The Year 2030 

“2030” is a synonymous year for all matters environmental-related. If you have read my previous article, "2030 might be the end of the world for car enthusiasts and the sports cars they love”, you would be familiar with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 (SGP 2030).

If you have not, feel free to read it:

In addition to phasing out Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles and encouraging the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EV), the government is also promoting sustainable living by encouraging cycling as a mode of transport.   

The government has set a target to triple cycling paths from 460km to 1,320km by 2030, hoping that this network would provide cyclists with a safe and comfortable journey within and between various towns in Singapore.   

Cycling in Singapore 

In recent years, the uptake of cycling as a leisure activity and a mode of transport has sharply increased. This is evident from the increased sighting of cycling enthusiasts, otherwise known as “Tour De Singapore” cyclists and food delivery riders alike.   

Furthermore, the banning of Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) on roads as of 3rd April 2020 has also incited users to switch to bicycles or Power-Assisted Bicycles (PABs), which also contributed to the increase of cyclists. 

The Cyclist Segmentation 

I learned something rather intriguing yet insightful — Not all cyclists are the same.   

Yes, they are all cyclists on the road but their intention and behaviour are grossly different.  

“Tour De Singapore” cyclists are those that cycle to maintain an active lifestyle, which can be for leisure purposes or as a mode of transport. More often than not, this segment of cyclists will be riding on their road bikes which can easily hit 20km/h or faster. Their key objective includes clocking in a certain distance during their session (Eg. 20km), completing an entire cycling route (Eg. SG round island route, Marina Bay Loop) or even hitting a personal best for their cycling speed. 

Conversely, the key objective for food delivery riders is pretty straightforward — to complete their order in the fastest and most efficient way possible.  

And lastly, the final segment of cyclists — Young Punks (YPs) and their fixed-gear bicycles. Frankly, I have no clue as to why they are even on the road. This group of cyclists definitely do not deserve to be on the road, as their bicycles do not even have brakes equipped. These YPs lack the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as helmets to make things worse.   

Why Cycle On The Road? 

From my understanding, there are two main but non-exhaustive reasons why cyclists prefer riding on the road:  

1. Cycling on the road is smoother, as compared to cycling on pavements.  
2. Certain bicycles, such as road bikes, are made to travel fast. Therefore, cycling on pavements or park connectors are unsuitable due to their speed limit restrictions of 10km/h and 25km/h, respectively. 

The Black Sheep 

They are everywhere. There is almost no escape from encountering these black sheep from the cycling community.   

The list of black sheep curated on MyCarForum’s Blog category is sufficient to explain the point I am trying to bring across. Just take a look below: 

Notice how all these incidents took place while the cyclist was riding on the road? MMMM... 

If you wish to see more instances of black sheep from the cycling community, do a simple search in the search bar of MyCarForum (Refer below). 

With the anonymous identity of these black sheep, there is almost no way they can be held accountable for committing traffic offences. The most that could happen to them is getting caught in the act by the police/LTA or being “trended” from online dashcam submissions of these black sheep. Otherwise, they will probably get off scot-free.   

In most vehicle-cyclist accidents, the driver would be penalised regardless of who is at fault. However, there are certain occurrences (Refer below) where the errant cyclist is penalised for his wrongdoing.   

Despite not being penalised, the driver remains the ultimate loser as the cost of repairing the damaged vehicle will remain borne by him. This frustration undoubtedly creates a sense of anguish and helplessness among drivers whenever a cyclist flouts traffic rules.

“Praise is fleeting, but brickbats we recall” 

Unfortunately for the cycling community, the presence of black sheep across the various segments has created a typical stereotype on cyclists regardless if they are responsible road users or not.   

Sadly, the notorious reputation of cyclists is so deeply ingrained in the public’s perception that it may no longer be possible to remove that stereotypical notion.  

For every kind act performed by a cyclist, there are always many others whose actions serve as a disservice to the cycling community. After all, it is in human nature that we remember the wrongs as compared to the rights. 

According to the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules under the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276, Section 140), cyclists should practice the following while riding on roads: 

• Ensure bicycles are equipped with working and functional brakes.  
• Wearing a suitable protective bicycle helmet securely while cycling. 
• Using hand signal to inform traffic of the cyclist’s intention (Eg. To stop, slow down, proceed left/right)  
• Travel in a single file at all times. Unless on a lane with two or more lanes (in the same direction), travelling abreast is allowed.   
• Cycle as near as possible to the left of the road.  
• Cycle in an orderly and safe manner and obey the flow of traffic.  
• If cycling during hours of darkness (7 pm – 7 am), your bicycle must be equipped with appropriate lighting at the front and rear. 

In other words, unless the cyclist is an individual with traffic knowledge (driving/riding license) and can ADHERE STRICTLY to the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules under the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276, Section 140), cyclists should be OFF our roads entirely.  

If you are interested, feel free to read the online copy of the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules under the Road Traffic Act here: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/RTA1961-R3#pr5-.

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