[sustran] Cycling on Pavements - public debate on Singaporegovernment feedback unit

[Regina Manzo]

Hello All.  Regarding bicycles on pavements in Singapore

I cycled to work frequently over a 2 year period here in Singapore, and 
continue to cycle for many daily need trips.  Just some additional 
information.

There are two types of adults who cycle here: more affluent cyclists with 
mountain or road bikes and proper headgear, etc., and older people who pedal 
slowly, always on the roads, on old black bikes often with packs of goods 
with them. The latter use this mode as their major form of transport.  
Adults in the first category use the sidewalks where the roadways are too 
dangerous.

Bicycling is low-prestige behaviour in Singapore, as is typical in many 
developing countries (though Singapore is no longer a developing country).  
Driver behaviour is poor - many of you may be aware of the Sunday cycling 
group that lost an avid member about four months back because a tour bus 
would not shift in its lane when overtaking the group.  Bicycling for 
children is not safe in most areas, and there is no effort to make school 
zones bike-able or walk-friendly.  As in the US, obesity rates are beginning 
to rise alarmingly here and so it is a pity that no Safe-Routes-to-School 
efforts are taking place.

While there are bicycling lanes on the East Coast Park, and more being 
planned in Tampines and other places, getting to these bike lanes requires a 
trip in a car or cycling through miles of roadways.  (This is related to the 
effort to develop a few large regional parks and less neighborhood open 
space facilities.)  My husband and I bike to the East Coast and then around 
the island on Sundays, choosing that day because traffic is lightest 
although it is already difficult by 8am.

So, bicycling on the pavements - the few times that it happens does not pose 
a real problem for pedestrians, and the $1000 fine should be lifted.  
Changing the mindset of planning for transportation is required, which would 
include what Brendan Finn mentions (providing bike space on roadways, etc.), 
and other things like providing cycle parking at homes/offices/shopping, 
providing changing/shower facilities at offices, incentivizing cycle 
behavior through commuting incentives, incentivizing bicycling at the school 
level through children- and school-led programs, and more...  There's lots 
of scope for improvement.

best regards,
Gina Manzo Anderson, AICP
Singapore 257720
ph +65 6476-7604
mobile +65 9733-1006


From: Todd Alexander Litman <litman at vtpi.org>
Reply-To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport 
<sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport 
<sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>,<chuwasg at yahoo.com>
Subject: [sustran] Re: Cycling on Pavements - public debate on 
Singaporegovernment feedback unit
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 08:47:55 -0800


You may find useful information in our paper "Managing Personal Mobility
Devices (PMDs) On Nonmotorized Facilities"
(http://www.vtpi.org/man_nmt_fac.pdf). In this context bicycles are defined
as Personal Mobility Devices. Please let me know if you have feedback on
it. I'm planning to update that paper soon.


Best wishes,
-Todd Litman



At 02:18 PM 3/28/2005 +0100, Brendan Finn wrote:

 >I cannot see how the safety of pedestrians would not be compromised by
 >allowing cycling on the pavements.
 >
 >I think the solution lies in a three-way response :
 >
 >a)       Establish a network of cycle lanes, mostly on the existing road
 >space. In principle, if bicycles are a means of transportation, by belong
 >on the roads. By all means, mark out space on broad pavements adjacent to
 >busy roads. Leisure cycling is different, and there are already cycle
 >paths along the East Coast recreation areas, for example. Europe has
 >countless examples of different ways to integrate cycling within the
 >mobility network.
 >
 >b)       Launch a strong behavioural awareness campaign for both motorists
 >and cyclists. Singaporeans do respond to such campaigns. Motorists need to
 >understand their responsibilities and the consequences of their behaviour.
 >Cyclists need to avoid unnecessary risks, and to behave properly as well.
 >(In my opinion, many professional cyclists have even worse attitudes than
 >SUV drivers)
 >
 >c)       Enforce the law on motorists and cyclists. Motorists who offend
 >against cyclists should be shamed, with their names and details of the
 >case getting as much publicity in the papers as other unacceptable
 >behaviour such as maid-abuse. Aggressive or even negligent behaviour by
 >motorists can easily cost a cyclist his/her life, and this anti-social
 >aspect should be highlighted.
 >
 >Anyone using bicycle as their means of transport in Singapore takes their
 >life in their hands at the moment. Like the rest of the planet, Singapore
 >needs to have cycling as a viable alternative to car and public transport.
 >This has energy, emissions, transportation, societal, personal health and
 >cost advantages.
 >
 >However, walking is an even more fundamental means of mobility. I do not
 >think that giving cyclists free reign on the pavements is the right 
solution.
 >
 >With best wishes,
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >Brendan Finn.
 >
 >___________________________________________________________________________________________________
 >
 >Tel : +353.87.2530286     e-mail : etts at indigo.ie
 >
 >
 >
 >-----Original Message-----
 >From: sustran-discuss-bounces+etts=indigo.ie at list.jca.apc.org
 >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+etts=indigo.ie at list.jca.apc.org]On Behalf
 >Of chuwa
 >Sent: 26 March 2005 16:55
 >To: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
 >Subject: [sustran] Cycling on Pavements - public debate on Singapore
 >govermentfeedback unit
 >
 >
 >
 >Currently, cyclists are prohibited from cycling on pavements. Offenders
 >can face a fine of up to $1,000 or a jail term for up to 3 months.
 >However, the authorities are looking into the possibility of relaxing this
 >rule, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee.
 >
 >The re-think came about after several MPs raised the plight of the
 >cyclists. One such MP who has been advocating a change of this particular
 >rule for the last 3 years is Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng.
 >
 >The main reason for this change is the apparent danger that cyclists face
 >in the form of the ever increasing number of vehicles on our roads. The
 >number of accidents involving cyclists has also been rising in the past
 >few years.
 >
 >If changes are made to this particular rule, the safety of pedestrians
 >would not be compromised. A Traffic Police spokesman said that other
 >appropriate rules "would have to be put in place to ensure everyone's 
safety".
 >
 >What do you think of the idea to allow cyclists on our pavements? Let's
 >hear your views.
 >
 >-------------------------------------
 >to view the current on-going debate, please follow this link:
 >
 ><http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/dis/dis0003.asp?topicId=1881&catId=921>http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/dis/dis0003.asp?topicId=1881&catId=921
 >
 >
 >================================================================
 >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
 >equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
 >(the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus
 >is on urban transport policy in Asia.


Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
Email: litman at vtpi.org
Website: http://www.vtpi.org




================================================================
SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, 
equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries 
(the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus is 
on urban transport policy in Asia.