To Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, let us co exist in peace as road users

by Adriane Lee on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 6:35pm ·
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Dear Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,

We write to you with great sadness at knowledge of yet another cyclist who was killed today 18th of August 2012. Mr. Freddy Khoo along with 2 other cyclists was hit by a lorry whose driver was supposed to have fallen asleep at the wheel at 655am along Loyang Road.

At the same time the news reported of a 65 year old gentleman who was killed at Jurong East by car and going viral online now is a video of a 13 year old cyclist who failing to keep a proper look out and crashed into a passing car. He is lucky however for he survived to learn from his mistakes unlike the other two gentlemen who tried to be follow traffic rules but were simply unlucky to have been mowed down by drivers who made a deadly mistake.

Just a few months ago, there was a similar case where another recreational cyclist list his life when a lorry crashed into him in the morning at Changi Coastal Road, the lorry driver too claimed to have fallen asleep on the wheel.
Since then, there have been calls for heavy penalties for drivers who cause fatal accidents involving cyclists, there have also similarly been calls by drivers blaming cyclists for the deaths for simply being there on the road.

There is a growing misconception among motorists that road use is only for those who pay road tax and that cyclists do not belong on the road. This results in reckless and life threatening driving by drivers who think they are doing the right thing to show cyclists “where they rightfully belong” that being off the road. Actions that include passing cyclists at extreme close proximity at high speed, swerving in front of cyclists with horns blaring and even pushing cyclists off the road towards the kerb swearing vulgarities at the same time, actions that pose a real life threatening danger to both the cyclists and other motorists.

Cyclists have every right as other motorist to use the roads for road tax is not collected for construction of the roads as the common fallacy suggests but rather as a form of taxation for maintenance required as a result of use by motor vehicles. Non motorised vehicles such as bicycles are exempted because they do not tear up roads. However this right is not recognized nor respected by motorists and even government agency LTA. In other countries such as Holland, Australia , USA and neighbouring Taiwan, there are bicycle lanes in the form of demarcation on existing roads of a 1.5 to 2m zone where motor vehicles are not allowed to enter and similarly cyclists are supposed to stay in. However LTA in it recent disturbing statement by Minister Lui Tuck Yew, he stated that cycling lanes have no place in Singapore, partly because of space constrains but largely because it will give cyclists a false sense of security and hence it could be dangerous for cyclists.

How LTA came to this conclusion is still a mystery to all as facts and figures worldwide point to cycling lanes being the key to creating a safe environment for all. It creates rules and sets the boundary where both sets of road users, cyclists and motorists keep to. At present, frankly without proper demarcation to signal a proper keep away distance from cyclists, it creates NO SENSE of security for a cyclist willing to cycle on the road.

For those not willing to risk their lives on that road and there are many, they cycle on the pavement earning the irk of pedestrians as seen from news articles by reporters, letters from the public calling cyclists “King of the road” for they seem not to follow any rules. As one cyclist’s Mr. Francis Chu wrote in response to the press, cyclists are more orphans of the road, welcomed on neither road nor pavement.

The government is asking Singaporeans and residents to be more environmentally sustainable and to embrace sports as part of an active lifestyle. Yet when the call is answered by embracing cycling, we pay for it either with verbal abuse or our lives.

Cyclists are not saying that it is totally the fault of drivers when accidents take place, rather the present system is flawed with different agencies not working together to create a safe environment on the road. We admit that at times cyclists too are at fault and the problem is unless we recognize the rights of cyclists on that road, no measures are being undertaken to ensure there is peaceful coexistence. The efforts of the different agencies both government and non governmental are commendable but without collaboration, there seems to be many gaping holes in how policy is being planned and implemented. Even feedback to relevant authorities such as LTA seems a challenge in itself as seen from how close to impossible LTA has made it public feedback online to be with everyone having to register a lengthy form and having to log in even if one just wants to read comments posted on the public feedback forum. Feedback to LTA on this matter was acknowledged once but no action taken despite constant queries. For LTA to be answering for feedback for a 5 to 10 year master plan, is the response from a mere hundred over respondents really a representative of the active users want? Or is it merely to achieve a criteria in the feedback process that feedback must be sought but whether or not it is actually taken into consideration is irrelevant? Will this then mean again design that looks good on paper but is flawed during implementation.

