My Bicycle Commuting - Diagonal Pedestrian Crossing?

The junction between Balmoral/Anderson/Stevens road is one of the many uniquely Singapore junctions. There is no pedestrian crossing across Stevens on the west side, probably because most cars from Balmoral Road waiting at the junction will be turning right into Stevens Rd. Furthermore, there are two long periods for cars travelling straight along Stevens Road and those that are making right turn into either Balmoral or Anderson roads. All these lead to long wait for most pedestrians, and it is quite common for many to cross this junction diagonally. Currently, doing so is illegal, but I think quite safe because of the followings:

• The time allowance for the two right turns for cars along Stevens Road into Balmoral and Anderson roads is sufficiently long.
• The right turn from Stevens Road into Anderson Road is not at the junction, but some distance from the junction, giving a wide space between the outer curves of the two right turn paths.
• Although the junction is not small, but the diagonal distance between the two corners (north and south) are not too far.

 (on 20140325)

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 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 - 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.

My cycling in Singapore experiences - Alternate routes

This post is about a way to make bicycle commuting safer by selection of route with safety as an, if not the most, important criteria. The idea does not need much explanation. Here, I'll just share how my recent commuting route evolved.

Start: Toa Payoh
End: NUH

During the initial years of my bicycle commuting in the late 90s, the route I would have used is based on bus route that I am familiar with. That would be Braddell, Lornie, Adam, Farrer, Holland, North Buona Vista, Lower Kent Ridge. I was and am still comfortable with majority of this route except the narrow-lanes and hilly Lornie and Adam roads, and most dangerous at the entrance to and exit from PIE along Adam road. Nevertheless, I think this route is the fastest and the last issue above "disappear" in the morning/evening peaks.

After some time, I have learned non-bus routes to get out and into Toa Payoh, and I called them "bicycle ports". Thus, I could avoid Braddell road by

My cycling in Singapore experiences - Pushing a bicycle up a slope

This is to share my experience and thoughts on how to push a small bicycle up the Braddell road bridge "connecting" the Kallang PCN between Bishan and Toa Payoh. Some background about this bridge can be found here, and here.

First, if you are pushing a full size and heavy enough bicycle, I don't think you would experience much issues. I have been pushing my old skool 26" hybrid bicycle up this place many times. However, I noticed many folding bike riders prefer to carry their bicycle up. I didn't know why until the first time I pushed my 20" Polygon Urbano 3.0 bicycle up this bridge. After doing so a few times, I think I know the issue. Below I'll share my experience:

Typically cyclists push their bicycles by holding the handle bar, allowing them to control the direction.The problem I had when pushing the folding bicycle is that the rear wheel kept slipping inwards on to the steps. This is irritating.

Thus, one way is to have one hand holding the saddle while the other holding the handle. However, with only one hand holding the handle bar, it is more challenging to control the direction.

Anyway, after exploring different ways of pushing, I found that I could push my folding bicycle easily with one hand at a lower position nearer to the frame (see blue arrow head in diagram below). For folding bicycle like mine, I can still control the direction holding here. My free hand can carry other stuff, e.g. my son's balancing bike, so I don't need to make another trip.

Partial force diagram illustration

Then, I gave some thoughts about it and figured out a reason for my method.

Most are good drivers

Though there may seem to be many cyclist-hater drivers when we read comments on news about cyclists on roads in the cyberspace, the fact that many are still alive riding on the roads suggest otherwise. Recently I am capturing rear video footage during my rides and I do notice many good, nice, and patient drivers around. 

Thus, I think those who hate cyclists on roads are only the minority among all drivers. And based on the common complaints, I further speculate that these are those who find overtaking a challenge, < 3 s delay (which is negligible once meet a red light) by cyclists unbearable, find driving expensive or not affordable but feel that by asking cyclists pay will ease their burden somehow, or are just plain cyclophobia.

Why do I cycle to work?

Why do I cycle to work? 

To save money and time.

How did I started? 

I had been cycling from Clementi to NUS for a few weeks in 1995. One day, I needed to go to Tanjong Pagar. However, I couldn't find a place near the MRT station that I felt was good and safe (from theft) to park the bike. Also out of curiousity, I decided to ride straight down to Tanjong Pagar. That trip took me 45 minutes, which I find is not too bad since I wasn't familiar of the route, and on a 24" MTB bike.

I don't compare this 45 minutes bicycle riding with 17 minutes by MRT from Clementi to Tanjong Pagar. I would consider the whole trip from when I step out of my door until I step into the destination. For bicycle, there would typically be an additional 5 minutes overhead. For public transport, this overhead includes waiting time and more walking times, which could typically be as long as 10 to 25 minutes.

