YarraBUG

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Huw Vellacot of Off Course Bike Shop and we all share our bike moments including a particulalry healing ride for Huw. Talk turns to the devasting fire that burned the Off Course home of eighteen years to the ground, almost four weeks ago. The devastation of the fire extends far beyond the bricks and mortar or stock, with twenty staff affected and a community that extends around the world feeling the loss. Huw talks about how the business has been able to regroup, how doing things and being together in a space has helped staff, and the wider community through the recent Fire (Garage) Sale, process not only the loss but what a future might look like. We finish up with a reminder that this Friday sees Critical Mass head to Moonee Valley!

On this 2026 Radiothon show, Chris and Val discuss the 50th anniversary of 3CR launching across airwaves alongside community radio in Australia. Our interview this week is Hayden from Tradies on Bikes, a electrician based in Thornbury who discusses getting started, development and logistics for running his business on a cargo bike. Donate to YarraBUG Radio on Givenow link3cr.org.au/donateNews includes Bicycle Network strategy day for 5% for safer streets, Off Course bike shop fire sale and rapid resurgence and La Velocita: Build the damn bike lanes:There are few things more predictable in Australian public life than the instant aneurysm some people suffer whenever bicycle infrastructure is mentioned.Poetry reading: Val recites The Man with Rubber Pedals and Mulga Bill's Bicycle, both being possible forerunners to modern day Strava PBs amongst other things.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarCal Tjader, PoincianaTycho, DX Odyssey

Val and Nic from Melbourne BUG look at Ghost Bikes, when they started, what they mean and how they have been used. "We promised to deliver nation-leading laws about who can ride, what they can ride, where they can ride, and how fast- and our laws do exactly that."Brent Mickelberg. Qld. Minister of Transport. What can I say, and on World Bicycle Day.

On this weeks program Chris interviews Tim Dow (Tim Rob Don Dow) and Stephanie Mulder (Yardbird Studio) from Mosey Guide about their slow travel walking and cycling guides for neighbourhoods in Australia, Europe and Asia, including their recent Northside Design Ride: A Leisurely Cycling Tour of Melbourne Design through the inner north organised for Melbourne Design Week. Tim and Stephaniediscuss planning, engaging, discovering local destinations and developing the local guides and future plans. Guides include A Merri Ride, Footscray, Thornbury and North Melbourne.Second guest is Michael, owner and digital creator of Fuji Roll, we chat about showcasing cycling in Melbourne, Sydney and overseas, documenting experiences, riding as prime method of transport, road conditions, creating instagram reels documenting local events and rides, including the Northside Design Ride, Smith Street, Collingwood, Macarthur Street, East Melbourne, Canning Street, Carlton North, and San Francisco Cycles, Golden Gate Bridge.Local news includes Off Course bike shop fire on 27 May 2026, Critical Mass: Big City Lights tour through Richmond, Abbotsford, Collingwood and Clifton Hill, Dixon Veloway maintenance closure: between Footscray and West Melbourne will be closed overnight on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 June from 7pm-5am for planned maintenance. Also we briefly mention Barnaby Joyce's connection to the rise of e-bikes: Why are e-bikes suddenly all over Australia's streets?Program MusicScratching, Malvern StarSparks, (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your CountryTrue Love Always, Bicycle RiderHONNE, BIKE

Faith and Val are joined in the studio today by Melanie Brown, a nurse from Adelaide who has taken her passion for vaccination and the history of infectious diseases in Australia on an epic ride from Adelaide to Sydney. We kick off with our bike moments before taking a look at some local news including a great (albeit depressing) long read from the ABC The long road to a bike friendly Australia. Serendipitously, Bicycle Network launched a statewide campaign yesterday (together with about 30 community groups including Yarra BUG) arguing for 5% of the Victorian Transport budget to be dedicated to funding Startegic Cycling Corridors. You can check out the campaign and take a look at the different ways to get involved. Discussion turns to Melanie's ride, exploring cemeteries between Adelaide and Sydney and the stories they hold of the impact of sometimes forgotten infectious diseases on the communities now buried there. In between cemeteries she has been enjoying the scenery and wildlife. You can follow her adventures as she continues her journey on Instagram @itsinfectiousWe finish up with a reminder that the next Critical Mass ride is coming up this Friday evening! Bring your lights, ALL of your lights!

