During a recent Facebook discussion, a fellow cyclist shared an idea that’s both low-cost and highly effective: marking our existing Bus Lanes so they clearly welcome bicycles. Let’s call it the BikeBus Lane—or simply, the BB Lane.
Cyclists Are Already Allowed in Bus Lanes—But Few Know It
Under current traffic regulations in Singapore, cyclists are permitted to use Bus Lanes every day. Unfortunately, many people—including some cyclists—don’t know this. As a result, when drivers see bicycles on a Bus Lane, they often assume the cyclist is breaking the law.
This misunderstanding leads to unnecessary frustration and sometimes even aggressive behaviour on the road.
A Simple Marking Can Reduce Tension
By painting a clear bicycle symbol on Bus Lanes, we can instantly remove the confusion.
- Cyclists gain confidence knowing the lane is formally recognized as a shared space.
- Motorists get a clear reminder that bicycles are allowed there, reducing irritation and conflict.
Just a bit of paint could dramatically improve road harmony.
Bus Drivers Are Already Trained for Cyclist Safety
Bus companies in Singapore provide training to ensure bus drivers know how to interact safely with cyclists. They are taught to slow down, keep a safe distance, and exercise extra caution when a bicycle is nearby.
Sharing the Lane: Courtesy Goes Both Ways
When using a Bus Lane, both bus drivers and cyclists play a part in keeping things smooth:
- Bus drivers may need to slow down if there isn’t enough space to overtake safely.
- Cyclists should keep as far left as is safely possible, giving buses more room to pass.
Navigating Bus Stops Safely
At bus stops, cyclists should make thoughtful decisions:
- Slower riders should wait behind the stopped bus.
- Faster cyclists may choose to overtake—but only with extreme caution. They should ensure they emerge from well behind the bus so that approaching cars can see them.
This challenge exists today and isn’t worsened (or solved) by simply adding bicycle symbols.
Who Else Can Use the Bus Lane?
Besides buses and bicycles, Bus Lanes may also be used by emergency and police vehicles that are responding to urgent calls and using their sirens.
What do you think—would clearly marked BikeBus Lanes help make Singapore roads kinder and safer for everyone?
Media update: The New Paper: 2012-08-28
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Related:
Bike Bus lane on Streets Wiki
Hi,
I am currently understaking a degree course in design
and I am working on ways that I could do to influence more singaporeans in taking cycling as a transport system. I believe that singapore is getting harder to live and the increase in roads for cars are indeed compressing our land space in singapore. i believe the way that we could solve things or make things better is by learning the city planning style from Copenhagen. I know it will be hard because it was a 50 years planning for copenhagen to become a bicycle city but I believe singapore would be able to turn into one if the government do have a plan for it. For example, new york could just turn into a bicycle city within a year due to the government willingness to change the road structure to suit the cyclist more. Perhaps we could paint the whole of bus lane in yellow or another colour such as green used for most bicycle lane in other countries, instead of just a single yellow stripe to increase the awareness of the lane and to make the lane more stand out among the other lane of the roads. I do believe the usage of bus lane for cyclist is a major advantage but it would be even better that this lane is exclusive for cyclist to be used 24/7. Hope I would be able to contact you or stay in touch with you by dropping a message or reply at my email address because I am really keen in working in this area of cycling in Singapore for my FYP. Thank you!
Min Da
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