Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio on 3CR

21/07/2025

In today's show Val, Faith and Andrea Bunting shared memories of John Englart and his work and play with Rides Against Uranium, Critical Mass naarm - Melbourne, Merri-bek BUG and Climate Action Merri-bek. We barely scratched the surface of his legacy but remembered his capacity for collating and sharing knowledge and analysis along with his infectious sense of fun and engaging manner. John's family are inviting everyone who knew him to celebrate his life with them on Monday July 28th and you'll find all the details at the link in the podcast notes.

Click on the link to listen in.

https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/remembering-john-englart-1955-2025

16/07/2025

Vale John Englart 1955-2025

We are saddened by the news that John Englart aka Takvera, has passed away. John has been a key activist in many sustainability and active transport related groups, including Climate Action Merri-bek, Merri-bek BUG, Extend Upfield Bike Path to Upfield, Critical Mass naarm - Melbourne and many more in naarm Melbourne and across Australia. He was also a prolific writer (a "citizen journalist") on climate and sustainable transport issues and a generous sharer of knowledge. John has been a guest on the Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio Show on many occasions as well as other programs on 3CR Community Radio .

Historian, activist, anti nuclear campaigner way back in the 70s, tireless advocate for safe cycling everywhere. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and everyone, a lovely man who will be really missed. And cuddles to to his beloved Indiana Jones & Juliet. Rest in power John.

https://www.instagram.com/takvera/
https://takvera.blogspot.com/
https://www.flickr.com/people/takver/

15/07/2025

‼ 'Designs for Elizabeth Street have been released under Freedom of Information, showing how the street can work for everyone' ‼

‘There’s something for everyone in the design plans for Elizabeth Street, released under Freedom of Information, including car parking on the north side of the street. Unfortunately, these plans won’t be proceeding because they were never shown to Councillors, and instead Council resolved on 22 April 2025 to drastically narrow the bike lanes and buffers in favour of adding back car parking. Now that they’re in the public domain it’s up to Council to look at them and to choose to adopt them – it should be on the agenda for the August 2025 council meeting.’

Read more 1: https://streets-alive-yarra.org/journal/something-for-everyone-on-elizabeth-street/

2025 – Update 1: the saga so far – Elizabeth Street protected lanes remain under threat, refer to point 3 below and it now appears the lanes will be voted upon at the next Yarra Council meeting on 12 August 2025.

Read more 2: https://www.yarrabug.org/yarra-for-safer-streets/

There’s something for everyone in the design plans for Elizabeth Street, released under Freedom of Information, including car parking on the north side of the street.

Unfortunately, these plans won’t be proceeding because they were never shown to Councillors, and instead Council resolved on 22 April 2025 to drastically narrow the bike lanes and buffers in favour of adding back car parking. Now that they’re in the public domain it’s up to Council to look at them and to choose to adopt them – it should be on the agenda for the August 2025 council meeting.

https://streets-alive-yarra.org/journal/something-for-everyone-on-elizabeth-street/

17/06/2025

📻 New! 3CR Community Radio podcast: The Saga of the Story Bridge in Meanjin Brisbane

🎧 Listen back: https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/saga-story-bridge-meanjin-brisbane

📱Or find us on , Community Radio Plus or podcast client of choice

On this weeks program Chris talks to Kathryn Good from Story Bridge Active Travel Alliance about the sudden footpath closure earlier in 2025 'apparently' due to Cyclone Alfred, difficulties with any answers being given, poor communication from Brisbane City Council, poor detour arrangements, discovering reports about the bridge being being at risk of further damage from the elements and vehicles, who will foot the maintanance or restoration costs, planned court actions, petition to Brisbane City Council, organising bike bus for users safety and where changes to transport planning in cities like Paris and London has lead to fantastic outcomes for active transport. Also see Bicycle Queensland: Bike Bus scheduled for Story Bridge and Space4cyclingbne

Local news: Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece has an attempt at appealing to Melbourne's cycling community, Bike Melbourne and Bicycle Network local campaign to restore City of Melbourne active transport budget, how to stay warm on the bike tips from Sarah @ Electrify This and a big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to YarraBUG Radio for 3CR 2025 Radiothon!

➡️ Donate: https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/yarrabugradioshow

🎶 Program music
Camp dog, King Stingray
Underneath the Story Bridge, Bob Wilson and the Goodwills
B I K E, H O N N E

02/06/2025

📷 .the.world

New 3CR Community Radio podcast, Talking to Hiro, World Bike Traveler

🎧 Listen back: https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/talking-hiro-world-bike-traveler

Or find us on , Community Radio Plus or podcast client of choice

On this weeks program Chris chats to Hiroyuki Yuzurihara about his world cycling journey that started as a homage to his grandfathers attempt to write a novel seventy years ago, his adventures, reasons for traveling, what he's experienced, how he's found Melbourne, the kindness of strangers, meeting new friends and what’s coming next. You can catch up with Hiro on threads, buy me a coffee and more.

