YarraBUG

Val and Faith are joined in the studio by Anthony Aisenberg of CrowdLab. We all share our bike moments before taking a look at some very exciting news; firstly the completion of the Gipps Street ramp after a twenty-plus year advocacy effort, and secondly, the opening of the Dixon Veloway, named after our favourite studio guest, the late Iris Dixon.  Talk turns to CrowdLab's latest project, CrashDash; a platform for providing acess to crash data collected by agencies across Australia. CrashDash pulls together the sometimes impermeable state governement crash statistics and provides filters and tools that give advocates, councils, consultants and others user-friendly access to data about their local areas and projects. Anthony fills us in on the differences between the ways different states collect data in Australia and the need for a uniform national approach. You can also check out Anthony's earlier project BikeSpot. 

On this weeks program Chris talks with Lachlan McKenna about e-bike standards, Saul Griffith observations about using e-bikes in hilly areas, torque vs. power discussions, different potential uses in Australia, lower transport emissions, Australia returning to the EN-15194 standard after they were scrapped by the previous Australia Federal Government in 2021 and we discuss his petition: Increase Tasmanian E-Bike Power Restrictions to USA Standards (750W) TAS is not Europe.Local news includes Critical Mass 30, both Gipps Street Ramps and Westgate Veloway opening real soon, Adopt safe 30km/h streets in Richmond petition and in related news earlier this week, Darebin Council adopted 30km/h as part of the High Street Preston Streetscape Upgrade.Program musicKing Stingray, Camp dogShonen Knife, Cycling is fun

Faith and Val are joined in the studio at 3CR by guest Vince Masci. We all share our bike moments before taking a look at a couple of local news items. Last Friday an ammendment was passed in Parliament that sees $15M of the revenue collected by the parking/congestion levy allocated to walking and cycling projects in participating local council areas for each of the next ten years. This is a small but significant boost to local Council's active transport budgets and we look forward to seeing the results! Also announced last Friday, the federal government is re-instating tthe european standard EN-15194 for imported electric bikes while also working on a framework to regulate the import of electric mobility devices. This will give people clarity on what is and isn't a legal electric bike and also help state governments sensibly regulate the use of electric bikes, particularly on public transport. Talk turns to Vince's project with the VicBug.app, mapping the different sorts of bicycle infrsctructure around Melbourne and building a platform for community input and maybe even data informed advocacy. Its only been online for a few weeks so take a look and sign up and give your feedback. You may also want to check out Vince's other project at bikeroutes.com.auFinally we finish up with a reminder that Critical Mass is coming up this Friday, its a BIG one, its the 30th anniversary this month of Critical Mass in Melbourne so make sure you come along and join the party! 

On this weeks program Chris interviews Anna from Big Ride for Palestine. News and events includes looking back to anti F19 protests blocking Alexandra Parade in 1976, reminiscing about damage done by cycling 'advocate' John Forrester including his interference with Geelong Bike Plan in the 1970s, see How One Cycling-Obsessed Weirdo's Pro-Bike Crusade Actually Made Riding Bikes Worse For Everyone Else and Not Just Bikes latest deep dive on the subject: This is Why Cycling is Dangerous in America. Infrastructure Victoria announces new ideas for 12 cycling corridors across the Melbourne area which would be absolutely fabulous, if implemented. (BN: New infrastructure strategy boosts bike corridors).Anna chats about Big Ride for Palestine, the rides history, community building, how people can get involved with walking, running or cycling to raise needed funds to support two of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s long-term partner organisations, ‘MA’AN Development Centre’ in Palestine and ‘Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organisation (PWHO)’ in Lebanon. Funds raised will support the vital work of these organisations, including MA’AN’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Register for the Merri Creek event on Saturday 22 November 2025Read more The Big Ride for Palestine eventsEvents include St Kilda Bike Kitchen: Fix-A-Flat Workshop @ St Kilda LibraryGipps Street Ramp Works: upcoming closures between 9am to 4pm, Monday 17 November and Wednesday 19 November 2025Critical Mass 30: Critical Mass celebrates 30 years of riding home together, so get your party plans organised, meet 5.30pm, State Library, Swanston Street, Friday 28 November 2025.Program musicB I K E, H O N N E  

Faith and Val are joined in the studio by James Laing, an active transport specialist with Stantec and twenty years experience in the UK and with the City of London. We share our bike moments which include a reminder that November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and the Lung Foundation is raising funds towards research that allows the increasing number of people, and in particular young women who are being disgnosed with lung cancer. Modern treatments mean not only that people like Faith's friend survive but also that they are able to enjoy some of their usual activities, like bike rides, to some extent but more research is always needed! You can make a donation here if you'd like to.James Laing fills us in on the background to the Healthy Streets framework, how it was developed and why in the UK and how it has made its way to Australia. We discuss the benefits of the framework in providing more rounded perspectives of the impacts changes on our streets can have for everyone, who is using it in Australia and who still isn't. You can find out more about Healthy Streets here.  Local examples:Merri-bek Council use healthy Streets assesments as part of their Streets For People Plan