Letter to the Editor | Cyclists not adhering rules can hamper road safety, could LTA consider prohibiting cyclists on certain roads?

Dear Editor,

I refer to The Independent’s report (July 1) – a video which showed groups of cyclists in HarbourFront sparks public concerns & criticisms for disregarding traffic laws. This video was shown on Facebook community page SG Road Vigilante- SGRV on June 28.

Foremost, let us always keep in mind the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276, Section 112). It clearly states that road traffic requires the cooperation of all road users for its smooth and efficient operation.

Hence, all road users always have to be considerate, courteous, vigilant, and sober. It is particularly for cyclists and pedestrians, as they are considered the most vulnerable groups on the road.

Moreover, The Active Mobility Act (AMA) came into force in May 2018. On-road Rules which place a strong emphasis upon cyclists and power-assisted bicycle (PAB) riders must adhere to the following rules when riding on roads:

1. Obey all traffic signals and travel in the same direction as the flow of traffic.
2. Always ride as close as practicable to the far left edge of roads, and allow traffic to overtake you safely.
3. Cycle in a single file on single-lane roads.
4. (From 1 Jan 2022) Keep to a maximum length of 5 bicycles when riding in groups, which means a maximum of 5 cyclists if riding in single file, or 10 cyclists if riding two abreast.
5. Not cycle on expressways, road tunnels (currently 14) and selected viaducts (so far Tuas Viaduct is prohibited).

We can vividly notice from the specific uploaded video which showed that the cyclists did not adhere to the rule 2, 3 & 4 stated above. Undoubtedly, this incident could hamper road safety.

Anyway, based on my close observation, the width of a drive lane/path is about 1.83 metres. If cyclists ride in two abreast, it could simply occupy about 0.92 metres and hardly allow a salon car to drive past them or squeeze through a drive path. It is especially so during the peak hours of traffic in the morning and evening period.

Could LTA consider the prohibition of cyclists riding on West Coast Highway, Bukit Timah Viaduct, and Bartley Road East Flyover/viaduct as the traffic volume is high during the morning and evening peak hours at these mentioned venues?

Teo Kueh Liang

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of The Independent Singapore.

VIDEO | Group of cyclists in HarbourFront sparks public concerns & criticisms for disregarding traffic laws