YarraBUG

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Bart Sbeghen of Dr Cranky's, a community-based bike recycle program that aims to ensure all kids have access to a roadworthy bike. We all share our bike moments before taking a look at how Dr Cranky's came about, the problem Bart is trying to address, (250,000 Australian children don't have a bike!) and how Dr Cranky's has evolved since it started twelve years ago. Bart talks about the data the program has collected about the impact of their work, and their aspirations to scale Dr Cranky's so that even more children can expeience the *magic*!

On this week show, Chris catches up with Brett Cotter from the Big Bike Film Night screenings across New Zealand, Australia and now, internationally. We chat about what's happened since we last had a chat in 2021, audience response, competitions, how to submit your film, about the films being screened and more!Local news includes Chris riffing on about 'paratransport', Yarra Council planning to vote on E‑bike Share Scheme Tender by removing ebike and escooter rental schemes at the next Tuesday 14 July 2026 meeting (refer to Item 7.1), as Streets Alive Yarra quotes as 'massive step backward for mobility and access in Yarra' in their submission to council.As counterpoint, the NSW government and the City of Sydney are proactively working through ebike and escooter public issues.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarTim McMorris, Entwined

Faith and Val kick things off in the studio today with a couple of bike moments. We thank all of our listeners for their very generous donations towards the 3CR Radiothon. We have reached our target this year and every cent donated will go towards keeping 3CR on the air for another year. Val tells us all about the 3CR 50th birhday celebration over the weekend at the Collingwood Town Hall, the history of those fifty years shared at the celebration and the passion and support for another 50 years shared by the 3CR community. Faith shares her weekend with another great community, the seventy or so riders who took part in Cycling Wild x Off Course Winter Overnighter at Longridge. An annual event the winter overnighter is a great opprtunity both for thise who have never bikepacked before and for those who like hauling cast iron pots and legs of lamb, not to mention the kids and families coming along for the ride!We chat about the Gimme 5 campaign for 5% of the transport budget to be dedicated to Strategic Cycling Corridors and a reminder to use the campiagn website to send a short email to your local MP. All the tricky details are pre-filled for you, it only takes 2 minutes! Do it now at this link!We finish with a reminder that the Fundraiser for the Bike Shed at CERES is coming up this weekend.

On this weeks program Chris interviews Andrew from Queers on Wheels Australia about starting their group rides in naarm Melbourne and eora Sydney. Andrew talks about cycling for people who’ve never felt like cycling was for them, group origins in the UK, their future plans, Chase the Sun and more.Local news includes Critical Mass: Moonee Valley and the lack of active transport and protected bikes lanes in that council area, Bicycle Network: 5% for Safer Streets campaign and Cr Ruth Jelley from Darebin Council provides great tips on how to make productive trips on your bike.3CR Community Day, Saturday 4 July, 11am - 4pm,  Collingwood Town Hall, if you're local, hop on your bicycle and ride down! Val from YarraBUG is offering free tune-ups and repairs, and there are plenty of bike racks in front of the venue on Hoddle Street.It's not too late to donate to 3CR Radiothon: help us raise $300,000 to keep us on air and don't forget to make a tax-deductible donation by the end of this financial year!Donate to YarraBUG Radio on Givenow link3cr.org.au/donateProgram musicScratching, Malvern StarMark Ronson & the Business Intl, Bicycle Song

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Huw Vellacott of Off Course Bike Shop and we all share our bike moments including a particularly healing ride for Huw. Talk turns to the devasting fire that burned the Off Course home of eighteen years to the ground, almost four weeks ago. The devastation of the fire extends far beyond the bricks and mortar or stock, with twenty staff affected and a community that extends around the world feeling the loss. Huw talks about how the business has been able to regroup, how doing things and being together in a space has helped staff, and the wider community through the recent Fire (Garage) Sale, process not only the loss but what a future might look like. We finish up with a reminder that this Friday sees Critical Mass head to Moonee Valley!

On this 2026 Radiothon show, Chris and Val discuss the 50th anniversary of 3CR launching across airwaves alongside community radio in Australia. Our interview this week is Hayden from Tradies on Bikes, a electrician based in Thornbury who discusses getting started, development and logistics for running his business on a cargo bike. Donate to YarraBUG Radio on Givenow link3cr.org.au/donateNews includes Bicycle Network strategy day for 5% for safer streets, Off Course bike shop fire sale and rapid resurgence and La Velocita: Build the damn bike lanes:There are few things more predictable in Australian public life than the instant aneurysm some people suffer whenever bicycle infrastructure is mentioned.Poetry reading: Val recites The Man with Rubber Pedals and Mulga Bill's Bicycle, both being possible forerunners to modern day Strava PBs amongst other things.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarCal Tjader, PoincianaTycho, DX Odyssey

Val and Nik from Melbourne BUG look at Ghost Bikes, when they started, what they mean and how they have been used."We promised to deliver nation-leading laws about who can ride, what they can ride, where they can ride, and how fast- and our laws do exactly that." Brent Mickelberg. Qld. Minister of Transport. What can I say, and on World Bicycle Day.

