YarraBUG

Its a stunning early summer morning when Val and Faith welcome Dorthe Pedersen and Nicolas of Cyclng Without Age to the studio. We share our bike moments and a little local news including the release of the Bike Law Book by the Victoria Law Foundation.Dorthe tells us all about Cycling Without Age, from it's inception in Denmark, to its spread around the world, their latest chapter in Tasmania and what they plan to do for the rest of their stay in Australia. Sharing stories as volunteers pedal those who've lost much of their own mobility is proving to be a winning combination, although as Dorthe and Nicolas have already discovered, the tagline "The Right to Wind in Your Hair" acquires an extra piquancy in Australia.We wrap up with a very short list of events leading up to Christmas, including FOJCX.

On this weeks program: Chris has a quick recap of Elly Blue's Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy and interviews Colleen Harland MP about less than optimal conditions for riders in Melbournes western suburbs, BikeWest & the recently released report - Getting the West on Track: Closing Major Bike Infrastructure Gaps in Melbourne’s Inner West by Lisa Sulinski. Local news includes a community session tonight at Melbourne Town Hall for Updating Victoria's cycling strategy, the opening of a major National Gallery of Victoria exhibition with Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei, including an installation from WeiWei's Forever Bicycles series and Freedom Time #2 at Coburg Velodrome.

Val and Faith are joined on a glorious late spring morning by Jeremy Scott and quickly share some bike moments. We also catch up on the news about Drew Ginn's Australian 24hr record, achieved on the weekend and the Creating Cities conference underway in |Melbourne at the moment.Jeremy shares the motivation for his epic cycling trip, cycling from London to New Zealand, and the transformation heart surgery made to his life as a child. We chat about nerves setting out on long trips, cycling across Europe and Asia and the kindness of strangers. You can find out more about Jeremy's trip at jeremyscott.com.auWe finish up with some upcoming events and a reminder about supporting 3CR.

On this weeks program: Victorian Law Foundation has published a new Bike Law guide and Cycling Victoria's Heritage & History committee has a released a fascinating series of podcasts. Chris interviews local resident Elizabeth Long about the future of cycling in Yarra in relation to an unsure budget allocation and no new bike strategy after 2015. Discussion includes cycling issues over the previous decade in Yarra, budget allocations, the lack of will towards developing a new bike strategy, implications of mid-2016 rates capping for Victorian councils, lack of a positive narrative for active travel coming from our local council and how you can have input into Yarra Councils budget process for 2016-17 and beyond.  We discuss changing local transport needs, riding for transport, liveable cities, complete streets, local safe routes for riding to school, Bendigo Councils future plans, City of Melbourne Draft Bicycle Plan and Updating Victoria's cycling strategy from the Victorian Stat

Its a stunning Monday morning as Val and Faith welcome studio guest, poet Randall Stephens to the show. We share our bike moments, pizza on time trial bikes, changes in Albuy and a discovery tour of the Western Ring Rd, befoe taking a look at some news. The City of Melbourne Draft Bike Plan is up for comment and feedback until Friday 20h November and there is a cycling forum on Wednesday November 18th. You can read the plan and give your feedback here. We also touch on the recent tragic death of a cyclist near Milawa in country Victoria.Randall shares a poem about a bike tha has been in his life for quite a while and we talk about the Bright 24hr mtb event in Bright over the weekend. We also share stories about bike travellers The Artist as Family, spotted on their bike our making their way up to the Blue Mountains.

On this weeks program: Stop the Tacks Protest Ride on Yarra Boulevard; Steve interviews rider organiser George Mihailides, Aidan McGann (VicRoads), Senior Sergeant Mark Standish (Victoria Police) and several local riders on the day. Local news includes 3rd Gear: new Australian feminist bike zine, Darebin City Council & The Squeaky Wheel: Shared Paths Etiquette Sessions on the St Georges Road shared path, Smokin' Rollers Melbourne (Roller Racing International) this Wednesday at the Gasometer Hotel, City of Melbourne: Bicycle Forum, Cranksgiving Checkpoint Charity Ride and more. See more events and stuff at: yarrabug.org/events

Its a long weekend for some but not for Faith and Val as we kick off this episode of the Yarra BUG Radio Show with studio guest, Anna Haygreen, Sustainable Transport Officer at Darebin City Council. We share our bike moments before looking at some news including an interview with John Merritt, CEO of VicRoads about transport modes in general and Sydney Rd in particular, the City of Melbourne Draft Bicycle Plan and fundraising with the Great Southern Crossing.Anna takes us through Darebin's campaign based around the St George's Rd Shared Path which will be asking users of the path over the next month to contribute ideas about how pedestrians and cyclists can better share the path. These suggestions will be taken to the wider community for consultation to develop an etiquette about path sharing for Darebin.We finish up with a quick look at some local events, rides that will fill your Cup Day with bicycle joy. #ridebikesnotponies

