BICYCLISTS TRAVELLING ALONG PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES (Regulations)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there are regulations for bicyclists when travelling along public thoroughfares to ensure the safety of themselves and other road-users; and (b) if there are, what is the number of bicyclists caught for violation of such regulations for the past year as well as the punishments meted out for such violations.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, cyclists on roads are required to obey the same traffic rules as motorists. Additionally, the Road Traffic (Bicycle) Rules set out the manner in which cyclists should conduct themselves whilst on the road. They also stipulate safety requirements such as brakes and headlamps. The purpose is to ensure the safety of the cyclists as well as other road users.

In 1998, Traffic Police issued 115 summonses to cyclists. These were for more serious offences such as riding against the flow of traffic and riding abreast of other cyclists. A typical composition fine of $20 was imposed. Cyclists who commit minor offences are usually counselled and let off with a warning.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Cheng San): Sir, is the Minister of State aware that there are many bicycles being used at night on the road without headlamps or reflector lights?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: I think it is a subjective view, but there will certainly be bicyclists who flout the law. I want to assure the Member that what the Traffic Police will do is to step up public education. This is one focus where Traffic Police will put more effort, targetting, in particular, the elderly, working through, for example, SAGE and the People's Association as well as foreign workers through their employers.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Sir, I do not believe it is a matter of subjective view. Would the Minister of State ask some company to do a survey because, currently, without registration, most bicycles are used on the roads without headlights or reflector lights at night. And very often, for some strange reasons, the bicyclists normally wear dark clothings, making them both a danger to themselves as well as to other road users. Just for the Minister of State's information, I had a personal experience where I nearly knocked into a bicyclist. Thereafter, I made it a point to observe such bicyclists on the roads. From my own personal survey, I would say that the majority of them do not use headlights.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: As I have assured the Member, we have got the rules which are there. Indeed, all cyclists should be reminded that they are also part of the traffic and therefore they should abide by the traffic rules. Having said this, whilst enforcement is important, on the other hand, given the wide range of cyclists where you have young children and the elderly, we should also remember that public education is another arm that should be embarked on. Indeed, police will take these two approaches of enforcement and public education.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: May I ask of the Minister of State whether the police will step up enforcement because I had personally observed policemen actually ignoring such infringements?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: It depends on the nature of the offence. Like I have said, in the more serious offences, for example, cycling against the flow of traffic, police indeed have issued such summonses. Indeed, over the years, the number of summonses has gone up. I will inform the police of the Member's concern and, where appropriate, enforcement would be carried out.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: May I ask something specifically of the Minister? If a bicycle is used on the public thoroughfare without a headlight, and if a policeman happens to be standing by, would the policeman ignore such an offence, or would he try to stop the cyclist and take down the particulars of the cyclist?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Like I have said, there is a range of options open to the police officer. In some situations, they have given warnings, which is also an option. In other cases, they have issued summonses. So I would say it depends on the facts of each case.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: I am afraid the Minister of State misunderstood me. I have asked a very specific question, ie, if a policeman were to observe a bicyclist without a headlight passing by him at night, would he ignore the infringement? Or would the policeman actually stop the cyclist to take down the particulars of the cyclist?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: As a law enforcement officer, I would expect the policeman to at least warn the cyclist and to inform him that he is violating the law. That is the least that he can do.