CYCLISTS USING PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS

CYCLISTS USING PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS:

(Safety of cyclists and pedestrians): 20.

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo asked the Minister for Transport what can be

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done to address the challenges faced by the increase in the number of cyclists who use pedestrian walkways and to ensure the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians.

The Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, given Singapore's land constraints, my Ministry's policy is to optimise our available road and pedestrian space to meet the diverse needs of pedestrians, motorists, cyclists as well as people with disabilities. In the use of space, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) gives priority to public transport as it is the most efficient means of transportation.

Sir, we do not have the luxury of space to develop a comprehensive network of dedicated lanes for bicycles. Instead, the focus is on making it safer for the different road users to share the space we have. Hence, the LTA and the Traffic Police are working with the Tampines grassroots organisations on a trial in Tampines Town to assess the feasibility of allowing cycling on footways, which is currently prohibited. The aim of the study is to assess whether pedestrians and cyclists are prepared to share a common footway. The study started in late May and will last a year.

To safeguard the safety of pedestrians and cyclists during the trial, the organisers undertook a series of public education programmes to promote safe riding on footways. These include the dissemination of a set of guidelines for cyclists and pedestrians developed in consultation with organisations such as the National Safety Council of Singapore (NSCS), the Singapore Action Group for the Elders (SAGE), the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association (SACA) and the Safe Cycling Task Force (SCTF). Cycling wardens have also been deployed along the footways in Tampines to advise

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pedestrians and cyclists on sharing the footways in a safe and gracious manner. The Police will continue to take action against cyclists who ride on the footpaths recklessly, or in a disorderly manner that endangers pedestrians or other footpath users.

Depending on the outcome of the study, the Tampines community may have the option of making the scheme permanent. Where there is community support for such a scheme in other neighbourhoods, LTA and the Traffic Police may also consider allowing cyclists to share the footpaths in their respective towns after taking into account characteristics such as road infrastructure, density of pedestrians and cyclists on footways and environmental factors.

Besides reviewing the feasibility of allowing cyclists and pedestrians to share the use of footways, the LTA has also been working with NParks to build on its Park Connector Network which cyclists can use for both recreational and commuting purposes. LTA will identify and incorporate crossing points for cyclists at locations where the park connector interfaces with the road network.

Mr Speaker, Sir, footways can be shared safely if users are civic-minded and exercise responsibility for their own safety and that of other road users. We can facilitate, but, ultimately, every pedestrian and cyclist has a part to play in making footways safe for all.

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo: Thank you for the comprehensive reply. Can I just ask a supplementary question with regard to the trial that is happening in Tampines? I am not sure whether the Minister of State is aware that, with that trial, it has also resulted in other housing estates and

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cyclists assuming that the trial is happening across Singapore, because we are starting to see that. In that aspect, I think it may be necessary to also look at how we can educate those in the other estates in terms of road sharing because there are no wardens in these other estates. And in terms of educating the people on trial, is there anything that can be done? I think education is one of the factors here, and looking at the feasibility of those other estates as well, because I do understand that it is becoming more rampant in terms of people assuming that the trials are all around Singapore.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Sir, may I reiterate that the road traffic rules currently prohibit cycling on footways and that would apply to all other towns, other than Tampines Town which is having this trial. Public education will have to continue not just in terms of cautioning people to share space properly. It will be an ongoing effort not only on the part of the Government but also of the various groups that I have named in my speech just now.