Cycling - Sites with maps, or general route advise?

[zzm9980]

Hi,

Are there any decent sites with maps of "cycling friendly" streets or routes through Singapore? I'm aware of the PCNs, but first their site sucks and second they're not very comprehensive. What I'd like is a site that perhaps shows ideal routes for bicycling around the island. Perhaps bike friendly streets, or the "other" trails I've found that aren't park connectors. (I know there is one that runs roughly parallel to Joo Chiat, but it's not on any park map I see...)

Failing the existence of such a resource, does anyone have suggestions for a route from roughly Marine Parade to Ang Mo Kio?

[beppi]

If there is such a map (I doubt it) I'd want a copy too!

I found that basically all Singapore roads with so little traffic that they could be classified as "bike-friendly" are either dead-end or lead where nobody wants to go.

[sundaymorningstaple]

After a quarter of a century of biking here in Singapore, I've just concluded that you ride anywhere except on the expressways and just watch out for cage/bus drivers as they don't think you exist or that you have eyes in the back of your head. Ensure you have mirror(s) on your bike as well (or a cctv mounted inside your helmet with a heads up display mounted inside your sunglasses. Seriously, with a modicum of common sense and a good awareness around you (e.g., not cycling with some iPod blasting in your ears) you should be okay. Also be aware of pedestrians and obey all traffic rules of the road and you'll be right.

[carteki]

agree with you on the lack of decent maps for cyclists. I've mapped out the northern park connector route - will share the link when I'm home, but its still worth doing b4 the traffic picks up. Don't know of others and the building of Nat Stadium has closed another of my fave 'off road' routes.

[zzm9980]

I've mapped out the northern park connector route - will share the link when I'm home,

Thanks! that will help.

For example what I was hoping Singapore had is something similar to what Chicago has:
http://www.cityofchicago.org/cityinfo/c ... p/7-N.html

They have dedicated bike lanes (ok, I know those don't exist here), but they also have recommended streets that are wider, lower speed limit, and in general more bike friendly and less car friendly. They even mark some bike hazards.

I don't expect anything quite so comprehensive, but I'm surprised the Gov or local biking commuting hasnt done something...

[nakatago]

I'm guessing but I think the perception is that bicycles are for people too poor to buy their own car but don't want to take public transportation. And why would you cycle for recreation or fitness when you could do that in an airconditioned gym or just take your carbon-fiber, space-age bicycle on your car to the bike trail?

Yeah! I know!!!

/sarcasm

[zzm9980]

I'm guessing but I think the perception is that bicycles are for people too poor to buy their own car but don't want to take public transportation. And why would you cycle for recreation or fitness when you could do that in an airconditioned gym or just take your carbon-fiber, space-age bicycle on your car to the bike trail?

Yeah! I know!!!

/sarcasm

Honestly? This all started because Mr. Brown said (seriously not joking!) that you can usually cycle North-south faster than bus+MRT for commutes under an hour. I want to try this

[nakatago]

I'm guessing but I think the perception is that bicycles are for people too poor to buy their own car but don't want to take public transportation. And why would you cycle for recreation or fitness when you could do that in an airconditioned gym or just take your carbon-fiber, space-age bicycle on your car to the bike trail?

Yeah! I know!!!

/sarcasm

Honestly? This all started because Mr. Brown said (seriously not joking!) that you can usually cycle North-south faster than bus+MRT for commutes under an hour. I want to try this

I don't have the figures to back this up but I am South East Asian. I've also been told to be crazy when I take out my bicycle out for a spin or when I want to go somewhere.

[x9200]

It is not exactly what you asked for but how about this site?:

http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/country ... 651b0000da

[Mi Amigo]

Might be worth checking out the Togoparts forum:

http://www.togoparts.com/forum/index.php#6

I noticed one thread where they were discussing a route and made reference to a site called strava.com, where you can log your journey with a GPS device (including smart phone) and then review the route timings, etc. afterwards. Here's an example route:

http://www.strava.com/rides/72-kilometers-3514190

I realise that none of the above actually answers the request for a pre-prepared map of cycle-friendly routes, but I thought it might possibly be of interest anyway. I'm thinking of experimenting with the strava thing just for fun.

[zzm9980]

Bump for an old post...

I just want to raise a few points for discussion and for future viewers who find this via search..


First off, for Americans and other Westerns, don't assume that something called the "Park Connector Network" which implies it is bicycle friendly actually is! I rode the Kallang River PC yesterday as part of a longer ride. There are at LEAST five over passes with only steps that you need to carry you bike up and down. Some of these are within less than 500m of each other. And no, illegal jaywalking isn't even an option at some crossing due to imposing barriers in the medians. (Serangood Rd, and obviously the PIE hehe) In other words, don't try to do these routes unless you're fit enough and bike is light enough that you can pick it up and hike it up 50+ steps at a time. PIE crossing is probably more than that.

Otherwise, it was a nice ride. Good to see the back side of other parts of Singapore I rarely visit. I think after my lease expires on East Coast I might consider a condo in the vicinity of Bishan Park or AMK's Town Garden.

Anyway, I had grand visions of riding all over the PCN on the easten half of the island yesterday. The heat took a bigger toll than I realized (you don't feel it until you stop) and I finished my 3 liters of water by the time I reached AMK, so I turned back there and took roads back. Not bad though, about 17km there, 14km back. Roughly from Marine Parade to Yio Chu Kang MRT. Took the un-marked Joo Chiat Park Connector to Dunman, took that to Geylang PC, took that to the Lorongs and zig-zagged through Geylang (sometimes a nice view hehe, but not at 11am in the morning), to Kalang River PC. Took that up to Bishan Park, then took the AMK park connector to AMK Garden. Since I was close, I payed a quick pilgrimage to the fruit vendor shrine. I came back via the "walking" directions on Google Maps. AMK Ave 8 to Ave 1 to Paya Lebar Rd to Joo Chiat PC then home.

[zzm9980]

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[zzm9980]

URL CENSORED DUE TO COPYRIGHT ISSUES

[zzm9980]

oh boy haha.

What I was trying to say that a website with a name that rhymes with FEETDIRECTORY dot COM is very useful for those looking to navigate the PCNs and find out other info about where they're at. More so than Google Maps and maybe even gothere...


The original post with a few key terms changed:

Also, for some reason the gahmen doesn't seem to post all of the PCN maps. I found that FEETDIRECTORY dot COM does have them, along with a lot of very useful labeling. It even labels the names of private condos, so if you see a nice building and are curious, it's useful. Their iPhone app is just called "Singapore Maps" with an arrow on a green background.