Cycling in Singapore

Cyclist killed by van, another cyclist and a waiting driver injured at Senoko South Road

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:02:00 +0000

A van driver kills a cyclist, injures another cyclist and a waiting car driver along Senoko South Road.

Francis Chu and others in Love Cycling SG have written to Minister of Transport, Lui Tuck Yew. See the Facebook group "Safe Roads For People".

Senoko South Road is a two lane-wide industrial road which typically has large vehicles parked alongside them.

Thanks to Taiwoon of smallwheelbigsmile for the scan of the TNP article.

Taiwoon also reproduces the road casualties statistic from the 2011 Yearbook on his blog.

Jude Alphonsus Tan, RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:17:00 +0000

Last Saturday we learnt that a road cyclist was killed on Changi Coastal Road. We now know it was Jude Alphonsus Tan. I did not know him, but have come to learn about his passion for life and his empathy for others.

A heartfelt letter by a former classmate of his has been posted on Small Wheel Big Smile.

RIP Jude.

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Update - An Open Ride of Silence was observed by cyclists from the community on Mon 28 May 2012.

The New Paper, 29 May 2012

click for larger image

Thanks to smallwheelbigsmile for the scan of the TNP article.

19.5km of new park connector to create a 30km loop around the nature reserve by 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sun, 27 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

A new 19.5km park connector will link the existing 5.5km bike trail and 5km Mandai Road park connector to create a car-free space for recreational cyclists to loop around the periphery of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

"Bringing nature closer to residents with 30km cycling loop," by Amelia Tan, The Straits Times, 27 May 2012.In the pipeline: 80ha park, viewing towers, 30km cycling loop at central catchment area

Nature buffs will have greater access to flora and fauna in Singapore with a 30km cycling loop to be completed by 2018.

The circuit will go around the Central Catchment Nature Reserve which covers the Upper Seletar, Upper and Lower Peirce, and MacRitchie reservoirs.

It will be formed by joining 10.5km of existing park connectors and biking trails that go around the northern and western borders of Central Catchment Nature Reserve to a new 19.5km park connector. This connector will encircle the reserve's southern and eastern borders.

The new cycling loop was announced on Saturday by Minister of State for National Development and Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin at the launch of the Festival of Biodiversity at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

He also announced that the Government will be developing a new 80ha park, named the Chestnut Nature Park, just outside of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

The park, which will be ready by 2015, will have forest trails, shelters and educational signs.

Two seven-storey towers will also be built to allow nature lovers to enjoy panoramic views of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

One tower will be located in the Chestnut Nature Park and the other will be built by 2018 in MacRitchie Reservoir Park.

Mr Tan said the developments are part of the Government's objective of bringing people closer to nature and noted that almost half of Singapore land's surface is covered by greenery.

He said: 'Our parks are easily accessed by residents, with most homes within a short walking distance of a park. That is something that we'll work towards.'

He said the Government will continue to engage Singaporeans on new ideas about adding diversity to the urban environment.

He added: 'There will be areas where we can't always agree on, but there is also so much more space that you have found that we can work on together.'

Commenting on the new developments, National Parks Board director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said: 'Some people say they have no time to enjoy the outdoors. Since you have no time, we will bring the outdoors to you. And if you have more time, we can help you to learn more with things like signages at the parks.'

The cost of the new developments is not confirmed.

Nature groups and the public welcomed the new plans.
Dr Shawn Lum, president of the Nature Society (Singapore), said: 'The Chestnut area is rich in biodiversity but is currently visited mostly by scientists or serious nature buffs. I think more people will be encouraged to visit the area in the future because of the park; it makes it more accessible.'

Teacher Germaine Foo, 46, said: 'I will consider getting my children to use the cycling loop in the future during their school holidays because part of it is near our home in Yio Chu Kang.'

On Saturday was the start of the two-day Festival of Biodiversity. The event, held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, features exhibitions, workshops and guided tours for the public.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam launched the festival on Saturday.

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Photo taken at the launch of the festival.

"Why I Love To Ride My Bicycle" - Walter Lim on Coolest Insights

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:48:00 +0000

Walter Lim writes on Coolest Insights (07 Apr 2012),

Photo from Coolest Insights

"Beyond the green and health related reasons cited by numerous cycling fans - and that number is growing significantly by the day - my personal reason for embracing those frames, spokes and wheels is one that is more nostalgic in nature. As a kid and a teen, I used to ride my bicycle with my brother as well as friends in the lovely Serangoon Gardens neighbourhood where we lived. We ventured to places far and near, from the playgrounds in the estate to Ang Mo Kio to the Upper Serangoon and even Punggol area (back when it still had pig farms).

There were many adventures on two-wheels for a young boy back then. They range from those catastrophic falls with bloodied knees, hands and bodies as our bicycles freewheeled down steep and sharp corners, to "spy missions" where we "visited" certain interesting houses in the estate that had fierce dogs, fascinating aviaries full of parrots, macaws and other exotic "birds"."

Hop over to read Walter's post.

Two articles. a letter and comments in Today Online: "Life in the bike lane"

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:03:00 +0000

"Life in the bike lane," by Cheow Xin Yi. Today Online, 15 Apr 2012. Could Central London's 20-month-old bike sharing scheme provide a model for Singapore's CBD?

"They are these days a ubiquitous sight in central London: Executives in suit and tie pedalling from the train station to work in the financial district, or casual backpack-toting commuters on missions unknown, all mounted on bicycles with the distinctive blue livery.

Parking is a veritable breeze. These riders and their Boris bikes - dubbed affectionately after London's cycle-crazy mayor Boris Johnson - need only look for the nearest electronic docking point.

And there are 570 stations, each housing up to 125 points, and no more than 300m apart, all over the city.

Since London's public bicycle sharing scheme was launched in July 2010, as one of the three "spokes" to propel what Mr Johnson has declared the city's "cycling revolution", the response has been promising.

Barclays Cycle Hire is operated and funded by Transport for London (TFL), the body responsible for the city's public transport system, with partial sponsorship by Barclays Bank.

Can Singapore replicate such a model in its central district? After all, cycling is growing in popularity and official support has increased, with the Government having pledged S$43 million to improve cycling infrastructure islandwide under the National Cycling Plan.

While biking enthusiasts Today spoke to debated the viability of a public bike sharing scheme, at least one group of private investors is determined to put the model to the test in an urban workplace context by piloting a project at one-north in the next couple of months. (See related story below.)

