Open letter to Mr Lui Tuck yew (SG transport minister) by Calvin Boo

LUI_TUCK_YEW@mot.gov.sg, francis chu , Royston Sim HQ , Jok Kwang Han , "MOH Muhammad Faishal IBRAHIM (MOH)" , "hock_yong_chew@lta.gov.sg" , "ireneng@iseas.edu.sg" , voices@mediacorp.com.sg

Dear Sir,

I read with great dismay your comments during the recent Budget Debate on road cycling, that "only a small group use it as their primary mode of transport" and "... it is a different thing altogether to get more cyclists using fast-flowing roads when other road users are not ready to give way". Your comments clearly shows a lack of empathy for vulnerable road users, a deficit of compassion and a lack of visionary thinking.

Have you so quickly already forgotten the two innocent young lives taken by a cement mixer driver in Tampines early 2013? Then, the Parliament Secretary for Transport acknowledged that "One life lost is one too many". Have we learnt nothing? 

Whenever a life is taken, it is not just one life that is lost - an entire family suffers, and the suffering lasts a lifetime. Can you quantify such a loss? In Tampines, was it two or is it more? Can you empathize with such a loss? 

Let us not forget the many who have been injured - we form part of the unpublished number. It is a lucky thing we did not make the death statistic, but the injuries suffered in various degrees of severity do place a burden on the family.

Cycling as a primary mode of transport is picking up new fans and growing in numbers, a trend I highlighted during the LTMP discussion in Oct 2012. Clearly the feedback has not been taken seriously. The rising vehicle population and the rising number of speeding offences* puts motorists and the growing population of road cyclists on a collision course, with tragic results waiting to happen.

With all due respect Sir, you do not wait for motorists to get "ready to give way". Did the government wait for citizens to get ready to not throw killer litter? Did the government wait for motorists to get ready "to not speed"? Do you think it is prudent to wait for more cyclists to lose their lives before taking action? Fifty more? A hundred more?

No, a good government does not wait. A good government leads by taking action before things spiral out of control, before more lives are lost, before more families suffer a lifetime of tragic loss.

Global green cities are taking proactive measures to strongly discourage car usage AND encouraging green transport alternatives, cycling included. Here, we hear the PCN being preached as the holy grail to Singapore's cycling woes, while continuing to pander to motorist whims.

The truth is, the PCN is a connected network of disjointed paths (even engineers who have worked on cycle path projects in Netherlands concluded so), and a rather terribly convoluted way of getting to work. The PCN is great for recreational users and good if one has all the time in the world to get to work.

Our roads are highly unsafe, and many cyclists ride on pavements where it is safer. But in the eyes of pedestrians and motorists alike, cyclists are nothing but cockroaches. All the cyclist angst captured on video (which you may have seen) are truly unnecessary, if only our laws and road infrastructure accord sufficient protection to road cyclists.

So dear Minister, where can we safely go?

Fix the compassion deficit. The cyclists of Singapore are real people with families, not just "a small group". Cycling is the future of transport - the revolution has already begun all around the world in cities that proudly call themselves global cities, and the MOT/LTA have been caught snoozing. The cyclists of Singapore are firmly united in support of Ms Irene Ng - the time for visionary thinking and leadership is NOW.

Sincerely,

Calvin Boo

Road Cycling Advocate

* 6.1% increase in speeding offences from 2012 to 2013. Source:SPF

2nd March 2013 sunday ride and visiting the accident site

On 25th Feb, a young army boy was a victim of a hit and run. More on the sad incident here 
We were all praying that he would recover slowly but it was not to be. I watched the video done by his school mates and my heart ached.  I don't know him personally but really felt that this shouldn't have happened. This is life. Gone in a flash.
With this sad incident, I deliberated with some of my friends if we should continue the Sunday ride(planned earlier) which would take us near the accident spot.  I was really feeling very bad about the whole thing...
The team conclusion was that we should and to stop at the bike accident spot. Offer a minute of silence.  As we stood there observing a min of silence.... I pray that the driver would have the courage to come out and admit his wrong doing. A son is killed and his mum is still grieving.
To the driver, if you are reading this. Don't make a wrong decision again.
To other fellow cyclists, if you want to go and observe a min of silence. The accident site is Loyang road (off Selerang Camp) - Lamp post 11-12

