YarraBUG

This weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group program is from our front room again in response to the COVID-19 crisis, on this weeks edition, Chris and Steve discuss two recent passings, first up with the legacy of vehicular cycling advocate John Forester and Kraftwerk founding member Florian Schneider, known for his massive influence upon music and dedication to cycling.Chris does a follow up on last fortnights interview with Dr Ben Beck about #SpaceForHealth, this week with Megan Sharkey, we discuss about responses from City of Melbourne (Car parks out, footpaths and cycling lanes in as city prepares for post-COVID commuters) and Yarra City Council (video link: 24 minute mark 9.1: Physical Distancing and Public Space Opportunities), the recent announcement by NSW government (More cycleways, streets to shut, footpaths widened under NSW's COVID-19 plan), restrictions and limitations upon what councils can implement, overseas examples and what people can do to support Space for Health campaign in their local area by contacting councils, politicians and organisations. 3CR Station Appeal is coming soon: many of you will be familiar with 3CR's annual Radiothon fundraiser - it's when our listeners literally keep the station going with their generous donations. It's a vibrant and busy time each June at the station, and an all-in effort from our volunteers, staff and supporters. But in 2020, under Covid-19 restrictions, we need to do things a bit differently. So stay tuned for our June Station Appeal - it'll be online, on-point, and be asking those of you who can to make a donation to keep 3CR alive.

We take a look at indoor cycling and the software that enhances it. Why it's so popular during Covid19 restrictions and how it works to keep your social life alive and what you need to get set up.

This weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group program is coming to you from our front room in response to the COVID-19 crisis, read more at 3CR's response to Covid-19 and you can also share a message and connect to communityOn this weeks program, Chris and Steve discuss huge increases in cycling on Melbournes shared paths during COVID-19, how most of this existing infrastructure is not fit for purpose and what steps should be taken to remedy the situation of crowded public spaces and access. (Push for major Melbourne roads to become cyclist-only thoroughfares | What do we want life in Melbourne to look like on the other side?)This weeks interview is with Dr Ben Beck, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University and President of the Australasian Injury Prevention Network (AIPN) on the immediate requirement for decision makers to create #SpaceForHealth during and post-COVID-19 crisis.As doctors, nurses, public health and transport researchers, health promotion organisations and industry groups, we fully support individuals, communities, and governments in their rapid and effective action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognise the importance of social distancing, with particular need to protect the most vulnerable.Read the letter: Doctors, public health and transport researchers call on government to enable safe walking and cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the futureChange.org petition: #SpaceForHealth, a call for safer walking & cycling space in Australia NOW!

Val and Faith take to their repective laptops for this episode of the Yarra BUG Radio Show. Val shares a particularly long and slightly grim reading before we both share our respctive bike moments. As you can imagine with #Covid19 restrictions on bike riding it's the small details that will count. We take a look at some news, including NZ to invest in widening footpaths and installing temporary cycleways to cater for ongoing distancing requirements, a bike boom in Melbourne and the Boulie tacker strikes again after an extended hiatus in Melbourne. We also take a look at the Medium article (Belgian-Dutch Study: Why in times of Covid-19 you cannot walk/run/ride close to each other (Note: the title of this article has been changed and edits have been added since it was originally published) and the wide-sweeping generalisations that were drawn from it over subsequent days. We examine the reception of the article, some subsequent responses and what can be said about the article. Here's a great interview with the lead researcher Bert Blocken whose white paper was stretched beyond the boundaries of science by the internet.  Anthony Aisenberg is our Zoom guest this week and we chat to him about the 2020 BikeSpot project, how you can share your preceptions of safety about your riding routes and how Covid19 may provide extra insight this time around. Find out more about BikeSpot 2020 here.

This weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group program is from our front room again in response to the COVID-19 crisis, read more at 3CR's response to Covid-19. On this weeks program: Chris does a overview on Melbourne cycling news, including Yarra Bicycle Advisory committee meetings postponed until possibly June 2020, new Bennett Street Priority Crossing in Fitzroy North, provide your feedback to BikeSpot 2020 about safe/unsafe cycling locations, are Australian cities following other cities lead on creating immediate tactical cycling provision in response to Covid-19? Short answer: doesn't look like it, unlike Germany and New Zealand: Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany | New Zealand First Country To Fund Pop-Up Bike Lanes, Widened Sidewalks During Lockdown and a highly contentious Medium article about physical distancing while running and cycling. (Wired:Are Running or Cycling Actually Risks for Spreading Covid-19?)The following recordings are from Step Away from the Car 2.0 series of podcasts, recorded at the 2019 Australian Walking and Cycling Conference. ScRamble: how much fun and happiness can a primary school have before, during and after a National Walk to School Day? The ScRamble project in Adelaide pushed the envelope, and the schools are still reaping the benefits. Bridgette Minuzzo was lead artist with the project. Videos of the project are available here and here.Some Light in the Tunnels for Sydney’s Greenway: twenty years ago, some Sydney visionary cyclists, bushcare enthusiasts and community representatives laid claim to an abandoned freight-rail corridor with an eye to creating a haven for nature, cyclists and the community in general. Twenty years of determination in the face of setbacks finally sees Sydney’s Greenway project acquire funding. Environmental engineer Alexa McAuley is involved in the planning.

