Letter-writer to Today wants to regulate bicycles; Internet smacks its forehead

You must be joking, right? Right?

Jonathan Lim| November 30, 09:06 PM

Looks like mainstream news website Today is also hopping aboard the absurd forum letter bandwagon.

This follows closely after The Straits Times publishing a letter calling for action to be taken against sewing on MRT trains.

The latest letter in Today has letter-writer Alfred Lim calling for bicycle ownership to be regulated.

His argument is that bicycles are becoming more popular, getting faster, and more cyclists are flouting traffic rules without reprisal or getting caught.

He ends off with "accountability and regulation in this regard would be to the benefit and protection of all road users and pedestrians."

It is true that with the increase in cyclists on the road, there is bound to be more traffic incidents involving them. But regulating the ownership of bicycles? Really?

Hmmm. Wonder how the Internet will react.

But first, here's the full letter:

All bicycles, not just electric ones, need to be regulated

I support the suggestions in the letter “Greater regulation needed for electric bicycles, riders” (Nov 24). I would state further that every means of transport used on the roads, including regular bicycles, should be regulated.

The growth in bicycle usage is unprecedented. Since the cost of motorcycle Certificates of Entitlement (COE) went up substantially, many have switched to bicycles, power-assisted or otherwise.

In land-scarce Singapore, car and motorcycle ownership is regulated in part by the COE system: There is a limit on the number allowed. Cars and motorcycles are required to be tested and insured, and are subject to ownership and usage laws.

However, few regulations apply to bicycles, which were once few in number and hardly infringed on other road users’ rights. But this is no longer so. To be fair to all, the cost of bicycle usage cannot be zero or negligible.

Cyclists are not required to pass any test, which perhaps explains the unsafe behaviour seen regularly when they speed at pedestrian crossings, ignore the red light and disregard traffic laws. Being unregistered, they are rarely caught.

Bicycles require other road users to keep a safe distance; one occupies as much space on the roads as a motorcycle. They can cause accidents; hence, insurance is necessary.

Bicycles were once slow and cumbersome, but the new, lighter ones are capable of speeds nearing 50km an hour. Accidents could prove injurious to riders and other road users.

It is time to revisit the premise that we need not regulate bicycle ownership and usage.

Accountability and regulation in this regard would be to the benefit and protection of all road users and pedestrians.

Alfred Lim

As usual, the Internet had to restore the cosmic common sense balance:

bike license Screenshot compiled from Today

Thank you Internetz for keeping it real.

Fun fact plus public service announcement for cyclists and motorists: According to the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276, Section 140),

Travelling abreast prohibited

7.—(1) No bicycle shall be ridden on the right of another vehicle proceeding in the same direction except when overtaking such other vehicle.

(2) No bicycle shall be ridden on the right of any two other bicycles proceeding abreast in the same direction except when overtaking such other bicycles or on parts of roads or paths set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

(3) Wherever part of a road or a path adjacent to a road has been set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, no bicycle shall be used on any other part of the roadway.

Bicycle to be ridden on left side of road

8. Every bicycle shall be ridden close to the left hand edge of the roadway and in such a manner as not to obstruct vehicles moving at a faster speed.

So please don't cycle in the middle of the lane, ride on the right side of vehicles unless overtaking, or have a convoy of cyclists riding three bicycles abreast, mmmkay?

 

Top image by Balaji Dutt M V

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