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You can probably tell I’m a bike rider–a lover of the beauty of riding my bike anywhere I can. I’m such a nerd that I just created a YouTube channel showing my bike rides in suburbia (called Ian Stewart Cycles).

I often fantasize of going to the Netherlands and to Amsterdam to ride the city streets. So when I heard that two members of the Dutch Cycling Embassy were visiting Richmond, Virginia to share their knowledge, I wanted to make sure I went to an open house at Richmond’s beautiful Main Street train station.

So, here’s an audio diary of my afternoon hanging out at the open house with the Dutch Cycling Embassy.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. You can also send me a tip via Venmo–Ian-Stewart-82

Thanks! And if you’re a sponsor who’d you know, like to sponsor this show, then let me know.

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove. And, I have another podcast, called History Reinvented, which is about the history and future of Mayo Island and Bridge in Richmond–go check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

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I first came across gravel rider Marley Blonksy via one of her many posts on Instagram in which she was slugging it out on a gravel race–not sure which one–but it doesn’t matter.

What does matter is that her positive spirit of encouraging others to get out on bikes no matter what your size or ability is infectious. It’s one of the main reasons she eventually became the co-founder and Executive Director of the now national group All Bodies on Bikes.

Because of her efforts in All Bodies on Bikes, other groups have popped up around the country and she’s become a spokesperson for major brands like Cannondale, Ride With GPS, Pearl Izumi, and Shimano, to name a few. all highlight that indeed, all bodies should be on bikes and shouldn’t be shunned for doing so. The non-profit also holds gravel races, sells plus-size clothing and has a great podcast.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Be sure to rate the show, leave a comment and share with your friends. If you’re listening from far away or close by, let me know. You can also send me a tip via Venmo–Ian-Stewart-82. Thanks! And if you’re a sponsor who’d you know, like to sponsor this show, then let me know.

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove. And, I have another podcast, called History Reinvented, which is about the history and future of Mayo Island and Bridge in Richmond–go check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Mechanics of Transportation is a Big Soap production.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

Send us a text

A million trail users per year —that’s the number of visitors the Capital Trail in Virginia gets. It’s a paved, multi-use trail that runs just over 50 miles from the Richmond Capital to historic Jamestown. Along the way, you see beautiful farm lands, historic markers and some really cool businesses.

But contrary to what non-trail users may think, the path is not just for lycra clad bicyclists. Many people use parts of the trail for transportation to get to work or school; and there are skaters, walkers, and more who use the trail. I’ve biked it dozens of times and have done multiple stories on it.

Virginia’s Capital Trail took years to build and millions of dollars to fund it. I get into all of this with Executive Director Cat Anthony as well as how the foundation is feeling as federal funding for many things are getting cut.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. You can also send me a tip via Venmo (Ian-Stewart-82), I’d love a cup of coffee. This podcast is solely done by me, w/ no help from a corporation or anything like that, so please consider subscribing.

If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Be sure to rate the show, leave a comment and share with your friends. If you’re listening from far away or close by, let me know.

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove. And, I have another podcast, called History Reinvented, which is about the history and future of Mayo Island and Bridge in Richmond–go check it out.

The Mechanics of Transportation is a Big Soap production.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

Send us a text

For this story, I met up with Chad Powers of Powers BMX in Richmond, Virginia. Not only does he have a BMX bike shop, but he is one of only a handful of people who run a BMX bike museum. He’s got over 300 bikes in his collection, plus jerseys, ramps, bike parts and a huge magazine library. Bikes in his collection have come as far away as the United Kingdom.

He is a die hard fan of BMX. Plus, he has a track in the backyard of his shop.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. You can also send me a tip via Venmo at Ian-Stewart-82. —I’d love a cup of coffee. This podcast is solely done by me, w/ no help from a corporation or anything like that, so please consider subscribing.

If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Be sure to rate the show, leave a comment and share with your friends. If you’re listening from far away or close by, let me know.