PICKING UP SPEED
Modelled after similar projects in Paris and Barcelona, feasibility studies for London's own cycle hire scheme began in 2008.

There were two clear goals, said TFL's head of operations James Mead: "The first is simply to get more people out of their cars and onto a bicycle in London. Second is the impact of that on traffic congestion, on emissions. It's better for the air. And also the health benefits - people are fitter when they ride a bike than driving a car."

The target - to increase cycling's share of total journeys in London from 2 per cent to 5 per cent by 2026 - is one that even Mr Mead admits is ambitious. There have been teething problems, public criticism and rumbles about the cost to tax-payers. Yet even so, the scheme appears to have gained traction in its first 18 months.

It averaged about 15,000 hires a day when it started; by January this year it was 24,000, said Mr Mead, who is confident of hitting 40,000 hires a day, the ridership needed for operations to break even.

Regular users can pay £45 (S$89) a year for unlimited use and a key to slot in to release the bike from its docking point; it can be "returned" at any other station. Casual users simply sign up with a credit or debit card and pay a £1 daily "access fee"; the first 30 minutes of use is free, after which charges climb exponentially (£1 for an hour, £6 for two hours, £35 for six hours).

"The intent, really, is for short point-to-point journeys," said Mr Mead. "The idea is that you can get to almost everywhere you want to go in less than half an hour, get your coffee or your meeting, come back out, start another journey. So you can ride a bike 10 times a day and it won't cost you more than £1. But prices do ramp up quite steeply by the hour because we want those bikes back."

LOW THEFT SURPRISE
Another telling sign of how Londoners have embraced Boris bikes: As of January, fewer than 35 bicycles under the scheme have been stolen.

TFL was prepared for at least 60 bikes a month to go to missing, or 720 a year. A similar scheme in Paris saw 9,000 bikes stolen in the first two years. Mr Mead attributed the London phenomenon to the Barclays scheme's "counter-intuitive" decision to do away with bike locks. The £300-pound penalty fee for lost bikes probably played a part too.

"What we've learnt from Paris is that we actually need to tell people, 'keep your bike with you all the time, put it back in the docking point after you're done. Don't lock it up outside the coffee shop.'

"The other thing that makes it so successful is this community feel around the bikes - all sorts of websites and forums have sprung up where people talk about how they use the scheme and which docking stations always have bikes ... I think people really understand that these are everybody's bikes, and they try to take care of them. It's been really gratifying."

Accidents meanwhile, were capped at fewer than 40 (and no fatalities), another encouraging statistic which Mr Mead attributed to the design of the heavy 23-kg bikes "that can't go very far".

CHEAP, QUICK, CONVENIENT BUT...
One other factor that encourages commuters to cycle in the city centre are the bike lanes and tracks that criss-cross it - though these are often shared with other vehicles or pedestrians.

While central London is far ahead of Singapore's CBD in this respect, civil servant Fergus Harradence, 37, a Barclays cycle hire member, thinks more dedicated cycle routes are needed. "In West London, the main parks and along the River Thames this is not a problem, but in other places you end up jostling with the traffic on fairly narrow and busy streets. The experience would be much improved, and probably more people would use these bikes or their own if the infrastructure was better."

The convenience of the bike hire scheme appeals to those like civil servant Jeremy Burke, who says it is "no more complicated than purchasing tickets in most major cities ... you can just turn up and use it".

Investment banker Stephen Lien, who recommends gloves on 'particularly cold days', added: "It is the cheapest and quickest way to get around central London versus more conventional modes of public transport ... especially if the Tube is down or buses are not running."

Still, a common grouse of riders is the difficulty in docking the bikes when users end up concentrated in certain locations - such as during morning peak hours when most people are biking from the train stations to the office. "It would be great if the bikes were moved around the system more systematically so that there was less build-up in certain spots and less gaps in service at other places," said Mr Burke.

The writer's trip to London was made possible by the British High Commission in Singapore.

3 spokes of London's 'cycling revolution'
- Public bicycle sharing scheme to encourage people to cycle instead of drive within Central London
- "Cycle superhighways", 12 routes marked in blue running from outer London into Central London, for commuters wishing to bike between home and work.
- £4 million made available to selected boroughs for the creation of cycling hubs and local cycling communities

"Will Singaporean's pilot scheme take off?" By Cheow Xin Yi. Today Online, 15 Apr 2012.

Product designer and avid cyclist Francis Chu has come up with his own innovative twist on the bike sharing system, for his upcoming pilot project at one-north: The docking stations aren't fixed, but mobile.

This tackles one of the problems faced by the London project. Mr Chu explained that during peak hours, most bike sharing systems will have logistics teams undocking bicycles from the end-stations and transporting them by trailer back to the start stations, where they have to unload and dock the bicycles one by one.

"This is obviously very expensive and takes a lot of effort. The window of opportunity is not that great because peak hour is limited - the faster you can recycle the bicycles, the more people can use them," he said.

"What we have come up with is a station integrating storage with the docking of the bicycles. The station itself is on wheels. When the trailer is full, we just close the door the whole station is ready to go," said Mr Chu who, with five other investors, pumped S$100,000 into the scheme.

Besides making short point-to-point journeys, Mr Chu hopes his pilot scheme, called "Isuda" (or "easy, fast and access" in Mandarin), will also encourage commuters to use cycling as a "last-mile connection" between a bus terminal or train station and their workplace.

His group has secured approval for the scheme from JTC Corporation, one-north's landlord, and is running a trial with "one or two users". They hope to price the scheme at S$20 a month for unlimited use, with incremental charges for the duration of each ride.

ERASING A STIGMA
"There is the perception of ... riding a bike for commuting as only appropriate for foreign labourers. That is a stigma that will take some time to erase," he says.

"One of the reasons that one-north is a good location to start with is the mix of people who work there - there is a high proportion of foreigners but these are researchers and usually highly educated; they do not associate cycling with this stigma but, rather, they see it as a greener and efficient mode of transport."

Why not approach the authorities for funding to make it a national scheme?
"We want to be independent and have the freedom, and progress at our own pace. Of course, if there are schemes or funds that are in line with what we are doing, there is no harm in us approaching the authorities." (The group is, meanwhile, in talks with the Land Transport Authority for permission to run the scheme on land not belonging to JTC and to clarify traffic regulations for cycling.)