Val and Faith find themselves staying at home with the rest of Melbourne (and beyond) due to Covid-19. We share our bike moments and some news before having a think about what we can do instead of riding our bikes as much as we'd like. Val thinks it's time to work on your bike, maybe swap over your bar tape, while Faith is planning on some DIY bikepacking bags.

This weeks Yarra Bicycle Users Group program is coming to you from our front room in response to the COVID-19 crisis, read more at 3CR's response to Covid-19. Are you a new or intending rider in Melbourne due to COVID-19 issues and unsure about what's the most suitable route to take? Philip Mallis, transport planner, map creator, former councillor and Chair of Urban Planning at Boroondara Council has offered to assist riders plan their journeys as applications such as Google maps don't prove enough detail for safe and adequate routes. Philip discusses the surge in new riders avoiding public transport, wayfinding, using Open Street Maps, OpenRouteService and his Offer of help: journey planning for your bicycle route.News and events include Two cyclists killed on Melbourne's roads on 18 March, Melbourne also requiring dedicated cycling routes during this unprecedented time, Brad Sohner's action-packed Tour de Quarantine commentary, fill in the Bicycle Network survey: Moving around in the time of COVID-19, international bike share issues, Bogota expanding cycling routes and British Cyclings response to COVID-19. .

Val and Faith weren't able to get into the studio today due to Covid19 restrictions. So here is a program from our summer series. It features Kat Carter, Physiotherapist from Rehub Studios and two discussions we've had with her in the past. The first is on bike fit and the second, on why it hurts when you start riding again after an extended break.

On this weeks program Chris interviews Susanne Newton, Deputy Mayor of Darebin Council and then Renee Dikeni from Brisbane about recent incidents they encountered while riding.Susanne talks about an aggressive interaction with a driver that she recently posted about on twitter, how too many drivers are can be too quickly irritated or unaware about other road users and how rising numbers of cyclists is actually healthier for everyone using the roads.Renee Dikeni discusses a near-miss while she was riding her cargo bike with the incident captured by a drivers dashcam. She talks about riding for transport in Brisbane, riding with her children and her No Car Challenge - 1 Mum, 1 Year, No car cycling challenge to assist fundraise $20,000 for 100 bicycles for World Bicycle Relief Australia. Follow Fit Aussie Sista - 1 Year Cycling Challenge updates via her youtube channel and instagram.News includes plans for A Surge in Biking to Avoid Crowded Trains in New York, a new Yarra Council report proposes to change long standing Bicycle Advisory Committee to a 'active transport advisory committee', Sam Hibbins MP has a Prahran Bike Safe Survey open for people to leave feedback, Cycling Victoria COVID-19 Member Update and AUSTROADS looking for a new Chief Executive, applications for the role close Friday 27 March 2020.

On this weeks program Chris discusses the City of Greater Geelong vote on 25 February to remove recently constructed separated bicycle lanes that are part of the Malop Street Green Spine project with two interviews with Dr Fiona Gray and Simon Howell from Bicycle Users Geelong.Local news includes Melbourne could become the Copenhagen of the south but what part of Melbourne, given the huge residential development in the outer suburbs.Dr Fiona Gray talks about her initial involvement with Malop Street Green Spine project, the consultation process, pop up installation, the entire plan involving six blocks of the Geelong CBD, state government funding, the project winning the Civic Landscape category of the 2019 Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture National Awards, last week's council vote and state government moving to potentially cease future council infrastructure funding. Simon Howell from Bicycle Users Geelong talks about the seperated bike lanes, it's positive benefits for the Geelong CBD, the council vote and further action people can take.To support the seperated bike lanes people are urged to contact Lisa Neville MPSign + share this petition: Save the environmentally friendly Malop Street Green Spine Project that’s due reversalMalop street action - Emergency meetup: 6pm - 7.30pm, Wednesday 4th March, *please note venue change* The Deck Geelong, 2 Gheringhap St, Geelong