Your Local Asian Bimbo ([info]deobserver) wrote in [info]sg_ljers,
@ 2008-01-13 16:10:00
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Campaign For Cyclists
So rather than just bitching and moaning about how much it sucks in Singapore on a community forum like this, I'm looking at doing something slightly more proactive. If you're a cyclist who's bothered by the fact that you can't ever board a train with your bike even during off peak hours, like 6am on a public holiday, please drop a line here. I'd like help crafting a petition to allow bikes on board trains during restricted hours (and probably restricted sections of the train). In fact, if you can think of a innovative way of lobbying, I would also like to hear from you.

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[info]nyved
2008-01-13 09:17 am UTC (link)
I'll second that.

What about buses?

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 01:59 pm UTC (link)
I'd go with buses only if they're the kind that's been retrofitted to handle wheelchairs. By and large, most of the buses here are not equipped with a holding bay. Unlike trains, a bus ride tends to be more jerky. There's a good chance you'll hurt someone or yourself taking a bike on board a bus. From a practical standpoint, I'd veto that.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-14 04:54 am UTC (link)
You can transport bikes and buses without intefering with commuters if you install external bike racks on buses. Public buses in Chicago, for example, have racks in front of the bus that can hold two bikes at a time. They have a simple mechanism that allows you to attach and clamp your bike in 30 seconds. Before you alight, tell the driver you are going to remove your bike, and he'll wait for you to do so.

This is a very simple facility that is far, far cheaper than the totally useless TV Mobile.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-13 10:17 am UTC (link)
Great - I'm a cyclist who used to cycle to the MRT station and lock my bike up there. I kind of moved out and didn't take the bike with me, but in the meantime I've been exploring bike commuting solutions, as well as ideas for raising awareness of cycling as a legitimate mode of transport.

This might not be exactly what you're looking for, but I've been wondering about creating shirts or decals with pro-cycling slogans (more specifically, yes, raising awareness of cycling as a legitimate mode of transport, not just one for kids). Slogans like "Ease (yourself through) congested traffic - ride a bike", for instance. Only I haven't come up with a good medium - decals on bikes aren't exactly visible like bumper stickers, and cyclists who have to go long distances tend not to wear cotton shirts, especially in our climate, and jersey printing is pretty expensive. So...

Anyway, yes, I'd be very interested in helping out with a petition to get bikes on board trains - that way I could get my bike over to my current residence without cycling 25 km.

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[info]phantompong
2008-01-13 10:17 am UTC (link)
Sorry, that was me. Forgot to log in.

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 02:19 pm UTC (link)
If your bike has front wheel quick release, you can take off the front wheel quite easily and the bike should fit in most sedans. I hate leaving my bike out in the open. Even with double chain locking, some @#$!%&^ thieves managed to steal parts of the bike I couldn't lock down and getting a replacement here was a pain in the butt.

I wear spanflex when cycling. I suspect the cost of printing is quite high and not very effective from a visibility point of view. Car decals are a possibility. Bike decals are completely useless. You know what I'm thinking? "ERP and fare hikes burning a hole in your pocket? Ride a bike!" But we can explore that idea further.

I'm thinking we should collate a list of bike clubs/groups in Singapore and get them involved as well.

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[info]nouveauly
2008-01-13 10:30 am UTC (link)
wow i just have to say cycling in singapore's heat is respectable!

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 02:23 pm UTC (link)
Haha. Well I guess most of the serious cyclists would choose to cycle early in the morning or towards the evening/late at night, thus sparing themselves from potential heatstroke.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-14 05:24 am UTC (link)
Actually it's a darn sight more comfortable than cycling in winter in temperate countries. Give me sweat and heat and humidity over freezing rain, numb body parts, dried-out eyes, and icy roads any time.

I commuted by bike in Chicago for three years, so I'm not just fantasising about the latter.

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[info]tsubaki_
2008-01-13 11:20 am UTC (link)
If cyclists were to stop cycling on pavement meant for pedestrian and expect people to move for them instead of cycling on the grass patch, I'd lend my support to this petition.

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[info]phantompong
2008-01-13 11:52 am UTC (link)
Actually, I believe bikes are better off on the roads, but only IF

1. they go with the flow of traffic - it's amazing how many cyclists ride against traffic.
2. they are lighted up at night - it's even more amazing how many cyclists ride on roads without even a red rear light to tell motorists they're there!
3. they follow the rules of the road for motorbikes, with one exception - keeping to the left when they are going slow enough to be overtaken.

On the other hand, I think it's a matter of courtesy to ring to indicate to a pedestrian you're going to pass them, rather than to make them move. I know a lot of cyclists and pedestrians don't view it that way, but on park connectors and on pavements where cyclists *are* allowed, it is not only the cyclist's responsibility to share the path. I've come across people walking six abreast on the bicycle path at East Coast and telling each other to move out of the way because I'm approaching on a bike from behind.

I'm guessing you aren't a regular cyclist. I respect your view, but it really has to go both ways.

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 02:36 pm UTC (link)
I second your view.

1. they go with the flow of traffic - it's amazing how many cyclists ride against traffic.
Plain stupid if one is cycling on the road.

2. they are lighted up at night
Plain stupid, asking to be roadkill.

