Tampines is set to become Singapore's first cycling town. The Tampines GRC MPs announced on Sunday that after a two-year trial to see if cyclists and pedestrians could share footways safely, cycling on footways will be allowed, starting 1 March 2010.
The GRC has been working with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Traffic Police since May 2007 to assess the feasibility of the idea, said MP Mr Masagos Zulkifli.
The trial was sparked off by a 2005 parliamentary debate in which Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng called for cyclists to be allowed to ride on footways, in light of an increasing number of them involved in fatal accidents on busy roads.
Feedback from residents showed general acceptance of the trial, said Mr Masagos, but the tripartite decision was conditional: cycling on footways would only be sustainable in the long run if three key features identified - infrastructure, education, and enforcement- were implemented together.
The GRC has already begun widening footways to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists as part of the infrastructure efforts. The Town Council has also constructed two new stretches of bicycle paths, and LTA will be building 6.9km of bicycle paths in the first half of next year.
Sunday also marked the launch of the Tampines Safe Cycling Clinics, funded by the North East CDC, in a move to ramp up education efforts. The two-hour clinics will be conducted by cycling wardens, and will teach cyclists traffic rules and proper cycling etiquette.
From Asiaone, "Tampines is first cycling town".
A coffeeshop assistant died about five hours after he was hit by a teenage cyclist at a carpark, a coroner's court heard.
State Coroner Victor Yeo recorded a verdict of misadventure on the death of Mr Tay Kia Sim, 52, on March 17.
The cyclist, then 14, was named a potential defendant at the inquiry into the death of Mr Tay.
The court heard that the Secondary 3 student was cycling fast along the road in the open space carpark of Block 96 Henderson Road on March 16 evening when Mr Tay emerged from the side footway into his path.
The boy, who is now 15, tried to brake but could not avoid hitting Mr Tay, who was thrown backwards and landed about 4m away. The cyclist also lost control of his bicycle and fell to the ground after the impact.
Mr Tay was taken to Singapore General Hospital where he died of head injuries at about 12.55am.
From Straits Times, "Man hit by teen cyclist, died".