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

25th Feb 2014 - Hit and run case at Loyang road (Rider passed away on 28th Feb Morning)

Update on this case
Rider have passed away on 28th Feb morning.  Driver is still at large

Appeal for witness

My cousin is a victim of hit and run @ loyang way just now (tuesday,25 feb) at around estimated 3plus pm.. As there is a bicycle near him when he was found, rasenye he might be riding on that bicycle.. kindly PM me if anyone has any info 

He is currently critical and unconcious 

Place of Accident: Along Loyang Way.
Date: 25th Feb 2014, Tuesday.
Time: Approx 3pm
Victim: 19 year old Cyclist.
Condition: Critical with severe injury to the brain, broken shoulders and hip bone. Unconcious.

Accident location 

22nd Feb 2014 - Hit and Run case at Lornie road

By James Woo HIT & RUN driver who drives a White Audi. We suspect he's missing a headlight washer cover (right side). We found that piece on the road with a Audi logo behind. He hit my friend around 4.50am thereabouts not far from the SPC station in the direction of Lornie Road. Thankfully my friend survived the hit but the driver has to be brought to justice for hitting him and not stopping to assist!!

23rd Feb 2014 - Cycling accident at Jalan Buroh

Taken from Kenji hong FB

No official word on this. From FB thread, apparently a trailer sideswiped the road bike. The rider was taken into hospital and we know nothing so far. Putting it here so that can have a record of what happen

Singapore National Cyclists say YES to bike lanes

Road cyclists spend lots of time on the road and unlike many countries, Singapore does not have a velodrome nor country roads where there are lesser cars or traffic lights. The usual spot for cycle training like the Changi coastal road are increasingly getting into the news with cyclists getting run over by cars/ trucks. It's scary sometimes to be out cycling.... and frankly it is a ticking time bomb.
It is getting quite crowded and the roads is not exactly safe. Last year, a lady national cyclist, Dinah Chan had a bad traffic accident while training.  This is how she look after the accident and she is a very experienced rider.....

Screen grab from Todayonline.com

In a most amazing comeback, she managed to recover in time and got gold (30km time trial) in the 2013 SEA games.  

Screen grab from Todayonline.com

This begs the question, shouldn't more be done for our national cyclists and perhaps even a velodrome? Heck, super crowded HongKong even has one now.   So what gives?
Oh wow.. Dinah is also now training at HK velodrome....  I think thats pretty sad.

Dinah Chan, Photo credit by today online

Despite all the challenges, I see more and more cyclists on the road, PCN and parks. The most heartening news from the "roadies" is this. They are the OCBC sponsored riders and not just racing. They are also helping to share safety cycling awareness at the school. And yes, finally for the record. They expressed that cycling lane would help make it safer!
Lastly, I wonder with better cycling conditions... perhaps SG can get their very own cycling World champion? Will that be wishful thinking on our side or the agencies are already on it?  What do you think?

Taken from Yahoo sports page.

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Post by Woon Taiwoon.

Lim Kee Tiong slimming story by cycling!

This is why you cycle. Removes ur potbelly! Well done Kee Tiong!
This is his advice to get started. 
1. Get a bicycle that you love. How do u know? Easy, check if u can just sit there and keep looking at it for hours. 
2. Ride everywhere. Bike to work, run small errants, group rides, meeting friends etc. preferably a foldy, u can bring it almost anywhere and have little chance of getting stolen. 
3. Every ride is a training ride. I engage every slope with the fastest speed my legs can push. Keep up or overtake roadies with my small wheels if possible, when I meet them on the road. 

Zooom!