Rail Corridor could be unique cycling track

Building a cycling track along the Rail Corridor ("Cycling through the Rail Corridor", June 26; and "PM suggests cycling track option for Rail Corridor", June 18) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

With a continuous tract of land stretching across the whole country, from north to south, it would be like the backbone of a whale and, like ribs, other cycling tracks could branch out to the rest of the island.

If we created cycling tracks along the side of canals - linking up to the housing estates - Singapore would have the best cycling tracks spreading throughout the country.

We are already doing a good job within individual housing estates.

All we need to do is to have a plan on a national scale, to make it possible to make cycling a national pursuit.

Singapore is an ideal place for cycling because it is not hilly.

I remember the early days of my youth when there were very few cars on the road and I cycled to school every day, and also cycled freely to every part of the island along the roads.

Another important consideration to note is that pedestrian walkways must be made distinct from cycling paths.

For any kind of traffic to move smoothly and orderly along the Rail Corridor, everyone must travel at similar speeds.

We must consider the needs of different kinds of traffic, and plan carefully and comprehensively on a national scale, as well as on a long-term basis.

Only then can we make Singapore a cycling nation to be enjoyed by all.

George Wong Seow Choon (Dr)

This article was first published on July 7, 2015.
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