Survey: Cycling in Singapore by Zing Lim

From Zing Lim:
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Hello! This is a survey about cycling in Singapore. Whether you already cycle, don't cycle or cannot cycle, I'd like to hear from you. I’m trying to measure the latent demand for cycling as a form of transport.

Not many people here cycle for transport. Too hot? Roads unsafe? No bike? Just don’t like cycling? And if we could change certain things, would you cycle for transport? Tell me and tell me why.

This survey is online and takes about 20 mins. Whether you like cycling or not, please share your honest opinion. And when you’re done, please pass the survey to your friends! Every response counts.

Here's the link: http://abetterride.wordpress.com/

Many thanks,
Zing Lim

Fatal accident at Changi Coastal Road. RIP Major CAI Xiu Ming

Tragic news. My heart goes out to the family.

Teo Kwang Liak edited this Google Translation of the omy news article (04 Jan 2011) about the fatal accident along Changi Coastal Road.

Our condolences to the family of Major Cai Xiu Ming. Rest in peace. And we hope for the recovery of Wang Weiqiang.

"Changi Coastal Road traffic accident: lorry slams bicycle from behind, Major dies," by Wu XiaoJun. Shin Min Daily News, 04 Jan 2011."

"An Air Force Major with his friend were cycling along Changi Coast Road early in the morning, when they were rammed from behind by a lorry. The Major died while the friend suffers serious injury.

This occurs around 7am yesterday along a road which is known for speeding vehicles.

The deceased Caixiu Ming (47), was an Air Force Major. He had two kids and lived in a private house at Mountbatten with his family members.

Cai's father (73 years old, retiree) said that his son was taking an off-in-lieu and went riding with his friends, early in the morning around 5.

"He has put on his cycling clothes and headgear and left for the ride. I never expected to received the news of his accident at 7am."

It is believed that the deceased and his friend was somehow hit from behind by a lorry.

The deceased suffered internal bleeding and was pronounced dead five hours later at 12:50 yesterday after efforts to rescue him by the hospital failed. The deceased's friend Wang Weiqiang (40), has his lungs punctured by ribs, along with shoulder, spine and right elbow injuries, and abrasions on his right cheek. He is now under observation after surgery.

Police confirmed that they were notified of the accident at 7:45am yesterday. A 50-year-old lorry driver is now assisting police investigation into the accident. The police also called on witnesses to call the hotline 1800-5471818 to provide details."

Thanks also to Airani S. and Alvin Wong for help with the translation of the title.

"Safe cycling campaign participant meets tragic end on the roads," by Ong Dai Lin. Today, 05 Jan 2010. Avid cyclist dies following collision with lorry.

SINGAPORE - The year 2010 ended with a campaign to promote safe cycling. But on Monday, a Singapore Armed Forces regular who took part in the campaign became the first cyclist casualty of this year.

Mr Chua Shiu Beng, 45, was cycling along Changi Coast Road with his colleague Kenneth Wong, 40, when they were involved in a collision with a lorry at 7.45am.

Both men, who are military experts with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, were sent to Changi General Hospital, where Mr Chua died from his injuries at about 12.50pm.

The lorry driver, a man in his late 50s, is now assisting the police with investigations.

The lorry was changing lanes when the collision occurred, reported Lianhe Wanbao, which quoted Mr Chua's 73-year-old father as saying that his son left home at 5am to cycle.

Mr Chua would usually return home at 9am. At 10am, the family called his mobile phone. At 11am, they received a call from the hospital. Mr Chua's wife told MediaCorp the whole family was greatly saddened over his death.

His colleague, who suffered multiple abrasions, could not remember what happened and did not know that Mr Chua had died when the Wanbao reporter visited him in hospital.

The Chinese evening daily reported that Mr Chua, an avid cyclist of 10 years, had never met with any accident before this.

The father of a 12-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl had participated in the 40km OCBC Cycle Singapore event in 2009 and last year.

The bank launched its month-long safe cycling campaign on Nov 29 last year to encourage cyclists and drivers to observe the 1.5m safety distance between bicycles and vehicles.

Offering its condolences to Mr Chua's family, OCBC head of group corporate communications Koh Ching Ching said: "The OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling Campaign that we launched in November last year aims to raise awareness of the importance of both cyclists and motorists observing traffic rules while using the roads and keeping a safe distance from each other.

"We hope this message will continue to spread among all road users."

Nineteen cyclists were killed on the roads in 2009 and 22 the year before. Statistics for cycling fatalities last year are not yet available.

NTU Bike Rally 2011

NTU Sports Club's round island Bike Rally is upon us once again. They have been identified in this blog in previous years as the only annual round island ride. Organised principally for undergraduates, the even is open to the public and I have ridden with them since 2003.

