The Mechanics of Transportation

Send us Fan Mail Peter Norton is a UVA Professor and author who's forte is the history of the how the automobile came to dominate our culture. On Thursday, July 9th 2026, he gave a slide show presentation about Richmond's mobility history (RVA had some of the first streetcars it the country) and spoke about what we can learn from it.  This is just the audio portion--if you want to see th...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew's back with another update--about the Tour de France. Be sure to go to IanStewartCycles on YouTube to see what he's posting. I mean, audio is cool, but you're missing out. Mann is part of the Richmond Area Bicycle Association and has been a guest on this podcast before.  Be sure to like and subscribe and share the show–and tip your server if you can, on Venmo...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the second dispatch, so stage 2 (and some extras) from our man on the inside, Andrew Mann, who is in Barcelona watching the Tour de France. Mann is part of the Richmond Area Bicycle Association and has been a guest on this podcast before.  He’s sending us some audio postcards–things you won’t hear on other podcasts. Plus, he’s also sending pictures, which I’ll be putting in...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the first dispatch from our man on the inside, Andrew Mann, who is in Barcelona watching the Tour de France. Mann is part of the Richmond Area Bicycle Association and has been a guest on this podcast before.  He’s sending us some audio postcards–things you won’t hear on other podcasts. Plus, he’s also sending pictures, which I’ll be putting into a slide show on my YouTube c...

Send us Fan Mail Cool news to share for the RVA Bike Scene. We’ll have some special updates from the Tour de France by Richmond’s own Andrew Mann, who is part of the Richmond Area Bicycle Association and is also puts on the holiday Christmas bike program in which hundreds of bikes are donated to kids on the holidays. .  He’s in Barcelona and will be sending us regular audio updates of what he’s se...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, summer is here! Sean (who needs some good healing vibes so he can get back on the bike) talk about a few events happening, some Fall Line Trail progress, some good bike challenges you can do if you're bored of your same routine and I self promote my IanStewartCycles YouTube channel. Events>> here.  Be sure to like and subscribe and share the show–and tip your serve...

Send us Fan Mail Coming on this special episode of the Mechanics of Transportation, I speak with fellow podcaster Taylor Nichols. You may know him from his Bike Talk podcast . His show is heard on numerous public radio stations across the country and online.  He’s on a monthslong trip from San Francisco to Michigan. The Los Angeles based podcaster and actor recently set off from where his daughter...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up on this episode of the RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I wrap up Bike Month; give an update on the bike lane/parking ticket issue; give an update on the self-funded bike lane sweeper; talk local Crit races and pro racing. Links/Info: Sweeper sign up via Instagram : bikelanesweeper_richmond; rva.cargo.bike RVA Bike Month —--------------- If you like the Mechanics of Transportati...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up on this episode of the Mechanics of Transportation and the RVA Bike Scene, it’s all about e-bikes–what are they, what’s the difference between them and e-moto-bikes and what’s going on in the Virginia General Assembly about how to regulate them and get people and politicians to understand the difference.  Plus, me and my guest John Hamilton of the Virginia Bicycling Fede...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up on this week's episode, Sean & I dive into some more Bike Month events; talk updated Fall Line segments & discuss the pushback for some bike infrastructure projects. Plus, we mention pro and local bike races. Links : RVA Bike Month Calenda r Bike Reg Events Bryan Park Training Series BMX Racing in Richmond If you like  the RVA Bike Scene and want to support...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the RVA Bike Scene, I speak with Natalie Rainer, Engagement Coordinator at BikeWalkRVA. We talk about the Fall Line Trail, about the Mayo Bridge and of course about BIKE MONTH, which starts on Saturday 4/25. Here's a link to their calendar. If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and the RVA Bike Scene and want to support our efforts then please conside...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up on this episode of the RVA Bike Scene, I take you to the streets! Well, to an actual press conference that happened the week of 4/18/26 that featured Richmond city officials, including Mayor Danny Avula, Department of Transportation Andy Boenau and Vassar Sumpter of DPW. They were all there to unleash the city's newest bike lane sweeper, tentatively titled Baby Swee...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I dive into what's going on in Richmond, Virginia's bike events for the week of 4/18/26. From Sean's FREE Short Track mountain bike clinic at Dogwood Dell (Sat 4/17/26) to Bike Month, to a new mini-baby bike lane sweeper, we tried to knock out a few of the events happening.  As always, let us know about your events and hap...