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove. And, I have another podcast, called History Reinvented, which is about the history and future of Mayo Island and Bridge in Richmond–go check it out.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

Send us a text

On this first episode of season 2 I talk with Richmond bike advocate, bike race organizer, cyclocross enthusiast and all around bike nerd Sean Yeager.

I first met Sean when I was covering a local crit circuit race in Bryan Park in the city–a race that’s been going on for over 50 years. You can hear that story here.

Since then, Sean and I have been in contact off and on–he leant me some really amazing books on the history of bikes in Richmond and other books. And, he’s also tried to get me to go to some local cyclocross races–plus, he also recently helped me with an issue on my bike.

Besides all of that, Sean is also an advocate for getting kids on bikes and making sure there are safe spaces for them to ride to schools and parks, which what we talk about Sean also knows some good spots for kids to ride as well.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. You can also send me a tip via Venmo at: Ian-stewart-82. This podcast is solely done by me, w/ no help from a corporation or anything like that, so please consider subscribing.

If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Be sure to rate the show, leave a comment and share with your friends. If you’re listening from far away or close by, let me know.

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove. And, I have another podcast, called History Reinvented, which is about the history and future of Mayo Island and Bridge in Richmond–go check it out.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

Send us a text

For part two of the Mechanics of Transportation Year in Review, I’ve collected a few great bits from my past interviews around bikes and trails. In these chunks, we’ll hear from two members of Black Girls Do Bike club in the Richmond, Va region; John Murden, who is a cargo bike advocate and restaurant owner; and we revisit volunteers building bikes for kids for the holiday season. Rounding out the bikes bit, we’ll hear a good snippet from my interview with British race commentator Jez Cox, about the things he does.

For trails, we hear from Allie Hill, who’s a volunteer in the Charlottesville, Va area working to get the Three Notch’d Trail built; And, we’ll hear from Elliott Caldwell from the East Coast Greenway, a mega multi-use trail that runs from Florida up to Maine in the U.S.

All of the full interviews can be found on the Mechanics of Transportation podcast menu by scrolling down.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

Send us a text

It’s a been a banner first season on the Mechanics of Transportation, from being a sparkle of an idea to keep my foot in the transportation world after getting let go from a job at a public radio station as a transportation reporter, to producing 17 episodes in which I got to nerd out with people about infrastructure, biking and gaining listeners in Europe, it’s been a fun ride.

So as the year winds down, I’m taking snippets from the interviews you may have missed and putting them here into bit size nuggets for you to consume over the next few weeks.

We’ll start off with a mostly Richmond, Va special, starting with Henry Bendon–the now the former Communication liaison for the Greater Richmond Transit Company–he’s off having new adventures in Seattle; moving on Faith Walker of RVA Rapid Transit to Chet Parsons the head honcho at PlanRVA and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority; to Andy Boenau, a transportation expert.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly show on a public radio station, so I know how to groove.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles

Send us a text

On this episode I speak with Kea Wilson, Senior Editor for Streetsblog USA, which is a daily newsblog that covers the movement to end car dependence in the United States. Besides their national site, they also have dedicated sites for San Francisco, New York, LA and more cities.

Kea is also the host of the great podcast The Brake, who’s topics have included How Mayor’s are Fighting Back Against Harmful Highways and How Cities are Getting Creative to Reclaim Public Space. She is also a novelist, cyclist, and affordable housing advocate.

We talk about what President-elect Trump’s pick to run the Department of Transportation – Sean Duffy – may look like; and about what else she’s hearing from transportation advocates through her reporting.

If you like the Mechanics of Transportation and want to support my efforts here at Big Soap Productions, then please consider subscribing to it by clicking the link in the show notes. If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. Thanks!

Speaking of checking things out, if you like world music and other tunes, be sure to check out my weekly streaming show called Ian’s World O’ Music, found on MixCloud. For 17 years, I had a two-hour, weekly wms on a public radio station, so I know how to groove.

Support the show

Follow my bike adventures and transportation stories on Instagram or Threads @just_ianstewart or Twitter @IanCycles or YouTube IanStewartCycles