A Quiet Revolution since 2004: Pedaling Toward a Healthier, Happier Future
Remember the simple joy of hopping on a bike, wind in your hair, as daily commutes double as exercise? That was my reality in the Netherlands. But when I moved to Singapore in 1996, I swapped my trusty bicycle for a car. Cycling here felt like navigating an obstacle course—fast traffic, dangerous drivers, and a city seemingly designed for anything but two wheels.
Wake-Up Call: When Health Hit the Brakes
In 2002, my body sent me a warning: dizziness after climbing stairs, fatigue from simple movements. Then, a chilling discovery during a research project—physical inactivity now rivals smoking as a leading cause of preventable deaths[1]. Gym attempts fizzled faster than soda left open (turns out, I’m terrible at self-motivated workouts).
The Dutch Reflection
I found myself reminiscing about Holland’s cycling utopia. Streets hummed with bikes, not engines. Clean air, quieter neighborhoods, healthier people—even elderly citizens zipping around! Cycling wasn’t exercise there; it was life. And it showed: lower healthcare costs, vibrant communities, and cities that felt alive.
Meanwhile, my Singapore routine? A sit-a-thon. Car seat ➔ office chair ➔ sofa. My daily step count? A sad five-minute walk to lunch. Physical activity had been designed out of my existence.
Connecting the Dots
Why does Singapore battle rising diabetes, child obesity, and soaring medical costs? Why the traffic stress, unsafe roads, and parents terrified to let kids cycle? It clicked: our anti-bike infrastructure isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a domino effect harming health, environment, and community. A pro-bicycle shift wouldn’t fix everything overnight, but imagine the ripple effects when more switch to cycling from driving: cleaner air, safer streets, happier bodies.
Bike Theft & the “Aha!” Moment
Determined to change, I tried a hybrid commute: bike to MRT, train, bike to office. Cue disaster—both bikes stolen within months. Defeated, I stumbled upon a European solution: folding bikes[2]. Lightbulb moment! Singapore’s MRT allows folded bikes onboard—no theft risk, no bus waits, no sweaty hikes across stations.
My Foldable Freedom
After testing models like Brompton[2] and Dahon[3], I discovered the JZ88[4]—a featherlight foldable wonder designed for Asian cities. Skeptical? Absolutely. At 175cm, could this tiny frame handle me? Turns out, yes! Now I glide 10km daily to work, folding my bike into a shopping cart or tucking it under my desk. Pavement when roads feel dicey? No shame—safety first!
Who Says You Can’t Cycle Here?
Singapore’s not Amsterdam… yet. But with clever adaptations, cycling works. My energy’s up, stairs no longer mock me, and I’ve rediscovered the thrill of human powered movement. Imagine if more of us pedaled: cleaner air, healthier kids, streets alive with laughter instead of honks.
The revolution starts with two wheels and a fold. Ready to join?
References & Footnotes
[1] WHO’s 2002 report links inactivity to 1/3 of disease burden in developed nations
[2] Brompton Bikes
[3] Dahon Innovations
[4] JZ88’s Urban Magic
Ed’s Note: I’m still riding my foldable bike + MRT today in 2025. A more detail version of my story two decades ago can be found (here)