Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio on 3CR

07/10/2025

New 3CR Community Radio : The long wait for change: Macaulay Road & Wellington Street

🎧 Listen back, https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/long-wait-change-macaulay-road-wellington-street

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

On this weeks program Chris speaks with Karen Hovenga - Community Activist and Ellen Sandell MP, Greens State MP for Melbourne about Wellington Street and Macaulay Road active transport infrastructure issues.

Local news includes Bicycle Network Night - 50 Year Celebration, 6pm, Wednesday, 8 October, next Richmond Repair Centre, Sunday 26 October, National Day, Wednesday 15 October and keep an eye on local events across Victoria this October.

During a glorious Saturday morning in Darling Gardens, Clifton Hill, Chris and Karen chat about Lets make Wellington Street safer: we strongly suggest Option 1 Bicycle Street for both stage 3 and 4 as it reduces traffic and improves local walkability as well as cyclability, and has more trees, similar to the existing Canning Street route in Carlton, one of Melbourne’s best known cycling corridors that’s safe, peaceful, enjoyable and effective.

Survey is open to Monday 13 October 2025

https://yoursayyarra.com.au/building-safer-wellington-street

Read about existing modal filters, the “Bicycle Street” option for Wellington Street is basically what has existed in Collingwood, Fitzroy, Richmond and Abbotsford streets for several decades.

https://streets-alive-yarra.org/modal-filters/

Ellen Sandall talks about heartbreaking aftermath of the death of Will Ritcher at Macaulay Road / Rankin Road intersection on 22 September 2025, the slow wait for instalment of protected bike lanes in Melbourne’s inner west BikeWest (Teen’s death sparks calls for long-awaited bike lanes in Melbourne’s west, The Age 4 October 2025), her petition: Demand Labor approve safe bike lanes on Macaulay Road and making your voice heard by contacting your local member.

https://ellensandell.com/issue/bike-lanes-macaulay-road/

30/09/2025

🚲Lets make Wellington Street safer!🚲

💡 Heads up , after a very long wait of over six years, Stages 3 and 4 of the Wellington Street bike lane project rollout is open for public feedback.

➡️Read more: https://www.yarrabug.org/2025/09/23/lets-make-wellington-street-safer/

🎥 If you’re unfamiliar with Wellington Street lanes, scroll down to a youtube video at end of this post to see the Yarra City Council, VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Vision Zero partnership from 2019.

💻 At Your Say Yarra: Building a safer Wellington Street you can view the streets before and after the changes proposed in the designs and answers for what is a “Bicycle Street”, what is a modal filter, what is a pedestrian refuge island, what are unidirectional bike lanes, what are zebra crossings and what are protected bike lanes?

➡️Read more: https://yoursayyarra.com.au/building-safer-wellington-street

📌 Stage 3: Wellington Street – South (Collingwood) – outlines the changes proposed for the section of Wellington Street between Alexandra Parade and Johnston Street in Collingwood.

📌 Stage 4: Wellington Street – North (Clifton Hill) – outlines the changes proposed for the section of Wellington Street between Queens Parade and Alexandra Parade in Clifton Hill.

𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭: 𝗕𝗶𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟰 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.

➡️ Start the survey: open to 9am Monday 13 October 2025
https://yoursayyarra.com.au/building-safer-wellington-street

📌 Attend Yarra Council pop-up information sessions:

✅ Darling Gardens, Clifton Hill, Saturday 4 October 2025, 10am – 12pm, Staff will be near the playground on Hodgkinson Street, Clifton Hill

✅ Clifton Hill Primary School (185 Gold St, Clifton Hill), Friday 10 October 2025, 3.30pm to 5pm, the event will include a free Bike N Blend smoothie stand, music and a bike maintenance station.

➡️ Read more:

Bicycle Network: New plans to complete Wellington Street route
https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2025/09/19/new-plans-to-complete-wellington-street-route/

Streets Alive Yarra Inc.: Wellington Street, Collingwood background
https://streets-alive-yarra.org/wellington-street-collingwood/

From 2019: Wellington Street Copenhagen bike lanes https://youtu.be/2gWyRoNdRgo?si=JQ88IJ9WLSsgSYtJ

Cycling is a big part of Yarra and it’s only growing in popularity as a healthy and sustainable mode of transport. That’s why we’ve partnered with VicRoads a...

29/09/2025

Val and Faith are joined in the studio at 3CR Community Radio by Alison McCormack, CEO of Bicycle Network

After sharing our bike moments we take a quick look at the current consultation on Wellington Street, an important route for people on bikes that doesn't work for everyone and that has proved dangerous in its current configuration for riders. You can take a look here.
https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/building-safer-wellington-street-0

Discussion turns to Bicycle Networks fiftieth anniversary, the changes in the organisation over the years and direction fore the future. Ali reminds us about the E-Bike Expo planned this coming Saturday October 4th. Stay tuned for details of the planned 50th celebrations on the October 8th!

https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/50-years-bicycle-network

Faith and Val are joined in the studio on a stunning spring morning by Alsion McCormack, CEO of Bicycle Network. We spend far too long sharing our bike moments before moving on to the current consultation on the Wellington Street improvements. Open until Monday October 13th the project looks at ways...

