YarraBUG

On this weeks program Chris interviews Dr Afshin Jafari, Lead researcher and RMIT Research Fellow about new research (Melbourne cycling infrastructure plan risks getting stuck in low gear if feeder networks not considered) that shows that state and local governments should connect and build more dedicated bike lanes to make the existing Strategic Cycling Corridors a viable transport option.'In thi...

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Alison McCormack, CEO of Bicycle Network. We all share our bike moments and consider what appears to be a significant cut to the CoM budget for bike lanes. In light of what everyone agrees is needed to make the CoM a liveable city into the future, the cut from $4M to $1.5M doesn't make any sense. Alison McCormack updates us on the new version of the Great...

On this weeks program Chris talks to Laura Aston about Wayfinder Labs about finding new ways to unlock potential so everyone has convenient access to safe and healthy transport, topics include systems thinking, Open Streets initiatives and finding ways to travel that are healthy, convenient and safe. Local news includes the weekend festival of electoralism, the floating signifier of now ex LNP lea...

On todays program Chris catches up with Pierre Vairo from Bike West about last weeks quiet opening of the Footscray Road walking and cycling bridge. Also a recap of Yarra Councils 8 April 2025 meeting, where our petition with 1100+ was tabled, with something going very wrong where Yarra has to call another meeting: Extraordinary Council Meeting called for Elizabeth Street at 7.15pm Tuesday 22 Apri...

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Andrew Talati of Neighbourly Ride and we all share our bike moments. We talk about the shambolic Yarra Council meeting last week and the decision affecting the Elizabeth Street bike lanes. You can read the detail about what happened, the proposed dangerous changes and what you can do here. Andrew reminds us how Neighbourly Ride started, and brings us up to...

On this week program, Chris talks to Anna Johnston with a follow up interview about Collins Street protected bike lanes in nipaluna Hobart, the recent public meeting, intense debates over moderate changes to public space, using active transport to move around cities and community mobilisation to create awareness, ongoing dialogue to improve our cities, decrease pollution, congestion and more. Loca...

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Paul McKay, former General Manager of Bicycle Victoria (now known as Bicycle Network)  We share our bike moments before taking a look at BUGs, or Bicycle User Groups. It's thirty-five years since the first Bicycle User Groups were created in Australia in 1990 . Paul explains why Bicycle Victoria created BUGs, their role as advocates, their changing relatio...

On this weeks program Chris talks to Adam Pulford about Lime and Neuron e-scooter rental schemes in Melbourne including them no longer available in Melbourne or Yarra, a disconnect between decision makers and end users creating kneejerk reactions, how consultation processes don't necessarily work for busy people, how e-scooters provide a vital last mile/km travel option, why aren't designated on-r...

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Will Hartnett of Cycling Wild and Off Course bike shop. Will talks about the years he has spent exploring the Flinders Ranges and other remote areas of Australia by bike and the knowledge he has gathered showing others around on foot and wheels. While he has often shared his experience on his website Cycling Wild, he now plans to go one step further and pr...

On this weeks program Chris talks to Mark Donnellon from Streets People Love Hobart about how they created the group, what actions they've taken since December 2024, how the campaign grew from passionate debate about improving Collins Street, showing community support for active transport in nipuluna Hobart, being guided by their fun-loving mascot, Perci the Platypus, supporting Hobart City Counci...

Val and faith take to the 3CR studio for another episode of the Yarra BUG Radios Show. 

On this weeks program Chris talks to Tim Smith, local industrial designer about his journey to developing FoldSmith folding bike hire and sales. Tim discusses the joy of growing up with bikes, becoming a cycle courier, running a bike cab business, his business ideals, raising the profile of folding bikes, FoldSmith folding bike rental options and future collaboration plans with Loop Cycles in Brun...

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Dr Lauren Pearson, Research Fellow & Equity Lead, Sustainable Mobility and Safety Research at Monash University. Lauren joined us on an earlier program to discuss the Petal Project and her report Unlocking young women’s access to bike-riding, relesed late last year. Lauren gives us a a quick recap of the project and its findings about the complexity of tra...

On this weeks program Chris talks to Sarah Aubrey abour her electrification advocacy work via Electrify This plus practicial steps people can take with micro mobility & decarbonisation. Topics include modal mixing transport, well thought out transport systems, Sydney Cycleways, dealing with running interference from fossil fuel industry, the freedom of riding, drivers conditioned to expect parking...

Nic Dow and Val look back on Council elections 2024.

On this weeks show Chris and Steve talks about keeping your bike safe from theft as unfortunately Melbourne has seen a increase in peoples pride and joy being nicked due to combination of things like opportunistic theft, use of cordless power tools and organised activity. We discuss basic tips such as situational awareness, eg, where your bike is locked, using two bike locks, bike lock security le...

Val is joined by Nic Dow from Melbourne BUG to try to decipher the results of the last council elections. We mainly focus on Yarra and Melbourne in this show with some of the other results to be covered in part 2 on the 3rd of February. Link to YarraBUG petition to council. 

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Karen Hovenga to talk about local Yarra issues, including what the new council maybe planning for narrowing protected bikes lanes in Elizabeth Street, whatever the future holds for intersection treatments at Coppin Street in Richmond and direct quote from petition linked below: "continue to implement Yarra’s Transport Action Plan 2024-2034 including the ...

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Dr Lauren Pearson, Research Fellow & Equity Lead, Sustainable Mobility and Safety Research at Monash University. We share our bike moments before taking a look at some local news. Over the New Year the Road Safety Action Plan Phase 2 was released. Developed by Victoria's Road Safety Partners, the plan includes some subtle changes in language and otherwise...

We're enjoying a little break over Christmas / New Year so kick back with some sparkling summery cycling tunes. Sia, Riding on my bikeCamp Cope, How to socialise & make friendsHey Ocean!, BicycleWeddings Parties Anything, Under the clocksLive Fashion, Bicycle songAnecdata, Bike songMonkey, BicycleHalf Man Half Biscuit, See That My Bike's Kept CleanTanger, BIKESave the date: coming up at the end of...

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Julie Clutterbuck of Port Phillip BUG.We all share our bicycle moments before looking back at 2024 and bicycle advocacy in Melbourne, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 

On this weeks program Chris talks to Matt Osbourne from Wondercross Cycling and WXSHOP co-working space with Project Flock, located in Eastment Street Northcote, about the much loved ride hub, it's rich social history and so much more. Local news includes Yarra Council 17 December meeting, especially Item 7.2: E-scooter Update which discusses geofencing options and possible negative implications f...

Val and Faith share their bike moments before taking a look at some of the news and happenings coming up in Melbourne lately. The Streets People Love website has been updated with those candidates who engaged with the SPL community and were successfully elected identified by an orange border. In particular it is handy to know who in your local council has taken the Streets People Love pledge, and...

On this weeks program, Chris catches up with Cubby aka CB Mako about their families journey through the last few difficult years with long covid, related health issues, disabilities, changes to NDIS funding, calling for the bicycle industry to address mobility issues with three-wheel e-bikes and crowdfunding the families transport needs for a Nihola Rehab ecargobike for their daughter Christa. Pho...

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Yarra resident Liz Honey. After sharing our bike moments we take a look at some news including; New York city's plans to impose a congestion tax is approved and a call out from the Climate Action Chronicles for anyone who loves cycling, scooting. or wheeling around Yarra to take part in filming December 3rd & 4th and showcase sustainable living and transpo...