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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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Send us a text

World Remembrance Day is Sunday November 17th. It’s the day to remember those lost to traffic violence.

On this episode of the Mechanics of Transportation I’m sharing a recent feature story I did for the NPR Public Radio station WTVR / Radio IQ about the day. But, in this version, I’m letting three parents share their stories in more detail.

Plus, we hear bits from an earlier podcast show I did featuring Families for Safe Streets Co-Founder Amy Cohen about their efforts to remember those lost or affected by traffic violence — the numbers of which are staggering.

To get more information by clicking here: World Day of Remembrance.

And to see the map featuring people who’ve died or been injured by traffic violence and to get support if you’ve been affected by it go to Families for Safe Streets.

To those who have lost loved ones or have loved ones who are suffering because of all the issues around our streets and highways, know that you are not alone–go to the Families for Safe Streets site, get support, learn how to be an advocate for your loved ones. And if you are a driver, do yourself and everyone around you a favor–put your phone away, drive the speed limit and learn patience.

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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.

Send us a text

I’m circling back to finish up my conversation with British broadcaster Jez Cox. For cycling and triathlon fans who follow those sports, chances are you regularly hear Jez’s voice.

If you haven’t heard him covering a bike race or a cyclocross event, then you may have heard him covering the Olympics for Eurosport, particularly in the events of surfing, swimming and break dancing.

I had such a blast talking with Jez for the Full Disclosure with Roben Farzad podcast (in which I also interviewed Olympian Kristen Faulkner and which you should go check out) that I decided to post our entire chat here–and because we had a lot to talk about, but I broke them into bite size chunks.

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.

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!

Support the show

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

Send us a text

Ok, sure, I know you may be expecting part two of my conversation with British broadcaster Jez Cox, but I wanted to get out this quick episode about a group of volunteers who are building over 500 bikes for kids of all ages so they can get bikes during the holidays.

The Richmond Area Bike Association or RABA has been doing this since the year 2000, with the help of many volunteers and local non-profit groups, as well as monetary donations from large and small companies to be able to purchase and deliver the bikes.

They have a build happening Saturday November 2nd–my son’s 15th birthday–but I digress. It’s at the Tool Shed in Richmond, Va.

They could use your help, too, either with your time or your donation.

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!

Support the show

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