24/09/2025

📷Streets Alive Darebin

New 3CR Community Radio podcast: Talking about St George's Road in Northcote

🎧 Our can listen back or find us on iTunes, Community Radio Plus app or podcast client of choice

https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/talking-about-st-georges-road-northcote

On this weeks program Chris interviews Sally from Streets Alive Darebin about ongoing issues with risky St George's Road intersections, crossovers, connections and actions you can take now.

Join Us for Critical Mass: St Georges Road - meet State Library, 5.30pm Thursday 25 September 2025 (Grand Final Eve) and ride to St George's Road intersection & post ride drinks and chat at Terminus Hotel.

Critical Mass: St Georges Road: https://streetsalivedarebin.org/journal/critical-mass-st-georges-road

09/09/2025

📷

New 3CR Community Radio podcast: Victoria's new Speed Zoning Policy + Making Moreland Road safer

🎧 Listen back: https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/victorias-new-speed-zoning-policy-making-moreland-road-safer

On this weeks program Chris speaks to Angelica and Alex about community concerns in Brunswick about increased Moreland Road volume, traffic speeds and requirement for more safe infrastructure, especially after man was killed during a hit run incident, while walking a bicycle in the bike lane, on Sunday 24 August 2025. This is the second fatality within six months on Moreland Road.

**Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit who are investigating the incident believe the car involved was a white 2016 Audi Q5 SUV. It is likely to have visible damage to both its front and passenger side**

https://brunswickvoice.com.au/hit-and-run-driver-remains-at-large/

Angelica mentions the new Safe Moreland Road group and a related Victorian Government Legislative Council petition: Pedestrian and cyclist safety on Moreland Road:

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/pedestrian-and-cyclist-safety-on-moreland-road/

Alex speaks about his snap-action protest in respect for the rider, support of getting better infrastructure and safer speeds in the Moreland Road area.

Local news includes Victoria's new Speed Zoning Policy enables local councils to create 30km/h zones and for those of us with good memories, you'd remember the local Yarra City Council trials starting back in 2018 and next Critical Mass naarm - Melbourne on Thursday 25 September 2025

15/08/2025

📷Thanks to Bicycle Network for the graphics!

📱 The media has been full of articles on e-bikes and an apparent looming ‘ban’ on public transport and trains due to safety concerns with lithium-ion battery fires.

‼️ The issue sits at Federal government level with grey imports, insufficient regulations and resulting dodgy conversions – ‘banning’ e-bikes wholesale across public transport networks will not solve the battery problems or compliance and create major accessibility barriers for many people who use e-bikes as a safe, convenient form of micro-mobility.

🥘 Our inner suburbs have large numbers of gig economy workers, many who travel from middle – outer suburbs via Melbourne’s train network, this ‘ban’ doesn’t mention the impact any restrictions would have directly on gig economy workers, adjacent industries to local hospo industry and Yarra’s local business economy.

➡️ Engage Victoria/Department of Transport & Planning – Make your submission here by 18 August 2025:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/public-transport-regulations

🟥 Proposed Ban on People travelling with E-Bikes on Trains:
https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/our-advocacy/e-bike-ban-2/

🟥 Conduct on Public Transport Regulations: feedback open to 18 August 2025:
https://www.yarrabug.org/2025/08/04/conduct-on-public-transport-regulations-feedback-open-to-18-august-2025/

‘The draft regulations include new regulations to restrict e-scooters, e-bikes and other battery-powered transport devices on public transport.’

11/08/2025

🎞️ 'Effect of narrowing the bike lane' slide seven from 'Councillor vs. Officer Plans' from Jeremy Lawrence, Streets Alive Yarra Inc., fyi there's a link in our podcast

New 3CR Community Radio podcast: Future of North Richmond - People, Bikes, Cars and Housing forum

🎧 Listen back: https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/future-north-richmond-people-bikes-cars-and-housing-forum

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

On this weeks show, Chris has a radio edit of the Future of North Richmond - People, Bikes, Cars and Housing forum held Thursday 7 August 2025 with presentations by Karen Hovenga - Community Activist (see Elizabeth Street, North Richmond housing) and Jeremy Lawrence (see Councillor vs. Officer Plans), that also involves Elizabeth Street protected lanes 'narrowing' and adjacent issues.

The next Yarra City Council meeting on 12 August 2025, please make a submission and attend the meeting if you can.
https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/committees-meetings-and-minutes/council-meeting-12-august-2025

Read Bicycle Network: Yarra to vote – again – on critical bike route (8 August 2025)
https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2025/08/08/yarra-to-vote-again-on-critical-bike-route/

It was a good discussion, attended by members of the North Richmond Precinct Community Committee and other local residents.

