YarraBUG

On this weeks program recorded at home, Chris catches up with Alice Prior from Parents' Voice about last weeks government announcement, their recent survey that found 94 per cent of Australian parents support greater government investment in infrastructure, getting kids riding and back to school as Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions gradually lift across Victoria.Bicycle-themed news includes potentially huge news with Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carrolls annoucement of "100 kilometers of new and improved cycling routes will be delivered across key inner-Melbourne suburbs to make it easier and safer for people cycling to and from the CBD" and minimum passing distance legislation to be introduced in 2021 although it may pay to be cautious about what is actually enacted and also remember what was previously promised (Oct 2016: Active Transport Victoria launched by State Government)It's council election time for many across Victoria: read YarraBUGs City of Yarra election: 2020 Candidate Questionnaire which includes links to other candidate surveys from Streets Alice Yarra, Yarra Climate Action Now, Bicycle Network, Glen Eira BUG, Moreland BUG and Bike Melbourne.International news includes Transport for Under Two Degrees project  that reports that active transport can assist decarbonisation, also see, Carlton Reid: Bicycles And Buses Will Be Future’s Dominant Modes Of Urban Mobility, Predict 346 Transport Experts

Once again recording from lounge rooms, kitchen tables and homes across Melbourne, Val and Faith are joined in their virtual studio by Jenica Brooke and Moses Chitima for this edition of the Yarra BUG Radio Show.We all share our bicycle moments before moving on to the subject ofd the day; the upcoming Bicycle Network Board elections. Jenica and Moses both introduce themselves, share a little about themselves and their cycling lives and talk about why they want to be elected to the Bicycle Network Board and why you should vote for them.

On this weeks 3CR program produced at home due to COVID19 restrictions with one of our talented cats as producer, Chris talks to Juliet Hall and Helen McDonald from The Merri Creek Bridge Group about their story getting a new bridge built between Northcote and Brunswick, what they learnt along the way, getting Darebin and Moreland councils to listen to community concerns and importantly, getting a positive (and built!) outcome that supports local active transport.Local news includes another positive outcome with Yarra Council voting (15 September 2020 Meeting minutes, this is the link to download the pdf) to proceed with 12 month trials with Elizabeth Street protected bicycle lanes in Richmond and the Park Street contra-flow to relieve pressure off the nearby Capital City Trail in Carlton / Fitzroy North during and after Stage 4 restrictions, local bike shops being able to reopen and the Walmer Street Bridge Coalition starting another petition (Change.org: It's time to replace Walmer Street Bridge!) to restart the campaign to replace the no longer fit-for-purpose bridge over the Yarra River between Abbotsford and Kew.

Coming to you from lounge rooms and kitchen tables across the country this week's edition of the Yarra BUG Radio Show features significantly less barking dogs than some past episodes. Val and Faith are joined by Jorja Creighton, to talk about prioritizing joy, creating space for everyone without patronizing them to death and the very awesome sounding Super Jambo Grom Pre coming up in November.

On this weeks 3CR program produced at home due to Stage 4 lockdown, Chris talks to Philip Mallis about his article written for people new to cycling (My advice for people who are new to riding bikes during COVID-19) Philip was interviewed earlier this year about journey planning for new & intending riders during COVID-19.News includes a 8-bit homage to Tour de France it's final week, watching SBS Cycling Central and the online entertainment of #couchpeloton, #sbstdf, #toursnacks, #fieldart, #tourcats and #tourdogs.Other news includes the gradual lifting of Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne with two hours exercise allowed per day, a transcription excerpt of Premier highlights pandemic need to remake our streets and urban areas and how you can support City of Yarras Making Space projects (Elizabeth Street bicycle lane, Park Street bicycle projects, Centre median on Nicholson Street, Abbotsford) by making your submission or question to the Council Meeting by 10am Tuesday 15th September.Read more: Call to action, Watch City of Yarra livestream from 7pm Tuesday 15th September 2020.