This week Chris welcomes back Alexander Sheko to the program and we discuss his masters thesis Gender Difference in Perceived Safety of Cycling in Melbourne, which he recently presented at Bike Futures. Chris also talks to Ian Radbone from Bicycle Institute of South Australia about recent minimum passing distances now being the law in South Australia as of 25 October. Local news includes bike racks on buses trial, Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund announcement from Luke Donnellan, Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety that includes community consultation sessions, formal submissions and an online survey. Find out about more bicycle & transport events at: yarrabug.org/events

On today's program Chris talks to Senator Janet Rice about recent leadership shuffles in Canberra, a new Minister for Cities, Greg Hunt trying to reheat East West Link, the Western Distributor and the launch of a Bike Black spot app and Bike Meet up this Saturday 17 October in Carlton North. Local news includes a short Melbourne Brompton Urban Challenge recap, news about an amendment passed at last weeks Yarra Council meeting to get the Wellington St seperated lanes finished and Yarra Ride to Work Breakfasts. Other news includes one-metre passing laws in South Australia, Australia Post launching new stamps with Australian-designed bicycles, "Grinding to a halt: rethink needed on Australian urban transport" report from Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), parts of Yarra Trail closed for maintenance near Cremorne Rail bridge, a petition to Build a Bridge over Merri Creek between Ceres and Beavers Road and VicRoads Community information sessions on Chandler Hig

Spring has leapt into summer as Val and Faith take to the studio for the latest instalment of the Yarra BUG Radio Show on 3CR. We kick off the show sharing bike moments and some news, including recent terrible accidents involving riders in Melbourne. Our studio guest is Belinda Heyward who joins us to share some tales from her experience cycling around the Norwegian fjordlands. A self-guided light tour Belinda discovered many things besides the majesty of the fjords, including the 'big ideas' that come to cyclists travelling by themselves.We finish up with just a handful of the cycling events coming up locally. You can check out details of these at thesqueakywheel.com.au, bikefun.org, treadlie.com.au and bright24hr.com.au To see some photos from Belinda's tour take a look here.

On this weeks program Chris interviews Gillian Le from Livewell Yarra about a new Bike Curious project starting in Yarra for newbie and intending riders and how you can get involved with a Co-design Workshop planned for this Wednesday 30 September (email Darren Sharp for additional details). Second interview is with Lee Ramseyer-Bache from Projector Bike about their upcoming rides around Melbourne, potential of new technology and the fun of temporarily utilising public space for showing images, animation and short films with your friends. Local news includes Yarra Ride to Work breakfasts on 14th October, Darebin Council bicycle courses and the next Yarra Council Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting.

Its a blustery spring day as Val and Faith kick off a show focussing on local sources and courses to get you back on your bike. We start with our respective bike moments before heading into the day's news. Val has some highlights from the 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships and we also talk about the appointment of a Federal Minister for Cities and the possible impact that could have on cycling.If you're dragging your bike out of the shed after a long break it might be an idea to brush up on your maintenance skills, or even, refresh your riding skills. maybe you're hoping to ride more than you have in the past? We talk about some of the local options for DIY Maintenance Classes, commuting classes and refresher riding courses. We also talk about where to find people to ride with, especially if you would like a group to wide with while you build your confidence. Some of the possibilities we mentioned are;-Darebin Courses-Wrenchworthy Bike Shed-Bike Fun We finish up with upcoming events including Hump Day

This week Chris talks about Cycling Victoria's research on Ten Myths about Women and Cycling and interviews Tina McCarthy from Wheel Women, who was previously on the show in May 2013, chatting about what she’s been up to in the last two years and her work breaking down ingrained perceptions about getting women to ride. Local news includes upcoming The Squeaky Wheel rides, Yarra Ride to Work, Moonee Valley Councils Sustainable Transport Forum and Melbourne Councils City Road Master Plan

Val and Faith kick off a chilly spring morning with their bike moments, including a special one from studio guest Will Hartnett. After skimming through some local news we get down to busines as Will fills us in on his recent-ish bike adventure riding a Surly ECR from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Two weeks in the saddle on sandy tracks and enjoying some spectacular headwinds, Will had to resort to mathematics to keep himself entertained. It was all worth it though with a detour to Lake Eyre leading to possibly the best bike moment of his life.You can check out photos from Will's trip online here.We finish up with some upcoming events including those listed at Bike Fun, Hump Day Pump Day and the Bright 24hr.

