LTA to be coordinating agency for cycling related issues.

We get so much feedback and complaints on cycling.  Sadly its not very clear who owns it. Until now!
Now for the record, LTA will be the agency to go to for cycling related issues.  Now where is the direct feedback link from LTA? The most relevant thing I see on LTA site on cycling is this. Thats not too professional and informative is it? I hope LTA can update this soon.

Relevant links here.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lta-will-be-coordinating/1708564.html

http://www.mot.gov.sg/News-Centre/News/2015/Speech-by-Associate-Professor-Muhammad-Faishal-Ibrahim,-Parliamentary-Secretary-for-Transport,-on-Enabling-Active-Mobility,-at-the-Committee-Of-Supply-Debate-2015-on-11-March-2015/

https://www.mot.gov.sg/uploadedFiles/Ministry_of_Transport/Pages/News_Centre/News/2015/Slides3_ParlSec_ActiveMobility.pdf#page=4

https://www.mot.gov.sg/uploadedFiles/Ministry_of_Transport/Pages/News_Centre/News/2015/Slides3_ParlSec_ActiveMobility.pdf#page=9

LTA develops masterplan for Singapore 2030 intellignet transport network

I just saw this on Chanelnewasia. But there wasn't detailed information of the masterplan. A quick google and search later, I found it at LTA website  
First impressions...
It's a real information overload and super wordy. Wonder if anyone would bother to read it. On the Green mobility front, I was disappointed that they did not consider the simple and humble bicycle. Have a look and tell me what you think.
Also, this is our collabroative google map (with the help of lovecyclingsg team) to use current mapping techology for a safer bike ride. 

What to do if you see potholes and defects on the road- Mytransport.sg App

I give credit where it is due. This is a great app by LTA on the transportation needs for the general folks.  There is the road condition aspects of it, where you can see the current road status (where are the jams) and also the train stations route. Nice one LTA!

The best part for me as a cyclist I like is the "Snap and Send" function. This send the information of the defects to LTA which would probably help them better copy and respond to the issue. Try it and tell me what you think. 
Download the app here  Itunes and Android plattform. 

LTA speaks on road safety and "Black spot Scheme"

Taken from LTA FB page

Taken from LTA Facebook communications on 5th May. 
"LTA takes proactive measures to keep our roads safe. Our road safety engineers conduct regular safety audits, where they comb through our roads, day and night, walking and driving, to identify short-comings. We also have schemes like the Black Spot Programme, which systematically identifies and treats accident-prone locations through the implementation of road engineering solutions at targeted locations. 
Other notable schemes to improve road safety include the installation of Your-Speed-Signs, traffic calming measures, crash cushions, curve alignment markers, advance warning lights and bus stop bollards. 
As the agency responsible for the development and management of the public road network, we take our work seriously, keeping Singapore’s roads safe for all road users."

Maybe LTA team can consider looking at what we have already done as a community...  Do you think more can be done to make our roads safe? I just find it crazy that LTA can have electronic eyes setup to curb illegal parking but still moving so slowing when it come to protecting the cyclists. What do you think? 

19th Feb 2013 Dr Faishal meets with road cyclists

Photo credit. Chanel new asia

Session in action. Photo Credit Dr Faishal FB 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1255805/1/.html

Notes of Engagement Session with Dr Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport (Road Safety for Cyclists)
19th Feb 2013, LavaEdge @ MacRitchie
In Attendance:Adriane Lee, Allen Chew (CycleKakis), Albert Yeo (FOTR), Kenneth Wee (Bike School SG), Steven Lim (SCTF), Calvin BooDr Faishal Ibrahim, Sim Hwee Keng (MOT), Bili Yang (MOT), Teo Kwang Liak (LTA)Absent with Apologies:Glen Kenny (ANZA)


Meeting minutes complied by Calvin Boo

Education:Engaging Heavy Vehicle Drivers
Given the recent spate of fatal incidents involving large and medium sized moving vehicles, this group of drivers should receive highly targeted education about watching out for other vulnerable road users, keeping a safe distance, and making the extra effort to check their blind spots. A mere brush from these vehicles is enough to send a cyclist to his death. 
Education should be a continuing process, and reminders / refreshers are needed to reinforce the messages. We also recommend LTA to evaluate and implement the compulsory use of additional side mirrors on these vehicles to enhance visibility of blind spots (much like third brake light - if the technology accords additional safety, use it).Actively engage motorists / road users in continuing education campaign.We hear LTA's point about radio talk show. The plain truth is that a 2-minute spot in a radio talk show does not work - your target audience have to be tuned into the right station at that specific point in time, the message is not capable of repeating itself, and it reaches only a very small segment of road users.
An above-the-line campaign is needed (i.e. print and press), so that the message is highly visible, and reach the widest possible scope of intended audience. 
Ideally, this should be designed as a periodic campaign (twice-yearly should be the minimum), not a one-time attempt to convey some very important messages. 
A message from TP promoting road safety for all road users is just as important as the message against drunk driving.The three key arms of the on-going education campaign:1. Key messages for motorists. There is widespread perception that cyclists have no place on the roads. Coupled with a sense of entitlement among motorists ("because I pay COE + tax"), this turns into a dangerous mental frame of mind. As a result, you read comments in online forums along the tone of "I'll run over those pesky cyclists if I see one". Truly very disturbing. [Note: Personally, I have been almost run down twice by drivers who purposely come close to my handlebars - this at 5am in the morning when there are three lanes of empty road!].
A campaign is needed to convey the following key messages to motorists:
a. Cyclists have a right to use the roads
b. Keep a safe distance
c. Don't underestimate the speed of a travelling bicycle
2. Key message for all road users. 
At all pedestrian crossings (both green man and zebra crossing), those on foot and on two wheels must be reminded:a. Do not assume right of wayb. Practice stop-look-go at all crossingsc. Pay attention to moving vehiclesd. Cross only when approaching vehicle has come to a complete stop
3. Key messages for cyclists. We recognize a bicycle is also a vehicle, and hence subject to the same rules as other road users.a. Observe all traffic rulesb. Keep to the left lane, unless changing direction of travelc. Do not hog the laned. Use hand signals to signal your intention

