Reckless Cyclist

[Showster]

"He (the cyclist) later told me that his feet were clipped to the bike's pedals and he had no brakes when I asked why he did not stop."

 

How can any vehicle that does not have a brake be allowed??? Even my childrens' pedal scooters have brakes!

 

 

SINGAPORE - The mother of a three-year-old boy who was knocked down by a bicycle on a park connector on Sunday (Jan 10) morning, has appealed on Facebook to locate the cyclist.

The post has gone viral, garnering more than 10,000 shares since it was uploaded on Sunday afternoon.

The boy had to be taken by ambulance to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which included bruises, loose teeth and a cut on his chin that required stitches, said housewife Kaslyn Tan, 25.

 

 

The incident took place on a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists along the Serangoon Park Connector at around 11.15am.

 

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, police said a report had been lodged over the incident and they are currently investigating it.

 

 

 

Ms Tan, who questioned the need for the cyclist to ride at such "lightning speed", said the man subsequently dismounted and apologised to her husband, Mr Lin Jian Xiong, who was alone at the time with their son, Kyle.

Mr Lin told The Straits Times that they had just finished their jog and were heading for breakfast. Kyle had been walking about two metres ahead of him when he spotted a nearby fitness corner and changed direction abruptly to cut across the path.

The cyclist, who was approaching from the opposite direction, only noticed Kyle at the last moment and attempted to swerve to his left to avoid a collision.

"His bike's right handle connected with my son's lip; Kyle lost a tooth from the crash and he was covered in blood," said Mr Lin, a 32-year-old air force engineer, who estimated that the cyclist had been travelling at between 30 and 40km/h.

"He (the cyclist) later told me that his feet were clipped to the bike's pedals and he had no brakes when I asked why he did not stop."

According to Ms Tan, the cyclist initially gave her husband $10 for medical expenses but later offered another $20. He then left without leaving his number.

"I was still in shock from the accident and was focused on stopping Kyle's bleeding, so I forgot to ask for his contact details," Mr Lin explained.

He took Kyle home to his wife before they decided to call 995 for an ambulance as they were told that a non-emergency ambulance would take too long to arrive.

Ms Tan's post also contained a plea for help to locate the cyclist so that the family could have a "peaceful closure".

Ms Tan described the cyclist as a 1.65m-tall Chinese man who appeared to be in his 40s. He was clad in cycling gear and said he stayed in Pasir Ris, she added.

In subsequent updates on the same post, Ms Tan also spoke about her son's condition after returning from the hospital, and thanked the National Parks Board (NParks) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) for rendering assistance.

Her son, she claimed, was unable to sleep or talk properly due to the pain and swelling. An X-ray found no bone damage but he would have to return to the hospital for check-ups and to remove his stitches.

He is also due to see a dentist on Tuesday (Jan 12) about his shaky teeth caused by the collision.

Mr Lin and his wife stressed that their aim was not to "defame" the cyclist.

"We want to raise awareness of this incident to the public and urge everyone - not just cyclists - to use the paths responsibly. It could happen to anyone," Mr Lin said.

Mr Victor Lye, the People's Action Party candidate for Aljunied GRC at the 2015 General Election, visited Kyle later that night as he said he was concerned about his condition and follow-up care.

Posting a photo of him with the boy, Mr Lye wrote on Facebook: "The cyclist should not have ridden off. We must have rules, guidelines and a community etiquette to govern the safety and use of shared spaces."

 

Ms Tan said she received a call from NParks on Monday morning. It assured her that the agency would be working closely with the SPF and Ministry of Transport to enhance safety on foot and cycling paths at park connectors.

The Straits Times has contacted NParks for comment.

 

Edited January 11, 2016 by Showster

[Adrianli]

"He (the cyclist) later told me that his feet were clipped to the bike's pedals and he had no brakes when I asked why he did not stop."

 

How can any vehicle that does not have a brake be allowed??? Even my childrens' pedal scooters have brakes!

 

 

 

 

I have frens who purposely removed the brake system from their bicycle. Reduce weight.

[Loki]

I have frens who purposely removed the brake system from their bicycle. Reduce weight.

 

These friends of yours appear to have also removed their brains from their heads ....

[Adrianli]

These friends of yours appear to have also removed their brains from their heads ....

 

They like the clean look. Their bicycle also got no gears, only one gear. Some even removed the one-way bearing, so must keep pedalling, no free rolling. They brake by cycling in reverse.

[Hamburger]

They like the clean look. Their bicycle also got no gears, only one gear. Some even removed the one-way bearing, so must keep pedalling, no free rolling. They brake by cycling in reverse.