The NTU Bike Rally is an excellent way to attempt your first round island ride of at least 128km; there are many rest stops and since all participants wear an event t-shirt, you can spot fellow-event cyclists both in front of and behind. Circling all the cyclists are the NTU Sports Club members and volunteers who work to keep the participants safe.

This is not a competitive race for cyclists to speed from check point to check point but rather a safe ride of discovery. This is typified by the NTU undergraduates, most of whom will be renting a bicycle for the occasion and many of whom are holiday cyclists. I rode a rental from Kranji to Serangoon one year before rain cancelled the ride and I can attest to the higher level of difficulty a rental bicycle is! Add to that the much longer hours under a hot sun that the newbies are exposed to and you will be inspired by their tenacity. Well of course, they do have youth on their side, so I am not abandoning my cmnfortable ride for a rental!

The registration fees are $15 for NTU Student/ Staff/ Alumni, and $26 for members of the public. Registration closes on 13th February 2011. For more details, see http://bikerally.ntusportsclub.sg/

Bike Maryland Symposium 2010 videos

Bike Maryland Symposium 2010 videos and presenter slides are available here

Just take a look at the diversity of titles and issues addressed! Perhaps LTA sould send someone to attend the 2011 symposium in February!

• "Maryland Department of Transportation: A Greener Way To Go." Presented by Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley.
• "Public Health and Transportation: Exploring the Inextricable Link
  Presented by Keshia M. Pollack, PhD, MPH; Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
• "Commuter Choice Maryland and Commuter Connections." Presented by Buddy Alves, Senior Marketing Specialist, Commuter Choice Maryland, Maryland Transit Administration and Nick Ramfos, Director, Commuter Connections, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
• "One Less Car’s Legislative Bike Agenda." Presented by Greg Hinchliffe, Chairman, Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee and Chair of the Maryland Committee of East Coast Greenway; Adiva Sotzsky, Dedicated Advocate.
• "Bicycling!." Presented by Alex Obriecht, owner of 5 Race Pace/Bella Bikes bicycle shops in MD; 32 years in business; honored as a ‘Trek Legend’ and much more.
• "Transportation for Maryland." Presented by Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, 1000 Friends of Maryland Deputy Director.
• "Bicycling Advocates of Howard County (BAHC)." Presented by Jack Guarneri, BAHC President.
• "Maryland’s Interactive Trail Map." Presented by Sylvia Ramsey, Manager, Community Enhancement Programs.
• "Maryland’s Safe Routes to School Program: Building transportation alternatives today for our children’s tomorrow.." Presented by Joe Pelaia, Maryland’s Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator, Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland Highway Safety Office.
• "Campaign for Active Transportation." Presented by Kartik Sribarra, Manager of Policy Outreach, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

For videos and slides, visit Bike Maryland.

Media on OCBC Cycle Singapore's Safe Cycling Campaign, 18 Dec 2010

The OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling Campaign on 18 Dec 2010 [weblink, press release] received excellent coverage leading up to and after the event, with several articles in local media raising awareness and discussing the issue about sharing the roads. The articles are listed here chronologically.

• "OCBC Cycle S'pore Launches Safety Campaign." The New Paper, 07 Dec 2010.
• "How realistic is this safety rule?" By Chong Zi Liang. The Straits Times, 16 Dec 2010.
• "Cyclists wish for safer rides," by David Lim. MyPaper, 17 Dec 2010.
• "Safe cycling campaign launched," by S Ramesh. ChanelnewsAsia, 18 Dec 2010.
• "Singapore Kicks Off Safe Cycling Campaign," by Danson Cheong. The New Paper, 21 Dec 2010.

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"OCBC Cycle S'pore Launches Safety Campaign." The New Paper, 07 Dec 2010.

A NEW campaign to promote safe cycling was launched on Monday.

Called the OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling Campaign, it aims to raise awareness of the need for both cyclists and motorists to respect each other.

Its motto? "1.5m matters. Share the road", aims to send the message to cyclists and motorists to stay 1.5m from one another.

You can get one of the 50,000 car decals which will be given out to motorists who refuel at Caltex stations.

If you are spotted with the decal on your vehicle from now to Dec 18, your registration plate will be recorded and entered into a lucky draw on Dec 20.

20 winners

You could be one of 20 winners who will get $200 worth of Caltex vouchers.The results of the lucky draw will be posted on the OCBC Cycle Singapore website (www.ocbc.cyclesingapore.com.sg) and the Radio 91.3 website (www.radio913.com).