Engaging the Hard-to-reach Road Users (e.g. Foreign workers, aunties and uncles)These groups are the ones with the lowest level of road preparedness, skills and etiquette, but there's no denying them the right to use the roads. Incentive could be given out in the form of a pair of lights (front+back) when they sign up and attend a road safety course. A pair of durable bicycle lights can be had for $3 - a small investment that will reap benefits many times it's cost. It helps to have lights on a FW's bike when he's riding towards you in the darkness, dressed in nothing but black.

Making Road Safety a part of Education Curriculum
Numerous traffic calming measures introduced in other countries will work very well in our setting.
Factors (b), (c) and (d) above can be addressed via active road user education.
Factor (e) - We urge LTA to urgently re-evaluate existing zebra crossing designs before something terribly tragic happens. In road design, speed and capacity should never be more important than safety
.Majority of our roads are not only cyclist-unfriendly, the road designs also puts cyclists in extreme danger. Multi-lane one way roads force some cyclists to ride against traffic, because the 'legitimate' route to their destination sometimes adds considerable number of kilometers of distance and additional travel time. A cyclist travelling down Orchard Road who wishes to turn into Penang Lane have to cut across 5 lanes of fast-flowing traffic. We can work with LTA to identify such hotspots and address possible changes / measures that will help enhance safety.Law:
Enforcement against errant drivers needs to be stepped up further. Zebra crossing offences are on the rise, and offenders are getting away because no one polices the crossings.Enforcement against errant cyclists should also be stepped up, especially against those who beat the red lights and those who ride against flow of traffic. In cities like London, a ticketed cyclist can either pay up or attend a road safety course. This is an example we can emulate - we should not collect fines for the sake of collecting fines, all effort should be made to turn that into an opportunity to re-educate road users.

Good habits are best taught to the young, as they more readily internalize the lessons taught. Early engagement with the right education is an effective way to cultivate a road culture with all the positive qualities we'd like to see. Furthermore, the young can influence their family and friends, and can be a powerful network for information dissemination.

Currently, our school-going children only spend a grand total of ONE day on road safety throughout their entire six years of primary education. We can achieve much more by making road safety education an annual event for students in P1-P6. Much as other subjects, new skills and knowledge are introduced progressively across the years, and old skills and knowledge are reinforced. The Bikeability program run by the UK Dept for Transport (the equivalent of MoT) or Bike School SG's Bike Smart are highly structured cycling safety education programmes which are worth a deeper look.
This education programme should also be extended to students from secondary and tertiary levels, as the teenage years are when they gain more independence and begin to take to the roads by themselves.
Infrastructure:

A reminder to all road users to share the roads. Maybe paint a bike logo over the bus lane, or install road signs to remind all motorists to share the roads. The signs installed in Sentosa is a good example. This also serves to reinforce the message that use of road is not the exclusive rights of motorised vehicles only.
Our infrastructure has not kept pace with technology and behavioural shifts:
a) Modern vehicles suspension systems are so advanced and the cabins so well insulated that painted road strips neither cause discomfort nor slow vehicles down.
b) Drivers have to deal with multiple technological distractions while driving - GPS unit, central LCD console, mobile phone, LCD TV - in addition to passengers in the cars
c) Pedestrians on foot have a tendency to talk on their phone, deeply engrossed with listening to music, or worse, bury their faces in the smartphone oblivious to the danger in their surroundings.
d) It is not uncommon to see a Foreign Worker cycling with a mobile phone stuck to his ear or worse, texting while cycling!
e) Our pedestrian & zebra crossings are underwhelmingly underdesigned for safety - no features currently exist that force a vehicle to slow down without choice.

