First on-road bicycle lane to open in Changi East, Latest Singapore News - The New Paper
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First on-road bicycle lane to open in Changi East

This article is more than 12 months old

Cyclists will be able to travel safely alongside cars from April 22 when the island's first on-road bicycle lane opens in Changi East.

There will be a 10km-long dedicated 2m-wide lane for two-wheelers on both sides of the extended Tanah Merah Coast Road.

The bicycle lane, which can fit two cyclists riding abreast, will be demarcated from the vehicular carriageway.

Raised chevron-shaped markings will help alert motorists when they veer into it and red markings will also alert cyclists to look out for turning vehicles.

The cycling lane will also divert behind bus stops to minimise interaction between buses and cyclists.

While on-road cycling lanes were launched in Sentosa last year, this is the first time they will be on a public road on the mainland.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that new bicycle lanes will provide an alternative for cyclists who frequent the 6km Changi Coast Road, which will close on April 22.

The LTA made clear, however, that it does not have plans to build more on-road cycling lanes.

"Given the lack of land in Singapore, LTA will focus on building off-road cycling paths. They are much safer for the majority of cyclists and personal mobility device users," said a spokesman.

Under the National Cycling Plan, the Government will build 700km of cycling paths by 2030 - in a bid to reduce car usage.

While neighbourhoods such as Tampines have cycling paths, these are separated from the road infrastructure.

Works to extend and widen Tanah Merah Coast Road, which started in 2014, are to facilitate construction of a third runway at the airport and Terminal 5.

The road was widened from a dual two-lane road to a three-lane road and extended to hug the eastern coastline and link to Aviation Park Road.

There will be a new park connector running along the extended Tanah Merah Coast Road, linking the one coming from East Coast Park and the other at Aviation Park Road.

Secretary-general of the Safe Cycling Task Force, Mr Tham Chen Munn, said while the lanes were useful, more education may be needed.

"There'll be situations when cyclists need to overtake and encroach into the road space. Will the motorists give way? There perhaps need to be more education and clarity here," he said.

cyclingLand Transport AuthorityChangi