Better Path Safety as a Result of Concerted Regulatory
and Infrastructural Improvement Efforts
To maintain a safe and sustainable active mobility landscape, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been enhancing connectivity under the Islandwide Cycling Network (ICN) programme while strengthening our regulations with the evolving landscape. Under the ICN, the Government will expand the cycling paths island-wide to around 1,300km by 2030 so that active mobility users will be able to travel safely and seamlessly to their destinations.
2 Cycling path implementation works are progressing well across Singapore. In Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Toa Payoh towns, residents can now travel conveniently between and within their towns with the completion of 14.5km of new cycling paths.
3 Advisers to the Ang Mo Kio, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRCs as well as Marymount SMC Grassroots Organisations, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Mr Baey Yam Keng, celebrated this milestone by riding from Toa Payoh to Ang Mo Kio. The ride was flagged off by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen.
Ang Mo Kio Town cycling path network
4 7km of new cycling paths have been added in Ang Mo Kio and they extend from the existing 4km of cycling paths. The new paths will provide stronger first-and-last-mile connectivity to Mayflower and Lentor MRT stations. Schools including Ang Mo Kio Primary and Secondary, Townsville Primary and Pathlight Schools, as well as more amenities in the area such as town centres, hawker centres and parks are now easily accessible from the wider cycling path network.
5 In mature towns, creating space for such new infrastructure may require more extensive works. LTA worked closely with other agencies and organisations[1] to repurpose road space along Ang Mo Kio Street 22 and 43. In particular, two lanes along Ang Mo Kio Street 43 were converted[2] to new cycling paths to provide a safer and more comfortable experience for walking and cycling. Such measures help us create a more inclusive land transport system, that benefits pedestrians, cyclists, and the community.
6 Works are still ongoing for another 16km of cycling paths which are slated for completion in 2026. These include those running along most main roads in Ang Mo Kio town, in the new Linear Park, which will run along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, and within Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East which connect the park to the Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Barrier-free access to the park will also be provided for seamless connectivity. When implemented, the total network of cycling paths for Ang Mo Kio Town will span 27km.
Bishan Town cycling path network
7 Close to 4km of the planned 7.7km Bishan Town cycling path network has been completed. Together with the existing cycling paths, residents can cycle from Ang Mo Kio to Bishan town including Bishan MRT station through the park. The network also complements the existing Kallang Park Connector, providing Bishan residents with active mobility connectivity to Kallang Riverside Park.
8 The remaining 3.7 km of cycling paths are expected to be completed next year. When finished, Bishan residents will be able to cycle seamlessly to reach key amenities within the town.
Toa Payoh Town cycling path network
9 About 3.5 km of cycling paths in Toa Payoh Town have been completed with the remaining 5.5km slated for completion in 2023. Completed cycling paths will progressively open for use once they are ready for residents to immediately enjoy the active mobility benefits. When fully completed, the Toa Payoh cycling path network will provide active mobility connectivity to Braddell and Toa Payoh MRT stations, key amenities such as HDB Hub, markets, parks as well as schools in the town.
Better Path Safety
10 The ICN programme is a key pillar in our efforts to foster a safe and gracious active mobility landscape. Our infrastructural enhancement efforts go hand in hand with regulatory measures to address path and device safety concerns. For example, regulations on device specifications, speed limits and where devices can be used are firmly in place. These measures are supported by regular public education, enforcement and community engagement efforts. Other measures such as the periodic inspections of e-scooters and import controls on motorised personal mobility devices and power-assisted bicycles have also been introduced to detect and stem the inflow of non-compliant devices.
11 These collective efforts have resulted in a significantly safer active mobility landscape. The number of active mobility-related accidents on public paths and fires incidents have dropped by around 50 percent over the last two years. As the public grew accustomed to the new active mobility rules after strict enforcement and concerted public education efforts, there has also been a decrease in the number of offences detected on public paths[3]. The number of accidents on paths fell from 303 in 2019 to 155 in 2021, while the number of fires involving motorised AM devices fell from 116 in 2019 to 63 in 2021.
12 Based on LTA’s annual surveys, respondents agree that the regulatory frameworks which have been implemented have made our paths safer and that enforcement efforts have been effective. Around 68 percent of survey respondents in 2021 felt that active mobility regulations have enhanced path safety, up from 37 percent two years earlier. 70 percent of respondents to the 2021 survey also agreed that LTA’s enforcement efforts have been effective in deterring errant behaviour from AM users, compared to 50 percent in 2019.
13 LTA will continue to promote the take-up of active mobility through expanding our cycling infrastructure as well as keeping up our public education and enforcement efforts to ensure safety for all path users.
ANNEX A – Map of Cycling Path Network in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Toa Payoh
ANNEX B – Photos of Cycling Path Network in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Toa Payoh
