Make Cycling Fun And Safe

Cycling is a leisure activity suitable for all ages. (Photos by Shutterstock, unless otherwise stated)

Living with the pandemic, cycling has become a popular activity with many Singaporeans who turn to it as a way to spend time with friends and family, as a form of exercise and as a mode of transport for short- to mid-distance travel.

With more bicycles sharing roads and footpaths with vehicles and pedestrians, cyclists need to practise good cycling habits — because etiquette equals safety for all.

RULES RULE
Bicycles can go on roads and on footpaths, and there has been friction from bad actors on all sides — drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. As the latter, here are some basic rules that you should observe:

Cyclists should observe traffic rules even when riding on footpaths.

Riding on footpaths

• Give way to people walking or standing, and stay a safe distance from them so you can stop easily if they suddenly stop.
• Slow down/stop and dismount, and push your bike at places with high human traffic such as bus stops, or when using ramps at overhead bridges.
• Keep left, as far as you can, except when overtaking. Do not try to overtake near pedestrian crossings, or at corners and bends.
• Do alert people in front of you with your bell — but make it a “ting”, not a continuous ring.
• Slow down at areas where vehicles and pedestrians may cross your path e.g. at car parks or where pathways lead to buildings.
• Stop cycling when you need to talk on the phone, read text messages, or check the GPS for your location.

Wear a helmet at all times. Photo courtesy of Singapore Cycling Federation.

Riding on roads

• Wear a helmet. We recommend putting on one even when riding on “safe” footpaths – the effect of concussion is the same whether you hit concrete, tarmac or asphalt.
• Dismount and push your bike when you see a “No Riding” sign – there’s often a good reason for that, such as a hidden entrance for pedestrians or construction vehicles.
• Obey traffic signals and travel in the same direction as the flow of traffic.
• Ride as close as you can to the far-left edge of roads and allow traffic to overtake you safely.
• Cycle in a single file on single-lane roads and during bus lane operational hours.
• Switch on front (white) and rear (red) lights in the dark.
• Do not cycle on expressways, road tunnels and selected viaducts.
• Stop, offer help, exchange particulars and make a police report if you are involved in an accident.

For more cycling rules and code of conduct, visit the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s website.

Still a little worried about the rules of safe cycling”? Enrol for LTA’s 45-minute Confidence on Wheels programme to improve your skills and etiquette. Visit here for more information.

GEAR UP FOR SAFETY’S SAKE
Here’s how you can keep yourself protected when cycling.

Bight clothing makes you easily visible to other road users.

• We can’t say enough: wear a helmet.
• Slip on a pair of gloves to protect your palms when going on longer rides.
• Dress in bright clothing or a vest with reflective stripes (whether day or night).
• Put on shoes. It is possible to ride in flipflops for short journeys but make sure they fit your feet and don’t flop into the gear chain.
• Apply sunblock.

AND NOW THE FUN PART
After you have familiarised yourself with the etiquette of cycling, it’s time to enjoy the ride! Do you have a destination in mind? Or do you just want to hop on a bike and have a great time discovering Singapore?

Our city has several cycling routes, as you can see from the Land Transport Authority map. If you’re on the Park Connector Network, it can bring you the length and breadth of the island, and on the way, you could visit East Coast Park, Jurong Lake or the Southern Ridges. You could even wave to us as you ride past Singapore Sports Hub (don’t worry about the highways, go via Geylang/Kallang/Mountbatten or cross over from Tanjong Rhu).

You can also type “Singapore” “bike” and “maps” on search engines for route suggestions. And there are apps that can help you plan your ride as well:

• Apple Maps
• Bikemap
• Google Maps
• Komoot
• Ridenjoy

So, just get on your wheels and Go!