On this weeks program Chris catches up with two previous guests, first up Alex Lamb from Nicer Wellington Street, a group of Clifton Hill and Collingwood residents who supported 'Option 1: shared street' for Wellington Street. Alex talks about last Tuesdays massive Yarra Council meeting, where two thirds of public feedback supported to the bold vision make Wellington less traffic choked, and we unpack councillors decision to reject Wellington Street upgrades, road safety audit reports and what it means for the community. We also discussion how misinformation changes public debate for the worse, a comprehensive review of the Wellington Street decision, Congestion levy funds, ongoing fuel crisis, possible North East Link impacts for residents, how current Yarra Council has pattern of behaviour to degrade and stop creation of green spaces in the inner suburbs, an overall lack of vision and future engagement and plans, including Critical Mass ride on 29 May 2026.Local news includes previous guest Robbie Danger Webb being accepted as official Guinness world records title holder as first openly transgender person to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle and two The Age ig reels on the Alphington Link and the popular Ride Outs events across Melbourne.Second guest is Aidan Barac-Dunn from Safer Streets for Richmond with Adopt safe 30km/h streets in Richmond petition being tabled at council. We discuss about simple steps to make local streets safer with recent Speed Zoning Policy, how Love 30 started in Yarra circa 2018, how more European cities are accepting 30km/h as standard and startling road death statistics in post WW11 Richmond referenced by Janet McCalman in her book, Struggletown Public and Private Life in Richmond 1900–1965, recent speed zone changes in Richmond and planning for future campaigns.Program musicScratching, Malvern StarTycho, Consciousness Felt Four Tet, LushLaibach, Fliud EmancipationTrue Love Always, Bicycle Rider

Val and Faith catch up in the studio and share their bike moments, a green wave for Val on the way to the studio this morning and another milestone celebrating almost Mothers Day and almost 100 women in the Wheel Sisters program in Merri-bek for Faith. We take a look at some news including; updates from Queenslands' attempts to work out a way forward with e-bikes, and the Yarra Council meeting on Tuesday where the proposals for Wellington Street will be considered. Read about what has changed and how you can get involved at Say Yes to a New Wellington Street. We also take a moment to ponder the State Budget 2026-2030 released last week and what is in it for active trasnport? As that proves to be a very short conversation we dissect the gender lens Victoria has used to provide an analysis of the budget and its impact on women, or is it more a case of rose coloured glasses?

On this weeks program we're doing a hour long program as a treat with two interviews.First up: Chris catches up with Erin and Liam from the Nicer Wellington Street crew about advocating for a leafier, quieter, and safer Wellington Street for everyone in the week before a crucial vote at the next Yarra Council Meeting on 12 May 2026.Erin and Liam discuss supporting Option 1 for both Wellington Street - South and Wellington Street - North, building community support in Clifton Hill and Collingwood, with over 900 names in support, improving canopy cover, road design, improving resident amenity, parking issues, writing to councillors, Yarra receiving $3m per year from Congestion Levy for active transport projects, and challenging confusion and misinformation, including cross street traffic fears and that the north section of Wellington Street could be closed to local traffic.Second chat: Cr Eleanor Freeman from City of Adelaide talks about a recent feasibility assessment to create pop up bike lanes due to Australia's ongoing fuel crises.Eleanor discusses creating safe conditions for new and intending riders, keeping the city open, working on network gaps, new cycling strategy as part of City of Adelaide Integrated Climate Strategy 2030 and working towards a more strategic approach with South Australia state government (Party leader backs pop-up bikeways in Adelaide CBD, Pop-up bike lanes mooted for Adelaide streets)News includes Alphington Link to be completed due to state government implementing the Transport Integration Act so that 120m of shared trail can finally be constructed after a insane 37 year wait, Ride & Stride e-bike subsidies for Merri-bek families, a fabulous BikeRave Melbourne ride on the weekend just gone, Critical Mass on 29 May 2026, Maribynong Council investigating a pop up bike lane program and Sydney Road issues due to looming Level Crossing works. (The 9km corridor that’s recorded 279 cyclist crashes but still doesn’t have a protected bike lane)Program musicScratching, Malvern StarStreets of your town, The Go-betweensSource, Tycho

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Dr Afshin Jafar, Research Fellow at RMIT University. We all share our bike moments and wax lyrical about Friday evening's Critical Mass ride along Sydney Road to protest the diabolical detours proposed by the LXRP while the Upfield Path is closed for construction. Dr Jafar reminds us that in addition to the well known benefits of bike riding and the community it builds, like Critical Mass, we also need quantifiable benefits to support business cases for infrastructure that allows people to move around safely by bike. Finding a way to model these benefits to specific contaxts has remained a challenge which is why RMIT has been working on a tool for bicycle infrastructure investment analysis. With greater nuance in its modelling of the diversity of riders the tool combines spatial, infrastructure and safety data integration, demand forecasting and econometric scenario projections to understand how to best achieve successful rollouts that maximise the benefits of cycling as a transport mode. A recent case study in Bendigo provides some insight into how the tool might work. While we ran out of time to mention it on the program don't forget that Melbourne Bike Rave is coming up this coming weekend!

