Zack Cycles to work

Zack and his sense of humor!

Why do I cycle to work?

Three simple reasons;

Money – I save money from taking public transports for a distance of 12km per trip.

Time – If I cycle to work, it will take me about 40-45mins journey at a pace of 20kmh instead of public transports that takes up to 55mins (depending on traffics).

Healthy – I get to exercise to maintain my fitness.

Does my workplace have bike friendly facilities?

Yes of course my company has bike friendly facilities. My company encourages employees to exercise and has many exercise programs for the employees. We even have a cycling team which rides on every Wednesday.

How to get started...  

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. All you need is planning and recce for the best route to start your first pedal.

When did I start cycling to work? 

I started cycling to work in 2011 after I sold my car of 4 years.

How often do I cycle to work?

I try to cycle often to work as long as it does not rain.

Any advice for people thinking of cycling to work?

It actually takes times to get used to it. I took months of hard decisions before planning and recce for the best route to cycle to work. For me, I choose a safer route but of longer distance instead of a shorter

Zack's Commuting route

 

Jel's Commuting Story

Jel and one of his nifty item which makes it a safer ride... Rear Mirror 

Jel's Advice... dun squeeze

I must say that cycling to work here in Singapore is much more enjoyable and safer compared to the Philippines. I used to cycle to work back in the Philippines using my 20kg Mountain Bike clocking 15kms one way where 40% of the way is uphill. It’s a must to wear a heavy duty mask unless you want to suffer some upper respiratory diseases in the future. The only upside was that the drivers are skillful and considerate.

Singapore is much cleaner, cooler and a lot more enjoyable in my opinion. My decisions to cycle to work are:

-       Forces me to do cardio so I can concentrate on weight training

-       Saves transportation costs

-       Lessen my carbon footprint

-       Help improving the image of cyclists here in Singapore by strictly sticking to the rules (at least the ones that I know of)

-       Meet new friends (which I did)

My first bike was a S$60 Aleoca folding bike which we bought on a sale in VivoMart. The day I bought it I tested it as soon as possible in the house. It didn’t go well as the rear tire goes flat and chain was broken.

I went back to VivoMart the next day using MRT and I must say just lugging it around gave me a workout. At some point I wanted to just throw it in the garbage and be done with it. I decided to replace it with an S$100 Aleoca MTB so I topped up S$40. I used that the next day but 15 mins. out the rear derailleur gave away. At that time I’ve got no skills or tools to fix or remove the rear wheel to take a cab so walked all the way to the office. On top of that I’ve got an upset stomach. I was pretty upset myself. Called Aleoca and after 3 days they picked up the bike at the office for repairs and they returned it after 3 days as well. Some lessons I learned:

-       I need a quality bike that can fit in a cab during emergencies

-       I need basic tools and skills for fixing a bike

-       I need to stay dry during a surprise rain shower

Before I joined LoveCyclingSG a friend referred me to Filipino Cyclist in Singapore where I found out about an affordable folding bike called Dahon Eco C6 where I got to test ride during my first weekend ride with them. The difference in rideability between my Aleoca MTB is so obvious that I immediately sold my MTB for S$80 and convinced my wife into getting the last piece of Dahon Eco C6 in L&T Cycles in Tampines.

Now I’m ready for an all-out commuting to work with my trusty folding bike. Below is my routine:

Monday – Take public transport to work so I can bring all my stuff for the week at one go which includes long sleeves, slacks, socks and boxers. That way I will be forced to cycle to work the rest of the week since most my work clothes are already in the office. We have a locker in the office so the things that I leave there for the long run are 1 belt, 1 leather shoe, antibacterial wipes, perfume and hair spray. I make sure that I have another belt and leather shoes at home just in case I decided not to cycle to work for any reason like movie dates and the likes.

Another option is to install a front truss and mount a waterproof bag or a rear rack with waterproof pannier so you can bring your change of clothes every day. Based on experience I’m not a fan of backpack while riding since it stinks up the bag itself due to sweat although I do have a backpack with rain cover in it just in case. For now I use it during weekends as a baby bag.

