YarraBUG

Faith and Val kick off the show with their usual bike  moments before taking a look at some news. Riders following the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride route leave Fremantle, you can catch up with the IPWR Dot Watchers here, while in Victoria the inaugral Gariwerd Wonderland was also underway. It seems timely to remind ourselves of some research from a few years ago into the phenomenon of bikelash. It describes bike lanes as ‘sponges for a sea of latent cultural and economic anxieties’, a very apt description of what seems to be going on in the current campaign against the City of Melbourne bike lanes. And a reminder to give your feedback via the survey on the Draft Yarra Transport Strategy. Tune into Chris's program from last week for an interview about the strategy with Streets Alive Yarra. We talk about French Island, in Westernport Bay, and how it makes for a great weekend of sand and gravel riding, accessible via train or bike  and combinations of the two. And just a heads up at he end that the Handmade Bicycle Show will be held in June, and will be the first year without the wonderful Ewan Gellie.

Chris talks to regular Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio guest, Jeremy Lawrence from Streets Alive Yarra about Moving Forward: Yarra Councils draft Transport Strategy 2022. Local news includes rising petrol prices having impacts on just about everything and criticism about City of Melbournes bicycle infrastructure not getting the expected audienceWe discuss the draft Transport Strategy, how it aligns with best practice, community engagement survey (at same link) that closes on 11th April 2022, changing transport demands in the Yarra area, how this strategy supersedes prior council strategies, improved emphasis about riding to school, benchmarks and how to support the draft strategy so the 15 policies can be adopted, then a action plan developed then budget allocation can commence"Melbourne's population will grow to 8 million by 2050, and Yarra's transport network needs to adapt. We have limited space, and we need to consider the needs of our diverse community, including pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users. At Yarra, we're creating a transport strategy to keep us moving forward. This strategy aims to reduce traffic, lower our carbon emissions and ensure Yarra's transport is sustainable, accessible, safe, and well connected for everyone."

On this weeks program, Chris catches up with Tina from the St Kilda Bike Kitchen collective who aim to grow and support a vibrant and welcoming community where anyone can learn to build, maintain and repair bicycles. We chat about how STBK got started in the St Kilda and Elwood area, currently based at Alma Road Community House, community building, sustainability, reusing resources, supporting active transport options and infrastructure, assisting people with basic bicycle repairs and their upcoming pop-up bike checks sessions. Follow St Kilda Bike Kitchen via instagram and twitterNews includes a musical interlude with Scottish-based sound artist SOKi, Boroondara Council Bike Strategy, how you can keep supporting City of Melbourne seperated bicycle lane initiatives, Friday Night By Bike Geelong next event on 11 March and blasttheory's #MelbourneCalling: Rider Spoke at ACMI, Wednesday 2 March - Sunday 6 March 2022.

Faith and Val wrestle some studio gremlins this morning before sharing bike moments including discovering an 1890s photo of your great grandmother with her bicycle. In local news we mention the World Naked Bike Ride that returned to Melbourne streets last weekend, and the first ever women's Melbourne to Warnambool race also held on the weekend together with the men's race.We remind those who ride in Moreland to have their say on the pop-up bike lanes being trialled there.  And share details of a Cycling and the Federal Election webinar, watch the recording of it here!

On this weeks program Chris chats to Zuleka Chan, Brook Clinton, Simone Annis about the innovative Canberra Electric Bike Library, operated by SEE-Change, Switched on Cycles and supported by the ACT Government. Zuleka, Brooke and Simone talk about how the lending library was started, providing people an option to try before they buy, developing the process, insurance, researching peoples needs including feedback and data, ongoing operations including Open Library Thursdays, interest from other local governments and providing a low impact alternative transport option for Canberra residents.Local news includes Rider Spoke at ACMI where participates can go on a bike ride around Melbourne in search of the perfect place to hide a secret, in this reflective and immersive experience. Rider Spoke runs from Wednesday 2 March to Sunday 6 March 2022

Faith and Val are back in the studio for the first time since ..... a long time! We managed to work out what all these dials and sliders were for and welcome Michael Oxer as our guest, to chat about the City of Yarra Active Transport Advisory Committee and the opportunities to improve opportunities to move around Yarra for everyone. We also mention the fundraising to support a rail trail from Castlemaine to Maryborough, sign the petition of donate here!

On this weeks program Chris and Steve attempt to tackle the huge topic of 'bike shaped objects' and barely scratch (align?) the topic. We discuss low-end bikes from an Australian perspective, referring to Aaron Gordons recent Motherboard article: Mechanics Ask Walmart, Major Bike Manufacturers to Stop Making and Selling ‘Built-to-Fail’ Bikes, Mac Liman's Petition to end the manufacture and sale of built-to-fail budget bicycles (google docs), recent ABC series War on Waste and rapidly changing public attitudes to disposable consumer items. We used Reserve Bank of Australia Inflation Calculator to compare $200 in 1978 for an estimate in 2021 'money'

Hey it's too hot to think clearly at the moment here in narrm / Melbourne so here's some of Chris and Steves fave cool cycling tunes to stay chill.Enjoy!Shonen Knife: Cycling is funChicken-Like Birds: Riding our BikesSan Felix: Riding My Bike to Extinction's HouseSleepy Dreamers: Bike SongFanclubwallet: Bike SongPurity Ring: PeacefallHalf Man Half Biscuit: See That My Bike's Kept CleanThe Aquabats: I love poppin a wheelieSia: Riding on my bike

Continuing with Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio summer specials, Chris talks to Lisa Byrne about Brunswick Street North and Fitzroy North traffic issuesLisa talks about local advocacy she's been involved with, traffic avoiding arterial roads then putting pressure on inner city residential roads, increasing traffic volumes, traffic studies, tackling similar issues across Yarra, Piedimontes redevelopment, broader issues of traffic management beyond Yarra Councils remit, lack of mode choice due to increasing reliance upon car use and creating Fitzroy North Traffic Action Group (facebook) fitzntag (twitter)Lisa Byrne is a Fitzroy North resident and Streets Alive Yarra supporter for Brunswick Street North

Continuing with Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio *summer specials*, Chris talks to Ali Wirtz about the changes she's observed in Clifton Hill.Ali discusses local advocacy she's been involved with, improving pedestrian crossings in Gold Street, observing changes to North Terrace, Wellington Street, Pop up bike lanes, Heidelberg Road Link trial lanes, improvements to participation with more shared spaces, lower speed limits and additional cycling infrastructure.Ali Wirtz is a long term Clifton Hill resident and a Streets Alive Yarra supporter for West Clifton HillNews includes France says car ads must come with a caveat: Walk, bike or take public transit instead (Washington Post), « Pensez à covoiturer », « prenez les transports en commun » : de nouveaux messages obligatoires sur les publicités automobiles (Le Monde)Local work notifications include Yarra Council: Yarra Boulevard, Richmond - Flashing light wombat crossings civil works from 5 January for five weeks, Yarra Trams: Swan Street and Wallen Road Bridge, Richmond Swan Street between Dando and Burnley streets Wednesday 2 February to Friday 11 February 2022 then 8pm Friday 11 February 2022 to 5am Saturday 19 February 2022 (24-hour works)