LETS BIKE TO WORK, SINGAPORE: A QUICK START GUIDE

by Calvin Boo
V1.0 Apr 2013

Why Ride To Work?

complimentary free-flow buffet of international B.O. and
airborne germs ), pricey taxi fares (if you can flag down one), ERP charges, astronomical COEs, ever-increasing insurance premiums and fuel costs - I wonder why so many still depend on motorized means to get around. If you are already a recreational cyclist, it's high time you think about becoming a commuting cyclist too. Cycling has gained renewed vigour in the recent years, and with our transport woes, even the Land Transport Authority has finally opened up to talk about cycling as a mode of transport. Of course we all hope to see better infrastructure and protective laws for cyclists in the not-too-distant future. (Dont stop hoping.) In the Netherlands, 60% of trips in inner Amsterdam are made on bicycles, to get to school, to work and even to the supermarket. Singapore is pancake-flat just like Netherlands. Granted we don't exactly have nice temperate weather here, at least youll never have to dress up like half an Eskimo in the deep winter.

MRT breakdowns, uber-packed trains (with

Ten and more reasons

Start a conversation with any cyclist and most can churn up

at least ten reasons why they cannot cycle to work: 1) no bike parking 2) no safe cycling route 3) arrive in office sweaty 4) no shower facility 5) work starts early 6) work ends too late 7) don't like the peak hour traffic 8) parents or spouse or the better half disagrees 9) have to drive kids to school hence cannot ride

10) tired after a long day at work

I'm sure you can add more reasons to the list.

The Logistic Challenges

but most are easily solvable If you haven't yet noticed, most of these can be solved in your head i.e. they are merely excuses. The only real ones are the logistical challenges:

For our beloved bikes, secure parking is paramount. Chaining that bike to a railing is just asking for someone to nip it. Newer office buildings (Asia Square

A post-ride shower is important, especially so if you do not wish to lose your friends at work or your job just because you're a little bit too . . . . . aromatic. Not all buildings provide shower facilities, however, and if there's one in your office building, lucky you! Some people use the gym shower. My office building doesn't provide one, so I make do with toweling down (I use liquid shampoo and soap). Dry shampoo and a powder shower may work for you if you don't perspire heavily. Tip: Want to make hair wash a cinch? Get a crew cut!

for example) shows that some building planners are

starting to cater to cyclists' demand for bike parking. Still, if you do not feel safe leaving your bicycle in the multistorey car park (personally, I don't), talk to the building management to see if they will allow bikes into the goods lift. Also check with your bosses to see if you can bring your bike into the office. My bosses let me use the office store room.

If you really have to park your bike in a public space .

Getting Started The Ride

Y ou can get started with little or no additional
towel etc. A backpack is limited in size and can only carry so much. Also, carrying that heavy backpack is not everyone's cup of There are many options for your commuter bike road bike, MTB, foldie, single-speed, fixie, any of these will qualify. You can very easily get a good quality stock bike without breaking the bank.

investment - ride your road bike to work. All you need is a

backpack big enough to pack in all your change of clothes,

Very simply, a good commuter bike is one that gets you

from point A to point B without breaking down or falling apart. It doesn't have to be expensive or ultra-light. More importantly, it needs to be hardy and reliable since you'll be carrying extra weight and cycling over a lot more potholes, manholes, etc. Remember, you will be riding with considerable vehicular traffic for company, so you'd likely spend most of your time keeping to the left of the road. As a avid tinkerer, I chose to build up my own commuter bike.

tea. Some cyclists don't like the added weight on their

backs, and the higher centre of gravity makes your ride a little more unwieldy than usual. As an alternative, you can install a pannier rack on your bike and use pannier bags. Pannier bags greatly improve your

carrying capacity, not to mention comfort when riding. My

2x18 liter panniers let me pack my office clothes, swim/run gear, notebook and I still have space for picking up groceries on the way home. Since theres literally no weight to carry on your back, you wont have to worry about shoulder and back aches.

Getting Started The Ride

My ride is an old 1993 Bridgestone XO-5 hybrid steel
frame (designed by the famed Grant Petersen), fitted with old-style SR classic handlebars, Shimano cantilever brakes, stem-mount friction shifters, 2x8 speed gruppo, 36-spoke 700c wheels, 700x28mm tires, front and rear fenders (keeps the road spray off your shoes and your back), Topeak pannier rack, Altura pannier bags and even a kickstand (optional).

Its hardy and it rolls like a dream thats good enough. ;)

If you ride with a backpack, it is good to add hi-visibility

It's very important to have that extra light fitted on your

backpack cover to enhance

visibility. When I do, I use this Hump HiViz cover, purchased from Evans Cycle.

outside pannier bag.

Otherwise, drivers approaching from behind may not see the 'extra-width' of your loaded pannier bags.

Remember: Safety First!

C
ycling on the roads involves an element of risk. Here are some important safety measures to help you reduce the risk while

you are on the road. Every little 1% makes a difference.