(a)+(b)+(c)+(d)+(e) = a lethal mix of causes and factors that will result in fatal accidents.
Factor (a) - We cannot undo technological advances by car manufacturers, but we can implement new road mechanisms to enhance the sensory feedback to drivers.
An examples was given where TP has been sending out mixed messages to cyclists - a family was ticketed/warned for cycling on the pavement in Sengkang, and again while they were cycling on the roads in Tampines. Clearly, TP needs to be clear with regards to rules, and be consistent when it comes to enforcement.
Clarifications are needed regarding 1. Cycling in bus lanes 2. Cycling on viaducts and 3. Cycling on pavements.

Re-evaluate qualifying conditions for overseas drivers license conversion.The current process for converting a foreign drivers license into a Singapore license fails to take into account the cultural background of the driver. Eastern Europe, Russia, China, for example, have very different driving cultures from ours. For example, we see a lot of bus drivers from PRC who drive aggressively merely because it is acceptable for them to do so in where they come from! All foreign licensed drivers should go through and pass a cultural immersion course before being allowed to drive on our roads.

Compiled by Calvin Boo 22 Feb 2013

The cycle continues

Keep us safe, please

The cycle continues. A cyclist gets hit, cycling groups rally and feedback to authorities, even writing to PM. Papers will write about it and media will cover. Then in a week or so, it will die down. Will it progress further this time or will it not? Time will tell.
For the moment, under the barrage of feedback.... Dr Faishal have been tasked by Minister Lui to take charge and one of his task is to look directly at road safety and cycling issues. Well at least now, it seems more attention will be focused on SG Cyclists, orphans on the SG roads. 

Reflecting on the last few days of activity... I am sad that someone had to die and accident to spur action from our authorities. It could be any of us and if it is your personal friend, you will feel the pain and sorrow even more.  And this is not just for cyclists rights mind you... It is about keeping everyone safe on the road. Attitudes of the motorists, pedestrians need to be addressed.  Finger pointing and ranting will not help. (thank you Alex for sharing that with me) 

So what do I think? I find that while discussing on the matter is important.... I strongly feel part of the issue is Empathy. "Walk"/ cycle in our shoes. I have invited Dr Faishal, LTA, TP heads to cycle with normal folks on the roads so that they will feel what we feel daily. This is not a confrontation but a real exercise in understanding the Singapore cyclists plight. After all, this is not new. Minister Lui took the lead and used the MRT to learn about the MRT issues. Let's be open and see how things pan out. 

https://www.facebook.com/Muhammad.Faishal.Ibrahim?ref=stream

https://www.facebook.com/teoserluck

https://www.facebook.com/notes/irene-ng/parl-q-on-coordinated-national-plan-for-cycling-and-road-safety-in-2010/10151033436833160

Improve the aesthetics of the traffic light ?????

I am product designer and also a avid cyclist. I think I would like to be first, safe on the road thank you. Traffic light beautiful or not... while is important... but please keep us cyclist and road users safe first!  I read.. "The redesign will cost LTA at least $70 000"... could this money be used in more pressing issues?

taken from Straits Times  - Photo credit Calvin Boo 

LTA wants to know your feedback

Awesome drawing by LCSG resident artist Joeel Lee 

Friends and fellow cyclists. Do you think more can be done for cyclists on our roads? Have you felt that cycling on roads is like a gamble and risky thing to do. Well, now is the time to share and feedback to Land Transport Authority (LTA).  Ok, granted it is not so easy to register on their feedback mechanism.. but at least we can engage. And engage we will! Pls share and send to ur friends who cycle. Thank you.
http://talk2lta.lta.gov.sg/Surveys?action=Public.Survey.SurveyDetails&surveyId=802&surveyType=U
http://talk2lta.lta.gov.sg/DiscussionRoom?action=Public.DiscussionRoom.DisplayTopics

LTA Portal 6th months then and now

I wrote about the exciting new LTA portal  6 months ago. What got me excited was the inclusion of the Cycling Tab on the portal. Then I said "give it time, at least we have a cycling tab..." 

How it looked Dec 2011.... 

This is how it looks now, from 6 months ago. Sorry I can't see any changes.... can you?

LTA Portal 04th June 2012 

I also poked around to find out more and what is the LTA take on Cycling... and I found the Land Transport Plan...  page 24 and page 74 which Cycling was mentioned. It is quite amazing that the folding bike on MRT "Trial" was from 2008 and it is still "Trial" basis even in 2012.  LTA must be really studying this in detail and I look forward to more updates on LTA portal.

LTA, if u are reading this,  how about putting this to help allow cyclists to better feedback on the cycling conditions on the roads.Pls let me know what are your future plans and if there are anything we(as cyclists and lovecyclingsg) can help. Pls let me know, we love to help! 

Be positive.. at least we see a bicycle... 

Mytransport portal by LTA

waddoyouthink? http://www.mytransport.sg/content/mytransport/home.html

MyTransport.SG

Taken from Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore Transport minister Facebook page.
"MyTransport.SG is a portal providing information and eServices for all land transport users, be it commuter or motorist or even cyclist. This portal was developed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore." 
Trying to positive...at least now, we can see cycling having a seperate tab...