 

in short.....fixie.

[Adrianli]

in short.....fixie.

 

 

Thanks!!! Didnt know the actual name. Two guys from my soccer group ride this and one former colleague also ride such bicycle.

[Loki]

They like the clean look. Their bicycle also got no gears, only one gear. Some even removed the one-way bearing, so must keep pedalling, no free rolling. They brake by cycling in reverse.

 

 

Cycling in reserve unfortunately will not allow you to brake fast, if you need to brake fast in case of an emergency.  One of these days, they may get into an accident or cause one no matter how careful they may be.  Should always be concerned about safety first, to themselves and to others.  

 

Clean look like that is an accident waiting to happen.  Taking a big risk!

[Hamburger]

Thanks!!! Didnt know the actual name. Two guys from my soccer group ride this and one former colleague also ride such bicycle.

 

you tried one before?

 

i did and almost crashed even at slow speed. Its much more difficult then it look...

[Adrianli]

you tried one before?

 

i did and almost crashed even at slow speed. Its much more difficult then it look...

 

Never. Cos I still cant wrap ard my head how difficult it is to cycle one. Thou I meet the soccer guys every week, never wanted to try their bicycles.

[inlinesix]

Cycling in reserve unfortunately will not allow you to brake fast, if you need to brake fast in case of an emergency.  One of these days, they may get into an accident or cause one no matter how careful they may be.  Should always be concerned about safety first, to themselves and to others.  

 

Clean look like that is an accident waiting to happen.  Taking a big risk!

 

Fixie use coaster brake which is uni-directional bearing to brake.  Whether can brake fast or not is dependent on cyclist (juz like rim brake or disc brake).

[Nzy]

"He (the cyclist) later told me that his feet were clipped to the bike's pedals and he had no brakes when I asked why he did not stop."

 

How can any vehicle that does not have a brake be allowed??? Even my childrens' pedal scooters have brakes!

 

I think have brakes. But the cyclist didn't brake because he was still clipped in and if he e-brake, he will fall. Either this cyclist is inexperienced or just giving excuses. I also cycle with my foot clipped in but with practice there is the muscle memory and my foot will auto unclip when I stop.

Fixie use coaster brake which is uni-directional bearing to brake.  Whether can brake fast or not is dependent on cyclist (juz like rim brake or disc brake).

 

Fixie no brakes right? Coaster brakes different from how fixies stop. Fixies are like those kids tricycle with no freehub. The wheels just spin whichever direction the pedal is spinning. So to stop they just slow down their pedaling or just stop the pedals from turning to lock the wheels. Coaster brakes are those found on some commuting bicycles where the brakes are engaged when pedaling backwards.

[Beregond]

The father also too guniang ald.

 

 

Shouldnt let that a55hole cycle away. Get hold of his bike, take pic, call police

frankly speaking out of 10 father , I believe 10 would tend to his son first, rather then catch the culprit.

its only after every thing settle then we realise , cannot trace back any thing

Edited January 11, 2016 by Beregond

[inlinesix]

Fixie no brakes right? Coaster brakes different from how fixies stop. Fixies are like those kids tricycle with no freehub. The wheels just spin whichever direction the pedal is spinning. So to stop they just slow down their pedaling or just stop the pedals from turning to lock the wheels. Coaster brakes are those found on some commuting bicycles where the brakes are engaged when pedaling backwards.

 

Fixies is not tricycle la.  It is bicycle without brake & gear.

 

Coastal brake is engaged via back pedaling.

[Nzy]

Fixies is not tricycle la.  It is bicycle without brake & gear.

 

Coastal brake is engaged via back pedaling.

 

I know. I mean it is similar to those kids tricycle with no gears. Pedal forward, go forward. Pedal backwards, go backwards.

[inlinesix]

I know. I mean it is similar to those kids tricycle with no gears. Pedal forward, go forward. Pedal backwards, go backwards.

 

Pedal backwark, STOP.  It does not go backward.

[Atrecord]

I have frens who purposely removed the brake system from their bicycle. Reduce weight.

 

Apology, but these are exactly the people who should be removed from our (all sorts of) roads. 

 

They would be welcomed to ride in Russia or China or India.

[Nzy]

Pedal backwark, STOP.  It does not go backward.

 

That's for coaster brakes. Fixies can go backwards if pedaling backwards.

[inlinesix]

That's for coaster brakes. Fixies can go backwards if pedaling backwards.

 

Fixies cannot go backward lah.  That's why fixies use coastal brake.