“Bumpy ride for bike commuters” [04:27]. RazorTV, 24 Feb 2013
“Have you ever wanted to ride your bike to the MRT station, board the train with it, then ride home or to the office? Well, there are Singaporeans who have been doing just that, but it isn’t all smooth riding for these so-called multi-modal commuters. Find out the challenges they face when they go bike-train-bike.”
“Cyclists want bikes allowed on trains during peak hours” [04:03]. RazorTV, 24 Feb 2013
Thanks for all who have feedback. Here is a complied list of all the contributors:
1) What I like about the trial:
I can travel a long distance on public transport and then cycle to the exact point I need to go. Healthy, green, convenient and save money!
No need to walk a long distance or wait for shuttle bus
Bus drivers and MRT personnel are pleasant toward folding bike users.
On the road, I noticed SMRT bus drivers are more cautious toward cyclists
The possibility to use MRT/bus come in very handy when it rain.
2) Problem/issues I faced during the trial:
I can’t use the folding bike during peak hours
Sometimes the train/bus is too crowded for folding bike to board
On Buses, I need to squeeze through a narrow passage before reaching the open space near the exit of the bus
There is a social stigma against cyclists. I get the feeling that Taxi drivers and large truck drivers really don’t like cyclists on the road.
A few times I had to stop quite dangerously to avoid knocking into cars that try to cut in front of me to turn left.
I notice some cyclists are quite rude toward pedestrians, as if they own the pavement.
3) Improvement suggestions:
Allow folding bikes at all times, not just peak hours. Otherwise there should be theft-proof parking facilities in MRT station.
Allowed folding bike to board from the exit (near to the space for wheel chair)
Allocate a “cyclist cart” on each train (remove all the seats) for folding bike /bulky objects. This helps to ease the conflict between passengers and folding bike cyclists.
Have operator to run a “folding bike share” program along all the MRT stations. User can pick up from any station and drop off at another station. SMRT can use the MRT to relocate the bikes to balance the demand in each station.
Improve road safe (e.g. reduce car speeds), especially in busy area near to the stations or shopping center.
Mark out a bicycle lane on road/ or on pavement where fast traffic is dangerous for cyclist.
Add bicycle rack in front of SMRT buses.
Read more:
LTA “Fold it and Ride it” trial on MRT and Buses
How to bring folding bike on Buses?
How to bring folding bike on MRT?
Jz88 has been invited, along with other major brands of folding bikes in Singapore, to share feedback regarding the ‘Foldable Bicycle Trial on Trains and Buses’ that ends on 24 Nov 08.
If you have anything to said, feel free to post your comments here:
1) What is good about the trial?
2) What is not so good about it?
3) How would you suggest for improvement?
The meeting will be on this Friday, so post your comment before Thursday if you want your view to be included.
It’s really simple, if you spot the right bus.
A while back my friend ask me what’s the best way to bring a folding bike on bus, especially during the peak hours?
I am not a bus person, so that question actually caught me unguarded. I went on to experiment on a few buses in different situations. The very old type of bus with chairs on both sides along the whole length of the bus is the worst. The only location you can leave your bike in such bus is the space on top of the left wheel. Forget about bringing your bike on bus during the peak hour, it is not yet allowed anyway.
Newer buses especially those with wheel chair access are easy. There is a big space for standing passengers and and wheel chair in the middle near the exit, here you can put your bike (folded) just against one of the walls. As seen in this recent news on Channel U clip:
Tips for old bus: make sure your bike is really secured and not moving about when you leave it on top of that platform. If the bike slip and fall it may hurt others.
Tips for new bus: open up the wheel base to gain more stability for the bike. Otherwise if the bus is crowded you can sandwish the bike between your legs and the wall to prevent it from falling.
Watch another TV news of Jz88 folding bike on MRT
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Other related posts/links:
– How to bring Jz88 on to MRT?
– Bicycle? no, it’s a shopping trolley!
– Jz88 folding bike home
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LTA announced today that from September 15 to November 24, foldable bicycles will be allow on board Buses and MRT during off-peak (9.30 am to 4.30 pm and after 7.30 pm) week days and all day on Saturday Sunday, and public holiday.
The decision is based on the feedbacks from cyclist, bus commuters and bus drivers. During the first half of a 6 month trial of allowing foldable bikes on buses during weekend there were no adverse nor injury reports, and the commuters were accommodating.
Let’s hope the remaining 3 months trial will finish as uneventfully, and the rule will become more open again.