BusBike Lane – (Thanks Mr. Low Cheaw Hwei for the improvement suggestion)
This is a low cost and effective idea suggested by a cyclist during a Facebook conversation. Let’s call it a BusBike Lane, or BB Lane.
Under current traffic regulation bicycle is allowed on Bus Lane all days. But this is not well known even for some cyclists. When drivers see cyclist riding on the Bus lanes, more often than not, they get upset and complaint that cyclist is violating the law. Such misunderstanding create emotional tension, and some of the drivers may turn aggressive.
Painting a bicycle sign in the Bus lane clarify the regulation. You can also contact expert painting contractors from a reliable painting service like Euro Painting for professional and affordable painting services. It gives confident for cyclist to use the bus lane. It also signals to the motorists that it is legitimate for the cyclists to use the Bus Lane and therefore there is no need to feel upset about it.
Bus companies provide training. All bus driver are trained to give ways and to drive carefully when there is cyclists around.
When riding on Bus Lane cyclist and bus driver should be considerate to each other. Bus driver may need to slow down if there is not enough room to over take a cyclist. At the same time, the cyclist should try to ride as close to the left as possible to make it easy for the bus to overtake.
At Bus stop, it is better for slow rider to stop and wait behind the bus. Some fast road ride may decided to overtake, but they need to be extra cautious and need to emerge from a good distance behind, as car from behind may not expect cyclist suddenly come out from the bus lane. This problem is not better or worst with the introduction of bicycle sign on bus lane.
Other vehicle allowed on the bus lane are emergency service and police vehicles (on urgent duty call make known by means of some distinctive siren)
Media update: The New Paper: 2012-08-28
Singapore roads are wide enough for bicycle
I wish that was the case of Singapore Bus Drivers……….
Hi Francis,
thank you. That is something new to me. In your article, I feel you have hit the nail on the point regarding cyclists.
If cyclists can behave like this on all roads, then it should greatly reduce the danger of accidents involving cyclists.
Also, this point that you raised is exactly why I feel there is no advantage to having bicycle lanes on the road. The latest case of Loyang road fatality was because the driver fell asleep at the wheel. A bicycle lane would not be able to prevent that. Rather, if the cyclist was alert to the way the vehicle is veering and stop rather than try to outpace the vehicle, that could have helped. Another one would be to equip vehicles with sleep sensors. Rather, what we should do is really seek to educate all cyclists on proper behaviour on the roads.
Anyway, one more thing I would like to add to your points. I feel that cyclists should equip their bicycles with bright lights and a very loud horn so that motorists can be alerted to their presence. If they ever want or need to overtake a stationary vehicle, they should use the horn to alert the motorist of their presence.
“This problem” is referring to the problem when cyclist need to filter lane to overtake bus. Apart from this, other situation when cyclist is riding inside the bus lane, the bicycle symbol helps to clarify to other motorist that it is legitimate to cycling inside the bus lane. It also help as a visual remainder for the bus driver that there may be cyclists sharing the lane so bus driver should keep a proper look out.
My suggestion to cyclist who want to ride safely is: make yourselves as visible as possible on the road, to give motorist a chance to avoid hitting you. Yet assume some drivers can not see you and behave in a way that your safety is not dependent on the driver’s behaviour. Not always possible, but that’s the intention. More here: Key concept for safer cycling in Singapore
The bicycle sign on bus lanes – with a dashed line too! – is a great idea!