ptemp

I am writing this feedback as a regular user of public transport. In particular, I would like to focus on my daily commute between my home located halfway between Tiong Bahru and HarbourFront MRT stations and my workplace at Serangoon North.

As both my residence and office are not located near MRT stations, and there is no direct bus service linking the two locations, my daily commute involves bus-train-bus segments. In total, I take more than an hour each time to complete the three segments, inclusive of waiting times.

Over the past half year, I have been thinking about the possibility of converting the bus segment of my journey between MRT and Office into cycling. I had earlier discounted doing the same for the Home-MRT segment due to safety reasons, i.e. the heavy road traffic in my neighbourhood coupled with the lack of bicycle paths.

The benefits of cycling include:
* Exercise promoting a healthy lifestyle; and
* Not adding to the peak hour bus congestion.

After some research and much thought, I am finally embarking on this conversion. I would like to share some of my thoughts on this subject. My suggestions can be generally grouped into the following:

* Better publicity of existing bicycle paths next/near MRT stations
* Building bicycle paths near MRT stations
* Bicycle-related facilities at MRT stations
* Public announcements on trains

* Better publicity of existing bicycle paths next/near MRT stations

My earlier research into cycling between MRT and Office focussed on the possible routes from the two NEL MRT stations of Serangoon and Hougang located nearer my Office. While I see occasional cylists on the pedestrian paths on these routes, I was not eager to jostle with peak-hour human traffic (which is probably illegal anyway), nor risk life and limb on the narrow roads.

It was not until much later that I discovered that if I were to cast my net a little wider, there is a bicycle path Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 Park Connector (“AMKA5”) which commences at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West near Yio Chu Kang MRT and runs pretty close to my Office. Although this route is twice the distance, the bicycle path makes it a much more viable option.

The publicity of cycling options from/near MRT stations leaves much to be desired. While the NParks website does feature the Park Connector Network, somehow the interactive map doesn’t work on my computer. While there are alternative PDF maps, they are quite large and disconnected. It took me a while before I discovered that the bicycle path from Yio Chu Kang MRT I mentioned above is somehow not found in the various PDFs. Interestingly, the shorter Ang Mo Kio Park Connector is prominently featured, while the longer AMKA5 is nowhere to be found.

Overall the publicity can be improved in the following ways:
* The Park Connector Network should be offered as an overlay to Google Maps and OneMap.SG. Both services offer route planning features which should include the cycling option.

* Building bicycle paths near MRT stations

For commuters residing or working upto about 1km from MRT stations, walking is a good “last-mile” option.

* Bicycle-related facilities at MRT stations

* Covered bicycle sheds with security, industrial-size bicycle pump, water dispenser,

Security:
– Restricted access using either NRIC or TransitLink card
– Multiple security cameras which can be viewed real-time from the control station which can initiate a lock-down if deemed necessary (e.g. somebody entering premises with huge lock-cutter)
– Individual bicycle lock that secures the frame of the bicycle, not just the wheel.

* Public announcements on trains

I read a lot
Softer

Suggestions:

Personal experience

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parkconnectors&Itemid=74

http://46.137.240.5/NParks/index.html
Error #2032

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/images/park_images/ParkConnectors/NERL_map.pdf