Carfreesundaysg 22nd Jan 2017

From Chris who led the folks from Stadium MRT to site. 

"A strong turnout of about 70 cyclists from the Love Cycling SG and Brompton Riders@SG cycling groups showed up bright and early at the meeting point Stadium MRT Station, and eager to not only make new friends but also participate in the 22nd January 2017 Car-Free Sunday.

After a short briefing we rolled on merrily at a very slow enjoyable pace. It was a cool Sunday morning and the ride to the stretch of closed roads was pleasant. The rear was covered ably by Desmond Chia.  Some of the activities featured at this Sunday’s Car-Free Day included a lion dance troupe and drum performances, Chinese Orchestra performances amongst others.  

More photos here 

Wee Seng and Doris rolling and saying hi!

More folks rolling along and my camera cannot keep up... 

I love that parents bring their young. This is the best way for bonding! 

Can walk also.. 

With the opening up of additional roads and lanes in the Telok Ayer and Civic District Loops, riders were treated to the experience of being able to ride safely (without of fear and concern of motorist traffic) on roads they seldom or wouldn’t have the opportunity to cycle on. 

More outdoor activities to participate in as well as the lessening of drink and food vendors, were however things lacking from this event as compared to the first couple of Car-Free Sunday events. That said, it was still another great Car-free Sunday experience."

Listening to the Hwa Chong Chinese Orchestra which gave the place really a nice mood!

Susan and her friends came on by! 

From Taiwoon (POV) I was at Telok Ayer road, soaking into the events. The usual quiet road on sunday was made more festive with music from the Hwa Chong JC and Hok San Lion Dance Troupe.

Nice humble and super generous to help share their craft. These are the people from Hok San Lion Dance Troupe 

As the cyclists came by in droves, many stopped to take photos, selfies of the Lion dance troupe and the iconic old conservation houses.  The Hok San Lion Dance team were really nice about it. They generously shared how to move the lion head, the trick and routine. It's not as easy as it looks. I was humbled by the craftsmen ship of the lion head and also the fine motor skills they had. Its obvious they have spend some serious time on this. Salute! 

Ok.. now u hold the lion head.. here's the string to pull the eyelid..  oh my gadd.. so many things!

Mindboggling

Hit it baby one more time!

Learning culture in a very fun way

Here's Francis and myself messing around and trying to get folks to come by.... 

Can we get this roll with a bicycle??? 

I really like the feeling of giving life back to the place with street activities and heres more photos to show how it looked. Let's hope with the nice event, more folks will come forward to do their small gig and who knows... kickstart a very nice culture along the way! Keep up the good work #Carfreesundaysg!!! 

Nice voice!

Bike to work routes by Kieren Soh and his reflections

Hi everyone, my name is Kieren Soh and I am in a digital role in the financial industry. 

Me, Ann and my little one with our bikes

I started B2W in 2014 with my first folding bike and hasnt stopped since. 

I don't B2W everyday but instead aim to do it twice a week. My work area is near Labrador MRT, which is about 15km away from Serangoon. In the past 2 years, I must have easily explored at least 20 different variations in my route to my office ranging from 15km - 22km. You can see the image for a simple illustration of 9 different variations of my routes.

Yes a folding can commute too! 

As my office is away from the Central Business District, my journeys tend to be riding away from the morning traffic instead of into it.  It allows me to navigate through little lanes and neighborhoods to cut through major road arteries and expressways. One interesting fact is the time taken, door to door, between cycling and taking MRT is the same. Driving takes 15mins longer!

One of the first comments / questions from colleagues: “Kieren, riding on the roads are so dangerous! Why do you want to do it?” 

My answers, after a few variations, are now: “If you embrace cycling and ride defensively, it is not as dangerous as you think.“ The key reason of B2W is because I always never get enough saddle time due to my family commitments. 

B2W also allows me to go wherever I want after work to explore more small lanes and places that you probably wouldn’t have gone/ pass by.

For some reasons, I love to look for green open spaces or quiet little lanes, taking time to reflect on my day or just to space out. “How do you navigate around then?” That’s another joy for me. I like to stare at Google Maps the night before to look out for these green spaces and small lanes that are enroute to my workplace/home.

I caught up with something recently. There are more B2W cyclists on the roads and being greeted “Good Morning” is always so nice and makes your day. Be nice, smile and greet each other while cycling brings out the joy in even more.

Since my routes are not commonly shared, I shall attempt to create a section called "Do you know" and share the little things that you may not have noticed. I hope this is interesting enough and can encourage you to embrace cycling as a whole, not necessarily B2W but to try out the routes to discover the joy that I have gotten.

