No summons issued to cyclists for flouting rule on group length: Police
Cyclists on roads in Singapore have to keep to groups of no more than five bicycles in length.
SINGAPORE: The traffic police have not issued any summons to cyclists for flouting the rule on cycling group length since it took effect on Jan 1, 2022, the police said on Monday (May 8).
Cyclists on roads in Singapore have to keep to groups of no more than five bicycles in length. On single-lane roads and in bus lanes during operational hours, riders have to be in a single file.
When riding on roads with two or more lanes, cyclists can ride two abreast, in groups of up to 10.
The issue came to the fore after an accident in April that left a cyclist in hospital with a minor brain bleed. Police said investigations are ongoing for the offence of riding other than in an orderly manner and without due regard to the safety of others.
The injured cyclist's wife wrote on Facebook that a "peloton of crazy cyclists" caused the collision with her husband. She said they ignored the safety of others and rode off.
The limit on cycling group length was introduced due to space constraints on Singapore’s roads, the Ministry of Transport said in October 2021.
Those caught breaching the rule can be fined S$150 (US$110).
About a year after the rule was implemented, road cyclists told CNA it was not practical because riders cannot prevent other cyclists from merging into the original group, and switching formations was a concern when travelling along a mix of single-lane and multi-lane roads.
SUMMONS ISSUED
In response to CNA's queries, the police said 1,089 summons were issued to errant cyclists between January 2022 and March 2023.
The most common offence committed was riding a bicycle on a road without wearing a suitable helmet securely, with 419 summons issued. It is followed by 286 summons to cyclists not riding in an orderly manner and without due regard for the safety of others.
The third most common offence was cyclists failing to stop at a red light. Eighty-eight summons were issued for that offence.
The police said they will continue working with the Land Transport Authority to educate cyclists on the rule about cycling group length.
“(The traffic police) will not hesitate to take firm action against egregious cyclists who endanger other road users by cycling dangerously on the roads,” a police spokesperson said.
