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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg |
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The Cycling on Footways Study
in Tampines Town From 27 May 2007 To 30 May 2008 |
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Land Transport Authority (LTA), Traffic
Police (TP) and the Tampines Grassroots Organisations (GROs) will be
conducting a study in the Tampines Town to assess the feasibility of
allowing cycling on footways with effect from 27 May 2007. |
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The study will last for one year and end on
30 May 2008. The official launch of this trial will be on 27 May 2007,
in conjunction with the Tampines Town Day. |
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Currently, under Rule 28 of the Road Traffic
Rules, enacted in 1981, cycling on footways is prohibited. Like any
other vehicles, bicycles are to be ridden on the roads and cyclists are
required to abide by all relevant traffic rules and regulations. |
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LTA, TP and Tampines GROs recognise that
societal values and lifestyle norms have changed over time. It has been
observed that cycling has become increasingly prevalent, both as a
recreational activity as well as a mode of transport for short journeys
to the markets, school, MRT stations and workplaces located in the
neighbourhood. |
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During the Committee of Supply debates in
2005, Senior Minister of State for Law & Home Affairs, A/P Ho Peng Kee,
in response to a parliamentary question by Tampines MP Ms Irene Ng, said
that the issue of whether or not cycling on footways should be allowed
would be reviewed. |
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Tampines GRC was identified as a good area
for this study as it is a compact town with a large cycling population,
and has wider footways as well as well-used park connectors. |
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A Tripartite Committee, co-chaired by
LTA, TP and Tampines GROs, was therefore set up to study the
feasibility of allowing cycling on footways while ensuring that
the safety of other footway users is not compromised. |
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The Tripartite Committee recognizes
that road safety requires a collective approach involving all key
stakeholders who represent the common interests and concerns of
the various road user groups. |
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Therefore, as part of the review,
dialogue sessions with the grassroots from the Tampines
Constituency, Tampines Town Council, National Safety Council of
Singapore (NSCS), Singapore Action Group for the Elders (SAGE),
Singapore Amateur Cycling Association (SACA) and Safe Cycling Task
Force (SCTF) were conducted to solicit feedback on their concerns.
A set of guidelines on safe riding on footways was developed in
consultation with them. |
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The study will provide the opportunity
for communities with differing demands and needs to come together
and work out a mutually beneficial solution in sharing limited
common space. In addition, the study will help the Committee
understand if Singaporeans are generally ready to share the
footways. A survey on the perception and attitudes of the
residents in Tampines Town will be carried out. |
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The study will be launched on 27 May
2007 in conjunction with the Tampines Town Day, and conducted over
a period of one year. |
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During this period, cycling would be
allowed on all footways in Tampines but not in other towns. |
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To protect the safety of pedestrians,
cyclists would be required to give precedence to pedestrians, as
well as dismount and push their bicycles at places where human
traffic would be high. For their own safety, cyclists are also
required to dismount and push their bicycles when crossing a road.
Parking of bicycles will remain prohibited on footways.
Pedestrians will also be urged to share footways with cyclists and
to show mutual consideration. |
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About two weeks before the study, the
Tripartite Committee will start conducting a series of public
education programmes to increase awareness and promote safe riding
on the footways. This will include the dissemination of safe
riding guidelines to the residents of Tampines through the various
educational outreach channels (e.g., community events) and
publicity efforts. |
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In addition, the Tripartite Committee
has worked closely with Changi Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC),
Tampines NPC, grassroots from Tampines Constituency and SACA to
recruit volunteers as cycling wardens under a Community Safety and
Security Programme (CSSP). The cycling wardens will be deployed
along the footways in Tampines to educate and advise pedestrians
and cyclists to share the footways in a safe and gracious manner. |
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In land-scarce Singapore, the majority
of footways are narrow. Sharing of footways between pedestrians
and cyclists will require both groups of users to exercise social
graciousness and responsibility, with cyclists giving the right of
way to pedestrians. Cyclists should cycle slowly on the footways
and those who wish to cycle faster should be on the roads. |
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Cyclists who wish to cycle on the
footways during the study period are advised to adhere to the safe
riding guidelines. Police will continue to take action against
cyclists who ride recklessly, or in a disorderly manner that
endangers other footway users. |
JOINTLY ISSUED BY
TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE OF LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY (LTA),
TRAFFIC POLICE (TP)
AND THE TAMPINES GRASSROOTS ORGANISATIONS (GROS)
14 May 2007 @ 10.30 am |
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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg Media Release
14 May 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Mon 14 May 2007
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