Tuesday to Friday – I shower before riding. The only thing I bring here are the basic tools like multi-tool, innertube spare, pocket jacket and hood, spanner, front lights (just in case I leave at work late at night) and waterproof phone mount. I arrive at the office around 8:30am to have enough time wipe down sweat, get changed and have a hearty breakfast. The beauty of having a folding bike I was able to bring it inside the office without worrying of leaving it outside the elements. There’s also a possibility that our office will be moved to Changi which is ok for me since we have shuttle services in Sengkang and I can simply cycle to Sengkang and bring my folding bike up the shuttle bus. One word –Flexibility.

What I wear?

I made sure to get a lot of free OCBC jerseys so that every morning motorists gets to see the 1.5M signage at the back. I alternate shorts and cycling shorts. I bought Keen Newport since it’s waterproof and anti-bacterial as well. Good for sunny and rainy season. Its sole is stiff so that helps in pedaling.

That’s all there is to it. So for those who reached this paragraph and still deciding whether or not to cycle to work the trick is not to overthink it and just go for it. As the old saying goes “If there’s a will, there’s a way”.

Noel Tan Cyclo commute to work

Noel Tan 

Noel Route

I would like to share my experience of cycling to work. Here's the route http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/bedok-to-bishan.  
Bikely is a useful tool to plan routes. I see some LCSG'ers are using them too.

Mode of transport: Tern Verge P18

Why cycle to work?
The thing that makes me chose to commute via bike is because of my job. I'm a programmer and there is never a 9am to 6pm day.I wanted to incorporate exercise into my daily regime but it's difficult when I have to work past 6pm everyday. So I decided that by biking, I can take those time I use to sleep in the bus and use them for exercise!

Cycling attire for the commute
My cycling attire is a t-shirt and cycling pants. To transport my stuffs, I carry a back pack. But recently I purchased a front bag to put my stuff as it's much more convenient. If you sweat a lot like I do, your back pack will stink of sweat. It also takes of the load you carry on your shoulders without a back pack. As for work clothes, I'm lucky as I do not need to wear formal, so Monday and Friday, my back pack would be the heaviest, other than that, it's usually just extra shirt, packed lunch.
Monday: Extra Clothes, Milk & cereal pack: breakfast for the week, Jacket: cold in the office
Friday: Jacket and dirty clothes.
I will leave my pants in office so I don't need to transport them everyday. (Jeans no need to wash every day, haha).

I ride my foldie to work and the routes consist of half road and half PCN. On the roads, I usually try to stay on bus lane, which is much more safer, or not. I cycle at a pace of 25km/h - 30km/h. I ride faster when I need to cut across to avoid cars having to drive in front of me to turn to the left, but sometimes I just ride fast to see how much can I go. One time I manage to go up to 58Km/h on straight roads. The first half of my route is roads, so I take that as my training ride. When I head into the PCN, I just relax and enjoy the scenery, especially Bishan Park. Usually If I take a bus, my whole journey will take me 1 hour and 20 minutes or more. By biking, If I want to go fast, I can reach office in less than an hour, but usually I will just take it slow when I reach PCN, so total journey is about 1 hour.

Office Situation not too bike friendly...
My office does not have a shower point. I use a trick widely adopt by fellow commuters = Baby wipes!. I will first cool down at the last few KMs to my work place. When in office, I first wipe down with a wet towel, then use baby wipes to clean any dirt, leaves me smelling good. I also apply deodorant and that's it, I'm ready to work. There's no sticky feeling or whatsoever. As I really sweat alot, I'm initially worried about how uncomfortable I will feel, but it didn't affect me much after a proper wipe down. So baby wipes = approved! I leave the wipes, deodorant and a small sports towel in office, so stock up on these things to avoid transporting them up and down.

My experience on the road is good, as I can see a lot of drivers are quite considerate. There are some more aggressive drivers (driving to close, refuse to give way), but I will make sure to give a signal when I'm about to turn or stop. Also I always try to ride defensively, slow down when required and give way when needed. Just have to beware of other cyclist, especially the banglas, as they don't stop at the red light. I was stared a few times for stopping. Sometimes, I make mistakes as well, but just have to be aware of the surroundings and be safe. Do bring a pollution mask as it might get bad cycling beside trucks and buses. I use one from daiso.
For my ride back, I just change to my cycling pants and wear the shirt I wore for work. I only bring one shirt to change after my morning commute, and ride back in that same shirt. As cycling pants dry quick, I can wear it again when I leave work. Always remember to bring back the sweaty clothes or your drawer will stink.
I'm quite new to commuting by bike (past 1 & 1/2 months), so there is so much more to know. However I really do enjoy cycling to work as It wakes me up for the morning. However, it's not an obligation to bike to work, sometimes when I'm tired I still take the bus. But I would say that cycling to work is the first thing I look forward to in the morning. :)

So that's my experience for cycling to work. Hope it can help others to start doing the same.