I was surprised that riding bicycle isn't that slow. In fact, the trip took about only 35 minutes on a 26" hybrid bike and after being more familiar with the route. This second bike for commuting stays with me until now, although, except the seat post and frame, all other parts have been replaced.

For me, cycling to work was not my intention but the natural outcome after I started bicycle commuting. 

Where have I been cycling to work?

Cyclist right turn at junction when in a big group

Putting up a long comment on How to Make a Right Turn at a Cross Junction while Cycling as a blog post:

These are fine for riding individually. Might need to modify these parts for larger group rides. So, here are some suggestions with respect to group rides:

On the filtering method:

A bicycle w/o lock

A bicycle w/o lock and faulty brakes near Toa Payoh MRT last Thursday evening.

A broken bicycle lock

by owner or by thief?

Sent from my Samsung Omnia II GT-I8000

Is this a spot the mistakes advertisement?

Sent from my Samsung Omnia II GT-I8000

The first mistake I noticed is in the units.
Then I noticed the error in 640, before the words "check again!" got my attention.
On further reading and thinking...

Motorcyclist fined, banned for negligence

Motorcyclist fined, banned for negligence

Ha ha, this "needed a driving licence to continue working as a driver for a towing company" makes it more appropriate for him to be barred from driving any vehicle for five [or more] years.

- overtaking a bus on its left.
- did not see Mr Eang riding in front of him between the kerb and the bus.
- exceeded the speed limit.

This punishment will increase the chance of him being alive for the next 5 years.

Thanks for the jam

For years I avoided cycling via Adam road. Recently took a 93 bus and noticed the jam in the evening times. Thanks for the jam, I think, as it removes my reason for avoiding Adam road: it is much easier to cross the entrance to and exit from PIE when traffic is slow or even stand still.

Endomondo Cycling Workout: "was out cycling 8.95 km in 32m:19s using Endomondo."

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Endomondo Cycling Workout: "was out cycling 3.30 km in 17m:09s using Endomondo."
Endomondo Cycling Workout: "was out cycling 5.81 km in 22m:46s using Endomondo."
Endomondo Cycling Workout: "was out cycling 7.74 km in 34m:52s using Endomondo."
Endomondo Cycling Workout: "was out cycling 8.40 km in 31m:35s using Endomondo."

5th in Cycling?

5 best biking cities in Asia

If so, lets strive to be the best!

Majority penalized for the minority

Today my family had an experience with a failure of the Distance Fare system.

The bus we took somehow had its fare system not working after a couple of stops. So, all existing passengers could not tap out. After quite some time trying to reset it, and later more time spent trying to resolve the problem by talking to their technical support, still cannot make it work. In the end, almost all alighted and took another bus because we didn't want to waste time waiting for the issue to resolve, which seemed unlikely. Thus, all will be charged the maximum fare, and need to make claim in the following week. Then other bus captain told us that without a ticket from the first bus, we will have to tap in again.

Now, is $ the only issue here?

An education opportunity

My son is old enough to have some eagerness to watch the NDP fireworks. Also because he has watched it a couple of times. No, he is not old, only 2+, but we have watched it from far during the many past NDP rehearsals in the last few weeks.

Yet, today, the actual NDP day, he was sleeping during the fireworks display. My dad wanted to wake him up to watch, but I said no need. Because

Disappearing scenes

It may not be wise to pay for nice views of a property as nice views could disappear in this ever changing island.

A small area of the Macritchie reservoir still visible now will be blocked by the five 40 storeys DBSS The Peak blocks (now estimated about 20 storeys in the photo).

Another condo constructions will poke out from the faraway flat skyline soon.

The new distance-based fares

The new distance fare reminds me of the good old days (before MRT) when, as a student, I can make as many as transfers as I need with a monthly student bus stamp. With the new distance fare, I can again feel free, almost free, to transfer buses.

Previously, from Buona Vista to Toa Payoh, I used to take bus 105, which waiting time can be as long as 30 mins or more. Now, I have several options. My ultimate aim is to go via Whitley road, so my options are:

Take buses 100 147 196 198 to Mujahidin Mosque, transfer to buses 153 to TPY, or buses 93 855 to Farrer road, transfer to buses 153 to TPY, or buses 48 186 to Whitley road, transfer to buses 105 153 to TPY, or 151, 154 to Jalan TPY, transfer to the many buses that go into TPY.

Another example