On this weeks program we're having a musical interlude including a new release from locals Scratching. Back in a fortnight!Program musicSia, Riding on my bikeSleepy Dreamers, Bike songScratching, Malvern StarEvalyn Parry, Two wheeled words, to wield wordsEels, 3 speedHey Ocean!, BicycleKing Curly, Riding in the darkHymner feat. Alessandra, BicycleMaika Loubte, Ride My Bike

On this weeks show, Chris catches up with Kathryn Good from the Story Bridge Active Transport Alliance about last weeks E-mobility Critical Mass protest ride in Brisbane against proposed amendments to Queensland e-bike legislation.Speakers from SNAP ACTION: Defend Legal E-Bikes - Critical Mass Ride included Andrea Herklots, EveryBody Electric Bikes and Matthew Burke, Bicycle Queensland.If you're in Queensland (or Queensland adjanct) please make a submission before 10 April 2026.See E-Mobility Inquiry Committee, Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, news articles: ‘If they want us on the roads, we’re getting on the roads’: Riders plot peak-hour protest and Backlash over pending Queensland e-bike licence laws.Local news includes a fabulous April 1st media release from the Department of Pedalling and Perspiration about their new Ride to Save scheme, ongoing energy and transport issues, see Why affordable alternatives to the car have never mattered more, Wellington Street in the news: Wellington Street wars: The plan dividing Collingwood and Clifton Hil, April Fool: Why paying cyclists isn’t such a joke and have a look at Modal filters in the inner north, North Richmond Bike Bus: Sunday Ride on 19 April, Critical Mass possibly heads north on Friday 24 April. Elizabeth Street update: if you haven't seen the dinky little red bollards yet and narrowed conditions for people parking their cars and trying to ride past, general advice is to monitor, document, report and repeat.Program musicHONNE, BIKE

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by Curtis Hatton of Bike Rave Melbourne. We all share a bike moment before taking a look at some recent news including the Victorian government's announcement of free public transport for one month from April 1st. With limited public transport accessibility in many parts of Melbourne shouldn't some pop-up style bike lanes be part of the solution? Talk turns to Bike Rave Melbourne, another enduring grassroots bike event that will be celebrating it's 13th year in 2026. With a line up of four DJs, the promise of epic playslists and a theme of Deluxe Disco this year's event on May 2nd promises to be epic. Melburn Roobaix may have left a hole in this year's bike calendar in Melbourne but maybe this is a way to fill it? You can find all the details and FREE registration for updates at @bikeravemelbourne or Bike Rave Melbourne on FB

On this weeks program Chris talks to numerous guests about the Elizabeth Street protected lanes protests, media coverage and ongoing issues (apologies for audio quality), including reels from Gabrielle and Sophie, College Street Cycleway history and critique and timeline of last weeks events leading to the protected lanes demolition.Local news includes, Ride to School Day, Australia's looming energy crisis, Victoria’s Active Transport Plan announcement, Ongoing Elizabeth Street works: Bicycle Networks 25 March article includes more useful detail than Yarra Councils Roadworks update.In March 2026 with a looming national petrol crisis and crunch time for many household travel budgets, it is an indictment on the Victorian Government that neither Minister stepped up to stop demolition of Elizabeth Street protected lanes exactly when people need safe, economical transport options.Action you can take nowEmail 1: Contact Ministers: Why doesn’t the Victoria Government support it’s own Active Transport Plan?Email 2: Contact Yarra Council: Immediate action required: Fix Elizabeth Street, Richmond Safety issuesMedia CoverageThe Age: Bobcat and protesters take to Richmond bike corridor being narrowed for car spaces Media Release – Yarra Council Rips Up Bike Lanes – “Road Safety” Minister Lets It Happen ‘Used to be the most progressive’: Yarra Council begins narrowing bike lanes to make room for car spaces Inner City News: Cyclists protest Yarra’s Elizabeth St bike lane downgrade in Richmond Drive.com.au – ‘Back to the people’: Cyclists outraged after introduction of new car parksProgram musicKing Stingray, Camp dogBonobo, Linked

Val and Faith kick off the show with their bike moments and collectively appreciate the recent shift to autumn. We chat about the recent death of two teenagers in Queensland on an 'e-bike', although its hard to know much about the circumstances at this point. We also remind listeners that the Elizabeth Street protected bike lanes are being ripped up this morning ahead of the re-sheeting of the road and the rebuilding of the lanes in a narrower, less safe configuration. When will the State Government take responsibility for Strategic Cycling Corridors? Not only are they langusihing from a lack of funding but with no one willing to take responsibility for the quality they are built to poor outcomes like that we're seeing on Elizabeth Street undermine local and state aspirations to active transport. Read about what you can do here.Val shares another favourite podcast episode about the history of 15 minute cities and we'll share the link here shortly!

