Feb 24, 2009
I REFER to last Saturday's letter by Ms Amy Loh ('Why Singapore must license bicycles now').
I strongly support any proposal to license bicycles. The point is that licensing bicycles should impose some sense of responsibility on those who own bicycles and those who ride them. This is especially important now that the authorities are considering allowing narrow pedestrian paths to be used by cyclists.
I live in an estate where a pedestrian path (about 1m to 1.2m wide) leads to the MRT station. The side of the path is lined with trees with branches jutting out.
The estate is near an industrial area and it is rare not to see a bicycle - or have one flash past you from behind - while walking on the path. Often they ride fast and give no room to manoeuvre in an emergency.
Even during peak periods, when there are many pedestrians on the path, inconsiderate cyclists still ride there, some at speeds that are unacceptable and dangerous. The situation is an accident waiting to happen.
I wrote to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) about the situation and suggested that the path be widened. The first reply was that widening the path would encourage more cyclists to use it. I then suggested low obstacles such as humps to discourage cyclists. The reply: that would make it difficult for people in wheelchairs to use the path.
So it seems everyone else takes priority over the safety of pedestrians. In my final letter to LTA, I pleaded that something be done about the dangerous situation. LTA said it would refer the matter to the police. To date, the situation is unchanged.
Yik Tze Kong
[I've seen responsible cyclists, but it is the irresponsible ones that stick in the mind. They cycle like they have the right of way on pedestrian walkways. And they cycle way too fast and way too inconsiderately. But licensing and registration is a waste of time and money. There are more efficient and effective use of limited resources. ]
I REFER to last Saturday's letter by Ms Amy Loh ('Why Singapore must license bicycles now').
I strongly support any proposal to license bicycles. The point is that licensing bicycles should impose some sense of responsibility on those who own bicycles and those who ride them. This is especially important now that the authorities are considering allowing narrow pedestrian paths to be used by cyclists.
I live in an estate where a pedestrian path (about 1m to 1.2m wide) leads to the MRT station. The side of the path is lined with trees with branches jutting out.
The estate is near an industrial area and it is rare not to see a bicycle - or have one flash past you from behind - while walking on the path. Often they ride fast and give no room to manoeuvre in an emergency.
Even during peak periods, when there are many pedestrians on the path, inconsiderate cyclists still ride there, some at speeds that are unacceptable and dangerous. The situation is an accident waiting to happen.
I wrote to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) about the situation and suggested that the path be widened. The first reply was that widening the path would encourage more cyclists to use it. I then suggested low obstacles such as humps to discourage cyclists. The reply: that would make it difficult for people in wheelchairs to use the path.
So it seems everyone else takes priority over the safety of pedestrians. In my final letter to LTA, I pleaded that something be done about the dangerous situation. LTA said it would refer the matter to the police. To date, the situation is unchanged.
Yik Tze Kong
[I've seen responsible cyclists, but it is the irresponsible ones that stick in the mind. They cycle like they have the right of way on pedestrian walkways. And they cycle way too fast and way too inconsiderately. But licensing and registration is a waste of time and money. There are more efficient and effective use of limited resources. ]
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