Cyclists and Pedestrians - Footpaths
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Originally posted by QX179R:
Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
Tampines considers extending trial to let cyclists share footpath with pedestrians
SINGAPORE : Going green is becoming a popular choice among some Tampines residents in this age of rising fuel prices.
They are considering whether to extend a year—long trial of letting cyclists on the same paths as pedestrians.
Cyclists can be seen all over Tampines, probably one of the most bicycle—friendly towns in Singapore.
Last May, it started a year—long trial to let cyclists share the footpath with pedestrians.
They even had volunteer traffic wardens to educate both parties on the right use of the path.
The area’s MPs are now looking at three options — legislate the system, extend the trial or drop it altogether.
But before a decision is made, residents got a chance to give their feedback on Sunday, and there were strong opinions for and against the idea.
One resident said, "If cyclists choose to go on the footpath, then they must observe all the safety precautions."
Another said, "Cycling on the footpath — I will definitely appreciate it."
A third commented, "It is a good way to promote bicycling."
A fourth noted, "I am of the view that (we are) not ready to legislate until the infrastructure is all ready."
One concern the residents have is of pedestrians being knocked into, even when they have right of way.
Another is that the authorities are merely shifting the problem of high accident figures involving cyclists on the roads, to the footpaths.
But Tampines Town Council Chairman Ong Kian Min said cyclists were already on pavements all over Singapore, and the Tampines trial was to make things safer for everyone.
In fact, well—known transport academic Dr Paul Barter even suggested having a "Mr or Ms Bicycle" within the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to co—ordinate policies.
However, all of them agreed that there is a need for three things to happen — education for all, enforcement for the errant few and improved infrastructure.
National Development Minister and MP for Tampines GRC, Mah Bow Tan, said, "One day you may be a cyclist, and (on) another (day), you may be pedestrian, so don’t think you are in one camp or the other. We are all cyclists or pedestrians at one time or another, and if we all learn to co—exist, we are actually making life more pleasant for ourselves and our families."
A decision on the issue is expected in the next fortnight, after MPs speak with the Traffic Police and LTA.
Regardless of the final decision, Tampines Town Council will be building at least 2.2 kilometres of new cycle paths at the cost of S$1 million, and it will be ready by the middle of next year.
Tampines GRC is also working with the LTA to not just create more bicycle paths but also widen existing pedestrian footpaths, at the cost of S$3.5 million over the next three to five years. — CNA/ms
I dont see how a person who cannot cycle in the first place and have absolutely no desire to learn how to cycle(eg elderly and etc)...can become cyclist (on) another (day)...so I dunno what is the point that Mr Mah is trying to say...only 2 words are in my mind right now..."wayang" and "taichi".
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Originally posted by Deino:
yeah....its not fair for us cyclists who has no intention to actually harm anyone on the pathway........wtf man......why need to bloody get of the bike when at the traffic light.....this is absurd.....
true...the current sentiments are not pro-cyclist...but its not something U can help...too much black sheeps around..
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Originally posted by Beyond Religion:
it is easier for pedestrians to give way to cyclists than it is the other way round. All a pedestrian need to do is to walk to one side. Conversely, for a cyclist to give way, they sometimes need to dismount from the bike, push the bike past the pedestrian, remount the bike, and cycle on etc.
walk to one side faster or tilt the body easier?
Originally posted by Beyond Religion:for a cyclist to give way, they sometimes need to dismount from the bike, push the bike past the pedestrian, remount the bike, and cycle on etc.
since when have U seen a cyclist doing this?except maybe at traffic lights.
Originally posted by Beyond Religion:The problem is that cyclists must recognize that pedestrians make way for them out of courtesy, not because cyclists have the right of way or that cyclists can bull their way through pedestrians. Accordingly, every time a pedestrian make way for a cyclist, it is an act of courtesy when must be returned. A simple "thank you" will do nicely.
But how often do pedestrians get this basic courtesy returned from cyclists? They ring their bell incessantly as though they own the road, and when pedestrians give way to cyclists, they just cycle past as if they have the right of way. This action will cause some pedestrians (like the aforementioned Mr. Johnny Seto) to take a hard stance against cyclists, which in turn makes cyclists even more reckless. It is a downward spiral which could be avoided if cyclists will just ease off the bell a bit, and say “thank you” whenever a pedestrian make way for them.
I agree with this
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Originally posted by MyPillowTalks:
Everything will go fine if cyclist slow down when there are approaching pedestrians
Bicycles vs human= most bruises
Bicycle vs car= death or paralyse
U forgot to add who is having the bruises...the cyclist or the pedestrian.
