Comments on: A Twitching Motorcyclist

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:31:19 +0000

Alfred – Exactly. I also wonder why our papers don’t report some of these major accidents. To the least, it raises an awareness.

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:30:26 +0000

Tigerfish – I can certainly understand that some car owners own cars for the status. However, I can’t say all are. I for one always treat my car as a 4-wheel to get from A to B and nothing more.

I have this dream. One day, on top of our highway, we have a sealed air-conditioned cycling lane. Wouldn’t that be nice?!

By: Alfred

Alfred — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:15:03 +0000

Actually most accidents I’ve witnessed don’t come up in the papers, even some that looked really serious. Maybe only 2 out of 10 came up. I don’t know why though. Maybe there are so many that they can only select a few to put on papers.

Is it on the same part of the expressway? If it is or even near, maybe that is a potentially accidents spot.

I think bicycle on the pavement is better because it would really take a lot for any accident on the pavement to be fatal but most of the time, accidents involving bicycles on the road are almost fatal because vehicles are travelling at high speed.

I guess you are right, it’s time the gahment look into programs that can bring awareness to make the road safer for all to use.

By: tigerfish

tigerfish — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:58:36 +0000

Cause of the jam? People!!!! What else? It will get worse unless people’s mentality change. Other than the need to drive – the truth is, here in S’pore – owning a car is a reflection of status. This is what makes me sad about this country.

And I think the heat and humidity deters people from cycling to work. Imagine the sweat as soon as you step into the office. Make sure the company has shower facilities. Hee hee…
Who am I to comment on cycling…esp if I don’t even cycle well? Oops!

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:42:44 +0000

Alfred – Can you believe this? Today, there was another accident that involves a motorcyclist and a car, on the same highway. And it looks serious.

Back the the cyclist lanes, if we do cater different lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, that would be ideal. Just a side note. From what I observe, some cyclists still cycle on pedestrian pavement even though there are lanes for cyclists. And some don’t seem to observe the direction painted on the lane! Maybe we need more awareness programs eh?

By: Alfred

Alfred — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:03:50 +0000

Yes you are right. Motorbikes tend to zig zag across cars via those little spaces between cars during heavy traffics which I thought is extremely dangerous because they are riding through blind spots every few metres at relatively high speed, hardly enough time for any kind of emergency reaction.

Motorbikes are banned in highways in many countries, Taiwan is one of them. I think it could be that many of their highways are pretty long and they do not impose speed limit restriction on certain stretch which could be extremely dangerous for bikes.

I agree that bicycles pose hazards to pedestrians on the pavement. However if you look at those tracks at the beaches/coasts, they are divided into foot and cycle. That may be something worth exploring for pavements for our neighbourhood or maybe we can have something like mandatory bells on every bicycle so they can ring it when passing pedestrians.

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:34:38 +0000

Alfred – Building smaller lanes for the motorcyclists would be one idea worth exploring. At present, especially when the traffic is congested, motorcyclists tend to ride at a much higher speed relative to the cars on the road undertaking cars dangerously. Having a dedicated lane would have minimized the chance of accidents. In Indonesia’s highway, from what I learned, motorcyclists are not allowed to enter. I can see why.

Anyway, the reason why cyclists should not cycle on the pavement – by right – is because they can be a hazard to the pedestrians due to its relatively higher speed. Therefore, it is up to the government to build infrastructures to support this group of road users supported by proper awareness for the motorists.

By: Alfred

Alfred — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:43:38 +0000

i witnessed osmething similar few weeks back and it is really not a good sight.

I agree with your assessment. That’s what I have noticed for a long time as well. There are not enough public awareness on this issue. As a matter of fact, it is mandatory for cyclist to wear protective gears on the road in almost all the countries I’ve been to but not in Singapore.

But at the same time I don’t understand why cyclists want to cycle on the road when they can do so on pathments which is just beside the road.

Anyway in places like Malaysia they are buiilding special small lanes for motorbike at the side of the road so it is clearer what type of vehicle should be on which lane.

I guess it’s time we look at how Singapore’s road can be made safer.