Essentially, Mr Chu's aim is to make bike sharing profitable by reducing the operating costs. "The reason why London's and Paris' bike-share schemes need sponsors is because it's a very expensive operation. If we can make a small profit, then bike share can be expanded in an organic way," he said, citing hopes of expanding the scheme to the Central Business District someday.

'STILL IN ITS INFANCY'
To cycling enthusiast Ryan Li, the challenge of implementing a bike share scheme in the CBD is the need to balance space for human traffic with space for cyclists, given how built-up the area is.

"Most people cycling to the CBD to work are experienced riders cycling on the roads. Unless there is really a cycling lane catered for on the pavements, it will be quite a challenge" for new riders to cycle within the CBD, said the owner of biking specialist shop Bike Labz.

Indeed, given factors like that and the tropical weather, there are those who are sceptical that cycling to or around the business district would become popular.

The Bike Boutique formerly at Tras Street was founded in 2003 by Lynten Ong and a partner originally as a bike storage facility offering cyclists the use of showers. Mr Ong, who left the company in 2007 before it changed its business, said that in his time, demand was "quite minimal".

"Cycling has grown a little bit more over the years. It's more acceptable now ... but if you notice, it's more an expat market rather than a local market. It's still in its infancy, I think it'll take a while more before locals can accept the fact that it's okay to cycle to work.

Maybe when COEs go up to S$100,000 for cars," quipped Mr Ong, who now owns a bike shop at Jalan Batu.

See comments and responses on Today Online.

"Tips to ride the bumps in Spore's cycling ambition," by Sibert Muijzers. Letter to Today Online, 20 Apr 2012.

Will "Life in the bike lane" (TODAY on Sunday, April 15) work in Singapore? As an expatriate here for three years from the Netherlands, the No 1 bicycle country in the world, my answer is: No, or not yet.

However, I have some positive comments and even advice.

First, just thinking of the year-round tropical weather and I start to sweat already. Fortunately, though, there are not many steep hills here. In Holland, companies provide shower facilities, so one could still start work fresh - something to promote here.

Imagine, if 10 per cent of commuters were to cycle to work, peak-hour traffic and congestion on public transport would be solved, not to mention the healthier lifestyle for those sitting at their desks for hours.

A change in attitude, that cycling is for the poor, is needed.

Second, like pedestrians, cyclists are at risk on the roads here, especially users of sports bikes or mountain bikes, in their unprotected outfits at higher speeds.

They should realise that they are not in full control of their own safety but are dependent on others. Wearing a functional open-air, wind-optimised helmet is advised. Having said that, nowhere in the world do I see motorists so well behaved.

Third, pedestrians have their own protected pavements; what do cyclists here have? In this respect, I am surprised that product designer and avid cyclist Francis Chu wants to be independent of Government funding for his bike sharing project.

Such schemes should always be combined with sufficient and free parking lots. For example, I live near the Tiong Bahru MRT Station, and all I see are a few bikes locked to roadside fences. Partnership with the Government should be sought.

Holland has bike sharing/hiring programmes, although they are not big, as we have our own bikes, including bikes that can be folded to a size smaller than airline carry-on luggage, which one can take on to trains and buses.

So bicycle producers should promote and develop their business in Singapore.

Next, petty crime is unfortunately high in Holland. Every other year, on average, one of my bikes is stolen when locked, but unattended. Singapore sure has an advantage here.

Lastly, do not forget the millions of tourists. Independently exploring a country like Singapore is best done by bike. One then sees and experiences the most, gets as close to local residents as one wants, stops and goes whenever and wherever.

No other means of transport, including walking, can beat that. Singapore's other modes of transport, though, are well organised and mostly not that expensive. Still, the tourism board should act and promote cycling.

The writer has three bikes in Amsterdam and none in Singapore. This is a shorter version of his comment first posted at www.todayonline.com (from the comments of the previous article)

Ride of Silence, 20 May 2012: 9.00am

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:17:00 +0000

What about bicycle parking?

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000

One of the many items under infrastructure is safe bicycle parking. Foldables might have reduced that pressure had cubicle size not decreased! Fixing the journey to work will be one part of a holistic plan which will require all aspects of a ride to be addressed by comprehensive regulation. Meanwhile, just last week, I heard two people whose workplace will have new buildings talk about incorporating bicycle-friendly facilities within their new designs. In both cases, it was cyclists in these entities which could be tapped on for some practical ideas.

That's because legislation doesn’t require it yet. Heck we don't have a master plan for cycling yet.

Still, from two years ago, Irene Ng hasn’t forgotten about cycling and asks, perhaps too many questions but anyway would not have gotten details in this platform anyway. But we hear that the Ministry of Transport "is studying [the issue] very carefully" as "one of the plans in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint".

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines): "Sir, I am encouraged to hear that the Ministry is planning to build more infrastructure as part of its plans to promote environmentally friendly practices in Singapore. Can I ask the Minister whether there are any plans to work with the relevant agencies to make sure that beyond the infrastructure, cycling is also a viable and safe mode of transport? If we want to promote cycling as a green mode of transport, it not only requires infrastructure but it also requires shower rooms in offices, education and enforcement to ensure that cyclists ride safely."

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: "Sir, as mentioned in my earlier reply, the Ministry of Transport (MOT), together with HDB, has a programme to build up the cycling infrastructure. I do not have the details of it, to the extent, as mentioned by the Member, of shower facilities in some of the buildings.

But, certainly, this is being tried out by MOT, together with the various local agencies, to ensure that if the infrastructure is built, the users are responsible and safety is ensured. As you know our roads are already crowded and if we were to build cycling paths within the main roads, there are concerns and issues which we should bear in mind.

But, as I said earlier, this is something which MOT is studying very carefully. This is one of the plans in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. So we have to test it out and pilot it. But, to a large extent, if you ask me personally, it is about personal behaviour on how we work together as a community, ie, when we use the roads, we use it in a responsible manner."

Read the entire transcript of 'Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Yaacob Ibrahim's reply to Parliamentary question on the Singapore Sustainable Blueprint on 11 January 2010.'

You can share your feedback about how to tackle climate change at the NCSS webpage - they want to hear from you.

Interestingly, this evening I also read of New York City's proposal (in line with their 1997 master plan) for the adoption of requirements for indoor, secure, long-term bicycle parking in new multi-family residential, community facility, and commercial buildings:

"Studies and surveys by DCP (The NYC Bicycle Survey, 2007; The State of Cycling in NYC, 2006; Bicycle Parking Needs, 1999) have found that the lack of a safe and secure bicycle parking facility is a leading factor preventing people from cycling to work. In addition, a lack of bicycle storage facilities in residential buildings can make bicycle ownership impractical.