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what rubbish sia.. regardless of whether the trial will be approved, they are going to build more bike routes.. this is just crap.. meaning they are going to implement the bloody thing regardless of whether the residents agree or not wat..
and what mah bow tan said only serve to prove that it's 'too bad, what we do, u cant do a shit abt it'..
bullshit..
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Everyone has a point. Actually, all it takes is just basic courtesy from everybody.
Pedestrian see Cyclist ahead = either one move one side early to signal intention to stay that side.
Cyclist coming from behind unawared Pedestrian = Slowdown, make some noise with a bell(once or twice positive ringing) or "Beep Beep" "Excuse me" with your voice. approach within 5m if the Pedestrian still appears unawared, go on the less risky grassy patch that the pedestrian will unlikely to siam in shock.
Pedestrian see unawared Cyclist ahead = Keep walking but watch out if the Cyclist suddenly stop or what.
It's actually a very simple courtesy that singaporeans should have instead of forcing cyclist on the road or building extra bicycle paths.. honestly, if walking on the bicycle paths bring you to where you wanna go faster, there will still be pedestrians on the bicycle paths..
does that mean because they are on that path we have the right to knock them down?
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More cycling lanes in Tampines
In one to two weeks time Singaporeans staying in Tampines GRC will find out if further plans for bicycle lanes will be firmed up.
This is part of the Tampines town hall forum series which started in September 2006.
Residents and council members met up this morning to discuss issues surrounding cycling on footways.
Tampines town council has been working on rolling out bicycle lanes as part of their 5-year work plan.
Under the plan two dedicated bicycle lanes spanning 2.2 kilometres in total will be constructed to the tune of 1 million dollars.
More plans are expected to be rolled out progressively over the years.
Already the town council has completed a short bicycle lane that is about 34 metres in March.
At the same time there is also a proposal to connect Tampines GRC via a bicycle network.
The 7 kilometre route which will be implemented progressively by the Land Transport Authority over the next 3 to 5 years will cost some 3.5 million dollars.
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anything la, i only cycle at pasir ris park
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anything la, i only cycle at pasir ris park
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this is good provided there is 2 different path next to each other...one for walking and another for cycling.
if not....no way....i m a cyclist too and i too cannot tahan when i am walking and i kenna forced off by stupid cyclists using the single walkway like their grandfathers'
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I find this arguement really stupid... Its shows that the new generation of Singaporeans are incapable of thinking to anyone other but themselves...
The solution is simple enough if you have the ability to put yourself in other people's shoe... We don't need rules to guide us how to act, those are only for children...
Just need to use your head and some common courtesy... Imagine yourself in the other's shoe... If you're a cyclist, how the pedestrian think, if you're a pedestrian, how the cyclist think...
(1) The pedestrian should try to give way to the cyclist... This is because a pedestrian has more manuverability compared to a cyclist... Dont agree with me? Imagine yourself the owner of a small power boat in a narrow channel and a big ship is right behind you... Do you say you have the right a way in the channel and expect the big cumbersome ship to maneuver around you or you the smaller more agile power boat move out of the way...?
Its common courtesy to give way to someone with lesser manoverability, I would bet that you'd give way to someone in a power wheel chair, so why not a cyclist...
(2) Cyclist should slow down when a padestrian is near by... Common safety rule...The faster you are, the lesser manuverability you have it'll be dangerous for the padestian...
(3) padestrian shouldn't be too sensitive... If you find honking is ok for cars, how is it any different for ringing for bicycles... I am a cyclist, so when I'm walking on the sidewalk and I hear ringing, I know it means a cyclist is behind me and I simply walk 2 steps to the side and let him pass... Why must have this mindset that ringing is rude? Ringing is a cyclist way of saying "excuse me"
All this arguement started coz people have this mindset "I have the right a way, so I don't have to give way to you and you have to give way to me", its all because of some egotistical mindset that people start agrueing... The government made the sidewalk for the public...not for "you"... so we need to share the sidewalk... got it...
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for christ sake, there is a reason its call a footpath, its for people to walk on not cycle.
I am unlucky to live in an area where there are alot of cyclist and i have had bikes running into me from behind more than once.
how i wish i can take my car and run them down
assholes cyclists, too poor to own cars issit?
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Originally posted by MohamedF:
I find this arguement really stupid... Its shows that the new generation of Singaporeans are incapable of thinking to anyone other but themselves...
The solution is simple enough if you have the ability to put yourself in other people's shoe... We don't need rules to guide us how to act, those are only for children...
