My Bicycle Commuting - The lady I saw the other day?

Looks like the lady bicycle commuter I saw the other day. Her helmet was slanting but not obvious from the video. (25 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - SBS bus captains are nice

Recently have good experience along Commonwealth Avenue where almost all SBS bus captains changed lane completely to overtake me, and for those who did not, they patiently drove behind me with a good distance away. (28 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - Isn't there a better pickup point?

Along Dunearn Road at the bus stop outside Singapore Chinese Girls Primary School, a car wanted to stop but tried to overtake and last moment stopped after the car in front moved off, blocking a lane of the road. What's the difference stopping here and further into the bus stop? Again, being legal is more important than being safe? (22 Oct 2013)

My cycling in Singapore experiences - Roads in Toa Payoh

After reading the report saying that Toa Payoh is among one of the town to be made a cycling town, I went for a ride covering most roads in Toa Payoh, tracked and videoed, both front and rear, but front phone battery low thus missing the later part. (Long video but can view double speed using YouTube html5 trial.)

My Bicycle Commuting - Dangerous crossing, but why? (2)

Captured another clip at this long waiting junction between Chancery Lane and Dunearn Road, little left turning cars, but missed the green man light. I suggest extending the green man light for a much longer period since there is no simultaneous right turning cars, and few left turning cars. (24 Oct 2013)

Part 1

My Bicycle Commuting - Dangerous crossing, but why?

An elderly with a teen pillion rode across this junction when, I guess, red man is on since it was already 40s after red light for my direction. Of course, this is a dangerous act. However, what's the reason?

This is the junction between Chancery Lane and Dunearn Road. Note that this junction stops for 2 minutes before green, but I think only about 30 s for pedestrian crossings. Also note that not too many cars turned into Chancery Lane. Thus, why is it that pedestrians cannot cross for 90 s plus when it is relatively safe to cross, and if missed the 30 s, need to wait for 90 s plus the time until the next green man?

I think the current settings and environment is dangerous as it is inducive for people to take risks. (22 Oct 2013)

Part 2

My Bicycle Commuting - A short quiet tracked unused but maintained

This few blocks in Dover have been under SERS but now some of them rented out to students and others. There is this small park besides AYE opposite NUH/NUS-SOM. At the moment, I think no body is using them. Nevertheless, I find them being well maintained.

My Bicycle Commuting - My bicycle was "lost"

Today when I got to the MD11 carpark I was shocked to see my bicycle wasn't there!

I used to park my bicycle in one of the three racks on the left in the photo. There are now four bicycles there, and one on the pipe protecting frame. There is actually another few bicycles in this car park at other pipe protecting frames.

Seems like bicycle commuting is getting more popular, especially recently there are issues on crowded free shuttle bus in NUS and traffic jam along North Buona Vista Road.

Oh, what happened to my bicycle? As I don't lock it to the frame, some of these bicycle users deemed it is alright to move my bicycle to another spot, besides the wall. I don't think this is appropriate, especially with the wheelchair logo on the floor.

Thus, upon returning from my bike to lunch trip, I found this special design bike racks area:

However, this place is semi sheltered. Thus, I still need to seek for a better place. I wonder would the DSO staff car park has bicycle parking facility?

Here is the tour of the car park and a quick hunt for the above parking place. (21 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - the newly discovered route, the opposite direction.

From Stevens Road to Nassim Road.

From Holland Road to Margaret Drive. (24 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - Sudden left turn

A car waiting at a traffic light next to Square 2 along Irrawaddy Road made a sudden left turn into the slip road, just seconds before the light turn green. Such act seems to be legal, is it? Lucky I was a few seconds behind his turn otherwise I would have flew. With more and more blur drivers around, must learn not to pass by cars on the left, especially when going down slope where speed is usually high. 

(21 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - A driver on handphone

While waiting for the light at the junction of Holland Road and Avenue, I saw a lady driver talking on her handphone on her right hand while turning right into Holland Avenue. Too bad video quality is poor and I made the mistake turning the camera where headlights of other cars blind the picture. When will CSI technology become available at home?

Photo quality also poor. (21 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - ride with the horses

This is one of my favourite routes because can see the beauty of horses and at times like this case, more beauties. (18 Oct 2013)

Edit: oops, forgot to share the location. This is along Jalan Mashhor.

