Monday, November 18, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - does honking make an illegal act legal?

In a recent case (the Vivo case) where a cyclist rode on the lane markings of the right turn lane, many argued that he should have ridden on the right turn lane instead. I reasoned that he might have had some bad experiences before when ridding in the lane. A likely scenario is that some cars could have overtook him from the left and cut in dangerously. Last Thursday evening I experienced this! 

In his rush to make the turn before the lights turn from green to red, this NUS internal shuttle bus driver overtook me from the left, made the right turn in between the left turning and right turning lanes, and think that a short horn gave him the legal rights to do this! (14 Nov 2013)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - in long sleeves and pants

Is Singapore too hot for bicycle commuting? Not really, especially in the morning before 8:30 a.m. (5 Nov 2013)


Monday, November 11, 2013

Sunday, November 10, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - USB rechargeable rear lights

Recently decided to switch to USB rechargeable lights as this would remove the worry of battery running out and keeping enough but not over stocks at home. However, the rear light failed to work properly after a couple of days.

The light will either dimmed or off after awhile without any triggering event.


Meddled with it for another two weeks and identified the issue that a connection on the circuit board is broken. By clamping a small wire on the board, I have, at least temporarily, solved the problem. It has been working for half a day, though only a short ride to buy dinner during this time.


Saturday, November 9, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - worry for them

These two whom I believed are from PRC ridding bikes with no rear lights at night, and moving off abreast but the man on the outside right wobble outwards and kenna honked at. The driver must have prepared for that. Instead of drive slower and wait a very short while that won't lengthen his travel time, especially when three of us are at the junction, he/she preferred to honk at the opportunity to do so. Hmmm.. (30 Oct 2013)


Friday, November 8, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - will I be stomped?

Saw a guy in a taxi using phone to take a picture of me. I had a shock. Was I being stomped? I hope not.

After watching the clip I think more likely he is a tourist and was just snapping the new Zhongshan Park or building/mall/hotel behind me. (1 Nov 2013)


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - Foreigners not pleased about our traffic light system

At the Junction of Cluny and Napier road, two people, whom I guess are tourist from Hong Kong, were commenting on our traffic light system. Not happy about it though, expressing some confusions. (1 Nov 2013)



My Bicycle Commuting - Want to get giddy?

Try watching the video captured by my phone at the rear that had dropped out while ridding.


Thanks for a ~2cm "step/kerb" on the road, the phone came out of the bag and dangling as I continued ridding for another 10+ minutes before I checked. (30 Oct 2013)

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - Should be able to estimate the speed from video

I think the car highlighted in the video is speeding. Checking the time stamp of the frames and knowledge of the lane markings spacing, I think should be able to estimate the speeds of the cars. (30 Oct 2013)


Monday, November 4, 2013

My cycling in Singapore experiences - On safety and convenience

In some recent discussions, I realized that some people see bicycle users conveniently change roles between vehicle and pedestrians as an issue. They also feel that it is unfair. How is it that cyclist conveniently change roles between vehicle and pedestrians an issue? How is unfair an issue?

Yes, I agree the danger in sudden changing without checking, etc. and these are safety issues that needs to be tackled. However, we should target the unsafe mindsets and behaviors, not everything. The ability to conveniently change roles and doing so in a safe way should not be the issue.

In some cases, yes it is for convenience, in some cases it is actually for safety. Basically these two objectives shape the way cyclists behave. However, I believe for most mature enough bicycle users, safety is always the underlying first prerequisite before trying to be more convenience. Many seemingly dangerous behaviors of bicycle users are actually a safer way, if not the safest, and usually the safest + most convenient + most not disturbing to others all balanced, compared to alternatives, which were usually not thought of whenever many are commenting on such behaviors.

In fact this is human nature. Reflecting upon it, I believe everyone, of course including all motorists, are sacrificing some safety for convenience all the time. Just that motorists are much more restricted by equipment, laws, rules and enforcement to not able to have much convenience gained.

To motorists who want to but very restricted to do likewise, it seems unfair. However, please consider the number killed by bicycle users and those by motorists. Consider the killing potential of motorized vehicles and bicycles. Consider the fact (I once read somewhere) that traffic rules existence was created by too many fatal accidents involving motorized vehicles.

Thus, indeed, bicycle is always sidelined because too little people understand bicycle as a commuting device. People have forgotten that motorized vehicles are what makes the roads dangerous, not the pedestrians, bicycle users, horse carriages, etc., which have been around many decades and centuries before motorized vehicles, which gave rise to road traffic rules/laws that weren't needed for centuries. Until the day when bicycle usage caused 1% or even 0.1% of fatalities caused by motorized vehicles, please just let bicycle users do the safe and convenient acts.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - Good driving skill?

This driver has good skill to spring out and turn into his proper lane just split second before a bus driving pass on a down slope.

This is also the junction where I encountered a driver who had issue with me. That driver position the car at the middle of the lane but turn out on to the 2nd lane (from the right) and then "swung" back on to the 3rd lane, which I find it awkward. Here you can see that both cars positioned themselves at the middle of the road opening and made their turns into the 1st and 2nd lane respectively. (29 Oct 2013)


Saturday, November 2, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - Right turn signal spoiled or hand broken?

Why so impatient want to filter at that point, just a second before green. Didn't give signal. Watch longer, he just doesn't want to give signal on the next right turn! (24 Oct 2013)


Friday, November 1, 2013

My Bicycle Commuting - Our weather is so nice

Seems like some don't find the weather here not conducive for cycling to work. He didn't ride before the sun comes out. Not only that, he was wearing office attire while cycling to work. Not the normal attire we locals wear, but in suit.

Actually, I think his speed and suit can help him minimize perspiration, and I guess his travel distance is short. (28 Oct 2013)


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