Thanks and regards
Noel

Steve Tan's Commuting story

No problemo!

Route from home to work

Introducing  Steve Tan of Handonsbike Blog and fellow lovecyclingsg Team mate. He works for as an R&D Engineer and walks the talk by cycling to work. Yes! It is really possible in Singapore and this is his story…

Why do I cycle to work?
Because it is fast and convenient! By bike, the journey takes 40 mins of cycling at a reasonable pace (22-25km on the flats), including a detour to get the newspaper in the morning. This is the door-to-door timing, starting from my lift lobby to my office lobby. No waiting for MRT or bus, no traffic jams, no sardine experience.
By public transport, it will take me at least 50 mins door-to-door, assuming no waiting time for the MRT or the feeder bus 255. Including waiting time, it will usually take me about one hour to get to work. 
What other benefits do I get for cycling to work?
Besides the convenience, I also get to exercise or train at the same time. On a lazy day, I just ride slow and probably take about 5-10 mins more to get to work. On some days when I feel like chiong-ing, I will push at a good pace and reach maybe 5 mins earlier.There is no need to find time outside of work to cycle or exercise. The journey to and from work is also my exercise time. Most importantly, it is fun! 
Does my workplace have bike friendly facilities?
I must admit that my company has to be one of the few companies in Singapore that actually encourages employees to cycle to work. No one bats an eyelid when you arrive on a bike in full cycling gear. Some facilities that I feel are important for people to consider cycling to work are ample and secure bike parking, proper shower facilities and a viable cycling route.There is plenty of bike parking available at my workplace. Also, we have a single shower cubicle at the nearest washroom so there is no problem there. As for the cycling route, I have tried many different routes and finally settled on a route that is relatively fast and safe. I don’t cycle to work every day of the week, because of various reasons. On average, I make 2 complete trips to and from home every week, although the to and fro trip may not be on the same day. On other days I just take public transport as I am not going straight home after work or because of rain.
How to get started...  
Start by planning how you want to cycle to work. Do a bit of recce to find out the best route (may not be the fastest or shortest). Think of how you plan to bring your change of clothes or other work documents. Does your bike have suitable carriers for commuting?

Total distance is about 12 km one way. The majority of the route will be on roads, with small sections of PCN and pavement. For example, near Lakeside, there is a very good PCN running beside Yuan Ching Road (5 to 7km mark), and thus I take the PCN which is safer, compared to the narrow 2 lane road. From the 10 km mark till I cross under AYE, I have no choice but to take the pavement as the traffic at Pioneer Road North is very heavy even at 645am in the morning. Also, there is no other way to cross the roundabout safely on the road. A little bit of bike pushing and carrying needed there. The return trip is just a reverse of the route shown here.

When did I start cycling to work? 
1 year ago

How often do I cycle to work?

How is commuting via bike different from competitive cycling or leisure cycling?
The first thing to realize is that you are not in a race! There is no need to get the lightest bike with the fastest wheels. The best commuting bike is a bike that can carry things (such as work clothes) for you, as it spares you from having to carry a sweaty backpack. Rack and mudguards are always useful to have, for carrying stuff and to help keep your bike and yourself clean. I usually wear cycling gear as it is more comfortable for cycling, although you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Any advice for people thinking of cycling to work?

Always have a plan in mind. What if it rains? What if I get a puncture on the way to work? Think of how you will handle these situations and plan accordingly.

Don’t stress yourself by forcing yourself to cycle to work every day. Start by cycling to work once or twice a week to get the feel of it. If it works out fine, consider increasing the number of trips per week. The key is to enjoy cycling to work! If it rains, it is OK not to ride. If you are tired, it is OK not to ride. If it is not convenient due to any reason, it is OK not to ride that day. No need to force yourself if you don’t want to.

Depending on your situation, you may need to start earlier in order to arrive at work on time. Plan to arrive about 20 mins earlier to give yourself time to cool down and take a shower. You will feel refreshed after cycling to work!

