Keep Cyclists Out Of The Pedestrian Footpath - Part 3 Final

...cont'd from Part 2

In this final part, I will tell you my reasons why Cyclists should not be allowed on the pedestrian footpath.

- Before we even consider allow cyclists on the footpath, please revise the Rule 28 of Road Traffic Rules. Will that mere $20 fine deter any cyclists from riding on the footpath? The standard of living has gone up for a long long time and this fine amount seems like still 'living in the past'.

- Currently it's not an offence to cycle across a pedestrian crossing, maybe the authority should include it under Rule 28 or have a separately ruling on this to make cycling across a pedestrian crossing an offence. Let's put some sense across, where do cyclists cycle after the pedestrian crossing? It's definitely back to pedestrian footpath!

- All of us are aware that on the same pedestrian footpath, we can find motorcyclists riding and parking on it. If they are not 'eliminated' from the footpath, why are we adding another group (cyclists) to the same footpath? Are there any more space left for us pedestrians?

- The government already said that our population is aging. The authority has just built many barrier free access for the elderly and physically disabled people to use. If bicycles are allowed to share the same footpath or this barrier free access, I wonder how such elderly and physically disabled people going to defend themselves?

- If there is an accident caused by the cyclists, there is currently no insurance requirement for cyclists - how are they going to compensate the injured if the cyclists are youngsters and foreign workers?

- Not are footpaths in Tampines are as wide as those few near the Tampines Central where they have a separate cycling path besides the pedestrian footpath.

- Not only myself but many others staying in Tampines have yet to see the Cycling Wardens Volunteers besides those photos posted in the Tampines Newsletter. Let's face the fact, we don't even see Traffic Police often in the heartland not to mention volunteers wardens.

- Why not the one who propose sharing the footpath with cyclists take a walk with me round Tampines to see if it's feasible especially during normal school days?

I agreed with Ravi Veloo on the article "The Politics Of Sidewalks" on 15 March 2008 Weekend Today;


Over the past 1 year in Tampines, I've only seen not more than 3 cyclists pushing their bicycles across the pedestrian crossing. Below is one that bother to push it across a pedestrian cross near Ngee Ann Secondary School;


But the rest do they bother to push their bicycles across the pedestrian crossing or give way to pedestrian when crossing;







Most cyclists don't just cycle across the pedestrian crossing recklessly, they also don't bother to give way to pedestrian when they cycle on footpath. The footpath is narrow, and those cyclists can come in front of you and behind you - how can an elderly person or physically handicapped person react in time if the cyclists don't give way?




Some cyclists cycle at the void deck, turning at blind angle, where they may even knock down an elderly or handicapped person.




Tell me - how to share the footpath with the cyclists? Not forgetting the motorcyclists are also there!