On this weeks program Chris interviews Tim Dow (Tim Rob Don Dow) and Stephanie Mulder (Yardbird Studio) from Mosey Guide about their slow travel walking and cycling guides for neighbourhoods in Australia, Europe and Asia, including their recent Northside Design Ride: A Leisurely Cycling Tour of Melbourne Design through the inner north organised for Melbourne Design Week. Tim and Stephanie talk about discovering and engaging with local destinations and developing the local guides and their future plans. Guides include A Merri Ride, Footscray, Thornbury and North Melbourne.Second guest is Michael, owner and digital creator of Fuji Roll, we chat about showcasing cycling in Melbourne, Sydney and overseas, documenting experiences, riding as prime method of transport, road conditions, creating instagram reels documenting local events and rides, including the Northside Design Ride, Smith Street, Collingwood, Macarthur Street, East Melbourne, Canning Street, Carlton North, and San Francisco Cycles, Golden Gate Bridge.Local news includes Off Course bike shop fire on 27 May 2026, Critical Mass: Big City Lights tour through Richmond, Abbotsford, Collingwood and Clifton Hill, Dixon Veloway maintenance closure: between Footscray and West Melbourne will be closed overnight on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 June from 7pm-5am for planned maintenance. Also we briefly mention Barnaby Joyce's connection to the rise of e-bikes: Why are e-bikes suddenly all over Australia's streets?Program MusicScratching, Malvern StarSparks, (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your CountryTrue Love Always, Bicycle RiderHONNE, BIKE

Faith and Val are joined in the studio today by Melanie Brown, a nurse from Adelaide who has taken her passion for vaccination and the history of infectious diseases in Australia on an epic ride from Adelaide to Sydney. We kick off with our bike moments before taking a look at some local news including a great (albeit depressing) long read from the ABC The long road to a bike friendly Australia. Serendipitously, Bicycle Network launched a statewide campaign yesterday (together with about 30 community groups including Yarra BUG) arguing for 5% of the Victorian Transport budget to be dedicated to funding Startegic Cycling Corridors. You can check out the campaign and take a look at the different ways to get involved. Discussion turns to Melanie's ride, exploring cemeteries between Adelaide and Sydney and the stories they hold of the impact of sometimes forgotten infectious diseases on the communities now buried there. In between cemeteries she has been enjoying the scenery and wildlife. You can follow her adventures as she continues her journey on Instagram @itsinfectiousWe finish up with a reminder that the next Critical Mass ride is coming up this Friday evening! Bring your lights, ALL of your lights!

On this weeks program Chris catches up with two previous guests, first up Alex Lamb from Nicer Wellington Street, a group of Clifton Hill and Collingwood residents who supported 'Option 1: shared street' for Wellington Street. Alex talks about last Tuesdays massive Yarra Council meeting, where two thirds of public feedback supported to the bold vision make Wellington less traffic choked, and we unpack councillors decision to reject Wellington Street upgrades, road safety audit reports and what it means for the community. We also discussion how misinformation alters public debate for the worse, a comprehensive review of the Wellington Street decision, Congestion levy funds, ongoing fuel crisis, possible North East Link impacts for residents, how current Yarra Council has pattern of behaviour to degrade and stop creation of green spaces in the inner suburbs, an overall lack of vision and future engagement and future plans for a Nicer Wellington Street, including Critical Mass ride on 29 May 2026.Local news includes previous guest Robbie Danger Webb being accepted as official Guinness world records title holder as first openly transgender person to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle and two The Age ig reels on the Alphington Link and the popular Ride Outs events across Melbourne.Second guest is Aidan Barac-Dunn from Safer Streets for Richmond with Adopt safe 30km/h streets in Richmond petition being tabled at council. We discuss about simple steps to make local streets safer with recent Speed Zoning Policy, how Love 30 started in Yarra circa 2018, how more European cities are accepting 30km/h as standard and startling road death statistics in post WWII Richmond, referenced by Janet McCalman in her book, Struggletown Public and Private Life in Richmond 1900–1965, recent speed zone changes in Richmond and planning for future campaigns.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarTycho, Consciousness Felt Four Tet, LushLaibach, Fluid EmancipationTrue Love Always, Bicycle Rider