For more information on bicycle commuting and safe cycling tips, please refer to the links below.

Mr Brown’s Guide to Bicycle Commuting

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2008/07/mrbrowns-quick.html

HandsOnBike: Safe Cycling Tips

http://handsonbike.blogspot.sg/2012/01/how-to-have-safe-and-pleasant-cycling.html

Give me the space and I will follow the rule

Daddy sending daughter to school in an eco way... 

This is Francis article in Chinese papers which I highly recommend you read.


 "Yesterday when I went home, I saw a father riding a bicycle and carrying two kids, one in the front and the other at the back. He yield slowly at a junction, checked there is no car around and he ride across the junction quickly. He continued on the pavement carefully. I snapped a photo and upload it to the Facebook, many friends share their memory of being carried by their father/ mother's bike when they were small.
"It's really an enjoyable moment, wind blows in my face, talking and chatting to my father. Watching the street scene flow by while sitting between the large arm of my father, I felt excited and warm."
A friend told me. Others shared that's how they bring their kids to school, as a parent, they all enjoy this "moment of two" with their children on their journey.
However, this affordable, eco friendly and healthy way of commute is being marginalized. If you want to avoid the danger of cars, you need to ride on the pavement, and which is illeagal (except Tampines). It is also illegal to carry people on your bicycle.
To someone, a father using his own effort, carefully carrying his kids between home and school is breaching the law.

Recently there is an article publiched in ST <> the author, Ignatius Low, list many wrong doing of cyclists in Singapore. He share his experience in UK and feel that the cyclist in UK is much more decipline than the local cyclist. The article striked a sensitive chore in the public and many readers write in to suport him. Many agree that there are many "ruleless cyclists" who don't respect the laws.
As an "Bicycle-Master", I have more than 7 years of driving and cycling experience in Singapore. I feel Mr. Low does not have a real taste of riding in Singapore. He doesn't understand why sometimes it is necessary to make an illegel move. e.g riding on pavement (to avoid car), or riding across pedestrian crossing (to reduce exposure to the danger of cars).
Mr. Low listed 7 sins of the local cyclist:
1) riding on pavement
2) riding their bell threatening the pedestrian
3) carrying people on bicycle
4) riding across crossing
5) riding against traffic
6) no front and back light at night
7) not wearing helmet.

Only (2) is really a bad behavior and should not be allowed, and I agree there are a few cyclists belongs to this group. The rest, technically illegal, but he is pushing too far when he said these behavior are "endangering" car drivers.

About the helmet, there is no law to force cyclist to wear a helmet, it is a personal freedom that each person can decide for himself. In fact helmet law does not exit in all advanced countries with high population of bicycle. They generally agree helmet doesn't add to the safety of the rider, but increase the burden for cycling.
If cyclist really is the "King of the road" as claimed, than we shouldn't see cyclists being forced onto the pavement. I feel local cyclist more like the "Orphan of the Road", they don't have a space they belong (no bicycle lane), they don't have proper protection (law does not protect them well). When confronted with (car) danger, they just have to jump here and there to avoid being hit.I don't agree with the view of Mr. Low. However, at the end of his article, he asked a very valid question:" Is it unwillingness on the part of Government to lay down the law clearly for cyclists and provides the necessary cycling lanes and other infrastructure that will engender orderly behavior?"
Francis Chu

Lovecyclingsg pose goes Global!

This makes my day! yeah hahaha! Angle right 34 degree, palm flat facing the ground and look "super hero"... ultra man, kamen rider, batman... what ever.... Smiling is cool too! 

Oh... when doing in a group.. pls dun cover ur friend face.. haha :) 

Nice Gentleman showing how it is done too..(just for a laugh)

LCSG team at a steeper part of SG

Lovecyclingsg Treasure 22nd July 2012

The treasure hunt was led ably by Encik George Lim with LCSG angels Andy Yap, Boo, Christine Gan, Clarence, Diane, Steven Tang, Tiffany, Vince and myself. Weeks before, information and misinformation was sent out to LCSG family around the Treasure hunt area. Kranji Countryside. The day finally came and 14 Teams rolled into the Kranji Dam start point at 0730am, a time where most of the people would be sleeping. 

Encik George briefing the ICs... 