By promoting secure, indoor bicycle parking facilities, this proposal seeks to support ridership throughout the city as well as encourage new cyclists to start riding. The increase of cycling in the city will yield fitness and health benefits for riders as well as the potential benefits of alleviating congestion, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions."

The proposal was adopted in 2009. See Dept of City Planning, NYCLinks

"What Would Get Americans Biking to Work?" By Tom Vanderbilt. Slate.com, 17 Aug 2009.
Guidelines at bicyclinginfo.org.

The Sunday Times, 08 Apr 2012: "More executives cycling to their CBD offices"

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:56:00 +0000

"More executives cycling to their CBD offices," by Carolyn Khew [kcarolyn@sph.com.sg]. The Sunday Times, 08 Apr 2012. They set off early to beat traffic and have a shower, but parking is a problem for some

"Lawyer Niel Liebenberg, 40, cycles to work twice a week,his folded business shirt and pressed trousers in his backpack. To him, the 25-minute trip from his East Coast home to his workplace in Marina Bay is the 'calm before work'.

More professionals like Mr Liebenberg, many living outside the city, now cycle to work, typically in the Central Business District. Many leave their homes by 7.30am to 8am, before the traffic gets heavy. It also gives them time to wash up and change before starting work.

In Mr Liebenberg's case, his office building has dedicated areas for bicycles, which save him the trouble of finding a railing to secure his bike.

No one knows how many professionals now cycle to work in the city. But Mr Ryan Li, 32, who owns Bike Labz in the east, reckons from chats with his customers that 30 per cent to 40 per cent of them cycle to work.

Bike specialist Alan Soh, 24, who works at Athlete's Circle on Boon Tat Street in the CBD, has seen an uptrend too. 'We get about two or three people asking every month this year if we are keen to provide bike storage facilities. We had only one customer asking every few months last year,' he said.

Transport analyst Tham Chen Munn notes a variation of this trend: 'mix-commuting', where cyclists take their foldable bikes on board trains and cycle to their office from the nearest MRT station.

Last year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said 1,600 more bicycle parking racks will be added at 10 MRT stations by September this year. This is timely, as cycling is growing in popularity.

A 2005 national sports participation survey found that cycling ranked seventh in the list of top 20 sports. About 110,000 people cited it as their top sport, up from about 80,000 in 2001.

Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew said last month in Parliament that by 2014, there will be at least another 50km of intra-town cycling paths and another 16km in the Marina Bay area.

More offices in the CBD are also providing biking facilities. A check with 30 office buildings in the CBD found 12 with bicycle parking areas that contain from five to 211 spaces. Capital Tower in Robinson Road, which was completed in 2000, included 14 bicycle spaces in its plans. They are usually fully occupied. Asia Square Tower 1, near Gardens by the Bay in Marina Bay, was completed in June last year. It has shower facilities and 211 bicycle spaces.

Still, the lack of proper bike-parking areas in the city poses a problem for some riders.

Cafe owner Danny Pang, 42, cycles from his home in Simei about twice a week to visit his cafe outlets in the CBD. But Mr Pang finds the dearth of proper biking facilities a problem. On days when he has to go to office buildings with no bike parking, he rides his 12kg foldable Brompton bicycle, which he can carry along with him. 'It is very difficult for me to cycle if there are no parking spots around... My bike is not cheap and I can't risk having it stolen,' he said.

IT consultant Calvin Boo, 42, has been cycling from his Bukit Timah home every day for the past six months. After using his car to take his children to school, he returns home to park, before making his 20-minute commute to work at Raffles Place. 'Cycling to work gives me my morning exercise, and it's faster than taking the bus or train, which takes about 40 to 50 minutes,' he said.

Cycling blog - "Unfold and Cycle" by Diane

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:35:00 +0000

Unfold and Cycle is a cycling blog by foldie-enthusiast Diane, who is "currently using an apple green Brompton M6R as a commuter, a purple Peerless Aero-I as a market bike, and a power raspberry Express Tikit as a weekend ride."

In the most recent post, Diane talks about the brainstorming session conducted with NParks about the Round Island Route and adds, "..I say many MANY thanks to Bernard and his team, for dedicating their time and effort to push for these PCNs. It’s not just a job. They are activists in their own right."

See http://unfoldandcycle.com/

Thanks to Woon Taiwoon for the alert via facebook.

Bike Hour is not complicated - "just get on your bike and pedal the sucker"

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:42:00 +0000

"The world’s biggest, completely unorganised, mass cycling rally will happen wherever you are, on Tuesday March 20, between 6 and 7 pm. Why? Because you will be riding your bike."

The instructions are explicit:

"Ride how you like, where you like, with whom you like, or ride alone. Just get on your bike and pedal the sucker. By doing so, you will be showing the world our staggering numbers, and unspoken yearning for safer, more edifying, cycling conditions."

Feel a need to share your ride by posting a note, photo, video at the Bike Hour Facebook page

.Tell me where will you be cycling?

Rent a bicycle and ride along Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon (North-Eastern Riverine Loop)

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:47:00 +0000

The North-Eastern Riverine Loop was just opened and features views of the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs, linking Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang towns and the following sites:

Punggol Point Park (road end)
Punggol Promenade
Punggol Beach
Punggol Waterway Park
Sengkang Riverside Park
Punggol Park (off Hougang Ave 10)
Lor Halus Wetland

Six existing park connectors are linked:

Punggol Park Connector,
Punggol Promenade,
Serangoon Park Connector,
Sungei Serangoon Park Connector,
Buangkok Park Connector and
Punggol Waterway.

Download the e-guide from NParks here.

The best way to enjoy the 26km trail is in the evening when the sun is setting over the west. And the good news - you can rent a bicycle if you do not have one either at

Punggol Point Park in the north - map link; bus no 84).
Punggol Park in the south - map link; bus nos. 62, 74, 113, 119, 147, 74E; 80, 82, 87, 88, 89, 119, 89E, NR6)

The map below (click to enlarge) shows you the locations of these bicycle rental kiosks, thanks to Trina Chua from NParks for the information.

(click for larger image)

Both bicycle rental kiosks are open from:

Tue to Fri from 2pm to 8pm and
Sat and Sun from 9am to 8pm.

