YarraBUG

On this weeks program, Chris and Steve discuss the unofficial start of bike riding season with an explanation of what happened at last weeks City of Melbourne meeting that included an apparent $500k drop in active transport funding, the speculative G Line “Ambitious plan to build 1.8km boulevard over Richmond train line revealed", a plan that includes something similar to the Mondring suggested by Streets Alive Yarra who we spoke with over ten years ago.News includes Bring back pop up bike lanes, Thousands of motorcyclists join pothole rally outside Victorian parliament, speeches from Pierre Vairo, Andrea Carr (Will's mum) and Sally Moxham from the Will Richter Memorial ride on 25 September 2026 organised by Critical Mass, upcoming Critical Mass North: Friday 30 October 2026, Great Ride of Return, 11am 11 October 2026, new date for Gimme 5! - for happy healthy communities: Richmond District, 5.30pm, Monday 12 October, national Ride2Work Day coming on Wednesday 14 October, get all the details here, World Cargo Bike Day restarting in Melbourne with Laps of the Lake, Bike Melbourne is renewing their presence, Loop Cycles Learn to Braze workshops and The Share Plate: An ode to my bike by Tegan Lerm.There’s a special type of euphoria I get from riding my bike. It’s probably the equivalent of a runner’s high, but my body is not built to run, so I couldn’t tell you. As I write this, I’ve been away from my beautiful baby blue bike for six weeks. And let me tell you, that’s six weeks too long. I’ve been daydreaming about it, so let me paint you a picture of the quality time we usually spend together.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarBonobo, Cycles

Val and Faith start the show with their bike moments including magpies in Albury that are notorious for their aggressive swooping behavior during spring, Melbourne's weather contrasted with Sydney's predictability and interactions with ducklings and a cheeky fox.We discuss last Fridays Critical Mass memorial ride for Will Richter, emphasising its growth and evolution over the years. A new $1.55 billion project freeway project near Melton along Ballarat Road from Caroline Springs to Ferris Road in Melton was clarified recently, and with no explanation, the strategic cycling corridor along it has been dropped despite an active transport component being necessary as mentioned the Transport Integration Act.Local news includes Victoria government delaying Upfield line upgrades until 2033 with a study and duplication promise, Gimme 5! - for safer streets for all - Moonee Valley, Bicycle Network Film Night and the sad passing of Dr Tim Read, a rare empathetic politician and a great champion for active transport.

On this weeks show Chris reflects upon the passing of Dr Tim Read, his several interviews on this show over the years, his humour, unflinching support for active transport across Melbourne and the outpouring of love and respect for Tim across the political spectrum.Bike West: Dr Tim Read, MP for Brunswick, died yesterday morning of skin cancer at the age of 64 - It's clear from the tributes flowing in from people across the political divide that he was a special, wonderful human.Listen to the original Critical Mass Footscray ride audio from Friday 23 February 2024.Jay-Dee Pitcaithly talks about her inspiration and journey towards the upcoming Chain of Command art exhibition, alongside In Conversation: Women, Cycling & Change, 6pm-7pm, Thursday 15 October 2026, Queen Victoria Women's Centre. The exhibition and talk explores the barriers and the progress in cycling for women and gender diverse riders with April Drage, Emma Mickle & Dr Bridie O'Donnell.News includes 2026 Will Richter Memorial Ride, meet 5.30pm, Thursday 24 September 2026, State Library, Swanston St, naarm Melbourne. On 22 September 2025, Will Richter was riding his bike to the University of Melbourne via Macaulay Road Kensington when he was struck and killed by the driver of a truck. It was his 19th birthday.This annual memorial ride is to send a clear message to road authorities - that people who ride bikes are deserving of a network of safe bike lanes - and are calling on authorities to make the necessary changes to our roads so that they are safe for all road users.You're invited to Gimme 5! Roadshow – for happy healthy communities: Richmond District, 5:30pm, Monday 12 October 2026, 323-325 Victoria Street, Duke of Albany, Abbotsford.Come along and listen to residents and candidates in the 2026 Victorian election speak about active transport issues.  Share local stories, meet election candidates & hear about what you can do for happy healthy communities & the Gimme 5! campaignProgram musicScratching, Malvern StarTycho, MontanaBike Song, Mark Ronson and The Business Intl.

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Harrison Watt, Bike Lanes for Johnston Street about an upcoming Gimme 5! Safer Cycling Forum: Melbourne & Brunswick, 5:30pm, 15 September 2026, The Clyde Hotel, 385 Cardigan St, Carlton.This community forum brings together locals, community groups, BUGs and state election candidates to discuss safer cycling in the seats of Melbourne & Brunswick.Check out upcoming Gimme 5! Roadshow events at Fawkner Festa, Pascoe Vale & Preston, Essendon, City Square Melbourne, Bellarine, Whitehorse Spring Festival, Around the Bay in a Day and Albert Park & Caulfield.Local news includes Melbourne weather, Race to the Rock, Stonnington Councils pre-trial Road Safety Improvement Program Trials survey, be alert as Melbourne's eternal bike thieves are stealing peoples pride and joy and a change of date for Critical Mass to Grand Final Public Holiday Eve on Thursday 24 September. Another update is the September ride will now be an annual Will Richter memorial ride. Harrison and Chris discuss active transport issues between all three levels of government, the recent Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail community meeting, Yarra Council proposing to descope the Yarra Transport Action Plan on 8 September meeting (refer to page 132) with no community consultation despite decades of Yarra being a leader for decades for active transport, ongoing issues for transport provision, increased forecast population and road space allocation.No council term lasts forever so let the current Yarra Councillors know your thoughts about the councils lack of commitment, and now being a outlier when compared to nearby councils like Boroondara who have allocated $3 million annually for their Greenways program.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarTycho, Consciousness Felt

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Alison McCormack , CEO of Bicycle Network, who shares her bike moments from her travels in Europe. In news we take a look at the announcement that Infrastructure Victoria is to wound up, particulalry relevant to today's show and our emphasis on the Strategic Cycling Corridors.Alsion tells us about the next phase of the Gimme 5! campaign that Bicycle Network are running together with over fifty community organisations across Victoria. The campaign asks for 5% of the transport budget in Victoria to be spent on Strategic Cycling Corridors. The Gimme 5! Roadshow launches this week with events in the elctorates of Box Hill and Hawthorn, and a calendar of events across Victoria. You can find out more about the campaign and roadshow here.