At present there is no education for both motorists and cyclists which is what we need to solve the quagmire we are in of arguing over rights on the roads.

For motorists, education is needed to let them know that cyclists have a place on the road and that respect in the form of safe driving when encountering cyclists should be accorded to them as fellow road users. This is also to alert them to how to react to cyclists on the road and avoid confrontation.

For cyclists, education is needed for all cyclists on the rules and regulations that cyclists must follow as road users, for example, not beating the red lights, going against traffic, keeping to their lanes on the far left of the road. This is to ensure their own safety and to let other road users know cyclists can and do follow road rules as fellow users.

With regards to calls of penalties for motorists whose driving have killed cyclists to be increased,honestly increasing it might be a onetime deterrent but it does not solve the problem. We really rather that no motorists have to face trial for this offense as no matter how heavy the sentence the motorist gets, the life of the cyclist cannot be revived. Hence instead of increasing sentencing, we rather that education to both parties prevents accidents from taking place in the first place. We are sure that the drivers who were unfortunate to have been involved in the accidents are suffering from their own inner hell knowing they have taken the life of another. As the word says, it is an accident and we are sure no driver wanted it to happen.

Let not the death of these cyclists and the psychological trauma carried for life by these drivers involved be in vain, let us work together road users and the government to make sure these instances do not happen again.

You spoke during the National Day rally of a Singapore that is inclusive, a nation that we all embrace as one. One where the government and the people work together. Then let it start by a very simple act of promoting peaceful co existence among all road users be they motorised or otherwise, for that person on that bicycle regardless of race, religion, nationality is someone else’s father, mother, son, daughter, brother and sister just like you and me. By doing so, we will show to other nations, we are an inclusive society and one that Singaporeans can be proud to call home.

• Adriane Lee.Cyclist,Motorist.Marketing Executive, Age 36 and somebody’s son
  Peter Chong,Writer and Photographer, Married with a 18 year son.
• Adeline Teo, Cyclist, Motorist, Education Solutions Manager, 31 and, someone’s daughter and sister.
• Brandon Lim, Cyclist, Age 17, Student
• Natalia Tan, Cyclist, Motorist, Business Director, 33 and someone’s daughter and sister.
• Woon Taiwoon, Cyclist, Age 38, Designer, Some one Son, and Some one hubby and Daddy.
• Ang Mary , divorced , mother of 2 teenage (Nigel Khoo , 16yrs old – student and Kennis Khoo , 13yrs old – student ) cyclist and Senior Document Controller with Shell
• Michael Khaw. Father, Hubby, Son
• Nicholas Tham, Motorist, Cyclist, 27, Aircraft Engine Inspector, Some one son
• Lee Oon Teng, Cyclist, Motorist, New media designer, 39, Someone’s son, some one’s husband and dad.
• Julien Chiang, Cyclist, Motorist. Age : 36. Senior Training Consultant. Someone’s Son, Brother and Husband.
• Derek Leong, Cyclist, Motorist, 43, Manager, Someone’s son, a teenager’s favourite uncle and a worrying wife’s husband
• Darren Siow, Cyclist, Motorcyclist, Motorist. Age 41, User Experience Consultant. The only child of my aged parents.
• Jeff Seah, cyclist 54, Executive Director
• Wong Yun Xiang, Cyclist, Age 16, Student, somebody’s son & brother
• Peter Tao, Cyclist, Motorist, 40, Executive Director
• LK Tan, married, father of 3 teenage kids and someone’s son, brother, in-law, uncle
• Lynten Ong, Avid cyclist, bike store owner, age 45, a son, husband and father of three. and the person who sold your son a bike.
• Francis Chu, Cyclist, Motorist, Public Transport commuter. Age 53, Director ISUDA Bike Share. A son, a husband and a father of 2

"An Open Letter to the Minister of Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew" by Stephen Choy

"An Open Letter to the Minister of Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew"

By Stephen Choy, 2012-08-19

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Dear Minister Lui

My friend is dead.

