Singapore – A cyclist wearing earphones was recently spotted on the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), sparking a call from the online community for the Land Transport Authority to consider higher fines or confiscation.
“Lone cyclist riding with headphones on PIE shoulder on Feb 18 at 2:26 pm just before Eng Neo exit,” wrote Facebook page ROADS.sg, sharing a video of the incident.
The video showed a cyclist wearing a helmet and earphones while riding along PIE.
With over 100 comments to date, members from the online community wondered why cyclists would still risk riding on expressways and highways when they should know this was prohibited.
“Cycling in expressway is not allowed yet cyclist still do it why? Are they doing it even they know it’s against the law?” asked a Facebook user. “So it’s time to increase the compound of fines for such cyclists. Heavily fines and pound their cycles too.”
A concerned citizen said the punishment should be the same across all road users. “Should be similar to using handphone while driving (Traffic Police will confiscate the phone). Caught riding on the expressway, confiscate the bicycle as well.”
Others highlighted the possibility that cyclists don’t take the rules more seriously because they can’t be caught.
“In his mind. Haha, so what? I don’t have a number plate on my bicycle; you cannot catch me. You don’t know who I am. That is a lot of cyclist mindsets. I can do wrong cos nobody knows who I am,” said a netizen.
It is illegal to cycle on expressways or any slip road or interchange between and leading into or out of any two or more expressways.
“Do not cycle on the expressways … Never assume you have the right of way and always remain alert and vigilant while cycling on the roads. Keep a lookout for other bigger and faster road users,” said the police in a report by mothership.sg.
Cyclists violating the law could get fined up to S$2,000 for riding on expressways or be sentenced up to six months’ jail time./TISG
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