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Cate Hall from Safer Murray Road in Coburg about their new Parliamentary petition, extensive back history, Murray Roads high crash rate, narrow unprotected footpaths alongside school kids, vulnerable road users and a four lane 60km/h road, new School Speed Zone, SWARM Incident Reporter and more. Follow SWARM on facebook & insta.Local news includes Princes Street School trial, Car-free school streets program set to go national, Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet in Melbourne and ongoing council management issues with Lime ebikes in Yarra and Darebin. You can support the Darebin ebike and escooter trial by making a public question here and also emailing Darebin councillors.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarTame Impala, Let it happen

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Marco te Brömmelstroet from the University of Amsterdam and Lab of Thought. We share our bike moments, before taking a deep dive into connection, sharing, the wobbling-child index of road safety, and how to share the stories that will create change. Marco will also be presenting his keynote the Hill of Hysteria at Bicycle Network Tuesday August 18th. Book your tickets online here.  Marco's trip to Australia was made possible by the Public Transport Association Australia and New Zealand

On this weeks show, Chris catches up with Katy, who's a ride leader for weekly Carlton Neighbourly Rides, goals of connecting community through cycling, building rider confidence and making new social contacts. Katy talks about her journey from riding in Amsterdam, to becoming a ride leader, ride details and more!  Follow Neighbourly Rides on instagram.The Nicer Wellington Street crew are collecting stories of people’s experiences of danger on Wellington Street. Can you share yours, anything you’ve experienced or witnessed, please contact them either on instagram or contact page.News includes please ensure your method of transport is recorded in Tuesday nights Australian 2026 census, Yarra Councils messy fall out from banning Lime e-bikes: sign the petition: Keep Shared E-Bikes in Melbourne, The Age: Answer in 10 seconds or lose your fleet: The e-bike row dividing Yarra, The Fifth Estate: Can Melbourne break its cycle of failed e-mobility sharing schemes? and a local resident facing transport difficulties due Yarra councillors vote on 14 July, The Age: Car clash: Private vehicles and the true price the nation pays.Marco te Brömmelstroet is currently touring New Zealand and Australia, watch this interview with Jack Tame. He's also appearing next week at Bicycle Network: Urban Mobility Futures with Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet.'Twenty years from now, people will look back on high speed limits we have in cities now and find them just as unbelievable as smoking indoors - a relic of the past. That's the dream of a visiting Dutch academic.'Program musicScratching, Malvern StarThe Durruti Column, Time Present and Time Past

Val and Faith share their bike moments; for Val a moment alongside the Yarra in training mode and for Faith a reminder of what a great night the Big Bike Film Night is! We discuss the changes in the Victorian government over the past week with the announcement of a new Premier, Ben Carroll, leading into the Victorian election. As Transport Minister in the past Ben Carroll attempted some positive changes public transport and for people interested in using a bike to get around, will this translate into his premiership? You can catch up with Peter Parker's thoughts here. And who will be our new Active Transport Minister? Or willl Deputy Gabrielle Williams want to retain the prestige of the role for herself? [sarcasm] Politics segues into the upcoming election and the Gimme 5 campaign with Bicycle Network and community groups across Victoria. Providing a dedicated funding stream for building startegic cycling corridors would certainly be a positive step towards the integrated transport system often described in government policy but rarely realised. Have you spent 2 minutes using the platform to send an email to your local MP? We also chat about the upcoming presentation by Marco te Brömmelstroet hosted by Bicycle Network on August 18th where Marco will talk about the Hill of Hysteria. Get your tickets here!

On this weeks program Chris interviews three local Lime rental users about their experiences with the scheme since it started in 2020 in Yarra. On 15 July 2026 Yarra Council voted to discontinue the trial (refer to Agenda Item 7.1, page 8).ABC News: 'A step backwards': Melbourne council bans Lime e-bikes with Jeremy Lawrence from Streets Alive Yarra.Ari, Troy and Matt discuss how ebikes and scooter trial assisted their travel, micro mobility needs, convenience, behaviour, footpath parking issue discourse, keeping footpaths clear for people with disabilities, councils avoidance of on-road ebike parking solutions, competing vehicle space usage, public transport linkages, public space use, shared utilities, cycling safety problems, avoiding bike theft, possible effects on Yarra's night time economy, cost of living impacts, dealing with entitlement culture alongside gentrification and what they're planning to do when Lime assets are removed after the 30-day notice period.Of note is the discrepancy between Yarra Councils 15 July 2026 Agenda item that mentions 100 complaints since 2020 while the above linked  article quotes 'Yarra City Council has recorded hundreds of complaints about e-bike share since the scheme's 2020 launch'News includes commencement of the Australian leg of the Big Bike Film Night, new Swanston Street protected lanes, Maribyrnong Council: Help us make Barkly Street better, new parliamentary petition from Safer Murray Road campaign and the Flemington Bridge upgrades are now finished.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarFour Tet - Into Dust (Still Falling)