Mandatory: Helmet

Mandatory: Front and Back Lights

No using Earphones

No using Mobile Phones (incl handsfree)

Surviving our roads

C
ycling on Singapore roads is a nerve-wracking experience. Even to those who regularly cycle the circumference of Singapore

on their racing bikes on weekends, the roads of Singapore becomes an untameable beast altogether on weekdays.
Horror stories abound, and they are not fictitious. Drivers in Singapore tend to be more impatient than those in our neighbouring countries. You're more likely to hear a honk from behind you when you don't keep to the left, hazards littering the road shoulder notwithstanding. This contrasts with the attitude of drivers in neighbouring countries who are more likely to trail you patiently until it is safe to overtake. Then there are those who are totally oblivious to cyclists. To these drivers, we simply don't exist. They come within inches of swiping you off your bike, they don't give way when it's your right of way, they cut into your path as they wish, and then stomp on their brakes to a screeching halt just a few feet ahead of you. Now despite all that, I would say that drivers with bad attitudes form the minority in Singapore. Generally, only about 1 out of 10 are irreverent idiots who should have never been given the license to drive a motorised vehicle. Since there is nothing we can do to control the behaviour of other road users, it's up to us to ensure that we deploy the right measures and ride defensively to survive. Here are some tips:

1 1.

Lights and Helmet - Front and rear lights are mandatory, and lights for the pannier bags if you use them. Helmets reduce the risk of serious head injuries, but won't eliminate them, but still recommended (saved my life once!). Make sure your batteries are fresh enough for drivers to be able to see you from afar. Some cyclists have a curious habit of splurging top dollar on top-line hi-intensity LED lights and then scrimp on the batteries. When batteries run low, replace them promptly.

Surviving our roads

2 2.
Stay Alert - This means no cycling when half drowsy, half asleep, distracted or when you're on medication that

5 5.

Know Your Hand Signals, and Use Them! Use your hands to signal your intentions. At the very minimum,

affect your sense of alertness. You need to be mentally

alert to stay alive. Rolling over a pothole and going down in traffic will not yield a pleasant outcome.

learn the hand signals to turn left / right, when cutting

across lanes (check before switching), and for slowing down. Signal well in advance so others can anticipate your intentions and do not have to react to your sudden movement.

3 3.

Stay Unwired - This means no music, no mobilephones, no earphones, and no handsfree unit for talking on the mobile phone. You need your eyes and ears to be fully tuned in to the task at hand. While your eyes look out forward, your ears will hear vehicles approaching from the back, without having to turn your head.

6 6.

Take the Lane - Some will argue against this but I personally find that taking the lane when it is appropriate to do so enhances my safety. For example, when approaching a junction with a left turnoff, I stay in the middle of the lane to force vehicles behind me to fall in line for the left turn. Keeping to the left encourages some inconsiderate drivers to overtake you and cut into your line of travel at the last moment.

4 4.

All Hands On - You will be cycling over bumps, strips, potholes and manhole covers that you never knew existed. With all the construction going on, there are plenty of highly uneven road surfaces which are not easily visible. Since you will most likely be carrying extra

load, keeping both hands on the handlebar will make

sure you stay upright when going across a bad surface.

Surviving our roads

7 7.
In Front or Behind - At the red lights, I tend to get to the front of the queue when vehicle volume is heavy.

9 9.

Turning at Very Busy Junctions Singapore road designs are not bicycle-friendly. Multi-lane one-way

Otherwise I stay in line and stay behind vehicle in front of

me. In heavy traffic, impatient drivers will tend to squeeze you for space, so staying in front prevents me from being squeezed off the road. When traffic is light (and drivers moods are lighter too), there is plenty of space and drivers will just maneuver around you. At complex junctions like Newton Circus, this is crucial - ideally you should be in front to be able to pick out a clean & safe line of travel.

roads are designed to move traffic efficiently i.e. fastflowing traffic. Under such conditions, it is a huge challenge when you need to move to the opposite side of the road to make a turn. One way of making the turn safely is to use the traffic lights. In the example below, wait for the lights on road (A) to turn red, move into the position at [B] and wait for the lights to turn green. Path marked (X) is not recommended.
2

8 8.

Watch the Taxis - Taxi drivers have a bad habit of stopping abruptly to pick up customers. They'd just cut in right in front of you and slam on their brakes, with no consideration for your safety. Keep a look out for anyone standing on the roadside waving for a taxi, and be especially alert of taxis behind you on your right.
A

[B]

Surviving our roads

107.
Find a Quiet Route - If you can, find a route with the least motorised traffic. Ask among your cycling friends
OK! That's a short list and likely not exhaustive. Your experience as a cyclist will vary from mine, and the roads you ride will present different circumstances, forcing you to adopt your own set of rider defenses. Experience counts, and there's no starting if you don't get started. Now, get on that bike and enjoy a safe ride to work! And remember to abide by the traffic rules at all times!

and the community for suggestions. Personally, I believe

the long and winding path is the best route home. Take that unknown turn, its OK to get lost - you may discover new magical places you never knew existed.

About cycling on Bus Lanes

Some people will tell you that Bus Lanes are meant for buses only. Thats a common misconception. This is what LTA has to say:

Aside from buses, only emergency service, police vehicles and bicycles are allowed on bus lanes.
This applies to both Normal and Full-Day Bus Lanes.

I hope you have found this little guide helpful! Have ideas to help improve this guide? Just drop me an email! - calvinboo@gmail.com