Step Away from the Car

The 2017 Australian Walking and Cycling Conference was attended by academic researchers, urban planners, policy makers, artists and community activists. How did all these perspectives come together, around the theme of Low Tech Movement in a High Tech World? Jeremy Miller was MC and organizing committee member and shared this overview at the end of the conference. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

When the Wiradjuri warrior called Windradyne walked from Bathurst to Paramatta in 1824 it was to surrender to the white Governor to avoid further bloodshed. Pedestrian artist Molly L Wagner is retracing that 197km walk on foot. The experience has led to many new insights about art, history and politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

50 million share bikes in China is the prediction for 2025. But right now those share bikes often end up dumped on the street when they break down. Dockless bike share in Australia has met some nasty problems here too. Inventor/entrepreneur Al Reid talks about his locally designed smart system which may have some answers and will be trialled in Bendigo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

What happens when you take the dark arts of advertising and develop “collective impact” programs to encourage and support cycling in the City of Sydney?  Jess Miller has been finding out, in her work as Program Director with Republic of Everyone and especially as part of Clover Moore’s Independent team on the Sydney City Council. Jess was a keynote speaker at the Australian...

When walking and cycling don’t get you far enough fast enough then new technology opens up new possibilities of Active Transport. Pedicabs are not just for Asia, or a novelty for tourists in Australia, they could be a viable urban transport option … according to Adelaide entrepreneur/ mechanic Daniels Langeberg.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it so hard for women and children to get out of the car and onto bikes, scooters and their own two feet? Jan Garrard and Hulya Gilbert are two researchers with a few answers. And some solutions to the problem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At peak hour an average Australian city traffic lane carries 2,000 people per hour. If they were on bikes that lane could move 14,000 people per hour. Those stats explain why Elliot Fishman, from the Institute of Sensible Transport is studying bicycle sharing.  Elliot was a keynote speaker at the Australian Walking and Cycling Conference. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Traffic Engineer Jason Chow works in Auckland, creating a variety of safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Greenways are created by connecting the existing off-road paths, especially valuable to local schools, but find out why Jason describes another route as “vibrant”.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most places hold endless stories and sights if you just take a closer look. Five self-guided walks developed by local people in the northern suburbs of Geelong have captured many of them. Community Development Officer Amanda Stirrat explains that support for cycling has been just one of the flow on effects of this project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heavy industry, heavy vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians are a pretty uncomfortable combination in Port Adelaide. The grassroots Bicycle User Group there has been working for 35 years to “increase the margins of safety” for cyclists and pedestrians. BUG Secretary Sam Powrie describes the situation and some of their successes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.