3. they follow the rules of the road for motorbikes, with one exception - keeping to the left when they are going slow enough to be overtaken.
I'm quite a bit slower than the average car, but on some roads I keep right, especially if I plan on making a right turn. Not doing so is tantamount to suicide. It's also quite scary to change lanes on a bicycle since drivers here are so aggressive. We have wonderfully inconsiderate drivers who will park their vehicles right at the edge of the curb, thus obstructing oncoming traffic from side roads. I had a close encounter once. If I weren't such a crazy cyclist, I'd swear off cycling in Singapore.

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 02:26 pm UTC (link)
That's largely tangential to the issue at hand. I cycle on the road, myself.

That said, if pedestrians would stop jaywalking and keep to pedestrian paths in parks instead of the biking routes, the world would be a much happier and peaceful place too.

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[info]tommahawke
2008-01-13 01:40 pm UTC (link)
I think its a plan that will work only if you tell them to limit a single cabin to the cyclists during off peak hours. Gotta avoid having pesky kids riding their bikes all over people's toes in the train dirtying walls with skid marks.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-13 01:45 pm UTC (link)
And i happen to think theres not enough bitching and moaning about sg in a forum like this...it makes for interesting reading. Just keep the resulting comments civil and polite.

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 03:18 pm UTC (link)
And I happen to think posting anonymously smacks of cowardice...

So how does "interesting reading" solve anything?

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 03:00 pm UTC (link)
Limiting cyclists to the end cabins where there are fewer passengers on average is not a bad idea. Hmm. Actually, I think there are quite a few adult cyclists who would like to board trains with bikes.

As for skid marks on walls..huh? I think we get skid marks from other things on floors and walls already, so I don't know that bikes are going to add much more to the dirt.

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[info]hahabird
2008-01-13 02:16 pm UTC (link)
What you're looking at is quite specific. The only times the train isn't running at reasonably high capacity would be before 7.30am on Public Holidays and perhaps Sundays. One compartment out of six ain't that bad.

It's feasible, but you'd need one helluva movement and awareness program on the scale of Chek Jawa's (and even then, the government's only deferred reclamation of the place).

Do something newsworthy, like wearing a sandwich board and handing out fliers at Raffles Place!

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[info]deobserver
2008-01-13 03:10 pm UTC (link)
Do something newsworthy, like wearing a sandwich board and handing out fliers at Raffles Place!
Haha. That's so cheesy. Let's see you do that first! ;-)

Assuming that "high capacity" means standing space only, I'd put that time closer to 8am, but I guess it depends which station you're boarding the train.

Yeah, I'm still thinking of a better publicity campaign that isn't as cheesy as the Fulong Gong fellas'. Just publishing a letter in the Straits Times forum page and on stomp isn't going to cut it.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-14 05:21 am UTC (link)
I'd be happy to sign such a petition and offer any other help you need.

-Ponder Stibbons

pstibb [aet] gmail [tod] com

http://onelesscar.wordpress.com

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bikes & trains.
(Anonymous)
2008-01-14 07:04 am UTC (link)
We don't have a problem. I think all of you need to learn a few tricks. It's got alot to do with wheels. Most of the ppl who jaga the MRT are fixated on wheels. If they see the wheels, you're as good as done for. If they don't, it's not a bike. Their brains are hardwired that way.

I know for a fact, many in the brotherhood ride a type of foldable MTB called the Montague Paratrooper (incidentally, it's actually a bike that is used by the Swiss Special forces) which incidentally happens to be largest foldable bike in the world. So size is not really the issue as much as shape and recognizable form.

How do they get it into trains and buses?

Let me share with you. They all travel in pairs, one guy carries the frame. A few minutes latter the other, the wheelsets. They go all over the island, never ever been stopped even once.

Ride safely and remember only dummies leave their helmets at home.

AB

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[info]yanjin
2008-01-14 12:03 pm UTC (link)
i get around it by using a foldable bicycle.

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[info]sleekdove
2008-01-15 02:02 am UTC (link)
You mean, the MRT staff actually stops a person from bringing his bike in?

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[info]ashlad
2008-01-15 05:17 pm UTC (link)
you know, it's useless (both your position and petitions).

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-16 03:27 am UTC (link)
Of course it's useless if everyone refuese to help because they think it's useless.

Apathy is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-16 04:56 am UTC (link)
oh and one more thing i forgot to add, i agree with you that its a useless proposition.

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(Anonymous)
2008-01-17 09:43 am UTC (link)
Hello, I do not have an LJ account, hence the reason for the anonymous post.

I am an avid road cyclist too and here's a link relevant to your campaign to board a train with your bike.

http://www.togoparts.com/forum/showthread.php?fid=6&tid=53509&loc=active&cb=showforum.php%3Ffid%3D6%26page_id%3D1&highlight=

Several of the cyclists who'd posted in the link above are my friends, and it seems that they have not had any trouble bringing their bikes (in a bike bag) aboard MRT trains. I doubt the MRT personnel would actually allow us to bring the bike as it is aboard the train though.

I'm guessing you are probably already a member of Togoparts.com. :) In any case, my nickname's xooey and I'm quite active there, so do pop by the forums sometime!

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[info]jlave
2008-01-21 04:18 am UTC (link)
I'm willing to help out, do pm me.

Bike power!

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