I have lived and played in Montreal for the last 5 years and there is a vibrant bicycle culture there. I think that with the rising car prices, COEs, ERPs and a whole gamut of unfriendly policies to owning cars, the govt ought to look seriously into encouraging more people to use the bicycle. The only thing they cannot influence is the hot humid weather, but why can't we have more use of the bike in the suburbia in the evenings, early mornings, or even nights? After all, we are going to build even more park connectors to link up the whole island?
What I have seen in Montreal ( and there may be other cities too) :
1. BIXI bikes - a rental system run by one operator that allows one to rent a bike and return it to any one of over 100 BIXI stations around the city. There is a system to lock the bike digitally and using credit card/debit cards. It is a great success after 2 yrs.
2. Allow bikes on Buses - buses are built with a strong carrier rack for up to 3 bikes per bus at the front. Cyclists using it will have to hang up their bikes themselves with the supervision or help of the bus driver. It is like buses with wheel chair facilities except in the front.
3. Allow bikes on trains - You are allowed to bring yr own bikes on trains there in the first car and at specified times on weekdays but more relaxed hrs on weekends in order not to disrupt or interfere with the office crowd during peak hrs. Up to 3 bikes are allowed but sometimes an eye is closed if the hour is very early or late or when train is really empty anyway. You cannot leave yr bike unattended.
4. Bike lanes - one diff over there is that they frown on you riding yr bike on the pavement or five foot ways, since there are bike lanes on the road. Traffic rules are strict to protect the cyclists when turning, and learner drivers are ticked off and failed for not looking over the shoulder - it must be a deliberate action, not a peripheral glance or side mirror look. I guess here, we all ride on the cycle paths. More should be built.
So I believe if the govt makes some serious planning, we can all make Singapore a city to work, live and play and a world class city where there's more time to smell the roses and mimosa netties. It may require a multi-agency task force involving LTA, URA, NParks, SLA, HDB, etc.
What I have seen in Montreal ( and there may be other cities too) :
1. BIXI bikes - a rental system run by one operator that allows one to rent a bike and return it to any one of over 100 BIXI stations around the city. There is a system to lock the bike digitally and using credit card/debit cards. It is a great success after 2 yrs.
2. Allow bikes on Buses - buses are built with a strong carrier rack for up to 3 bikes per bus at the front. Cyclists using it will have to hang up their bikes themselves with the supervision or help of the bus driver. It is like buses with wheel chair facilities except in the front.
3. Allow bikes on trains - You are allowed to bring yr own bikes on trains there in the first car and at specified times on weekdays but more relaxed hrs on weekends in order not to disrupt or interfere with the office crowd during peak hrs. Up to 3 bikes are allowed but sometimes an eye is closed if the hour is very early or late or when train is really empty anyway. You cannot leave yr bike unattended.
4. Bike lanes - one diff over there is that they frown on you riding yr bike on the pavement or five foot ways, since there are bike lanes on the road. Traffic rules are strict to protect the cyclists when turning, and learner drivers are ticked off and failed for not looking over the shoulder - it must be a deliberate action, not a peripheral glance or side mirror look. I guess here, we all ride on the cycle paths. More should be built.
So I believe if the govt makes some serious planning, we can all make Singapore a city to work, live and play and a world class city where there's more time to smell the roses and mimosa netties. It may require a multi-agency task force involving LTA, URA, NParks, SLA, HDB, etc.