On this weeks show, Chris talks to Aaron Moon about the Parkville Gardens Bike Bus that rides every Friday morning during Term 1, a fun, active way for kids to get to Flemington Primary School together. The bike bus is a collab with several groups including Flemington Primary School, Moonee Valley Bicycle Users Group, Active Transport Moonee Valley, Dr Crankys, Ellen Sandell and City of Melbourne.Learn more: Bike Bus World, Bike Bus Toolkit (WA), Zero Carbon Merri-bek: Ride to school on a Bike Bus! (Vic), North Richmond Bike Bus (Vic) and Bayswater Bike Bus (WA).News includes another futile global fossil fuel conflict, now with even less oversight than the previous two Gulf Wars and more incomprehensibly stupid, refer to MUA: Australia's fuel insecurity exposed by global conflict & Climate Council: Fuel shock: why clean energy is our best defence, Bicycle Network Super Tuesday Bike Counts and a water main collapse on St George's Road South opposite Brunswick Oval. Program musicKing Stingray, Camp DogMGMT, Kids (Instrumental)HONNE, BIKE

On this weeks program Chris talks to two guests, first up Alex Lamb from Say YES to a new Wellington Street, a group of residents who support 'Option 1: shared street' for Wellington Street. Alex discusses Option 1 benefits, challenges, history, critiques the anti-Welllington Street campaign and how can people get involved, add their names to an open letter and get a corflute to show support for safer Wellington Street.Second guest is Aidan Barac-Dunn from Safer Streets for Richmond who currently have petition for Adopt safe 30km/h streets in Richmond. Aidan talks about simple steps to make local streets safer, including Speed Zoning Policy and signaling to the community what's possible.Local news includes Bike Fest: an epic all things Bikes, FREE fun day out Saturday 21st March, located outside Bike Hubs shop at 608 Barkly Street, West Footscray.Program music: H O N N E, BIKEFour Tet - Into Dust (Still Falling)Bonobo, Flashlight

Faith and Val are back in the studio and sharing their bike moments despite a glitch to the start of the program. Amongst other news, it is 3CRs annual Subscriber Drive and a great time to subscfribe to the station if you don't already so so. You can subscribe at this link, and select Yarra BUG Radio from the dropdown if you would like to support the program. The Great Rixe of Return Naarm is planned again for late March and they need more people to help particulalry on the day. Get in touch if you can help! Faith chats about local updates on her cycling routes in the Netherlands and Dutch pragmatism in implementing infrastructure in challenging spaces. Val takes us back fifty years to 1976 when 3CR was created and a look at our favourite bicycles in Mdelbourne at the time.

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Jeremy Lawrence Streets Alive Yarra and discuss Yarra Council Report card, the ever moving festival of local democracy alongside rise of grievance politics, proposed Elizabeth Street protected lanes narrowing, a request sent to Gabrielle Williams to protect Strategic Cycling Corridors from degradation, protected bike lane guidelines, announcing creation of new inner suburb parks yet stopping plans for Charlotte Street park in Richmond, Malop Street Green Spine project issues in 2020 and shared space challenges and opportunities facing cities everywhere. Local news, Lime share bike and scooter trial starts in Darebin, Melburn Roobaix takes a pause in 2026, but there's Footscray-Roubaix 2026 on Sunday 1 March 2026. Hey are you a current 3CR subscriber? In February 2026, 3CR is aiming for ONE THOUSAND subscribers, it’s just $40 concession, or $80 full - here's all the ways you can subscribe and support community radio!Program musicKing Stingray, Camp dogTycho, DR Odyssey

This weeks program has two interviews, first up Chris talks to Adele Vosper about Stonnington Council partnering with the Transport Accident Commission to conduct a smart bike light trial with See.Sense bike lights and data technology to capture data on bike riding experiences in Stonnington.For additional details, go to Light Insights Trial to apply and complete the application form by 5pm Monday 23 February 2026.Second interview, Karen Hovenga talks about the new North Richmond Bike Bus having a soft launch this Friday 30 Friday January for Term 1.'North Richmond Bike Bus is a group of families who live in North Richmond and have children at Yarra Primary School and Trinity Primary School. We meet on a Friday morning and ride our bikes to school together. We'd love to have you join the fun.'Read more about bike busesComplete this google form to register or volunteer.Funding for the North Richmond Bike Bus has been supported by the Victorian Government.Local news includes a call out for assistance to keep Melbourne Bike Rave going, staying safe during the current heatwave conditions across Victoria and Australia. Go to VicEmergency to find emergency information and warnings.Following up on e-bike changes in Victoria, Transport Victoria have banned all converted e-bikes from the network, in Hobart/Nipaluna: Bike lanes not to blame for congestion and international outrage and solidary after the extrajudicial killing of Alex Pretti on 24 January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Program MusicKing Stingray, Camp dogTycho, DevicesTycho, To Everywhere Part. 1

Nic Dow and Val take a look into how the mayors in cities drive changesin cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Examples being Ann Hidalgo of Parisand Sadiq Khan of London.