YarraBUG

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Sarah Imm about her plans as the new Bicycle Mayor of Sydney and how the role was created, her involvement with the Indian Pacific Wheelrace memorial ride for Mike Hall in Sydney, how the #bikeshopeat with Kritof Allegaert came about, her plans in the coming months for Vélo-á-Porter and how the focus of the Bicycle Mayor and Vélo-à-Porter differ.

This weel Val chats with guest and fellow Burnley Park resident Don Ash and their topic is how Council Planning may affect and impact local wildlife and the health and wellness of local residents. Yarra City Council is consdering a permit for a 108 seat restaurant to be established in the heart of pristine Burnely Park. Melbourne cyclists would know Burnley Park as the one adjacent to Yarra Boulevard and a place where community can rest and relax in a commercial free environment. Interested listeners might want to follow the residents action by clicking on the following links: #saveburnleypark as well as the online petition: www.change.org/p/misha-coleman-yarracity-vic-gov-au-stop-commercial-development-of-community-park-land

This week Chris talks to Asher Wolf about her article Meet The Food Delivery Workers In The Decentralised Dickensian Online Gig Economy and what needs to happen to protect vulnerable workers in this deregulated service industry. Other news includes staying up far too late to watch Greg Van Avermaet win a particularly fast & very dusty Paris Roubaix, your input is needed to Help shape Yarra's future, especially in regards to cycling infrastructure funding and Wallan to Heathcote Rail Trail Feasibility Study.

After several recent 3CR programs dedicated to the Indian Pacific Wheelrace, Val and Chris attempt to process Fridays unbearably tragic news of Mike Halls death on the Monaro highway outside of Canberra. Mike was one of the worlds greatest ultra endurance cyclists and an event founder, going back to the Tour Divide. As a mark of respect, cyclists all over the world quickly organised tribute rides to Mike, with thousands turning out in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane on Sunday 2nd April. A Perth tribute ride is planned for later this week. With thanks to Sam and Steve, we play audio of Andrew Pike's moving speech for Mike from the Melbourne ride conclusion at Wurundjeri Spur, Yarra Bend Boulevard.We also reflect upon the passing of Jim Freeman, a long time Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club member and friend to many. Cycling news also includes Philippe Gilberts unexpected win in the Tour of Flanders and a proposed elevated "cycleway" for Melbournes inner west at part of the West Distributor.

On this week program, Steve talked with Jesse Carlsson at the Indian Pacific Wheelrace launch at Curve Cycling about a fortnight ago - and today is day 10 when the race leaders finally hit Melbourne!Chris talks to Senator Janet Rice about bicycle funding and riding in Melbourne's west in the wake of Arzu Baglars death in Yarraville a fortnight ago. Janet also speaks about recent motion she introduced in the Australian senate calling for federal investment in cycling and simple steps how you can help get cycling on the agenda with your local council and elected representatives, even if you're not a seasoned campaigner or activist.

Val and Faith are joined in the studio on this miserable autumn morning by Will Hartnett. We briefly chat about the tragic death of Azura B in Yarraville recently, trolls abusing Janet Rice for commenting on the gender split on much of Melbourne's cycling routes and the nexus between these two. We then turn to the inaugral Indian Pacific Wheel Race, now underway after setting out from Fremantle on Saurday at 6am. Will is updating the #IPWR blog and fills us in on the leaders, their efforts so far, the conditions they've been riding in, what they can expect coming up. We also take a look at the rest of the field, with 50% of the women riding in the top ten, and some fascinating stories amongst the seventy-odd riders who've chosen to take on this challenge. Some handy links to keep in touch with the Indy Pac Race over the next week or two; Indian Pacific Wheel Race, Indian Pacific Wheel Race on Facebook, Indian Pacific Wheel Race Potato Cake Survey, Sarah Hammond Purple Dot.

Two interviews this week: first up, Chris & Steve chat to Rishi Fox about her preparation and focus for the upcoming Transcontinental 5, an unsupported 4000km endurance ride from Belgium to Greece, alongside her training, anecdotes, confidence building, combined with her love of cycling adventures. You can support Rishi on her solo ride at gofundme.com and watch in real time on transcontinental.cc from 28 July 2017.Second interview: Alan Todd from Freestyle Cyclists about his long involvement with Australia's mandatory helmet legislation (MHL), "Australian Exceptionalism", conflict with bureaucracy, police and media criticism about the upcoming Helmet Optional ride on Saturday 18 March 2017. Alan states the case that focussing on MHL distracts from more important cycling safety issues.

Its a stunning autumn morning as Val and Faith kick off the show with their respective bike moments. Discussion turns to Sydney Rd, Brunswick and Coburg and a statement from the RACV supporting the removal of car parking from the strip to facilitate the movement of people in cars, trams and on foot and on bikes. With the State Government bound to implement accessible platforms for the tram by 2022, there is an opportunity to improve the flow of pedestrians, trams, cars and bicycles along the shopping strip and simultaneously improve the environment of the street for shoppers visiting traders. Sydney Rd is unque in that there is enough existing off-road car parking spaces to replace those lost by removing on-street parking. You can find out more at Revitalise Sydney Road. Val discusses some news about technical developments in the bike wold before we move onto a long list of rides coming up over the next few weeks. These include; 55+ Pushy Social Ride, Stop Fining Healthy Transport Ride, Melbourne World Naked Bike Ride, Cemetery Discovery Tour, the start of the Indian Pacific Wheel Race and the 2017 Women's Ride.

On todays program, Chris speaks to Andy Gild and Gary Chan from Melbourne Bicycles For Humanity Chapter about working with local communities in Nambia, their upcoming events and projects, including how you can get involved with fundraising for Cycle for Humanity during March 2017 and win great prizes, Bicycles for Humanity: A Portfolio exhibition on 5pm, 1st March (Please RSVP by 28 Feb via [email protected]) and a series of Sunday afternoon forums starting 5th March at Magnet Gallery, 640 Bourke Street, Melbourne.Local news includes Change.org petition to keep St Georges Road crossovers closed, after Melbourne Water completes their work, to make the area safer for pedestrians and riders, Pushy Youth Yarra courses starting this week, todays Merri Creek temporary closure under High Street bridge, Northcote, Parks Victoria repair work on Main Yarra Trail at Henley Landing and this weeks Bike Talks and Oil at Burnley Backyard, 5.30pm, Wednesday 1st March, 49 Tudor Street, Richmond.

Val and Faith are joined in the sudio today by Col Bell of Sunbury Cycling Club and Fields of Joy CX. We all share our bicycle moments before running through some news including; two recent incidents of cyclists being shot, near Southland in Melbourne and near Everton, good progress on the Darebin Yarra Trail link and free bicycle training for youth in Yarra. We turn to CX and specifically Col's visit to the recent UCI CX World Chamionships in Luxembourg with other members of the FOJCX team. Col talks us through the warm welcome the Australians received, the UCI's respect for race organizers, what it takes to host a CX World Championships and the ideas the team brought back to Australia and FOJCX. We also discussed the C2 UCI CX events Fields of Joy will be hosting for the first time this year and the opportunities there for both racers and spectators and the wider community. There was no time to list upcoming events today but some of those we would draw your attenton to are; Pushy Social Rides 55+,  the Stop Fining Healthy Transport Ride, the World Naked Bike Ride and the start of the Indian Pacific Wheelrace.