Car-Free Sunday will extend to Telok Ayer area when it returns on Oct 30
Thousands, including cyclists (seen here at Robinson Road), turned up for the first car-free Sunday in the Civic District in February. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Free rides on a “bike train” around the Padang, free guided tours of one of Singapore’s oldest temple in the historic Telok Ayer area, and a chance to check out the hip cafes along Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street from 8am are on the cards for the latest edition of Car-Free Sunday SG which returns this Sunday (Oct 30).
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced the return of the event – after a hiatus for more than two months – with new community-driven activities and an extended route that includes the Telok Ayer conservation area. Road closure timings will be longer for the upcoming event, from 8am to noon at the Civic District. The road closures at Telok Ayer and at the Central Business district will be till 11am.
Participants can go on free guided tours of the Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street, one of Singapore’s oldest temples, or take a Pioneer Trail at Ann Siang Hill and Telok Ayer Green where they will learn about the trades and lives of Singapore’s early immigrants.
Cafes along Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street will also be opened earlier on the day from 8am, said the URA. In additions, volunteers will be also help ferry the elderly around the Civic District with specially-built trishaws.
In a blog post, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that more community groups had contributed ideas and activities “to make the event more fun-filled and meaningful”.
For example, a “bike train”, a special creation by Bishan resident Mr Lee Tang Teng to ferry his friends around their neighbourhood, will make its public debut this weekend offering free rides around the Padang.
The Car-Free programme ran for six months earlier this year as part of a Government initiative to allow the public to better experience and to enjoy a car-free city centre. The last edition of the event was in July.
The addition of the Telok Ayer Loop – comprising McCallum Street, Amoy Street, Boon Tat Street, Telok Ayer Street and Stanley Street – will bring the total walking, cycling and jogging route to approximately 5.5km.
More roads in the central business district (CBD) will also be fully closed to vehicles. The CBD Loop, previously comprising the partially-closed Shenton Way and Robinson Road, will now comprise the five-lane Robinson Road and four-lane Cecil Street. These two roads will be fully closed to vehicles as buses plying these roads will be diverted to Shenton Way.
In line with the car-lite spirit of Car-Free Sunday SG, more community cycling groups will organise guided cycling trips to bring the public from various locations around Singapore into the Civic District using the Park Connector Network.
Amateur cyclists can take this opportunity to join LoveCycling SG, Brompton Riders@SG, Anza Cycling and Joyriders to try out cycling as a means of commuting to the city centre.
