Don't get me wrong about the topic. I'm not against this country implementing cycle lanes, but I'm just giving my opinion about it.

I have just got back from Melbourne. Beautiful city, apart from the drunken blokes who make a big hoo ha of themselves. They are a bicycle friendly state. They have cycle lanes in the city and even in the estates as well. Even at the end of autum now (its very cold by the way), they still cycle to work. Looks like the government really do take care of their cyclist well.

Back to our city. For us, its dangerous for us to cycle on the roads due to imbecile drivers who don't give way to us, jam braking, buses and taxis stopping so near the kerbs, not stopping at crossings to let us cross, etc. Its frustrating for us to cycle in the city.

But I think the greatest influence for the implementation of the cycle lanes will be largely due to the behaviour of the cyclists. If the cyclists does not abide by the traffic rules, then whats the point of implementing the cycle lanes? Back in Melbourne, the cyclists there are all very obedient. They use their hand signals to signal their intentions (even when slowing down), they do not run at red lights, they use the pedestrian crossings to cross to the next junction, they do not touch the pavements, and it is compulsory for them to wear helmets on the roads and have their lights on at night. On the surface, it seems like bicycles and cars can co-exist with each other. But it was good enough to see that cyclist and motorists do benefit from the cycle lanes.

For us, we are different. We are being labelled "Pests of the roads". And I can see why. Apart from the banglahs and china workers who often cycle in the wrong direction on the roads, there are professional riders not abiding by the law as well. I know pavement cycling is not allowed for us, but there are times we have to cycle on the pavements due to unbearable road conditions. But how many times do we hear of cyclists banging pedestrains down and just zooming off without lifting a finger to help? how many times do you hear a cyclists scratching a car whilst weaving in and out of traffic jams and quickly ride off and not get caught? And how many times have cyclist caused a major car accident just because the cyclist happens to run the red light and cars have to avoid the cyclist and ended up overturning his/her vehicle just to avoid that cyclist, being the most recent a taxi swerved to avoid a idiotic cyclist who was crossing the lane when it was green for the traffic and the taxi overturned and got blamed for speeding instead. The most dangerous being cyclists turning at the junction with the cars (on the right lane) and quickly keeping left after that, which annoys many drivers as well. Hand signals are also an issue because so far, I have never seen any professional bikers signalling their intentions, whether they are slowing down or turning.

What I see cyclist here is that, we are all avid cyclists. We all love to cycle. But our mentality is that we can all beat the traffic rules because bicycle is not classified as a vehicle on the roads. And we have no plate numbers. So even if Its our fault that a car runs over us, the car is still to blame. We have that mentality that if there is an accident, we can easily get away with it. Thats the problem with us. If we can be as obedient as the cyclists in other cycling friendly countries, wouldn't it be safer for not only for the cars on the road, but more importantly for ourselves as well?

So even if the government decides to implement a cycle lane for us on the roads, given the problems that I have listed, how effective will it be? Share your thoughts yeah.

As a foreigner, livina and cycling here, I believe that bike lanes will only work if they are enforced by the traffic police.

It seems to me that only those laws that re enforced consistently are actually obsevered. Of course this is also true to various degrees in most places (including Australia, where I'm from), but it appears to be very strongly the case here. For example, for the most part people do not stop on the 'no go' arease on the road, i.e. where there is a yellow cross, to allow buses to merge into traffic, or at intersections or in front of driveways - this is enforced and therefore observed. On the other hand motor bikes going in between lanes of traffic or children wearing seat belts or in baby seats is not enforced and is therefore not observed.

So, while I certainy do agree with bike lanes, in this country, without enforcement it simply will not work.

Seriously speaking...the EDB, LTA and NDB did not plan to make Singapore a bike-friendly city in the first place. Im not trying to say that they are a bunch of idiots...because they are not, they are a great bunch of people that mapped out Singapore now. Just look at the blueprints when these people planned the layout and things like that in Singapore 30 years ago. They did not plan to accomodate cyclists then...which explains the reason why there is not enough space on the road to create a cycling lane. Its not that they do not have foresight, its just that given the conditions 30 years ago, when the nation is not stable...building everything cost-effectively is their plan. Just look at all the schools built then, they all look the same...

Of cos now, with more resources, they can definitely squeeze out the cycling lane for us on most main roads...but is that economically viable? Making present main roads wider = a lot a lot of money because they will need to start taking down buildings. AND if they are going to make roads wider, it will be for the cars first, not bicycles? but they are not...look at the traffic condition in Singapore during peak hours. Most people should agree that it sucks...but the government is not doing anything to widen up roads for cars, they just charge more ERP to force people to take public transport.

So i think we should not keep asking for cycling lanes, since most of us will not obey the rules strictly anyway. For now just use the bus lanes...lolx...until EDB, LTA and NDB are able to come up with a plan to get around the conjested roads in Singapore, if not cycling lanes should be a no-no till then...

:cheers:

if singapore were to have cycling lanes, it will be good. but i wont want to see people speeding on the lanes. should keep to a certain speed.

i encounter many problems while cycling on road and pavement. i always cycle on the pavement due to the traffic, let say, heavy traffic, espacially during peak hours where ppl go to work. if we were to hit a pedestrian walking on the pavement, they would say its our fault. yes, its our fault coz in the first place we are not suppose to cycle on the pavement(i suppose?). but cycling on the roads, 'evil' drivers love to speed, come near to the kerb and everything what a driver would do. buses squeezing me on the road. wanting to change lanes but cars keep speeding. it really cracks up my mind. it seems that wherever we ride, we are a fault. either pavement or road.

but the thing i hate most is the park connectors. NParks built the cycling path and pedestrian path. but i still see pedestrian ON the cycling path. i and my friends, with avg speed of 20 on the path will always have to shout at them to make way. one time, i couldnt tahan anymore, i just shout out, "please keep to your lane. on yr left is the cycling path and on yr right is for you, thank you".

But i tot cycling during peak hours when cars are grid locked is ok?!

I have always tot that its quite safe to cycle in that kind of scenario...just practise defensive riding...

If a bus stop near to the kerb before the traffic lights dun squeeze in front...

Dun make abrupt lane changes...

Use pedestrain traffic lights to turn right...

Check blind spots when approaching a junction (can be just a left turn zebra crossing or BIG junction) to make sure that the car behind u is not trying to cui in front of u to make its left turn...

Never cycle on the pavement...

Bring along lights (yes, not reflectors) if travelling at night...

Wear a helmet at all times (unless u are going slow, very sure that the route is safe and its only a short distance...i do such stuff)...

Use hand signal when u are going straight ahead at junction and keep a look out for cars making right turn in the opposing direction...

Make eye contact with the driver that stopped next to u at the junction, so that he will let u move off first and not squeeze u to the kerb...

Slow down for buses doing their stuff at the bus stops...

Its easy to ride safe without cycling lanes...just do the things above...

learn to bunnyhop

xALmoN. teach me how to bunny hop can ??

azmeefit > Bicycles are not even suppose to change lanes on the roads, want to turn right and ur on the left-most lane, go to the traffic light and use it to cross.

and no, if there were to be a cycling lane on the roads, i think there should be a limitation to the speed such as 20 and MORE, and not LESS. Its a bicycle lane not a evening cycle lane...