YarraBUG

On this weeks summer special, Chris interviews Rick, a civil engineer with 20 years expertise in traffic & transport infrastructure. Rick discusses Cremorne issues with curtailing truck movements, traffic planning, making the area safer for residents, walkers and cyclists. Rick is critical of City of Yarra not following their own obligations as a road manager or planning scheme advice for residential zones and need for a traffic management strategy to conform to councils own policies to clearly articulate what is required. Topics include previous Local Area Place Making (LAPM), new Road Safety Studies, other council strategies for truck movements, especially Maribyrnong Council, Austroads and VicRoads guidanceRick is a long term Cremorne resident and a Streets Alive Yarra supporter

On this weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio *summer special*, Chris talks to Australian childrens author and illustrator Elizabeth Honey about her love of bicycles, Amsterdam, her book selections, LEGS Lets Enhance Gleadell Street and Gleadell Street Market, Richmond.Elizabeth Honey is a long term Richmond resident and a Streets Alive Yarra supporter for Gleadell StreetYarraBUG Radio will return (live!) on Monday 31st January 2021

Val and Faith talk about their respective bicycle moments, Jeremy Lawrence from Streets Alive Yarra discusses local Yarra issues, street trees, community support, social justice and equality, reviewing active transport in Yarra, Heidelberg Road seperated lanes, changes to Napier Street, changes to state government mode share, reallocation of space with parklets, pocket parks, step change with Rose Street market and more funding needed for the future, in light of councils losing rating due to covid19, different streams of funding from state government, new NSW design guidelines and Yarra Councils upcoming transport action plan

On this weeks program it's back to basics with examining Yarra cycling conditions. Chris interviews Karen Hovenga and David Balding about their cycling observations of Melbournes inner east & north, including changing infrastructure(Gipps Street), off road trails (Capital City Trail), seperated cycling lanes, (Elizabeth Street trial, Park Street contraflow, Heidelberg Road trial, Brunswick Street) getting started, planning routes, ebikes, getting more bicycle parking, City of Melbournes seperated lanes and barriers including bluestone surfaces, inconsistent speed limits, lack of east to west routes.News includes CityLab: U.S. Cities Test Effects of ‘Universal Basic Mobility’ and Shonen Knife celebrating 40 years of bicycles, wanting to be a cat, candy & punk rock

On this weeks program Chris chats to David Blom, Metro East Bicycle User Group and Brett Cotter, the Big Bike Film Night.David discusses the campaign to create the new Burwood Highway trail, with much needed walking / cycling networks for Melbournes eastern suburbs, working with local politicians, councils and land managers, Suburban Rail Loop, new connections with Deakin Uni and future plans.Brett Cotter chats about the Big Bike Film night wrapping up in Victoria, (Geelong, 22 Nov, Melbourne 23 Nov, Mildura 28 Nov, Bendigo 2nd Dec) the films selected, audience feedback, how to book to see screenings, opportunity to win return tickets + cycle touring trip and plans for 2022.

Val and Faith are joined online for another pre-recorded Yarra BUG Radio Show.Our guests this morning are Helen Kratzmann of Pedestrian Safety for Nicholson Street Coburg and Catherine Hall from the Coburg High School Active Transport Committee. Nicholson Street Coburg is a known danger spot for pedestrians and cyclists and the Victorian Department of Transport (who are responsible for the road) have consistently failed to address safety issues in the area as they have been raised by residents. The problems extend all the way to the intersection of Nicholson Street with Bell St and onto Elizabeth Street where pedestrians and cyclists, including many of the almost 1200 students attending Coburg High School, are forced to use inadequate spaces not designed for the safe movement of people on foot and bicycles. In the past five days alone SEVEN motor vehicles have crashed with most ending up on the footpath or running into pedestrian infrastructure. There is no safe direct alternative route for riders in this area, particularly for those whose destination is on Nicholson Street.We touch on the petition organised for Safe Access Over Bell Street Bridge for everyone and the responses to date from local MPs Tim Read and Lizzie Blandthorne, Moreland Council and TheMinister for Road Safety Ben Carroll. To get involved: - sign the petition for safety improvements on the Bell Street bridge - join Pedestrians Safety for Nicholson Street Coburg-join Safe Access over Bell Street Bridge for everyone

On this weeks program Chris interviews Carlton Reid, senior contributor, sustainability for Forbes about COP26, Carlton was previously interviewed on YarraBUG Radio about Emerging issues for pedestrians, bicycle riders & autonomous vehicles in March 2018.Carlton Reid talks about his observations of 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, bureaucratic & generational intransigence on climate change threats, dominance of EV / car industry, no mention of cycling in the "Blue Zone", Transport Day, lack of opportunities for immediate decarbonisation and political courage to reign in vehicle use, stranded assets, over dependance upon future technologies, actions outside COP26, rising influence and power of younger generations, European Cyclist Federation COP26 joint letter on cycling and future COP agendas. Read more: No Bicycling At COP26 Means Quickest Way To Decarbonise Road Transport Is Inexplicably MissingNews & events: contribute your feedback to Moreland Councils Trial separated bike lanes - Kent Road by Wednesday 10 November 2021, watch this virtual ride from Glenroy to Brunswick to see Pascoe Vale's pop-up lanes and new Upfield Path, new Wangaratta separated cycling lanes for Phillipson Street between Sisely Avenue and Edwards Street and it's Ride to Work Day on Wednesday 10 November, see City of Melbourne & Bicycle Network for details.

This weeks show starts with a little bicycle homage to Emma Watkins who's leaving The Wiggles after a decade. Chris interviews Michael Hossen aka Cargo Bike Dad about how he got started with replacing the car for family transport. Micheal is a dad who rides an electric cargo bike with his young family and his motto is "Practicing what I preach. Ride more. Be the change". We chat about bike choice, running costs, security, cycling advocacy in Melbourne, ebikes vs EVs, prior E-cargo bike interview with Paris Lord in Canberra, the Canberra Electric Bike Library, ebikes needing more promotion, outreach and financial accessibility so people can make a easier choice. Follow Cargo Bike dad on twitter, instagram, facebook and Melbourne Cargo Bikes group

On this weeks program Chris chats to Alex Dyer, co-chair of Cycle Wellington, Aotearoa. Alex provides an overview of local cycling advocacy, dealing with Wellington City Council, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, attitudes to cycling, Urban Repair Crews guerilla bike lane, Wellington City Council approving 147km citywide cycling network, the need to lower transport emissions, COVID19 response, Liberate the Lane with Bike Auckland, plans to build a dedicated active transport connection, Wellington City Councils Parklets program, shifting house by cargo bike and Cycle Wellingtons activities during the last 12 months.News & events includes AustRoads Webinar: Cycling for Sustainable Cities, 12 - 1.30pm. Tuesday, 19 October 2021 with Ralph Buehler and John Pucher, newly completed separated cycling lanes at Whiteman Street, Southbank (scroll down) and works commencing on Footscray Pop-up Links (scroll down) as third stage of the projected 100km of VicRoads pop-up bike lanes.

Val and Faith are joined in another Zoom session by Brunswick rider Alice Verrall. We take a look at the mobility bicycles can offer people living with disabilities and the ways in which cycling infrastructure can work to exclude these riders. Cycling can offer a mobility option to many people excluded from driving or unable to walk, but only if we re-asses our assumptions about who is riding a bicycle. Check out Wheels for Wellbeing in theUK for more about making cycling an accessible transport and recreational option for more people.