We received a request from LTA. LTA would like to gather feedback from folding bike cyclists about the trial to allow foldable bicycles on board trains and buses, which commenced on 24 May 08. Attached is the survey form. Cyclists may return the survey form to Terence at terence_koah(at)lta.gov.sg by 12 Jun 2008.
JZ88 is featured in This month’s issue of Shape magazine, along with other brands including Puma, Brompton, Birdy and Dahon. If you are looking for a folding bike, the short and sweet article with clean pictures is a useful quick reference.
http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1933
A six month trial to bring foldable bicycles on trains and buses
1 The Land Transport Authority (LTA), SMRT and SBST will launch a six-month trial to allow foldable bicycles on board trains and public buses during off-peak hours.
3 This trial is one of the several initiatives announced during the Land Transport Review to meet the transport needs of diverse groups of people. It recognises the increasing trend of people cycling for sports and recreation, cycling around the neighbourhood, or cycling to key transport nodes like MRT stations.
It is encouraging to read the views of the SMRT and SBS Transit:
7 Ms Kang Huey Ling, SMRT’s Director, Station Operations, said, “We are happy to work with LTA on this trial. At SMRT, we support cycling as a viable travel option by linking cycling with public transport. We encourage passengers with foldable bikes to be considerate to their fellow passengers so that everyone can enjoy a pleasant travel experience.”
8 Mr Gan Juay Kiat, Chief Operating Officer, SBS Transit Ltd, said, “In supporting this trial, we hope to help a new group of commuters to use public transport as they pursue healthy and fun living. It is a move that is in line with SBS Transit’s green charter in supporting healthy and green living. We hope that through this trial, all commuters will learn to be more accommodating and share the limited space available on board buses and trains with one another. While we support the trial, we are also mindful of potential implementation problems. For instance, onlstance, only foldable bicycles le bicycles of a certain size are allowed on board our buses and trains. Commuters with bicycles that are larger will not be allowed on board. Cycling enthusiasts may also be turned away when the bus is crowded as bringing a bicycle on board during such instances may pose a safety hazard to all passengers. In cases like these, disagreements may occur and we seek the co-operation and understanding of all passengers so as not to cause unnecessary service delays and inconvenience to others.”
GENERAL GUIDELINES
a) Cyclists are responsible for the safe carriage of their foldable bicycles and must stay in the vicinity of their foldable bicycles at all times.
b) Foldable bicycles should be folded at all times in the MRT / LRT stations, bus interchanges / terminals and on trains and buses.
c) Foldable bicycles should not exceed 114 cm by 64 cm by 36 cm when folded.
d) The wheels of the foldable bicycles should be wrapped up if they are dirty or wet.
e) Protruding parts likely to cause injury or dirty/damage property to be covered up.
f) Foldable bicycles should not block the aisles and doors or impede commuter movement at any time.
g) Foldable bicycles should be carried in an upright position.
h) Only two foldable bicycles are allowed on each bus at any one time.
i) When travelling by SMRT / SBS Transit station staff and bus drivers may disallow foldable bicycles if the actual situation within an MRT/LRT station, bus interchange/terminal or on board a train/bus does not permit foldable bicycles to be admitted safely and without inconveniencing other commuters.
Cyclists of foldable bicycles may approach SMRT / SBS Transit staff if they require any assistance.
The public can share their views on this trial by contacting LTA via 1800 2255-582 (1800 Call-LTA), feedback@lta.gov.sg or SMS 77582 “77LTA”.
I’ve been ask several times this question. I am not a material engineer and only vaguely know that the slim design of JZ88, if made of aluminum, won’t be strong enough. But here is an interesting article “Metal matters” which helps to explain the difference of steel and aluminum, and other material.
“To compensate for this lack of stiffness, aluminum bikes almost always tend to use larger diameter and thicker walled tubing than steel bikes. By the time you dimension up an aluminum bike to gain the required stiffness and structural integrity, you really start to approach the weight of a well made steel bike.”
“To keep costs down and to produce an acceptably lightweight bike, manufacturers use aluminum in their construction rather than steel.”
I think the bottom line is, to try it yourself and to made your decision based on personal experience rather than just hearing what other said.
I intended to take a bus to school that day with my bike (JZ88), but on the way while cycling to the bus stop I met a fellow Pastor who’s on her way to a meeting near my school. So she suggested giving me a ride, I agreed and folded the bike into the car boot in less than 5 mins. This surprised her that the bike can go into the boot so well and there is space even for my bag and hers.
She dropped me off at her place of meeting which is about 5 km from my school, I took out the bike and ride it and on the way I felt the tire was soft and stopped at Mobile station to pump it up. It was uneventful the ride, but the usual concern when I was going uphill, the bike’s cranking sound is louder, I guess the weight of my books and myself combined is straining it. (I’ll be putting all my stuff into a locker at school soon and will only take along my mini EEE PC computer and a water bottle.)
I had to go to Pasir Ris for another appointment at night, but somehow I bumped into another Pastor at the school and he agreed to give me a ride down. (You see, Pastors are always obliged to be helpful…hee hee), and I got a ride to my next destination in a car!
After the meeting, I was tired, and it’s ten at night, I sighed at the thought of getting the bike on and off the bus, but to my surprise, the bike’s ability to stand up on its own after I folded it to the smallest size means I don’t need to even hold the weight of it. Then when the bus arrived, I just lift it up like a medium sized bag. I carried it right to the back row of the bus and sat down there. By the time the bus reached Tampinese Bus Interchange from Upper Serangoon Road there were few people on the bus, so I unfolded it quickly before the bus comes to a full stop and could ride off the bus immediately to the surprise of some by-standers at the interchange. (I bet they’ve not seen someone coming down from a bus with a bike!)
Cycling quickly to the Tampines MRT station, I decided to wheel in the bike by bending it by half but keeping the seat post and the handlebar upright, Then trolley like I wheel it in, under the glare of the station master but nobody stopped me. On the MRT I wheeled it to a corner near the other end of the door and since it is about 11pm I had all the seats to myself but didn’t take any. I wheeled the bike out when I came to the stop I wanted and just ride off back home after that. Reached home by 11:10pm!
My family thought I’ll take longer, but I didn’t.
Thanks for the bike, it’s amazing. I may have to put off more weight first cycling long stretches with my racer bike before I can load more weight on that tiny one. But it did accomplish the use it was for.
Oh another thing, the hills that I encountered (they are about 5 stories high at the max) and the incline that it is at, I cannot go up without getting off the bike. It’s ok, no big deal, the ride down was very fast but I felt stable and not wobbly. Good bike.
Yours,
Bill
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Thanks to Bill (Not his real name) for his permission to publish his post in this blog