#ChooseCycling

Even though cycling lanes are not available in most parts of Singapore, cycling became much safer during the pandemic. Yan Jingya relishes the rare chance to cycle the near-empty streets of Singapore and shares cycling tips.

by Geraldine Ee Li Leng

In the year of lockdown and social distancing, my life has changed totally - no travel, no office, no party. Staying home is highly recommended, especially during the “circuit breaker” (CB) period in Singapore. Only two main activities are allowed outdoors which do not require residents to wear a mask - running and cycling.

Fortunately, cycling is one of my favourite activities. Cycling became the only sport that I could continue during the circuit breaker period. It was a special experience to ride through the city during the CB period. Singapore was, for once, very quiet.

When I rode in Sentosa, my only encounter was with a peacock. When I rode around Bukit Timah Hill, the number of monkeys exceeded the number of people. Riding through the CBD area at 8:00pm, I did not find any vehicle. Hence, after work ends at 6:00pm at home, I can ride around Singapore in spite of it being “peak hours”.

Even though there are no cycling lanes in most parts of Singapore, cycling became much safer during this period. I could enjoy several wide and empty lanes by myself although this “quiet” I enjoy would at times seem eerie.  

Post-circuit breaker period, we are still working from home. Fortunately, the government now allows small groups of not more than five people to gather. My fellow cyclists and I started a routine of riding to Marina Bay to see the sunrise on Friday mornings and around the island on Sunday mornings. To be honest, cycling in a team is much more fun and easier than riding solo.  

As the circuit breaker eases, the heavy and hazardous traffic has returned to the roads. What has changed is that cycling has become more popular in Singapore. Since a healthy body is essential in fighting Covid-19, I share four routes to entice you to start riding: round-island, around Sentosa, downtown, and northern part of Singapore. Because of little traffic, I think Sentosa is a good place for the beginner. Moreover, it costs nothing to ride to Sentosa at any time of the day. In general, be aware of traffic regulations and avoid peak hours if possible. Finally, keep healthy, and stay safe.

Enlarged view: 1: almost round-island route; 2: route around Sentosa; 3: exploration of downtown; 4: route of northern part of Singapore  
1: almost round-island route; 2: route around Sentosa; 3: exploration of downtown; 4: route of northern part of Singapore  
Yan Jingya

Dr Yan Jingya is postdoctoral researcher in Digital Underground. Her research interests are GIS, ontology engineering, cartography, and computer science. Prior to this, she joined Future Resilient Systems in October 2015, where she was working on the growth and evolution of city infrastructure.