Why Singapore is not so bicycle friendly

When I first arrived in Singapore, I began asking questions about getting a bicycle and riding to work. Most Lee Kuan Yew School colleagues with whom I spoke advised against it. They told me there were relatively few bicycle riders and that Singapore was a ‘bike-unfriendly place.’

As readers will know, I purchased a budget-priced portable bicycle last wednesday. I am now creeping up the learning curve vis a vis bicycle transport in Singapore. On Wednesday, I rode ‘round trip’ to work, each leg about 10 miles and rejected that as a regular practice. I arrived at the office too hot, sweaty and tired. On the trip home, in twilight, I was a bit casual about crossing against a red light and nearly experienced an unplanned transition to my next incarnation. On Thursday I took the shuttle in the morning and role home in the evening twilight. This worked well but I had an ignominious, painful (though not serious) fall. Singapore sidewalks often have sharp fall-off at the edges and, frequently, there are trenches. Focused concentration is required, especially when perched atop my somewhat wobbly portable bike with its sall wheels. My concentration can wander - there is so much to see and absorb in a new culture. Each time I do a fall provides sharp wake up call. Fortunately no disabling injuries...yet. Just a few bruises. Yesterday I rode nearly 20 miles and found a better route to work, with 1/3 of the journey on a walking/bike path along a drainage canal - and only one fall.

But I have learned something interesting about Singapore bike transport. There are lots of riders, though few ride the Metro/Bus friendly portables (I have seen only one other, so far). But the riders, especially on weekdays, are overwhelmingly poor people - I suspect that many are temporary immigrants with ‘workers permits.’ I assume - though I don’t know for sure - that they are riding for economic reasons, not to promote sustainability or improve their health.

Singapore’s government is responsive. The ‘lobbying’ that it took to allow portable bikes on metros and busses (by the owner of Singapore’s leading portable bike store) was miniscule by Washington standards, but few have yet taken advantage of the opportunity. Statistics compiled by Singapore’s Department of Land Transportation (responsible for busses, trains, and roads) report that only 11% of Singaporeans own automobiles. They are heavily taxed and one must have an ‘Entitlement Certificate to make a purchase. An automobile is at least as much a status symbol as a convenience. In European Cities and, so some degree in Washington DC, bike transport has become a status symbol. In Singapore, it is not.