Local news includes last Fridays Critical Mass naarm - Melbourne Critical Mass Big City Lights ride, Bicycle Network Save the City of Melbourne’s Bike Lane Budget: make a submission by 5pm, Monday June 2025 and 3CR Community Radio 2025 Radiothon: Your Station, Your Voice!

https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/our-advocacy/save-our-bike-lanes/

➡️ Donate to keep Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio & radical community radio on air: https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/yarrabugradioshow

Program music

Shonen Knife, Cycling is fun
Avicii, Wake me up

01/06/2025

The 3CR Community Radio Radioton is on over June and we need your donations to keep 3CR, the Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio Show and all the other amazing programming at the station on air for another year!

3CR is “Your station, your voice” and this is so true for the Yarra Bug Radio Show where we share the stories you won’t hear elsewhere about cycling communities, adventures, advocacy and fun! No donation is too small, and all donations over $2 are tax deductible, it’s what we do together that counts!

Supporting 3CR Community Radio

07/05/2025

🌃 Announcing ... Critical Mass Big City Lights!

🌐 https://www.facebook.com/events/2144810465966299/

📌 5.30pm, Friday 30th May 2025, State Library, Melbourne CBD.

🚴 Route: CBD - Fitzroy

💡Themes: It's dark. Bring your lights. All of them

💯 Image credit + inspiration: technochic

🌟 Inspiration for : https://www.instructables.com/NeoPixel-Party-Bike-2024-Update-With-Radio/

🌐 www.criticalmass.melbourne

22/04/2025

📷BikeWest

New! 3CR Community Radio podcast: Yarra City Council to vote again on Elizabeth Street protected bike lanes (!??!) + Footscray Road bridge finally opens. Talking to Pierre Vairo BikeWest about green bridge & whenever the Veloway & Rainbow bridge will open + more!

🎧 Listen back or find us on , Community Radio Plus radio or podcast client of choice

https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/yarra-council-vote-again-elizabeth-street-footscray-road-bridge-finally-opens

13/04/2025

📧The Age letters: Bikes, cars and space, 11 April 2025

On Tuesday night, Yarra Council decided how much space to allocate to bike lanes and how much to parked cars in Elizabeth Street, Richmond. This loveless-looking street is significant, a major east-west section of Victoria’s Strategic Cycling Corridor, top rating, C1. Sixty-seven speakers, many riders, with a litany of injuries – and some residents, mostly older Vietnamese for whom it’s home, and a Buddhist congregation who wanted parking.

Today, more people, particularly the young, ride because it’s cheap, climate-friendly, convenient, egalitarian, and you don’t need to strap the kids in the car, or search for a park, but it all depends on the level of danger. The wider the bike path, the safer you feel. If it’s too dangerous, you don’t ride. Overseas, cities that have invested in connected and protected cycling corridors have recorded many more riders travelling safely.

Mayor Jolly submitted a compromise, during the voting, trimming the bike lanes to allow for more parking. This is a major bike route. We acknowledge the residents, but the streets belong to all of us. Do we let empty cars sit in public space or allow others to ride along them safely?

Elizabeth Clarke, Richmond

➡️Read more at Yarra deserves better: Yarra deserves better!
https://www.yarrabug.org/2025/04/09/yarra-deserves-better/

13/04/2025

Bikes, cars and space

On Tuesday night, Yarra Council decided how much space to allocate to bike lanes and how much to parked cars in Elizabeth Street, Richmond. This loveless-looking street is significant, a major east-west section of Victoria’s Strategic Cycling Corridor, top rating, C1. Sixty-seven speakers, many riders, with a litany of injuries – and some residents, mostly older Vietnamese for whom it’s home, and a Buddhist congregation who wanted parking.

Today, more people, particularly the young, ride because it’s cheap, climate-friendly, convenient, egalitarian, and you don’t need to strap the kids in the car, or search for a park, but it all depends on the level of danger. The wider the bike path, the safer you feel. If it’s too dangerous, you don’t ride. Overseas, cities that have invested in connected and protected cycling corridors have recorded many more riders travelling safely.

Mayor Jolly submitted a compromise, during the voting, trimming the bike lanes to allow for more parking. This is a major bike route. We acknowledge the residents, but the streets belong to all of us. Do we let empty cars sit in public space or allow others to ride along them safely?

Elizabeth Clarke, Richmond

09/04/2025

📷

🟦 Yarra deserves better!

https://www.yarrabug.org/2025/04/09/yarra-deserves-better/

🟥 Bicycle Network: Yarra City flubs Elizabeth St vote:

https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2025/04/10/yarra-city-flubs-elizabeth-st-vote/

‘In a shambolic meeting on Tuesday 8 April, a majority of Yarra City councillors rejected the officers’ recommendation for 2.1m wide bike lanes on Elizabeth Street. Mayor Jolly dismissed the officers’ designs in favour of alternative concepts that may have been grudgingly acceptable 20 years ago but do not follow contemporary design or safety guidance.’

03/03/2025

🚴‍♀️Today is Bicycle Network Super Tuesday 2025 Commuter Counts!

📷Did you catch the fabulous work from Streets Alive Yarra Inc. today on Elizabeth Street with old school polaroid-style photo frames for riders? 🖼️

📱Add your name to our petition: Don’t risk our safety in 2025 – tell Yarra Council not to remove safe cycling lanes
https://www.yarrabug.org/yarra-for-safer-streets/