Sharing footpaths = Accidents waiting to happen

  

I’m shocked to learn that our transport ministry and Government have accepted the full recommendations made by a panel last month to allow cyclists on footpaths by the end of this year. It was said the panel’s recommendations are “fair and balanced, with sensible rules and guidelines” to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and personal mobility devices (PMD) users. Really?

By opening this floodgate, we are just waiting for more accidents to happen on our narrow footpaths already shared by many users.

I wonder those people advocating this has ever used our footpaths before?

When a pedestrian is being knocked down by a cyclist who speeds away, what recourse does the injured pedestrian has?

It’s unclear how the authorities are to enforce the speed limit of 15kmh on footpaths and relying on enforcement teams and community volunteers are just not sustainable in the long term.  

And how are the authorities going to handle incidents and accidents on footpaths?

We want to mimic the cycling culture of Amsterdam and Copenhagen but our infrastructure is not yet ready for this. Both Amsterdam and Copenhagen have clear and separated cycling paths and footpaths. I saw that cycling paths are being built along footpaths in some estates but it would take 5-10 years to integrate them fully on this small island.    

Cycling is a good way to exercise and to keep fit and is great for the environment.

Electric-bicycles are not. Users are not licensed, have no insurance coverage, no speed-limiter on their bicycles and they are really bad for the environment as batteries on such e-bikes are not charged with clean energy source.

With this implementation, we are subjecting pedestrians to unnecessary risks and little recourse. Sigh!