Dec 18 has also been dedicated as Safe Cycling Day and 2,000 cycling jerseys will be distributed, mainly at the Longhouse hawker centre along Upper Thomson Road, that morning.

The organisers hope most of the people who get the jerseys will wear them when cycling on that day. The campaign was launched by OCBC Bank and Spectrum Worldwide, an events and marketing company.

Mr Chris Robb, Spectrum's managing director, said: "Cycling has grown tremendously in Singapore over the past few years and we are seeing more cyclists on our road than ever before.

"As the organiser of the biggest mass participation cycling event on closed roads here, we feel it is our responsibility to promote the safe cycling message."

The third annual OCBC Cycle Singapore event will take place from March 4 to 6 next year, and will feature a professional night race for the first time.

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"How realistic is this safety rule?" By Chong Zi Liang. The Straits Times, 16 Dec 2010.

AS AN avid cyclist who rides 20km to and from work on his foldable bike every day, Mr Bryan Teo has had his fair share of close brushes with fellow road users. 'Sometimes, the cars come so close just to send a message that you have no place on the road,' said the 35-year-old store manager of a Starbucks coffee outlet in Raffles Place.

Not only are cyclists entitled to use the roads, but the handbook for the driving final theory test also states that motorists should give 1.5m of space when passing bicycles - something most motorists do not do after collecting their licences.

But motorists say they already try to give cyclists as wide a berth as road conditions allow, and it is simply impossible to adhere to the 1.5m distance in heavy traffic.

'How do we keep that distance if there are other cars in the second lane? All we can do is slow down while passing the cyclist,' said Mr Kong Yew On, 51, a construction contractor who drives frequently in his job.

The Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) shared this view. Its chairman, Mr Bernard Tay, pointed out that since the leftmost traffic lane cyclists use is about 3.7m wide, keeping a 1.5m distance will require the motorist to encroach partly into the adjacent traffic lane. This is not possible when all lanes are used in heavy traffic.

'SRSC urges motorists to accept that the cyclists also have a right to use the road and to always keep a reasonable, safe passing distance, which the prevailing traffic conditions permit,' said Mr Tay, who is also president of the Automobile Association of Singapore.

Even so, an ongoing OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling Campaign, launched on Nov 29, is trying to drive home the message with the tagline: '1.5m matters. Share the road.'

Through car decals and cycling jerseys bearing the campaign slogan, as well as radio contests, the campaign hopes to encourage drivers to keep a safe distance from cyclists.

This is the first time that OCBC Cycle Singapore - the largest mass cycling event here - has organised a safe cycling campaign. The event is into its third year and will take place in March next year.

Seven cyclists were killed in the first five months of this year - up from three in the same period in 2009. In the whole of last year, 17 cyclists involved in accidents were killed, compared with 22 in 2008.

Cyclists like Ms Angeline Tan, 32, acknowledge the 1.5m distance is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule. Still, she believes the campaign has value because it will raise awareness that cyclists, too, belong on the road. The documentary content researcher cycles about three times a week in a group of about 10 before dawn to avoid traffic.

Cyclists have mooted the idea of having bike lanes on the roads in the past, but this was rejected by the Land Transport Authority, citing space constraints. Instead, cycling lanes are increasingly being built next to footpaths.

With cycling gaining popularity both as a form of exercise and transport, cyclists say both drivers and cyclists need to be more accommodating.

And though cyclists have horror stories of belligerent drivers, they admit that they have seen cyclists who give them a bad name by riding without a helmet, beating red lights and even riding against the flow of traffic.

But Member of Parliament Teo Ser Luck, a biking enthusiast himself, pointed out that cyclists always bear the brunt of accidents no matter whose fault it is. So motorists should make the effort to give cyclists a safe riding environment, he said.

'A light bump on a car will just cause a dent, but a light bump on a cyclist can send him flying and that will either be fatal or cause serious injuries,' said the MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

ziliang@sph.com.sg

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"Cyclists wish for safer rides," by David Lim. MyPaper, 17 Dec 2010.

CYCLISTS here find it hard to enjoy their sport because of long-standing concerns over road safety.

Some, like bank dealer and cycling enthusiast Pang Meng Yam, told my paper yesterday that he has to cycle either late at night or in the wee hours, when there are fewer vehicles on the road

Even so, he has had close shaves with drivers. "I've encountered people who drove up close and tried to scare me while I was cycling," he said.

That is why he is wary of taking his two children - Crystal, 10, and Maximus, eight - out for long rides on roads.

Instead, he and his wife, Carol, take them to parks with cycling routes, even though these can be too short for fun rides.