'We learned that the East and West Carparks, on the housing estate, are not fully utilised (about 50% empty) and that all residents who own a car in their own name can be given a car park permit, as well as any regular support workers. Residents also discussed the difficulty that they have in owning bikes as they don't have secure storage and have to either store them in their homes, or experience having them stolen and needing to be replaced.'

Read about Future of North Richmond - Elizabeth St motion sent to Yarra councillors that could help find a solution with a community working group.

Local news includes (ebike) Conduct on Public Transport Regulations: feedback open to 18 August 2025 and previous guests on our show, Leo and Cezary from Two Birders, Two Bikes making their goal with opening of Builecon primary school near Balibo.

https://www.yarrabug.org/2025/08/04/conduct-on-public-transport-regulations-feedback-open-to-18-august-2025/

Program Music

B I K E, H O N N E
Restraint, Tycho

04/08/2025

Faith and Val were joined in the studio by Elliot Fishman of the Institute for Sensible Transport to discuss the Victorian State Government's proposed ban on people travelling with e-bikes on trains.

We discuss the policy and data vacuum within which this decision is being made, the ensuing lack of impact assessment and the ongoing failure of the State Government when it comes to this important part of the transport system.

Despite calls from Coroner Audrey Jamison seven years ago for the better regulation of e-bikes little has been done, even after the Morrison government made the importation of more dangerous non-compliant bikes easier in 2021. Tune in below to hear the full program.

With no timeframe established for the ban, and even less urgancy once it is in place, there is little hope it will ever be revoked.

Faith and Val are joined in the studio today by Elliot Fishman of the Institute for Sensible Transport to discuss the Victorian State Government's proposed ban on people travelling with e-bikes on trains. We share our bike moments and our first ever sponsorship by Bicycle Network.We discuss the poli...

01/08/2025

🏙️ Future of North Richmond – People, Bikes, Cars and Housing: come to a forum of community members to discuss what we want Elizabeth Street and the North Richmond precinct to look like in 10-20 years.

🗓️ 6pm – 8pm, Thursday, 7 August 2025
Ground Floor Community Room, 106 Elizabeth St, Richmond

✅ Register to attend at humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/future-of-north-richmond-people-bikes-cars-and-housing

💬 We’ll be discussing the likely increase in housing and population, the Elizabeth St bike lanes, and how car parking works in the area now and in the future.

📌 We will have presentations on

🌇 Housing – What sort of housing will we have in 10-20 years

🚘 Cars – What does car parking in North Richmond look like now and in the future

🚴 Bikes – Elizabeth Street Protected Bike Lanes and how they can meet future transport needs.

🗨️ Then we will open the floor to a moderated discussion and question time. Please register for a speaker ticket if you would like to speak.

Ideally, we would have translators for Vietnamese and Mandarin speakers.

Please contact us if you can help with communicating with these members of our community.

30/07/2025

New 3CR Community Radio podcast: Talking about the Boroondara E-Bike Library + more!

🎧 Listen back or find us on , Community Radio Plus app or podcast client of choice:
https://www.3cr.org.au/yarrabug/episode/talking-about-boroondara-e-bike-library-more

On this week's show Chris chats to Rochelle Anderson from Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre about the new City of Boroondara e-bike library trial programme, what's involved, providing locals to try out a top of the range e-bike, the bikes, training, how the Merri-bek e-bike trial went, responsibilities, survey follow up and more.

The topic de jour everywhere is and safety concerns on public transport, with bit of back history about previous bike bans back in 2008 on V/Line and Connex which stemmed from storage issues and overreach.

In short, the e-bike compliance issue sits at Federal government with grey imports, point of sale and dodgy conversions. Concerned about e-bike PT restrictions? Please contact your local state member ASAP and make a submission to Conduct on Public Transport Regulations by 18 August 2025.
https://engage.vic.gov.au/public-transport-regulations

Gipps Street news: apparently the ramps + works will be finished by December 2025!

Yarra news: with the ongoing Elizabeth Street protected lanes campaign, there are some things we can’t get done on our own at the local council level and that’s where you come in, please contact Melissa Horne MP, Roads Minister and Gabrielle Williams MP, Public and Public and Active Transport Minister.

Future of North Richmond – People, Bikes, Cars and Housing: come to a forum of community members to discuss what we want Elizabeth Street and the North Richmond precinct to look like in 10-20 years.

6pm – 8pm, Thursday, 7 August 2025
Ground Floor Community Room, 106 Elizabeth St, Richmond

We’ll be discussing the likely increase in housing and population, the Elizabeth St bike lanes, and how car parking works in the area now and in the future.

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/future-of-north-richmond-people-bike

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

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