Team Camo - CarryME L-R, Hardy, Tiger Wan, Eddie Lim, Ro, Joe, Ming Tian

Queen Boo, in a cute mood..haha sorry Boo!

It was quite a sight to see all the teams in their coordinated gear, like team Carryme with their Camo-ed face and blue tees, Team 7-11 with their custom printed Tees, RWS Team in all red National colors.  As the teams bustled around the start point, Encik George briefed the Check point ICs of their locations and task... for the "Tekan" - he just say.. just dont whack to hard.. leave it to u... " haha.. Based on the last year Treasure hunt, I know that would not be a problem.

Petia was really serious... he DREW this MAP!!! 

Clarence at Kranji War Memorial doing the Check Point.. and giving them some fun time

The idea is to go to the 3 Checkpoint ICs and once there, they will need to do some task. If they succeed, they will be given more information on the other landmarks to photograph. At around 815 and the safety briefing,  the teams set off. I drove around with Encik carrying a big ice box of 100plus. As we drove past the riders pedalling furiously, I saw smiles and laughter. The most common refrain and "curse word" was WAH LAU... .esp after going the wrong way down the slope and up another slope.
I also saw lots of teamwork amongst the team. Punggol Night Riders was one of them. They called for backup as two of their riders fell on the sandy, rocky path to Saribum Scout Camp. They administered quickly first aid to Wilson and Jenny. And didn't leave them until we came to the scene. I was glad to help to ferry them to the nearest clinic/mrt so that they can get better treatment.
The Checkpoints were also big source of laughter and humor. I saw frustrated folks at Steven Tang spot, trying to throw in 20 tennis ball into a pail. Seems like a simple task but it took donkey time for some. Many took it out on Steven Tang by throwing directly at him haha.
The heat was a real killer for this event, and Kudos to our Muslim cycling friends. I don't know how they did it but they soldiered on with no complain. I am very impressed.

Throw 20 ball into the basket.. how difficult it can be right... until u tried... 

Pedal and pedal.. 

Later on we gave away the Prizes for the fastest team. To all our surprise, it was the "Dark Horse" - The Incredibles aka International riders who took the first spot They have not really been at Kranji before but according to Karen Chin..."We just gamely pedalled... Led by Noel and heckled to keep cycling by Gibson...."
2nd was DayTime Riders aka "Uncle Team" showing age is not a problem:) 3rd Place went to Team Camo Carryme with 3 team members on Puasa(Fasting). Team Carryme also took the top honors for Best Dressed with their Watermelon inspired Camo and awesome team spirit.
All in all, it was a awesome show of Team spirit and fun.
Thank you also to our Sponsors Axis Cycles(for the Rear seat pouches, Iphone holders), E-Walker for the cash voucher(Best Dressed award), Life Cycle (Cycling Caps and Super Stylo Water bottle) 
Thank you to Encik George and all LCSG Angels who helped to mann the Checkpoint, Tekan sessions and also the Roving Photographers Francis Chu and Darren Siow for the awesome photos.
Till the next year.. it will be more fun... and dare I say... more siong... :) Let's keep rocking LCSG!

All were winners!! Yeah! Taken at Kranji dam 

More photos here for ur download 

Thank you Mr Bus Driver:)

Now isn't this cool? If we all can just show abit more consideration for each other, life can be so much nicer. And Darren did another nice thing in return. He went and commended the Bus Driver for being such nice road manners on SBS feedback. What comes around, goes around! 

Darren W L Siow

Just had a simple but pleasant encounter with an SBS bus.
Location: Boon Lay Way, bus stop near Jurong East MRT, in the direction of Boon Lay.
Vehicle: Service 99, SBS7621M  18th July 2012
Incident: I was approaching the bus stop where Service 99 was signalling right to leave the bus stop. The driver saw me in his wing mirror and stopped to let me pass. But by then I had slowed down to let him move off from the bus stop. He waved to me in thanks via his wing mirror and exited the bus stop. In turn, I waved back, feeling good that the bus, which had "right of way" to exit the bus stop actually stopped to let me pass. This is quite rare nowadays as we see more & more aggro drivers on the road. I hope this trend continues, and that more cyclists and drivers can share the road in peace, giving mutual respect both ways.

Why the Surly Dummy?

