Singapore Cycling - Singapore
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Touring in Singapore
Although best bicycle touring can be done around Singapore rather than inside its borders, there are a few routes that certainly deserve attention. For those who think that cycling in Singapore is nothing more than a matter of sprinting from one traffic light to the next, it may be even surprising. I have selected 4 routes, only one being a loop. Here we go:***
the Changi Airport loop
This route, or at least the east part of it, is used by many racing cyclists for training. From the Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) until the Airfreight Centre, it is a flat road running along the eastern airport runway, without obstacles (apart from one traffic light). The west part, from Changi Village south back to the TMCC runs partly over the Upper Changi Road North, which is a nice road running onder big trees and it is a bit hilly. The north section runs along the sea. These are the directions if you start at the TMCC and do the loop counter clockwise (thus avoiding a few right turns on big crossings): Do not deviate from the road until you pass Changi Village. Two kilometres past Changi village, on Loyang Avenue, turn left at the traffic lights at the junction with Loyang Way. Climb the hill and on the left side and the right side you have the walls and fences of Changi prison. Continue all the way till the Tampines Expressway. Turn left, follow the road over the flyover and go straight to the Upper Changi Road East. Continue untill you see the Singapore Expo. You can either turn left now, going over the industrial area, or continue and turn left later, rounding the Singapore Expo. Either way you find yourself on Xilin Avenue and take the exit to the left (direction airfreight centre) before you meet the ECP Expressway. NOTE: there are two different premises of the TMCC; both are marked with a yellow spot.
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East Coast Park
The one and only bicycle path in Singapore. It sways around bushes, runs along the coast and is 9 kilometres long. It would be a wonderful path if you were the only user. But you are not. Especially during weekends and holidays, it is crowded with other cyclists, most of them zigzagging along, making the most unexpected moves. If you don't adapt to the pace of other users (sometimes at walking speed), it's plain dangerous. Then there are the roller scaters, who need the full width of the path to scate along. Be a leasure cyclist yourself and you'll enjoy the
ambient atmosphere. Otherwise, use it at moments that there are few other users. Road bikers who usually exceed 20 km/h, tend to take the service road for cars, running between the bicycle path and the ECP expressway. On days that the bicycle path is full of bicycles, this road is normally cramped with cars, but at least it is one of the few, maybe the only, road where you don't encounter a traffic light for more than 10 kilometres. This road has a section of a few kilometres of one way traffic (going east to west), where you have to use the bicycle path. You can reach the East Coast Park from the Changi Airport loop (see above) from the TMCC, by following the signs for 'City', but turning left right before you come on the ECP expressway. Coming from the East Coast Park there is no access to the Changi loop, because of one way traffic. Walk over the shoulder (300 metres), because here it is particularly dangerous to ride against the traffic because of a curve (the motorists notice you only at the last moment).
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The Reservoirs Route
This route leads through the most beautiful part of Singapore. It starts at the south end of the Upper Thomson Road, at the MacRitchie Reservoir (A). Follow the Upper Thomson Road for 3 kilometres, until the Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. There, you see the Old Upper Thomson Road (O.U.T.R.) deviating to the left (B), take this road and immediately you find yourself surrounded by tropical forest. One kilometres further the O.U.T.R touches the Upper Thomson Road again, but stay left and you find yourself away from urban scenery very soon again. It is very likely you see monkeys crossing the road here and with the sounds of the jungle it's hard to believe your are in the middle of City State of Singapore. The O.U.T.R. is only 4 kilometres long, (C) but the nice scenery of the forest will remain for most of the route. After crossing the Seletar Expressway underneath, take a left turn at Mandai Road (D). You will see a beautiful view over the Upper Seletar Reservoir. Continue along Mandai Road, passing the entrance to the zoo (E), untill you reach Woodlands Road (F). This is a nice point to continue with the next route.
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The Kranji Route
This route starts at Woodlands Road, at the access to the Kranji Industrial Estate (A). Cross the railroad and turn left at the T-junction. Continue over the dam, with a view on Johor Bahru on the right. Now you come to an area of country lanes, quite different from any other part of Singapore. Most lanes run dead, but Lane 3 (B) makes it till the Lim Chu Kang Road. But continue (you're on the Neo Tiew Road) and you will also end up at the Lim Chu Kang Road (C). Turn left. Soon, the road becomes very wide, but still there is very little traffic. You come along the cemetery areas and continue all the way straight if you are heading for Boon Lay, Jurong or the west coast. Otherwise, turn left (D) after the cemeteries, taking the Choa Chu Kang Road. Going east on Chua Chu Kang Road, you approach the Kranji Expressway on your right. Go under the expressway (E). The road then curves to the left, and the name changes to Sungei Tengah Road. At the first traffic light, turn right (F) onto Bricklands Road. The road then curves left onto Chua Chu Kang Avenue 3. At Chua Chu Kang Way (near the MRT and LRT), you can turn right (G). At Bukit Batok Road, you need to make a left turn to continue towards Bukit Panjang (H) and end at the Woodlands Road (I). Turn right for Bukit Timah and the city.
Latest update: June 2, 2003.
