Rick is critical of City of Yarra not following their own obligations as a road manager or planning scheme advice for residential zones and need for a traffic management strategy to conform to councils own policies to clearly articulate what is required. Topics include Local Area Place Making (LAPM), Road Safety Studies, other council strategies for truck movements, especially Moreland Council, Austroads and VicRoads guidanceRick Di Paola is a long term Cremorne resident and a Streets Alive Yarra supporter for Gwynne Street

On this weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio *summer special*, Chris talks to Australian childrens author and illustrator Elizabeth Honey about her love of bicycles, Amsterdam, her book selections, LEGS Lets Enhance Gleadell Street and Gleadell Street Market, Richmond.Elizabeth Honey is a long term Richmond resident and a Streets Alive Yarra supporter for Gleadell StreetYarraBUG Radio will return (live!) on Monday 31st January 2021

Val and Faith talk about their respective bicycle moments, Jeremy Lawrence from Streets Alive Yarra discusses local Yarra issues, street trees, community support, social justice and equality, reviewing active transport in Yarra, Heidelberg Road seperated lanes, changes to Napier Street, changes to state government mode share, reallocation of space with parklets, pocket parks, step change with Rose Street market and more funding needed for the future, in light of councils losing rating due to covid19, different streams of funding from state government, new NSW design guidelines and Yarra Councils upcoming transport action plan

On this weeks program it's back to basics with examining Yarra cycling conditions. Chris interviews Karen Hovenga and David Balding about their cycling observations of Melbournes inner east & north, including changing infrastructure(Gipps Street), off road trails (Capital City Trail), seperated cycling lanes, (Elizabeth Street trial, Park Street contraflow, Heidelberg Road trial, Brunswick Street) getting started, planning routes, ebikes, getting more bicycle parking, City of Melbournes seperated lanes and barriers including bluestone surfaces, inconsistent speed limits, lack of east to west routes.News includes CityLab: U.S. Cities Test Effects of ‘Universal Basic Mobility’ and Shonen Knife celebrating 40 years of bicycles, wanting to be a cat, candy & punk rock

On this weeks program Chris chats to David Blom, Metro East Bicycle User Group and Brett Cotter, the Big Bike Film Night.David discusses the campaign to create the new Burwood Highway trail, with much needed walking / cycling networks for Melbournes eastern suburbs, working with local politicians, councils and land managers, Suburban Rail Loop, new connections with Deakin Uni and future plans.Brett Cotter chats about the Big Bike Film night wrapping up in Victoria, (Geelong, 22 Nov, Melbourne 23 Nov, Mildura 28 Nov, Bendigo 2nd Dec) the films selected, audience feedback, how to book to see screenings, opportunity to win return tickets + cycle touring trip and plans for 2022.

Val and Faith are joined online for another pre-recorded Yarra BUG Radio Show.Our guests this morning are Helen Kratzmann of Pedestrian Safety for Nicholson Street Coburg and Catherine Hall from the Coburg High School Active Transport Committee. Nicholson Street Coburg is a known danger spot for pedestrians and cyclists and the Victorian Department of Transport (who are responsible for the road) have consistently failed to address safety issues in the area as they have been raised by residents. The problems extend all the way to the intersection of Nicholson Street with Bell St and onto Elizabeth Street where pedestrians and cyclists, including many of the almost 1200 students attending Coburg High School, are forced to use inadequate spaces not designed for the safe movement of people on foot and bicycles. In the past five days alone SEVEN motor vehicles have crashed with most ending up on the footpath or running into pedestrian infrastructure. There is no safe direct alternative route for riders in this are

On this weeks program Chris interviews Carlton Reid, senior contributor, sustainability for Forbes about COP26, Carlton was previously interviewed on YarraBUG Radio about Emerging issues for pedestrians, bicycle riders & autonomous vehicles in March 2018.Carlton Reid talks about his observations of 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, bureaucratic & generational intransigence on climate change threats, dominance of EV / car industry, no mention of cycling in the "Blue Zone", Transport Day, lack of opportunities for immediate decarbonisation and political courage to reign in vehicle use, stranded assets, over dependance upon future technologies, actions outside COP26, rising influence and power of younger generations, European Cyclist Federation COP26 joint letter on cycling and future COP agendas. Read more: No Bicycling At COP26 Means Quickest Way To Decarbonise Road Transport Is Inexplicably MissingNews & events: contribute your feedback to Moreland Councils Trial separated b

This weeks show starts with a little bicycle homage to Emma Watkins who's leaving The Wiggles after a decade. Chris interviews Michael Hossen aka Cargo Bike Dad about how he got started with replacing the car for family transport. Micheal is a dad who rides an electric cargo bike with his young family and his motto is "Practicing what I preach. Ride more. Be the change". We chat about bike choice, running costs, security, cycling advocacy in Melbourne, ebikes vs EVs, prior E-cargo bike interview with Paris Lord in Canberra, the Canberra Electric Bike Library, ebikes needing more promotion, outreach and financial accessibility so people can make a easier choice. Follow Cargo Bike dad on twitter, instagram, facebook and Melbourne Cargo Bikes group

On this weeks program Chris chats to Alex Dyer, co-chair of Cycle Wellington, Aotearoa. Alex provides an overview of local cycling advocacy, dealing with Wellington City Council, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, attitudes to cycling, Urban Repair Crews guerilla bike lane, Wellington City Council approving 147km citywide cycling network, the need to lower transport emissions, COVID19 response, Liberate the Lane with Bike Auckland, plans to build a dedicated active transport connection, Wellington City Councils Parklets program, shifting house by cargo bike and Cycle Wellingtons activities during the last 12 months.News & events includes AustRoads Webinar: Cycling for Sustainable Cities, 12 - 1.30pm. Tuesday, 19 October 2021 with Ralph Buehler and John Pucher, newly completed separated cycling lanes at Whiteman Street, Southbank (scroll down) and works commencing on Footscray Pop-up Links (scroll down) as third stage of the projected 100km of VicRoads pop-up bike lanes.

Val and Faith are joined in another Zoom session by Brunswick rider Alice Verrall. We take a look at the mobility bicycles can offer people living with disabilities and the ways in which cycling infrastructure can work to exclude these riders. Cycling can offer a mobility option to many people excluded from driving or unable to walk, but only if we re-asses our assumptions about who is riding a bicycle. Check out Wheels for Wellbeing in theUK for more about making cycling an accessible transport and recreational option for more people.