Note that you have to return the bicycles from the kiosk you borrowed it from, i.e. they are independent of each other. A leisurely 26km ride with stops might take 3-hours (there is a 15 km/h speed limit), so do plan your ride well - come by the park and rent your bicycle by 5pm if you intend to take in the sights and grab some photos.

Now, get on that bike and ride!

Links

"Biking to Punggol Promenade on 26 October 2011," by Ng Cher Choon. Biking Experiences, 14 Nov 2011 - link.
Walter Lim blogs about the launch of NERL with lots of photos at Coolest Insights.
NParks press release, 25 Feb 2011 - link.
NParks e-guide link

Earth Hour promotion ride this Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:49:00 +0000

Click to find out more about Earth Hour Singapore

In support of Earth Hour, a group of cyclists organised by Chu Wa of http://lovecycling.net and WWF Singapore will be:

"riding through the beautiful Singapore River and Orchard road on the most eco-friendly transport device - the bicycle!

We will take loads of photos in the morning light, soak in the atmosphere, meeting people and help raise the awareness of Earth Hour.

07:30am grouping at Lavender MRT (breakfast at Kopitiam next to Lavender MRT).
08:30am start and ride along Singapore rivers
10:00am Orchard Road (push bike),
11:00am regroup at Plaza by the Park at Bras Bazah road for Tea/ Lunch.

You can sign up at their facebook page here and help to spread the word!

Bike Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 03:35:00 +0000

"The world’s biggest, completely unorganised, mass cycling rally will happen wherever you are, on Tuesday March 20, between 6 and 7 pm. Why? Because you will be riding your bike."

Mr Lui Tuck Yew, the Minister for Transport, on cycling, in the Singapore Parliament, 07 Mar 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 02:55:00 +0000

Text of his speech concerning Cycling extracted from the Ministry of Transport's Press Centre from the Committee of Supply debate (COS2012) about the budget of individual ministries which commenced on 1 Mar 2012 [link].

Cycling National Cycling Plan and Cycling Paths

47. I will now turn to cycling. Dr Janil Puthucheary asked whether we could consider introducing on-road cycling lanes. As an alternative, Dr Puthucheary also suggested a painted visual guide on the existing left-most lane for motorists to provide a 1.5 metre clearance when passing cyclists.

48. Experience in other cities suggests that demarcating on-road cycling lanes might in fact give both cyclists and motorists a false sense of security, which can lead to an increase in accidents involving cyclists. I was a little surprised on this, because I asked LTA to run through studies that were done, look at the data. Interestingly enough, for a number of countries that have introduced this demarcation back in the 80s, they subsequently reported an increase the number of accidents. One of the reasons they alluded to was that it gave both parties a false sense of security.

49. What we are doing, under the National Cycling Plan, as our first priority, is to facilitate cycling for intra-town travel and for connectivity to major transport nodes. Weighing the various pros and cons, the provision of dedicated off-road cycling paths proves to be the safer and more land-efficient option while achieving our purpose of facilitating intra-town cycling.

50. LTA started rolling out the “Cycling Town” initiative in 2009. So far, seven towns have been identified as “Cycling Towns”. To date, 6.4km of dedicated off-road cycling paths have already been completed in these towns. By 2014, cyclists can look forward to at least 50 km of intra-town cycling paths and another 16 km in the Marina Bay area.

51. We are not stopping there. In mature estates such as East Coast and Jurong Lake, LTA is working with HDB under the Remaking Our Heartland plans to incorporate connectivity for cyclists. New HDB towns will also be planned with basic cycling infrastructure provisions. Dr Puthucheary has rightly pointed out that our extensive Park Connector Network can offer cyclists who go beyond intra-town commutes an alternative cycling network. This is indeed being looked into. LTA is working with NParks to have the cycling paths built by LTA linked up with NParks’ park connectors. This integrated approach adopted by relevant agencies has taken us from a localised “Cycling Town” initiative towards a broader National Cycling Plan, which will see an extensive cycling network islandwide being developed in the long-term. However full implementation will be some years away as the infrastructure will take time to roll out.

52. Dr Puthucheary suggested that Singapore consider bicycle sharing systems similar to several other cities. We are certainly open to the idea and will explore its feasibility and actively facilitate if there are interested private operators.

Enhancing Bicycle Parking Facilities

53. Under the National Cycling Plan, LTA aims to increase the number of bicycle parking racks at MRT stations and bus interchanges. Last year, LTA announced that it would roll out the first batch of additional bicycle parking racks at 10 MRT stations. These 1,600 additional bicycle parking racks, will be in place by this September.

54. These racks have been designed to allow cyclists to lock their bikes securely and with adequate lighting. We encourage cyclists to heed the Police’s advice to use a U-lock or one with an alarm feature to deter bicycle thieves.

55. I am glad to share that LTA has plans to install additional bicycle racks at another 10 MRT stations. About 900 additional racks are expected to be added by 2013. LTA will continue to monitor demand for bicycle parking at our transport nodes and work with agencies to secure land to provide additional racks.

Public Education and Enforcement

56. Dr Puthucheary asked whether we would consider having a single regulatory authority for cycling. I think the issue is not about having a single regulatory authority for cycling, but whether it is actually possible and desirable, at this stage of our cycling development, to have a single set of cycling regulations and plans across the entire island. While LTA provides the infrastructure such as cycling paths and bicycle racks at transport nodes, and the Traffic Police oversees the enforcement regime, community involvement is really the key success factor from what we have seen so far in the cycling towns. The community is involved in planning the cycling paths, and they are also mindful to balance the concerns of other residents by encouraging their cyclists to adopt safe cycling habits. This means that the local communities can decide how fast cycling initiatives should be rolled out and what would be acceptable practices and trade-offs between cyclists and other members of the community.

57. Dr Puthucheary also advocated the use of cycling helmets. The Traffic Police has taken the approach to promote the use of helmets through education, as mandating their use through legislation may not necessarily be that effective. Cycling interest and advocacy groups can also partner LTA and the Traffic Police to encourage the use of helmets in the cycling community.

58. Besides the promotion of the use of helmets, there are other public education efforts undertaken by LTA, the Traffic Police as well as interest groups like the Safe Cycling Task Force. One key initiative on this front is the publication of “Intra-Town Cycling” Handbook, which will serve as a reference on good cycling etiquette and share safety tips for intra-town cycling. I note that LTA and the Traffic Police have also stepped up their enforcement effort against errant cyclists with the help of the local community to make cycling a safer activity for all.