Send us Fan Mail I'm about to launch a new (and yet another) podcast---the World Music Show - Interviews from the Archives. For almost two decades I hosted a World Music Show on a public radio station, where during that time, I interviewed dozens of musicians, authors and filmmakers.  These include Angelique Kidjo, Jack Johnson, Los Lobos, Vieux Farka Toure and More. You can also listen to my...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Mechanics of Transportation, I’m speaking with filmmaker Ben Wolf, whose film “Changing Lanes” tells the tale of one neighborhood’s fight to make their street safer after the death of a beloved teacher who was killed by a driver.  But the film tells a bigger story than that–it dives into the history of this once two lane idyllic street in Greenpoint New York...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up on this episode of the RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I break down all the events happening in the region--from the local bike races and groups rides to charity rides. Plus, we talk about VCU Pedestrian Referees, Surveys you need to take and Bolivian Zebras.  Be sure to like and subscribe and share the show. All the links we talk about: AXIOS: Richmond's safety paradox Pl...

Send us Fan Mail Coming up on this episode of the Mechanics of Transportation, it’s all about some Virginia bike bills that fared well in the current session of the 2026 General Assembly session – and one bill that, after five years of trying to get passed, failed in one particular committee.  My guest is John Hamilton, current President of the Virginia Bicycling Federation, which is part of the n...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, I’m sharing my recent interviews with Richmond Virginia bike commuters and advocates John Murden (@RVA.Cargo. Bike on Instagram) and Dan Nelson (@dangelson on Instagram). Both John and Dan are the two people behind getting RVA's newest Bike Sweeper crowd funded.  The Sweeper mounts behind a regular bike (Cargo or E-bike is better) and uses a...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I are back to talk pro racing, upcoming RVA races, the perils or plusses of Daylight Saving and a new behind the bike bike sweeper (with a preview to another podcast strictly about that new sweeper along with the fate of MF Broom). You can watch this podcast on YouTube at IanStewartCycles . If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, I’m sharing my recent interview with Sam McKelvey, the new Executive Director of the Virignia Capital Trail Foundation . Sam took over from Cat Anthony, who held the post for about 8 years. Cat is now the ED at the Virginia Public Access Project, which is a non-profit resource about all things regarding elections in the state. Anyway, I talk to S...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Mechanics of Transportation, I chat with Veloflip creator Thomas Torbik, who created the app Veloflip, a way to sell and buy used bikes basically anywhere in the world.  We talk about why he wanted to start the app, what it takes to create a good post and how it's challenging to ride or trail run in Florida because of the iguanas, alligators and crocodi...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I are back with part two of our Top 5s. So Best/Worst & Pet Peeves and more! You can also watch this on YouTube at: IanStewartCycles if you want to see our ugly mugs. If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and this podcast and want to support our efforts then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show not...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I are back to talk about our Top 5s! Top 5 best and worst bike lanes in Richmond & Chesterfield County; our top best places to ride in these areas and some pet peeves. This is part 1 of a two-parter! You can also watch this on YouTube at: IanStewartCycles In this episode we mention: A vigil for the pedestrians killed recently in Rich...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RVA Bike Scene, Sean and I are back with a new episode for 2026! We talk about an upcoming Monster-Cross race; the Mayo Bridge Bike Lane problem; E-scooter issues and tire pressure. You can also watch this on YouTube at: IanStewartCycles In this episode we mention: Tire Pressure Guide Possible Mayo Bridge Design Richmond Bike Lane Map If you like the Mechanics o...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, Happy New Year and thanks for streaming all the past episodes of the Mechanics of Transportation podcast, along with the RVA Bike Scene Podcast, over the past year. Here's an update on the future of the Mechanics of Transportation.  In this coming year, I hope to continue posting interviews and conversations around transportation and biking here, as well as on my YouTube...