Tampines residents have to give way to cyclists

Tampines bicycle trail



I am a resident in Tampines and has been told to give way to cyclists.





While my family was watching the news just now, my father suddenly flared up and started discussing with my mother regarding this "Give way to cyclists" rule.



Basically, pedestrians have to give way to the cyclists as and when the cyclists need to pass.






I personally feel that this rule is STUPIDLY and VAGUELY imposed.



WHY?




Last year, my grandfather was knocked down by a cyclist while he was alighting at the bus stop. The cyclist did not stop but continued to ride on ignoring the fact that he had knocked down my grandfather. My grandfather was sent to the hospital as a result of this and we never did find out who is the irresponsible cyclist.

My father also experienced the similar acts many times when he alight from the bus.




Mind you, this ALWAYS happens in Tampines. When I go to other areas, the cyclists will ride BEHIND the bus stop and USUALLY NOT at the edge of the bus stop.



Now, if the cyclist fell while riding at the edge of the bus stop, who will he cause inconvenience to?


Pedestrians, public transport users and bus captains.


Will the cyclist have to bear any responsibility for it?
I doubt.




Some, or should I say, majority of the cyclists in Tampines really have no common sense and the slightest knowledge or idea that they shouldn't ride at the edge of the bus stop where public transport users board and alight from the vehicles.





Giving way to cyclists is so common in Tampines that there are cyclists who ride their bicycles into the narrow walk way in the market and along the pathway outside the shophouses.




What do these cyclists do so that they make things convenient to themselves?

Ring the bell and pedestrians have to give way.





Now, let's think about it.



If you are knocked down by a vehicle that is not following the rules, even when the driver refuse to stop, there is a car plate number to track him down.


If you are knocked down by a bicycle, what is there for you to track the cyclist down?


On top of it, a driver has car insurance to compensate the victim, leaving records, but a cyclist may not bear the responsibility because you cannot track them down and you will never know if the cyclist had been involved in similar cases before.




I had been in various discussions with my friends regarding cyclists. The only conclusion we came to is:
"they wanted to enjoy both the rights of a pedestrian and a vehicle driver"


I ever saw cyclists riding IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.


Cyclists riding on the EXPRESSWAY is also nothing strange now.


Cyclists IGNORING THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS and just ride across the road without taking note of vehicles coming from the other side.



Sometimes I wonder, what is the Tampines bicycle trail for when the cyclists don't make use of it?

Is it for show?
Or is it because pedestrians should give way to cyclists and therefore cyclists should take advantage of it?



Our government support cyclists and construct bicycle trail.



BUT


Isn't the security and safety of the pedestrians equally important and should be considered?
Why aren't there rules to protect the pedestrians from cyclists but rules to encourage pedestrians to accommodate the cyclists?



These inconsiderate actions of cyclists definitely do not only belongs to Tampines but every single part of Singapore.



So, when will we, the pedestrians, be protected?