"If there are better safety measures, we would take the kids for rides on the road and enjoy the scenery in places like Lim Chu Kang," said Mr Pang.

He would be pleased, then, to learn that OCBC Cycle Singapore will be launching its new Safe Cycling Campaign ahead of the third edition of its mass-cycling event on March 4 to 6.

The campaign's tagline is "1.5m matters. Share the road", a reference to the distance motorists should keep between their vehicles and bicycles when they overtake cyclists on the road.

Tomorrow marks the campaign's "Safe Cycling Day", when cyclists are encouraged to gather for a mass ride starting from Longhouse hawker centre in Upper Thomson Road.

Mr Victor Yew, president of the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association, said: "We hope to raise awareness and educate all parties on the road. The 1.5m distance is basically a guideline, and the rest is up to drivers' discretion."

Cyclists here have proposed adding cycling lanes - such as those found in Melbourne, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Berlin - to roads. But the idea was rejected by the Land Transport Authority, citing space constraints.

Mr Pang agrees that there is not enough land here to accommodate cycling lanes, but suggested the setting up of shared lanes for public transport and cyclists on weekend nights, when cyclists face less risk of being hit by a vehicle.

Fellow cycling enthusiast Eugene Oh suffered abrasions and a broken rib earlier this year when he was hit by a car while cycling in a group.

The 36-year-old said: "It really depends on how much importance the authorities place on the issue. The only way for people to pay attention is to impose appropriate punishment."

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"Safe cycling campaign launched," by S Ramesh. ChanelnewsAsia, 18 Dec 2010.

SINGAPORE: More efforts are being made in Singapore to promote cycling in a safe environment.

This was conveyed through the OCBC Safe Cycling Campaign launched on Saturday, in which 9,000 cyclist will be taking part.

The key message of the campaign is "1.5M Matters. Share the Road".

Observing the safe distance of 1.5 metres from each other and obeying traffic rules would enable both cyclists and motorists to enjoy a safe journey on the roads.

The month-long campaign will see some 50,000 car decals and 2,000 cycling jerseys being distributed.

The campaign aims to raise the awareness of the need for both cyclists and motorists to respect each other and share the roads.

Organisers say safe cycling on public roads can be achieved as long as both parties play their part in observing traffic rules and keeping a safe distance from each other.

OCBC Safe Cycling Campaign organiser Chris Robb said people in other cities in the world overcome climate challenges of cycling.

"You hear stories about London where there are thousands of people cycling to work in (the) freezing cold; in snow, rain, and if they can do it those conditions, why can't we do it here in Singapore?

"Get to work half an hour early, have a shower cool down and go to work," he said.

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"Singapore Kicks Off Safe Cycling Campaign," by Danson Cheong. The New Paper, 21 Dec 2010.

MORE than 2,000 cyclists kicked off Singapore's first Safe Cycling Day at Longhouse Food Centre along Upper Thomson Road Saturday.

Longhouse is the de facto weekend meeting point for cyclists.

Safe Cycling Day is part of the OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling Campaign, which was launched on Nov 29 by the organisers of OCBC Cycle Singapore, the largest cycling event here.

Despite the ominous-looking sky, the organisers gave out a whopping 2,000 safe-cycling jerseys to cyclists who thronged the popular eating spot.

Cyclists donned the jerseys, bearing the campaign's tag line "1.5m matters. Share the road", before heading out for their rides.

According to driving theory handbooks, drivers have to give cyclists 1.5m of space when overtaking them.

The 1.5m rule made the news recently, when a report in The Straits Times last Thursday debated the practicality of giving cyclists such a wide berth in space-crunched Singapore.

Experts said the rule might not be applicable in all situations. To cyclists, however, the extra space can mean the difference between life and death.

Survivors

Ask Mr Jeffrey Ng, Mr Jason Yip or Mr David Ng.

Other than a love for bicycles, the three men have something else in common.

All three are survivors of traffic accidents which happened while they were cycling on the road.

Mr Yip, 23, was commuting to work in 2006 when he got side-swiped by a bus and Mr David Ng, 22, was hit from behind by a car in August while he was riding to meet his training group.

Mr Jeffrey Ng had his brush with death just recently.

The 57-year-old retiree was riding in a group at night along Loyang Avenue on Nov 28 when he was hit from behind.

Mr Ng recounted: "I had just turned left from a filter lane when a 10-foot lorry made a U-turn and hit me from behind."

According to him, both he and his bike were pinned under the lorry and dragged for about two metres.

He said: "When it happened, I grabbed a bar on the lorry's undercarriage and just held on for dear life. My friends thought I was finished."

