SINGAPORE: Cyclists in Tampines may soon be able to ride on footpaths legally, depending on the results of a study that will be conducted at the end of this month.

Other towns may also join in the ride if things go well.

The Traffic Police said having cyclists on footpaths is one way of lowering the number of road accidents.

James Ho, who rides his bicycle daily to do grocery shopping and to get to the MRT station, agreed with the insight.

He said: "On the roads, you'll have to worry about cars."

Tampines is chosen for the study because many of its residents ride bicycles and use it to get to places like the MRT station.

During the pilot study, cyclists can use the footpaths but must give way to pedestrians.

They need to ride on the left side of the footpath and get off when there are too many people using the same space.

Separately, the GRC wants to link up many parts of the town for cyclists in a five-year plan.

It formed a committee to look into the matter two years ago.

And although the pilot programme is for cyclists, pedestrians are not left out.

Irene Ng, MP of Tampines GRC, said: "It should be safer for pedestrians now. Without this pilot study, we could not have gone out with our cycling wardens and our promotion material to teach cyclists how to cycle."

The idea was hatched when the issue of riding on footpaths was raised in parliament two years ago.

The criteria to allow cyclists on footpaths includes the attitudes and behaviour of cyclists and pedestrians, accidents on footpaths and feedback from organisations in the GRC.

The study ends at the end of May 2008 and findings will be evaluated then.


- CNA/so