If, only if, I had written this letter earlier, Freddy might still be able to cycle with me in the next Ironman race.

You see, he died pursuing his hobby. On the morning of 18 August 2012, along Loyang Valley, as he made his way towards Changi Village, he was run over by a truck. I chanced upon the wreckage, not knowing that it was that of my friend’s. I immediately posted a message on FaceBook to remind all my friends to cycle safe. Within minutes, I received the tragic news that that statistic was a friend of mine. He was my buddy in our cycling group, Team Cychos.

Freddy was a good, gentle man. A good husband and a doting father to his 5 year old son. And would have been an equally good father to his unborn child too, I’m sure.

Dear Minister Lui, I am appealing to you as many before me did. I am certain you are aware of the statistics. From 2008 to 2011, there were a total of 70 cyclists killed. That is a horrifying average of 1.46 cyclists killed a month. Sadly, that is not enough to spur your ministry into action to make the roads safer for cyclists.

We are not saying that motorists are completely at fault. We recognize both cyclists and motorists have a part to play in making our roads safer for all. Cyclists must be made aware of how vulnerable they are the moment they mount their bike. Motorists must be educated that, like pedestrians, cyclists too have a right to use the roads. Only when these two groups recognized this and develop a mutual respect will we see a drop in fatalities. Hopefully.

This, however, cannot be done without the Government’s assistance. In a recent article on the dangers of cycling in Singapore, an LTA spokesperson, upon being asked about introducing a cycling lane, declared that this will only give cyclists a false sense of security. A false sense of security??? Isn’t that akin to saying we should not have window grilles at home as they would give our Foreign Domestic Workers a false sense of security when cleaning windows in highrise apartments. I was flabbergasted by this flippant and dismissive response. Isn’t that the purpose of a cycling lane? To remind cyclists to stay within the allotted 1.5m and for motorists to be aware of cyclists within this lane so that we all can be safe. So that we all can go home to our loved ones. So that we all can continue to pursue our passions. Safely.

To the spokesperson from LTA, I say shame on you. Shame on you for taking the easy way out. If NParks is able to build 300km of park connectors (by 2015), surely the LTA is capable of painting a 1.5m lane on our roads. This is merely the width of 2 carton boxes. Are cyclists not worth that. If having cycling lanes islandwide prove too daunting a task, then perhaps we can start small, start a pilot project to paint only the more popular (and dangerous) cycling routes - Neo Tew Avenue, Mandai Road, Changi Coastal Road, Upper Thompson Road, West Coast Highway. I am sure the Singapore Cycling Federation, Singapore Amateur Cycling Association, Singapore Sports Council and perhaps even cycling clubs, especially the bigger ones like Joyriders and Anzac can advise LTA on this.

From 2010 to January 2012, there were 21 work-related height fatalities of Foreign Domestic Workers. This monthly average of 0.58 was enough for the Ministry of Manpower to implement a new rule forbidding FDW to clean the outside of windows. The ministry also felt the need to double the penalties (from the current $5,000 fine and/or six months' jail to $10,000 fine and/or 12 months' jail) to serve as added deterrence to employers.

Minister Lui, if 21 FDW were enough to get a new legislation in place, surely Freddy and the deaths of 70 other cyclists deserve an urgent re-look at how to make our roads safer. I appeal to you not to let more people die before the rest of us are able to pursue our hobby safely.