With the Surly Dummy.... we can!                     Photo by Diane Flaviano

Rolling along with LCSG crew..                        Photo Credits Diane Flaviano

Ah mo is busy with the camera                          Photo credits Diane Flaviano

Sunday is always a happy day with Lovecyclingsg team! This is at Punggol water way ---- Photo by Diane Flaviano

I enjoy cycling and one of my biggest regret is that I can't bring my wife and girl along for the sunday rides. Not anymore! With the Surly Dummy, I can! It serves as a support vehicle for my girl, in case when she cycles and becomes tired. She can just hop on to the rear seat. The side panel pocket is able to hold her bicycle, my wife and her. Many asked me  if it is very tough to ride. Actually it is not so due to the gearing. Simply reduce and use the "easy gear", spin rather then mash. The tricky part is the starting off and balancing the 2 other passengers. A trick I tell my wifey is to feel like "a sack of potatoes". My little girl is already used to Dummy and she can hop and get on the bike like a season cowboy.
Last Sunday, we did the Punggol Water water ride, slow and steady pace so that the kids can also have fun. Many came, laughed and enjoyed the wonderful place. Me and my family did too... with a Surly Dummy!
Ps: photos are from Diane of Unfold and Cycle, please do go and visit her blog for really nice articles on the folding bicycles too! Thank you Diane!

Rider Profile Poh Fude

I first met Fude at the Ewalker opening on 13th June 2011. You can read more here.  Fude is a very quiet but helpful chap. I observed that he likes to be low-key and just help get things in order. It was quite a big rumble on the opening (I hope in a good way) and he has been immensely helpful and supportive of the LCSG Carryme folks all the time. Thank you!  Shy in nature but a chap with a good heart. Read more about how he got into cycling!   

A proud moment for Fude @ Ewalker 1 year old anniversary!      Photo credits Cindy Chang

Left - Right,  Simon Siah(LifeCycle), George Lin(Pacific Cycles) and Fude(E-Walker) Opening day 13th June 2011

Ever helpful, Fude came down on Sunday to help sort out roller wheel for one of the LCSG CM rider... 

Carryme team Tee! 

LCSG @ Ewalker 1st Anniversary 

Rider Profile- Q&A
* Tell me about yourself (your day job and family)Simple man with simple life. 3 girls at home. 1 old and 2 little gems. Doing motorcycle and bicycles.
* How did you started cyclinghaha, sad to say, after I started doing bicycles business. (He is very frank:)) 
* Why do you like cycling?Slow my pace down and look around. 
* When u met LCSG - how was it like and how u meet usGet to know u guys through LCSG web page and francis. That was last June.
* Your steel horses- names and more details.not many, just 1 carryme and 1 birdy.* Tips to share with fellow ridersRide safe, please do not take the road or other road user for granted. Always remind yourself that the road user cannot, didn't and never see or know u are there. 
So that u will take extra caution when approaching them.
Trigger for starting E-walker bicycle shop Hhaha ok. the story is... haha. simple. A friend of mine show me iF mode youtube. after looking at it, i say wah, swee. than I go google more information and found Pacific cycles. I wrote George Lin an email about his iF mode and found that that is no distributor carrying these good design bicycle. So I apply to be the distributor of Pacific cycles. Heng heng, i got  it and that how Ewalker came about. All is just luck.  Really. (He is like that... very unassuming and that's as much as I pry out of him)  

Caught for speeding?

Taken from Lovecyclingsg facebook early this morning. Lots of discussion on what this was about. I don't want to speculate this. Just sharing what is going thru my mind today. 

"Clement Goh Cycling is for all ages. To tell kids to cycle on the road is like sending them to certain death. Rules are one thing but for cases like this, they should apply some common sense. Really, what were they thinking telling an 11 year old to cycling on the road."

