Exciting or dangerous? Videos of Seletar Mall's downmall cycling race raise eyebrows

An overnight cycling race that took place at Seletar Mall in Sengkang last weekend has made quite a buzz on social media.

While some expressed excitement over the Downmall Challenge, others fretted over safety issues.

On Sunday (March 1), Nasthasia Nadiah, who represented Singapore in cycling at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, shared a first-person view as she raced through the mall from level four to level one.

In the clip of her practice run, she can be seen manoeuvring her YT Capra bike around traffic cones, going down escalators, and navigating tight corridors. 

At the finish line, she rode her bike up a ramp. 

The TikTok video, which has garnered over 570,000 views as of Tuesday, also attracted numerous comments.

Some praised the event for being interesting, with one calling it "one of the coolest things in Singapore". 

Others hoped that bigger malls such as VivoCity and Suntec City would hold such events so cyclists can have larger race courses. 

Some expressed interest and asked how to participate in future editions of the event. 

@asiaone What happens when the mall in your neighbourhood turns from dining and shopping to sports? The Downmall Challenge is a highlight of Seletar Mall's launch of its late-night operating hours as well as a range of after-dark activities happening from Feb 28 to June 28. #sgnews #Singapore #Lifestyle #Events #Activities #Mall ♬ original sound - AsiaOne

However, many netizens expressed concern. 

Some asked how the event was approved, while others said that the activity was "dangerous to the [mall's] infrastructure". 

One of them was also worried over the possibility of cyclists crashing into one of the storefronts. 

Safety top priority: Seletar Mall

In response to AsiaOne's queries, Seletar Mall said on Wednesday that safety was its top priority throughout the planning and execution of the event, which involved 58 riders and several hundred spectators.

"A comprehensive safety plan was developed, including barricades, crash mats, protective cushions, cones, queue poles, blinker lights at higher-risk sections and clear directional signage. Trial runs were conducted to test the course under race conditions, with refinements made as needed," it explained.

During the Downmall Challenge, race marshals, security personnel and representatives from Singapore Cycling Federation were stationed along the course to ensure safe passage for riders and to alert shoppers.

Paramedics as well as an ambulance were also stationed at the mall in case of emergency.

A total of 58 riders, including seven female participants, took part in the race.

Aged between 13 and 55, most of them come from Singapore's mountain biking community, encompassing seasoned riders, competitive cyclists and professionals, alongside newcomers. The race also attracted participants from China, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.

"The strong turnout reflects the community's openness to fresh, experiential events, and we are proud to create opportunities that bring people together in meaningful ways," said Jacqueline Tan, cluster head of JB City Square and The Seletar Mall.

The Downmall Challenge, sanctioned by the Singapore Cycling Federation, is a highlight of Seletar Mall's launch of its late-night operating hours as well as a range of after-dark activities happening from Feb 28 to June 28.

In the two-day challenge from Feb 28 to March 1, cyclists with varying levels of experience took part in four race categories — Weekend Warrior, Open, Masters, and Women's Open.

While some Singaporeans may be unfamiliar with downmall races, there is a series of such races in Europe's shopping malls that professional mountain bikers such as Tomas Slavik has been taking part in since the 2010s.

In 2015, Velocity Novena Square also held a downmall challenge in conjunction with Red Bull Singapore.

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melissateo@asiaone.com