By Eric Lim | 1 Comment
Last updated: Thursday, October 16, 2008

Today, 15 Sep 2008
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE CYCLING SAFE FOR ALL
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Letter from Harold Tay

I REFER to “A cycle of change” (Sept 13). The writer has overestimated the importance of integrating bicycles on buses. This distracts from more important issues such as road safety. The most important thing that can be done to encourage cycling is to make it safer for cyclists on our roads. To this end, the Traffic Police is to be commended on their recent campaign targeting motorists, “Be safe, save lives”.

The writer seems to feel that there is great contention between buses and cyclists. This was true in the past and is still true in the case of private buses, but for public buses, the situation has improved immensely.

The situation near bus stops requires only cyclist education: Cyclists need to take the whole lane at junctions where there may be contention.

Public bus drivers understand this.

Let me list some factors we should not be tempted by, at least not yet:

• Cycle lanes. Recognise that the danger arises at junctions, which cycle lanes do not address.




• Cycle paths. Not cost effective and they will be automatically repurposed for recreation, making them less useful for commuting.




• Bicycle-mass transit integration. Our transport operators aren’t interested in this and the number of commuters interested in this option is also quite low. Commuters are locking up their bikes at MRT stations and bus stops: This is a big hint.

We should instead be concentrating on these:

• Improving driver safety education. The curriculum in driving schools should include training on sharing the road with cyclists.




• Bring back the policemen on bicycles. Nothing lends more legitimacy to cycling than this act.




• Increase the penalties for motorist traffic infractions that endanger lives. Motorists typically do not gauge properly the danger they impose.




• Permit non-motorised bicycle use on pedestrian pavements everywhere but enforce a rule that a bicycle may not overtake a pedestrian. Pedestrians hate being overtaken and this rule makes infraction detection easy. A cyclist wanting to go faster should be on the road.




• Bring some order to the use of motor-assisted bicycles. A simple rule to use is, if such a bicycle is seen going uphill or starting off without the cyclist expending any effort, then the cyclist should be charged with operating an unlicenced motorcycle.




• Cyclist training. Target the single largest cycling group for education: Foreign workers. Training this single group will have a knock-on effect.

Credits: http://cyclinginsingapore.blogspot.com

• May Day Ride with Flowerpod Podders 2009 (6)
• NUS Bike Quest: Cycledelic 2010 (0)
• 25th April 2009 Sat Ride with Podders (1)
• Togoparts & OCBC Cycle Singapore Charity Mass Ride (0)

CommentSubscribe

1. lim2596
   December 17, 2008
   

   I just started cycling recently after a long time break, normally on the bike tracks along Hillview Avenue to Upper Bukit Timah area.

   After 2 months doing so, i find eventhough Singapore has a good road to do, it’s not necessarily safer compared to cycling in European countries.

   In Singapore, Road bikers risk themselves of getting hit by those complacent and not alert drivers. Generally, i find Singapore car drivers are selfish and less alert on the road.

   Cycling on the cycling track posts not less danger as well. There are many people using the cycling track as pedestrian way and evenif you ring them, many times they just ignore it. If you hit them, immediately either they will hit you or report you to the police.

   Another danger is from canine pets, especially dogs. For example, on certain hours, either early in the morning or in the evening, you can find people walk their dogs along the Hillview Avenue/Bukit Batok East Avenue 4 area. Some of these dogs are untrained and there were many times the dogs tried to chase and bite the cyclists on the cycling track, which unfortunately happened to me recently where an untrained german shepherd being walked by a caucasian lady stepped on my track and tried to bite me. Tried to avoid the dog but alas, it chased me off the track to a muddy ground on the side and just dropped my self off the bike and for sure, catch some injuries and bruises in the process.

   So, is Singapore a good place to cycle?

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