My Bicycle Commuting - Three incidents in a trip.

First, a man running across pedestrian crossing at One-north Gateway towards Dover Close East.

Second, a car stopped in a yellow box at Commonwealth Crescent and Drive junction.

Third, a car U-turn along Ah Hood Road. (17 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - Yet another route discovered!

I have already found multiple routes between Toa Payoh and NUH. Yet, I just discovered another one! A ~5 steps stair case (see video from 2:12 and 6:25) joining Nassim Road and Fernhill Road, and some uneven pavement along Stevens Road. (17 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - Rendezvous with a Brompton

Saw him along Holland Road, he turned into Cluny Road which I should have but forgotten to. Anyway, I made the turn after the turning vehicles passed by. To my surprised, I caught up with him at Nassim Road junction. Does Brompton have a higher gear ratio than Tern Link C7? He seems to have a lower cadence along Holland Road than me. (14 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - What's this driver's intention?

The driver almost overtook me, and then signaled left when already on my left. On not able to turn, left signal was off for a second, and then signaled right. Eventually stopped at the red traffic light. (16 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - What is the issue this driver had with me?

This driver had an issue with me but I am not too sure what. (14 Oct 2013)

My Bicycle Commuting - Overtaken from the left

By ridding on the lane, which is the more correct way, drivers would be tempted to overtake me from the left.

I suspect this could be a reason why the cyclist in this video chose to ride on the lane markings.

My Bicycle Commuting - Almost got doored

Getting doored should not be common in Singapore because we have wide lanes and very few places for road side parking. Still, just had a close case a few days ago.

Three foldies

I bought another folding bicycle in March this year, which is the third one. Let me put down some words about the three bicycles.

1) A Raleigh 20" bought from Amazon UK during a 3 week stint there in Jun 2009 at £147.99. Used it for my commute there riding around The Drop Inn Hotel @ Wilmslow Road, Manchester. I can't say much about this bike as I only rode it during my stay there, and [accidently] sold it on ebay to someone in Singapore.

2) A Polygon Urbano 3.0 bought last year to actually try out bicycle commute using folding bicycle. I like its lower price yet comes with rear rack and fenders.

3) A Tern Link C7 bought in March this year so that whole family can go further out for a ride together. Indeed, from Toa Payoh, we have ridden to Bishan Park numerous times and ECP twice. Five year old son is not cycling yet, just using his balancing bike.

My Bicycle Commuting - A man using Segway

This was seen in August 2013.

A man on Segway

and a short clip:

My Bicycle Commuting: "Fatal" accident

Heard something dropped this morning. Realized this rear light was missing. Went back and found these. Arhh.. just realized I didn't recover the most important part :P

Victim missing vital organs

My Bicycle Commuting - Stuck in the rain and "Waterproofing"

Last night I was stuck in the rain not once but twice on my trip home. Didn't know it was raining until I came up from my basement office. Checked the rain radar map, and somehow think it is better to go east then north. Got into storming rain in Science Park area. Waited for awhile and when rain became light, decided to go north first. I think the decision was right as the rain was quite light all the way until I came out from Commonwealth Dr on to Queensway where it was raining cats and dogs. The rain radar map didn't indicate the area is raining but it was :( Waited for 10 minutes and the rain stopped almost instantly.

Below shows how a plastic bag is used to cover and "waterproof" the front bag with the help of a bamboo clothe peg.

"waterproofing"

My Bicycle Commuting - a short forest-like route

This was an interesting find when I explored going from Camp road to Dempsey side a few months ago. I rode this route again last Friday.

My Bicycle Commuting - a lady trying out

Two days ago I saw her riding slowly and carefully, on the double yellow lines near the left kerb. Also with a haversack on her back, in tropical Singapore. I got the feeling that she is new and likely trying out bicycle commuting to her work place.

My bicycle commuting - A lady smiled at me

Starting this new series where I aim to record down anything related to my bicycle commuting.

This first one is also a first time encounter since I started bicycle commuting in 1996.

Today, on the traffic light island at the Queensway and Commonwealth Avenue, as I stopped beside the traffic light post for support to avoid the need to land my leg on the ground, just behind a Caucasian lady, she turned and smiled at me.

The lady waiting at the traffic light island.

Crossing over.