CULTIVATING CYCLING BEHAVIOUR IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Cycling and its users have recently gained more attention, in terms of their role in transportation systems. In Singapore, where traffic congestion and environmental pollution from motorised vehicles are inevitable products of a highly urbanised city, cyclists and their needs have come into the spotlight. In its history, there has not been an evident cycling culture or significant identity as a cycling city; sometimes cyclists are even regarded as nuisances to others. This is even as Singapore is moving towards becoming an environmentally-friendly city. This paper examines this movement to cultivate and integrate cycling behaviour by the members of the public into their way of life, and how users can adopt cycling as their main mode of commuting While we acknowledge that the adoption and changing of lifestyle patterns need time, society needs to understand the importance of adapting to the many changes in evolving world that we live in. This paper attempts to address the concerns of why and how cycling can be adopted into our lifestyles. To first address the concerns, one must understand the barriers to adoption and also be enlightened of the benefits that cycling can bring, with reference to other success stories in American and Japanese cities. Realistically, the outcome and thoughts in this paper would not immediately bring about any changes in the attitudes and behaviours of cyclists at present or in the near future. However, it is hoped that with these new perceptions presented in this paper, the pre-conceived notions of cycling in Singapore and slight adaptations of behaviour may occur.