Just need to use your head and some common courtesy... Imagine yourself in the other's shoe... If you're a cyclist, how the pedestrian think, if you're a pedestrian, how the cyclist think...
(1) The pedestrian should try to give way to the cyclist... This is because a pedestrian has more manuverability compared to a cyclist... Dont agree with me? Imagine yourself the owner of a small power boat in a narrow channel and a big ship is right behind you... Do you say you have the right a way in the channel and expect the big cumbersome ship to maneuver around you or you the smaller more agile power boat move out of the way...?
Its common courtesy to give way to someone with lesser manoverability, I would bet that you'd give way to someone in a power wheel chair, so why not a cyclist...
(2) Cyclist should slow down when a padestrian is near by... Common safety rule...The faster you are, the lesser manuverability you have it'll be dangerous for the padestian...
(3) padestrian shouldn't be too sensitive... If you find honking is ok for cars, how is it any different for ringing for bicycles... I am a cyclist, so when I'm walking on the sidewalk and I hear ringing, I know it means a cyclist is behind me and I simply walk 2 steps to the side and let him pass... Why must have this mindset that ringing is rude? Ringing is a cyclist way of saying "excuse me"
All this arguement started coz people have this mindset "I have the right a way, so I don't have to give way to you and you have to give way to me", its all because of some egotistical mindset that people start agrueing... The government made the sidewalk for the public...not for "you"... so we need to share the sidewalk... got it...
how often do u see pedestrians obstructing a cyclist? how often do u hear a cyclist going ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring as if the road is theirs?
i think ppl aren't pissed to share the pathway.. they are pissed with inconsiderate cyclists.. i for one wouldn't care two hoots about cyclists flying on rooftops, but there are always those teenagers and young kids who don't bother slowing down and go at top speed, risking your children and parents' safety, and now the govt are bringing such a danger even closer to pedestrians..
there should at least be policies and maybe restrictions on the cyclists' use.. not just open up routes and say 'share', and when things happen, nobody is faulted and some team comes out and say "nobody is at fault in this tragedy, and the biggest tragedy is if we don't learn from this.."
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chibet and purpledrag,
I think there are inconsiderate cyclists and pedestrians. and they are the ones causing this problem. I used to cycle a lot too. since I outgrown my bike and that it got stolen. I have since became pedestrian.
so Chibet, we all know it's a foot path. But surely it can be also known as just a path. and anybody can use it. I understand your anger with cyclists but it's not fair to the considerate ones.
Purple, if everything has to have policies and restrictions, I think soon it'll require us to have a licence to ride a bike.
As mentioned in my previous post. I think its about personal upbringing on the values of being considerate that actually matters.
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i just feel that the ppl in charge are not doing enough to ensure the safety of the pedestrians, and maybe even cyclists, and too hasty to implement the damn thing.. of coz it has everything to do with being considerate and upbringing, but when things/accidents happen, ppl are going to point fingers again..
soon, this cycling thing will spread to the whole of singapore, and there will be an increase in the number of accidents, especially to old people and children, be they cyclists or pedestrians..
u can make the path wider, but at least draw a line in the centre, u seen the pathway at tampines? nothing! its just crap.. at least if u put a line in the centre, like those east coast park, put the cyclist picture and pedestrian picture big big, ppl know where to cycle, ppl know where to walk, but tampines there, nothing, they literally just expand the path, nothing else.. and its there for a year.. and when the hooha dies down, they say it's going great, go ahead with building more routes, but how many are rammed? how many arguments go unreported? nobody knows..
as i said, the relevant authorities can do more to ensure the safety of everyone..
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this is to proof these MP's got brain or not.
if the trial is successful @ tampines
then those MP's @ bukit batok that build additional cycling track are brainless!!!!!
those National Park officials @ east coast park are brainless too.
if these track can share , long ago already shared.
lic. bicycle. that we goes back to 70's
that time all our bicycle got number plate, round one, i still has one @ home.
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Originally posted by purpledragon84:
i just feel that the ppl in charge are not doing enough to ensure the safety of the pedestrians, and maybe even cyclists, and too hasty to implement the damn thing.. of coz it has everything to do with being considerate and upbringing, but when things/accidents happen, ppl are going to point fingers again..
soon, this cycling thing will spread to the whole of singapore, and there will be an increase in the number of accidents, especially to old people and children, be they cyclists or pedestrians..
u can make the path wider, but at least draw a line in the centre, u seen the pathway at tampines? nothing! its just crap.. at least if u put a line in the centre, like those east coast park, put the cyclist picture and pedestrian picture big big, ppl know where to cycle, ppl know where to walk, but tampines there, nothing, they literally just expand the path, nothing else.. and its there for a year.. and when the hooha dies down, they say it's going great, go ahead with building more routes, but how many are rammed? how many arguments go unreported? nobody knows..
as i said, the relevant authorities can do more to ensure the safety of everyone..
you draw line still will have people crossing the lines. there's no better solution than teaching the future generation correctly.
