Children who were driven everywhere weren’t able to accurately draw how the streets in their community connected

Heavy car traffic changes the way children see and experience the world by diminishing their connection to community and neighbors. It is discovered that heavy traffic in cities erodes human connections in neighborhoods, contributing to feelings of dissatisfaction and loneliness. A new study has shown how constantly being in and around cars affects children’s perception and understanding of their home territory.

Read more: Kids Who Get Driven Everywhere Don’t Know Where They’re Going

The LCSG team from all over Singapore - isn't it look like a human formation of Singapore, including Santosa and Jurong Island?

2012-04-24 Singapore
So many things happened recently I am really behind posting the photos. Here is a collection from the World Water Day 2012. LCSG worked with PUB on the routing. We even attracted 20+ Indonesian cyclists to join us, It was a fun packed event with an educational twist. Lots of cheers and happy faces along the entire Punggol waterway. DPM Teo Chee Hean took the chances to snap a few picture of LCSG group at the starting point before he flag off the cyclists.  We have a turn out of 120+ cyclists. Tiffany, the little girl with a big water bottle was leading the pack from the starting point, until our Panda master Clearance (yellow T) took over later in the ride. Both Mr Peng Kah Poh. Director of InfoComm (PUB) and myself rode an Isuda bike to complete the ride.

For me, I had the pleasure riding with Dr Janil Puthucheary, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC (Punggol West), who advocated cycling during the recent Parliament debate. I was most impressed by his remark: “After I switched to cycling and gave up driving 18 months ago, I saw my productivity shoot up!”

If you’re wondering why, this was what he shared with me, “My job requires me to go to many different places and I used to spend a lot of time driving. I can’t do anything else when I am driving.” ” But now depends on the day’s agenda, it may be a cycling day or jogging day. I take public transport to complement cycling and jogging. When I am sitting in the MRT train, I can log in to my email and type away. Part of the commuting time becomes more productive and I save more time by not needing to go to the gym. So that is double savings!”  Wow!

Guest Of Honor DPM Teo Chee Hean leading the team of MPs into to the Punggol Water Way starting point. Dr Janil Puthucheary, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC (Punggol West), following with his folding bike!.

DPM Teo Chee Hean flag off the cycling cycle-walk. LCSG is proud to be an official partner in this meaningful event.

DPM can't resist but had to snap a few pics of his own before the flag off.

From left to right: Mr Peng Kah Poh. Director of InfoComm (PUB), Dr Janil Puthucheary, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC (Punggol West), and our Israwi, with his DIY Cargobike

Bike Hour 2012

It’s like Earth Hour, only more useful. It’s like a critical mass ride, only effective. The world’s biggest, completely unorganised, mass cycling rally will happen wherever you are, on Tuesday March 20, between 6 and 7 pm. Why? Because you will be riding your bike.

Come on people! Let’s get together and make a revolution of an amazing nature, even if you are not a regular cyclist you can always: RIDE MORE! DRIVE LESS!

Spread the word and invite as many people as you can!

The Facebook event page

By Amir Taheri, Steven Fleming and Gus Potts

My photos:

more details at Taiwoon’s blog smallwheelbigsmile:

PCN loops in Singapore

Today was a very special Sunday for Fusionopolis. Early morning starting from 7:30am, this quiet office building was already buzzing with many cyclists in colorful outfits. It was heart warming to see around 60 members from LovecyclingSG group came all the way from all over Singapore to support the ISUDA test ride. We had also discovered the fastest, the smartest and the prettiest ISUDA riders!

Francis and co-founder Mike Zhan was there to explain the pilot. Bike share, a growing trend internationally, is a great way to provide “last mile connectivity” to compliment public transport facilities. For example, the test route (blue route in the map) from one-north MRT station to the Biopolis building Amnios is about 900 meters apart. It takes 15-20 minutes if one walks, or 3-5 minutes on a bicycle. The distance is a little too far to walk. But it is too short to be worthwhile for the wait for a shuttle bus.

We want to stress test the bikes to make sure it is in perfect working condition before the pilot. 20 LCSG members make 40 “sweat free” trips in total. The fastest trip was made in 2.5 minutes and the longest 5 minutes. The longer time is due to an unusual traffic light delay at the junction of Portsdown road and one-north link. The feasible time saving is about 12-15 minutes. The big advantage of bike share is the fact that the user ride his or her own bike, it is not dependent on the schedule or routing of bus. The user is free to use it anytime and free choose a route.

LTA statistic shows average door-to-door trip by car is 25 minutes while by public transport is around 48 minutes. A 12 minutes time saving on both sides of a typical MRT trip will be able to save the commuter 24 minutes in total. Such scenario will make public transport (+ share bike) much more attractive compared to drive.

Bike share also helps to improve cyclist safety by increased visibility of cyclist on roads. This is known as “safety by number”; the more cyclists seen on roads, the safer it is for the cyclist and other road users. More cyclists on the road also helps government justify more investment for safe cycling infrastructure.

Read more at smallwheelbigsmile
Diane’s nice blog entry

LCSG supporting Geylang Serai CC to launch Passion Cycling Club to promote cycling in the neighborhood

Great happy people, wonderful weather and an awesome ride marked the launch of PAssion Cycling Club by Geylang Serai Community Club this morning. Thanks to the tireless effort of my friend Fabian Foo and the PA team from the CC including Ruby Wee and Wei Chung. I am grateful to the many supporting staff, including many road marshals guiding the traffic to ensure the riders safety.

With the blessing and support of MP Fatimah Lateef, we hope to see more hardware & software to promote cycling in the neighborhood. After so many Sunday leisure rides, it becomes clear to me – cycling is a great way to connect people, across different age and different ethic groups. We have LCSG member coming from all parts of Singapore, joining the crazily early morning rides.

In addition to the ride, the riders had great fun trying out the different folding bikes provided by eWalker – thanks to Fu De and his team!

As Tai Woon said “We ride as a team, suffer as a team, eat as a team and finish as a team!” Today we have many veterans offer their help as Pandas (safe riders). Thanks to you all: Steven, Boo, Mary, David, Zack, Vince and Tai Woon. Tah Ching, Boon Chun are the photo and video man. Thanks also to Tiger and Tiffany, they helped to distribute the “flying color” safety tags to all the riders – total 86 pieces out!

Video by Boon Chun

At 7am, I met Encik Israwi on his DIY cargo-bike at Haig Road. Does he look like after two hours riding all the way from Woodland?

Photos by Tah Ching:

My photos:

LCSG riders with MP Fatimah Lateef at Garden By the Bay