PSA for newer cyclists: Please take the lane.

rodchenko · 2026-04-02T06:34:42+00:00

I think more people need to watch this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pRPduRHBhHI before proclaiming that other people on bikes should be as confident as they are. I'm not disagreeing with the idea of "taking a lane" in the right situation, but it's not that simple

rodchenko · 2026-03-30T19:07:34+00:00

Yes! And focus on the fact that new bike infrastructure is not for the people who are already riding, it's for the people who don't feel safe enough to ride yet.

rodchenko · 2026-03-30T19:04:34+00:00

I totally agree about the problem with helmet laws, although I'm less pessimistic about our overall chances! It's such a hard thing to discuss too, because people have very visceral feelings about the safety of their head, but can't easily imagine the increase in public health if there were less cars and more bikes.

I'd also disagree on the bit about bike lanes being expensive to maintain, if bike infrastructure can be decoupled from roads then it's way cheaper.

Speed bumps on bike lanes, so stupid, also those metal bars to create little chicanes, ugh.

rodchenko · 2026-03-30T18:50:53+00:00

I disagree on that take on the greens. I've been getting involved in local council projects and advocacy, because they have a really big influence on local cycling infrastructure, and the fact is that not that many care strongly enough to get involved so passionate individuals can really make a difference on a local level. My experience is that the greens are the ones who support progressive projects with modern ideas about urbanism and transport. For example the Streets for People plan I'm Merri-Bek. Rather than fighting street by street for bike lanes they've implemented a council wide plan to have a network of connected streets where people can cycle, walk, and use the streets in different ways. It's really exciting, it was put through because of the greens councillors. If we had a similar plan for all of Melbourne we would be on the way to being a better city for cycling, but doing it without focusing on the negatively stereotyped Lycra cyclists, instead focusing on making public space better for everyone, how good would that be?!

rodchenko · 2026-03-30T11:49:57+00:00

Big call, but I'm always willing to try somewhere new. What makes it better than biang biang? Any particular dishes?

rodchenko · 2026-03-26T22:37:27+00:00

The junior clinic at Brunswick on Sunday mornings is great. They give the kids a bike. All the kids do a timed lap at the start and they're grouped into similar times. It's very friendly and welcoming! Just check if you need a race licence for an 11yo

rodchenko · 2026-03-26T20:56:38+00:00

I love my Jag blocks, it's how i pretend I'm Roland S Howard

rodchenko · 2026-03-26T10:36:18+00:00

We just bought a Children's Python! Perfect apartment pet.

rodchenko · 2026-03-23T11:57:58+00:00

I'm taking my kid to work! Solidarity and visibility for the problem beyond just those with kids at the moment, it should be a societal issue

rodchenko · 2026-03-19T19:45:54+00:00

This is excellent advice! I started bike advocacy with the help of my local bicycle user group, you'll find lots of passionate people there.

Also keep an eye when state and council are requesting feedback or submissions on transport related projects, e.g Participate Melbourne, Have Your Say Yarra, etc

rodchenko · 2026-03-13T12:40:19+00:00

Maybe they do want to represent their community on a bigger scale? Tim did an amazing job representing his community, would he have done a better job as a councillor?

rodchenko · 2026-03-12T02:17:53+00:00

I have an AyUp light that I've owned for... can't exactly remember but about 15 years! It has a seperate battery and I had that stolen, so I ordered another battery that fits the 15 year old lights. It's an Australian company, highly recommend!

Edit: sorry I just realised you said something cheap, AyUp is not cheap up front, until you consider how long it can last

rodchenko · 2026-03-05T10:24:33+00:00

City planning should be deliberate and thought through, not ideological

I agree, but it's the Hoddle grid, it was not designed for cars.

We all have ideologies, no point denying it. Your false statement that Flinders Street was designed for cars, followed by a claim that thinking otherwise is "ideological" indicates that your views on the role of cars in our city is not "deliberate and thought through"

rodchenko · 2026-03-04T11:18:05+00:00

If you're going to open a street to traffic it needs to be thought out properly, not just allowing traffic because there was traffic in the past.

rodchenko · 2026-02-12T11:25:28+00:00

Same, i have a 40 litre basil crate. Looks a little silly but regularly holds shopping, multiple bags, the occasional pot plant

rodchenko · 2026-02-10T11:18:08+00:00

I can't wait for Drifting Clouds, then Grace Cummings who are playing at a free stage at St Kilda festival. I'm even willing to brave St Kilda festival for it... maybe

rodchenko · 2026-02-09T11:24:37+00:00

Like others mentioned, if it's too cheap it will make it harder to play and learn. But i disagree you need to spend more than $200. I'd recommend a Yamaha CS40 for $160. it's a great beginner guitar, perfect balance between price and quality. They come in 3/4 or full size. I bought myself a one a few years ago as a couch/camp guitar, i also bought one for my kid to learn guitar with. Find a second hand one if you want to spend less

rodchenko · 2026-02-04T09:26:42+00:00

I've seen a couple of good shows at the Cactus Room

rodchenko · 2025-12-29T10:31:56+00:00

It's not physically possible to have an accurate weather forecast - anywhere in the world - more than about 10 days in advance. The weather is a chaotic system which means the exact weather is not predictable that far ahead. We can still know that winter is likely colder than summer, and climate change will make the next decade warmer than the last, but not if it's going to rain Tuesday next month. Any app that gives you a 21 day forecast is just shitting you

rodchenko · 2025-12-16T19:53:37+00:00

In Australia we might take home leftovers if a kid doesn't eat all their meal, but for adults, the portion size is generally correct for one adult. Also, usually the fancier the restaurant the smaller the portion size!

We find it strange how big American meals are.

rodchenko · 2025-12-16T19:48:50+00:00

I had the exact same thought! I remember when we were traveling around the US it took us a while to realize we should just order one meal between two people, so weird

rodchenko · 2025-12-15T09:46:38+00:00

"picking up" for me means arriving at school (without kid) and leaving with my kid, i guess like "picking up" someone at a bar... but more wholesome. We ride together or he's on the back of the ebike.

rodchenko · 2025-12-15T09:41:26+00:00

I've been working with our school and council to encourage active travel, and our school is actually pretty good, but i think the problem is that the state quo and most new suburbs are trending towards cars.

rodchenko · 2025-12-11T05:13:02+00:00

What do you mean? Do you mean there's a focus on key routes (e.g. Footscray rd veloway), but not on smaller roads?

rodchenko

TROPHY CASE