59. Our limited land space means that mutual understanding and courtesy between cyclists and other road users is all the more important. This is an on-going process. I hope that by working together as a community, through improving our infrastructure, and through our continuing efforts on education and enforcement, we can create an environment where cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists can co-exist safely.

What did Janil Putucheary ask?

"Mr. Chairman, sir,

Cycling is fast gaining popularity in Singapore. More cycling paths and facilities are being built under the $43 million dollar National Cycling Plan, cycling groups are growing in number and mass cycling events are attracting thousands of participants.

Sir, I am heartened that many more Singaporeans are taking up cycling as a sport, a leisure activity or as a mode of daily transport. Cycling has many benefits and regular cycling is known to significantly reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases. I am glad that the government is investing in resources to promote cycling. However, I feel that more that can be done.

Firstly I would like to address the issue of cycling as a form of commuting. Our roads are getting more congested and as we grow our population, at some point in the future we will have to stop increasing the number of cars. The growth in our population cannot be matched by a similar growth in the number of cars. It is unfeasible for reasons of space, congestion, and the effects on the environment. The government has correctly identified a need to encourage more people to move towards public transport. Yet, there remains a need for personal transport, and an increasing number of people are turning to cycling to fill this gap. Sometimes to get exercise, sometimes to take advantage of the flexibility it provides, and sometimes for the sheer enjoyment of it. Cycling is personal transport, there is an emotive component. Can we look ahead 20 or 25 years and see that an increase in cycling infrastructure now will not only respond to a current need, as it will frame the mindset and expectations of our society for the next generation?

Our park connector network is a fantastic initiative as it provides residents with seamless connections to different parks in Singapore. But could the network be used to address a need for utilitarian personal transport? I realize that the Park Connector network is under NParks, which is under MND, and so MOT would have a hard time looking at the routes to consider the obstacles to them becoming part of an alternative cycle commuting network. This brings me to the next point.

Cycling crosses across a number of ministries and bodies, none of whom see it as their priority. LTA, and hence MOT, looks at cycling on the roads. NParks, and hence MND, looks at the Park Connectors. SPF, and hence MHA, is responsible for the safety and enforcement issues. Sport cycling comes under the SSC and hence MCYS. URA, HDB and the Town Councils all would have a role to play in integrating cycling with other amenities, facilities and access points. For the integration with public transport LTA again gets involved together with the PTCs. Nobody wants to completely own and deal with cycling. Suggestions are usually met with a response indicating which other ministry could get involved. Whose KPI is it? Whatever the arguments of the merits of cycling, the fact is that an increasing number of people are actively engaging in cycle commuting, and this sector is not adequately overseen.

Sir, I would like to propose that we have a regulatory authority to oversee and advocate for cycling as a commuter modality, one with heft and weight. One that can take matters across ministries and stat boards to solve problems for the benefit of all, because poorly designed cycling infrastructure affects pedestrians and drivers as much as cyclists, because people will continue to cycle, and increasingly so.

There has been an assumption amongst many that Singapore is too hot and too humid to cycle in. This is clearly wrong. Look at the many “uncles” in their long pants and t-shirts that can be seen cycling with ease in Kallang, Geylang, Redhill and other areas. Look at the foreign workers who do not require high-tech lycra shorts nor expensive cycle shoes, and yet manage to commute very effectively, rarely even breaking into a sweat. Look at the number of cyclists in cities around South East Asia, cities that share our weather conditions. Look at the cyclists on our roads despite the assertion that it is not a viable mode of personal transport. It’s all a matter of expectation and conditioning.

If we accept that this is a viable modality of personal transport that will become increasingly important as car ownership becomes less accessible, I would like to ask the Minister whether MOT will subsidize or support bike-share programmes? The argument to wait for a critical mass of cyclists first is not a sound one as cities such as Barcelona and London saw an increase in the number of trips made by bicycle after the introduction of bike sharing programs that were well integrated into the transport network. The introduction of a bike sharing programme can work to offload some of the pressure that our public transport system is under.

There have been calls for cycle lanes to be established to improve the on-road safety of cyclists. In discussing this, firstly we all have to understand that cyclists are required to ride on the road as they are banned from pavements, except in established cycling towns. One argument against bicycle lanes is that we are land-scarce. It’s hard to understand how London and Manhattan, two of the most dense and congested cities in the world can effectively implement bicycle lanes to good effect, but we cannot. Yes we are a city and not a country, but the cities that have implemented bicycle lanes have not expanded outwards into their hinterlands and countrysides in order to do so, they have merely made accommodations. Will the ministry consider reexamining this idea?

However, in lieu of bicycle lanes I have an alternative suggestion. The highway code already requires that cars overtaking a bicycle do so with a 1.5m clearance to the right of the bicycle, assuming that the cyclist is in the left-most lane. Judging this clearance can be difficult. Why don’t we make it easy for drivers to comply with the existing law by painting a line down the left-most lane, 1.7m in from the kerb. This is cheap, uses no extra land, does not require any new legislation, and most importantly does not affect the flow of traffic, as there are already cyclists in that lane, and the cars currently need to overtake them. We would simply be making it easy for all concerned to do the right thing and obey the law. In the absence of cyclists, the whole lane is available for cars. One possible objection to this idea is the Bernoulli effect, which is what happens when a large vehicle passes the cyclist at high speed, causing a pressure differential that can unbalance you. This is neither more or less likely to occur with this suggestion, the cyclists are already in that space, the drivers are already overtaking them. One of the attractions of this suggestion to me, is that it emphasizes that the road, just like our island nation, is a shared space, and we all need to share it graciously. Cyclists, just like drivers, need to follow the highway code.

Finally sir, with respect to cycle safety, the data is incontrovertible, that wearing a helmet saves lives. Together with visibility and riding responsibly, wearing helmet is a key measure in ensuring the safety of cyclists. If enforcement is an issue, this would not be the only law that is difficult to enforce, I’m not aware of any driver that has been fined for failing to provide a 1.5m clearance when overtaking a cyclist. Nevertheless I do agree with the general sentiment that education is better that legislation. Will the ministry will the ministry consider measures to increase or mandate the use of bicycle helmets?
Thank you."

Source: Janil Putucheary on the Everyday Trafficfacebook page, 08 Mar 2012.