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"Cyclist's friend writes to minister: My friend is dead," by Koh Hui Theng. The New Paper, 22 Aug 2012.

SINGAPORE - Shaken by his friend's death, Mr Stephen Choy wrote an open letter to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Saturday.

"My friend is dead," he said.

"If only I had written this letter earlier, Freddy might still be able to cycle with me in the next Ironman race.

"You see, he died pursuing his hobby."

On Saturday morning, bank employee Freddy Khoo, 48, was cycling with two friends along Loyang Avenue when a lorry collided with them.

A police spokesman said Mr Khoo was the last among the trio to be hit. His buddies suffered abrasions and did not require hospitalisation.

But Mr Khoo had severe injuries and was sent to Changi General Hospital, where he later died.

He leaves behind his pregnant wife Tiffany and a six-year-old son.

An avid triathlete, MrKhoo had taken part in several half-Ironman races. He is a member of different cycling groups including Team Cychos.

On weekends, he would usually start cycling around 6.30am or 7am, Mr Choy, his friend and fellow Team Cychos member, told The New Paper.

Crushed

Mr Choy, who works in advertising, had passed the accident spot that very morning - he had been in a car heading to Changi Village for breakfast.

"I whipped out my iPad when I saw the wreckage and posted a message on (social network) Facebook to remind all my friends to cycle safe. Within minutes, I received the tragic news, Fred was down," he added.

"The wreckage was that of my friend's."

Speaking to TNP before he attended the wake last night, Mr Choy, 47, recalled: "Looking at the wreckage, at how small the bike had been crushed to... for it to be crushed to that condition, I knew he had been run over.

"Fred did not stand a chance. I heard he was hit from the back."

That was why Mr Choy was moved to pen the letter, which he also sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and to his MPs in East Coast GRC.

In it, he implored the authorities to do something to make the roads safer.

"From 2008 to 2011, there were a total of 70 cyclists killed. That is a horrifying average of 1.46 cyclists killed a month," he wrote in his letter.

"Sadly, that is not enough to spur your ministry into action to make the roads safer for cyclists." While both cyclists and motorists have a part to play in making the roads safer, Mr Choy said that government assistance was also needed to help reduce fatalities.

He cited the debate about introducing cycling lanes and quoted a Land Transport Authority spokesman as saying this would give cyclists a false sense of security. (It was Mr Lui who said this in reply to a question in Parliament in March.)

"I was flabbergasted by this flippant and dismissive response... If NParks is able to build 300km of park connectors, surely the LTA is capable of painting a 1.5m lane on our roads...

"Are cyclists not worth that?" he asked. "Surely Freddy and the deaths of 70 other cyclists deserve an urgent re-look at how to make our roads safer."

Mr Choy suggested a pilot scheme to paint only the more popular (and dangerous) cycling routes - Neo Tew Avenue, Mandai Road, Changi Coastal Road, Upper Thompson Road, West Coast Highway.

But he admitted that he does not think anything will come of his action.

"I'm not the first to write this... Hopefully, enough people will circulate it and it'll be enough for them (the authorities) to act."

When TNP visited Mr Khoo's wake, his wife declined to speak to the media. Dressed in white, she cried as she spoke to those who came to pay their respects.

Several men wearing white sat silently at the back of the void deck, staring into space.

A bespectacled man seemed surprised when told about Mr Choy's open letter.

He said: "The authorities should do something about this and improve road safety."

Upon hearing the conversation, another man walked up to talk about the lorry driver, who has been arrested and is helping the police in their investigations.

Mr Choy, who has known Mr Khoo since 2009, usually cycles in the Changi-Loyang area at 5am. He said Mr Khoo preferred to start later, at around 7am.

But that was when traffic would get heavier in the area, with "a lot of trucks zooming towards the cargo complex".

Adding that Mr Khoo had been training for a triathlon, Mr Choy said: "I've raced with Fred twice in Aviva events. It's sad that I won't get the chance to do so any more."