Are cyclists allowed to ride on road just like a motorcycle?

[simplysimple]

I am really wondering...

Today I was driving along Lornie Road towards Thomson Road and almost knocked a cyclist off.

I was in the middle lane and as you know vehicles are allowed to drive up to 70 km/h along Lornie Road. Suddenly, I was forced to emergency break (Thankfully on time) because a cyclist was changing lane from the extreme right to the left of the road.

I am really wondering are cyclists really allowed to ride on the road just like a motorcycle?

Imagine me emergency breaking in the middle of a 70km/h road and what if there was a car behind me? Can the car behind stop in time? Are these cyclists aware of the danger they pose to other road users?

This isn't the first time I've seen something like this... Many times I've witnessed cyclists riding in the middle of the road! Do they really think they have the same speed as a motorcycle?

[ypay]

Not only that, they like to sped across pedestrain crossing while we're making our turns, it so fast that sometime it hard to react. I;m not against ppl who like to cycles, anyway it a healthy n green way of transportation. But do cycle carefully, however how many of the cyclist heed this, i doubt. Advised to motorists, if you hit them, whether they are dead or alive, you're in deep shit.

[jetblack]

From what I understand, cyclists are supposed to use the road and not the pavements. The cyclist should be in the right if he wanted to turn left from the extreme left lane, but he should have checked for traffic behind before making the move to the left lane.

Sometimes I find the regulation of having cyclists use roads rediculous, especially when there is a long, empty stretch of pavement while the road is packed with speeding lorries, cars, etc.

[kian_boon]

lolxx.... i agree ..... sometimes s very hard to react to the sudden change of direction of a cyclist.

I believe firmly that cyclist shld not be on the road. The bicycle often do not come with adequate safety devices to help the cyclist.

1. Most bicycles do not have side mirrors. Cyclist have to turn their heads to look and therefore do not know what is in front of them.
2. Bicycles just do not ahve enough acceleration as a motor vehicle .... they cannot overtake or avoid an accident.
3. Cyclist often do not have adequate protection. They do not wear helmets.

Haiz

[left_i_focus]

if i were the puliceman, i would only allow cyclist 3 inches from the curb.

if there are double yellow lines on the side, cyclists must stay between the lines.

if there is a zigzag line on the side, then cyclists must cycle left-right-left-right accordingly.

just kidding...cyclists please don't bang my car...oh please...

[seantzw]

if I'm not wrong cyclists are allowed on the road and they have to follow the standard set of traffic rules. but they're not allowed to cycle on the highways..

[jc32258]

Originally Posted by kian_boon

lolxx.... i agree ..... sometimes s very hard to react to the sudden change of direction of a cyclist.

I believe firmly that cyclist shld not be on the road. The bicycle often do not come with adequate safety devices to help the cyclist.

1. Most bicycles do not have side mirrors. Cyclist have to turn their heads to look and therefore do not know what is in front of them.
2. Bicycles just do not ahve enough acceleration as a motor vehicle .... they cannot overtake or avoid an accident.
3. Cyclist often do not have adequate protection. They do not wear helmets.

Haiz

Heys, you should come to Upper Thomson Road on any Sunday morning, around 7am to catch real cyclists in action! In anycase, within my community or circle of cyclists, we all practise signalling when switching lanes and know when and how to look back to check for vehicles before switching lanes.

I don't get quite your point no.2 though, why do we need to accelerate to overtake, when our cruising speed (mine is 30km/h) is below the average speed of a car? I do overtake buses though. Could you show how accelerating helps avoid accidents? I only accelerate when making right turns or from a motionless state.

With regards to helmet wearing however, there is much to be said. There is debate on it but the surmise of the argument is that helmet wearing is not to be advocated at the expense of defensive cycling skills because while helmets lessen the injury received, defensive cycling skills prevent them altogether. I do wear a helmet but I do not believe or take it for granted that it will save my life because I remember Slyvester Ang, a Singapore Cyclist who was killed by a bus, despite wearing a helmet.

Hence I would say that helmets are not a issue, but cycling skills should be taught to all to prevent another encounter like simplysimple's cyclist on the extreme right-most lane, when that cyclist should have been on the extreme left unless turning.

It is my vision or wish for Singapore to become a City of Cyclists like Copenhagen, where cycling is a socially acceptable means of transport and it is not uncommon to see Danish ministers or mayors cycle to work and where 99% of the population owns bicycles and 33% of them use bicycles for daily transport. You can check out their website and view a video here: http://www.vejpark.kk.dk/byenstrafik...y/uk/index.htm

[simplysimple]

Originally Posted by ypay

Advised to motorists, if you hit them, whether they are dead or alive, you're in deep shit.

Not really an advise... haha

[cmanling]

I believe cyclists should be allowed to ride on the left most lane or better still have a cyclist lane. I have come to notice that there are more cyclists on the roads nowadays.

Forcing cyclist to cycle on the pavement is not feasible as it endangers pedestrian as well as the cyclist. That's why we see more cyclists are going on the road.

I would love to see Singapore a city of cyclist as well. It is a healthy form of exercise as well as it can avoid jams dont u think?

While it may seems that cyclists endanger themselves, motorists and drivers can play a part by taking extreme cautions and giving ways to cyclist when they spot one. Cyclists generally would like to be given way since they are on a "weaker" form of vehicle around, just like the cars always giving way to pedestrians. It seems logical to treat cyclists the same.

[acidboy]

every morning i drive to work, i always see a lot of cyclists riding along the road. If you drive up to PIE via bendemeer road via, at the old fire station there, always got bicycle try to cycle from the right to the left. Because if they stay at the right side, they will need to go up to the expressway. it is always so dangerous and some of them really cycle a bit out of the road thus making the lane too small for a vehicle to drive.

Either that, or they will cycle against the traffic. It is so dangerous and i hope the govt can impose some law to make them safer