Have Fun | Ride Safe | Smile Always

Do you know? The little joys that I love to share

Toa Payoh – safer way to get across PIE (16.5km)

Route:

Lorong Chuan> Braddell Road >Toa Payoh Lor 8>Jalan Amps >Balestier Road > Shan Road >Irrawaddy Road  >Thomson Road >Gentle Road >Chancery Lane >Balmoral Road > Anderson Road >Tanglin Road à Alexandra Road (to wherever)

There are 3 key bicycle-friendly overhead bridges across PIE that brings you across from Toa Payoh to Balestier Road. My favourite one can be accessed through Kallang PCN off Braddell Road. (See black route). After going through the little pathway, you will arrive at Toa Payoh Lorong 8. Navigate about 500m towards Toa Payoh Golf Range. There will be a pathway opening just along the golf course and you will arrive at the overhead bridge.

This way, it beats carrying your bike up the bridge at Pelton Canel PCN or cycling along Thomson Road / Serangoon Road/ Aljunied Road / Paya Lebar Road if you are just started B2W.

Oh no, Lornie Road?! Are you sure?? (18km)

Route:

Lorong Chuan > Bishan St 11 >Braddell Road >Lornie Road (Pavement)>Kheang Hock Road>Evans /Cluny Road >Tanglin Road >Alexandra Road (to wherever)

 Yeah, Lornie Road is also a viable way to get to work for me and its not on the road. This route is better suited for smaller wheels (eg 16”/20”) as there are twists and turns in narrow spaces. Navigate along the pavement along Lornie Road (on the side with private housing). You will arrive at Kheam Hock Road where it allows you to scoop under PIE to get towards Duncan Road. Continue your journey from there. I love to cycle there to catch the beautiful sunset.

Got slopes? I climb! (16km)

Route:

Upper Serangoon Road > Bendemeer Road >Jalan Besar à Bencoolen Street >Stamford / Penang Road à Killiney Road >River Valley Close / Green (there is a little pavement into PCN >Kim Seng Park towards Alexandra PCN> Alexandra Road into Henderson Road (CLIMB!)> Telok Blangah Road (to wherever)

 One of the joys in cycling is cycling up hills, fondly known as climbing. I love the huffs and puffs climbing slopes and the wind on my face when I get down one. In one of my favorite routes, I get to climb River Valley Close and Henderson Road (along Mount Faber, near Safra Mount Faber). Both roads, due to it being off the main roads, tend not to have a lot of traffic and sometimes my rolling speed down can be easily 45km/hr.

Nice pictorial on the Singapore Round island route.

I get asked alot on the progress of cycling and routes in Singapore. This is a great image to see easily whats in the horizon. More in detail from URA below. 
https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/master-plan/View-Master-Plan/master-plan-2014/master-plan/Key-focuses/recreation/Recreation

http://www.walkandcycle.sg/MS/walkandcycle.aspx

image credit URA 

Talking point on cycling on pavement

I am glad to hear more discussion on cycling. BTW, It is by the law illegal to ride on pavement. However many do as the roads are not safe for cyclists. Hear both side of the story and the discussions on Toggle.

LCSG Sunday ride 12th April 2015

The LCSG sunday ride has been continuing for over 5 years. The objective is to spend a nice sunday morning exploring  a different part of Singapore via  the bicycle. Its relaxed and no at all intimidating for new riders. And its really fun to ride with common minded folks of all sizes, age and places. This video by a rider Terence shows the recent sunday ride to see the newly built jubilee bridge. 

Cycling in Singapore film by Thailand PBS

Its always good to see our efforts being recognized to make Singapore a more livable and  bike friendly place. Check out the video 

Cycling can be a viable transport: MP Khaw Boon wan 23rd Oct 2014

Just cycling to market 

Taken from Straits Times, 23 rd Oct 2014

Cycling should not be just a recreational pursuit, but also a viable transport option for short trips around Singapore, said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday.
He wrote on his blog that the Government wants Singaporeans to be able to cycle "to the supermarket, coffee shop, hawker centre or the nearest MRT station".
"To do so, we must make such trips safe and pleasant," he said. "Cities are increasingly finding it important to make themselves friendly to pedestrians and cyclists."
Mr Khaw noted that Singapore is lagging "way behind" cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where cycling is part of the "normal way of life".
He praised both European capitals as good examples of cities with "active mobility", where walking and cycling make up over half of all modes of transport.
In contrast, cycling makes up just 1 per cent to 2 per cent of transport modes here, he noted.
Singapore's National Cycling Plan envisions a 700km cycling network by 2030, within, as well as between, neighbourhoods.
By next year, 100km of cycling paths will be built in Yishun, Punggol and Bedok. Eventually, said Mr Khaw, all 26 Housing Board towns will have cycling paths connecting homes to neighbourhood centres and MRT stations.