Apart from a bad case of road rash and bike damages totalling about $5,000, Mr Ng emerged relatively unscathed, which was "miraculous", he said.


Many other cyclists weren't so lucky.
This year, seven local cyclists lost their lives in road accidents between January and May - the figure is more than double the three persons killed in the same period last year.

In total, 17 cyclists and their pillion riders were killed in road accidents last year. In 2008, the number was 22.

With more Singaporeans taking up road cycling as a sport and hobby, it is inevitable for the number to rise.

The trio, who have more than 10 years of cycling experience between them, were wearing helmets and had proper lights for visibility when the accidents happened.

The younger Mr Ng, an undergraduate, said: "Accidents can happen to any rider, regardless of how protected you are. That's why the 1.5m distance is so critical."

Mr Yip pointed out: "If the bus driver had given me just a little bit more space, I wouldn't have been flung off the bike."

During his accident, Mr Yip was thrown behind the bus on the left-most lane. His bicycle, worth $2,000, landed in a wreck on the centre lane.

While the trio said that both drivers and cyclists could be at fault during accidents, they pointed out that drivers in Singapore "do not know how to react with cyclists on the road".

Said Mr Yip: "Aside from a brief mention in theory handbooks, learner drivers don't learn hands-on skills about driving with cyclists.

"We need to implement some guidelines governing interaction between both parties."

The younger Mr Ng added: "A small percentage of drivers feel we shouldn't even be on the roads. We need to change that mindset."

To that end, the group agreed that the OCBC Safe Cycling Campaign was a step in the right direction.

However, they are sceptical of any lasting impact without concrete government support.

That said, cyclists themselves could start to foster a friendlier riding environment.

For starters, riders could start by obeying rules.

Cyclists, even the most disciplined among them, commonly beat traffic lights.

The older Mr Ng said: "Many of us like to ride fast and rush past the lights. But what's the rush? What's important is that you reach home safely."

The younger Mr Ng also suggested that cyclists should stay behind cars instead of weaving in and out of vehicles at traffic lights.

He said: "I'm a driver too, and I know drivers hate that."

Mr Yip, who collected a safe cycling jersey of his own Saturday, said: "If you want to gain the respect and change the attitudes of drivers, look at your behaviour first.

"Ride safely and obey traffic rules."

Yokota Fritz's Cyclelicious bike route application now works for Singapore

Yokota Fritz wrote to say his "bike route application now works for Singapore. The routing engine is from MapQuest, and cycleway data comes from OpenStreetMap project, so if there are mistakes or shortcomings, users can fix the map info directly and quickly."

Head over to try it out at cyclelicio.us/map and let us know what you think. I gave it a quick look for Holland Village to Changi Village and this is what it spat out; I like the elevantion and biccle relevant directions and timing. Google Maps' bicycle option choked on this.

20101201 : next phase

To me, the coming December first will be the start of a new phase. I will be leaving my 21 years comfort zone in Philips and starting all on my own. It feels like jumping off a big ship and throwing myself (and family) into the open sea. This seems silly but not if you can see what I am seeing while cruising on the big ship. The vision I have is to help make bicycling an easier and better choice for many people. This vision connect to my belief that bicycle will be an important solution to many problems that we face in modern cities. Such belief is so strong that I lost motivation to continue with the same routine job. I find it necessary to follow my heart and do something more meaningful.

My close friends and family ask with great concern, “How are you going to sustain financially?” I have savings but certainly not enough to sustain for a long time-if we continue to spend without adjustment. The key question is how much is enough to live a happy, stress free life? I need to find that out, together with my wife and two sons. I am blessed and thankful that they are supportive in my decision.

Leaving the financial uncertainty aside, I am really looking forward to the “office hour free” days. I should be able to spend more time riding, blogging, teaching, designing, selling and promoting bicycles, or bicycle related activities. I should be able to apply what I have learnt throughout the 21 years working in Philips, in a new way. Knowing the advantages and limitations a big organization encounter, helps. Having years of experience of working and living in Holland and seeing first hand how bicycle can be a viable transport solution also helps. I learnt a lot from my Philips colleagues and they will continue to be my inspiration and resources.

The Singapore Government has allocated 43 million dollars to improve bicycle infrastructure in seven cycling towns. This is peanuts if compared to the multi-billion dollars road construction works for cars, yet it is a fundamental paradigm shift from the authority: from ignoring to recognition! The same trend is happening in advanced Asia cities like Hong Kong, Taipei and Shanghai. There is still a long way to go before bicycling become as safe and popular as in Holland. I can see there is a lot needs to be done and I am sure there are ways that I can contribute and also make a living from by helping shorten this transition period.

- Francis Chu AKA Chu Wa