Val and Faith are back on Zoom recording from garden sheds and kitchens across the suburbs in Melbourne's stage four restrictions. We kick off the show with our bicycle moments which this week focus on finding the small joys within our tiny 5km worlds, before we take a look at some news.We wonder out loud what the changes to Melbourne Metropolitan's Stage four restrictions will be, you can check out the most recent iteration here; we mention the shocking 'spear tackle' of Korey Penny riding his bike  on St KIida Rd and remind listeners about the importance of their feedback about the Elizabeth Street separated bike lane. Faith talks about the application by Bunnings to build a store in Glenlyon Rd Brunswick and the problems a proposed del]velopment like this can cause when it doesn't take into account established bicycle networks and the impact of the traffic they plan to generate on those networks. If you use Glenlyon RD to get to Brunswick Secondary College, RMIT, Brunswick Baths, Sydney Rd, Ewing St, Brunswick South Primary, the East Brunsick Shimmy or Sumner Park or any other of the many destinations Glenlyon Rd provides acces to, then you should lodge your objection at Morleand Council by September 16th. You can find the planning application and advice on lodging an objection here. It is important that your objection reference your personal experience and the impact on you and/or your family. You can get in touch with Moreland BUG if you have concerns about this application.Val provides an insight into the sugar strike of 1911, an inspiration for bicycle activists everywhere!

On this weeks iso-recorded-at-home program Chris chats to Zoë McMaster who shares her observations of being involved with Healthy Streets Approach, managed by UK transport charity Sustrans and funded by Transport for London.Healthy Streets approach assists local boroughs (equivalent of Australian councils and shires) to deliver, advocate and assist in local active travel projects and provide extra resources working with communities during and after COVID19 lockdown.Local news includes City of Melbourne announcing Little Streets, (Flinders Lane, Little Collins, Little Bourke, Little Lonsdale) and a new Vic Health survey (Footpaths & bike lanes key to active travel post coronavirus) revealing three in four (76%) Victorians want local and state governments to adapt infrastructure so more people can walk or ride.Quote: VicHealth Executive Manager of Programs Kirstan Corben said it was encouraging to see councils create environments that promote walking and riding for both transport and recreation. “Since the coronavirus pandemic began it’s been fantastic to see Victorian councils like the City of Moreland, City of Yarra, City of Melbourne and City of Greater Bendigo make changes so it’s easier for residents and commuters to walk, ride or scoot around their communities for enjoyment during lockdown and travel when restrictions allow,” Ms Corben said.

In this episode of the Yarra BUG Radio Show recorded remotely from lounge rooms, kitchens and studies across Melbourne during Lockdown 2.0 Val and Faith are joined by our guest Norsham Husaini. We all share our bike moments, and discover a mutal dislike of #burbing, before we move on to talk about the videos Norsham has been producing during lockdown. Norsham's videos are Q&A sessions with friends around the globe, recorded separatley while both he and his interviewee are riding their bikes, and then edited together by Norsham. We talk about the effect riding has onloosening ourminds, as people ponder their responses and the thoughtfulness it evokes in both interviewees and listeners and the surprises that come out of this. You can check out Norsham's videos via his intagram account @norshamhusaini or on You Tube. We finish with a small digression about wattle and cycling and a reminder that the Tour de France is coming up.

On this weeks program recorded in the front room, Chris chats to Luke Poland from Sustrans about the recent Bicycle Network webinar,  Learnings from London: How active travel can drive lockdown recovery.Local news includes City of Melbourne gaining Department of Transport support for fast-tracking 40km of seperated bike lanes to help active transport during and post COVID-19 pandemic and how you can support the ongoing Yarra Making Space initiative, including the Park Street contra flow bicycle lanes to ease the crowded Linear Park Trail in Fitzroy and Carlton North and the temporary Elizabeth Street seperated bike lanes in Richmond.Luke discusses actions taken in London to improve physical distancing with active transport, how UK transport authorities differ in regards to positive working collaborations when compared to here in Victora, how UK walking and cycling advocates have a greater impact, work done by Tactical Urbanistas to brighten up urban spaces and even what you can do during the Melbourne lock down.Speakers included Melissa Cazzato (Transport for London), Fran Graham (London Cycling Campaign), Brian Deegan (Urban Movement), Tactical Urbanistas and Stuart Outhred (RACV). Watch the presentation + Q&A on YouTube

This week's remotely recorded show produced in lockdown from lounge rooms and kitchen tables around Melbourne features Kat Carter as our guest. Kat Carter is a Melbourne physiotherapist and cyclist and we've had her on the show a couple of times to talk about the things that happen to your body on the bicycle, good AND bad. This time, we thought we'd focus on indoor cycling, with so many of you spending so much time riding indoors during lockdown. Kat talks about bike set up, what are the differences for your body and its movement compared to outdoor riding and what to keep an eye out for as well as what to enjoy! Kat has recently moved and can be found at Kat Carter Physio when she isn't talking to us!