 Location around Yuan Ching road                        Photo credits - Eddie Hooi

My feedback to Straits Time on Nparks and Brompton

My comments on Straits Time 14th July 2012  photo by Francis Chu

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_821968.html   << u can read here. There is slight editing from the Straitstime editor on my comments. Especially on my title. But I guess it is really out off my hands.  
From: woon taiwoon <twwoon@singnet.com.sg>
Date: July 12, 2012 PM 10:59:01 GMT+08:00
To: stforum@sph.com.sg
Subject: Kudos to Npark PCN team 
I live in Punggol and have personally seen the wonderful PCN grow and become a popular place for many families,  joggers and cyclists alike. It makes me very happy to see more and more PCN been built all across the county which makes a real joy to cycle around. The numerous extension in PCN routes in my opinion have played a major role in the explosion of  cycling activities.  I find myself going to the parks more regularly to cycle at the PCN and enjoy the nice scenery.  I have even brought my overseas friends to experience the PCN and they were all very impressed by the parks landscaping and bike paths.
In my personal engagement with Nparks when there are issues (for example fallen trees or flooding), I have seen very prompt action using social media(facebook). The speed of the response at one particular incident was very impressive. I tagged the Npark team on route and when we returned, the fallen tree was already removed! Well done Nparks PCN team!
As the parks connectors grows in size, I could already see their challenges. It becomes extremely challenging for their staff to effectively cover all the ground on foot.  I have seen personally the Npark staff walked the entire route to investigate the issue reported which the distance can be very tiring to walk.
Recently, Nparks was quoted to have purchased 26 Bromptons and while I understand the public sentiments on the cost of the bicycle. There is really a difference in ride, build quality and also the fold(for multi modal transport) compared to the other bikes. Personally after owning a number of  folding bicycles like Brompton, Flamingo to Bike fridays. I can vouch for the Brompton strengths in the durability (u can find 15 year old bromptons which is still rideable),  in the fold for MRT/bus mode.
Granted that there are still room to improve on the PCN, Let us give credit where it is due. Nparks PCN team have done a great job in making the parks more engaging and fun for all. Thank you for your tireless efforts and  please keep up the great work!
Name: Woon Taiwoon
IC No: S7########H
HP No: 9########

LCSG safecycling Clinic 8th July 2012

LCSG safecycling Clinic 8th July 2012, a set on Flickr.

A total of 80 riders came!  Even though in the early morning, showers threatened to make it difficult to ruin the event. But heavens was kind to us and the weather turned fine as the event started around 830am.  This year's  effort was led superbly by Boon Yeo and his buddies Boo, Clarence, Louis, Vince, Tiger Wan, Eddie, Diane, Steven Tang. Learning from the last year Safety Clinic, LCSG team decided to make it more interactive so that the information and knowledge can be better understood by the participants.
One added area which was introduced this year was a pre-ride check. Boon shared on the basic but important areas. Check the tyre pressure, check the brakes by pushing against them. Checking the lights have fresh batteries and also if possible to wear a helmet and have a medical kit ready.
A particular area of the memorable demo was when Vince demonstrated the negative ways. Dark tees, not paying attention to the road and wearing flip flops. It generated lots of laughter but got the message across simply. Nicely done! After the briefing, we all headed out to the various stations to learn by doing.
Station 1 was manned by Eddie Lim and Tiger Wan. They focused on proper hand signals and road positioning as a single rider and also group riding. Followed by a group demo ride to learn the hand signals which will help in the cycling group safety and coordination.
Station 2 was manned by Boo and Diane. The focus was on safety on the left/ going front junctions. Boo shared on the procedures of a proper turning, what to look out for and where to position yourself so as to avoid getting into an accidents. Diane shared her method as well which was "if u are not confident, get to the pavement and use the traffic light" This is esp. important for the folks with children as they need more time to react and no as confident on the route. Another aspect which was highlighted in the practical lesson was checking back for traffic and signaling your intention early.
Clarence, Vince and Boon Yeo manned the 3rd Station which focused on the Bus stop areas. How to react and make it safe to clear the area and continue with the journey.
After the session, we had a much needed Tea break kindly provided by Nparks and had a good time touching base and chatting on what was just taught. With the bellies filled, we proceed to be updated by Bernard Lim of Nparks on the park connector development. He shared on the challenges and future PCN in the development. Also how to better feedback issues to Nparks using the lamp post markings to describe the location. It is exciting to see more routes being planned for recreation. To make the PCN experience better, he shared ways to ride with more considerations to other park users. Many also signed up for the Npark newsletter update so that they can be keep informed on the PCN developments and events.
We ended around noon time with a expert sharing by Francis, uncle KC and George Lim. Of course, the LCSG pose too. Today event warmed my heart. I could see the team growing. Folks like Boon Yeo stepping up and making amazing effort to engage and share.  Fantastic! This is the magic of LCSG! Well done guys!