Bike Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:58:00 +0000

The Bishan-Kallang Obstacle Course - "It feels like I spend more time off my bike than on it"

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 07:44:00 +0000

Bishan residents cycling to Singapore City enjoy the safe ride down south but lament at the obstacle course the park connector represents with its many overhead bridges. Kenneth Pinto writes in Zendogs 2.0, "It feels like I spend more time off my bike than on it."

Perhaps this is manageable for a young man who is able to complete the NTU round-island Bike Rally, but we need to provide accessible cycling routes for all people along these park connectors. This is something LTA needs to look into.

We'll write.

Photo from NTU Bike Rally, thanks to Zheng Weiliang.

See also Adrian Loo's, "Park Connector Ride – Bishan to Kallang waterside park." Lekowala, 13 Dec 2011, which we describes the ride in some details and highlights the crossings. This post was featured here earlier.

Update - Renamed this the Bishan-Kallang Obstacle Course on Sat 05 May 2012.

[Dear LTA] "We need a ‘Mr. Cycling’ or a ‘Miss Cycling,’ a unit that actually takes responsibility" - Paul Barter in Wall Street Journal blog

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 07:06:00 +0000

Once again, Paul (who blogs here in Cycling in Singapore as well, makes the call for LTA to investigate the problem with some seriousness. How long will LTA wait?

NParks has surged ahead with their park connector network, which they are able to control in the area within their jurisdiction. Some of the connectors, though, are obstacle courses due to what seems to be a lack of support from other agencies.

LTA does have a National Cycling Plan restricted to cycling paths in seven HDB towns. It's time to take a more holistic approach to the issue. And they can call upon many in the community to help out.

"Cycling in Singapore: An Uphill Battle?" By Matthew Allen. Driver Street (The Wall Street Journal blog), 03 Feb 2012. [pdf]

"... cycling, at least in theory, should be more popular. The local public transport network has lost its luster after a series of calamitous train breakdowns late last year, and buying a car costs a small fortune due to high ownership levies in the city-state. On top of that, taxi fares have just been hiked.

One reason for the dearth of cyclists is that Singapore’s hot and humid climate makes pedaling a sweaty pursuit. Cyclists also complain of a lack of secure parking spaces, high rates of bicycle theft and restrictions on taking foldable bikes onto buses and trains.

However, proponents of cycling point to another set of problems they believe can and should be addressed: The overall lack of infrastructure for cyclists on Singapore’s roads, and the bad attitudes of other road users, many of whom don’t acknowledge cyclists’ right to be there in the first place."

"Paul Barter, an assistant professor teaching infrastructure and transport policy at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, says there seems to be a kind of mantra among the authorities, when defending a lack of cycling infrastructure, that Singapore is dense and short of space, but that authorities may not have actually looked into it in detail.

“If they do that, and they look around the world where cities have squeezed in bicycle infrastructure, they’ll probably find that Singapore’s road reserves are rather generous by world standards and it’s a design problem (installing cycling infrastructure) but it’s by no means impossible.”

In an unpublished paper in 2008 [see link here], Barter wrote that “bicycles appear to have been ignored in the design of Singapore’s roads” and that “there has been relatively little official encouragement of bicycle use in Singapore.” He told the Wall Street Journal that he still largely holds those views, and says a major step towards countering the problem would be the appointment of a cycling czar, to oversee investment in cycling infrastructure.

“Somebody needs to take responsibility. We need a ‘Mr. Cycling’ or a ‘Miss Cycling,’ a unit that actually takes responsibility,” he says."

Read on...

See and Be Seen - Singapore’s First Night Cycling Safety Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Yet another cycling project by students of NTU's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information - this time Grace Auyong write to introduce us to See and Be Seen, Singapore’s First Night Cycling Safety Campaign, which is a 30km ride night ride on 10 March 2012 which begins at 10pm at Xtreme Skate Park @ East Coast Park.

"See and Be Seen is our tiny effort to raise awareness about the need for visibility while cycling at night. As you know, cycling in Singapore is steadily increasing in popularity. Night cycling is particularly popular with the busy folks in Singapore, with the weather, and the traffic being more favorable to cyclists at night. However, many of these casual cyclists do not take note and use essential cycling safety equipments, when they head out to cycle.

This is where See and be Seen comes in. We plan to encourage more to be visible while night cycling through Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/seeandbeseen), and also through our Night Ride on the 10th of March. The ride will start at 10pm, and continue till 2am. It will be a 30km night ride, where 250 participants will learn more about night cycling visibility, and pick up other tips and tricks of night cycling safely."

Registration points:

Ride date: Sat 10 Mar 2012: 9pm - 3am from ECP
Register by 01 Mar 2012
$15 registration; you will receive an event t-shirt (pick up on 03 Mar 2012) and ride kit (after event)
A bike rental package at $10 for a standard mountain bike has been arranged with shop next to event start point.
Organiser will return your packaged rental bike with your bike receipt at the end point.
Park at ECP Car Park F1

Details at http://www.seeabseen.com/

click for poster

Loving Circle Line MRT on his foldie - Kenneth Pinto

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Kenneth Pinto writes on Zendogs 2.0 about his enjoyment of taking his foldable bike on board the MRT during offpeak hours. With the opening of the Circle Line, he has been able to meetup with his cycling kakis at Holland Village MRT and launch into 70-80km rides.

See what he says on Zendogs 2.0

"Cyclists start drive to get more road space" - The Straits Times

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:56:00 +0000

"Cyclists start drive to get more road space," by Royston Sim. The Straits Times, 23 Jan 2012. Pitch to cut lane widths, so riders can have more room, to be sent to LTA

"A trio of avid cyclists have started a project to measure lane widths of roads around Singapore, hoping it will eventually lead to more space for cyclists.

They believe that the lanes on some roads can be narrowed to create more room for cyclists to ride between the kerb and double yellow lines at the side of the road.

They have begun to measure lane widths on several roads, and plan to submit a proposal to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to narrow the lanes by the end of this year.

The idea for such a project first hit product designer Francis Chu, 51, last November, when he was cycling along Bayfront Avenue to the Marina Bay Sands.

He said there was a 1.2m space between the kerb and double yellow lines there, which allowed him to ride comfortably and away from traffic.

'It's usually stressful cycling across a bridge, but I felt comfortable and relaxed. If more roads in Singapore could be like this, it will be beneficial for cyclists,' he said. 'It will also be less stressful for motorists if cyclists kept within the double yellow lines.'

Mr Chu, who is launching a bicycle- sharing programme called Isuda, roped in two friends - Singapore Management University undergraduate Chuah Sun Soon, 26, and product designer Yang Tah Ching, 46.

