Singapore Park Connectors: cyclists can wheel out bike trail tips," by Feng Zengkun. The Straits Times 18 Apr 2011.NParks invites them to plug scenic spots, offer ideas to improve network

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CYCLING routes by the people, for the people.
By the year's end, cyclists in the park connectors here will have access to recommendations - provided by their fellow cyclists - to restaurants, heritage spots and scenic views along these biking trails.

Beyond this, cyclists and other park connector users will also be encouraged to offer ideas to improve the network, said Mr Bernard Lim, the assistant director of the National Parks Board's (NParks) Park Connector Network.

The information on the network, which will eventually take cyclists from Bukit Timah to Marina Bay, will be posted on the NParks website.

The data-banking is off to a rolling start.

Since NParks launched an online feedback form for members of the public in January, it has received about 10 replies a week; it also keeps in touch with local cycling groups here for their input.

Retiree Mina Chan and her friends form one such 'resource' group. Aged between 40 and 60, these avid cyclists try out a different park connector every weekend, and, for the last five years, have offered NParks updates on the condition of the tracks and alerted it to danger spots.

Ms Chan already has a route to recommend to fellow cyclists - the waterfront stretch between Alexandra Canal and the Singapore Flyer.

Another cyclist, Mr Han Jok Kwang, 56, has petitioned NParks successfully to keep the gravel stretch through hilly terrain in the western loop connector.

'I asked NParks to keep it because it gives cyclists variety,' he said.

Mr Lim said that, without Mr Han's petition, NParks may have levelled the terrain and laid tarmac so everyone - even beginner cyclists - can use it.

NParks considers suggestions as long as they do not compromise safety, he said, although such assessments can be subjective.

He said the call for input from cyclists aims to make the routes more personal for users of the park connectors. 'We spent the first few years building up the infrastructure; now let's see what else we can do with it,' he said.

The Park Connector Network consists of seven parts, to be developed by 2015 (see graphic). By then, it will have 300km of bike paths.

Mr Lim said, with the cycling community contributing information, the pan-island network can be made safer too.

'Our employees and sub-contractors check the routes every day but they cannot cover everything because the routes are too long. Having more eyes helps us catch more things.'

Mr Pan Wee Yeow, a retiree who rides twice a week, said seasoned cyclists can identify problems before injuries occur. These include blind corners that need mirrors to be set up and where speed-reducing strips may be advised. He added that regular cyclists can also spot growing problems that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as faulty lighting or algae on the paths, which makes them slippery.

NParks said it fixes minor problems such as faulty lights within two days of being notified; problems requiring more work, such as levelling bike paths to prevent jarring bumps, may take up to a week.

Mr Pan hailed NParks' move to get the public involved, given that more people are taking up cycling.

There are no statistics on the cycling population here, but cycling clubs say the number of people on two-wheelers has exploded in the last five years.

The OCBC Cycle Singapore event last month, a ride of up to 60km along East Coast Park, attracted more than 10,000 participants, twice the number two years ago.

For Mr Han, cycling is about going back to a simpler pastime.

He said: 'We have the integrated resorts, gadgets, all the fancy diversions. Sometimes, things don't need to be so high-tech. Sometimes, all you need is a road and a bike.'

Members of the public may e-mail nparks_mailbox@nparks.gov.sg to join NParks' mailing list and to get the link to the feedback form.

Eight Parks in western Singapore now fully connected (Second PCN Loop)

Eight Parks in western Singapore now fully connected - Western Adventure PCN is the 2nd loop of park connectors to be completed; NParks media release, 25 Oct 2009 (excerpts)

Singapore, 25 October 2009 - Residents in western Singapore can look forward to a wide array of exciting recreational experiences, with the completion of the Western Adventure Park Connector Network (PCN). The 23km PCN joins eight parks in western Singapore, namely Choa Chu Kang Park, Villa Verde Park, Zhenghua Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park, Limbang Park and Bukit Panjang Park.

It is the second loop of park connectors to be completed, after the Eastern Coastal PCN in December 2007. Five more loops of park connectors are in the pipeline. Once completed, the park connectors will form a green matrix, connecting major parks and nature sites and providing users with a choice of landscapes and distances for recreation.

Diverse range of adventures and experiences along PCN

The Western Adventure PCN offers a diverse range of recreational experiences, to cater to all types of users, from adventure-seekers to nature lovers and families. Some of the activities include:

For Adventure-Seekers

• Mountain biking at Zhenghua Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park
• Rock Climbing at Dairy Farm Quarry
• Hiking at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Zhenghua Park

For Nature Enthusiasts & Photographers

• Scenic lookouts at Bukit Batok Town Park ('Little Guilin') and Bukit Batok Nature Park
• Bird Watching & photography along Bukit Panjang Park Connector, Zhenghua Park and Bukit Batok Nature Park.
• Butterfly spotting along Pang Sua Park Connector

For Families

• Regional parks, such as Choa Chu Kang Park, offer family-oriented facilities such as playgrounds and fitness corners
• Learning about a slice of Singapore's history along Hillview Park Connector (where the Ford Motor factory is a short distance away)
• Wallace Education Centre and nature trail at Dairy Farm Nature Park
• Leisure activities along Pang Sua Park Connector

Rich biodiversity along Western Adventure PCN

The Western Adventure PCN is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, a result of the 550 species of butterfly and birds-attracting trees which have been planted at various stretches along the PCN. They include Pang Sua, Choa Chu Kang, Choa Chu Kang North and Bukit Panjang Park Connectors.

Over 10 species of butterflies and 50 species of birds have been sighted along the PCN. The birds include the singing Zebra Dove; the Tiger Shrike, a winter visitor with tiger-like black bars pattern; and the Oriental White-eye which is characterised by a white ring around the eye. To promote awareness of the rich biodiversity of birds, NParks will be working with Nature Society to conduct bird watching activities for Singapore residents at the PCN.

PCN Programme on Track

Implemented by NParks, the PCN is an island-wide network of linear open spaces around major residential areas, linking up parks and nature sites in Singapore. It brings people closer to parks and nature areas, enhancing recreational opportunities for all and is an important part of our plans to evolve Singapore into a "City in a Garden."

To date, over 110km of park connectors have been completed, with 63km currently in construction. The PCN implementation programme is on track. By 2015, NParks aims to develop a 300km island-wide network of green corridors around the island.

PCN Friends - Active Citizenry in Action

To keep PCN users updated and engaged on activities and latest happenings along our park connectors, NParks has formed a group in late 2008 called 'PCN Friends'. NParks has sought feedback from the group members on ensuring that there is sufficient signage along our park connectors. Selected group members were also invited to test-out selective stretches of the Western Adventure PCN earlier this year.

Since 2007, NParks has establishing a common identity for PCN to guide and inform users through standardised signboards, directional signs, PCN streetprints and destination markers.

Thanks to WildSingapore!