For the love of Bromptons: on this weeks program Chris chats to Elsie, Dayna and Cory about becoming "Bromptoneers", starting the Melbourne Brompton Club, a few technical specifications along the way for good measure, upcoming events, including the Melbourne Brompton Urban Challenge and much more about their love for these unique folding bikes. Local news includes a proposed 5km of seperated bikes lanes for St Kilda Road, this months Yarra Council Bicycle Advisory Meeting and Darebin Council bicycle courses.

Val and Faith kick off the show reminiscing about the weekend just past, Melbourne's first real taste of spring before sharing our bicycle moments. We take a look at recent news, including Chaves result in the Vuelta overnight and the four days of racing at Sam Miranda Tour of King Valley. We congratulate the team at Fondo on their first birthday and the launch of their women's racing team Trek Fondo before moving on to local news about bike baths. Moreland City Council have rejected an ill-concieved plan to introduce an 'anti-dooring' lane for cyclists on Sydney Rd, while pressure is increasing for a seperated bike lane to protect cyclists on St Kilda Rd. Val takes a look at bells, the type of bell to suit you, and your bike and what you use it for. We talk about the Speedvagen #SVFitTour by Vanilla Workshop coming up in early September, and the Mt Buller Pump Track which will be spending more time in Melbourne over the next few months. There is an op shop ride coming up next weekend and, its time

On this weeks program we start off discussing The Age article on safety concerns about on-street parking and Dr Cameron Munros findings on top risks to riders. Chris interviews Associate Professor Simon Batterbury about his experience and research on community bike workshops and his upcoming talk at Melbourne Uni where Simon explores community bike workshops that provide an 'urban commons' where people learn to fix up a working bicycle, and source their own parts and tools. Workshops operate on the ‘demand’ rather than ‘supply’ side of sustainable transport, creating skills and a bike culture, not infrastructure.  Talk details: 1pm–2pm, Tuesday 18 Aug 2015, Theatre 2, Basement, School of Geography, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton. Local news includes the upcoming Melbourne Brompton Urban Challenge in October.

On this weeks program, Chris chats to Emily Weeke about her recent Pozible "We love cyclists" sticker campaign, how she developed, collaborated, designed a range of 14 stickers and and now has successfully delivered this campaign. This sticker campaign has a personal message and it's a gentle reminder that we're all in this together. If you're interested in obtaining stickers, please email Emily (wecareforcyclists@gmail.com ) or contact her via twitter.   Bicycle news includes Sir Chris Boardman taking part in the first UK road safety 'public information film' for decades and his recent observations on blame-shifting on safety and perceived risk for riders. Other news includes the possibly of dealing with changed traffic conditions due to crane collapse on Kings Way, spotting mums and kids riding for transport, Race to Town Hall and off-peak Main Yarra Trail closures this week.

Chris talks to Berish Bilander from Public Transport Not Traffic about the inaugural Yarra Race to Town Hall on Tuesday 11th August and also combining cycling as a transport mode with public transport. Race to Town Hall is a fun initiative designed for locals to show off the good and the bad of public transport in their neighbourhood. As well as highlighting important transport issues, Race to Town Hall will help build the movement for better public transport by connecting residents with representatives from their local government. Local news includes success on Rushall Reserve Proposed Shared Path issue, limited closure of the Main Yarra Trail Closure at Cremorne Rail Bridge (11-13 August) and an upcoming talk on Community bike workshops: (18 August) their contribution to justice, sustainable urban transport, and the social economy.

After a month away from the studio Val and Faith settle back in with just a few glitches! We welcome our studio guest, Anna Thomson of Fondo before all sharing our bike moments. We chat about recent news and events including the absolutely stonking La Course race in Paris yesterday, the final stage of the Tour de France, the Rapha Women's 100 and Port Philip Council's call for separated bike lanes on St Kilda Rd.Anna tells us what inspired her and the Fondo team to start designing their own kit and we cover what it is that makes womens specific kit different, why more people don't do it and how their product has been receievd.We finish up with a couple of events coming up including: -Will Hartnett talking up bike packing and riding the Oodnadatta Trail at Commuter Cycles Wednesday July 29th-Projector Bike Ride at Abbotsford Convent Friday July 31st-Full Moon Bike Ride Glen Waverley Railway Station July 31st