[sustran] Re: Cycling on Pavements - public debate on Singaporegovernmentfeedback unit

[Carlos F. Pardo]

You can also read our module on non motorised module (3d: "Preserving =
and
expanding the role of non-motorised transport" by Walter Hook) from the
following address:

www.sutp.org/download/sourcebookhome.php (you may need to give your name =
and
email, but that is a short process).

There will also be a training course available shortly.


Best regards,

Carlos F. Pardo
Project Coordinator
GTZ Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP)
Room 0942, Transport Division, UN-ESCAP
ESCAP UN Building
Rajadamnern Nok Rd.
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel:=A0 +66 (0) 2 - 288=A0 2576
Fax: +66 (0) 2 - 280=A0 6042
Mobile: +66 (0) 1 - 772 4727
e-mail: carlos.pardo at sutp.org
Website: www.sutp.org


-----Mensaje original-----
De: sustran-discuss-bounces+cpardo=3Dcable.net.co at list.jca.apc.org =
[mailto:
sustran-discuss-bounces+cpardo=3Dcable.net.co at list.jca.apc.org] En =
nombre de
Regina Manzo
Enviado el: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 9:24 AM
Para: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
Asunto: [sustran] Cycling on Pavements - public debate on
Singaporegovernmentfeedback unit

Hello All.  Regarding bicycles on pavements in Singapore

I cycled to work frequently over a 2 year period here in Singapore, and=20
continue to cycle for many daily need trips.  Just some additional=20
information.

There are two types of adults who cycle here: more affluent cyclists =
with=20
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=20
with them. The latter use this mode as their major form of transport. =20
Adults in the first category use the sidewalks where the roadways are =
too=20
dangerous.

Bicycling is low-prestige behaviour in Singapore, as is typical in many=20
developing countries (though Singapore is no longer a developing =
country). =20
Driver behaviour is poor - many of you may be aware of the Sunday =
cycling=20
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=20
children is not safe in most areas, and there is no effort to make =
school=20
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=20
efforts are taking place.

While there are bicycling lanes on the East Coast Park, and more being=20
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=20
space facilities.)  My husband and I bike to the East Coast and then =
around=20
the island on Sundays, choosing that day because traffic is lightest=20
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. =20
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=20
behavior through commuting incentives, incentivizing bicycling at the =
school

level through children- and school-led programs, and more...  There's =
lots=20
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=20
<sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport=20
<sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>,<chuwasg at yahoo.com>
Subject: [sustran] Re: Cycling on Pavements - public debate on=20
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=20
solution.
 >
 >With best wishes,
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >Brendan Finn.
 >
 =
>________________________________________________________________________=
__
_________________________
 >
 >Tel : +353.87.2530286     e-mail : etts at indigo.ie
 >
 >
 >
 >-----Original Message-----
 >From: sustran-discuss-bounces+etts=3Dindigo.ie at list.jca.apc.org
 >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+etts=3Dindigo.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=20
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=3D1881&catId=3D9=
21
>http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/dis/dis0003.asp?topicId=3D1881&catId=3D92=
1
 >
 >
 =
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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 >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




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SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,=20
equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries =

(the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus =
is=20
on urban transport policy in Asia.




=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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.