THEY were riding along Changi Coast Road towards the direction of East Coast Park when they were hit.
But mere metres from the accident with the lorry that killed Mr Chua Shiu Beng and injured his buddy, Mr Kenneth Wong Wai Kiang, on Monday morning, was a smooth, traffic-free bicycle path.
Yet both men, regulars in the air force, chose to cycle on the road - at the mercy of other faster road users.
The pair had completed their intended route and were returning home when they were hit by a lorry along Changi Coast Road at 7.45am.
Both were sent to Changi General Hospital, where Mr Chua, 45, succumbed to his injuries at 12.50pm.
As of yesterday afternoon, Mr Wong, 40, was still under observation, and is believed to have undergone surgery for his injuries.
Still, the question remains - was it a wise choice to cycle on the road when there were hardly any other users on the bike path just next to it?
Cyclists who frequent Changi Coast Road - a popular stretch with enthusiasts because of its shady, straight and uninterrupted road of more than 7km - told The New Paper their decision to go on the road instead of the path is not necessarily a foolhardy one.
They pointed out that being on the road, ironically, may actually be a safer option. Bicycle mechanic Jeremy Lim said: "Accidents can happen anywhere, both on the bike path and on the road.
"Cycling enthusiasts like Mr Chua and Mr Wang can achieve high speeds of more than 30kmh. A collision with a pedestrian at that speed is equally dangerous for both parties."
Indeed, with the appropriate bicycle and gear, and especially with training, it is not difficult for cyclists to reach speeds in excess of 40kmh.
According to Rule 28 of the Road Traffic Rules, cyclists are not allowed to ride on pedestrian footways that do not have designated space for cyclists.
The law also states that if a path adjacent to a road has been set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, bikes cannot be ridden on any other part of the roadway.
However, cyclists point out that bike paths like the one adjacent to Changi Coast Road are shared by both cyclists and other users, like joggers and inline skaters, and are not exclusively for cyclists.
Despite the absence of vehicular traffic, cyclists claim the presence of other park users add to the danger.
Cycling enthusiast Ian Lee said: "The fact that there can be many families with kids on the bike paths such as those along Changi Coast Road and East Coast Park can make it dangerous.
"It's unpredictable, you'll never know if a pedestrian will suddenly run into your path."
Indeed, the duo are not alone in their decision to remain on the road.
At Changi Coast Road, where the duo were hit, The New Paper observed well over a dozen cyclists within an hour on the road yesterday evening.
While traffic was light, there were plenty of heavy vehicles and lorries.
Cyclists on the roads were mostly properly equipped with lights, helmets, as well as proper footwear, cycling in a line along the kerb.
The cyclists on the bike path shared the lane with joggers, and rode mostly in pairs, cycling next to each other.
We observed families with children on tricycles and scooters, as well as one on a motorised bicycle.
"Serious" riders using the bike path travelled at a higher speed compared to leisure riders, and they rode in a line.
A cyclist of 20 years, who gave his name only as MrFD, 48, felt that some local riders do not follow riding etiquette.
"You see youths riding in a group, not in a line as they should be. They don't even bother wearing proper footwear," he said.
Mr Aidan Blest, 38, a bike enthusiast, said he was riding on Changi Coast Road itself when he saw the mangled frames of Mr Chua and Mr Wang's bicycles at about nine on Monday morning.
Goosebumps
"I got goosebumps when I saw it and I thought, someone must have died here.
"But it's dangerous to ride on the bike path as there are too many people using it. Kids swerve and they can cause accidents even on the path."
He added that cyclists who choose to use the roads are generally more aware of the vehicles around them, so most do pay more attention to other road users.
Popular cycling spots like East Coast Park Service Road and Changi Coast Road still see many cyclists choosing to cycle on the road despite having bike paths adjacent to them.
Bike paths like those in East Coast Park and West Coast Park also have speed limits of 25kmh.
Other efforts to minimise accidents include "Cyclists Ahead" signs peppered along Changi Coast Road warning vehicles of cyclists using the road.
The New Paper observed at least five signs, placed in full view, along each side of the road.
Other users of the bike path, like Mr Andy Leong, 34, a manager in a logistics company, felt that there was a need for a respect of space for individual users.
Mr Leong, who jogs twice a week along the bike path at Changi Coast Road, said: "The culture of respecting individual users, even on the roads, is not there.
"Maybe that's why it might be safer to ride on the roads as there is no need for cyclists to manoeuvre around others and the only thing they need to worry about are the cars."