They began documenting lane widths later that month, beginning with several streets in Toa Payoh. They have posted the measurements on lovecycling.net, the website of a local cycling group.

At Toa Payoh Rise, they found the distance between the kerb and double yellow lines was 60cm, the width of the first lane from the double yellow lines was 2.8m and that of the fast lane, 3.3m.

Said Mr Chu: 'We are trying to identify potential areas in Singapore where the lane width can be reduced to allow more space for cyclists. If there is extra space on some lanes, why can't it be shifted to create more space between the kerb and the yellow lines?'

Mr Yang said this could be done without much infrastructural changes, by simply repainting lane markings.

The Straits Times understands that lane widths are determined based on factors such as the speed limit in an area and the volume of traffic there.

The trio have measured several roads in Toa Payoh and Ubi so far, and plan to scope out the Geylang area next month. Their goal is not to measure all roads, but to gather enough data to show that there is room to create safer cycling spaces on some roads.

With cycling rapidly gaining popularity in the last few years, there has been a constant call from cyclists for better facilities. Many feel squeezed and, at times, endangered when pedalling on the roads. Meanwhile, there are drivers who feel that cyclists tend to hog the road and slow down traffic.

This personal project is the latest bid to improve riding conditions for cyclists. A much publicised initiative launched in December 2010 was OCBC Cycle Singapore's safe cycling campaign to get drivers to give cyclists 1.5m of space when overtaking them."

Background story
Road rules for cyclists

UNDER the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules, cyclists are:

Prohibited from riding on the right side of another vehicle that is not a bicycle, unless they are attempting to overtake the vehicle.
Allowed to ride two abreast in the same direction on a public road, except when overtaking. If three or more cyclists are riding in a group, they must ride in pairs or in single file.
Required to keep to the left-hand edge of the roadway, and not in a way so as to obstruct other vehicles moving at a faster speed.
Required to ride in an orderly manner, with due regard for the safety of others.

"Safe cycling in Singapore roads," by Francis Chu

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Francis Chu discusses six factors affecting the safety of cyclists on Singapore roads in "Safe cycling n Singapore roads," over at the "Love cycling in Singapore" blog (29 Nov 2011).

His key concepts:

Click to read

Join the TTSH Family & Friends Charity Ride on Sat 25 Feb 2012 and raise funds for needy sick elderly

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:40:00 +0000

The Tan Tock Seng Hospital Community Charity Fund is organising a Family & Friends Charity Ride in conjunction with the launch of a Park Connector in the Northeastern part of Singapore by the National Parks Board (NParks).

About the Event
The event will be held on on Saturday 25 February 2012 from 8.30am to 12.00pm. Cyclists will ride along a 9 or 11km Park Connector to enjoy the beautiful green space and waterways. Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean will be the Guest-of-Honour of the NParks event. There will also be a Carnival in the Park for the community to join in the celebration. More than just a fun outing or morning exercise in the park connector, the event also aims to raise at least $100,000 for our needy elderly patients who require long-term medication and treatment in TTSH.

Registration
Individual registration fee is $50 and groups of FOUR and above need only to pay $30 per person. Payment is by cheque, paypal or cash at TTSH. All participants will receive a T-shirt and a goodie bag worth $50. Rental of Bike is available on event day at $10 per bicycle (payable onsite). More information is available on http://ttshcharityride.com.

Overhead bridges made easier

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Our Park Connector Networks (PCN) are often isolated by overhead bridges which make it tough for leisure cyclists from enjoying the full potential of some these lovely PCN stretches.

Well, Adrian Loo blogged about his Park Connector Ride from Bishan to Kallang Waterside Park. He "had a most peaceful experience and importantly safe one, free from danger posed by traffic" on his new foldable bike, a Tern Link P9

notices narrow slopes on either side of the steps on some overhead bridges. These make it easier for cyclists to push their bikes up a bridge instead of having to carry them the entire way.

Still, he says, "it will be tough for smaller kids to push their bikes or wheelchairs to cross the roads serviced by such bicycle-friendly overhead bridges."

Read about his PCN ride here. He features the rivers, scenery, maps and most importantly, a prata shop along this ride.

NTU Bike Rally 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:58:00 +0000

NTU Sports Club's round-island Bike Rally is the only annual round island ride in Singapore. Organised principally for undergraduates, the event features multiple rest stops (about seven, I believe) but is open to the public and I have ridden with them since 2003. Registration is open!

This is an excellent way to tackle your first first round island ride; cycling on the periphery of Singapore on a Sunday with fellow-participants all togged out with the event cycling jersey. Along the way, NTU Sports Club volunteer route marshals are bussed about to keep you on track.

This ride is a good way to discover parts of Singapore you have not yet examined. Amongst the many NTU undergraduates would be first timers renting a bicycle for the occasion and suffering somewhat on their first long-distance ride. You will be inspired by their tenacity, but of course they have youth on their side!

The registration fees are $15 for NTU Student/Staff/ Alumni, and $30 for members of the public. A limited edition jersey costs $35. Online payment is possible. See http://bikerally.ntusportsclub.sg/

Last year's route, click for larger image

SSC's Safe Cycling Guide ver ?2011

noreply@blogger.com (Sivasothi) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:17:00 +0000

I dropped in LTA's MyTransport.sg Responsible Cycling webpage and saw the link to the Singapore Sports Council's Safe Cycling Guide.

I have archived a copy here. This version, which I am guessing was published in 2011, is a more concise version of the 2009 booklet (36 pages versus 48 pages). A comparison of the covers provides an indication of the feel of the booklet - the first, 2009 version used soothing colours and had a more recreational-cyclist feel. The new guide is sporty-looking which might be a deliberate slant for the intended audience.

Singapore Sports Council's Safe Cycling Guide ver ?2011

Singapore Sports Council's Safe Cycling Guide ver 2009

How necessary is this? I coordinated natural history guided bicycle tour of Pulau Ubin annually for 12 years (Pedal Ubin) and the participants would have been happy to have been pointed to this before the ride. Flip through the guide yourself to see if you would have remembered to advise a novice cyclist about all aspects reflected here before setting out on a bicycle ride; the reminders are always helpful.

I'm glad its out there and that like Taiwoon says in "small wheel big smile", am glad there is a cycling tab LTA's mytransport.sg portal. Eventually we'll build towards something like that of the Toronto's Cycling Safety page!