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Again, I find this really stupid to get the government involved with how we treat each other on the sidewalk...
Like cuddles said, all we need is courtesy... Like on the bus, asking people to move to the back of the bus... Do we really need a rule to state that passanger should move to the back of the bus or do we just need to be couteous...
Having projects, experiments and drawing lines on the sidewalk to segregate cyclist and walkers... All a waste of government's time and tax money when all we need is to be courteous to each other...
And safety wise... On the road, the governemnt had made all laws possible to make the road safer... Traffic lights, road rules, road signs, and yet there is still accidents... why? Coz neglegence and sometimes shit just happens... The same thing is gonna happen of government starts governing sidewalks... only, it'll be more elborate...
All we need is for the cyclist to take responsibility if they langgar anyone... But seriously, there have never once any grevious hurt or death caused by a padestrian/cyclist accident...
This is just a childish argument that occured when society doesn't know how to treat each other with coutesy...
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correct.. draw lines will have ppl crossing the lines.. but if u segregate properly, at least ppl know where to walk, where to cycle, and this immediately reduces the risk right? u can have all the courtesy in the world, but one moment of mistake and miscommunication with another courteous person will also lead to an accident..
courtesy is primary, but when primary is compromised, at least there's secondary..
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and also, issit better with or without the traffic lights and pedestrian crossings?
not all accidents happen because people are discourteous and inconsiderate..
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Originally posted by MohamedF:
Again, I find this really stupid to get the government involved with how we treat each other on the sidewalk...
Like cuddles said, all we need is courtesy... Like on the bus, asking people to move to the back of the bus... Do we really need a rule to state that passanger should move to the back of the bus or do we just need to be couteous...
Having projects, experiments and drawing lines on the sidewalk to segregate cyclist and walkers... All a waste of government's time and tax money when all we need is to be courteous to each other...
And safety wise... On the road, the governemnt had made all laws possible to make the road safer... Traffic lights, road rules, road signs, and yet there is still accidents... why? Coz neglegence and sometimes shit just happens... The same thing is gonna happen of government starts governing sidewalks... only, it'll be more elborate...
All we need is for the cyclist to take responsibility if they langgar anyone... But seriously, there have never once any grevious hurt or death caused by a padestrian/cyclist accident...
This is just a childish argument that occured when society doesn't know how to treat each other with coutesy...
lol. if someone were to be killed by a bicycle, that would be the first?
I did got involved in an accident before when I was cycling crossing a pedestrian crossing. I checked the roads, it was clear. just crossed halfway kenna hit at my rear wheel.. I was lucky to be unhurt, it was a mercedes and the guy inside didn't get off seeing I'm still standing. He was talking on his handphone. but my bicycle was dented and the paddles were crooked.
Apparently accidents happens no matter what policies or safety net there is for you. It just take an inconsiderate person to break it.
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There are so many PRC on bikes and they expect pedestrian to give way. The Uncles and Aunties on bike will ring and ring and ring their bells to get pedestrian out of the way so that they can speed down the pedestrian pavement.
Seriously if people cannot behave civily towards each other, allowing them on bikes will only cause more trouble.
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Its actually more courteous and convenient for padestrian to give way to cyclist coz padestrian has more manuverability compared to a cyclist... refer to my story above...
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Originally posted by MohamedF:
Its actually more courteous and convenient for padestrian to give way to cyclist coz padestrian has more manuverability compared to a cyclist... refer to my story above...
it should be more courteous and convenient for cyclist to come down push his bicycle coz cyclist has more chances of costing hurts to padestrain.
after clearing padestrain , cyclist can cycle as fast as he can to catch up his lost time.
padestrain cannot, lan lan stand there , time lost is loose, cannot walk up time lost while standing.
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Originally posted by MohamedF:
Its actually more courteous and convenient for padestrian to give way to cyclist coz padestrian has more manuverability compared to a cyclist... refer to my story above...
Then pedestrian should walk on the road like Little Indian on the weekends loh. Give way to the bike so that bikers can ride safely on pedestrian walkway. Its call pedestrian pavement for a reason.