Singapore is also exploring bicycle-sharing schemes and increasing safe-cycling education initiatives, such as the Safe Cycling Programme for Youth for secondary school students.
Mr Khaw said Singapore has always embraced active mobility, with its extensive Park Connector Network (PCN), pavements and sheltered walkways being examples of this.
The PCN, he said, lets people walk, jog or cycle safely close to greenery. The city itself is "quite walkable", he added.

When contacted, Mr Francis Chu, co-founder of cycling group LoveCyclingSg, said more cyclists are keen to use their bicycles for short daily commutes.
But roads in town centres can be unsafe and intimidating for inexperienced riders, he said.
As for non-cyclists such as motorists, it may be difficult to motivate them to switch to bicycles as driving often gets them to their destinations faster, he said.
"But with improvement of the cycling network, more and more people will start to consider cycling as a serious mode of transport."

davidee@sph.com.sg

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/transport/story/cycling-can-be-viable-transport-mode-khaw-20141023#sthash.9vTA9nds.dpuf

Safe cycling program based off Bikeability

We shared this with Sportscouncil and a few agencies 2 years ago to help create a National wide cycling program. The aim is to have a practical cycling education program that is effective and not "wayang". Here's my proposal for LCSG

Safecycling program 2013 from Woon Taiwoon

Bike path spotted at Sentosa

I did a double take when I saw this at Lovecyclingsg Facebook . This was taken at Sentosa! A bike lane! 
Would we see this on Singapore main land anytime soon? Hey never say never....
Finger cross with the explosion of cyclists in Singapore,  the bike lane might really swing more folks to take up cycling. And in return, reduce the traffic congestion and it also makes for a more healthy generation. 
What say you? 

Photo credit by Chris Wee 

Riding to Work - William Khaw shares his journey

Leaving home on his Brommie

This is William sharing on his bike route to work. Enjoy! 
"My daily B2W routine. I should say that I am "lucky" as the route to work covers 80% PCN and 20% pathway within a fair 6.8km distance. 

The route and how long it takes 

And also that I can park my bicycle just beside me. Always enjoying the beautiful morning scenery with familiar faces along the way where people jogging and also people who B2W!

I like to take PCN as it's much safer 

Another person riding to work

Slow down and be nice when you meet people. 

I've chose to ride on pavement in a slow cadence as the morning road traffic is not to the cyclists' favor! 

I take pavement as the cars on the road are sometimes too aggressive.  I ride slowly and carefully so that not to endanger others   

At least on pavement I can take care my own safety as well as other pedestrians! "SHARE AND RESPECT - MOLD FOR FUTURE CYCLING" this is my motto! Safe ride always." William Khaw

Breakfasst at the near by kopitiam before work

Inside the my office

Darren's commute to work

Cycling commuting is still in its infancy in Singapore, but its happening. Darren is my fellow colleage at Dell and he rides from his home at Toa Payoh to Jurong International business park.
I bumped into him recently in the morning as he rolled his bike to the elevator. This is his 16.5 km route and it takes him 45min to reach office.

The commute route by Darren

That's a nice Soma Double Cross in case you are trying to find out his ride. 

Darren just as he heads into the elevator @ IBP

In addition, here's some tips he like to share for those who like to try out cycle commute.
1) Do a recce ride without the pressure of time before doing the commute. This way, you can find the safest and smoothest route. Less stress!
2) Have rear rack so that you need not be carrying ur laptop and be sweaty all over. Its also more comfortable.
3) Mudguards are not glamm but you will be glad when it rains.
4) Waterproof everything.... 
5) Have a spare set of clothes to change into when you come into work.
6) It really helps... if your office has a shower facilities. :) Thank you very Dell Singapore! 
For an even more comprehensive guide... Check this by Calvin Boo. 
Do you know anyone who cyclo commute to work? Pls share your stories and help me show Singapore that it's possible to cyclo commute. :) 

This is Dell shower ... yeahh I know we are very very lucky! :) 

The last of the Trishaw repair man in Singapore

Donald's brake pad were giving him some problem and as fate would have it. He had it fixed at at non descript, totally unhip "Kar Chia tiam  (bicycle shop).  He chatted with the old man and he realised that he was the last of the trishaw repair man in Singapore.  His name was Mr Lee. 
Donald looked around....it was really grungy, but unpretentious. The sole purpose of its existence was to provide a service to the trishaw riders and folks who cycle.  This is not your "stylo milo" hipster shop/cafe. This is a real local Kar chia tiam.  Mr Lee is probably abit grumpy and cannot speak english.  The only kopi he will drink is kopi kau from the nearby kopi tiam. This is what he had done for over 60 years. 
How long will this shop last? Probably not long and when it goes away. Part of our local history goes away as well....
It is still there for now....598A Geylang road.  Everyday 3-9pm including PH 

All photo credits to Donald Goh.

Mr Lee, Hock Trishaw Trading