Frequently Asked Questions

The National Cycling Plan is an initiative to roll out intra-town cycling programmes in various towns. To date, 7 HDB towns have been identified under this Plan - Tampines, Taman Jurong, Yishun, Pasir Ris, Sembawang, Changi-Simei and Bedok. In these 7 towns, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will facilitate the development of dedicated off-road intra-town cycling paths. This will complement the existing cycling infrastructure within these towns for intra-town cycling to transport nodes and key local amenities.  A cycling network will also be developed in the Marina Bay area.

By 2014, we will roll out at least 50 km of cycling paths in the various cycling towns, and a comprehensive network of 16km of cycling paths in the Marina Bay area.

Yes, the long-term intention is for LTA to extend the Plan to more towns and other parts of Singapore, in a phased manner.  The prioritisation would take into consideration the local characteristics of the town, the extent of a cycling community in the town, the support for cycling from the community, and also to dovetail cycling infrastructure plans with estate upgrading/rejuvenation plans.

Cycling is increasingly popular as a mode of transport. Therefore, the Government is developing practical ways to facilitate cycling, especially for short-distance intra-town trips to and between transport/activity nodes. Cycling serves as an alternative mode of transport within the towns. It is more environmentally-friendly, cost-effective and brings about health benefits for the cyclist.

As our land is scarce and road space is limited, we have to make sure that road space is optimally utilised. We have dedicated lanes on our roads only for buses as they are an efficient form of mass transportation that carry many more passengers than bicycles. Instead, our approach as far as possible is to provide cyclists with dedicated off-road cycling paths along road reserves. 

Current traffic rules allow cyclists to make use of bus lanes.

To protect the interests of cyclists and other road users, LTA has been working with other stakeholders such as the Traffic Police (TP), the Safe Cycling Task Force (SCTF) and local community leaders to shape and promote good cycling behaviour through our public education and enforcement efforts. 

Safe Cycling Clinics have been piloted in Tampines town and there are plans to conduct them in the other cycling towns. A Volunteer Cycle Warden Scheme is in place to monitor any unsafe cycling behaviour at “hotspots” such as junctions and bus shelters in Tampines. Similar efforts to educate cyclists have been carried out successfully in Aljunied, Eunos, and Paya Lebar with the support of the local communities and the LTA.

Apart from these efforts, TP has been giving talks in schools and at community-level events to provide tips on safe cycling. At these talks, TP shares case studies of traffic accidents involving cyclists and the benefits of using a pre-riding checklist for cyclists. In addition, road safety exhibitions which provide safety tips for cyclists have been held at HDB neighbourhoods, schools, and workplaces.

Under the Road Traffic Act, the Police will investigate if reckless cyclists endanger pedestrians or other road users, and physical injury is involved. First time offenders may fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to 3 months for riding in a disorderly manner and without due regard for the safety of others. Those who commit a second or subsequent offence may be fined $2,000 or jailed up to 6 months. 

To introduce a system that requires bicycle owners to register their bicycles would not be practical as it must be accompanied by a rigorous enforcement regime. This means that we must put in tremendous resources to ensure all cyclists must  register their bicycles not only when they buy them, but also to de-register when they sell or give up their bicycles. Bicycles have been exempted from registration requirements in Singapore in 1982 and to re-introduce this would not only be regressive but also unnecessarily subject bicycle owners to onerous requirements.

Developed countries such as the UK, Australia and New Zealand, similarly do not impose registration requirements on conventional pedal bicycles and low-powered motorised bicycles. It is better to focus on improving cycling behaviour, which is more critical from the road safety point of view.

Members of the public may lodge a police report at any Police Station, Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) or dial "999" for the Police Emergency Line or lodge the report online at the Electronic Police Centre (ePC) at www.spf.gov.sg/epc .

They should provide the following information:

o    Date/Time/Place
o    Description of cyclist involved including his height and built as well as his clothing;
o    Particulars of witnesses, if any

Police will continue taking enforcement action against cyclists who endanger their lives and those of other road users by cycling in a disorderly manner, riding against the flow of traffic and other pedal-cyclist-related offences.

For any accidents between pedestrians and cyclists on the footways, the cyclist is required to exchange particulars with the victim. If the cyclist refuses, the pedestrian or any witness may detain the cyclist until the particulars are obtained or until the cyclist is delivered to the custody of a police officer.

In the event of a hit and run accident, the victim or witness should note down the time and location of the accident, as well as characteristics of the cyclist and the bicycle before lodging a report with the Police. The victim should also note the contact details of witnesses. Police will investigate the case accordingly.

If a motorist is involved in an accident with a cyclist, a traffic accident report will need to be made at any Police Station, Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) or Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP). The motorist/cyclist should provide (wherever possible) the following information:

o    Date/Time/Place of Accident;
o    Particulars of witnesses;
o    Damage and position of the accident vehicle (s); and
o    Description of other vehicle(s) involved.

If the cyclist is injured, both parties should first call for an ambulance and seek help from passers-by(s) to warn other road users of possible obstruction or danger arising from the accident.
      
Should anyone be injured in a collision, the injured parties can also separately take up a civil suit to claim compensation.